Breville Aurora Stainless Steel 4 Slice Toaster - Review

Foodies love practical presents and this fabulous retro Breville Aurora Stainless Steel 4 Slice Toaster will look stylish in all kitchens and bring a welcome splash of colour. The toaster has some fabulous features - a lift and look to view progress of toast without cancelling, variable browning and width slots, defrost, reheat and mid-cycle cancel functions, and illuminated buttons. This is a large toaster and will be a great help at breakfast time for busy families trying to get out of the house on time for the school run. I'm not sure whether all sliced bread will fit perfectly into the toaster, it's just a case of trying different brands.
Breville is a trusted name and the brand has been around since the 1980's.
Available in Candy Red, Shimmer Cream or a Twilight Black and matching kettles are also available.
RRP £49.99 from Asda and Tesco

Thank you for the review sample.

Jamie Oliver Cast Aluminium Range Grill Pan by Tefal - Review

Tefal Jamie Oliver Cast Aluminium Range Grill Pan
measures 29cm x 25cm

I've just had an induction hob fitted in my kitchen and this grill pan is perfect, although the pan can be used on all other heat sources too.  My old pan can't be used on induction and I've been looking round for some time now to get a replacement.  The options are either cast iron which are very heavy, or a few others which were lighter to handle but I wasn't convinced they would last or cook very evenly. This pan is more lightweight than cast iron and very strong and sturdy. Tefal is a trusted name and a brand I have used before and I knew I was going to be in for a treat when I was offered the pan to review.

Grilled salmon, crushed peas with mint and potatoes boulangere

Grill pans encourage me to cook healthier food, I came back from my annual holiday a couple of weeks ago and now thinking ahead to all the Christmas food I'm about to consume, I'm going to try and plan my meals carefully.

The pan is very roomy and you can easily cook four to six salmon steaks or chicken breast fillets at the same time.  Salmon takes about 3 or 4 minutes each side to cook.  I always oil the food and not the pan and this pan only requires a minimum of oil because it is non-stick. The underside of the handle is silicone for a non-slip grip and it stays cool too.

The pan has the patented Thermospot which is a great feature, simply put the pan on the heat and wait until the red pattern on the spot in the middle of the pan disappears and becomes a solid red spot. The pan will be at the optimum heat to sear and cook.

Parmesan chicken with griddled sweetcorn

Delicious grilled pineapple - simply baste the pineapple with honey 

Chicken marinated in soy sauce, Worcester sauce and brown sugar

The pan is really easy to clean. I cooked the pineapple in the pan first, let the pan cool a little and then gave it a quick wash in soapy water. Afterwards I cooked the chicken - any debris in the pan comes off easily with soapy water.

The base of the pan 

Oven safe to 260ºC - meat can be seared on the pan and then finished cooking in the oven.
Pro-metal hard non-stick interior.
Metal utensils can be safely used, excluding whisks and knives.
Heats quickly.
Even heat distribution.
Food stays beautifully moist.
Hand washing recommended - not a chore though because debris comes off easily.

Available from Debenhams - Price £70

Thank you to Tefal for the grill pan.

Pyramid Pan Silicone Baking Mat - Review

Image Courtesy of Find Me A Gift

The Pyramid Pan Silicone Baking Mat is a very useful piece of kitchen kit.  The pyramids are there to catch any fatty deposits and ensure the food stays crisp.

                                                       The mat measures 29cm x 40cm

The mat fits snugly inside a large oven tray.

The mat is multifunctional - it can be used as an oven baking mat up to conventional 220ºC, on the work surface as a trivet for hot pans, or used as a sink drainer which is useful for those delicate glasses. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

Crispy chicken and jacket potatoes

Tried and Tested:

• I tested the mat by cooking crispy Cajun chicken and jacket potatoes.  The chicken and potatoes sit on top of the pyramids which allows hot air to circulate underneath the food and any fat from the chicken is caught at the base of the pyramids which ensures food stays crisp and doesn't sit in a pool of fat. 
• Food doesn't stick to the mat
• Easy to wash by hand, simply place into a bowl of soapy washing up water and any debris comes off easily
• Rolls up for storage and after unrolling it will sit flat

Price £18.99 from Find Me A Gift - visit their website for lots more great gift ideas.

Thank you to Find Me A Gift for the review sample.

Eddingtons Swing Away Easy Release Gravy/Grease Separator - Review

Gravy/Grease Separator and Strainer Jug

This is a useful piece of kitchen kit, it is sturdy, well made and feels solid in the hand. On top of the jug there is a deep strainer which is useful for catching any herbs and particles from the roasting pan. The jug has a black handle to pull back which releases the small base to allow the gravy to pour through leaving the fat behind. Perfect for gravy with all the taste but without the fat.

There are markings on the side in cups/ml/oz

The gravy pours through the base of the jug

Safe for hot liquids
Dishwasher safe
Price: £15.25
Stockist: Sam Turner & Sons

Thank you to Eddingtons for the review sample

Judge Solar Photovoltaic Scale - Review

These eye catching red Judge kitchen scales are solar powered and will work in both sunlight or artificial light.  The slimline scales need only 60-90 seconds of light to activate them.

There is a large clear LCD display, the scales weigh g/lb:oz to 5kg/11lb and there are separate modes for measuring milk and water.  A button on the base of the scales is used to set the scales for either metric or imperial measurements.

Add and weigh scales are easy to use                     Measuring milk using the milk mode

Tried and Tested:
Conveniently store away on their side
In poor lighting conditions or when measuring light amounts the reading can take a few seconds to settle down
The scales weigh accurately
High weight capacity of 5kg/11lb
Use any bowl of your choice for weighing out
No batteries required
2 year guarantee
Judge Solar Kitchen Scale J415
Price £24.00

Thank you to judgecookware.co.uk for the scales.

Judge Induction Cookware - Review

Red pans look fabulous in the kitchen and the colour red is now firmly established as a classic. 

This brightly coloured induction cookware is perfect for all hobs and will brighten up the kitchen. Practicality as well as good looks is important and I like my pans to perform well too.  They have an enamel coating on the outside and the inside has a Teflon Classic Non-stick coating - easy cleaning on both the inside and outside of the pans makes washing up so much easier. The pans are dishwasher proof but I prefer to wash mine by hand, these pans only need hot soapy water and a washing up brush to clean them.

The phenolic handles on the pans are oven safe up to 180ºC which is a really useful feature and only one pan is required to brown the meat in the pan on the hob and then continue cooking in the oven.

The pans look great on an induction hob but are suitable for all hobs.

Tried and Tested:  The pans performed well both on the hob and in the oven. Cleaning is quick and easy.

20cm Saucepan with Lid £18.96
20cm Fry Pan £12.48
22cm Casserole with Lid £16.44

The pans come with a 5 year guarantee and are available from Amazon and all good cook shops.

Available in red, black, vanilla, white, cream and green - to view more of the range please visit www.judgecookware.co.uk

Thank you Judge Cookware and Pam for the review samples.

Rayburn Cookers, Summer Recipes - Chicken Caesar Salad

Dick Strawbridge demonstrates a delicious classic Chicken Caesar Salad using a Rayburn Cast Iron Oven.

Everyone who owns a Rayburn cooker always speak of them with fondness and say they are the heart of the home.

The ovens are engineered in the small village of Coalbrookdale at the Coalbrookdale Foundry which is located in beautiful Shropshire.

Sponsored Post

Whirlpool Max 35 Microwave/Steamer - Recipes

I reviewed the cool Zesty Orange Whirlpool Max 35 Microwave/Steamer in my previous posting and this follow-up posting gives an idea of how I use the Steam function.

I have tested some of the recipes from the Whirlpool website using the Steam function setting which has four levels from 1-4, these are Level 1 for potatoes/root vegetables, Level 2 - soft vegetables, Level 3 - frozen vegetables and Level 4 - fish fillets.  The steam function works by pressing the +/- button to set the weight of the food.

Warm potato salad with goats cheese

The unpeeled potatoes are cut into even size pieces to ensure they all cook at the same time. A mustard, herb and balsamic dressing is poured over the warm potatoes, the potatoes then absorb the dressing. Rocket, creamy goats cheese and cherry tomatoes are the finishing touches to the dish. The salad is a winner and I steamed a couple of salmon steaks to go alongside. Cooking potatoes in the steamer is quick and easy and the ones in the photograph took approximately 7 minutes to cook on setting 1. Here is the recipe for Warm Potato Salad with Goats Cheese.

Broccoli Soup

I adapted the Broccoli Soup recipe slightly by substituting most of the vegetable stock with milk to make a creamier soup.  The broccoli was cooked for 6 minutes on setting 2.

The spacious steamer 

Cooked Spiced Plums in Port

The delicious Spiced Plums in Port recipe takes only 4 minutes to cook on Steam level 2.  

The plums are sprinkled with port, orange juice, cloves, mixed spice, caster sugar and cinnamon
 prior to steaming 

Juicy Sweetcorn Cobs 

To steam sweetcorn cobs all you have to do is press the steam button and set level 1, the next step is to press the +/- button to set the weight - it's that easy, and in next to no time you have lovely sweet, tender sweetcorn.

For more Whirlpool Max 35 Microwave/Steamer recipes and information please visit Whirlpool.co.uk

Coming up soon:  See the microwave in my new kitchen!

Whirlpool Max 35 Microwave/Steamer: Review

I recently received a fabulous Whirlpool Max 35 Microwave/Steamer to review. The product has a retro appearance and is available in trendy bold colours.  I chose Zesty Orange to add a splash of colour to my newly planned kitchen.  My new kitchen has been designed to have a free standing microwave to fit in a corner and this microwave is rounded at the back to fit neatly into the corner of the kitchen.

The stand out features are Whirlpool's patented microwave distribution system which ensures perfectly uniform cooking by emitting microwaves three dimensionally instead of uni-directionally so food cooks faster and more evenly.

Features a glass turntable for even cooking/steaming/defrosting

There are many useful features including:
- Touch control panel at the base of the microwave
- Turntable diameter 28cm
- Capacity 13 litres
- Internal cavity height 17cm
- Maximum power 700 watts
- Internal light
- Jet Start: Maximum power level for quick reheating of liquids
- Jet Defrost: Unique 3D distribution system for fast even defrosting. This function will quickly defrost meat, poultry and fish by weight between 100g to 1.5kg.
- Cooking and reheating with microwaves only: Four power levels, 160w, 350w, 500w 700w.
- Steamer: Steaming by weight from 150g to 500g.  There are four steaming levels 1-4 and a quick reference guide is conveniently placed on the inside of the microwave.
- Microwave: It is possible to cook or reheat using this function with four power levels 160w, 350w, 500w, 700w.
- Memory: Easy to store the setting you use the most
- Pause or Stop Cooking: Setting can be maintained for 5 minutes
- 24 Hour Clock: Large clear illuminated display
- Kitchen Timer: Can be used instead of a separate kitchen timer

The steamer supplied with the microwave oven.
 Water is put into the base, food in the steamer basket and then place the lid on top.

Review:
There are a variety of functions and I use the majority of them on a weekly basis. I've been using the microwave daily for a few weeks now and I am very pleased with the way it performs.  The touch controls are easy to use and I like the fact that there aren't any buttons to press. After only a week using the microwave we really did become the best of friends. Highlights are the Jet Defrost and also the Steamer features both of which work so speedily and evenly it's impossible not to be impressed.  The microwave is user friendly and it takes no time at all to become familiar with it's functionality.

Steamed potatoes take only a few minutes to cook.

Steamer: I've steamed carrots either diced or in batons (new seasons carrots steamed are fabulous), new potatoes, broccoli, fresh sweetcorn, plums and salmon fillets are some of the foods I have steamed and tested. Although my potatoes cooked perfectly, a few of them looked a little dry after steaming but I turned them out into the liquid in the base of the steamer and then returned them to the steamer basket to drain and their appearance improved, or if you are feeling indulgent dot cubes of butter over the potatoes and they will be amazing. Sweetcorn cobs cooked in the steamer are a revelation, they stay sweet, crisp and retain all of their taste.  Everything needs to be cut the same size for even steaming results, ripe plums will give the best result and salmon fillets of even thickness will cook evenly.

Jet Defrost:  It is easy to use the touch control function - you simply press the Jet Defrost button until it displays the correct weight, a turn food symbol appears on the display part way through defrosting.  It is also possible to increase or decrease the defrost time.

Sometimes I can't decide what to make for dinner, I look in the freezer and then realise I have left it too late to defrost anything, this scenario is now a thing of the past and today I defrosted a couple of chicken legs in approximately 7 minutes. The Jet Defrost will for example defrost 500g mince beef evenly in only 5 minutes. I like to double up on recipes such as shepherds pie, lasagna or fish pie and often make one for now and freeze one for a rainy day.  Instead of leaving frozen goods out in a warm kitchen to thaw the microwave will defrost them in next to no time. I often use the Jet Defrost function and I am in awe of how quick and evenly foods defrost.

Perfectly defrosted home made bread.

Microwave:
700w - for liquids, making a cup of coffee, reheating a bowl of soup or warming a bowl of breakfast cereal.
500w - to part cook two jacket potatoes it takes 20 to 30 minutes, according to size, (don't forget to pierce them or they will explode!) then pop into a high heat oven to crisp and finish cooking.  To extract as much juice as possible from lemons, pierce the lemon with a knife and place on the turntable for 20 seconds. I also use this power level to reheat cooked vegetables.
350w - this setting is useful to reheat casseroles slowly.
160w - defrost bread rolls, slices of bread, defrost and refresh home made bread which has previously been frozen.  A tip here is to defrost bread on a piece of kitchen towel which absorbs any moisture. A useful setting for gently warming bread rolls too. Melt chocolate gently and use to thaw ice cream to a soft scoop consistency. This setting is particularly useful for defrosting home made muffins!

The +/- gives flexibility to all of the programmes.

Cleaning:  The microwave and the streamline door are easy clean, although I've noticed neither get dirty.

Door:  There is a door grip on the side of the microwave.

Pros:
- Bold trendy colours or classic colours to choose from
- Unique Jet Defrost is astonishingly quick - 5 minutes to defrost 500g mince beef!
- Steamer function is quick and efficient
- Steamer supplied
- Even heat distribution
- Turntable
- Touch Control
- Interior Cavity Light
- Audible bleep is loud
- Digital clock/timer the figures are large, well lit and can be seen at a distance
- User friendly
- Well made
- Easy to follow Quick Reference Guide supplied

Cons:
- The microwave is tall and measures 36cm
- When you open the oven door the microwave can move (we have rectified this by placing a piece of twin stick tape under two of the feet at the front)
- Internal cavity height may be a problem if you wish to use large jugs or containers

Summary:  I am delighted with the microwave, not only does it look great, it works speedily and efficiently too.

For more details please visit Whirlpool - the microwave is priced at £160.

Thank you to Whirlpool for the review sample.

Coming Up: Whirlpool Max 35 Microwave/Steamer - Recipes.

Blueberry Crunch Muffins: Recipe

I'm in the process of emptying the freezer and have approximately three weeks to either eat what's in it or throw things away.  A bag of blueberries needed using up and I decided to make these homely muffins.  There are only two of us to get through eight large muffins, I tested one to make sure they are up to scratch, I've had to freeze the remainder.  The blueberries took up a fraction of the room of seven large muffins.  I really need to think the freezer problem through and maybe start a list. The fridge/freezers new home will be in my dining room, empty and turned off whilst I have a new kitchen installed but it still needs emptying.

Over the next few weeks Kitchen Delights London Reporter @PaulFoodie will be adding to the mix by contributing more fun posts. We have reviews for Taste of London, healthy snacks, tasty barbecue spices, exciting kitchen kit, a restaurant review and in the pipeline a Guest Posting by a friend of Kitchen Delights. There will be before and after photographs of the new kitchen refit which I've been planning since the end of last year. I've also made a few things which will hopefully get posted too!

I've been sent a fabulous microwave to review which will get us through a tricky couple of weeks whilst we are without any kitchen appliances.  I'm in need of a few survival tips......

Makes: 8 large muffins (in tulip cases) or 12 muffins in muffin cases.

200g plain flour
125g caster sugar
2 tsp baking powder
75ml vegetable oil
1 egg
130ml semi skimmed milk
zest of 1 lemon
150g blueberries
Topping:
25g plain flour
15g cubed butter
1 tbsp caster sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC.
2. Place the flour, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl.
3. Making a well in the centre, add the oil, egg, milk and lemon zest.
4. Mix together with a whisk to make a smooth batter.
5. Fold in three-quarters of the blueberries. Save the remainder to place on top of the batter.
6. Add to a bowl the flour, sugar and cubed butter.  Mix to a crumble with a fork.
7. Using an ice cream scoop fill the muffin cases equally with the mixture.
8. Taking the reserved blueberries, scatter over the top of the batter, pressing down slightly.
9. Sprinkle over the crumble mix. Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden and cooked through, a cake tester is useful for this.

For more muffin recipes:
Apple Muffins
Nigella's Chocolate Banana Muffins
Crumble Berry Muffins

Stellar Colourtone 5 Piece Knife Block Set: Review

The Stellar Colourtone Knife Block Set has added a welcome splash of colour to my kitchen and is available in two on trend colourways lime green or classic black.

Five very useful every day kitchen knives make up the set: 7" Chefs Knife, 7" Bread Knife, 5½" Santoku Knife, 5" Steak Knife and a 3½ Utility Knife.  The knife blades are stainless steel, coated with an easy-release coating and are super-sharp.  The handles are two tone and soft grip for safety. Easy to clean either by hand or in the dishwasher.

Photograph showing the inside of the knife block.
The knives are stored safely and securely in a fibre knife block which is washable too.

Move over traditional knife blocks, this is the new way to store those every day kitchen knives safely and securely.  I have been using the knives on a daily basis and they feel comfortable and secure in the hand without fear of slipping whilst cutting fruit and vegetables. The knives come with a Lifetime Guarantee.

For further information and more Colourtone knife and knife block options, including knives with their own protective sheath, please visit Stellar Cookware.

Many thanks to Pam and Stellar Cookware for the knife block and knives.

Joseph Joseph Elevate Spatula Set: Review

Presented in a gift box

I have been sent this fabulous Joseph Joseph Spatula Set to review from the online retailer Find Me A Gift.  This is a very useful kitchen set, they all have weighted handles and a built in tool rest which elevates the spoon off the kitchen work surface to prevent the spoon messing the surfaces up.

They are made of polypropylene and the spoon/spatulas have flexible silicone heads. Easy to wash up but they will go into the dishwasher and are heat resistant to 340C. If you have lots of non-stick pans these are perfect for stirring.

Useful for stirring, mixing and serving.

The middle size spatula is perfect for removing all the cake batter from the mixing bowl.

The small spatula is useful for spreading out cake batter.

Great serving up spoon

The Review:

Pros:
Trendy colours
Excellent Quality Product
Innovative
They can be stored on wall hooks
No transfer of flavours
No discolouring
Easy to clean

Cons:
Nothing obvious


Thank you to Find Me A Gift for the review sample.  Find Me A Gift price £19.99 for the set.

Ozeri Touch Professional Kitchen Scales: Review

Easy to read LCD display (image courtesy of Ozeri)

When I was asked if I would like to review kitchen scales by Ozeri, I have to be honest, it isn't a name I am familiar with. They are fairly new to this country, although well known in the USA - they sell their products on www.amazon.co.uk where their premium products receive favourable reviews.

These black tempered glass kitchen scales are a slim, contemporary, stylish design and will look fabulous on any work surface, or if you don't use your scales on a regular basis they will fit easily into a kitchen cupboard.

Slim stylish design (image courtesy of Ozeri)

The scale is thoughtfully supplied with two lithium batteries so you are ready to go from the moment the scales are taken from their packaging. The User Manual is in large print and set out with clear, easy to understand instructions and diagrams. A Calorie Guide is included with the scales and whilst the measurements are aimed at the US market, the guide includes calories per gram and is useful for those here in the UK who count calories.

The kitchen scales offer:

2 x CR2032 Lithium batteries (included).
Weight Units: g, fl.oz, lb/oz, ml
Capacity: 5250g, 185.2fl.oz, 11lb 9.2oz, 5250ml
Graduations: 1g, 0.05fl.oz, 0.05oz, 1ml
Low Battery Indicator.
Overload Indicator.
Automatically turns off after 2 minutes inactivity.
On/Off/Tare Button.
Unit Button

How do they perform? I use scales most days, if you are a baker then it is very natural to weigh everything. I tested them and made a Yorkshire Pudding which means switching from grams for weighing flour to fl.oz for the milk and water.  These digital scales make it very easy to weigh and add ingredients quickly.  The tare button works in a couple of seconds, it is easy to use the different unit measurements and the weight appears on the display immediately. Ozeri have thought of everything, there is a unit measurement display for lb oz instead of the usual oz display - many people here in the UK still use lb and oz measurements. I really like the large LCD display for easy reading.

The scales are on offer at Amazon.co.uk for £12.95.

Thank you Ozeri for the review sample.

The Green Tea Metalbox Collection - Kitchen Tins by Virojanglor

Kitchen tins are really popular at the moment and these tins from The Green Tea Collection are very stylish, on trend, chic, from France and will make a classy statement to any kitchen.

I have been sent the Round Spaghetti Box with lid, which measures 95 x 330 mm high and has a RRP of £7.50.  My spaghetti has always been stored away in a plastic bag and I must say it looks much smarter stored away in a fabulous container.

The Coffee Box has a hinged lid (which works perfectly) and is hermetically sealed to keep everything nice and fresh, it measures 121 x 77 x 195mm high, will hold a 250g pack of coffee beans or similar and has a RRP of £6.50.

They are manufactured with 100% recycled materials and can be used as storage containers to keep cupboards neater (although they look too fabulous to put away in a cupboard), or displayed on the kitchen counter top.  The tins are multifunctional and stackable too. They are extremely well made and there aren't any sharp edges to catch your fingers on.

Chic range of kitchen tins

The Metal Box range from Virojanglor is available from www.topgourmet.co.uk and independent retailers.

Thank you Pam and Top Gourmet for the wonderful kitchen tins.

Stellar 3000 Stir Fry Wok - Review

I've been sent a fabulous 28cm enamel coated high gloss non-stick Ruby Red Stellar 3000 Wok to review - also available in black and vanilla.  It has two stay cool easy grip handles, these make it far easier and safer to lift the pan when it is loaded with food.

All you have to do is season the pan with a thin film of vegetable oil and you are ready to go. The wok can go in the oven up to 180°C, which makes this a very versatile pan. The pan is also suitable for all hobs. Washing up is effortless, simply soak in soapy water for a few minutes and wipe, or the pan can be placed in the dishwasher.

All of my pans are stored away in the pan draw, but this wok has taken pride of place and is permanently on top of my hob, not just because it looks great but it's multifunctional too.  I've used the pan for cooking and reheating, any liquid in the pan doesn't evaporate away and you can cook efficiently using only a thin film of oil - the pan is a pleasure to use.

Stellar 3000 is known for quality, dependability and efficiency. Stellar 3000 pans benefit from Teflon Platinum Plus, a Triple Layer non stick coating with a raised textured base for healthier cooking.

There is a Stellar lifetime guarantee, non stick guaranteed for 10 years.

Available from Amazon.



Thank you to Stellar and Pam for another amazing review product.

Microplane Elite Grater - Review

The Microplane Elite Extra Coarse -  grates cheese, ginger, garlic, courgettes or carrots 

Microplane graters are superb, they grate effortlessly and always stay sharp. It has a handy clip on grater protector for safe storage and doubles as a grating catcher and measuring cup.

Cleverly designed so that when you are using the grater it won't slip out of your hand and also the base of the grater is non-slip, there is nothing worse than using a grater which moves around the chopping board whilst you are using it.

Available in four stylish colours - purple, green, red and black. There is also a choice of different blades - fine, extra coarse and ribbon.

SRP £19.95 - to locate your nearest stockist visit www.ictc.co.uk

Thank you Pam and ictc.co.uk for the review sample.