Author: Carma Spence

Carma Spence has been experimenting in the kitchen since she was four years old and loves trying out new recipe ideas. She is the author of Bonkers for Bundt Cakes and Your Perfect Pie, as well as author and contributor to several more non-food-related books. With Carma's Cookery, she is taking her passion for empowering people and blending it with her passion for cooking, gift-giving and entertaining.

Product Reviews Tools of the Trade

Product Review: One Touch Can Opener

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date February 27, 2008

If you are a regular in your kitchen, then chances are you know exactly how frustrating opening a can can be. While sometimes you are able to get the can open without any incident, other times the can opener either stalls, forcing you to open the rest of the can yourself through brute force or it simply doesn’t work on the can. It is difficult to see which one would be worse, since while not being able to get the can open at all can be very frustrating, getting it open partway and cutting yourself while prying it ope the rest of the way could be even worse, not to mention potentially dangerous to your health. Conventional can openers are just frustrating things and that is ultimately why the market response to the OneTouch can opener has been so great.

For under $40, you can get your hands on this cool kitchen gadget, allowing you to kiss the days of frustrating can opening goodbye! The can opener itself is shaped like a large remote control and this large surface area allows it to interact directly with the can on a number of different fronts; something you would never be able to do with the old can openers that most people still own today. The can opener’s large surface area gives it the versatility to use the one-touch system to open any can of any size. Previously the biggest knock on automatic can openers was that they did not accommodate size very well, but this is a thing of the past as far as the one touch can opener is concerned.

There are drawbacks, however. For one, the can opener is operated by battery power. Although one set of batteries can get you through opening 100 cans, you’ll still have the added expense of batteries. If you open one or two cans a day (people that use a lot of canned goods in their cooking might achieve this), that one set of batteries can last anywhere from two months to well over a year. So, maybe it isn’t that bad after all. To improve your return on investment (ROI), you can use rechargeable batteries and extend the value of the batteries even further.

Another that I found is that it can be a little hard to figure out at first. It took me quite a while to get it to open one can. Of course, after using it for a while, it will probably become second nature. But for those who get frustrated easily, this might not be the can opener for you.

Now on the best feature of the one touch can opener. Rather than leaving something sharp and potentially dangerous, the can opener leaves something that would not even cut a balloon ball open! That is simply remarkable and it is perhaps the biggest and most welcome surprise that came out of the development of the one touch can opener. Now, you can get a manual can opener that does this, but I haven’t had much luck with those, returning all of them back to the store.

I give it a 3 out of 5 chefs — the frustration factor was a bit much for me and I don’t like the added cost of batteries — I’d always need to keep a manual on hand in case they ran out and I didn’t have a backup. However, I think this might be a good choice for people who have a hard time using manual can openers.

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Tags can opener, Product Review

Tools of the Trade

Choosing The Right Bread Maker

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date February 20, 2008

There is something wonderful about the scent of fresh baked bread. But how often do you have the time and energy to do all that kneading, waiting and then kneading again? That’s where a bread maker comes in. However, there are so many to choose from that you might find it daunting to even try looking!

I’m here to let you know that choosing the right bread maker is relatively easy. All you need to do is visit your local store that sells kitchen appliances and choose the one that best suits your needs. Of course, the Internet can play an important role in helping you research before you drive around from store to store. So, how do you choose the right bread maker?

Take a Look at the Space in Your Kitchen
You need to make sure that you have enough room for your bread maker. Though not overly big, it will require some storage, so you want to make sure that you have plenty of space to place the bread maker when not in use.

Tags bread maker, Tools of the Trade

Creative Cookery Special Occasions

Cooking for Two on Valentine’s Day

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date February 13, 2008

Photo via pixabay.com [CC0 Public Domain]

I always know when my special beau calls me on my cell phone, for it suddenly will start playing “our song.” Every time I hear it, my heart flutters.

Do you feel that way about your special someone? If you do, you might want to share a special meal for two tomorrow in celebration of Valentine’s Day. You could go out and enjoy dinner together at your favorite restaurant or the restaurant where you shared your first date.

But then, there is something about a home-cooked meal that says “I love you” even more than an nice restaurant. The good thing is that cooking for two can be done and can be a lot of fun if you pour your heart and soul into the meal planning and preparations. (Of course, if you’re just thinking about this today, you might be a bit pressed for time.) That’s why I’m posting this today (besides it being a Wednesday, the day I usually post).

Tags cooking for two, holidays, Valentine's Day

Special Occasions

Chinese New Year Cooking Ideas

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date February 6, 2008

Julia and Alpha's CNY Yee Sang Prosperity Salad Photo by Alpha via Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0]

Julia and Alpha’s CNY Yee Sang Prosperity Salad
Photo by Alpha via Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0]

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Tomorrow The Year of the Rat begins, so I thought it would be a nice touch to talk a little about one of my favorite cuisines — Chinese!

There are few festivities that are felt around the world on quite the grand scale as that the Chinese New Year. In fact, I really feel for all those people in China who might not make it home for the holiday because of the dreadful weather.

This is an event that affects people all around the globe and the celebrations are quite exotic and a lot of fun for everyone involved. (Did you know that now is the time to put into place new feng shui remedies? If not, you might check out my dear friend Anna Maria Prezio at fengshuiharmony.net.)

One thing that many outsiders may not realize is that several of the aspects of the Chinese New Year celebration have a very specific purpose and meaning — including the food! Whether you are Chinese are not, I know very few people in the world that couldn’t use a small degree of good fortune to make things in their worlds run a little more smoothly.

Tags chicken, Chinese Food, dumplings, Feng Shui

Special Occasions

Super Bowl Party Foods

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date January 30, 2008

Photo via pixabay.com [CC0 Public Domain]

Do you follow football? Then I don’t need to remind you that Super Bowl sunday is coming up this weekend. Are you having a party to watch the game? Have you planned out your menu? No worries. I’m here to help out.

To be sure that you have an awesome Super Bowl feast use some of the following Super Bowl food ideas:

Think Dips

Use lots of dipping options. Chips and dip, fruit and fruit dip, vegetables and veggie dip, hot wings and blue cheese dip. The more dips the better!

Tags dips, lunch meat, party foods, super bowl

Healthy Living

Healthy Snacks That Won’t Wreck A Diet

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date January 23, 2008

Photo by Thogru (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Photo by Thogru (Own work)
[CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

And now for my last post on foods choices that help you stay on track for your weight loss resolution — Snacking, the Bane of Many Diets.

Snacking might be the No. 1 enemy of a New Year’s resolution to eat better, lose weight and get healthy. But, snacking is an important part of tiding you over in between meals. So, the question is, can you have your cake and eat it too? Absolutely! You just need to snack smarter.

Fortunately, there are some wonderful snack ideas that taste great, satisfy cravings and won’t ruin a diet. You just have to make better choices and make a conscious effort to shop smarter and reach for the right foods.

Here are some fantastic choices for snacks that won’t push a dieting plan to the breaking point:

Popcorn. When you just can’t get the craving to crunch off your mind, unbuttered, lightly salted popcorn is a great choice. Toss in some granulated beef or chicken bouillon instead of salt for an interesting flavor.
Pita slices with tuna. This is an excellent snack for satisfying an appetite and keeping health in mind. For vegetarians, a low-fat hummus is also a good choice, as it has protein that will help you feel fuller longer.
Fruits and raw vegetables. Carrot sticks, grapes, celery with peanut butter (remember to go light on the peanut butter!), apples, bananas, oranges and more can keep a healthy diet on track and ensure that snack-time hunger is well satisfied.
Granola. Plain granola bars, fruity granola and other similar options are great for keeping health in mind and hunger at bay. Just make sure that it is a low-calorie granola — some are quite high in calories.
Yogurt. Add a little fruit to plain, low-fat yogurt, or even toss in crushed granola and this option is perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth. I’ve found that adding some Fiber One cereal to yogurt makes a great snack and gives you fiber, to boot!
Trail mix. If the hankering for chocolate is too much to bear, grab some trail mix with tiny carob pieces or even a few small chocolate chips blended into the creation. Trader Joe’s has a great anti-oxidant trail mix that is quite filling.
Apple chips. While it can be hard to convince some that this alternative to potato chips actually tastes good, it does. Plus, it’s generally a whole lot better nutritionally and fat-wise.
Cottage cheese and chicken. If there’s a desire for a more filling snack, cottage cheese, shredded chicken and even a cracker or two can work perfectly without busting a diet plan. For extra flavor, mix in some taco seasoning.
Whole-wheat pretzels. This unusual snack tastes pretty much the same as its processed flour counterpart, but it’s much better nutritionally.
Raisins or other dehydrated berries. This is a sweet alternative for some very bad snack ideas. Carrying a box or two of raisins can provide a perfect snack. Don’t like raisins? Try dried cranberries or blueberries, instead.
Low-fat ice cream. It’s hard to cut this favorite out of a diet completely. Instead of reaching for the fatty, high calorie stuff, try the diet versions. The truth is some of these are rather incredible.

When it comes to healthy snacking, the possibilities are almost endless. If it’s your resolution to eat better and lose weight, consider snacks carefully before reaching for the first thing that simply looks good. There are better choices that are just as easy to grab for as a bag of chips or big piece of pie.

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Take Charge of Your Health!

Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.

This Healthy Eating Worksheet will walk you through the process of creating a healthy eating plan. All you need to do is print it out, set aside some time to complete it, and then fill it out. Then you can create your plan, knowing that you have addressed potential obstacles and came up with some creative ways to handle them.

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Tags Healthy Cooking

Healthy Living

Dessert Ideas That Won’t Blow New Year’s Resolutions

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date January 16, 2008

By Renee Comet (photographer) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Photo By Renee Comet
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Today, I continue my tips for keeping your New Year’s resolution to loose weight. Now, anybody who knows me knows I love dessert. In fact, its sort of my specialty in the kitchen. And, alas, one of the most difficult obstacles many face in loosing weight involves giving up sweets. Fortunately, you don’t necessarily have to. There are some excellent desserts that can be enjoyed without destroying a diet.

Giving up desserts entirely is not possible for some people (myself included). If you’ve got to have your sweets once in a while, there are smarter choices you can make. It is possible to satisfy a craving without destroying a diet. Moderation and portion control are the key. Here are some excellent choices to satisfy your sweet tooth without negatively impacting your diet:

Tags Dessert