Appliances to Help Keep Those New Year Resolutions

It’s that time of year when we stuff ourselves with Holiday cooking and vow to have a healthy attitude toward food at the beginning of the new year (maybe after the BCS championship).

One of the best ways to eat healthy is to take control of what you eat by cooking more meals at home. Steam cooking an ideal method for preparing quick and simple meals that are equally healthy and delicious.

Steam cooking offers a host of benefits including faster cooking times as well as optimum retention of vitamins, nutrients, flavour, colour and texture. With steam cooking, food absorbs only the moisture it requires – which means no over cooking. Food cooked in a steam oven can also be a lot healthier as you don’t need to add any oils or fats to keep food, such as chicken, from drying out in the cooking process.

Appliances to consider adding to your kitchen are combination models that steam food and use convection to brown and crispen them. Cooking a chicken in 20 minutes may sound good but your guests may be more interested in eating it if it has a golden color.

Sharp’s AX1200 SuperSteam™ Oven. This oven is almost like having 4 in one with SuperSteam Convection, Steam, Convection and Microwave cooking options. This oven also offers flexible placement options. It can be built into a 30″ cabinet or placed on a countertop. The child safety lock ensures the door will not be accidentally pulled down.

The EKDG6800 Combination Steam Oven from Kuppersbusch also offers Convection cooking with a few extra features such as automatic altitude adjustment and automatic limescale indicator. Although pricey, this sleek, Reddot winning appliance, is sure to enhance any kitchen decor.

Miele offers a steam oven that can combined with its warming drawer for an integrated installation. The DG 4082 Convection Steam Oven is only 24″ in width but it offers an impressive array of electronic controls from the food driven menu to the multi-language LCD display. The 1.25 liter water reservoir means no direct plumbing is required.

The VCSO Combi Steam/Convect™ Oven from Viking has the Classic Viking appliance look. It offers 6 cooking cycles including ProBake which seals in moisture while browning food. Viking offers 3 different sizes of trim kits so this oven can easily be added to 27″ 30″ or 36″ wide spaces. Just like the Miele, the water reservoir holds 1.25 liters for 2 hours of steaming.

The BS 270/271 – 24″ Combination Steam and Convection Oven from Gaggenau has a direct water convection so you never have to remember to fill a reservoir. This oven has a side hinged door for easy access and is available in a stainless steel-backed or aluminum-backed glass front. The LCD control panel is integrated into the bottom of the door offering an uncluttered appearance and large view of the oven interior. A few key features of this oven include Automatic boiling point detection and a Child Safety Lock. A 30″ model is offered with the option of a direct plumbing connection or reservoir tank.

December 14, 2009

2010 Color of the Year: Turquoise

Pantone has officially named 15-5519 Turquoise as the 2010 Color of the Year.

For the last few years various shades of aqua, cerulean, teal, and ultramarine have been tremendously popular so this color choice doesn’t seem to be much of a stretch. The true turquoise shade that they have chosen does seem to have more depth and a higher concentration of green than the icy aquas we have been seeing.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says there was no runner-up to turquoise in her mind because people crave escapism and freshness after a tough year. The shade is on the cusp of blue and green, which makes it both inviting and serene — characteristics associated with blues — and invigorating and luminous, which comes from green, she says.

Pantone’s color for 2009 was mimosa yellow, intended to carry a hopeful, optimistic message. Eiseman says the public is shifting gears as the economy shows some improvement: They are ready to fantasize a bit about the beach resort.

Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. Here are a few pictures for inspiration.

November 12, 2009

Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater

After air heating and cooling, home water heating is the largest in residential energy consumption. Hot water heaters are responsible for about 17% of residential energy use.

The new industry-exclusive GE Hybrid Electric Water Heater is designed to provide the same hot water homeowners are accustomed to, but requires only about half the energy to produce it.

The water heater first uses a heat pump to bring the water up to the temperature of the ambient air. Then the electric water heater takes over, bringing the water up to 140 degrees F. This takes longer than direct heating but it only consumes 550 watts of power. If you need more power for visitor’s showers, then the electric element kicks in providing more hot water with a shorter recovery time.

The GE Hybrid Electric Water Heater is designed for easy installation because it uses the existing water and electrical connections and occupies the same footprint as a traditional tank water heater, making it perfect for new construction or a replacement upgrade.

A 30% federal tax credit may kick in for those qualified, alongside some state side Energy Star savings.

* Consumes up to 62%* less energy than a standard electric water heater
* Results in energy savings of $320 per year*
* Exceeds ENERGY STAR® minimum requirements of 2.0 Energy Factor (EF) with 2.35 EF
* Available November 2009 in 50 gallon size

November 5, 2009

24″ Ranges

A 24″ range is a great appliance for a tiny kitchen. While the choices were once slim, today there are many to choose from.

Fisher & Paykel smooth top range
This little gem has a sleek glass top and a warming drawer with moisture selector. The self clean cycle makes it great for a busy home.

BlueStar Range with swing door
The versatility of this all-gas range makes it a favorite. The griddle top is a must for a vacation home.

American Range commercial grade range
This range offers sealed burners with infinite controls and multiple oven settings including convection. The large glass door makes keeping an eye on food easy.

Vulcan restuarant-style 24″ range
This little powerhouse offers 115,000 total BTU with the oven totalling 35,000 BTU. Option casters are available too.

Avanti duel fuel range
If you prefer a duel fuel range, the Avanti is a great choice. It’s self-cleaning oven reaches temperatures between 120 and 480 degrees. If you are really tight on space, Avanti also offers 20″ ranges.

Smeg gas range
This beautiful range comes in all gas or a dual fuel model. Heavy duty continuous grates can handle the largest of pots. 9 cooking modes are available as well as an electronic cooking display. Optional LP conversion kit is also available.