The KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Best Kitchen Present Ever!

Did you know that the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer comes in 25 colours? That's 25 different ways a stand mixer can beautify your home.

Not only does the Artisan's 5-quart bowl give you 9 cups of flour power for the best baking of your life, but you can do it in style with the mixer that best matches your personality.

KitchenAid has recently launched Colourology.ca - a website designed to explore the unique personalities of colour by using a personality quiz to determine which KitchenAid Stand Mixer is right for you.

Each Artisan mixer comes with a Pouring Shield - to prevent splashing. Dough Hook - for bread doughs and such. Flat Beater - for cake and muffin batters and frostings. And Wire Whip - for whipping egg whites and cream and other delicate foods. Think of all you can bake up with these beauties!

Whether for yourself or that special baker in your life - the KitchenAid Stand Mixer is the ultimate holiday present. 

KitchenAid even has a highly successful awareness and fund raising campaign, Cook for the Cure.

Cook for the Cure presented by KitchenAid is your opportunity to turn entertaining into fundraising! Since 2002, over $ 2.1 million has been raised for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation by KitchenAid Canada from sponsorship of Cook for the Cure and through proceeds from their pink product collection.

The next time you host a get-together, make it a Cook for the Cure party. Invite your guests to make a donation in support of the CBCF. It doesn’t matter if the donation is big or small, as all proceeds will go towards research, education, community care and advocacy, creating a future without breast cancer. As well, KitchenAid Canada will donate $50* to the funds that you raise per party once your funds have been submitted to the Foundation. It’s that easy!

As well, all of KitchenAid's pink products raise money to help fight cancer. Read more about Cook for the Cure here - http://www.cookforthecure.ca/

The Artisan comes with the Wire Whip, Dough Hook, Flat Beater and Pouring Shield.

On top of the ones already included in the KA mixers, you can also buy special KA attachments for making pasta, sausage, baby food, grinding grains..... What can't you do with a Stand Mixer?

I have no idea. These things are bulletproof, in my experience, and are the perfect gift for the baker and cook in your life. A KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a shining jewel on your counter, as well as the workhorse of your kitchen. And, might I say... I love my KA mixer like family.

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Grilling with the President - Steak Night!

It is hot, hot, hot out there. And when it is hot? We snuggle up to the biggest heat source there is outside besides the sun - the BBQ!

Beer in hand, there is nothing a Canadian loves more than summer grilling. Especially if prep is easy-peasy.

Delicious bacon-wrapped strip loin steaks for 2

Take 1 long strip loin steak, cut into 2 equal steaks. Place them in a freezer bag with

a generous sloshing of PC Steak Spice Marinade. Seal and let marinate overnight, if possible, turning once in a while.
When ready to grill- remove steaks from freezer bag, discarding used marinade. Wrap each steak in thick-cut bacon, securing with sturdy toothpicks. Let rest on counter while you heat up the grill. (Meat cooks better from room temperature, but be careful no to let it sit out for too long)
Grill to your tastes, turning only once per side to get those nice hatch marks. Brush with more of the marinade while grilling and before serving. To make the bacon extra-crispy, make sure to grill the sides briefly too.
Let rest for a couple of minutes before serving. (Remove toothpicks)
I like to use a standard amount of toothpicks for each steak, so that I know I have found them all.

Serve with veggies and the great sense of pride you will have from making such a delicious, yet easy, dish!

I read somewhere that Martha Stewart portioned her meats and stored them in the freezer in freezer bags - with the marinade inside! That way they marinated while defrosting in the fridge. Brilliant!


Click here for more PC sauces, marinades and condiments.

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Meet My Grand-dog, an Iams Dog!

This is my grand-dog, Kimbo. He's a Cane Corso / Dogo Argentino cross and is one year old. A far cry from shih tzus! Some people are intimidated by his size, but he has no idea. He's a puppy through and through and he loves his grandma (me!). I bring him presents every time I visit him, most recently a deer antler and a lunge leash for training. (Which I had to get at a horse tack shop - I am a dedicated grandma.)

My son, Kimbo's dad or master, loves dogs and wants to work with them as a career. He loves practicing obedience training with Kimbo and of course they are best friends.

When I got to go to Ohio with P&G to visit the Iams and Eukanuba plant I was also fortunate to receive dog food vouchers for both my little guys and for Kimbo! Now grandma brings him delicious and nutritious food, too. I'm going for grandma of the year.

Touring the factory in Leipsic (which spellcheck wants me to change to Popsicle) was amazing. It was just like being in an episode of How It's Made. We wore hardhats and earplugs, hairnets and safety glasses. I won't say it was an attractive look for me, but it was kind of fun to be all dressed up like that. It was interesting to see how the food is made and packaged and the standards that they set are serious! There was much washing and disinfecting of us visitors as well as the people who worked there. I'm glad they go above and beyond to make sure the dogs have the healthiest foods possible. After all, they are family! (The dogs, not the staff, although they are pretty friendly.)

A message from Iams about their food:

The IAMS Brand offers four types of products for consumers to choose from:

•    IAMS  ProActive Health with PreBiotics improves digestion and strengthens the pet’s immune system.
•    IAMS Healthy Naturals strengthens the pet’s immune system by providing natural protein sources, Vitamin E and antioxidants, wholesome grains, and natural fiber found in apples.
•    IAMS Premium Protection offers the most advanced Iams nutrition available.
•    IAMS Veterinary Formula is designed to promote the optimal health of dogs.
•    IAMS Senior Plus formulated to address the nutritional and health needs of cats and dogs 11 years or older.

The brand’s most distinguishing element is nutritional superiority, with quality ingredients that help deliver a quality end product. Iams has led our industry with a number of nutritional firsts, including advances like tailored nutrition and foods designed for smarter, more trainable puppies. Through superior nutrition, Iams helps unleash pets’ potential, giving them more years of healthier living.

Iams makes Kimbo one happy and healthy doggie!

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Product Review: Hell Fire Pepper Jelly, Aptly Named!

I'm not one to try the ghost pepper, or enjoy the incredibly spicy dry curry at Jitlada. Basically, I can't really handle spicy food (although I'm getting much better). Still, when they offered a sample of the Hell Fire Pepper Jelly, I was curious. Yes, I'd love to try it! I've had jalapeno jam before and it wasn't all that spicy.

The small jar came with a cute little spoon. The golden color looks unassuming. It smells both spicy and sweet - hard to tell which way the taste will lean but it smells good.

I didn't have any bread at home, so I went over to Wandering Chopsticks' house and for the first taste spread it over white bread, took a bite ... sweet, a little touch of tartness, .. then it creeps up on me: oh my god, SPICY!

Hell Fire indeed! This was no jalapeno jam I randomly tried years ago, this thing is the real deal! Now, white bread is probably not the best way to eat this. WC suggested this would be a good dipping sauce for meat. Perhaps glaze for barbecued meat? Yes, I think that would work very well with this. It already has the flavor components of a sweet BBQ sauce, with a super kick.

Bottom line: if you like spicy and want to try something different, this one is for you.

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Snowiest Cities and Sam Adams' Summer Ale

The past winter, Columbia, Missouri had 51.6 inches of snow, making it the snowiest city in the US. Boston brewery Sam Adams decided to help by hosting a "Summer in a Bottle" party, hosted by brewer Dean Gianocostas. The party will be held on May 3 (that's tomorrow!), complete with grilling and beach photo backdrop. Lucky Columbia residents can win tickets through local promotions. They will also send summer ales to the 2nd through 10th snowiest cities.

Los Angeles certainly was not one of the snowiest city, but I received a special Summer Ale delivery anyway. According to Sam Adams, the Summer Ale was "brewed with lemon zest and grains of paradise, a centuries-old exotic African pepper." I was curious and googled it. Wikipedia says the pepper is a native West African plant, also commonly known as melegueta pepper, not to be confused with the South American malagueta pepper.

It wasn't as peppery as I had expected, just a hint below the citrus flavor. The golden-colored beer was crisp with a richer aftertaste, and only a touch hoppy which made it very drinkable for me. I'm sure I'm completely biased here since I drank one after a 7-hour bartending gig, but it was quite refreshing! Nothing like a glass of cold, crisp ale to revive you, right?

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