kitchen Archives - Little Becky Homecky

5 Smart Cooking Devices You Should Own

May 23, 2021 Jewells Home, Living

Cooking in the kitchen these days is a matter of simply looking at your smartphone. And as we can see why Wi-Fi connections through the various devices in our kitchen tell you so. Are you ready to get cooking with some smart devices so you can attend to more pressing matters?

Here are 5 incredible cooking devices you need to add to your modern kitchen list in 2021.

Drop Scale

Unlike the old days where you needed to get out that dusty old recipe book, there’s a modern alternative. Taking a look at the Drop Scale might look like an ordinary digital scale, but this is so much more. It connects to your smartphone to a registered app and works through this scale too. One look at your touchscreen and you can search for the exact recipe you want to make. When it comes time to add the ingredients to your mixing bowl, everything is accounted for. Even if you missed an ingredient, it lets you know to add salt or alternative items that’ll go in instead.

Through the app, you can immediately scroll-through meal ideas with an interactive touch. The scale itself is connected directly through Bluetooth and helps you to gather and correctly measure all your food ingredients. It also gives you a great step-by-step visual guide to preparing your food instead of reading recipe text. It works on nearly all iPhone, iOS devices, and of course Android phones too. Even if you’re missing certain ingredients, the program will adjust what you do have to make it right. If you’ve got a tablet, this kitchen fairy program will make cooking a breeze!

Slaouwu Smart Vacuum Sealer

Gone are those days when you needed to store food in a baggie. Now you can seal nearly anything with an airtight vacuum seal instead. This compact device is portable enough to store inside your kitchen cabinet. It also does an excellent job of removing air from special vacuum bags and sealing them. Not until you’re ready to cook and eat your food, the contents stay fresher until you use them. It has a special setting that tells your sealer what is being sealed. Even seal bags that have prepared meats with marinades. Your meat will have never tastes better.

There’s also a manual hose attachment for sealing wine and other bottle drinks to preserve flavors longer. Your favorite chips and snacks can also be saved so they’ll never lose that familiar crunch. Seal fruits, vegetables, and even nuts to keep them from spoiling early. If you’re a fan of Sous Vide cooking, you’ll want to have this handy vacuum sealer on-hand. Anything going into this vacuum will see the air sucked-out in under a minute. For left-over foods, you can also use vacuum seal containers that help preserve salads and sliced fruits. With this kitchen sealer, you’ll work smarter in the kitchen instead of shopping for more food that went to waste.

Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker

This is the new model and improved over their previous Anova discontinued model. This version features 1000 watts of power and is meant for serious Sous Vide cooking. But you don’t have to be a pro to use this smart model since it comes with a special app. Now you can start cooking via the app and monitor the cooking time. It lets you know through the app when your food is cooked to perfection. What is even more exciting is that you don’t need special tubs for your water, this Anova cooker attaches securely to any plastic tub or pot.

All the parts can be machine washable as well, making clean up less of a chore. Once your food is cooked, you simply remove it from the vacuum bag and finish it with a flaming sear. Steaks and meats need just a quick grill in the pan to get the familiar sealed crust you like to enjoy. Thanks to the new and updated app, you now have access to thousands of recipes using Sous Vide. Many of which are from celebrated chefs, who also love cooking with their Sous Vide cooker too! Never look at cooking the same way again with this smart device.

WiFi Smart Wireless Thermometer

One of the very first, ‘true wireless’ meat thermometers that you’ll find on the market today. It’s connected to a smartphone app while being run through a Bluetooth connection. You can program the type of meat and monitor the inner temperature that reaches its’ optimal core cooking level. It lets you know when your meat is done so you don’t overcook the internal meat. You also get the ambient outside temperature. This kit is extra convenient since it contains two thermometers for larger roasts and meat cuts.

The app further allows the settings to include notifications and alerts. If your kitchen oven is connected to Alexa, you can control the oven temperature, so nothing is left to chance. This way, you can monitor your meats while you make a quick run to the store. It works great for long-range on many iOS devices and Android phones. Now you can take your BBQ skills to the next level of geek chic’ with these high tech smart devices. What even better is that the taste of perfection is never compromised by guesswork anymore! You’ll love what these smart and portable thermometers can do for you.

Instant Pot Smart Pressure Cooker

We know how you like getting your hard jobs done easier with Alexa, making cooking more manageable. So why not make your pressure pot make fool-proof meals you won’t need to slave over. This incredible 8-in-1 pressure cooker does more than stews. Thanks to the interactive app that comes with this pot, you can find thousands of recipe ideas to make. This is a 6-quart chamber pot that can feed a whole family or up to 6 people at a time. It can work as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, make rice and porridge, yogurt, an ideal sauté; and searing pan, a cake maker, and even a general food warmer!

It’s a simple as setting it and forgetting it, only this time you can get all the updates and notifications. Find out how your meal is doing via the mobile app. Set-it up on your Android or iPhone and still have time to check out the latest dishes. You can plan for your next meal while this pressure pot does the cooking for you. You can even use to sterilize household items like pacifiers, baby bottles, and canning jars. Even the stainless steel inner pot is machine washable. Say goodbye to hot stoves and hello to smart app pressure cooking.

How to Make a Kitchen Look Bigger

December 28, 2019 Jewells Home, Living

Having a spacious kitchen is truly a luxury; not needing to worry about where things go, how to have items organized, and overall having the kitchen feeling like a clean space, can “make or break” the area. Unfortunately, not every kitchen is designed to have enough space for all your needs to be met.

However small your kitchen may be, there are a number cheap and simple tricks you can utilize to help make a kitchen look bigger and give you plenty of room to work without having to expand the square footage of your home or make expensive renovations! It’s all about the art of illusion and minimalism. By removing visual clutter and allowing light to flow freely through your space, you’ll be creating an optical illusion of sorts.

Let’s start with the basics

Before going out and spending money on having your kitchen space completely remodeled, there’s a couple of things you can do right now to make a kitchen look bigger.

Natural Lighting

Allowing natural light into a kitchen and almost any other room, can have the room feeling more spacious and inviting. By having natural light come into the space, it can give the illusion of being connected with the outdoors and virtually become a limitless space.

Consider using opaque-color or sheer curtains on your windows, to help provide privacy, while still allowing light to flow into the kitchen naturally. If privacy isn’t of concern you can just remove any curtains outright.

Now, I understand, not every kitchen has a desirable view when looking out the window, adding some plants and flowers can easily make the area much more appealing.

lighting in kitchen

De-clutter

Let’s face it, one of the main reasons for any area feeling cramped and confined is having too much stuff. The kitchen is for cooking and dining!

Countertops and other surfaces tend to be attractive areas to put your stuff, whether it be stacks of papers, books, or loads of other things that simply do not belong in the kitchen. Take a few moments and toss the junk away or store it in another location. A simple question to ask is “would this item be in the kitchen of a restaurant?” If not, move it out of the kitchen.

Even having a sink full of dishes, can have your kitchen feeling like a mess and utter chaos. Having an empty sink is almost a mandatory if you care to have your kitchen looking neat and spacious. Make a habit of taking a couple of minutes to wash and put away the dishes… this will help tremendously and give you the peace of mind you deserve. No one likes a messy kitchen.

This is what we don’t want:

De-clutter-kitchen

Open, Airy Shelving

Open Airy Shelving
Adding a form of open shelving can give you additional space to store dishes and give the kitchen more of an open feeling. Now, before going out and start replacing your cabinets with open shelves, a cool, simple trick to emulate open shelving is to remove your cabinet doors. That’s right, consider removing select cabinet doors… having closed cabinet doors can make a space feel even more closed off than it already appears.

Whatever route you choose to take for creating open shelving, just be sure the items you have on display are neatly organized. Remember we’re going for neat, organized and not cluttered!

Bright and Uniformed Color Themes

One of the easiest ways to give more depth and vibrancy to a room is selecting a paint scheme that is easy on the eyes.

Dark color schemes are known to make a room look smaller, gloomy, and almost “cave-like.” By utilizing whites or bright colors, light is able to travel freely and reflect naturally in the room… giving it an airy and clean appearance. You’ll want to keep the colors uniformed and avoid transitioning from dark to light colors.

In general, the lighter and brighter colors used, the brighter and more inviting a room appears.

Creating Illusions with Mirrors

Well-placed mirrors in a room can create an illusion and make a room appear larger.

Since mirrors naturally reflect light, both natural and artificial, a room will be brighter and more vibrant at any point of the day. Ideally, placing a mirror near the window, will optimize the amount of light coming in naturally. You can also maximize the light in the room by placing the mirror in an area of the room that doesn’t receive much natural light. Additionally, angling a mirror towards a focal point or creates an illusion of depth within the room.

Furnishings

Now that we’ve covered the basics tricks, that are basically free to implement, here are some fairly inexpensive options to help make a kitchen look bigger and more suited for your comfort.

Lighting & Lamps

Lighting & Lamps in kitchen
Lighting is one of the main elements in making a room appear bigger. Much like allowing natural light to come into a room, using a lamp will also brighten the room, making it appear a bit larger. Ideally, you’ll want to use yellow or white colored lights, creating the sense of warmth, peace, and inviting ambience to the kitchen.

Another easy and cheap implementation is the use of cabinetry lighting. By placing light under or above your cabinets and cupboards, you’ll get rid of any dark shadows that can make the room feel small. It doesn’t take much to install LED strips, and many come with additional features allowing you to choose the brightness of the light.

If the kitchen space allows for it, a unique and interesting light fixture hanging from the ceiling can work wonders. By directing attention upwards, a sort-of height illusion is created, further adding to the illusion of a larger kitchen.

Slim, Clear, and Space Efficient Furniture

One that should be fairly obvious, using space efficient furniture will minimize the amount of space being used. There are a plethora of furniture options ranging from kitchen stools and chairs to breakfast tables, that are slim, compact and extremely space efficient. Simply avoid using thick, clunky furniture and that alone will help expand the space you have available.

The goal here is to get rid of “visual clutter,” much like removing cabinet doors… another option is to get clear furniture. Clear furniture, like shelves, tables, and chairs, will get rid of visual clutter with ease, almost as if the object isn’t even there!

When we’re talking about space efficiency furniture, having multi-functional pieces can make a huge difference in giving you more room to work. Furniture as simple as stacking or folding chairs can help you maximize your space when they are not being used. There are a number other unique pieces like rolling kitchen islands or kitchen carts that serve as not only another surface but, can also provide extra storage space!

https://zazoulounge.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/awesome-counter-chairs-in-tractor-stool-design-within-reach-inspirations-7.jpg

Decor Appealing to the Eyes

Lighting & Lamps in kitchen
Adding a sense of comfort to your kitchen will make it seem much more inviting and larger all at the same time. Feel free to add decor to your kitchen, once it starts looking comfortable, you’ll soon forget that the room is actually pretty small. You don’t want to go overboard with the decorations, keep it in moderation.

Simple additions like plants, flowers and pictures can make the space feel like a place you’d care to stay in for awhile. Again, we’re talking about optimizing your space usage. When it comes to pictures or hanging art for example, it may be wise to use a large picture to cover a portion of a single wall than multiple pictures all over the room.

Kitchen Appliances

Appliances that are left out in the open like microwaves and toasters, can also serve in adding to the illusion of space we’re creating. Much like the mirror effect, stainless steel and kitchen appliances that have a “shine,” allow light to reflect freely… remember the more light we have in the room, the better.

Farmhouse Sinks

Many modern homes are built with a double basin sink. If you’re really looking to have as much countertop space as possible and budget allows for it, you may want to consider replacing your double basin sink with a “farmhouse sink.” These single basin farmhouse sinks can give back to you, a hefty amount of countertop space that would have otherwise been used as an additional sink.

Although this option takes a tiny bit of kitchen renovation and redesign, it may be worth while and give your kitchen the ideal space for which you’ve been looking to obtain.

Compact Dishwasher & Slimline Refrigerator

Compact Dishwasher & Slimline Refrigerator
Many modern refrigerators and dishwashers are perhaps the largest items in your kitchen and can take up a large amount of space. Luckily, there are space-efficient dishwashers and refrigerators that can be purchased to help maximize the amount of space you have in the kitchen.

Creating a comfortable and spacious kitchen can be done without needing to knockdown walls and engage in heavy renovations for extra square footage. The goal is to make a kitchen look bigger, by removing visual clutter and taking a minimalist approach to interior design you can have your kitchen as a space to love working in.

Kitchen Cabinetry Tips for a Farmhouse Kitchen

August 8, 2018 Jewells Home

Kitchen cabinets are the first things that visitors will see in your kitchen. You can go with a rustic flair, modern minimalist, vintage, distressed wood style or the classic black or white cabinetry.

Options are widely varied. That’s why it is important to get the look and feel you are envisioning into reality. Research and create mood boards that will help you in redesign a lot easier and simpler.

Farmhouse living is very different from city living. That’s why to meet the traditional activities of farmhouse living, this décor style was intended for expansive families. Community engagement with a feeling of inviting neighborliness gives a high measure of comfort. The kitchen cabinet becomes one of the key features of the genuine farmhouse style– straightforward, useful and pragmatic.

Characteristics of the Farmhouse Kitchen cabinet

1. Laid back and cozy feel

Generally, farmhouse kitchen style is characterized as having a feeling of comfort and solace. This feeling takes us back to a time of wholesome family dinners and rural day to day living. Farmhouse style is easygoing and less formal compared to country style.

2. Modest design

Farmhouse style kitchen cabinets have a simple and straightforward design. This style is portrayed by a basic and direct outline.

Not at all like country kitchen cabinets, which are overwhelming with details and ornamentation, farmhouse style kitchen cabinets have simple lines which are complemented with plain trims and framing.

3. Ingenuous materials

The farmhouse style kitchen models itself from nature and targets to adapt the outdoors by using natural or ingenuous materials like hardwood.

4. Homely and rustic appeal

Farmhouse kitchen cabinets gives off a rustic appeal. Rustic vibe reminds us of provincial and rural living. Furthermore, rustic aesthetics give off rough finishes and unpolished materials which richly embodies this style.

5. Reclaimed wood and vintage touches

Reclaimed wood is commonly utilized to accentuate farmhouse style kitchen cabinets.

6. Textured finish

The main identifier common to farmhouse style kitchens are unpolished and textured materials. The aesthetic of unpolished and rough material is common to raw materials.

types of cabinets — Image from Home123.com

The combination of textured and polished materials in farmhouse kitchen gives off that depth and homely vibe. This mix of textures can be achieved by incorporating glass inserts, reclaimed wood accents and trims.

7. White and light hues

The most common colors of farmhouse style kitchen cupboards are breezy and brilliant. This makes white and light tones as the primary choice for farmhouse style kitchen.

8. Popular styles

Many aspects of farmhouse cabinetry will include popular styles that will be appealing to homeowners. There are many styles that you can choose from but the ones that have more impact on farmhouse cabinet style will be specific by design. Here are great styles you might want to check out.

Wood

The principal material for farmhouse style cabinets are natural solid wood. Current kitchen cabinets make use of synthetics such as laminates and thermofoil. Farmhouse style cabinets plentifully utilize wood throughout its layout. This is in light of the fact that the farmhouse kitchen style is inclined towards a laid back cozy aura mixing in the fresh outdoors through the natural wood.

Quality hardwood, for example, cherry, maple, and oak are the most popular options for farmhouse kitchen cabinets. In general, cherry is for the craftsman kitchen and oak is equivalent to country style kitchen, while pine is most loved for farmhouse kitchen.

Pine is a type of softwood that has characteristic light yellow shading. In contrast with hardwood, pine easily dents. In most cases, to fortify its strength and quality, it is subjected to pressure treatment. Common types of pine utilized for farmhouse kitchen cabinets are Eastern white pine and Western white pine. Its unique knotty aesthetic makes it ideal for that provincial vibe and a popular easy choice for designers. Pine has a natural yellowish tinge to its wood. Some treat it with wood stains to effect a different tone. A great characteristic of Pine is that it takes on finishes quite well.

Techniques

1. Re-purposing

This technique gives life to otherwise old and worn materials. The time worn look of the material boosts the rugged appeal of the farmhouse kitchen. Re-purposing makes use of reclaimed wood or distressed wood which are salvaged pieces of lumber. These are used to create new pieces of furniture, cabinets and embellishments. Reclaimed wood can be used in a farmhouse style kitchen setting in so many ways. Whether for cabinet doors or for open shelving units, distressed wood provides for a more rustic appeal. It can also be used

2. Paint

For farmhouse style kitchen, paint is basic, plain and smooth. The goal is for a more straightforward, easygoing and casual aesthetic. This works complementary to rural styles and rough textures. Farmhouse kitchen style does not associate itself with fancy and ornate designs and finish of the country style. A more desired effect is the distressed vibe which creates a weathered, authentic look that goes well with vintage decor.

3. Unfinished or Raw texture

A popular finish for the farmhouse kitchen fixtures is the raw, unpolished look. This is often used to effect a rugged vibe inherent in most farmhouse kitchen styles. MOst woods used for farmhouse projects look wonderful and tasteful in unpolished finish with clear coating that highlights its natural wood grains.

4. Staining

A technique called staining enhances the beautiful natural grains of wood. It is a great finishing option to use for farmhouse style cabinets. Medium to Dim stains are perfect to give wood a whole new feel and texture.

Most common styles of farmhouse kitchen cabinets

1. Shaker cabinet doors

Shaker-style doors are unique since they are often 5 pieces of wood that are immediately iconic looking. Four pieces form a frame with an inset piece that creates the center. The centerpiece is often recessed and is set back further so just the frame immediately stands-out. The wooden surfaces can be natural or painted with handles that are added for an antique look.

2. Beadboard cabinet doors

Beadboard is a distinct type of wood that has grooved lines that are cut into the surface. They run vertically along with each piece with 1-inch or 2-inch spacing between each groove. It’s a classic look that farmhouse kitchens are known for. The frame of this cabinet door is also four pieces with the beadboard set into each frame. Cabinets of this style look better with knobs handles rather than looped handles.

3. Chicken wire cabinet doors

What kitchen doesn’t have more of a farmhouse look than to add chicken wire inset into the cabinet door frames? This is an addition that does need to be added if you are having your kitchen cabinets redone or refurbished. Real chicken wire is then cut to size and added to the center of each cabinet frame. It can be sandwiched between two layers of glass or attached to a backboard frame.

4. Glass cabinet doors

Glass cabinet frame doors are classy but old-fashioned since they are also related to French-colonial kitchen designs. These frames often include decorative glass, etched glass, frosted glass, or individual framed glass sections within a frame. More often than not, glass frames are clear so they offer a view into the cabinet itself. Classier cabinets will include etched glass or beveled edges.

5. Rustic

6. Vintage

7. Modern

8. Grayscale and White Cabinets with Black Accents

Trending farmhouse cabinetry

Some people might say that farmhouse kitchens are on their way out. But the good news is that some new trends are making this style a bit more exciting. Here are three hot trends that are making country kitchens a bit modern while sticking with farmhouse-style tradition.

Contemporary shaker farmhouse cabinets — Contemporary shaker

Black and white farmhouse cabinets — Black and white

1. Contemporary shaker cabinets

The new example of shaker cabinets will include a lovely satin-gloss or high gloss to their smooth surfaces. These not only make your kitchen hold onto the farmhouse feel but it gives a direct contemporary feel. Even the knobs and handles can be updated for something a bit more modern. This is a great refreshing update if you want to give your kitchen a fresh new look, without losing the farmhouse feel.

2. Black and white cabinets

Farmhouse cabinets that are boring-looking can get a fresh updated look with a combination of black and white. This works especially well if you use a high gloss finish that is long-lasting Items in your kitchen that may include islands, hanging kitchen cabinets, and countertop cabinets that can have a combination of black and white spaced throughout. It’s better to choose a paint that is enamel or oil paint.

3. Rustic is still hot

While overhead wood beams are always an iconic visual touch used for country-style farmhouse kitchens, cabinet doors are included too. They can be just as gnarly for texture but should be sealed to prevent splinters or slivers. Wood cabinet frames can be refinished by stripping paint and then using s wire brush along the wood grain. The best wire brush to use is often a BBQ grill cleaning brush. It will scratch away at the wood revealing wood grain.

After this, you brush the wood until you have the right texture. These cabinets should be blown-off and then sealed using a matt lacquer that will soak into the wood. The wood can be stained further to bring out the wood grain detail by adding stain into the deeper parts of the grain. After two coats these cabinet doors will be sealed enough to last for several years. Handles and knobs can be returned to the original spot where they were drilled.

Must-Have Cooking Tools and Gadgets

March 31, 2018 Jewells Home

Great Kitchen Tools Under 50 Bucks

You might not realize that a successful cooking experience depends on a lot more than having a good recipe and high-quality ingredients. That’s why we’ve provided this list of tools, utensils, and other accessories that will help make your life just a little easier in the kitchen or on the grill. If you’re unsure whether any of these products would be worth it, give it a try. You might find that investing in a helpful kitchen tool pays for itself in the time and energy you’ll be saving!

Wifi Meat Thermometer

Long gone are the days of hovering near a smoker or grill to manually check the temperature. This handy grilling accessory will send an alert to your smartphone once the meat reaches a pre-set temperature. Its large digital display and wireless technology help take some of the hassle out of grilling so you can focus on the good stuff. For a complete review of other WiFi thermometers check the full review completed by the Meat Geeks.

Buy here for $50

Stainless Steel Herb Scissors

If you’re clumsy with knives or not very comfortable handling sharp edges, investing in a pair of herb snippers designed just like scissors can be a helpful, safe alternative. A set of five blades and a portable safety cover that makes them safe for travel. Simply place a small handful of herbs between the blades and cut like a piece of paper. You’ll find that your cuts are straighter, evenly sized, quicker, and safer for the whole family.

Buy here for $8

Silicone Snap and Strain Colander Accessory

Available in black, red, and green, this snap-on strainer comes with special clips that fit most standard size pots. You’d be surprised at the amount of space you’ll save in your cabinets when you trade in your old, bulky colanders for a snap-on. Despite its compact, lightweight size, the portable strainer is ideal for pasta, vegetables, even more dense foods like sliced potatoes. Not only that, but it’s dishwasher safe, completely reusable, and, of course, heat-resistant.

Buy here for $11

Bottle Opener Multi-Tool 2-Pack

This handy pack of two innovative multi-functional bottle openers will eliminate the need for different-sized bottle openers. With different compartments made for twist caps, pull-tabs, classic beer caps, even jar caps, you can open any bottle or jar with ease. Great for those suffering from joint stiffness in addition to those just looking to clear up space in a cluttered kitchen drawer. These bottle openers claim they can not only protect your hands but also save time and space by combining all the different types of can openers or cap removers you can think of.

Buy here for $15