I am seriously considering the purchase of an Oster Digital Food Steamer. I truly believe that my waistline and overall health would benefit from it.

This steamer is reasonably priced and gets excellent reviews. It has a total capacity of 6.1 quarts… a 2.3 quart and a 3.8 quart tray. The larger tray comes complete with an egg holder, capable of accommodating eight eggs. (You have the option of hard or soft boiled.)

(While I’m on the subject of eggs, you might want to read my post on deep fried deviled eggs, too. YUM!)

The Oster Food Steamer has an instant steam feature, meaning that it starts to cook as soon as the lid is closed at it is turned on. It also has an external water fill system that is very easy to keep an eye on… so there is no need to worry about running out of steam, before your food is done.

Since the trays stack, one on top of the other, you can cook a complete meal all at once. As with other steamers, you place foods with the highest moisture content on the top tray and foods with the least concentration of moisture, on the bottom.

To make cooking a breeze, this food steamer, by Oster, has a 95 minute timer and a delayed cooking time option of up to 12 hours.

What do you steam the most and like the best? Please share the recipe, here.

I’ve had an original Bundt cake pan, for years. There are also several nifty shaped Bundt pans that I WISH I had. So, you’ve probably already pinpointed my fondness for these delicious cakes.

They are pretty much a holiday tradition, at my house. It seems like they are gobbled up faster, every year, regardless of the decided upon flavor. Bundt cake fanatics are a loyal crowd.

I’ve always made this yummy dessert from scratch and really can’t tell you why. Believe me, there have been many instances when I would have appreciated the convenience of a Bundt Cake Mix. Since I’ve run across them again, I’ve already made myself a promise to purchase one when Thanksgiving rolls around.

There are several varieties to choose from including: Sticky Toffee Pudding, Tunnel of Fudge, Caramel Apple Spice, Vanilla Bean, Zesty Lemon, Cinnamon Streusel, Chocolate Decadence and a more traditional brownie mix… great to make in mini Bundt pans.

If you read the reviews on these cake mixes, you will see that folks are raving about them and don’t have issue with the price. (Look at it this way, the mix is MUCH less expensive than ordering a bakery cake.)

If you have had the opportunity to try these mixes, please feel free to tell us what you think. Personally, I can’t wait to try them.

Anyone who reads ChefShopper with any regularity probably already knows that I love Cuisinart products. Not only are they very affordable, they are of excellent quality as well.

If you are a small household, in need of a food processor, I hope you will consider the Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus Food Processor. This machine gets wonderful reviews from passionate cooks, everywhere.

It has a 3 cup capacity and is perfect for smaller tasks like chopping garlic and grinding spices and nuts. It comes complete with a handy spatula, recipes and instruction booklet. The Mini Prep is available in white or brushed chrome.

This food processor does NOT have a zillion buttons, meant to confuse you. It only has two… chop and grind that are capable of handling the vast majority of kitchen jobs.

I’ve been on a homemade salad dressing kick, lately. Believe me when I tell you it’s SO much tastier than the commercial variety. This processor would be great, for dressings, sauces and marinades, don’t you think?

It has touchpad controls, which means easy cleanup. (You don’t have to worry about ingredients getting accidently sloshed on and in between the buttons.) It features a retractable cord, as well. Chopping never had it so good!

I have never owned a picnic basket and after finding this one I feel a bit cheated. Suffice it to say I wish I had a Catalina Rose Picnic Basket AND a hubby with a few more romantic tendencies.

This picnic basket is a beauty. It’s handcrafted of willow and bamboo, in true picnic basket style. It features a hardwood lid that effortlessly provides a mini table for two glasses of wine or other preferred beverages.

The basket includes absolutely everything you need for a perfect picnic. All you have to worry about is the menu. Fried chicken, potato salad and baked beans, oh my!

You get: 2 pretty melamine dinner plates, 2 glass wine goblets, 2 large cotton napkins, 1 tablecloth, 2 stainless steel knives, 2 stainless steel forks, 2 stainless steel spoons, 1 corkscrew (also stainless steel), 1 wood cutting board, 1 cheese knife, salt & pepper shakers and two plastic food storage containers.

Picnics are a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. There is nothing like a little relaxation, good conversation and a yummy meal to make you feel rejuvenated.

Take the time, this summer, to enjoy an old fashioned picnic. Yogi Bear will be the first to tell you, you’ll be glad you did!

Ok, so I have a problem. I already own a Cuisinart ice cream maker that I adore, but I just ran across this Cuisinart ICE-45 Ice Cream Maker and I want it, too. My poor husband will never understand.

It makes soft serve ice cream, sherbet, yogurt and sorbet… in as little as 20 minutes, no less. It features three built in condiment dispensers, giving you the ability to create extra yummy frozen treats.

Like other Cuisinart ice cream makers, no ice or salt is needed. You just freeze the mixing container overnight and you’re good to go. (Since I usually have extra room in my freezer, I store the container there. That way, it’s always ready to use.)

The pull down handle allows you to dispense the finished product into bowls or cones. If you prefer cones, the machine will hold either the pointed bottom or flat bottom variety.

Since this ice cream maker is completely automatic, I’m thinking that your kids will have a blast making their own treats… honestly, I think my 19 year old would enjoy using this.

If you frequent soft serve ice cream shops, why not purchase one of these nifty appliances and make an even tastier variety at home. I’m going to, as soon as I can explain the need for TWO ice cream makers, to my hubby. Wish me luck, I’m going to need it!

Even though they are far from nutritious, I LOVE ice cream sandwiches. There is a small convenience store, near my house, that sells them. Suffice it to say I’m probably one of their best ‘ice cream buying’ customers.

The problem with that, besides the extra calories I’m consuming, is the price I am paying per sandwich. I would certainly save money, making my own. So… I’m currently in the market for a couple of Ice Cream Sandwich Makers.

Honestly, until now, I never realized that some of these even existed. The shaped ones would make a nifty little gift, for a Mom with younger children.

I found them in cute animal shapes and though the piglet was somewhat appropriate. I found them in geometric shapes and traditional rectangles, as well.

I think I have decided on the style shown above. (I’ve always been a traditional kind of girl.)

This particular ice cream sandwich maker comes complete with a spreader and sandwich cutter. How much easier can it get?

You can use many different things to replace the traditional chocolate wafer… cookies, brownies, graham crackers… the choice is really up to you.

If you happen to own an ice cream maker, like I do, you can make even tastier treats. Can you say YUM!?

Memorial Day is a distant memory. The camping season is upon us. That means there is no better time to invest in a Pie Iron… or two. Honestly, they are appreciated by kids of ALL ages, myself included.

Pie Irons are available in both round and square varieties. Besides pie making, the square ones are great for sandwiches, pizza rolls and fish sticks, while the round ones work well for things like burgers and pita bread creations.

With a little practice, you can even bake things like refrigerator biscuits and cinnamon rolls. The Pillsbury doughboy will be proud!

There is no set in stone rule that you have to wait to actually GO camping to use a pie iron. If you are one of countless families that have a fire pit, in the back yard, you are definitely good to go.

‘Fire pies’ have become so popular that you can even purchase accessories to go along with your pie iron. Consider picking up a cookbook and/or carrying case, as well.

Do you have a yummy recipe that you’ve adapted for a pie iron? If so, feel free to share it with the rest of us. Especially if it happens to be dessert oriented.

I have been considering the purchase of a Vita-Mix Blender, for several years. In my eyes, it has always been the ‘king of blenders’… capable of blending each and every concoction I can possibly locate or come up with on my own.

Depending on the model you purchase, your Vita-Mix will come with a wet blade container, a dry blade container or both.

If you can afford it, I suggest you opt for both because you will be able to prepare that many more recipes.

You have the ability of purchasing the containers separately, as well. This actually makes it more affordable for everyone to own one of these state of the art appliances.

You will probably end up using the wet blade container more, but will soon find that the dry grain container is perfect for tasks like grinding grains, rice and even BEANS into flour (how cool is that?)… great if you make homemade breads and other types of baked goods.

Yes, I admit these blenders are certainly not cheap. But when you consider the fact that they take on some of the toughest jobs, in the kitchen AND last forever (almost) they are SO worth it!

If you have used a Vita-Mix, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts. You can even share your favorite recipe, if you are so inclined.

Today, I thought I’d take a minute to mention the Panasonic Automatic Bread Maker with YeastPro. If you are looking for a bread maker, this one gets great reviews from bread lovers everywhere.

This seems to be a good choice, for smaller kitchens. As the proud owner of the Zojirushi Bread Bakery, I can honestly say that I love it but wish it didn’t take up so much counter space.

The machine allows you to choose from three different bread sizes… medium, large and EXTRA large. (My personal favorite!)

It has several baking modes, which can easily be changed with the touch of a button. These include: pizza mode (make your own pizza dough), bake only (great for gingerbread and fruitcake), raisin bake (a handy beeper lets you know when to add ingredients such as raisins and nuts) and sandwich bake (make soft crust bread).

This particular model comes equipped with a 13 hour delayed timer. So, if you happen to be one of those people who love to wake up to the smell of fresh bread in the morning (and really, who isn’t?) this is the bread machine for you.

I’m always looking for new bread recipes. Please feel free to share your favorite with all of us.

Have you ever secretly wished that one of your small appliances would fizzle out, just so you could buy a replacement? I’m almost ashamed to admit that I have… as recently as today.

I have two slow cookers. Both have been good to me. BUT, I want the Cuisinart Slow Cooker, pictured here. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is anything I can do to justify buying a third. I’ll just have to wait it out.

This slow cooker is very sleek looking, don’t you think? For those of you that have stainless appliances, in your kitchen, this would be a perfect match. (Brushed stainless is great, for hiding little handprints.)

I’ve never used a programmable slow cooker, but think it’s a great idea. This particular model comes complete with a cooking rack, which will come in handy for SO many things. (I see a new set of ramekins, in my future!)

It has a four quart capacity and four convenient temperature settings. Other features include an LED touch control panel and 24 hour timer. The temperature setting automatically switches to ‘warm’ at the end of the cooking cycle.

This would make a wonderful gift, for yourself, or anyone who loves to cook. A spiral-bound cookbook is included.