Stainelss Steel Pots and Pans

About a year ago, I switched away from non-stick pots to stainless steel. For the most part I like it. Stainless steel doesn't have to be handled carefully. You can poke with forks and flip and scrape with spoons without fear of scatching the non-stick coating.

Yes, sometimes the cleanup is more difficult. I was tought a trick by a friend. When food is stuck to the bottom of a pot, put a couple of teaspoons of dishwasher detergent into the pot, add some hot water and let it soak over night. By the next morning the food will be liberated.

We don't know why it works. It just does.

Creme Brule With a Blow Torch

For the first time I have made creme brule with a blow torche. I'm supprised how easy it is. Sugar easily turns to a nice caramel wafer when you add fire.

A word on blow torches-- while cheap is nice, make sure the blow torch you buy can handle being tilted. I bought a $10.00 torch. It makes the brule just fine, but it rapidly flames out if I tilt it more than fourty five degrees. This means I have to tilt the food instead which is difficult when the food is covered with sugar.

I am going to brule much more-- bananas and maybe even pizza by first baking the dough, then adding the toppings and applying fire.

Saar's Mart

I'm am very impressed with the Saar's grocery on Sunset. I'll admit that Saar's is a low-income now-frills chain and that from the outside, the Saar's store looks old and unkept. But, inside, it's all very clean, well stocked with good prices.

This particular Saar's makes it's own tortillas on premis. Yum!

The wine selection was excellet. The vegitables look great.

Now, a word on the meat. It was all very inexpensive. But, the beef appears to be unaged, sub choice cuts. Don't shop here if you are looking for a great steak. You will find a good roasts for slow cooking or hamburger. But, the pickings are slim if you want to eat rare.

Fortunatly Shawn & Ted's Quality Meat is not too far away.