March 2023 – I Want To Cook

Behold The Food Mill: Still Relevant For The Modern Kitchen?

Take one look at a food mill, or better yet get your hands on one, and it might think it’s a relic from a bygone era. It actually is. The food mill as we know it was created a century ago by the Foley Manufacturing Company, and back then it revolutionized the home kitchen.

Essentially a hand-cranked blade attached to a sieve, the food mill is a food processor, in that it transforms food from one form to another. In this case, soft fruits and vegetables can be loaded into the bin, cranked, and are extruded through the bottom as a puree or juice.

While the modern kitchen is now filled with electric food processors, mixers, and myriad other devices, food mills continue to be made. Mirro makes this Foley model similar to my vintage Foley, and Oxo makes this model that is improved with interchangeable grinding discs that let you choose between fine, medium, and course grinds.

Or you can just hunt for one at a thrift store, as I did. If memory serves, I scored mine for like $7 from my local thrift.

But the question you might have, and that this post so prominently asks, is: Are food mills still relevant?

How To Make Homemade Croutons In An Air Fryer

Croutons may not be big on your culinary radar, but you sure know when they’re missing from a meal. Just think of eating a salad without those crunchy, herb-laden bits. Or perhaps pea soup sans croutons. Boooring!

When most of us want croutons, we simply grab a bag off the shelf in the grocery store. And those storebought things are all pretty serviceable. But if you want croutons that really stand out or need a particular kind — like gluten-free croutons — you’re far better off making them yourself.

Good news: Making croutons at home is amazingly easy. Especially if you have an air fryer. Here’s how.

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron vs. Enameled Stoneware: What To Know

The next time you step into a Le Creuset store or shop online, you’ll find two similar-looking but very different options: Enameled cast iron or stoneware.

If you’re reading this, you probably already know about Le Creuset. But as a very brief background, Le Creuset is a famous French company known for its premium cookware. Le Creuset is most recognized for its enameled cast iron pieces, which are distinctive for their rainbow of colors.

Le Creuset has been making these beautiful pieces for nearly a century now, and they are equally loved by chefs and home cooks alike. Le Creuset also makes and sells a wider variety of cookware and kitchen gear, ranging from tableware to tea kettles and ramekins. But one particular type of Le Creuset cookware looks quite similar to its iconic enameled cast iron pieces, and that is its stoneware.