Annie Watson

Annie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Ask. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book 'Healthy Eating Through the Garden' will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Annie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.

What happened to Chefs Catalog?

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After 36 years, Colorado Springs-based Chefs Catalog will shut down in early 2016. The decision was made by Target, which acquired the upscale cooking equipment retailer and Cooking.com — another company it will close — in 2013.

How do you hard reset a scale?

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To factory reset the scale:Tap on the scale surface to wake it up.On the back of the scale, press the reset button ~5 seconds until CLr displays.When CLr displays, your scale is reset.

Can you blend alcohol in a blender?

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The general procedure is to add a cocktail’s liquors, juices, and fruits to the blender pitcher, then add ice and blend until smooth. Try blending the liquor and mixers first, then add ice and blend until mixed. This can ensure that the flavoring ingredients are fully mixed before the blender works on the ice.

Is a silicone baking mat worth it?

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Slightly sticky, these mats will stay put once you place them on a baking sheet and are a great choice when baking super thin cookies with a wet dough like tuile (they won’t wrinkle and stick like parchment). Silicone mats are also excellent for evenly distributing heat (even better than parchment).

Can you deep fry in a multi cooker?

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Your multi-cooker/steamer is truly versatile as you can prepare soups and stews, steam vegetables and seafood, deep fry, and even prepare fruits and vegetables for freezing (known as blanching).

Can you buy Sterilite lids separately?

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Unfortunately, lids cannot be purchased separately. Sterilite does not stock or sell lids or component parts separately for its products. Products are manufactured and sold as a unit to retailers.

What is the biggest size stock pot?

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Stock pot sizes are measured by the amount of liquid they hold, which is measured in quarts. The most common stock pot sizes are 6-quart, 8-quart, 12-quart, and Stock PotDiameterHeight16-Quart11 in.10.25 in.