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.

Is there a portable blender?

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A portable blender is different from a full-size one. Most portable models are designed to be quick and easy to use, with one-button operation and single-speed motors. They’re typically as good as large models for smoothies.

Why are glass cutting boards bad?

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To start with an easy villain, one of the worst boards for your knives is glass (or any stone). Glass cutting boards are very hard (almost as hard as steel) and will not score, which is why these boards are notorious for dulling even the best of knives.

When and why would you use a food processor?

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Food processors are also great for making pie dough, cutting butter into flour, chopping up veggies for anything and everything, blending salad dressings, and even making truffle batter (which, may be my favorite reason).

Can old pinking shears be sharpened?

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Tom from Pro Sharp said “it is not possible to sharpen pinkers at home. These need sharpening at the correct angle and all makes differ. They must never be sharpened between the teeth with a file.” If you don’t have a local store that can service your pinking shears, using a mail-in service is a great option.

Why do they call it dump cake?

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A dump cake is an American dessert similar to a cobbler but with a cake-like topping. It is so named because it is prepared by “dumping” ingredients (typically canned fruit or pie filling, followed by a boxed cake mix) into a cake pan without mixing.

Why is a French rolling pin better?

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Easy to clean: French rolling pins are even easier to clean than classic rollers, as there are no nooks where dough and flour can hide. Baker’s choice: Professional bakers tend to gravitate toward French rolling pins, especially when working with pastry dough.

Is Kenwood MultiPro compact food processor good?

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Though not the absolute best food processor on the market, we think it’s excellent value for money. It features a clean, modern look, along with a compact, powerful, and sturdy build. The MultiPro can do a whole lot that other much cheaper blenders can’t, such as handle nut butters, frozen fruit, and spice grinding.

Is a metal or silicone whisk better?

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The implication is that they are superior to more conventional metal whisks. The fact of the matter is that a silicone whisk might be perfectly fine for stirring up a gravy or sauce, but silicone simply will not perform as well as metal when asked to do one of the most essential whisking tasks: beating egg whites.