Molecular Gastronomy for Kids

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MOLECULAR GASTRONOMY FOR KIDS

Take culinary physics out of the lab and right into your kitchen. Roll up your sleeves together with the kids and get them curious about the food they eat!  Have fun experimenting and making a mess in the kitchen – in the name of science!

1. ICE CREAM IN THE BAG

Kids love ice cream, don’t they? Instead of buying, why not get your kids to make their own with this super easy recipe! You only need 5 ingredients to make this homemade ice cream that will delight everyone. Kids will love seeing how quickly they can make their own ice cream and learn the chemistry between salt and ice. Don’t forget to add their favourite toppings like sprinkles or for a healthy treat trying adding fruits instead!

2. ROCK CANDY

Know a budding scientist with a sweet tooth? It’s easy for you and your kids to grow a rainbow of homemade rock candy crystals with a little kitchen chemistry. Making their own rock candy is a fun and tasty way to grow crystals and see the structure of sugar on a big scale.

Tip: Crystals will form on a cotton or wool string or yarn, but not on a nylon line. If you use a nylon line, tie a seed crystal to it to stimulate crystal growth.

3. POPPING BOBA

Make bubble tea and have your boba party at home! Popping Boba are little flavoured jelly balls filled with juice that burst in your mouth when you bite into them This ingenious process is made of a technique called reverse spherification. Sounds complicated? Just follow our recipe and have a ball of a time with the entire family.

You can add that tantalizing juice balls into any desserts you like and enjoy that burst of flavours with every bite.

4. POWDERED NUTELLA

Add a degree of fun and creativity to meals with maltodextrin, a food-additive that is made from starch and is used commercially to make things like ice cream, puddings, and peanut butter smoother.  Fans of this chocolatey heaven in a jar would find this amazing as once it hits your tongue, it doesn’t stay powdered: it reverts to that gooey-smooth spread texture we all know and love.

5.FRUIT JELLY CAKE

Jelly is great for sensory play  and science experiments as its tactile, edible, smells great and also very versatile.  Rich in protein and minerals, agar-agar, also called kanten, becomes gelatinous when dissolved in water, heated, and then cooled. It can even set in room temperature, unlike gelatin. A simple, delicious recipe to do with your kids this June Holidays! To make it more fun, use moulds to create various shapes and sizes.

BONUS: FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL:
ToTT JUNIOR CHEF: SCIENCE IN THE KITCHEN

Join our Father’s Day Special class with your child! In this class, your kids get to learn the joy of cooking a meal for themselves and also understand the science behind it. A great bonding activity for both parent and child!

What will you learn:

  • BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich
    – Homemade BBQ Sauce
  • Nachos with Homemade Salsa, Guacamole, and Mayonnaise
  • Galaxy Magic Drink

June Promo: Non-ToTT Members enjoy 10% off 2 signups for this class.
SIGN UP NOW!

Tricks and Tips to care for your Non-Stick Cookware

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TIPS & TRICKS TO CARE FOR YOUR NON-STICK COOKWARE

1. USE ONLY SAFE UTENSILS

Avoid using metal utensils on your non-stick pans as they may have rough or sharp edges which can damage your pans. Use wooden or heat-resistant silicone utensils to protect and prolong your non-stick coating.

Recommendations:

2. USE LOW TO MODERATE HEAT

Too much heat on your non-stick frying pan can cause the non-stick coating to bubble and deteriorate its non-stick properties. As a guideline, use low to moderate heat and allow the pan‘s heat to rise to the desired temperature slowly. If you’re looking to sear, use a stainless steel or cast iron pan instead to achieve high temperatures and that perfect sear.

3. PREHEAT YOUR PAN

Using a fat like oil or butter before cooking helps the coating last longer but do avoid using cooking sprays. Using cooking sprays over time will cause residue to build up especially on the sides of the pan which is tough to remove and shortens the lifespan of the pan. Remember to first add the fat onto the cold pan before heating as the fats enhance the non-stick effects of the cookware. Most importantly, some non-stick pans can emit potentially toxic fumes when heated without a lubricant and this should be avoided.

4. USING FOR STORAGE

When you have finished your stir frys, use containers to keep your leftovers instead of storing  them on the pan. Food especially acidic ones can damage the coating when left for extended periods. Wash the pan with warm soapy water and a soft sponge.

Recommendation: Mastrad Stor’eat Smart Food Storage Box

5. CLEAN GENTLY

After use, let the product cool to room temperature before washing it with a soft sponge, plastic scrub or washcloths with warm, soapy water. Avoid using steel wool, stiff bristle brushes or scouring pads as they may scratch and damage the non-stick coating. If you have food residues that are stuck to your pan, let it soak in water for to help loosen the hardened bits before cleaning. The cookware must always be completely clean and dry before it is put away.

6. PROPER STORAGE

Proper storage is also an integral part of the overall maintenance of your non-stick cookware. When nesting non-stick pans, insert a paper napkin or tea towel between them to keep the bottom of one pan from scratching the non-stick coating of another.

8 Red Hot Kitchenware to spruce up your kitchen for CNY

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8 RED HOT KITCHENWARE TO SPRUCE UP YOUR KITCHEN FOR CNY

Let’s go all red for Chinese New Year! Red symbolises good luck, joy, and happiness. We handpicked eight red hot kitchenware to brighten up your tables for the New Year!

LAVA Cast Iron Casserole

Whip up a prosperity feast to usher in the Chinese New Year with your family and friends. Serve them up right from the stove in this eye-catching and vibrant Cast Iron Casserole from LAVA. It is perfect for braising, roasting and stewing ingredients. Three layers of beautiful porcelain enamel are fired twice for maximum beauty, lasting durability and superb cooking performance. Did we mention it is pre-seasoned too? You do not have to spend the extra time to season your new pot before you start cooking. Comes in other vibrant colours and sizes too!

Mastrad Mini Chopper

Looking for a handy kitchen tool to speed up your cooking preparation? This compact, non-slip mini chopper from Mastrad helps you to chop your garlic, onions and shallots in a jiffy. Simply twist the wheel on its lid for about 30 seconds to chop 100 grams of ingredients. Remove the blade and double up as a serving or storage bowl. No more teary eyes when you chop the dreaded onion!

Mastrad Silicone Quick Tongs

Designed to grab, turn, mix and serve your food with care and precision, the Mastrad 12″ Silicone Quick Tongs is a must-have for every kitchen. The heat-resistant silicone tips have a non-slip surface, which allows them to precisely grip even the smallest portions. Ideal for use with non-stick cookware, the tongs stand upright, open and close easily, and have a removable base for emptying running juices

KitchenAid Stand Mixer

Love the smell of freshly-baked CNY goodies? The KitchenAid Stand Mixer comes equipped with a powerful mixer that mix, knead and whip your ingredients with ease. It includes a wire whisk, flat beater, and a dough hook, which is handy for baking pineapple tarts and cookies this festive season. For more versatility, the attachment hub transforms the mixer into a pasta maker so you can create your wonton wrappers from scratch.

Available at ToTT stores from $1,099.

Nordic Ware Angel Food Cake Pan

Are you ready to present your show-stopping bakes during this CNY? Bake a delicious Yuzu chiffon cake (https://tottstore.com/recipes/yuzu-with-grapefruit-pulp-chiffon-cake/) using Nordic Ware Angel Food Cake pan. With an integrated centre tube, this pan ensures uniform heat distribution which allows a well-baked and fluffy cake to be achieved.

Mastrad Pastry Sheet

A favourite among chefs. Roll out your pastry dough like a pro with Mastrad Pastry Sheet. With its flexible non-stick surface, heat resistant to 230 °C; you can prep and bake on it while cutting down clean up time and use of baking sprays. The measuring guides printed on the surface makes baking a breeze – no more pulling out a ruler with doughy hands to measure!

Zevro Classic Single Canister Dry Food Dispenser

Banish the clutter from your kitchen with this stylish high-quality dispenser from Zevro. The compact design makes it easy to fit on most countertops. The dispenser is ideal for cereals, pasta, coffee beans, nuts, sweets and more. Simply twist the knob and portion out any dry food you want!

Cole & Mason Red Oxford Gloss Pepper & Salt Mill 

Bring vibrant strokes of colour and style to your kitchen countertop or dining table with Cole & Mason’s Oxford Red Gloss Pepper & Salt Mill. Using a ceramic mechanism, the traditionally shaped mills optimizes the flavour of sea salt crystals or peppercorns and adjusts grinding levels from fine to coarse by tightening or loosening the knob on the lid.

Mid Autumn Special – Mooncake & Tea Pairing

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Mooncake & Tea Pairing

Been indulging in too many mooncakes? Let us guide you on how to pair the right tea with the mooncake you are about to have. This not only brings out the taste of this delicacy, but it also balances out the richness of the pastry. Read on to find out what are the best tea accompaniments for the different types of mooncake:

1. Lotus Seed Mooncake

The ever-popular lotus mooncake is the representative of a Cantonese-style mooncake, a must-have for Mid Autumn Festival. Top-quality lotus seeds are sourced and processed to achieve a smooth and fragrant filling. To make it richer and savoury, salted egg yolks are added to give an aromatic taste.

Best Paired with: Oolong

Why: Mooncakes with salted egg yolks have a stronger and richer taste. The smoky and woody flavour from Oolong helps to bring out the fragrance of the lotus paste and salted egg yolks, at the same time balances out the delicacy’s sweetness.

2. Snowskin Mooncake

Originating from Hong Kong, snowskin mooncakes have become wildly popular across South East Asia. Unlike a traditional baked crust, the outer layer (crust) is made of glutinous rice that is preserved at a low temperature—which explains how the name came about. With a slightly chewy and stickier texture, some say it is pretty similar to a Japanese Mochi! Snowskin mooncakes can be filled with everything from lotus paste to fruits and even chocolate. Best served chilled.

Best Paired with: Green Tea

Why: Green tea has a light, bitter aftertaste that pairs well with these dessert-like mooncakes. For example, Houjicha, which has a roasted mellow profile, with low astringency pairs harmoniously and enhance the subtle taste of these non-baked snowskin mooncakes.

3. Teochew Flaky Yam Mooncake

Round, flaky mooncakes that are composed mainly of flour, shortening and sugar. This traditional delicate pastry is usually filled with a smooth and sweet yam paste. Wrapped in a thousand-layer pastry crust, this Teochew delicacy is best eaten warm by gently heating up in the oven.

Best Paired with: Jasmine Tea

Why: Flaky Yam mooncakes tend to be rich and heaty and it is recommended pairing them with a light and floral tea like Jasmine. It is the most famous scented tea in China which is made by infusing the tea leaves with the scent of jasmine blossoms which gives it its signature aroma.

4. Red Bean Mooncake

A traditional and nostalgic favourite of our parents! Filled with sweet red bean paste made from azuki beans, this mooncake has been always a sought-after flavour among mooncake lovers. Today, we see more bold and creative creations, for example infusing orange and lemon peel into it, giving the traditional flavour a new twist.

Best paired with: Silver Needle or White Peony tea.

Why: White tea is classified as a lightly fermented tea with very little or no fermentation at all, making it light, fresh and rich in anti-oxidants. The floral notes in both teas will mellow out the sweetness from the azuki beans.

5. Five Kernel Mooncake

As the name suggests, it is made up of five types of coarsely chopped nuts and seeds, held together with maltose syrup, giving it a thick and crunchy texture. Typically, they are made with almond, walnut, pumpkin seeds, winter melon seeds and sesame seeds. For that savoury bite, Chinese hard-cured ham and bits of pork fat are added into the filling too! Did you know that the assorted nuts and seeds represent the 5 moral standards of Chinese teaching: benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and trust.

Best paired with: Pu’er Tea

Why: Pu’er is a variety of fermented tea produced in China’s Yunnan Province. A stronger tea helps to balance the heavy filling of nuts, seeds and sticky, sweet maltose syrup. Drinking Pu’er not only aids in digestion, but it also helps to breakdown fat content and lowers your cholesterol.

Extra: For the tea connoisseur, consider these elegant and functional teaware to brew a cup of hot tea.

Chefs Favourite Kitchen Tools

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Chefs Favorite Kitchen Tools

There are plenty of kitchen tools that make a chef’s life immeasurably easier. We caught up with some of our favorite chefs to get their recommendations on the kitchen gadgets they swear by. Here are some of the answers we recieved!

1. Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer 4.8L

“I bake very often for my family and friends. With the Kitchenaid, it makes it so easy to make the cake batter, cookie dough and even knead bread. I enjoy making fresh egg pasta at home. My family especially my little girl loves spaghetti. The taste and texture of fresh egg pasta are just so delicious.” – Chef Claire Chang

Easily make your favorite cakes and multiple batches of cookie dough with the 4.8 L stainless steel mixing bowl without compromising on your kitchen counter space. A wide range of optional accessories turns your Artisan Stand Mixer into a true kitchen aid. Simply attach them to the mixer through the single attachment hub and you can grind meat, make, roll or cut pasta. Choose from a range of appealing colours to perfectly match your kitchen.

Available at ToTT stores from $599.

2. Lodge Square Cast Iron Grill Pan

Grill steaks, chicken breasts or pan-sear seafood in this pre-seasoned cast iron pan from Lodge. It has high sides so splatters are kept to a minimum and the ribbed surface allows fat to drain from food while also searing tantalizing grill marks onto your food.  Ergonomic handles make a safe transfer from cooktop to the table. Made of even heating and superior heat-retaining cast iron, this is a pan that improves with every use.

3. Zyliss Easyslice Folding Mandonline

“I really LOVE this tool, because it’s razor-sharp, it has five different thickness and it’s so easy to handle, wash and store! I use the mandoline every day to slice vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, cabbage or radish to prepare my salads.”– Chef Susanne Despature

Conveniently slice vegetables and fruits into the uniform thickness you desire with ease through the high grade stainless steel  blades.The easy to use dial makes alternating between functions and slicing sizes easy and intuitive. The product is ergonomically adapted to body posture and range of motion so that the user will feel as if the tool were an extension of his/her own hand. The non-skid rubber feet ensure the mandoline remains steady on the kitchen bench during use.

4. Cuisinart Hot & Cold Blender

If smoothies are part of your morning ritual or  you love homemade soups, this innovative blender is perfect for you! Make soups, dressings, purees, sauces, smoothies, cocktails and even crushing ice with this nifty machine. Sauté, cook, stir, simmer and blend without the need for extra pots and pans, and no messy transfers from pan to blender. Create your own fresh, healthy soup from start to finish in just 20 minutes with a touch of a button, you can add desired ingredients anytime during the cooking process.

Kitchen Tools to Make Healthy Eating Easy

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Kitchen Tools to Make Healthy Eating Easy

Have you been food binging during this circuit breaker? Time to swop your diet and start eating healthy for this post-circuit-breaker. From a spiralizer to a pair of herb scissors, we have rounded up a few essentials that can inspire you to eat more greens! Each one helps to simplify and shorten your food prep or cooking time.

1. Mastrad Multi Slicer Mandoline Green

You don’t have to learn any knife skills to achieve these precise cuts. With the Mastrad Multi Slicer Madoline, it comes with a set of five blades for grating, thinly slicing and cutting. Designed for safety, the tool features a food guard that keeps fingers away from the blade. Non-skid folding feet can be opened to elevate the stand, or collapsed inward for storage.

2.Benriner Vegetable Turning Slicer

With this vegetable-turning slicer, any vegetable can be cut into strands of different sizes within minutes. Made of Japanese highest grade steel, it consists of 3 interchangeable blades consisting of fine, medium and coarse. You can switch out the blades easily with the simple turning of the thumbscrew. Skip those carbs and create your own zucchini “pasta”.

Check out this recipe from Tasty: Chicken Pesto and Zucchini Pasta

3. Westmark Herb Scissors

If  you’re adding herbs to a meal when cooking, forget the knife and chopping board! Grab this lifesaver – Westmark Herb Scissors and simply chop a bunch in 1 quick snip! Made of stainless steel with ergonomic handles, the herb scissors have five stacked blades on each side, so it is easy to snip your herbs or scallions as small as you would like. If you’re worried about the scissors themselves being clogged with food fret not as they come with a cleaning comb.

4. Cuisinart 5L Digital Glass Steamer

Looking for a way to cook healthy food? Equip your kitchen with the Cuisinart Digital Glass Steamer. Steaming is a healthy and effective cooking technique because foods like vegetables retain their nutrients, as opposed to when they’re simmered in water where nutrients can leach out. The 5-liter glass cooking pot is large enough for family-size portions of vegetables, fish, chicken, rice, and more. Complete with digital LCD controls, you get full control of how you want to steam your food with pause and reheat functions

5. Zyliss Swift Dry Salad Spinner

With the Zyliss Swift Dry Salad Spinner to wash, clean, and dry your leafy greens, you might be inspired to eat more greens–and you won’t need to buy pricey bagged salads anymore. From prep to serve, it only takes a couple of steps, with just a single pump of the lever, you can effortlessly spin the water from your salad. Tight for time? This nifty gadget allows your salad to spin freely until it settles or use the brake button to stop the spin when it is convenient for you.

Ways to use a Dutch Oven

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Ways to use your Dutch Oven

A good Dutch Oven is a kitchen essential, heavy and thick enough to conduct and retain heat; deep enough to handle large cuts of meat and quarts of cooking liquid. Its heavy-duty construction and versatility make it one of the most useful pieces of cooking equipment, and one that every home cook should have in their cabinet. Here are 6 ways to put your cast iron Dutch Oven pot to work:

1. BREAD

Who doesn’t love a freshly baked loaf of bread? Bread baking in a Dutch Oven is the perfect vessel for making artisan-style loaves. The lid traps in moisture and steam released by the bread, creating that perfect crispy crust. To get a better crust, preheat your Dutch oven before adding in the dough and line the interior with parchment paper. Follow this classic homemade recipe from Tasty .

2. DESSERTS

Traditionally, people cooked these over a campfire, but don’t pull out your flint and steel just yet. You can make these treats indoors thanks to your modern oven and have your cake without the campfire.

Make this Cinnamon Rolls for a delicious breakfast or dessert!

3. SOUP, STEWS & BRAISES

Nothing beats a hearty bowl of soups, stews or braise, especially on a raining day. Dutch Ovens particularly excel at simmering and braising as it keeps heat consistent during cooking. Additionally, it retains heat long enough for at least 30 minutes after it is removed from the stove.

Try making this Dutch Oven-worthy recipe – Pumpkin Soup

4. DEEP FRYING
Frying can be a daunting task — and a messy one. The key to fright-free deep-frying is using a pot with tall sides, it helps to cut down on oil splatter as the cast iron handles very high heat without burning. If you’re looking to fry something unique and tasty in your Dutch Oven, try out this Fried Chicken recipe from Food Network

5. ROASTING

When placed inside an oven, Dutch Ovens conduct heat and transfer it to the food inside from all directions. The ability of the cookware to hold this heat means that less energy is required for long, slow cooking methods. The ovenproof lid helps retain moisture and prevents drying during long cooking times. This makes Dutch ovens perfect for slow roasting meats or vegetables.

6. CASSEROLES

The versatility of a Dutch Oven to be transferred from a stovetop to inside an oven makes them the perfect tool for casseroles. Meats or aromatics can be sautéed in the Dutch oven while on the stovetop, and then the casserole can be assembled and baked in the very same pot. You’ll be surprised at how well-textured, juicy, and flavorful the result is.

OUR RECOMMENDATION

Lava Enamelled Cast Iron Round Casserole 28cm 6.7L

Lava Cast Iron Cookware is suitable for use on all types of stovetop cooking surfaces  – in the oven or your outdoor grill.

With three coats of beautiful porcelain enamel layered onto premium cast iron and fired twice for maximum beauty, it has lasting durability and superb cooking performance.

LAVA enameled cookware are dishwasher safe. Comes in six vibrant colours to choose from.

Available at ToTT stores.

Inspiring Kitchenware for Kids

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Kid-Friendly Kitchenware for Kids

Pique your little ones culinary interest by involving them in the kitchen and help them discover the world of cooking and baking with these must-have kitchen tools!

  1. DANIELLE’S KITCHEN ESSENTIALS KIDS KNIFE

Improve those fine motor skills with this kid-friendly knife and let your little one help in the kitchen by cutting up their own food and prepare meals together. Use this gem in the kitchen to teach kids on healthy eating and inspire them to cook, bake & host. Made with German high-quality Stainless-Steel blades, it features a rounded-tip blade to keep young hands safe without accidents.

Available at ToTT stores at $13.40

2. CUISINART ICE CREAM AND SORBET MAKER

What’s better than whipping up your own ice cream or frozen yoghurt at home in just 20 minutes or less! The fully automatic Cuisinart Frozen Yoghurt Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker let you turn ingredients into a delicious and healthy frozen treat with no fuss and mess. Simply add your ingredients to the bowl, press ON, and the machine does the rest! Oh, and did we mention that it can serve as an educational opportunity to learn about science – turning regular milk or cream into a cold and tasty treat!

3. LEX LIVING SILICONE DINOSAUR CHOCOLATE AND ICE CUBE TRAY ORANGE

This cute and quirky silicone mould by Lex Living is ideal for cooking or baking with kids. Skip those nasty preservatives and make your own treats like chocolates or even fruit flavoured jellies – a great kids party idea. Easy to clean, flexible and easy to release, simply pour your favourite recipe into the mould and let it cool completely. Once it is ready, turn it upside down and with a little push from the bottom – pop them right out.

Let the fun begin!

4. CUISINART VERTICAL WAFFLE MAKER

Are your kids obsessed with waffles? Get the family together in this fun activity and let the little ones whip up the batter and decorate freshly baked waffles with their favourite toppings. Worried about not having enough space in the kitchen? The Cuisinart Vertical Waffle Maker compact design makes it great for small spaces and it truly excels at turning out consistently delicious, fluffy waffles that are just as crisp at the outer edge as in the center.

5. ZYLISS EASY SPIN SALAD SPINNER

Tired of arguing with your kids about having their greens? Involve them during the preparation process, with the Zyliss Easy Spin Salad Spinner. Allow your little one to work their muscles by getting them to spin the vegetables and share the benefits of having them in their diet.

6. IBILI COOKIE CUTTER WITH EJECTOR SET OF 6

This Cookie Cutter is the perfect kitchen gadget for baking and decorating cookies with your kids. With 6 cookie cutters in different shapes, kids can independently shape their cookies with ease with no more broken edges.  In addition to cutting cookies, it can also be used to cut pancakes, cheese and more, the only limit is your imagination.  The perfect tool for crafts, activities and play.

  1. BONUS! MARCH SCHOOL HOLIDAYS COOKING & BAKING CLASSES

School’s Out and Fun’s In with these cooking and baking classes.  We have prepared a series of Junior Chef Classes and Culinary Camps that will turn your children into mini master chefs.

Full ToTT Junior Chef Classes listing here.
Full ToTT Drop Off Culinary Camp listing here.

BTO Kitchen Essentials

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BTO Kitchen Essentials

Now you are almost all set to settle in but wait did you forget about your kitchen essentials? Having the right kitchen tools and appliances can help simplify and speed up your cooking process so here’s a list of 6 essentials for you to create your dream kitchen.

  1. Epicurean Non-Slip Series Wood Fibre Cutting Board Brown

Gone were the days when your cutting board slips while you are preparing your ingredients for that hearty comfort stew. The Epicurean cutting board comes with removable silicone corners that will help grip countertops to prevent slips and slides. No more mishaps on the countertop with this lightweight, durable and functional piece that is perfect for both preparing and serving food.

2. Cuisinart Nylon Cooking Utensils Set, 4Pcs Set, Light Blue Pearlized

Mismatched kitchen utensils no more!  The Cuisinart Nylon Cooking set includes 4 must-have favourites that every kitchen needs: Nylon Slotted Turner, Solid Spoon, Ladle and Pasta Server. Not only are these gems kind to pots and pans that are non-stick coating, they are heat resistant up to 215°and dishwasher safe too!

3. Nachtmann Crystal Vivendi Champagne Flute Glasses, Set of 4

Hosting a housewarming party? This elegant and contemporary set contains 4 Champagne Flute Glasses that are perfect for any occasion. Made from fine Bavarian crystal, the range is designed to offer maximum enjoyment of Champagne and sparkling wines.

4. KitchenAid Stand Mixer

If you love baking or even making your own homemade pasta Bolognese, you must have the KitchenAid Stand Mixer. With over 10 stand mixer attachments, you can create vegetable spirals, ground meat for making breakfast sausages and more. With so many colours to choose from, you will definetly be spoilt for choice.

Available at ToTT stores from $599.

5. Eko 12L Morandi Motion Sensor Bin with Soft Closing

 

Minimalist, ergonomic and slim, the Eko Morandi Motion Sensor Bin is unlike your usual traditional trash bin. With its intelligent sensor mechanism, it makes trash-throwing easy, hygienic and efficient. The soft-close design creates a noise-free environment and will keep your home odour-free.

6. Cristel Mutine Stainless Steel Frying Pan

Perfect for small kitchens or if you are trying to maximise space. The stackable pans and removable handles will come in handy in the tightest corners. Switch out the long handles with the side handles and the pan turns into a serving dish. A must-have in any modern kitchen

Available at ToTT stores from $194.90 – $270.90

10 Baking Hacks to Make Your Life a Breeze

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10 Baking Hacks to Make Your Life a Breeze

Baking can be a delicate affair – especially when half a cup of butter could be the difference between a show-stopping cake and a kitchen disaster. So make your life a breeze with these 10 baking hacks carefully selected by us that’ll make you feel like the best baker in the neighbourhood!

1. Get icing sugar from regular sugar!

Time for the finishing touch of dusting icing sugar over your baked goods – but you only have regular sugar! Don’t worry, you can just use your regular sugar by putting it into a food processor and blending at high speed until they reach the consistency of powdered sugar.

Get the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Processor for a portable and hassle-free appliance to do just that!

2. Juicy lemons in 10 seconds!

Need to get juices out from your citrus fruits as one of the ingredients? Instead of getting cramps squeezing them with your hands, simply pop them in the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds to get the juices flowing!

3. It just won’t come off!

Trying to add in honey or molasses into your baking mix but it just won’t come off your bowl or spoon? Just coat them with a non-stick cooking spray first! It’ll come right off and the ingredients you measured will be super precise!

4. Cut Perfect Slices of Brownies!

Always making a crumbly mess when cutting brownies? Run your knife under hot water for several seconds, dry it, and watch how cleanly your knife cuts through them! Pop them into your fridge to keep them fresh and re-heat your brownies when needed and you’ll be getting perfect slices of all your baked goods in no-time!

5. Make Instant Buttermilk!

If you want to make soft and fluffy pancakes, you’ve got to use buttermilk! Not many of us keep buttermilk readily available in our fridge, but here’s a hack to make instant buttermilk from just regular milk and lemon juice! Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (or vinegar) in a 1-cup measuring cup and fill the rest with milk. After letting it sit for 5 minutes, you’ve just got a fresh batch of buttermilk!

6. Have the hazelnuts peel itself for you!

It can be a nightmare getting the flaky skins off hazelnuts – especially when you are making some delicious homemade Nutella cream!

To make it a cinch, roast the hazelnuts in an oven until hot then place them in a damp kitchen towel and gently rub. The combination of heat and moisture will let the hazelnut peel itself for you!

7. Control the temperature of your eggs!

You are baking happily when the recipe suddenly calls for room temperature eggs – oops, guess who forgot to take out the eggs an hour beforehand? Fret not! You can regulate the temperature of your eggs back to room temperature by immersing them in a bowl of hot (but not boiling) water for 5 to 10 minutes!

8. Ripen Bananas Quickly!

Here’s a time-accelerating trick for those who want ripe bananas without the hassle of waiting for them to ripe naturally!

 Place them on a baking sheet and bake them at 300°F for about 40 minutes – you’ll get perfectly ripe bananas for you to use in your delicious banana bread and cakes!

We recommend this Jamie Oliver Non-Stick Baking Sheet that is both sturdy and reliable!

9. Get perfectly flaky biscuits and crusts!

The key secret in getting those perfectly flaky biscuits and pie crusts is making sure pieces of butter are evenly distributed inside your dough. The best way to do this is to use a cheese grater and grate the butter into the dough for easy stirring!

The Boska Stainless Steel Trio Formaggio Cheese Grater is perfect for the job!

10. IG-Worthy Cakes with a Floss!

Ever wondered how pastry chefs achieve getting those perfectly sliced cakes in their photos? It’s simple! Get unscented dental floss from any local convenience store! A taut dental floss slides through soft and doughy items with much better precision than any standard kitchen knife!