TIP OF THE DAY: Tetsubin, The Iron Japanese Tea Pot

If you go to certain Japanese or Asian-fusion restaurants in the U.S.—or travel to Japan—you may have come across tetsubins. These small, charming cast-iron Japanese teapots are sometimes used to serve tea at restaurants in America—sometimes with matching cups. They can be purchased at some specialty tea shops and online. But if you’re thinking of…
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GIFT: What We’re Giving Friends & Family For Christmas

In ancient Greece, an obol was a silver coin worth one-sixth of a drachma. The obol you’re most likely to come across today is a clever polypropylene dish: Obol, the Never-Soggy Cereal Bowl. Many of our friends and family start the day with a bowl of cereal. The tendency is to eat it faster than…
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PRODUCT: The Best Paper Towels

We’ll buy the least expensive brands of commodity products, such as ammonia, bleach and white vinegar—products that are essentially chemical compounds with no performance enhancers. But we never skimp on paper towels (or facial and bathroom tissue, either). We find big performance differences. If you’ve bought both inexpensive and premium paper towels, you know that…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Measurement Conversion Magnet

How often do you come across recipes that require you to do conversions? Converting fluid ounces to tablespoons and cups is always a challenge for us! While there are conversion tools online, you won’t need to run to the computer if you have a measurement magnet on the fridge. This handsome and easy-to-read brushed stainless…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Prevent Cutting Boards From Slipping

Consider replacing wood cutting boards with acrylic boards. Cutting board set from Farberware.   Yesterday we took a cooking class at the French Culinary Institute in New York City, where we picked up this tip: To prevent the cutting board from slipping, place a moist paper towel underneath it. If you have slippage problems, try…
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