Welcome!

Hi! Welcome to my website!Cup of Tea
Help yourself to some cookies and tea. Pull up a chair and make yourself at home!
Take a look through the pages and you will be able to find information on great kitchen tools, easy and tasty recipes, tips and handy resources to help your kitchen life! I'll also post about Tupperware - my business.
If you would like to know more about me, please read my story in the "About Me" section.
Thanks for stopping by.
Just leave your cup on the counter when you're done. I'll wash it later.Smile

Tupperware and BPA - Update.

I know that people are still concerned with the topic of BPA and plastic. I get frequent visits to my website from people researching that very topic.

Well, I've got an update for all concerned Tupperware customers and users!

As of March 2010, Tupperware is all completely BPA Free! :)

From Tupperware's website:

"Tupperware has the highest regard for the safety of the consumers of its products and the functionality of these products and will continue to closely monitor this scientific debate. The Company also acknowledges the attitudes of consumers regarding the material. In its continuous search for the best materials for use in its products, Tupperware has found other materials to replace polycarbonate with improved performance characteristics. Effective March 2010, Tupperware ceased using polycarbonate for the small number of products which are currently in the product line in the U.S. and Canada."

Daily Homemade Bread in Minutes

I joined a mama forum recently which has really inspired and excited me in many ways. One of the very first things I stumbled on was a delicious looking artisan bread recipe - which, of course, I had to try. The Book

It originally came from a book called Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg, MD and Zoe Francois (shown here on the right). Knowing how much I love the smell of fresh bread, I did as much research as I could on the experience and gave it a go.

There are two locations online that I referenced as I was learning all about this bread and how it could possibly be a success in our home. First of all, I checked the official website of the authors: www.artisanbreadinfive.com  and then I was directed to tMY loaf of artisan breadhis website: www.motherearthnews.com which had a lot of amazing information! 

I pulled out the Thatsa Bowl and started working. It was really easy and once the original rising period is over, you can pop it in the fridge to last for a few weeks - when you can just cut off a hunk of dough, shape into a loaf of whatever shape your heart desires, rise for 20 mins then pop in the oven to bake. It smells delicious, looks amazing and it is so deceptively easy! The picture to the left is actually MY loaf.

I highly recommend taking a look at the recipe and giving it a try. Easy. Tasty.And it makes your house smell awesome. What more can a person ask for? 

Easter Treats From Rice Krispies

While spending too much time on Facebook today, I was inspired by a mommy friend who posted about Rice Krispies and their tasty treats. Their website has some yummy and cute looking easter eggs which would be fun to do with the kids before Easter arrives. I think I've found what I'm going to be doing with the boys this week! 

  • 3 Tbsp butter or margarine
  • 1 pkg (10oz about 40) regular marshmallows OR 4 cups of mini marshmallows
  • 6 cups of Rice Krispies or Cocoa Rice Krispies
  • Assorted candies, sprinkles or icing

    1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

    2. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

    3. Using 1/3-cup measuring cup coated with cooking spray divide warm cereal mixture into portions. Using buttered hands shape each portion into egg shape. Cool. Decorate with frosting and/or candies. Best if served the same day.

    Expiration Dates

    While hanging out at a parenting forum that I like to frequent, one of the ladies directed us to a website called StillTasty.com I had no idea what to expect. After checking it out, I really wanted to recommend it to you all. I had NO idea about the actual shelf lives of food. Sure - there's an expiry date, but what does that MEAN? This website allows you to see exactly how long foods, condiments, drinks, and spices stay fresh - and whether you should keep them in the fridge or pantry for optimal storage. Check out the section called "Keep or Toss?".

    There's also a wealth of knowledge in the questions answered section - ranging from if it's safe to eat pizza left out overnight to freezing cheese! 

    Today, I'm going to share one of their articles - all about expiration dates. 


    Expiration Dates: Should You Pay Attention?

    from www.stilltasty.com

    The dates on food labels can be confusing. The truth is, they often have nothing to do with food safety. Here's what you really need to know.

    You’ve assembled everything you need for the perfect deli sandwich: Genoa salami, prosciutto, some thinly sliced provolone and a crusty baguette. To top it all off, you reach into the fridge for your favorite spicy mustard.

    And then you notice it. The “Best By” date on the mustard bottle was 4 months ago!  

    You might think you’ve got to ditch the mustard and settle for a ho-hum sandwich. But that’s not the case. Here’s what you need to know about food expiration dates:

    • Use-By, Best if Used By, Best By, Best Before: These "use by" and “best” dates are generally found on shelf-stable products such as mustard, mayonnaise, and peanut butter.

      Can

    The date, which is provided voluntarily by the manufacturer, tells you how long the product is likely to remain at its absolute best quality. But it is not a safety date.

    After the "use by" or “best” date has passed, you may start to notice gradual changes in the product’s texture, color, or flavo

    r. But as long as you’ve been storing the item properly, you can generally consume it beyond this date.

    Your best bet for gauging whether a product with this type of date is still of satisfactory quality is to simply smell and taste it first. Always discard foods that have developed an off odor, flavor or appearance. You can also consult the Keep It or Toss It database for optimal food storage times.

    • Sell-By:  Most sell-by dates are found on perishables like meat, seafood, poultry and milk. The date is a guide for stores to know how long they can display a particular product.

    You should buy the product before the sell-by date expires. But you can still store it at home for some time beyond that date, as long as you follow safe storage procedures (check the Keep It or Toss It database for specific foods).

    For instance, milk that has been continuously refrigerated will usually remain drinkable for about one week after the "sell by" date on the package. Likewise, you can store ground beef in your refrigerator for 1 to 2 days after purchasing it, even if the sell-by date expires during that time.

    • Expires On: The only place you’re likely to encounter this type of date is on infant formula and some baby foods, which are the only food products the federal government regulates with regard to dating. You should always use the product before this date has passed.

    • Packing codes: These codes, which appear as a series of letters and/or numbers on the package, sometimes indicate the date or time of manufacture. Often, though, they simply appear as a meaningless jumble.

      Either way, packing codes help manufacturers and grocers rotate their stock and quickly locate products in the event of a recall. But they are not meant to be interpreted as an indicator of either food safety or quality. 

      For more information on product dating, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service Web site.

       Note: This article refers to labeling terminology used in the United States; practices in other countries may differ.

    Discontinued Items

    These items are NOT in the new Spring 2010 catalogue. Some are leaving permenantly. Some were limited or seasonal releases. Some are getting new colours. And some are being reconfigured into new sets. Either way, until March 12th, this is the last that you can order these the way they are right now. Contact me if you want anything!

    Holiday Stacking Canister Set 
    Holiday Snack Canister 
    Fall/Winter Fruit of the Season Tumblers 
    Holiday Microfiber Kitchen Towel Set (G) 
    Pies to Go Set 
    Simple Perfect™ Pastry Sheet 
    Chef Series™ Pro 9-Pc. Steak Knife Set 
    Tupperware® Impressions 32-Cup/7.6 L Bowl 
    Cupcake Keepers Set 
    Prep Essentials® Cold Cut Keeper 
    Tupperware® Impressions 16-oz./500 mL Tumblers 
    Serving Center® Set 
    Sipper Seal® Domed Set 
    Bell Tumbler Set 
    Freezer Mates® Complete Set 
    Freezer Mates® Herb Saver Set 
    FridgeSmart® Large 
    FridgeSmart® 3-Pc. Set 
    Corkscrew 
    Tea Combo Set with Madagascar Spice Green Tea (G) 
    Tea Combo Set with Darjeeling Black Tea (G) 
    Tea Combo Set with Lemongrass Green Tea (G) 
    Vent ’N Serve™ 9-Pc. Large Set 
    Micro Pitcher Set 
    FridgeSmart® Small 
    CrystalWave® Soup Mug 
    CrystalWave® Lunch’n Dish with Cold Cup 
    Sandwich Keeper Set 
    Insulated Tumbler with Drip-Less™ Straw Seal 
    Commuter Mug (Q) 
    Large Sports Bottle 
    Microwave Luncheon Plates 
    FridgeSmart® Medium Long 
    FridgeSmart® Large Round 
    Tea Infusers 
    Chef Series™ 8-Pc. Cookware Collection 
    Heat ’N Serve® 6¼ Cup/1.5 L 
    Heat ’N Serve® 8¼ Cup/2 L 
    Ice Prisms™ Small Bowl Set 
    Oval Microwave Cooker Sales 
    Oval Microwave Cooking Rack 
    Vent ’N Serve™ Divided Dish 
    CrystalWave® Divided Dish
    Dora the Explorer™ Meal & Snack Set 
    Pick-A-Deli® Round Container 
    Cereal Storer 
    Dessert Blend Gift Set (G) 
    Taste Sensations Set (G) 
    Tupperware® Teacup, Saucer & Spoon Set 
    Tupperware® Sugar & Creamer Set 
    Large & Small Spice Shakers Set 
    Freezer Mates® Large 2 Container Set 
    Complete Salad Set 
    Spring Cooking Set 
    Fashion Lunch Set (fundraiser item) 
    Personal Salt & Pepper Shaker Set (fundraiser item)

    Muffin Tin Mom

    Last night as I was surfing around the mommy blogosphere, I came across a link for something called Muffin Tin Mom. I admit, it caught my interest and I had to check it out. I was pleasantly impressed. 

    I mean, what could be wrong with a meal in a muffin tin!? Isn't this cute?

    The basic premise is that once a week (on Muffin Tin Monday!), you make a meal in a muffin tin for your kids. Usually the meals have themes - colours, a book, the alphabet and so on.

     Of course, I happened to stumble onto the game the night before, and don't have near as cute a muffin tin as the one shown here, AND they have a "no theme" week this week, leaving me wondering what to do!

    But I decided to give it a try. I went with the previous week's meal idea - Colour: Orange. Here's what I did:

    I dug through the pantry and found some orange Jell-o and whipped it up using the "quick set" method (because it was 10am when I finally decided to go orange!) The boys LOVE Jell-o, so it was the perfect excuse.

    I have several unused mini-loaf pan and muffin wrappers, so I used them in a bigger empty container to seperate all the foods. I will go on the hunt for a cuter, more kid-friendly-sized set of tins this week. 

    Here's what today's lunch included:

    • diced peaches
    • grated cheddar cheese
    • Jell-O
    • Ritz cheese sandwich crackers
    • carrots (except for the older son who is the pickiest ever… he had a processed cheese square)
    • and mango juice (not shown)

    I'm pretty excited about this website find. I think it will make us think about food more and gives me some creativity around lunch time. Next Monday's theme is the colour yellow and I'm already deep in thought about how to make that happen.

    Now, I just need to find some tins!

    Muffin Tin Monday at Her Cup Overfloweth

    Slash Food Waste

    From the September edition of Chatelaine Magazine.

    As I was sitting in the waiting room for an appointment, I abstractly picked up a magazine and flipped through the pages. Before I knew it, I found myself reading a great article about the amount of food our society wastes and how we can be better at saving the stuff we eat.

    Along with the article, was a great list of 10 Ways To Slash Food Waste. I thought I'd share it with you because it was so full of amazing ideas that really CAN help reduce our food waste.

    1. Know what’s in your fridge and cupboards before you shop so you don’t double up on ingredients you already have. Then write down the expiry dates of perishables and post them on the refrigerator so they’re in your face every time you open the door.

    2. Use a thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator. Health Canada advises setting the thermostat at or below 4 C.

    3. Don’t freeze supermarket meat, fish or poultry in its original packaging. “The plastic film used by most supermarkets allows oxygen to reach the product, which can cause freezer burn,” says Abe Van Melle, who trains future butchers at Calgary’s Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. Instead, unwrap the meat, rewrap in plastic wrap and then put it in a zip-lock bag and press down to get rid of extra air – this will keep fish and chicken fresh in your deep freeze for up to six months and beef and pork for up to a year.

    4. Throw leftover parmesan-cheese rinds into a hearty tomato soup for loads of added flavour.

    5.  Use stale bread for French toast or bread pudding, suggests Anneli Rufus, co-author of The Scavengers’ Manifesto. (You can also pulse it in a food processor for bread crumbs, or cube, toss in olive oil and toast in a medium-heat oven for croutons.)

    6. Toss mushy tomatoes with olive oil and garlic, then roast and serve in pasta, in salads or as a side dish.

    7. When Sandi Richard, host of Food Network’s Fixing Dinner, needs to clean out the fridge, she makes a strata: “Spray a casserole dish with oil. Toss in leftover meat, veggies, cheese, three cups of cubed bread and any herbs you like. Cover with four beaten eggs mixed with one cup of milk, then bake for 45 minutes.”

    8. Have a basket of overripe peaches or nectarines on your hands? Rufus freezes halved, pitted stone fruit on cutting boards before transferring them to plastic containers. She also freezes lemon juice to use up later in salad dressings and desserts.

    9. Jennifer McLagan drains and freezes liquefied animal fat from cooked meat for future use. “Sautéing chicken in poultry fat, for example, adds another level of flavour,” says McLagan, author of Fat: An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient, with Recipes. She also drizzles reheated bacon fat over steamed veggies.

    10. Rethink your serving sizes. Nobody benefits from enormous portions, especially when they go straight into the waste bin.

    You can read the full article by Bonny Reichert by clicking HERE.