…and a few good lessons I learnt along the way!
I have done my fair share of clumsy buys for the kitchen. If you came for a visit 3-5 years ago you would have found a drawer full of things like graters, slicers, baking trays, mixers etc which in all honesty I hardly ever got to use. But the reason behind constantly buying them has suddenly become clearer now: I was never fully satisfied with the job each was performing! Few years later and I like to believe that I’m at my best shopping skills. I’ve learnt not to clutter the space with lots of buys, and go instead only for the best. Buy it once, use it for longer! That’s the motto I’m embracing these days!
So, on the subject of smart investments, here’s the latest addition to my way-better-organised kitchen drawers: the Microplane! The graters of choice for professional chefs and home cooks like me all over the world and there’s a fine reason why everyone is in awe with the brand once they get to test it: the product is smart, efficient and it works beyond one’s expectations!
I only recently started to use the Microplane myself, but as soon as I sliced that first pepper, I knew what I had to do: clear half a drawer by getting my old kitchen tools tossed into the recycling bin! Joy is an understatement when you move into your first home and surround yourself with those gadgets that work and are meant to support you and make your life easier. Prime time to say bye-bye to cabinets cluttered with useless stuff that keep you from making the most of your space! So one big lesson learnt right there!
Back to my new clever additions! I’ll get a bit technical because this stuff was pretty impressive the very first time I researched it, just as impressive now when I get to stand still and write about my experience 🙂 Microplane tools are created by a very specific chemical process called photo etching. You might want to know how is this different from other processes and why is it important? Most graters on the market use a stamped-metal process, in which the teeth are manufactured to be the same thickness as the rest of the blade. But stamped blades are pretty dull to begin with and then dull on top of that. Photo etching, on the other hand, defines and sharpens the edge of each tooth on the grater, so the result is a long-lasting, ultra-sharp stainless steel blade. Technical bit over – and gotta say, the husband is rather impressed with my new kitchen language ;))
Here’s my Christmas tree salad recipe, I can already see this as the perfect start of a long relationship with my new kitchen tools. I’m not a dedicated food blogger, but the best part about this recipe is that you can use your favourite veggies and i promise, it’s a brilliant win with the kids!
The more colours, the better!
Ingredients
– yellow & red peppers
– cherry tomatoes
– carrots
– lots of pomegranate seeds
– orange (zest and juice)
– cucumber
– radishes
– a classic French home made vinaigrette dressing
– a star shape cutter
– hard cheese or could use bread instead for the Christmas salad star
– half of an organic lemon (zest and juice)
– rocket leaves (the kids prefer baby spinach leaves instead)
For the home made vinaigrette dressing you’d need:
– 1-2 garlic cloves
– 1 tsp sea salt flakes
– 2 tsp Dijon mustard
– a couple of white wine vinegar tsp
– a few tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Method
Wash your veggies well, then slice them on the Adjustable V-Blade Slicer with Julienne Feature – you’d be finished in no time!! So easy and smooth, and most importantly, seriously time saving tool!
I also tend to grate the lemon & orange and use the zest in all my salads or cakes (you can even freeze it for later). The Lemon peel packs a high amount of fibre and vitamin C, and it also boasts small amounts of calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
Now for the smoothest zesting experience I had so far – using the Premium Classic Zester! Such a satisfying job! It comes with a reusable protective cover for easy and safe storage.
Some of my favourite features of the zester and grater I’m using here: it’s using only the highest quality stainless steel is used, harder steel than competitors for maximum sharpness & it got a non-slip base for stability and to avoid damage to work surfaces.
Here’s how to make the vinaigrette:
Crush the garlic cloves, then mash it into a paste with the sea salt flakes. Whisk in the Dijon mustard, followed by the white wine vinegar. Add the extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp at a time, whisking vigorously to make a smooth emulsion. Season et voilà!!
Style everything nicely on the plate to resemble a Christmas tree (little helping fingers welcome), add the star, then your vinaigrette.
Et voila…
Bon appétit!!
How was the Microplane invented?
Because I love reading about behind the scenes stories, here’s a short one. Grace Manufacturing in Arkansas originally developed them as a wood rasp for carpenters. Then, in 1994, a Canadian housewife (not surprised, women are solution seekers) decided to borrow her husband’s in order to make an orange cake. The company modified the tool, and began marketing it to cooks.
Here’s another favourite bit about the Microplane: unlike everything I tried so far, the tiny razor-like cutting edges cut food without ripping, tearing or shredding which preserves and intensifies the food’s aroma and flavor. Thanks to those precise, razor-sharp teeth achieved using their signature chemical etching process. With this technology, Microplane developed an extensive range of kitchen products that make cooking a truly smooth process. Zesting, grating, and slicing are rather effortless jobs with a Microplane product. No wonder professional chefs and so many cooking enthusiasts all over the world use the Microplane graters while being stunned by its sharpness!
Last, but not least, I should mention that Microplane are pioneers in creating food grating equipment. Their high quality, ergonomic designs also feature:
* Long-lasting, ultra-sharp, stainless steel blades – made in the USA
* Ergonomic handles offer comfort through constant use
* Lifetime warranty
* Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning and prolonged quality
Designed for a range of foodstuffs including vegetables, spices, cheese and more, Microplane graters are the grater of choice for many professional and amateur chefs around the globe. I’m a busy mum, and I couldn’t recommend it more considering the time it’s saving me!
Don’t forget to enter my Instagram competition here.
*this article has been written in partnership with Microplane, but all opinions are mine. It’s a smart product you’ll see me using over and over again, it easily earned its space in my kitchen drawer and it won’t be going anywhere for a long time 🙂
