As the weather begins to cool off and summer starts to end, many parents are faced with the dilemma of back to school shopping.  Though it may be a pleasant experience for some families, shopping for back to school supplies can create an added burden in a bad economy.   That is why it is important to restrict your purchases to items that will be used on a regular basis and durable enough to last through the school year.  If your child has a tendency to misplace things, try sticking with the no frills ball point pens and traditional #2 pencils.  There are many deals to be had this time of year at brick and mortar office supply stores; this week Staples is offering a $5 off $50 coupon.

Another idea to help curb costs, would be to encourage your child to start bringing their lunch to school everyday.  This would not only help reduce food expenses, but also allow you to better manage your child’s daily diet.  As a matter of fact, bento lunches are a great way to present picky eaters with fun lunch options. Offering a secure way of bringing lunches from home, many bento lunch jars come thermal insulated to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.  We carry an assorted selection of bento tools and lunch jars, shop today to see what your imagination comes up with!

With advances being made to modern cooking, it is becoming more commonplace for our diets to consist of quick ready made meals or unhealthy fast food. Even the most important meal of the day is not immune to our fast pace daily routines. However, your breakfast can still be healthy and nutritious with the right recipes and kitchen gadgets. One small appliance we find ourselves using daily is our rice cooker with built in timer. It is perfect for having steel cuts oats ready for you when wake up in the morning, plus without the hassle of standing over the stove for an hour to cook them. Steel cut oats are full of nutritional value, rich in calcium, protein, fiber and low in sodium and unsaturated fat. Consisting of the inner portion of the oat kernel, it is cut instead of flattened. As a result it takes longer to digest, making us feel fuller longer. One recipe we enjoy using for our steel cut oats in our rice cooker is:

1 Cup of Steel Cut Oats
3 Cups of Water
2 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon of Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon of Salt

Please note: This recipe requires a rice cooker with capacity of at least 5 cups or more.
Add the steel cut oats and salt into the rice cooker pan and add water. Set the rice cooker menu option to porridge (if you do not have a porridge option, you’ll have to watch the cooker more closely in case it boils over). Once the cooker switches to “Keep Warm” mode go ahead and stir in the brown sugar and cinnamon. Serve and enjoy!

This article is courtesy of John McKeen at articlesbase.com. There is a small appliance that is growing in popularity in America. This small appliance is the rice cooker. This little appliance can do much more than just cook rice. It is at home both in the kitchen and in the dormitory room. Of course, best rice cookers make perfect rice, but they can also be used for cooking hot cereals, deserts, stews and soups. They can also steam vegetables to perfection, even while cooking rice. The best rice cookers are made in Japan. There are other models that may be less expensive from other countries, but you will enjoy using the Japanese rice cookers the most.

Rice cookers come in many sizes from the small three to five cup cookers to the giant fourteen plus cup cookers. Choose a rice cooker that corresponds to the amount of rice you normally cook. They work best when used to cook rice at capacity. Remember that a Japanese cup is only six ounces. Most Americans are more used to an eight ounce cup. To adjust recipes, remember that rice cooker cups are approximately three fourths of an American cup. Most Japanese households favor the mid-sized rice cookers.

A non-stick cooking pan in the rice cooker makes cleanup very easy. Rice cooker manufacturers use a high quality non-stick surface that works perfectly with rice. Be sure that you only use the plastic rice paddle to remove food from the pot. There are several types of rice cookers available. Choose the one that meets your needs and budget. The least expensive models of rice cookers simply turn off when the water has been absorbed into the rice. These cookers are still very versatile and do a great job when cooking rice.

The next step up in rice cookers will keep the rice warm when cooking is finished. They do not have a true off position, so be sure that you unplug the cooker when finished. You will need to buy at this level or above to get a rice cooker with a non-stick pan. Some of the more expensive rice cookers have fuzzy logic. This means that they have differing settings for soup or brown rice. Some of these machines even allow you to choose the texture of your finished rice.The newest and most expensive rice cookers offer induction heating. Rice comes out perfect each time as they can compensate for variations in measurements. If you enjoy steamed vegetables with your rice, be sure that the rice cooker you choose has a steamer basket. You can steam vegetables as the rice cooks. For extra flavor in your rice add a couple of bullion cubes to the cooking water.

Do not forget that a rice cooker is perfect for a college student who is living in the dorm. They can cook their own meals in a small rice cooker and avoid the expense of the college cafeteria as well as all the unhealthy fast food. Be sure that they are stocked up on rice, canned soups and top raman for quick meals.

Whether it’s an expensive block set or an assortment of unique knives, your cutlery set is one of the most essential tools in the kitchen. By keeping the blade edges sharp, food preparation becomes easier and more precise. Contrary to popular belief, sharper knives are safer than dull ones; less pressure is needed to make cuts and the blade is less likely to slip. One of the best ways to sharpen a knife would be with a whetstone. By practicing the steps below, you can keep your knives razor sharp, saving you time and money in the process.

1.) Soak the whetstone in water for 3-5 minutes prior to use.
2.) Position the whetstone on a smooth flat surface, placing a damp towel underneath also helps keep the stone from slipping.
3.) Grasp the knife by the handle and place the blade’s edge against the stone at a 20-23 degree angle (depending on type of knife). Use your other hand and gently stabilize the blade.
4.) Using moderate pressure, slide the blade forward (away from you) and across the whetstone; making sure to cover the entire length of the blade and keeping the edge against the stone. Repeat this process 8-10 times.
5.) Next, flip the knife over and repeat the process above, this time sliding the blade backwards (toward you). Repeat this process 8-10 times.
6.) Once finished, rinse the blade thoroughly and wipe the blade dry, making sure to remove any metal particles leftover from the sharpening process. The whetstone should also be rinsed and wiped dry.
*To use different grit whetstones, follow the steps above starting off with the lower grit stone.

Last year I came across the concept of cold brewed coffee. After a bit of research, I found out that the end result is less bitter and far less acidic than the traditional hot brewed method. This is great news for those with sensitive stomachs, but just can’t resist the taste of coffee. If you own a Toddy Cold Brew System this process is much simpler, but for those that don’t here is what you’ll need:
Cold Brewed Coffee Recipe:
*2 large pitchers
*1 cup of your favorite coffee (medium to course grind)
*4.5 cups of water (room temp.)
*1 funnel and coffee filters (fine mesh sieve also works)

Start off by combining 1 cup of coffee grind with 4.5 cups of water (to make more or less you simply double or halve the recipe accordingly). Give the mixture a quick stir and put the pitcher in the fridge overnight or for 12 hours. Next, using the filter or sieve to catch the coffee grind, slowly pour the mixture through the funnel into the other pitcher (if using filters, you may need to switch them out as they overfill with grind). After straining, the coffee concentrate possesses higher caffeine content; so it’s best to dilute it before drinking.

To serve: Mix one part concentrate with one part water. (Heat in microwave to serve hot) Personally, I like mine over ice, mixing one part coffee concentrate with one part milk and 1/2 tbsp. of sugar. It makes the perfect afternoon pick me up, whether you’re at home or on the go.

Trying to maintain a healthy diet doesn’t have to be boring or bland. The shape and textures of our food often affect our palate in surprising ways. With a great recipe and the right tools, salads can become creative masterpieces. This recipe is courtesy of our fellow blogger Faith, over at The Nearest Future.

Asian Sesame Dressing:
*4.5 tbsp of Sesame Seeds
*4.5 tbsp of White Sugar
*1.5 cups (350 ml) of Vegetable Oil
*2/5 cup (100 ml) of Rice Vinegar
*1/2 cup (130 ml) of Soy Sauce
*1/2 of a Yellow Onion (chopped)
*1/2 of a Carrot (chopped)
*1 Small Garlic Clove (minced)

Blend ingredients together in a blender until smooth, then strain and discard the pulp. This recipe makes a whole blender full; so to make less just halve the ingredients. To give your salad a little more flare you can use vegetable and fruit cutters to punch out fun shapes into carrots and cucumbers. Even the pickiest eaters will enjoy and have fun with this meal.

The development of fine motor skills can be essential in your child’s early educational success, most importantly, the manipulation of their hands and fingers towards daily tasks. By improving the coordination between your child’s eyes with their small muscle movements it will better prepare them for the rigors of elementary school. In fact, more than half their time in school is spent practicing fine motor skills. Activities such as crafts, reading and writing can be mentally exhausting for children that are not accustom to the increased demands on their fine motor.

One simple and fun method to help practice fine motor skills would be through the use of chopsticks. Having your child practice using chopsticks during meals and even for after dinner activities strengthens their hand eye coordination. The orientation of their fingers while holding chopsticks strengthens their dexterity and hand muscles, resulting in improved manipulation of writing instruments. Even for adults, the mastery of traditional chopsticks can be challenging. However, there are specially designed chopsticks or practice chopsticks available that make learning to use them much easier. Using chopsticks does not have to be intimidating; with the right pair, your child will be using them in no time.

This article is courtesy of Victoria Kenton at ezinearticles.com. Cast iron teapots are sturdily-made and intricately-decorated works of art. Their heavy-duty cast iron material makes them a favorite amongst teapot collectors and also makes the perfect gift. With all of the charming styles available, most people decide to own several different styles. A cast iron teapot or a tetsubin tea pot can last for years and can be passed down through generations if they are used and cared for properly. Here’s how to use each for the first time, how to properly brew tea or heat water inside, and how to clean and care for them so they will last a lifetime.

Using cast iron teapots (with an enamel coating) for the first time requires gentle seasoning. For a cast iron teapot or a tetsubin tea pot (non-kettle style), simply rinse the inside of the teapot with warm water to wash away any factory residue and to warm the metal. Then, dry the tea pot surfaces off with a dry cloth or towel while it is still warm. The warming of the metal with the water will allow for better evaporation of the surface so it thoroughly dries.