Novica offers everything from furniture to kitchenware. Knowing that we needed some unique items for the kitchen led me to looking at everything from salad bowls to drinking glasses. I had $75 to spend, which is often not a lot of money when you’re buying for the home, but Novica does have a nice variety of lower priced items, so if you’re looking for something small or practical you can often make your money go a long way.

After much deliberation about what was going to make our new living space shine, we decided to go with some drinking glasses and a glass pitcher. To be more specific we ended up choosing, the Spirals of Thought Glasses in Blue and the Glass Pitcher in Aqua.

Javier and Efren are the artisans that made our Spirals of Thought Glasses. These glasses are far more beautiful than the picture gives these men credit for. You really do need to see them to fully appreciate them. Each glass is slightly unique due to the fact that they are actually hand blown. The glass is quite thick, which I enjoyed as I am used to the standard sets bought in stores that are plain and often break quite easily due to being lightweight. These two men have been working together since the 1990s and offer excellent products. We received a six glass set for $39.99, which was an incredibly fair price for the thickness and the beauty of the glasses. We couldn’t be happier with them.

Since we have had them, they have been put to the test. They have been used daily for our family and when we have guests. My big worry with them (as with any glasses) had to do with the staying power of the glasses. I don’t know how many times I have purchased a set of glasses only to see them break during washing or after daily wear and tear. We’ve had these glasses for quite a bit and so far we have only lost one. It actually had more to do with a pan slipping out of my hand while washing dishes, as opposed to actually breaking the glass for other reasons.

Javier and Efren also make the Glass pitcher in Aqua. Unlike the Spiral glasses, which have a blue rim and spirals of blue running along the clear glass, the glass pitcher is clear with the exception of a thick aqua colored rim. I cannot say how invaluable this has been to me. We tend to make a lot of frozen juice and this pitcher is the perfect size for that. It sits in the refrigerator with no problem and it makes any flavor juice we want with room to spare. We’ve had friends comment on how much they like it, and we have to agree, we are big fans of it, too. The pitcher was available for under $30, though the last time I checked the website it was not currently available.

With every purchase you make, the artisan that creates your item includes a story card so you can learn more about them and the process behind making your items. This was a nice added touch that I enjoyed seeing in the package. Due to the fact that most items are handmade, shipping can take between one and three weeks. While this could be seen as a deterrent for some, the quality is certainly worth the wait. It’s safe to say you won’t find anything like what you can find at Novica during a local shopping trip! So, if you’re in the market for a great holiday gift or need some unique home furnishings you should give Novica a look, chances are you’ll find just what you’re looking for and a whole lot more.

Technorati Tags: Novica, Hand Blown Glasses, Moving Feature, Product Review, Kitchenware, Drinking Glasses, Artisans, Unique Gifts, Spirals of Thought, Javier and Efren

The thing I was most excited about was the various grill plates that are available with the Evolve grill. Each grill comes with four plates. You get your top plate, which is a cross cut grill plate (making steaks and paninis with that nice cross cut), a bottom grill plate for steaks, burgers, and other meats, and two other plates that will vary based on the unit that you purchase. We received a deep dish plate that allows you to make baked goods or casseroles and the muffin insert, which handles all of those delicious muffin options.

We’ve only used this once since unpacking it about ten days ago. We made burgers for some friends. We had burgers and hot dogs and surprisingly enough, almost everyone, except the three year old that was visiting, wanted a burger. The burgers came out crisp around the edges and grilled to perfection. The burgers had virtually no grease on them thanks to the Foreman drip tray and sloped design that removes most of the grease/fat from your meat, ensuring that your food is juicy, but not sitting in fat. I would put these burgers up against any burger joint or family restaurant we’ve been too lately.

This week we will be testing out the deep dish baking tray to make some Rocky Road Brownies and I am sure it won’t be long until we attempt some lasagna. As far as the muffins go, it’s getting to be fall and I cannot wait to try out something pumpkin or perhaps something caramel apple. I’m even considering seeing if these might work for some mini-cheesecakes that our guests can personalize during parties. As for the grill plates, between chicken, burgers, steaks, and grilled sandwiches I think we will be all set. I have to say that I am quite impressed with all of the things that you can do with the Evolve Grill. It’s so versatile that it vastly cuts down on the need for cooking on the stove or in the oven. This is not only healthier for you, it also cuts down on energy as it takes more to power up your oven than it would the much smaller, George Foreman Healthy Cooking Grill.

Even though I say it’s smaller, the cooking space is actually impressive on the Evolve Grill. We put down four nice sized burgers and they weren’t touching. You could also fit a nice sized Porterhouse or two smaller Strip steaks on the grill or possibly three nice sized chicken breasts. There is plenty of room to cook for the family. It’s no longer a grill just for one or two people.

One of my favorite things about the Foreman Healthy Cooking Grills is the non-stick feature. So often, even with non-stick surfaces, I have gotten used to using cooking spray, butter, or something else to make sure that whatever I am cooking doesn’t stick. This isn’t an issue with the Evolve. Granted, I have only made burgers with this grill so far, but with my past experience I have never had anything stick. I will be sure to amend this after our brownie experience, though something tells me I won’t need to do that.

Cooking with the Evolve Grill is amazingly simple, so even if you don’t know how to cook you will be able to cook with this grill. On the other hand, if you know how to cook you will love it even more! The instruction booklet included with the grill offers common cook times and temperatures for a variety of foods. You can also find this information on boxes (if you’re making baked goods) or from the recipes you’re using to make the things you’re cooking. Once you use it once or twice you will get the hang of it and learn how well it cooks and if it cooks a little faster or slower than the suggestions in your recipes. This will make cooking easier for future meals, though I am going to guess that thanks to the temperature settings and timers that things are pretty on the money.

You can pick up the George Foreman Healthy Cooking Evolve Grill through the George Foreman website for $129.99. You can also find this in stores or in other online marketplaces such as Amazon.com. I highly recommend the Evolve grill just for the versatility that it offers. I couldn’t be happier with mine and I am sure that I will get tons of use out of it.

Next up on my George Foreman Healthy Cooking wishlist is the Panini Grill and the Smart Kitchen Multicooker. Of course, I can’t wait to get my hands on the other Evolve plates too!

Stay tuned for more personalized pictures of our Evolve Grill and videos of us showing the cooking process!

Technorati Tags: George Foreman Healthy Cooking, Evolve, Evolve Grill, Muffins, Deep Dish Pans, Moving 2010, Grill Plates, Healthy, Drip Tray, Product Review, Cooking Review, Healthier Meals, Burgers

When I learned the price (anywhere between $90 and $135 depending on where you buy it) I was certain there was no way that it could be worth it. $135 for a blender of any sort is just ridiculous. That’s what I thought before I tried it anyway. I have been using it for a few weeks now and I am absolutely in love. I have formed an attachment to my Bosch Mixxo and if anything ever happened to it I am certain that I would cry.

What Sets it Apart
The Mixxo actually serves more than one purpose. In addition to blending (in all its various forms) the Mixxo also works as a food processor. The Mixxo comes with a blending cup for drink mixing and a food processor bowl for making things like salsa or chopping up veggies and things of that sort. So, if your rational mind is saying you cannot pay that much for a hand blender then you can inform it that you’re really getting two kitchen appliances in one, which makes it okay.

The fact that this is a restaurant grade hand blender cannot be stressed enough. Your food or drinks will blend easily and turn out near perfect every time you make them. The actual blender is cordless and takes up little space. The charging base is large enough to find the Mixxo base on one side and the chopping/blending attachment on the other. When you are ready to use it you just snap it together, put it in the glass/pan/etc, press the lock and the on button (you can stop pressing the lock button, once blending begins), and you’re on your way to creating awesome foods/beverages.

Key Points
Cordless
Comes complete with chopping attachment
Uses a lightweight re-chargeable lithium ion battery
Anti-splash blender foot
LED charge-level indicator
24-ounce blender jug and charging station included
Dishwasher-safe

What I Use it For
These days I seem to be pulling out the Mixxo quite a bit. Dom has me making him fresh fruit smoothie protein shakes every morning. It also makes a mean shake! Occasionally, I will use it for soups or as an alternative to the $4 ice cream treat at one of the local ice cream places, I can mix up my own at home now for little or no cost. Chances are, if it calls for blending, I am using the Mixxo if it’s possible. It’s my new go-to gadget for perfect cooking.

In case you haven’t noticed, I could not be happier with the Bosch Mixxo Hand Blender. In fact, it has led me to consider the purchase of other Bosch products, as this one works so well. While the price might seem a little steep it comes with a one year warranty and after a few weeks of using it, I can honestly say it works like a charm. Many people won’t need anything other than this to handle their blending and chopping family needs. Even if you do, the Mixxo works wonders on soups, smoothies, shakes, and a variety of other foods and drinks. I highly recommend checking this one out!

Technorati Tags: Hand Mixer, Blender, Immersion Blender, Mixxo, Bosch Mixxo, Appliance, Gadget, Cooking, Food, Drink, Blender Review, Chopper, Food Processor