Have you seen how many different kinds of granola you can buy? 

A lot of the granola you see in grocery stores is loaded with too much sugar and sodium… definitely not something you want if you’re trying to eat healthy (and Granola started off as a health food, remember).

Here’s a better idea… make your own. This is a very easy gluten-free, vegan recipe that shows you how to make the best granola ever. I’ve used brown sugar and maple syrup to give it a subtle sweetness and added just a pinch of salt. The almonds and tart cherries bump up the excitement!

Find the printable recipe below the image!

Are you ready for a totally different spin on the backyard grilling experience?

This is it: Well Done Social Grill by Unikia. It’s a charcoal tabletop grill that lets you be your own grillmaster.

If you’ve ever eaten at a Korean barbecue restaurant where the grill is built right into the table, it’s a little like that. Meat and veggies are roasted right in front of you… except now you’re the chef!

I grill all the time, but I have to tell you, it’s so much more fun when everyone gets in on the act. GP used it when he had a few friends over and it was perfect, because each one of them fancies himself an “expert” at grilling. The Social BBQ Grill enables everyone to cook things to their own taste—and have a lot of laughs doing it.

Here’s how it works: you place the streamlined grill on a table and fill up the charcoal basket. When the coals a glowing ashen gray color, let everyone have a go at grilling the food.

It’s not complicated—that’s the beauty of it! And it’s nearly impossible NOT to talk with everyone as you’re grilling! This is interactive cooking at its best.

The Social Grill is made of carbon steel with a high heat resistant powder coating so it is perfectly safe for a wooden table. Unikia doesn’t recommend using it on a plastic table, but if you do, make sure you protect the surface with something heat proof underneath the grill.

The Social Grill is 35”x 8”x 11”, so you know it’s plenty big for 6 people to grill at the same time. It’s kind of heavy, though, so you might need someone to help you put it on the table (I did).

I’m so happy my pals at Unikia sent me this grill to try out because it’s  going to be a great addition to our outdoor party traditions. We’re having a house full of people for Lollapalooza this weekend, so I’m going to set it up and let everyone make their own s’mores and grilled fruit!

I can’t wait!
Here’s a video of the Social Grill in Action! Buy the Social Grill here!

Scrambled Eggs are one of those recipes that seem relatively easy to prepare, but, for some reason, perfect scrambled eggs are hard to master.

Until now.

I’m giving full credit to the new 10-inch ceramic-coated Induction 21 Steel fry pan my friends at Chantal asked me to try out. The pan has copper melted into the steel, which conducts heat quickly and evenly. Even cooking temps are important so your scrambled eggs will have those light fluffy curds (not grainy dry ugliness).

The pan is also ceramic coated, which means it’s a non-stick pan… but doesn’t emit toxic fumes when it’s overheated. It is PFOA and PTFE free (click here for more info on what that means and why that’s a good thing). Chantal doesn’t recommend using non-stick sprays… butter and oil are best. It’s nickel-free… which is a plus, because I’m allergic to nickel!

The pan is made with titanium for added strength and durability… super important if you cook a lot.

I really like that the long ergonomic handle stays cool to the touch while cooking. It features a wide flat bottom, sloped sides and has a dripless pouring rim to reduce spillage. I used it on my gas cooktop, but it’s perfect for induction or other cooktops.

This pan does not need to be preheated and a low to medium setting is all you need for most things you’ll prepare. It is not dishwasher safe, but I don’t put my pots and pans in the dishwasher anyway.

This pan is great for searing fish fillets, browning chicken breasts, sautéing vegetables… or making the Perfect Scrambled Eggs! There’s a step-by-step tutorial after the recipe!

Tutorial: How To Make Perfect Scrambled Eggs

1. Gather your ingredients: 2 eggs, ¼ cup boiling hot water, 1 tablespoon butter, salt and pepper to taste.

 

2.  Heat your water.

3. Beat the eggs vigorously until completely blended (you want as much air in them as possible so that they’ll be fluffy); set aside.

4. Heat butter in the Chantal Induction 21 Steel™ Fry Pan on medium low heat until melted.

5. Beat boiling hot water into the eggs.

6. Pour immediately into the fry pan; reduce heat to medium low.

7. Push eggs gently across the pan with a wooden or silicone spatula, forming large, soft curds.

8. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until thickened and no visible liquid egg remains.

 

9. Remove from heat and serve immediately.