Happy bathtime with Turtlemeter

Meet Rosa, a fun bath toy with a built-in thermometer. Well, it is actually called Turtlemeter (by Ozeri) but my younger son Eddie has given it a name Rosa (not sure where that comes from, but Rosa it is). This safety toy allows you to know if the water in the bath is just the right temperature. Yes, I typically use my elbow to check the water but this fab toy is useful if you're not sure if the temperature is right. I would imagine it to be a particularly great little gadget for any parent with a newborn, when you question everything around you.

How does it work?
Turtlemeter instantly activates in water without any buttons or switches, as there are three tiny water sensors on its tummy. The digital display on its shell lights up immediately, once immersed in the water. It calculates the water temperature and displays it with 3 different colour screens. Blue light indicates cold, red - hot, and green - just right.
It floats in the bath and is compliant with safety standards.
What did we think of it?
My little man is mesmerised and fascinated by the little screen. He loved the toy so much he wanted to take it with him to bed and also to the nursery to show it to his friend Charlie. I had to persuade him that the turtle prefers to stay at home.
It might help the reluctant tots to get in the bath. It's a very cute toy, and will make a lovely gift for any new parent.

This toy runs on 3 AAA batteries (which are included and preinstalled). It is advisable to dry the toy completely after use to prolong the life of batteries, it reacts not just to water but to moisture, so if you hold it in wet hands, the screen will light up.

What is useful to remember:
Water temperature in the bath can vary from one side to another. Always submerge your hand and forearm into the bathwater before placing your child inside.

Disclosure: we received the Turtlemeter by Ozeri for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are mine and Eddie's.

Ozeri Green Earth wok

For the last few weeks I have been testing a new kitchen product from Ozeri - a Green Earth wok, with smooth ceramic non-stick coating. I already own a few products from Ozeri (you might remember my review of Green Earth pan), and was delighted to be asked to test another one. You might think I'm gushing with enthusiasm, but I'm absolutely loving it.

Not only it looks stylish and pretty, it really is a non-stick wok. As you well know, there is a plethora of products which promise you a non-stick performance for years to come, but in reality disappoint you. I have quite a collection of the so called non-stick pans which sadly do not work well (including some well known brands).
I've been using my small Green Earth frying pan from Ozeri since July, and it is as good as new. It is perfect for making scrambled eggs or fried eggs, they just slide off the surface once you finished cooking. The Green Earth wok has the same advantages as its smaller sister, but allows you to cook in bigger quantities.

What Ozeri promises:
"- Utilizes an ultra-safe ceramic coating derived from nature which is 100% PTFE and PFOA free.
- Delivers unprecedented non-stick performance without releasing harmful fumes or toxins at high temperatures
- Features a scratch-resistant 100 ceramic coating as found in nature (no heavy metals or chemicals) that is super easy to clean.
- Made out of durable heavy-gauge pure aluminum with no heavy metals or harmful chemicals.
- Boasts a comfortable heat resistant Bakelight handle, and a magnetized induction stove safe base for rapid heat transfer."

At 12" (30cm) in diameter it is big enough for a family meal. It is a sturdy wok, with a convenient heat-resistant handle. You don't need a lot of oil for cooking, as the heat is distributed evenly. The vegetables or meat cook much faster than in a standard wok.
Another bonus: it is very easy to wash, with just a soapy soft sponge and water.

It is ideal for cooking the stir-fries (see photos above). Just add your favourite selection of vegetables and meat, or make a meat-free meal. I also cooked the Sea bass wrapped in prosciutto with crispy sage in it.

I love fried potatoes with onions, but you have to be quite vigilant, frying them, as they do tend to stick to the frying pan. Not with this wok. The sliced potatoes turn crispy and well browned, but not a single piece stuck to the surface.
I confess, I managed to burn my turkey stir fry yesterday. As I put the meat on the wok, the 95-year-old neighbour knocked at the door, as she locked herself out (yet again) and needed help. By the time the other neighbour found some sprightly young man to climb over the tall stone wall to enter her courtyard from our garden, I forgot all about my stir fry. The meat was quite dark brown by the time I realised I was supposed to be cooking, but again, not a single piece stuck, that is pretty amazing.

Now that I found my favourite range of non-stick kitchen pans, I am going to stick to it (excuse the bad pun).

Ozeri Green Earth Pan (review)

This week I have been testing The Green Earth Pan by Ozeri. I am always cautious when it comes to "non-stick" frying pans, as I have found in the past that the so called non-stick pans would be perfectly sticky despite all the promises. So did my new pan deliver its promise?

Products details:

• "Utilizes GREBLON ceramic - an ultra-safe ceramic coating from Germany which is 100% PTFE and PFOA free (no heavy metals or chemicals).
• Innovative textured pan surface delivers unprecedented non-stick performance without releasing harmful fumes or toxins at high temperatures.
• Features a scratch-resistant 100 percent ceramic coating that is super easy to clean.
• Made out of durable heavy-gauge pure aluminum with no heavy metals or harmful chemicals.
• Boasts a comfortable heat resistant silicon coated handle, and a magnetized induction stove safe base for rapid heat transfer."

What did I think of this product?
First of all, I was really impressed at how little of oil you need. In fact, any excessive addition of oil is not recommended so as not to cause the residue's build-up. I used a little spray of oil for cooking a variety of dishes, and it had perfect results every time. As you can see from the photos below and above, I tried different meals: vegetable stir-fry, chicken with asparagus and beans, veal cutlets in the orange sauce and even Welsh cakes (and more). And as you can see from my 10 seconds-long video, the fried eggs just slide off the pan into the plate (and I did have my good share of the fried eggs stuck to the pans in the past, including those which claim to be non-sticking).
It is very easy to clean with hot soapy water.
I've been testing a smaller size pan (20cm) but you could find bigger Green Earth pans on amazon.
I love the idea that it is environmentally-friendly.
I would mark it as 10/10, I could not find any fault with it.

Disclosure: I received the pan for the purposes of testing and reviewing, all opinions are mine.

Vanilla Chai from Tea India

When it comes to tea, I have my old favourites which I must have in a permanent supply, but I am also thrilled to discover a new tea which warms the cockles of my heart. I've recently come across a new hot drink from Tea India - Vanilla Chai, and immediately fell in love with it. And it's not just me. My little man Eddie loves it too.
My regular blog readers might remember my review of teas from Tea India posted back in November (A lovely cuppa tea with Tea India). Last time I have tried a different variety of chai, it was Cardamom Chai.

Vanilla chai is very pretty when served in a thermo glass by Ozeri

Tea India says:
"We’ve blended the finest teas with deliciously sweet, comforting spices and natural vanilla flavouring to create our very special Vanilla Chai.

Already winner of a Gold Great Taste award, this delightfully rich and creamy blend has the perfect balance of sweetness and spice.
We’ve combined the traditional spices of cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, ginger and black pepper to create the perfect blend for an afternoon pick me up or evening indulgence"

I have offered this chai to a few friends, and everyone commented positively.

You might enjoy Vanilla chai with milk or without. Milk makes the drink more mellow, and hides the tingly note of the black pepper which is much more pronounced if you do not add the milk.
The overall taste is a good quality black tea with spices, warm cinnamon, zingy ginger, sweet vanilla, exotic cardamom. All the flavours are balanced really nicely.
I like to add a small teaspoon of honey to my chai.

I was lucky to receive several recipe cards with my tea. One of the recipes was called Spicy Black tea cookies. I loved the recipe but tried it with Vanilla chai instead of the black tea, and they were absolutely delicious, crunchy, buttery and with a lovely spicy twist.

Tea India is going to release the recipes on the Tea India Facebook page over the next few weeks/months. These inspiring recipes were created by talented Ravinder Bhogal for Tea India.
If you'd like to bake the same cookies and discover what other delights you can cook, you'll have to visit Tea India on Facebook.

Just believe me they were appreciated by my guys and friends. I love adding tea to baking, but have never done biscuits with tea before, and was very pleased with the result.

If you haven't yet tried the beautiful range of chais and tea from Tea India, visit Tea India Facebook and request your free samples (search for free Tea India at the top of the page just below the big header).

I have received Vanilla Chai (as well as Black tea) from Tea India for the purposes of reviewing, all opinions are mine.

Some like it hot, some like it cold: Moderna double-wall thermo glasses by Ozeri

My collection of cups, mugs and other drinking vessels has a new addition - a set of four beautiful Moderna double-wall thermo glasses from Ozeri. I always fancied having a set of thermo glasses for serving hot drinks, as it reminds me of the long train journeys in Russia. The trip from my hometown to Moscow would take 22 hours by train, and in those 22 hours you should expect to be served hot tea at least 3 times a day (and of course, you can top it up as many times as you like through the day). The tea comes in a glass which is sitting in a metal holder with a handle. And though Moderna glasses look completely different, they made me think of long chats over a cup of tea on the Russian train.

What does Ozeri say about their own product?
Moderna glasses are" made of durable, heat resistant, mouth-blown borosilicate glass of the finest quality, the MODERNA belongs to the Ozeri Artisan Series of award-winning handcrafted drinkware. Borosilicate glass is stronger than common glass, shatter-resistant, and with the MODERNA's double-walled design, it offers the ultimate insulation to maintain drinks at their ideal temperature.
The MODERNA's opposing mouth-blown dimples make for a natural and effortless grip. Each glass is made to keep your hands cool even with your hottest drinks, and free of condensation with your chilled beverages. The patent-pending MODERNA is great for coffee, cappuccinos, hot or iced teas, cocktails, frozen beverages and much more. Each set contains four handmade 8 oz glasses designed for lifetime use. The MODERNA glasses are completely dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe, and ship in an elegantly printed and carefully packaged box with a 1 year warranty."

What did we think about the product?
First of all, the glasses do look very durable (a must in a house with two kids who are not very careful handling the kitchen things).
Love the cute dimples on the sides. The design is very elegant, modern-looking and boasts the combination of two sides: it is practical and stylish at the same time.

I was amazed at how cool the glass feels when you pour the hot tea in it. The double walls protect your hands from the heat, but keep the drink at the right temperature.
Perfect for a hot drink (see the very top photo, with hot chai in a glass).
And as perfect for a cold drink with ice (though I haven't yet tried to put them in the freezer, but I have an idea of making the individual ice cream portions, using the glasses)

Great for any beverage of your choice. I can see myself using these glasses extensively for all sorts of drinks: tea, coffee, latte, chai, iced tea, cordial, juice or an alcoholic cocktail if that's what you fancy.

You will be able to  find Moderna double-wall thermo glasses by Ozeri and other products by Ozeri on amazon.

P.S. I received these glasses for the purpose of reviewing, all opinions are mine.

Ozeri Pronto Digital Kitchen Scales

When it comes to cooking, I don't usually measure the ingredients, and that's why when I post my recipes, I often mention a dash of, a pinch of or a handful of. That applies to almost everything but cakes. With cakes, I prefer to know the exact amount of ingredients as I have learnt that approximate measures could lead to a potential cooking disaster. My old kitchen scales has always been a temperamental beast, working perfectly well one day and refusing to co-operate the next one. Thus I was very happy to test a new kitchen appliance from Ozeri - Pronto Digital Kitchen Scales.

Specifications (as described by Ozeri):
- Accurate, easy to use digital kitchen scale weighs up 11 lbs (1-5kg)
- Features 2 large buttons that generate audible click confirmation
- Precision Tare Button calculates the net weight of the ingredients
- Automatic Unit Button instantly converts from ounces to grams and pounds to milliliters
- Large screen features a bright LCD with wide viewing angle for the on-the-go cook
oversized weighing platform finished in elegant chrome
- 2-minute automatic power-off preserves battery life
compact design stores easily and is easy to clean
- Runs on 2 AAA batteries (included) with an easy-access battery compartment (no screwdriver needed)

What did I think of my new kitchen gadget?
I liked its compact form, it doesn't take much space in the kitchen, which is very important to me. It came with the batteries, which is very thoughtful and convenient.
The performance was faultless, the screen is easy to read, and it is very easy to clean as well (a big bonus, as   my baking sessions are a bit of a flour-flying-everywhere session.
A lovely kitchen gadget.

Here is the last week's cake, with ingredients measured by Ozeri Pronto Digital Kitchen Scales.

And a happy customer, enjoying a slice of cake.

P.S. I received the kitchen scales for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are mine.