July 11th, 2012 by Keri Algar

This story comes on the back of a blog where we looked at some of the more marvelous and unknown qualities of vegetables. Did you know, for example, celery can make woman horny and in England, large patches of thyme were planted for fairies to play in? So what other interesting facts lurk in the kitchen? If you fancy the idea of baffling somebody with your peculiar knowledge of foodstuffs, here's a list ... Read more

June 22nd, 2012 by Mark Bristow

A team of scientists has designed what is being hailed as 'the healthiest meal in the world,' able to satisfy all 222 health claims accepted by the European Food Safety Authority. While it took 5 years for the EFSA to narrow the 44,000 health claims submitted by its member groups down to just 222, it took the UK's Leatherhead Food Research Group only a week to design ... Read more

June 19th, 2012 by Keri Algar

Spanish tapas are small appetizers (read: morsels of divine savoury treats) served with a drink in bars across Spain. Derived from the Spanish verb tapar (to cover), it is believed that the tapa was originally a slice of salty meat (chorizo or jamon serrano (cured ham)) or bread that would cover a small glass of sherry, typical in the southern region, to keep fruit flies from the ... Read more

June 13th, 2012 by Keri Algar

Cooking is all about timing. Soft boiled eggs, past al dente, souffles and pavs all require precise timing. Now, thanks to the fellas at ThinkGeek there is a new kitchen timing device called the Safe Kitchen Timer, which comes in the shape of a combination-style safe lock. It's magnetic and can be popped onto the fridge, for example, as a back-up timer when cooking in the kitchen. The 3.5-inch clock ... Read more

June 8th, 2012 by Louise Carter

This morning I ate cake for breakfast, and it was delicious. 'And how is morbid obesity working out for you?' you may be (snidely) asking. To which I respond (with as much dignity as one can whilst removing sprinkles from one's cleavage), cake is the breakfast of diet champions, haven't you heard? Questioning what place cake has in a balanced diet is like questioning what place art has ... Read more

June 7th, 2012 by Richie Black

So, you're a free-wheeling bachelor about town. It doesn't matter why - maybe you're stuck in a permanent state of arrested development, maybe your ex left you for a therapist called Alan or Elaine or something, maybe they found you in bed with a small scotch terrier - whatever. Relax, it's all good news, my friend, 'cos you have control of the kitchen. You've no one to ... Read more

June 6th, 2012 by Louise Carter

Anthony Bourdain – author of New York Times best-seller Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly and host of the Travel Channel's No Reservations – was in the news recently with the announcement that he will join the US news network CNN to produce a new TV show. The new show will air next year and is part of CNN's bid to distinguish itself as a network ... Read more

June 1st, 2012 by Louise Carter

Today, as we recently discovered, is the first ever 'Baking Our Blues Away' day. Held on the first official day of winter, 'Baking Our Blues Away' is a grassroots movement that started on Facebook and is quickly catching on around Australia and beyond. The idea is simple: if you know anyone who suffers from a mental health issue such as depression or anxiety, bake them something on June ... Read more

May 24th, 2012 by Mark Bristow

Slow cookers are pretty great, aren’t they? We think so, and so does Choice.com.au, which tested 25 slow cookers priced under $200. Here are four reasons why we love slow cookers, paired with four of our favourite picks from the Choice's Top Nine: Slow cookers are convenient It really doesn’t make sense to cook a big, elaborate meal in the evening, when most of us are tired after a full day ... Read more

May 2nd, 2012 by Mark Bristow

I've recently returned from an adventure through several Asian countries, where I checked out the local history, culture and cuisine.  Even the odd appliance! Here are a few of the local delicacies I sampled on the road, and a quick guide on how you can prepare them yourself. No passport required; just a few handy appliances. Cambodia: Fish Amok Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are amazing destinations.  The first has ... Read more

March 30th, 2012 by Keri Algar

Small appliances have more uses than ever imagined. What do anchovies, capers, and garlic have in common? Apart from giving you bad breath they're examples of little things that pack a lot of punch. As it is with kitchen appliances. Large appliances are mostly essential workhorses: the fridge, dishwasher and oven. But it's the small appliances, often tucked under benches and in cupboards, that can make a big difference ... Read more

March 21st, 2012 by Louise Carter

Vegemite sandwiches, Weet Bix and chocolate Yogo – this is pretty much all I ate for the first six years of my life. Consequently I'm now a hunchback leper with chronic scurvy and very few dinner party invites. Parents of Australia: don't let this happen to your kids! Vegetables contain vital nutrients needed to keep your kids healthy and happy. Problem is, they're generally not regarded as the ... Read more

February 21st, 2012 by Mark Bristow

Happy Pancake Day!  If you haven’t already tucked into a stack of pancakes, crepes, flapjacks, pikelets or other sweet or savoury treats, now’s the perfect time to grab the ingredients you'll need to round out the day (geddit?) with a batch. Unlike many other arbitrary food holidays (which are often the invention of food manufacturers as a marketing ploy), Pancake Day has a traditional origin.  Shrove Tuesday ... Read more

February 6th, 2012 by Louise Carter

Late last year Appliances Online was lucky enough to welcome Rowie Dillon – creator of Rowie's Cakes and author of Indulge – to our staff kitchen. After noticing that bread, wheat products and pasta made her feel tired and bloated, Rowie was diagnosed with gluten intolerance over ten years ago. And it was her refusal to view her diagnosis as a prison sentence that inspired her to ... Read more

February 6th, 2012 by Louise Carter

Last week we published 'The Kettle is for Water, not Sausages,' which provoked an extraordinary response from our readers. It seems we've struck a chord deep within the heart of the Australian psyche. Alongside barbequing large bits of dead animal and slathering Vegemite on everything, it appears that the average Aussie is something of a MacGyver in the kitchen – constantly on the lookout for new and ... Read more