TESTING AMAZON "GIFT GUIDE" RECOMMENDATIONS: KITCHEN EDITION!!

[@RachhLovesLife]

Thanks for watching!! 🎄🎅🎁 All the products are linked right here: amzn.to/3if3xMA

[@ra_jcat6607]

The first one, are not for spreading or spatulas..those are cheese knives..

[@canuckbeauty297]

Why link Amazon US and not Canadian I mean you are Canadian living in Canada

[@JessVach]

@@canuckbeauty297 agreed! I came to the comments looking for the Canadian link (because she usually posts it as well) and it’s just another link to ‘Mercia 👎🏼 A lot of the items are impossible to find just by a name search too.

[@canuckbeauty297]

@@JessVach Yes! I know what you mean

[@KaidoKaiB]

K I need link to the shirts.

[@mirajin92]

Chris being fascinated and whispering "fun ice" repeatedly is sooooo freaking hilarious I love watching u both 💜

[@kamialmeida679]

Jazz hands for Christopher! I was cracking up!

[@AbeM.]

It’s like the video with the girl talking about croissants, with a tiny voice repeating it every time she says the word croissant.

[@gilraencalaelen4185]

The "dots" in the lid are for condensating water. So it does not come down the sides of the pot, but falls in little drops distributed all over your meat so it's moisturizing it all the time.

[@Jess_Smith0903]

This is genius!

[@cheyenneherner7165]

Hmm that’s amazing I’m really glad I found that out lol thank you

[@katiecrowley88]

The fact that you’ve made snacking on bread with salt on it while hanging out with your husband a career, is just *chefs kiss* honestly. Goals.

[@gracieshepardtothemax1743]

I got that charcuterie board a few years ago. Was delighted to get it. It’s still in the box.

[@Glim246]

Ha! It can join all the other amazing kitchen gadgets in boxes in the cupboard😂

[@liz1761]

Sounds good in theory, rough in practice lmao 😅

[@gracieshepardtothemax1743]

@@liz1761 intent to use was there! 😂

[@kaivickers166]

I bought my husband one since he’s fascinated by charcuterie posts. I’m hoping to utilize it for movie nights with the kids.

[@Sarah_Spang]

LOL

[@annieoddo1475]

Pro tip for all my tea drinkers out there! For green tea, temper boiling water by either adding 2-3 ice cubes or letting it sit for a few minutes. Green and white teas are very sensitive and burn easily, so the recommended steeping temperature is between 160 and 175 degrees Fahrenheit, or between 71 and 80 degrees Celsius (for reference, water boils around 212 degrees Fahrenheit or 100 degrees Celsius). It makes a HUGE difference in the flavor!😊

[@dianaw4072]

I had no idea! Thanks!

[@rangerlove7]

I have an electric kettle that has different settings for different teas and yes omg it really does make a difference.

[@BhappyD]

@@rangerlove7 What kettle is it?

[@lauragosnell2481]

Thank you for the tip!

[@rangerlove7]

@@BhappyD mine is a Miroco, but I don’t see it when i search Amazon so that particular one I guess is no longer available, but there’s identical ones from different companies, under “electric kettle temperature control”

[@krickster82]

The hubs staring us in the eye and saying fun ice after you did legit made my day. That is how I am with my family.

[@buddhacatti]

I've been binge watching you while sick and I'm under 3 minutes in and this "Fun ice" thing has me coughing up a lung. You're an absolute joy, Rachel!

[@JadeCanada237]

I've heard charcuterie boards described as adult lunchables, and honestly it's truly the best description.

[@divinelyengineered]

Wine decanters are typically open at the top to allow the wine to breath. Capping it kinda defeats the purpose of decanting it. I'd guess that decanter is best used for whiskey/bourbon (thus the rocks glasses) or, like you said, a pretty water container for a brunch or holiday meal! It is super pretty though if that's your aesthetic!!

[@hallieharvey4073]

It’s definitely meant to be a serving thing or a whiskey decanter

[@spoonlessvalkyrie7514]

Rachel, with the ice trays try to fill them with warm to tepid water. This prevents bubbles in the ice 😃

[@sjcaustenite]

Chris should do a gift guide for geeks...minis, t-shirts, dice, etc.

[@thefrugaler88]

I have the Amazon Dutch oven as well as a Le Creuset and can confirm the Amazon one is an awesome dupe. It's held up for years and I've baked bread in it at 500F degree oven temps as well as cooked soup over an open campfire. 10/10 recommend.

[@DreamweavrHairDesign]

I have the Lodge brand ceramic-coated cast iron Dutch oven. I wonder how it would compare?

[@chisquared03]

With the Owala bottle, the one that people are going feral for is the one that has the dual lid where you can sip through a straw or tilt it back to chug. It also has a “lock” to keep it from opening with the 1 touch button. I have it and it’s amazing 🥰

[@mikaylaruth16]

Yes! You have to get the free sip bottle! I don’t use any other bottles now 😂

[@chisquared03]

@@mikaylaruth16 same 😅😅😅 it’s such a small but amazing detail

[@staceyotten5312]

I didn't even know this was a thing. I have these in 2 different sizes that I got from Sam's club probably a year ago. Lol

[@reneereynolds495]

@@staceyotten5312 Same! I also love that these bottles don't leak or sweat.

[@CorgTea]

I have one of those "food prep chop slam things" (not the exact one Rachel is using, but something nearly identical) and it works perfectly for just about everything I've tried -- including tomato, zucchini, carrot, cucumber, onion, strawberries, etc! The trick for tomatoes is that you need to choose a nice firm one and cut it into slices before attempting to chop it. A soft tomato will mush, and if you try to do half a tomato like Rachel did here it's either going to mush or you're going to end up with really long tomato tubes instead of neat little cubes.

[@nancye5484]

Love mine especially for holiday veggie prep

[@0n3c3nt]

I had one as well. Worked great for about 6 months and then it wouldn’t chop anymore because it became dull. Waste of money.

[@Chexmics13]

My dad has one similar to this one. He uses it when he makes salsa.

[@charlottepx1707]

Agreed! Also, it works better if you slap it shut faster and harder. :D

[@sarahpeshoffdidier2774]

Same experience here. I have had mine for a few years and it's still going strong. It's a godsend for pico ge gallo.

[@Tooters12]

with the chopper, i have one and love it. When I'm making tacos, I cut the tomato into slices then usually do a slice tomato then a slice pepper to help move the tomato bits, also doing the smaller cut ends of the tomato help move it through. Its been an extremely useful item in my kitchen!

[@litacarbone129]

My husband used to work for a company that sold auto parts and sold their parts on Amazon. A few years ago, Amazon said that they needed to send them schematics for some BS reason. Otherwise, they wouldn't list them as sellers on the site anymore. Turns out they use schematics from other businesses to make their Amazon Basics brand, which is why we don't buy those products. Just an FYI!

[@SJ-fh9ys]

Wow! 😮not cool!

[@zobothehobo]

that's literally so evil and i feel like that violates copyright so hard lmao amazon is Too muUCh in a bad way!!!

[@azzureasthesky]

Good to know! I never new Amazon had their own lines of stuff. I've only ever ordered a few things from them ever.

[@laurenragle5228]

Thank you for trying out the dutch oven. I've never had one, never used one, and didn't understand the point of one. Now I saw one being used, it definitely looks like a good kitchen work horse! 😊 Another great video! ❤

[@lieslherman]

I don't think I could live without mine, now, and I actually do have the Amazon Basics one. It's been going strong for 2+ years now, and though the rim has chipped a little and it's pretty worn so not as non-stick as it used to be, it's still great. I use it for deep frying, stews, breads, butter chicken, meatballs+spaghetti sauce... anything that benefits from long slow cooking. Only downside is the smaller flat space on the bottom, bht I don't think it's much if any worse than Le Creuset.

[@nicole_w_s]

I love my Dutch oven. I still use one my parents had gotten as a wedding present

[@ItsJustLisa]

My hubby got me a Staub 3.75qt Dutch for Christmas a few years ago. I love it! I’d like to get a 5qt Dutch, but my concern is the weight. I have arthritis and sometimes my wrists hurt. Since our son is 23 and his sister moved out a couple of years ago, I probably don’t really need a bigger one for just Hubby and I once he moves out too. I do love making crusty bread in it. The recipe I have was for a 5qt, but because the weights for the ingredients are in grams and I bake using my scale anyway, I reduced the quantities by 25% and the loaf fits perfectly. I’d say get yourself one and give it a whirl. They’re great for stews, soups, Sunday sauce (I’m Italian on Dad’s side), all kinds of things. They really are the workhorse of cookware. I also have a small Le Creuset (1qt?) that was my mom’s. It’s gotten a bit chipped, but the thing is at least 45 years old. So you’ll definitely get your money’s worth if you get a good one.

[@jen4392]

Christopher teasing you every time you said "fun ice" had me laughing. Y'all are great! ❤👏

[@jenniferphillips8496]

I hate when your videos end, I just want to watch you all day.❤

[@FuzzyStripetail]

If you cubed the number of times that Rachel said "fun ice", she probably would have had enough fun ice to fill her entire freezer.

[@millygracemc]

underrated comment lol

[@comptonphoto]

Ba da bum! 🥁👏🏻

[@krazelxela]

Kudos 😂

[@Supertrooper_00]

😂

[@kamialmeida679]

Christopher! 🤣

[@luvtinamc]

Love my Lodge enamel cast iron dutch oven! It comes in so many color options!!

[@taracutler9028]

The trick to the sphere ice is to over fill slightly, then VERY carefully put in the freezer. If it’s pooling and freezing on one side then it’s not sitting level. Chris kills me 😂 fun ice

[@rmurrrrr]

I've had the Amazon basics dutch oven for 3 1/2 years now and it's held up really well! I did get a small chip in the enamel but it's small and not really even noticable. As someone who got it as a gift, I recommend it to you guys too! Hope this helps someone if you're on the fence still. :)

[@Meowykitchen]

Yeah I've had mine for about the same time and I've gotten a few chips in mine. Not a huge deal because I don't use it that often but might be a bigger issue for people who use it frequently I would say get the more expensive ones because the enamel is less likely to chip.

[@divinelyengineered]

Just be careful, if the enamel is chipped on the cooking surface, anytime you cook you're introducing moisture which can cause the cast iron underneath to rust and cause more enamel to chip. If that chips into your food, it's quite literally glass and you do NOT want to be ingesting that!! However, if it's just the lid/rim chipping, then you're fine!

[@sophia_estes_]

As soon as I saw the jar, I knew it was Stonewall kitchen. A trip to their fragrant store for some of their jams and sauces has been a family tradition for us in the Northeast US. They make a sea salt chocolate fudge sauce that is to die for!

[@TheNinnyfee]

Love this gift episode! ♥️ The decanter could also be used for fancy high quality juices for brunch. Maybe the ice didn't work because ice has a lower molecule density than water and expands when freezing? I don't know why I still remember this from my chemistry class...Yikes! My favourite gift I am giving this year is a yoga/massage peanut. It works so well against cramped muscles and won't take up much space. And it's so cute and doesn't need explanation.

[@dianaw4072]

This was so helpful! Please do more of these videos! Maybe with target and Walmart items along with Amazon? 😊

[@brireeser3205]

She lives in Canada, so not sure she has Walmart or Target :)

[@dianaw4072]

@@brireeser3205 oh duh! 😂😂😭 I was thinking she’d order online but I’m sure duties aren’t worth it.

[@danikathomas1559]

Loving the wine opener and decanter set! Definitely added those to my wish list!

[@brendaspinneyreyna4165]

I was so excited to see Stonewall Kitchen here!!! I've always lived on the Maine/New Hampshire seacoast and LOVE going to the Stonewall Kitchen factory and stores. Delicious everything!! The mustards and sauces are my favorites.

[@terriconnelly5163]

I love the fun ice bit! I was laughing so much I had to pause!

[@chel_hamelin]

Kanel spices you can buy online has some of the best flavoured salts. The summer black truffle is amazing and contains real black truffle. The fiery sea salt is spicy as all heck! They do not disappoint and highly recommend

[@JulieNick28]

I love the stonewall kitchen products. They make great drink mixes too.

[@shellbell1974]

That Decanter is beautiful…I am an obsessed with ANYTHING rainbow or iridescent!!!xoxoxo

[@JinapherShakur]

Lol Christopher made me laugh my ass off with the "fun ice"! That was funny.

[@lesliemarshall557]

I love the tea pot for a gift. Maybe for one of your Saturday videos you could do one with your kids… That be fun to see. Thank you both for doing these.

[@xtayalex]

She doesnt want her kids on the internet. For privacy/security

[@deborahicenhour4787]

I don't know if anyone mentioned it but if you put hot water in the tea pot first and swish it around so that the whole thing is warm it won't condensation as much and you can see the flower better. At least that's what my friend said to do.

[@emilykpaige]

My mom got me the Dutch oven for Christmas and I’m soooo excited to put it through its paces! I’ve wanted one for years!

[@simplesimply3753]

I call charchar boards, adult lunchables. Works for me.

[@devonkoster3816]

Your husband's sarcasm is awesome in this video!!

[@heidis4677]

Pampered chef used to carry a long serrated bread knife that worked great on tomatoes. Not sure if they still carry it but I’m sure they can be found lots of places. I’ve gifted them and were loved all around

[@rorifalley4283]

My thought for the ball ice is that since you added fruit you didn’t need as much water because they filled some of the space ( hope that made sense) Love your videos and I am super excited for the Christmas content!

[@jurajuju5379]

FUN ICE 😂😍Hey, just a heads up about the drinking bottle stick ice - if , you use the narrow mouth opening bottles that you unscrew, and drink from the bottle directly, - be prepared for a choking hazard experience of being stabbed in the throat by the ice!

[@bethdavisjimenez]

I just got my Dad and we'll myself, the wine bottle opener and am literally charging it as we speak. Can't wait to use it! I ordered the Oster one from Amazon

[@kookykiddo]

Love you guys! Such positive, easy to watch videos. It is nice for my brain lol 💕

[@rebeccatucker2577]

You are who I watch when I need to know for sure I will feel good watching all the way through. Thanks for sharing and all you do! 😊

[@jfremeauphoto]

You gotta slap the chopper when you have something like tomatoes, then it does great! Can’t do slow pressure tho

[@nicolebutler4160]

I bought Truffle hot sauce a couple of years ago. It is my favorite! Fantastic on Instapot mac-n-cheese!

[@alisasepe6098]

Love your channel my mom and I were using that chopper for thanksgiving dinner it was awesome

[@julieholcombe7422]

I loved every item, even the wonky ice spheres! I'm like a kid so would love that they were remotely "sphere like" 😂 I've had a Vidalia chopper for literally years now and use it all the time! I love it!

[@CarJul666]

Chris comes over with a wine bottle. Rachel : LOOK AT MY PRETTY GLASS! 😂😂

[@victoriareyes5748]

Fun ice, fun ice, fun ice!! Haha my laughing just about woke up the sleeping baby in my lap!

[@duckpondwithoutducks]

The “fun ice” bit had me laughing out loud every time! 😂

[@michaelb5716]

Stonewall Kitchen makes terrific savory flavors great for cooking gifts, cheese boards, sandwiches. We love the caramelized onion jam and the hot pepper jelly!

[@shayzoo2]

The other Owalla bottle is even better. The time it stays cold is great but the magic is in the spout assembly. It’s just satisfying to drink and the option of spout vs straw is the best. Makes you drink more water just because it’s pleasant to drink from.

[@offthesidelines]

The blooming flower teas actually first became popular in North America about 15-20 years ago (at least where I lived), mostly among the (older millenial) East/SE Asian community; they were only sold by Chinese tea shops at the time. You don't need the filter with the blooming tea - it's included so that you can reuse your teapot for loose leaf teas.

[@earringproject]

My son and daughter in law got me the charcuterie board for my birthday. Very nice!🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@oliviamodena2129]

The food chopper is fantastic for salads and potatoes!!! I have been using them since they first came out years ago. Cusinart I think and it was white and green.

[@rebecca6470]

I got my fake LeCruste dutch oven from Aldis several years ago I just used it tonight to braise a roast in it in to of the stove. If you have an Aldis you might check them for their enameled cast iron pots and pans they stock them often.

[@mommytj]

I was so happy to sit down and relax on a Saturday night by myself and watch your Saturday video! Thank you! (Mom of four in Ont. Lol)

[@adriennef4637]

I feel so lucky to have been passed down antique cast iron from my Great Grandma and Grandma. My Great Grandma was the cook at the best southern/soul food restaurant in town way back when. People made special trips there just for her fried chicken and I still do all my frying in the pan she used. It fits a whole chicken at once no need for batches!

[@serensighs]

Next time try cutting the tomato in half and put the flat side down 🤣🤣 Eta: lol you don't decant white wine! You decant red wine to soften the tannins. White wine doesn't have tannins. Sincerely, a server of 13 years.

[@jewing1995]

I usually put weight on the top of the round ice molds to keep them round and full. I have the cubes mold as well so I stack that on top of the round one and no issues.

[@ShellyS2060]

Great vid, and now I'm off to do some shopping

[@mapsman5513]

Blooming tea was a thing about 25 years ago. I guess it's time for it to come back to a new generation. As to the chopper, I don't think it's necessarily faster than using just a knife, but I love it for a small dice (brunoise) because my knife skills aren't that good.

[@dawnchesbro4189]

My mother bought a verrry similar item back in the early 90's. It wasn't good then and it's not good now (unless there's dexterity issues with using a good sharp knife)

[@kellywelly36]

I have those balls ice trays and I literally just fill to the top, put the lid on and squish it down (water will cascade everywhere 😂) but because it's so full my ice comes out perfect round balls!

[@karincope3019]

I am an avid canner , can put up 1000 jars . I use the starfrit version of the chopper , it’s way easier and cuts down prep time .

[@HollyG6]

Cackling at all of the fun ice and camera looks from Chris

[@mommashawna707]

I have an iridescent water/ Kool-Aid pitcher thing and I put my flavored water in there and I love it. I bought it a year ago now and I swear I drink more water because I feel fancy pouring out of that. It may sound completely silly but it’s the truth.

[@Victoria_jones5]

I use a chopper from Amazon that is just like the one in this vid and it does tomatoes amazingly! I don’t know the name but it’s a gray and green colour :)

[@nitsirkroy]

My husband got the food chopper for bday so it is very giftable! He absolutely loves it. And you just might get an invite from the person to enjoy a dinner they made with the chopper (which he did with his sister who gave it to him!)

[@samh1520]

The chopper thing (the one I have, it's green and white) is by fair the best thing I have in my kitchen. You just have to be intense with it and slap it hard but it truly is a life saver for me

[@sheilapetrovic2435]

Have the chopper, it's great for peppers also. Hubby tried tomatoes also and said only works without the skin on.

[@ItsJustLisa]

I’ve been a Stonewall Kitchen for a long time! They’re in Maine (NE corner of the US for non-US viewers). Their Holiday Jam is delicious! It’s definitely a treat in November and December, especially on homemade breads. As for the Dutch, I totally understand why Chris calls it his workhorse. I have a 3.75qt Staub that I love. I use mine for soup, stews, coddle, and roasting meats. I also found a really good crusty bread recipe that called for a 5qt Dutch, but since the ingredients are listed by weight, I just went and reduced the amounts by 25% and it fits perfectly. That corkscrew concept has been around for many years. The original was called the Screwpull and was manual, not electric. I know because I worked for over 9 years in a wine shop and we used them as well as sold them. I haven’t worked there for 29 years and I still have my Pocket Screwpull (yes, it’s over 30 years old).

[@momlifeplansonline]

Thanks for testing out the blooming teas - I just bought the set and extra teas for my aunt for her Christmas present after watching this video!

[@ivanamurphy6917]

That blueberry jam I found the big one at Costco. Fav jam ever!!

[@mariam-m]

I love this decanter set, but for water 😍😍

[@jeridast9598]

I love my slam chopper. And those stonewall products go great on a char char board.

[@diannec4081]

The infusion teapot is also great for gin. You can add strawberry’s or any berry’s you like. Lemon, lime and rosemary is also delish. Frozen fruit works great.

[@margaretgreer5894]

I have just started watching you show and love you and your husband i am going through all your videos xxxxxx

[@mjl3753]

I have had the cast iron sets from basic on my list for years I want from the pan to the large Dutch oven

[@bernerandgoldenmom7143]

Thank you soooooo much for testing these things! I've been eyeing the corkscrew and the vegetable cutter for a while, but was wary about how well they worked. They're in my cart now! ❤🎄❤

[@Bb14029]

Stonewall Kitchen bbq sauces are the best! I agree on the jam’s being just ok, but we always have different flavors of sauces in our pantry.

[@yoogrldude]

The stonewall kitchen grill sauces and aiolis are so good. I am addicted to their lemon herb aioli on asparagus. Also the Vidalia onion fig sauce used to be in my family’s fridge all the time, though idk if they still make it

[@doxieowner2571]

I've been watching this for good Christmas ideas. Stonewall Kitchen's headquarters is in my state, and their food is pretty common here. It's all delicious!

[@casey54321]

Cris's analytical comparison of the dutch ovens was top tier

[@DangerFlouf]

Stonewall kitchen is a staple in my house! The red pepper jelly is amazing on crackers with cream cheese or another soft cheese. Also the hot pepper jelly is amazing. Give them a shot!

[@cristydyck5237]

Saw the owala water bottle and had to get on here and say that I just bought the owala free sip water bottle and absolutely LOVE it! Wish I had gotten the bigger size and you can get them at Walmart so that's always a plus for me!

[@lieanazebinraza]

Oh god! Hey hi! I really love you guys! So happy to comment so early!! Love ya!!!

[@tamib8914]

I have this water decanter from Ali express! And it’s gorgeous! And I like your little Christmas decor on the back 😊

[@cookingandmakeup]

Stonewall has been a New England staple for condiments and spreads for decades. You can find these deeply discounted at TJ Maxx or Marshall's as well

[@rezmuttable8605]

I have that charcuterie board and I do love it, I just have a bigger one that I use more often. But I still use the tools from that board!

[@mindypweightloss]

The drip points on the inside of the lid are a cast iron thing, not a Staub thing. Griswold made the first self-basting lid back in 1918 and the first "Drip-drop" lid was made by Wagner. They've been around for a LONG time. I've been eyeing that Amazon Basics dutch oven in the 7qt size for a long time but it had been out of stock for over a year. My husband has been asking me what I want for Christmas... it might be time to tell him... LOL.

[@CarboneCat]

I think a decanter is better suited for red wine rather than rose wine. The lack of stem of the glasses can be weird. I do own stemless wine glasses and I do enjoy them.

[@hallieharvey4073]

Wine decanters are supposed to be open and usually a different shape it’s meant for Whiskey that’s why the glasses are so thick even stemless wine glasses are meant to be thin

[@sarasawyer4686]

The stonewall onion garlic jam is SO GOOD!! We eat it with pork tenderloin :) highly suggest!!

[@stephanietakes-desbiens854]

Stonewall Kitchen is a fantastic Maine brand - we’ve shopped there for years. We were even able to visit the owners’ home on a garden tour.

[@SomethingBetterTogether]

I love the chopper! I have been using one for years. Tomatoes work well if you slice them first, and if they are not too soft already. I make pico de gallo all of the time! Also a fresh tomato sauce. I started using it when the kids were little and they wanted to help chop. would slice everything and they would put it on the thing and whack it.

[@trishaburris1724]

I got the blooming tea for a friend for Christmas a couple years ago, she loved it.

[@nickid5889]

Your hair looks absolutely AMAZING in this video!!! Gorgeous color and it looks super soft!! I don’t usually make comments like this, but I thought you would love to know! Great video by the way, thanks for such great content and insight on these products😊

[@Skater21Loverboyz]

I can also confirm that the TRUFF hot sauce is great! My dad loved it, it even comes in mini bottles. If you want to gift it to someone, but are unsure if they'd enjoy it (mini size is great).

[@Brooksie603]

I LOVE Stonewall Kitchen! I've been buying their products for many years and it's available at many local shops where I live as it's an East Coast brand which is where I live. I particularly love their jams (wild Maine Blueberry is a fav) and their hot pepper jelly is amazing on cream cheese and a good cracker. They also have maple, bacon, and onion jam too among dozens of others. They have lots of gifting bundles on their website and they have tons of other foodie items.