
by Kate Heyhoe
By the light of the mezzaluna moon...
In my book Cooking with Kids for Dummies, I devote a chapter to kid-friendly tools. One type of
cutting tool I enjoy using myself and also recommend for kids is a
tool known as a mezzaluna, meaning half-moon in Italian.
The mezzaluna (MET-zah-LOO-nah) has a curved blade, perfect for rocking back and forth to swiftly chop and mince. Some mezzalunas have a solid handle across the top to use with one hand, but I prefer the two-handed model made by Wüsthof-Trident when cooking with kids. It has a knobby handle on each end, forcing the cook to keep both hands above the blade. Grasp a handle in each hand and rock the blade back and forth to chop or mince. With both hands grasping a handle, big and little fingers can't get caught under the blade, as they can with a knife.
Mezzalunas come in various sizes, but the short 6-inch blade fits little hands especially well. Adults may prefer the 8 or 9 inch blade, and if no kids are in the kitchen, the one-handed model. Suggested retail prices run from $40 to $60, but you can find these mezzalunas starting at $25 in cutlery and kitchen catalogs, mail order and online.
Recipes:
Bengal Lancers
Beef Curry Cubes
Saffron Basmati Rice
Cranberry-Golden Raisin
Chutney
Minty Raita-Style Cole
Slaw
Gift Suggestion:
Wusthof-Trident Mezzaluna
Wine &
Cheese-Spread Party
Fred McMillin's Wine
Picks
Recipes:
Creamy
Gouda-Horseradish Spread
My Blue Heaven
Spread
Gift Ideas:
Screwpull
Lever Model LX and Stand
KitchenAid Little Ultra
Power Food Processor
Recipes:
Bengal Lancers
Beef Curry Cubes
Saffron Basmati Rice
Cranberry-Golden Raisin
Chutney
Minty Raita-Style Cole
Slaw
Gift Suggestion:
Wusthof-Trident Mezzaluna
Christmas
Weekend Salmon Gravlax
...and Last Minute Gift Suggestions
Festive but Faux Caviars
Exquisite Eggplant Caviar
Lone Star Caviar
Mediterranean Black Olive Caviar
Copyright © 1998, Kate Heyhoe. All rights reserved.
Current Kate's Global Kitchen
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This page created 1998 and modified November 2006.

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