Video Tip: How to Cut Grape Tomatoes and Other Pesky Foods Quickly
I’m so excited about today! I’ve been waiting a long time to roll out my new series and contest and can’t wait to tell you about it.
Here’s the dealio: throughout the year I am going to be posting more video tutorials/tips. There are a lot of questions/tips/tutorials you guys have requested in video form (pie crust, among a hundred others) and there are a million and a half tips that I personally want to share. Sometimes, it’s a lot easier to show it rather than just type about it and post a few pictures.
I’m hoping to build up the Video Tip section to be extremely useful (in addition to the Kitchen Tips I already add to now and again).
As well as the video tips I’ll personally share (and I’ve roped some of my innocent family members into putting together a few of their own that are super helpful to share with you), I am opening up a little contest for YOU! If you have a fabulous cooking/kitchen tip you want to share, I’d love to see it! I’ll be choosing up to two submitted videos to be published on my blog each month (archiving into the useful Video Tips page for the rest of time) and in addition, if your video is chosen, you’ll win a $50 gift card.
I’ve listed all of the contest rules and info on how to submit your video HERE so definitely check it out for more information!
Update: Due to a few unforseen logistical details, the video contest has been temporarily suspended. I’ll be sure to update when I get it back up and running. Thanks everyone!
To kickoff the video tip series, I threw together a short video on something near and dear to my heart: chopping up pesky little foods, like cherry or grape tomatoes, quickly and efficiently without having to cut them one-by-one.
You didn’t know you’d been waiting your whole life for this, did you? I dressed up in my fanciest clothes just for you and yes, the open cupboard bugs the heck out of me, too.
Remember, that you’ll be able to go to THIS PAGE to see all the video tips in one place (I put a handy dandy link in the navigation bar for quick access). And I’ve also created a YouTube channel which will feature all of the videos I post as well as the winning contest entries! Keep checking back to see winning videos posted here and my own video tips to help you out in the kitchen!
I know that this has been up for a while, but I had to comment. This is my favorite tip ever!! I can’t believe I did not know this. It has revolutionized cutting grapes for nursery. Now I’m done in a minute flat instead of cutting for 20. My cherry tomatoes for caprese panzanella were done before the kids could even help. I am SO. EXCITED. to learn this. Thanks for posting it!
62 yrs young and I’m still learning ! How very clever and smart you are. Let’s see if this old grandma can succeed at doing this !! Thanks so much. I have learned quite a bit from you, you little cutie pie !
This is one of those moments when I think “Why did I never think of that”! Will be using this tip from now on. Thanks!
Mel- I just watched Rachael Ray demonstrate this tip on her new show “3 in the Bag” and I immediately thought of you! I think Rachael may be a fan or your blog! π
Hey Mel I think your recipes are so awesome I have made a lot of them sweet and sour chicken is one of our favorites . You have a lot of different recipes that’s what I like. About the comment referring to your cabinet door being open she needs to lighten up and relax its not a big deal . Keep up the great recipes your awesome !!!!
You are so cute! And thank you for the tip, looking forward to more kitchen tip videos!
You are so dang cute Melanie! Oh how i miss you!
You rock. That’s all.
Hello super model! You are a mix of Faith Hill and Julia Roberts, which is quite the combo my beautiful friend. You are so natural with the camera rolling, that is a talent. Great tip! I love this idea.
Seriously – can I be you when I grow up??? π
Used your tip yesterday – love it! Thanks for sharing.
I really, really, really, really, really, really hope that you are planning to do a video on how you make all your breads so pretty. I made your artisan bread bowls the other day and it looked like my two year old made them. They were delicious though!
Great job on the video! I confess I’ve followed your blog for years and always wondered what you are like in person π So the tomatoes. Duh, why didn’t I think of that?! In the same vein, after hand shredding 8 crockpots of beef and chicken for a Christmas party I discovered (drumroll….) shredding meat in a kitchenaid. I’m sure you already know about it but if you don’t then you’ve got to try it. It changed my life. Just put ready to be shredded meat into the kitchenaid with the paddle mixer and let it go. You have to watch it though, it really only needs a few pulses otherwise you’ll end up with mush.
You are really good on video. Everyone needs some confidence boosters so I wanted to comment and let you know I will look forward to seeing more of this.
Of course! Genius!
What a fabulous tip! I can’t wait to try it. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how you were going to cut them! It was exciting. π I have the same fruit stand as you… I sorta feel like we are kindred spirits now!
Love this, Mel! It is great to see you in action and put your voice to your words! Looking forward to more great tips!
Incredible tip! Seriously, one of those – why didn’t I think of that? moments. I love your website and recommend it to all I know. I do have one request though, for Christmas I received a pizza stone, and really love the crispiness it brings to my pizzas – – but I can’t get them on or off the stone? I even have one of those handy wood ‘sliders’ and I can’t seem to do it? Any video tips on this one? When I try to get the pizza into the oven onto the stone it falls upon itself and burns half of my toppings onto the stone (yes, regrettably, my stone is already a mess.) If you have cleaning tips I’d love that too.
Mel! This is so great! I have never heard of this suggestion in my entire 23 years of cooking! I have always hated slicing those tiny things one by one!! Can’t wait to try it! Like so many others I am so grateful for your site and ideas…my family knows you by name too! Love it! Keep up the awesome job!
So simple…wow! Thanks Mel!
That is an awesome tip, Mel! I have always loved your step-by-step tutorials. I love that you are going to do video tutorials! You are a natural on camera, and your kitchen is so beautiful! I am looking forward to future videos, and maybe I will be brave and submit one of my own!
Absolutely love your video tip and am really looking forward to more video tips. Being a visual learner this is an exciting feature on your blog for me! Thank you!!
I’m going to use this tip tomorrow!
Thanks!!
Thanks so much! Cherry tomatoes and grapes drive me nuts. You are awesome, Mel. And can I just say, I am so glad you did that video in a hoodie?! Thanks for not wearing pearls and high heels. That would be fine and great if you did, but I love how you are real and easy to relate to! (I usually don’t cook in my pearls and high heels. Lol.)
Great tip, Mel!! Thanks for the video. π
LOVE both the tip and the video! Never ever would I have thought to cut grape tomatoes that way!
This was is the most fabulous tip! Clearly I’m a total Nerd because I can’t tell you how excited this made me! Also, love the video π
This is fantastic! Best. Blog. Ever. Seeing you on video confirms to me how awesome you are, I just love your guts so much! (In a completely non stalkerish way considering we’ve never met. . . haha!)
Well now, that was BRILLIANT! Love it! And great video, I’m looking forward to seeing more!!
Oh Mel, what else can I say other than I love your guts! This is awesome! So pretty much you’re my claim to fame. Yep. Even if every time I cook pasta I can’t help but think of you standing in the kitchen of I1 talking about being “quantity deficient” when it comes to figuring out how much pasta to cook. Love it!
Yay for video tutorials!!
I’m going to use this little trick when I cut my kid’s grapes up…such an annoying (but totally necessary) task! Thank you!
This is why I love your site so much! Your recipes use every day ingredients and taste great! Your tips are practical without fancy equipment and work great! Thank you for sharing and making being in the kitchen more enjoyable and delicious.
PS. Hope you’re staying warm.
Such a great tip!! LOVE the video. Will definitely share! I just started a video series too: youtube.com/LindsayAnnBakes if you wanna check it out!!! π
This is amazing! Can’t wait for more tips!
Mel, you rock! Thanks!
Great tip and you look great π
Excellent tip and you are just the cutest! I wonder if I have a useful tip to share….hmmmm?
Love the video! Can’t wait to see other video tips and tutorials in the future!
No way are you 30+β¦u look like a pretty 25 year old !!!
That is brilliant! I always cut grapes in half for my son and this will make it so much faster! Thanks for sharing!
Love the video idea. Way to branch out!!
You have been my favorite cooking/baking blog for years now, and this is my first comment ever! I was so excited to see a video, so fun! π
You are awesome on video! Love the tip. Thank you.
Love it! Thank you for making this video. I had no idea cutting multiple tomatoes at the same time was even possible. I look forward to many more video tips.
Mel, I am so excited! I haven’t even watched the video yet and I am so excited that you’ve added this to your site! π You are so awesome! I happened upon your site a year ago when looking for a good pork tenderloin recipe and your site is the one and only that I follow. I use your menus and almost everything I cook is from you! You are a household name! Thank you for all that you do! Hope you are staying warm!!
Thanks Mel! I would have never thought of cutting small things in this way. This is great, I even have tops like that!
Who knew?!
Cool! Thanks for the video, awesome. You look great too.
Yay for videos! So excited! Your first one was great & you did fab π