Eat Well, Live Happy

To cook in Italian... Mangia bene, vivi felice

Verona Appliances Celebrates Apple and Apricot Month

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Here at Verona Appliances, we don’t just want to spotlight our products – we also want to spotlight what you can do with our products, and that includes cooking and baking for you and your family.

This month, we put the spotlight on apples and apricots because January is Apple and Apricot month. You might wonder why these fruits are paired (or should we say pear-ed?) together because other than their shape, they look nothing alike. Apples can vary in color from red to yellow to green and can be quite large, while apricots are more orange in color and are smaller. Apricots have large stones at their centers, while apples have seeds in a signature star pattern at their core.

These two fruits actually both belong to the rose family, or Rosaceae. They also both have versatility in cooking and can be used in several dishes. So, to honor Apple and Apricot month, we have a full three-course meal planned for a cozy night in.

Photo Credit: Kristy Hayes

Appetizer: Apple Brie Crostini

It will be hard to eat just one!

Ingredients

  • 16 crostini
  • 1 wedge brie
  • 2 honeycrisp apples
  • 2 tbsp apricot jam
  • 1/4 cup basil (lightly packed)
  • Sea salt

Directions

  1. Slice apples into fine wedges and chop the basil. You can use your Verona cutting board if you have one.
  2. Spread brie on crostini, then top with sliced apple, a dollop of apricot jam and basil.
  3. Finish with a sprinkle of sea salt.

Pro Tip: You can pre-heat your Verona oven for the next recipe while you’re working on the crostini.

Photo Credit: Beth Bryan

Dinner: Apple and Apricot Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Veggies

This chicken dish is packed full of flavor – literally!

Ingredients

  • 2 slices uncured bacon
  • 1 Gala apple
  • 1 tbsp. avocado oil, divided
  • 2 tbsp. chopped, dried apricots
  • 1 tbsp. orange juice
  • ¼ cup chopped, raw pecans
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat your Verona oven to 400°F.
  2. Chop bacon and apple. You can use your Verona cutting board if you have one.
  3. Sauté bacon and apple in ½ tbsp. of hot oil in a large, ovenproof skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes or until bacon is crisp.
  4. Transfer to a bowl, and stir in apricots, orange juice and pecans.
  5. Pound chicken to ½-inch thickness.
  6. Cut a 2-inch slit horizontally into each breast. Stuff apple mixture into each pocket, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  7. Cook chicken in ½ tbsp hot oil in skillet for 2 minutes per side or until browned.
  8. Transfer skillet to oven, then bake 12 to 15 minutes or until chicken is done.

Pro Tip: To cut down on prep time (and dishes), pop a cook-in-bag vegetable in the microwave. Green beans or broccoli would pair well!

Photo Credit: Amy Davidson

Dessert: Apricot Apple Crisp

This twist on a classic recipe gets a hint of sourness from the apricots.  

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons softened butter or margarine
  • 2/3 cup chopped macadamia nuts
  • 8 medium tart sliced cooking apples (we recommend Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
  • 2 cups chopped dried apricots

Directions

  1. Heat your Verona oven to 350°F. Mix flour, sugar, butter and macadamia nuts in a large bowl.
  2. Place apples in an ungreased rectangular 13 x 9-inch pan. Top with apricots. Sprinkle flour mixture over top.
  3. Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes, or until apples are tender.
  4. Serve warm with vanilla or cinnamon bun ice cream if desired.

Pro Tip: Use the Convection Cooking Mode during baking for even cooking. You can check out our Simple Guide to Oven Functions for information on this setting, or you can refer to your product manual. 

Share your recipes and pictures of you enjoying apples and apricots on social media with the #AppleAndApricotsMonth and #VeronaAppliances hashtags. And if you tag @VeronaAppliances, you might be featured on our social channels!

For more projects, products, trends, recipes and news, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn or visit www.veronappliances.com.

Save $200 on the Verona CHEFS PAK with the purchase of any Verona Range!

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A chef-worthy range calls for chef-worthy accessories. The Verona CHEFS PAK includes a cast iron griddle, maple cutting board, steamer pan set, beveled spatula, digital meat probe and two protective oven mitts. Save $200 with the purchase of any Verona range! Promotion valid from February 1st, 2023 to December 31st, 2023.

Perfect Your Thanksgiving Turkey with Verona Appliances

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Give thanks this holiday season with your loved ones by enjoying a classic Thanksgiving meal. From stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy to cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, there are plenty of dishes that will bring warmth and joy to the table.

But if you’ve ever hosted or are planning to host a Thanksgiving dinner, you know the turkey takes center stage during this holiday. To help you perfect your turkey dinner, we’ve compiled a few frequently asked questions that will get you prepared for your holiday feast.

Celebrating National Pasta Month

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Photo Credit: @wild.thistle.kitchen

With hundreds of varieties, shapes and sizes, pasta has found its way into almost every culture and home around the world. A staple comfort food with endless recipes, this delectable delicacy is versatile and accessible making it a household favorite. In celebration of National Pasta Month, we’ve put together some helpful tips on how to take your pasta-making game to the next level:

Build from Scratch

Making pasta from scratch can seem like an intimidating process, but with a little practice, you may just find the time and effort required to preparing this family favorite is not only fun, but well worth it. Delicious and rich in flavor, fresh pasta only requires a handful of basic ingredients and is fun to make with family and friends in the kitchen—plus, it cooks quicker than store bought, with an average al dente time 6 mins faster!

Photo Credit: @violaminerva

Add a Pot Filler to Your Kitchen

Tired of carrying heavy pots full of water from the sink to the stove? Consider adding a pot filler above your range to reduce trips back and forth allowing you to get your pasta water boiling even faster, all while keeping your sink and countertop areas open and free for food preparation.

Photo Credit: @heartandhammerhomes

Opt for Induction: Precision Cooking

With their precise temperature control and energy efficiency, induction stoves and cooktops are quickly making their way into more American homes as a reliable and safe form of cooking. Ranges like Verona’s 36” Designer Series Induction offer homeowners versatility and precise temperature control over their cooking with additional power levels like “Gentle Heat”— a lower, three-level heat setting which provides continuous gentle heat, ideal for creating more delicate pasta dishes, such as Carbonara and Bolognese, where sauces are prone to breaking if exposed to too much heat.

Photo Credit: @theidentitecollective

Opt for Induction: Rapid Heating

They say “a watched pot never boils,” but we think otherwise. Quickly boil large pots of water with Verona’s 36” Designer Series Induction “PowerBoost” function—a precise heat setting that operates at the maximum power level for up to 10 mins, allowing your pasta water to boil faster than ever. And, for those times when you need to bring sauces up to a boil then reduce to a simmer, the “Fast Heating” function is a quick and efficient setting that allows you to rapidly heat up food or liquid then automatically reduce the temperature to a pre-selected heat setting.

Photo Credit: @susanserrackd

Finish Your pasta in a Saucier

When creating a pasta sauce, a higher-walled saucier allows you room to work with your ingredients, giving you more flexibility than a regular sauce pan. With the wide base and high walls, you can build your sauce and add pasta directly to the saucier yielding a more flavorful pasta as it absorbs some of the sauce while cooking.

Photo Credit: @thepillowgoddess

For more from projects, products, trends and news Verona Appliances, follow us on Facebook or Instagram or visit www.veronappliances.com.

4 Ways to FALL in Love with Your Kitchen

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Photo Credit: @sethandjennawright

Fall is in the air! As the leaves begin to change and the days grow cooler, what better way to welcome this autumnal shift then adding seasonal décor into the heart of your home.

From incorporating lush accents and bold colors to adding organic, natural accessories, give your kitchen the refresh it needs inspired by the rich autumn harvest.

Read below for some of our favorite style tips on how to decorate your kitchen for fall.

Neutral Color Palette

Using neutral colors such as beige, green and brown create the perfect color palette for a warm and cozy space. Additionally, accents such as copper containers, green wreaths and wooden accessories add a glamorous yet natural beauty.

Photo Credit: @mimodfarmhouse

Accessorize Your Kitchen Island

Keeping your kitchen island functional yet stylish is key. Creating an eye-catching arrangement consisting of fall scented candles, a small wooden tray, greenery and gourds is the perfect combination of texture and color creating blissful ambiance to your space.

Photo Credit: @leahwhitehome

Pumpkins. Pumpkins. And More Pumpkins.

Whether it’s felt garland adorning your cabinets, stacked pumpkins from the local farmers market or detailed embroidered hand towels, there is no end to the elegant and fun ways you can incorporate this seasonal staple into your home.

Photo Credit: @whitelittleranch

Autumn Tablescape

A fun, yet easy way to bring fall into your kitchen is through a beautiful and bountiful tablescape. Adding fresh fruits, candles, wooden cutting boards and herbs creates an organically balanced surrounding for your showstopper meal.

Photo Credit: Beth Bryan

For more from projects, products, trends and news Verona Appliances, follow us on Facebook or Instagram or visit www.veronappliances.com.

Savvy Consumers Turn from Trendy to Friendly as High Prices Motivate More Sophisticated Purchase Decisions

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In the world of appliances brands, smart consumers are finding entry-level luxury brands like Verona Appliances whose style, quality and functionality are on par with trendier brands, but come at a more accessible price and are in-stock!

First there were no appliances to be found and then came the price increases due to supply chain issues and inflation. While manufacturers have shouldered some of the costs, consumers are seeing at minimum a 13% increase in appliance pricing from 2021 to 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and in some cases, they could be as high as 20% more given that many promotional plans and rebates have been discontinued. Moving from high-priced brands to an “entry-level luxury brand” can go a long way right now for the customer that needs to balance their budgets.

Fortunately, there are hidden gems in the market that are beautiful, functional and reliable – but they do not carry the same high price point as trendier brands. These entry-level luxury brands are getting more than a second look as savvy consumers are ditching brands whose pricing has risen astronomically for companies who have items in stock, come at a lower price and often prove to be more feature rich for the money. With a little research and persistence, consumers are unearthing these gemstones and turning them into hot commodities overnight.

“As a family-owned company since 1958, we are seeing a lot of interest in our brand recently,” states Melissa Haber, vice president of Verona Appliances. “Verona is crafted in Italy, but made for the U.S. market. We don’t spend millions of dollars in marketing – so it takes a little extra effort to find us – but feature-by-feature, our products are on-par, if not better than brands that can charge more because they have more status in the market. Our office still answers phone calls in person, in New York, and our customers really appreciate the one-on-one connection, service and help. There are definite benefits beyond price for picking brands like Verona.”

“Consumers should also be wary of ‘made-in-China’ copycat brands that have recently come on the market – they lack quality and features but their price points are low, so they are grabbing the sale,” states Haber. “They do not compare in features and quality to established brands like Verona that have a good track record for service and quality. Consumers really have to look to find not just a good price, but a great value.”

Verona Appliances recently introduced their Prestige collection with seven new 36” electric ranges. The new 36” electric double oven ranges are an industry exclusive, with an upgraded look that is only surpassed by its high-powered capabilities. The single ovens are offered in four colors (Stainless Steel, White, Matte Black and Burgundy) and the double ovens offered in three colors (Stainless Steel, White and Matte Black).

A Matte Black Range Sets the Mood for this South Florida Kitchen

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Verona Appliances partnered with Haley Jones of Me and Mr. Jones to craft a moody black kitchen for her South Florida home. To her surprise, Haley didn’t realize that so many homes in the Florida area didn’t have gas hookups available, but she found a great alternative with an electric range from Verona.

“I wanted a gas range look and stumbled across the Verona Designer Series Range,” she says. “This was the first appliance we picked out after weeks of searching for a range that would fit the aesthetic of our modern kitchen.”

Continue to read below for more details on Haley’s experience with her Verona range.

Photo Credit: Haley Jones of Me and Mr. Jones

The Brand

Haley and her husband wanted a range in matte black with sleek and modern lines. The model they went with is the 36” Designer Series Electric Range. “The size is great and fits our space perfectly,” she says. “The home originally had a 30” range, but we wanted something a little bit larger to anchor the space and we love how substantial it looks!” Haley also liked how there were several Verona retailers near her, so she felt comfortable choosing the brand in case a repair was needed in the future. 

Note: If you’re interested in a Verona appliance or need repair assistance, you can use our store locator to find a licensed retailer near you. 

Photo Credit: Haley Jones of Me and Mr. Jones

The Design

According to Haley, the overall design of the range is what drew her and her husband in immediately. “It’s so sleek, simple and modern, which is exactly what we wanted for our kitchen remodel,” she says. “We opted for the single door instead of the double-door because I wanted the option to cook sheet pan meals on a large baking sheet.”

Another design feature she appreciated was the feet. “I know that’s oddly specific, but it’s one design feature that I love,” she says. The range in her previous home in California was lower to the ground, so it was more difficult to get under the appliance to recover lost baby and dog toys. The feet on the Designer Series Electric Range raises the appliance higher, therefore, it’s easier for her to sweep, mop and recover toys from underneath.

Photo Credit: Haley Jones of Me and Mr. Jones

The Cleaning

Haley also mentioned how simple her appliance was to maintain. “The cooktop is incredibly easy to keep clean in comparison to other electric ranges that we’ve owned,” says Haley. “In addition, the soft-close oven door actually can come off completely! It’s one of my favorite things about this appliance.”

Note: Instructions for how to remove the door on this model is found on page 22 of the user manual. Cleaning and maintenance instructions start in page 17.

Photo Credit: Haley Jones of Me and Mr. Jones

The Functions

The electric cooktop on the 36” Designer Series range has five burners. “I typically only use two at one time, but I love the larger burner in the center of the stove,” says Haley. “All the burners heat up quickly and cook evenly.”

As for the oven cavity, Haley says she typically cooks with the normal convection function, which cooks evenly as well. A fan and multiple heating elements help cook anything, from a roast chicken to a batch of brownies, with ease since it encourages even heating. 

Photo Credit: Haley Jones of Me and Mr. Jones

Review Summary

Overall, Haley says she and her husband absolutely love their electric range. “The size, the design, and the functionality of it are all really great. The design alone makes it worth the money in my opinion!” She also appreciates how she can customize her range with different colored knobs. “We have a Matte Black set that I plan on installing, but these knobs are also available in Burgundy.”

Are you ready to add an electric Verona range to your kitchen? Explore our many options at www.veronappliances.com. For more products, projects, trends and news Verona Appliances, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest.