©2009 Jessica Harlan licensed to About.com, Inc.

I am not a morning person. So it's not an easy task to get myself and my daughter up and fed, dressed and ready for the day, particularly when my daughter's daily breakfast request is oatmeal, and I'm trying to stay away from those sugary packets of the instant stuff. Last night I decided to try my hand at cooking steel cut oats, which have a notoriously long cooking time, in my slow cooker. I assembled the crock around 11 p.m., set it to low, and went to bed. The next morning, the oats were ready and waiting by the time we woke up.

It was a perfect solution: Breakfast was on the table as fast as I could spoon the oatmeal into bowls and drizzle it with a little maple syrup. In fact, I even ladled a serving into a thermal container for my husband to take at work, a rare treat for him, considering his breakfast is typically a stale muffin from the coffeeshop in his building. The steel cut oats were even more delicious than when I've made them on the stove, they had a creamy, almost custardy texture, and were delicious with a splash of milk and a little more maple syrup. If you're also pressed for time in the morning, try my recipe for Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats. It's a great way to start off a busy day.

©2009 Jessica Harlan licensed to About.com, Inc.

One of my favorite pieces of cooking equipment isn't actually equipment at all... it's a roll of parchment paper. I'll use parchment paper to line a sheet pan before making my Sweet and Savory Oven Fries or any other roasted vegetables. I also put parchment on sheet pans before baking cookies; it makes the pan nonstick and you don't even need to spray it with nonstick cooking spray. I tuck a sheet between layers of cookies or other baked goods as I stack them in a container. When I need to sift flour, I'll do so onto a piece of parchment; then I can just lift the whole sheet up and funnel it right into the bowl. In fact, parchment is just sturdy and water-resistant enough to act as a single-use funnel or even an ad hoc pastry bag to pipe a design of melted chocolate or frosting onto a cake. I'm constantly coming up with new ways of using this stuff... good thing that it's so cheap.

What innovative uses have you found for parchment paper?

In an effort to become more environmentally conscious, I've recently invested in some Bento-style lunch containers for my daughter and my husband. Their cuteness begs for something better than a PB&J sandwich or last night's leftovers. Luckily, this week's Los Angeles Times has a roundup of 40 inspired packed lunch ideas, as well as tips on how to prepare and pack the most appealing lunches. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind opening my lunchbox to find a homemade calzone, a generous wedge of frittata or a trio of fancy cheeses with a baguette, fruit and almonds.

All-Clad

I'm a big fan of All-Clad cookware. Nearly every pot and pan hanging from my pot rack is made by the company, and I'd love to have even more pieces. So I was pretty excited to try out one of the company's first forays into countertop appliances, a shiny, sturdily designed Belgian waffle maker. But I couldn't help but balk at the price tag: a whopping $200! My trusty old Villaware was probably less than $50 and works just fine. But when I tried out the All-Clad version, I could immediately see why you're shelling out the big bucks. It seriously made the best waffles I've ever had: crisp on the outside, fluffy and airy and tender inside. Could you be moved to spend $200 on a waffle maker? Read my review of the All-Clad 4-Square Belgian Waffle Maker and judge for yourself. As for me, I know I'll be having trouble going back to my old waffler.