Checking Our List #5: Xtrema Ceramic Cookware 3-Piece 10" Skillet Set {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, SCMOMOF2BOYS!}

I have to admit that, up until recently, if you asked me how healthy the food is that I'm cooking for my family, my answer would center around the actual food itself. How nutritious, vitamin-packed and wholesome it is... with a focus on the vegetables more than, say, the french fries.

However, one thing that I would have never even considered mentioning as contributing to the health of my meals is the actual cookware that it was prepared in. I mean, it's a pan. All it does is get hot and, in turn, heat up the food. Right?

Unfortunately, that's not necessarily true. Cookware constructed out of everything from aluminum to iron to stainless steel can possibly leach a variety of hazardous chemicals right into the food that we're giving to our families. And, as convenient as non-stick metals are, they might be made up of potentially harmful materials as well. Ugh, what's a mom to do?

Well, my answer now to healthy cooking is to pull out my 10" Ceramic Skillet from Xtrema and know that among the features of this amazingly durable cookware, one is the assurance that it will always be completely safe throughout all of our meals.

Xtrema Cookware is the combination of pretty much everything you could ask for... except for maybe actually doing the cooking itself. 100% organic and free of all metals and chemicals, this line can withstand even the highest temperatures without cracking, melting or releasing anything gross into your food. You end up with a great tasting meal, an extremely easy clean up and a cooking experience that can only be described as versatile.

As soon as I pulled the 10" Skillet out of the box, I immediately knew that this was going to have so many more uses than all of the rest of the pans in my cupboard. The size is just right for almost anything and the tall sides make it possible to cook without worry of spilling.

In fact, my first cooking attempt with Xtrema was for an apple pancake that, without this skillet, would have probably been spilling all over the kitchen.

When using Xtrema Cookware, it's slightly different than normal in that you set it to a medium heat instead of turning the burner on full-blast (like I usually do). It does take a little bit longer to get fully heated, but once it does you then turn down the setting and the pan itself actually retains the heat inside.

What that does is cause the heat to spread throughout the entire pan (as opposed to just the part right on the burner) and cook the food quicker and more evenly. Therefore, the overall cooking time is reduced, less energy is used and your food stays hotter longer - who doesn't want that?

Even better, the one of the most amazing features about the Xtrema line is that versatility I mentioned. I can take the same skillet and move it from my stove top to the oven. And then put it under the broiler, in the freezer, in the refrigerator, in the microwave and even onto a barbeque grill. No changing pans! I loved being able to take my apple pancake and put it directly in to bake after it was done cooking on the stove.

And when it was finished in the oven? This skillet is plenty attractive enough to be moved directly to the dining room table. Finally, when breakfast was over, the whole thing could go directly into the dishwasher, which is great! I've also tried washing it by hand as well and any food wipes away easily - and I'm a big fan of cleaning that is fast and easy.

Also, the ability to use pretty much any utensils during cooking or cleaning is really handy, there's no worry about scratching this non-toxic, ceramic glaze surface. Grab your favorite metal tool or a piece of industrial steel wool and you're still not going to be able to damage this ceramic cookware!

When it comes to practical, durable, versatile, attractive ceramic cookware, Xtrema has set the bar very high. Their healthy, safe, eco-friendly products are good for you as well as for the environment. The company even works to reduce their impact with clean-burning and safe natural gas and by doing things like recycling their water. The result is a line that you can feel good about using on so many levels... and the food tastes great, too!

As the only thing my 10" Skillet was missing was a cover and a way to make sure the hot handle didn't touch my hand, Xtrema has now made those a part of the package! And, thanks to their generosity, one person will get to try out all three great pieces to create their favorite meals (for the holidays, perhaps?) because...

One lucky person will win a 10'' Ceramic Skillet with Cover & Handle Pot Holder 3-Piece Set from Xtrema! ARV $129.99!

To enter to win: Visit Xtrema and tell me another of their high quality items that you would love to own.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you head over to A Mom's Balancing Act and enter to win a 6-piece 1.25 Quart Steamer Set from Xtrema!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Xtrema on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: Cookware from Xtrema is so versatile! I just entered to win a 10" Ceramic Skillet 3-Piece Set at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/be0jkq
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the Holiday Gift Guide giveaways (Checking Our List giveaways ONLY) running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Checking Our List 5: WIN a 10" Ceramic Skillet 3-pc Set from Xtrema (ARV $129.99)! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/be0jkq #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you have our Checking Our List {Holiday Gift Guide 2010} button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Xtrema. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on November 26th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Ceramcor for providing a 10" Skillet for me to review and a 3-pc 10" Skillet w/Cover & Handle Pot Holder for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.