My Favorite Kitchen Things, Part 2 (GelPro mat)

I love love love love my GelPro mat.I know I said I was going to talk about mixing bowls in the next part of this series, but I lied. Instead, I’m going to tell you about my love affair with my GelPro kitchen floor mat. My mom bought one for my parents’ house years ago at Bed, Bath and Beyond, and let me tell you, after baking while standing on my mom’s GelPro mat, the foam mat I bought at Target for my kitchen doesn’t even compare.

Since I’m often at my parents’ house for holidays, much of my time there is spent standing in the kitchen, and the GelPro mat is a necessity. When my parents remodeled their kitchen (double convection oven! island! huge deep sink! additional sink!), they chose stone floors which are definitely not the most comfortable floor to stand on for hours at a time. And to make matters worse, I recently developed sciatica (which I can tell you, is incredibly painful, second only to my post-tonsillectomy pain three years ago) which is aggravated by standing on hard surfaces for long periods of time. When I stand on the GelPro mat, my back and legs are happy!

So, when GelPro offered me a mat (I chose the striated style in khaki) for my own apartment, I was incredibly excited–I have 1970s ceramic tile floors which are not only ugly, but horrid to stand on. Plus, I was on my third foam mat (they get grubby and can’t be wiped clean) and was ready to do anything to avoid another doctor visit and potential MRI.

Now I can’t imagine not having the GelPro mat in my kitchen. In fact, I’m now totally spoiled and wish I had one in front of my stove too. (So what if I have a tiny galley kitchen?) In the meantime, I’m surviving by moving the mat to whichever side of the kitchen I’m currently working in. Sure beats back pain.

Wish you had a GelPro mat too? Here’s your change to win one! Because the folks at GelPro are so nice, they are giving away any 20″ x 36″ GelPro mat to one Nosh With Me reader! To enter, leave a comment telling me how you first discovered my blog, and what, if anything, you’ve made from it.

Contest ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, June 13, 2010. One winner will be selected at random shortly thereafter and contacted by email. Please note this contest is only open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

***Contest is now closed.***

Comments

45 Responses to “My Favorite Kitchen Things, Part 2 (GelPro mat)”

    Jenifer on 1 June 5th, 2010 4:55 pm

    Come on #1!!

    I found you through Smitten Kitchen and the first recipe I made was the World Peace Cookies. Yum!

    Suzanne on 2 June 5th, 2010 4:56 pm

    I discovered your blog, which I love by the way, through a link on the Cupcake Bakeshop by Chockylit blog. My favorite thing that I have made from your recipes is the sublime Strawberry Buttermilk Cake, which I made with freshly picked blueberries rather than strawberries. I also made the Chocolate Chip Scones, which are my new favorite tea-time treat.

    Nancy on 3 June 5th, 2010 5:12 pm

    I knew about this blog from your personal blog! Because I tend to stick to the same things over and over again, and rarely try anything new (I know! Shame on me!), I don’t think I’ve ever baked any of your recipes… Forgive me!

    Sarah on 4 June 5th, 2010 5:17 pm

    Oh goodness, i can’t even remember where i first found your blog, i’ve been following for such a long time. My favorite were the homemade oreos 🙂 yum yum!!

    Julie on 5 June 5th, 2010 5:24 pm

    I’ve been reading your blog for about a year. Not sure how I first found you, maybe from Smitten Kitchen? Thanks for the chance to win. I’ve always wanted one of those gel mats.

    carolyn on 6 June 5th, 2010 5:27 pm

    I don’t remember where I found your blog, but I do remember the salted butter caramels!

    justJENN on 7 June 5th, 2010 5:29 pm

    I want that mat. I just wait for you to make me stuff.

    j on 8 June 5th, 2010 5:43 pm

    Buttermilk cupcakes with praline frosting is on my list to make very soon! I started reading Nosh after my sister suggested.

    Julie on 9 June 5th, 2010 6:22 pm

    Ahh! I don’t remember! It was at least 6 months ago. I am addicted to reading food blogs, I found yours somehow, probably from a link on someone else’s, and when I read through your recipes, I saw several I wanted to make! I don’t remember if I ever did though… That happens. I think I’ll have to go look at your archives for something to make right now though!

    Angela on 10 June 5th, 2010 6:33 pm

    I have no idea how I found your blog honestly. I get lost in blogland often clicking links and clicking links.

    I have printed MANY of your recipes. I don’t know if I have made them yet or not. But I know your recipes fill my binder 😀

    I did make your matzo brittle for passover. That stuff is like crack. SO GOOD.

    I love love love your blog!

    Shauna on 11 June 5th, 2010 6:49 pm

    Love you blog and my aches and pains would by very happy for the relief!!!

    Dova on 12 June 5th, 2010 6:56 pm

    Maybe if I got a little more sleep, I could remember how I found your blog, but I know it was something related to Jewish baking. I might bet that it was a search for “Hamentaschen filling”…but don’t quote me on that!

    I am on my feet so much, I need a gel floor! I actually have one by the sink and it is *amazing*, but I would love one by my prep area, that’s where I spend most of my time.

    Keep baking!

    Dawn C. on 13 June 5th, 2010 7:21 pm

    I think I found your site from a link on JustJenn’s blog. I’ve made countless things from your blog! brownies, cupcakes, breads… you name it! Although favorites have to be the brown sugar shortbread and brown sugar cookies.

    Zanne R. on 14 June 5th, 2010 8:07 pm

    I think I found Nosh with me from a Facebook ad. Enticed by the picture, I became hooked on reading your inspiring recipies. I have damage in my spine from L4 to S1, so I am really entrigued by your review of the GelPro. My back and my own nasty kitchen floors keep me out of the kitchen too…something to think about for sure!

    jami on 15 June 5th, 2010 8:24 pm

    I discovered your blog when I met you! And I have made lots of things from here, but probably liked best the brown sugar shortbread. YUM. And I really want a gel pro mat and keep looking longingly at them when I’m at BB&B.

    HHarvey on 16 June 5th, 2010 10:40 pm

    I found you from a reference in another foodie blog, but I don’t remember which one.

    I understand the need for such a mat – and the foam ones are not doing the trick.

    Keep up the good work!

    Kritina on 17 June 5th, 2010 10:40 pm

    I found your blog on a friends page on facebook, everything ive seen looks yummy but have yet to make any of it.

    robin solod on 18 June 6th, 2010 4:35 am

    HI! I love your blog! I discovered your blog because I am home very very ill for two years. I had a severe toxic exposure and developed many serious maladies. I stay in alot of the time and discovered the power of food and baking and cooking. It is transcending my life for better. I love reading all of your noshalicious recipes……I just stumbled upon it and really love it. Your quite a mensch! You are so lucky to have your parents home to enjoy the love of your family. My Mom who is the only person i have left just went into Assisted living. So its just me and the kitchen!!! The mat would really help me feel much better while i am making those nosha licious recipes!!! From one mensch to another! Best,
    Robin

    yael on 19 June 6th, 2010 7:28 am

    Don’t really remember how I discovered your blog- just glad that I did! I have made quite a few things from your recipe list including the “baked” brownies, which are amazing and prompted me to go out and buy the book ( which was definitely worth it!) Thanks!

    Bets on 20 June 6th, 2010 7:41 am

    Your brown sugar shortbread is one of my (and my friends’) favorites! Thanks for sharing such a delicious recipe. Think I first found your blog through Smitten Kitchen.

    Jessica on 21 June 6th, 2010 8:29 am

    Brown sugar shortbread 🙂 I have a good handful bookmarked for if I get time. I forget how I found your blog. Long while ago though. Love your site 🙂

    jersey on 22 June 6th, 2010 8:45 am

    o.m.g…this is a GREAT giveaway!

    i have been following your blog for a little over a year so i have tried LOTS of your recipes including chocolate chip peanut butter cookies and most recently a pound cake. mmmm.

    thanks for sharing!!!

    Cairine Stade on 23 June 6th, 2010 11:08 am

    I found your blog when I was at the Adventures In The Kitchen blog. She reads you each day. I have made the Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies which were delicious.

    Meredith on 24 June 6th, 2010 11:47 am

    I don’t remember how I found your blog- pretty sure it was linked on someone else’s page, but I love it! I’m excited about the GelPro mat. I’ve been wanting to get one for a long time!

    Rebecca on 25 June 6th, 2010 1:02 pm

    The GelPro mats look great!

    I’m pretty sure I found your blog through Smitten Kitchen when I was looking Hamantaschen recipes. I made your apricot filling and it was delicious! I also enjoyed your Low(er) Fat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies!

    Jessica on 26 June 6th, 2010 3:13 pm

    Salted butter carmels….umm so yummy! Dont remember how i found your blog probably through a different blog thoug

    Leslie on 27 June 6th, 2010 5:24 pm

    I don’t remember how I found your blog but I do know that I have read your blog for a couple of years and haven’t regretted one minute spent reading and drooling over your recipes.

    Angelina on 28 June 6th, 2010 6:07 pm

    Definitely found your blog through Chockylit years ago! Love the low and low(er) fat recipes, which are always great for satisfying my need to bake without increasing the collective mass of the household!

    K on 29 June 6th, 2010 10:09 pm

    I don’t remember how I found you either but I just made the oatmeal Reese’s cookies the other day and they were a big hit at the Memorial Day BBQ! The kids each grabbed one before I could get in the door! 🙂

    Danielle on 30 June 7th, 2010 10:09 am

    Ha ha… I cannot for the life of me remember how I found your blog. I think it may have been through another cooking blog… or a google search involving the term “salted caramel”. All I know is that once I got here I clicked the “bookmark” and have been checking in weekly even since.

    Kathy on 31 June 7th, 2010 12:57 pm

    I found you through a link with Smitten Kitchen!

    Dana on 32 June 7th, 2010 3:27 pm

    I’m pretty sure I found you through Smitten Kitchen. My favorite recipe HAS to be the homemade oreos. SOOOOO yum!

    Alison on 33 June 7th, 2010 5:43 pm

    Big fan…I have not yet made anything from the blog, but have had the joy of tasting many of the recipes…the “crack bars” are currently a favorite.

    Leslie on 34 June 7th, 2010 7:30 pm

    I discovered you site while looking for candy corn recipes, which turned out just great. I have used the bagel recipe. It was also great but broke the dough hook on my kitchen aid. There are many recipes I would like to try but they will have to wait until I am back at work or else I will weigh a million pounds. Thank you.

    Nancy on 35 June 7th, 2010 9:16 pm

    I don’t remember what link got me to your blog, but I added you to my blog list long ago. And those are the blogs that I read every day… and then I get carried away and have to see what everyone is reading about and cooking!!

    Poppy on 36 June 8th, 2010 1:45 pm

    I found your site from a cupcake blog, but I don’t remember which one. The most recent thing I’ve made from your site is the flourless chocolate walnut cookies, but I have a long list of “to be made” links from here.

    sarah j on 37 June 9th, 2010 11:54 am

    I found you from Not Martha .. surfed on through.

    Working with your salted caramel recipe to see if I can make it into a cake filling … nom nom nom..

    ~ Sarah

    Houston gal on 38 June 9th, 2010 8:51 pm

    It was link to your Brown Sugar Cookies (which are the best sugar cookies ever0.

    How To Eat A Cupcake on 39 June 10th, 2010 5:10 am

    Wow I wish we would’ve had these at the cupcakery I used to work at! We would stand in one spot in front of our mixers for up to 4 hours sometimes!!

    Hmm… I first came across your blogging when I first started my blog. I was looking for a vanilla cupcake recipe and I made one I found here!

    Jessica on 40 June 10th, 2010 8:45 am

    I found your site off smitten kitchen! I made the snickerdoodle muffins. LOVE THEM! I have one of the foam mats too (mine is from Home Depot) because I couldn’t afford the gelpro mats but i think they are awesome! I’m also so happy to hear you got one and it’s making your sciatica not so painful in the kitchen.

    Thanks!

    korin Rasmussen on 41 June 10th, 2010 7:17 pm

    I found you through smitten kitchen, but… truth be told I spend more time here. <3

    b on 42 June 10th, 2010 10:30 pm

    Found your blog looking for Passover recipes. LOVE ur blog and tried many of your recipes. yummy…….

    b

    Beverly on 43 June 12th, 2010 8:22 am

    I can’t even rememver how I first reached your site. I am always looking for new recipes, espacially baking. I continued to follow noshwithme from that first accidental find. I espacially enjoy comparing your Challah, mandel bread and hamantaschen reipes to mine.

    Laura on 44 June 13th, 2010 4:48 am

    Came across your blog years ago when searching for recipe ideas. Haven’t made anything “as posted,” but have used many of your recipes as jumping off points for my own creations. Salted butter caramels, red velvet cupcakes, flouless chocolate cake…and tons more! 🙂

    Francine on 45 June 13th, 2010 5:53 pm

    I came across your blog a few years ago when I was searching for new recipes – I can’t even remember what now! I was very impressed & bookmarked it in my favorites – I visit once every few weeks & everything I’ve made I make over and over!