How was your holiday weekend? Mine was pretty good – good eats pretty much always equals good times. Did you get any nice Easter goodies? Now that I’m a bit older, I don’t get that much candy anymore. That’s not necessarily a bad thing because I tend to either forget about it completely or inhale it all in a two hour span. I did get some awesome dishware, but I have no idea where I’m gonna put it when I’m not using it. This is a common problem in my kitchen; I have so much stuff that there simply isn’t enough room for it all.
The Portion Cooking Spoon with Measuring Tools (Amazon, $9.06) is another example of my favorite type of product, the two-fer. Instead of stocking your kitchen with multiple measuring cups, why not use just one? This spoon not only has measurements in the silicone spoon (half teaspoon, teaspoon, tablespoon) but it also features a hollow clear plastic handle that holds wet or dry ingredients (up to 1/4 cup). So you get two different ways to measure in one convenient gadget and you can even use this spoon to stir your creation after you’re done measuring. I guess that makes it a three-fer.
Please don’t use this spoon to carve out anyone’s heart.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 12″ x 3.5″ x 1″
-Capacity: 1/4 cup (handle); 1 tbsp (spoon)
-Plastic handle holds wet or dry ingredients
-Seal prevents spills
-Easy pour
-Made of food safe plastic and silicone
I’m actively trying not to eat everything in my kitchen right now. I never subscribed to the idea that if I didn’t buy it, I wouldn’t eat it – I’m an adult, I’ll do what I want! If that means running out to Target at midnight to buy a small red velvet cake to eat in one sitting then so be it (True story). I just need to know that there are options should I decide to indulge, and then I’m usually ok. The trick is knowing how to satisfy your sweet tooth with a taste instead of the whole shebang.
Why bother with low calorie desserts when you could have a tiny slice of heaven? The Just A Slice Cake Pan (Perpetual Kid, $9.99) houses eight individual slice cutouts so you can cook as many or as little slices of dessert as you want. This pan is perfect for friends or couples who can’t agree on dessert flavors because you can bake a slice of each! If you use a boxed cake mix like myself, this pan will make sixteen individual slices. Or exercise amazing self-restraint and bake one slice of cake when the mood strikes you.
It might seem like a waste to bake only one slice of cake, but that’s poppycock. Sometimes, one slice is all you need.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 1.75″ x 10″ diameter
-Individual slice cake pan
-Makes 8 slices of cake per mold
-Makes 16 slices per box of cake mix
-Colors vary
-Made of 100% silicone
I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve ruined dinner because I had something to do that would “only take a minute” – it always takes longer than that, and by the time I’d get back to the kitchen it’d almost be on fire. Setting a timer seems like it would work except when I’m running around different parts of my house I can’t exactly see the stove, if you know what I mean. I need a quick and easy visual cue to keep myself on track…
…which is exactly what the Color Alert Kitchen Timers (Vat19, $9.99 – $14.99) do. Instead of relying solely on a faint beeping noise, each of these timers uses color codes to signal how much time is left before your kitchen bursts into flames (or, dinner is done). Whether you choose analog or digital, the method is the same: simply twist the timer clockwise to add time or counterclockwise to deduct it. The timer has a 60 minute set time maximum and will glow green when there are more than 10 minutes remaining. Once you hit that 10 minute mark, the color switches to yellow and will stay that way until you whittle your way down to a minute. At this point the timer will glow red, sounding an alarm to signal the end of the allotted time and continue to glow red for another full minute. Basically as long as you can remember to look at the timer, you and your food should be fine.
“Danger, Will Robinson! Your souffle is burning!”
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4″ x 2.5″
-Color changing timer alert:
-Green: 10+ minutes remaining
-Yellow: 1-10 minutes remaining
-Red: 0-60 seconds remaining
-Turn clockwise to set time
-Available in analog or digital
-60 minute maximum timer duration
-Digital timer can be paused or restarted
-Digital timer features 12 hour clock
-Batteries included
As I get older, holidays get a little less special for me. One thing I can always count on to lift my spirits around the holidays is dessert. Oh man, the desserts are so worth it. My favorite has always been cookies because you can snack on them throughout the day (they make an excellent breakfast) and they’re pretty much single servings. The only problem I can see with holiday cookies is that they aren’t around in between holidays. I’m not saying I want to be eating Christmas cookies year round, but a little festivity never hurt anyone.
The Letter Pressed Cookie Cutters (Perpetual Kid, $17.99) bring a bit of sparkle to an otherwise normal looking cookie. Each cookie cutter is double-sided so you can cut out the cookie shape with one side and press the letter shape into the cookie with the other. There are 26 letter cookie cutters as well as an ampersand and exclamation point. Now, I know what you’re thinking – ransom notes. Sure, it would probably decrease the seriousness of your point, but it would also probably put the recipient in a fantastically good mood and therefore more likely to comply with your demands.
Ransom notes: Not just for hostage situations anymore.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Set of 26 letters plus ampersand & exclamation point
-Double sided cookie cutters
-Punch out shapes on one side
-Imprint letters on other side
-Packed in reusable plastic storage trays
-Hand wash only
-Made of durable food safe plastic
When it comes to pie, I have trouble saying no. For example, this past Thanksgiving I ate large quantities of mostly starchy foods and just about stuffed myself more than the turkey. A few hours later, I was presented with no less than four different types of pie. How many slices did I have? Three. That might not seem like a lot, but consider the massive meal eaten barely two hours prior as well as the fact that I also attended another Thanksgiving earlier in the week. Pie is my kryptonite.
What’s better than choosing from a multitude of pies? Choosing from a multitude of mini pies! The Personal Pie Factory (ThinkGeek, $26.00) allows you to make four different types of pie at one time with little to no effort! No one ever eats a whole pie because there are usually so many different choices that it’s hard to pick just one. If you had mini pie selections instead, you wouldn’t be wasting any food because it would be exactly the right amount of dessert. This contraption magically cooks four pies in less than 10 minutes, transforming raw dough into bakery perfection. And cleanup is mega easy because the entire cooking surface is coated with nonstick awesomeness.
You do have to provide your own dough and filling. I know, you might as well BUY a pie then.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Dimensions: 5.9″ x 9.3″ x 11″
- -Makes 4 mini pies in under 10 minutes
- -Nonstick surface
- -Easy removal and cleanup
- -Dough and filling not included
