Alright, alright, so I may have noted my displeasure for the so-called holiday that is rapidly approaching, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to ignore it entirely. I’ve tried – it didn’t end well. So I’m sorry to say, but there’s gonna be a bit of cutesy item coverage for the next couple of weeks. I’ll do my best to find fun, spiteful items like last week’s Bittersweets, but occasionally I will have to bow to the masses and humor all the lovebirds out there. Now, without further ado…
The Heart Egg Molder (Perpetual Kid, $5.99) is a good way to jump into all this Valentine’s Day nonsense without going overboard. While making a heart-shaped omelet or eggs-in-a-basket (as shown) for your sweetie pie is nauseatingly adorable, it’s not the only way to enjoy fun shaped breakfast items. Perhaps you just enjoy a tasty breakfast and you’d like to liven it up a bit. You know, start your day off on a positive note, knowing that your eggs and toast will always be there for you (unlike your shady ex). Or maybe you know someone who’s a big fan of food (aren’t we all?) so they’d totally eggpreciate (!) such a thoughtful gesture. And then, there are those people out there who want to buy this contraption as some sort of salute to a ridiculous “holiday” – that’s cool too, I’m not judging.
Still taking suggestions for that singles only holiday – we need a name, a date, and a way to celebrate. Scratch that, I think I know how the celebration will go.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 5″ x 6.5″
We’ve covered a lot of cool kitchen gadgets on here, but my favorites are the ones that are so obvious, yet took forever for someone to invent. I mean, I cook all the time and can come up with about a thousand things that I would love a new gadget to make easier. But nothing ever comes of it. I just continue with my same routine, much like all of you out there, cursing that pot of boiling water when it burns me for the umpteenth time. Seriously, every time I’m boiling potatoes I cringe as I put them in the pot because I know that scalding backsplash is coming. And then I think, if only there were some way I could live a potato-filled existence without constantly burning myself!
Thank the heavens above! The Foodpod Cooking Vessel (Wrapables, $14.95) has heard of my plight and has come to rescue my fingertips from blistering! When I first saw this strange contraption, I didn’t quite understand its genius – I mean, it just looks like some weird silicone pod. What the hell am I supposed to do with that? Upon closer inspection, I realized that this strange contraption was my cooking savior. Used primarily for boiling, this pod also works great for blanching and steaming a variety of foods. All you have to do is put your food in the pod, close the lid, and pop the pod in a pot of boiling water. Your foods will cook quickly and evenly, but more importantly, you won’t burn yourself on hot water backsplash because you’re not dropping small items into a giant empty pot.
Just think of all the foods you can now cook without burning yourself – eggs, red potatoes, broccoli, or shellfish. And I’m not just suggesting those because they’re featured in the four photos directly at the bottom of this post. Oh wait, that’s exactly why I’m using those examples.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 9″ x 9″ x 9″
-Nonstick
-Built in grip clip
-Easy to use
-Ensures even cooking
-Time saving
-Top rack dishwasher safe
-Made of silicone
‘Tis the season for festive parties, raucous celebrations, and other sorts of joyous occasions! And what happens at gatherings such as these? Sure, everyone is just a little bit different, but there is a basic formula: eat, drink, and be merry. When you’re at a party, or better yet hosting one, you don’t want to get bogged down in the annoying, but necessary party maintenance. For me, the one thing I hate to have to clean up is dishes. It’s nice to have some people over, relax, and have a good time, but it sucks to have a sink full of dirty plates at the end of the night. Now, you could go all plasticware instead, but I always feel so guilty about it. I mean, how wasteful is that to use plastic utensils and plates? And you know everyone will use way more than they need to because if it’s disposable, it gets disposed. If it’s a real plate, they use one for the entire night. If it’s plastic, well then you’d better believe they’ll use at least five apiece. Just because they can.
By using the Sugarcane Disposables (Drinkstuff), you can take the pressure off of having to choose between some leisure time for yourself and saving the environment. Not only are these disposable plates and bowls made of 100% sugar cane fibre, but they’re also completely biodegradable and compostable. That’s right, you can use them up and throw them away because they won’t be sitting in a landfill for all eternity. And they’re actually superior to traditional disposables because you can microwave and freeze them without having to worry about destroying them, or poisoning yourself. Another fun little fact about these things? They won’t absorb oil or leak. So even if they’re made to break down. they’re not going to start in the middle of your party. They’re real classy that way.
Now, I’m not advocating using this faux china exclusively because that’s not exactly the most environmentally friendly choice. But you have to admit, it would be nice to pull these out every once in awhile. Just think, not only will your party be rocking, but everyone will be talking about how you managed to go green even around the holidays. Now, that’s a real gift.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Prices:
Small plate (7″): £7.59
Large plate (10″): £18.69
Divided plate (10″): £6.99
Bowl (16oz): £11.29
-Quantity:
Small plate: pack of 125
Large plate: pack of 125
Divided plate: pack of 50
Bowl: pack of 125
-Biodegradable and compostable
-Will not absorb oil or leak
-Microwavable and freezable
-Made from 100% sugar cane fibre
-Materials obtained from sustainable sources
-Not available for delivery in the United States or Canada
I really enjoy cooking. I’m not saying that I’m some kind of master chef, far from it actually. Most of the delectable dishes I prepare come out straight out of a box and are of the “just add water” variety, but that’s still cooking, right? I’m just not a “from scratch” type of person. There’s always way too many ingredients to buy that you just know you’re never going to use again. I mean, mustard seed? What is that about? Regardless of my cooking skills level, there are a few meals that I can really hammer out. Being of Irish descent, one of them is a traditional meat and potatoes stew. Now, I know that making a mess while cooking is pretty much a given, but there’s got to be a way to reduce the kitchen destruction I’ve got going on.
That’s where the Tate Otama (Generate Design, $25.00) comes in. I know, you’re probably mystified as to what I’m talking about, but stay with me here. The name is Japanese and translates to “standing ladle,” which is exactly what it is. I mean, how is it possible that it took someone this long to come up with such a no-brainer concept? Making a ladle with a flat bottom isn’t that far fetched. Personally, I hate having to stir my stew and then lay the ladle on the counter. Then you come back later to stir it again, and there’s this gunky mess congealing to your counter. Yeah, I could buy a spoon rest, but that to me is a waste of money. I could just use a plate or a bowl if I really wanted that. Now, with this ladle I can just stir my stew and stand it up on the counter. Sure, I’ll get a little bit of a residue on there, but the majority of stew goodness will stay in the pot where it belongs.
Let’s see, we already know I make a pretty tasty stew, but were you aware of my banging pasta salad skills? That’s right, pasta salad. Sure, you think it’s easy, don’t you? I bet you buy that stuff at the deli that’s been sitting out there all day, too. I may be a “just add water” chef, but at least I’m trying.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 3″ x 3.25″ x 11.7″
-Flat bottom
-Easily accessible when in use
-Easily stored
-Available in white or black
-Dishwasher safe
-Made of plastic
Do you ever have one of those days where you get home from work or the gym and you’re extremely hungry, but you’re too wiped out to make anything decent to eat? Then you end up eating like, an entire bag of tortilla chips and a pint of ice cream because that’s what you found first. Besides the fact that that is in no way a healthy or well-balanced meal, you’re bound to suffer from eater’s remorse later on when your stomach feels like there’s WWIII going on inside of it. Yeah, you could pick up some take-out on your way home, but that’s not exactly healthy either. And what are you, made of money? I didn’t think. Nope, you need to find a way to tackle this problem from the inside. And I have just the ticket…
The Toastabags (Firebox, $9.95) may not look like much, but they are your ticket to tasty meals with minimal effort on your part. I’ll admit it, the thought of cooking my meals inside a tiny rubber bag is a little perplexing. Perhaps even stranger is the idea that I’m supposed to stick this rubber bag inside my toaster, but you’d be surprised with the results. Basically, these little bags allow you to heat up just about anything you want, provided that it fits inside a toaster – except liquids, but why would you heat up liquids in a toaster anyways? It’s kinda like microwaving except that your food isn’t all mushy, and it’s similar to a toaster oven but without all the mess. You can easy make grilled cheese or Panini-type sandwiches using this method. You can also heat up your leftovers, maybe some chicken and corn, and have a hot and crispy meal. Each bag can be used approximately 50 times and since you get four bags, it’s a pretty sweet deal at this price.
Just think about all the meals your lazy ass could create with such an amazing piece of technology. Remember when you were in college and all you had to cook your meals within the confines of your dorm room was a hot pot? I bet you can almost feel the excitement you got with each new recipe you created. Perhaps you long to feel that spine-tingling sensation once again…
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Includes 4 Toastabags and recipe ideas
-Each bag can be used approximately 50 times
-Color of bag may vary
-Do not use Toastabags to heat liquid
