One of the biggest obstacles I’ve had to face as an amateur chef is my own laziness. Sure, a home cooked meal made from scratch sounds delightful but it’s a lot of work. More ingredients mean a better melding of flavors as well as more preparation and opportunities to make a mistake. I mean, I know the difference between teaspoon and tablespoon but you’d be surprised how many times I grab the wrong one when I’m frazzled in the kitchen.
What I need, what I’m always looking for, is a product to make cooking less intimidating. The Sink Drainer Cutting Board (Uncommon Goods, $32.00) marries an organic bamboo cutting board with a silicone strainer and I can instantly breathe easier. I don’t have to worry about dropping all the vegetables I just chopped into the sink when I transfer them from the cutting board to the strainer because it’s built right in. The whole thing fits over your sink so you can slide your vegetables or meat directly into the strainer as you go. Usually I end up doing this in batches because my cutting board is too small to sustain an entire meal’s raw materials. Because this cutting board is meant to be used over the sink, it’s quite large and could be a bit tricky to store – something tells me it won’t be spending that much time tucked away though.
It’s probably a good idea to get a jump start on your Father’s Day shopping, so if Dad isn’t into cooking you can still find a bunch of other great ideas at Uncommon Goods.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 24″ x 12″ x 0.8″
-Cutting board with integrated strainer
-Fits over sink for easy chopping
-Wash in warm soapy water
-Made of silicone and organic bamboo
I love cheese. If I had to pick only one thing to eat for the rest of my life, it would have to be cheese. Think about it – what isn’t better with some cheese on it? Also, what are your favorite foods? Chances are, they are comprised of cheese in some capacity. I always have cheese on hand, usually in hand if you know what I mean.
With a love for cheese as great as mine, a capable grater is a must. The Grip Grater Multi-Position Cheese Grater (Amazon, $24.99) really ups the ante because it offers three possible positions. Three! That’s two more than most graters! When not in use, the grater folds flat for easy storage – great for small kitchens or big kitchens overrun with a plethora of cooking gadgets. Grating can be achieved in one of two ways: arms together offers the traditional hand-held option while arms out allows you to grate over a bowl or dish. Non-slip grips on both the arms and under hinges prevent the grater from sliding around in either position, so it’s really a matter of personal preference. For me, it’s gotta be arms out because you can shred block after block of cheese without feeling the burn. But that’s just me.
You don’t like cheese? As Liz Lemon would say, “That’s a dealbreaker.”
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 8″ x 2.5″ x 6″
-Multi position cheese grater
-Three positions:
-Folded for storage
-Arms together (hand held grating)
-Arms out (grating over dish)
-Includes 2 grater plates
-Non slip grips on arms and under hinges
-Stainless steel plates with hard plastic frame
Is there anything better than the smell of a barbeque on a summer day? Whenever I smell burgers and hot dogs on the grill, it just makes me happy. To make a quality burger, you have to do just that – make it. You can’t expect perfection from a frozen meat patty!
If you’re gonna make your burgers from scratch, then you might as well go all out. Go ahead, get the grass-fed beef, add only the freshest spices, and use the Mini Deluxe BBQ Burger Set (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $19.95). With this set, you get everything you need (other than the burger itself) to prep and cook your super tasty sliders. First, use the triple hamburger press to release pockets of air and ensure uniform grilling. Then place the flattened patties into the nonstick wire basket and you’re ready for maximum grillage without any burger casualties. While your burgers are cooking, you can trim the hamburger buns to regulation slider size with the bun cutter. All that’s missing is a surly teenage to overcharge you!
Watch out for the Hamburglar!
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Make sliders at home
-Includes burger press, grilling basket, and bun cutter
-Nonstick basket cooks 9 patties at a time
-Triple press ensures uniform grilling
-Hassle free grilling
-Hand wash
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
Our friends over at Perpetual Kid have some truly awesome stuff, so we thought we’d do a top 10 list just for them!
Top 10 Salt & Pepper Shakers
