It’s up to you whether you think the Bodum Bistro Flatbed 4-Slice Toaster (Amazon, $69.95) is better than the traditional two-slice model or just a hunk of overpriced junk. Before you judge though, let’s go over the facts. It’s got to be hard to rethink a toaster, but the general idea is that a toaster’s walls were way too confining when it came to large bread items. This design cuts out the walls completely and gives you a flat toasting surface that works with any size or type of bread. If you’re working with a standard piece of bread, you can fit up to four slices on at a time but you are limited to toasting one side at a time so your total crisping time may increase. That’s pretty much the only difference here as all the other usual toaster amenities can be found: variable shade settings, defrost and reheat options, slide out crumb tray, and on/off indicator light. You’ve got to admit, it does a lot cooler than your mom’s toaster.

A lot of people like to complain about how you can’t use this toaster under a cabinet and that it doesn’t have any safety restrictions. I guess this is a toaster for capable adults then.

4 out of 5 stars.

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Certainly not the first thing on the list (poncho, anyone?), but the Grandpa’s Firefork (Not On The High Street, £4.50) would be a handy tool to have whilst being one with nature. Depending on your level of camping skills, you might have a grill to cook your food on or you might just have to settle for an open flame, campfire style. If it’s the latter, you’ll probably want this contraption because it’s a great alternative to poking your food onto a stick you found in the woods. Don’t get me wrong, you still need the stick to use as a handle, but at least your food will stay on the clean metal part while it roasts instead of marinating in unknown woodsy bits. And since we talked about overpacking yesterday, you’ll be happy to note that this camping companion takes up barely any space and is fairly multi-use. Heck, you could even use it as a fire poker if you really wanted to.

You know what’s more fun than camping? ANYTHING.

3 out of 5 stars.

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When preparing for a Halloween extravaganza, the important thing to remember is to really run with the theme. Anything and everything that can be Halloweenized should be, including yourself. The Spooky X-Ray Skeleton Bones Apron (Plasticland, $29.00) is a great way to get into the holiday spirit when making dirt or shrunken apple heads. For one thing, you won’t get fake blood and other tasty delights all over your killer crazy costume. Alternatively, if you’re the type of total lameoid who doesn’t dress up for Halloween, you can at least pretend to be in the spirit with this apron. Bonus: it doesn’t have to be All Hallow’s Eve to wear this skeletal garment.

If you’re looking for theme-appropriate cuisine to serve at your party, check out this blog for super easy yet incredibly impressive ideas.

4 out of 5 stars.

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A much more sane way to cook is to use the Spice Stack (Taylor Gifts, $29.98) to organize your seasonings. Fitting in most cabinets, this spice organizer holds up to 24 full-size or 48 half-size spice containers in a three-tier plastic unit. If that’s not enough space to hold your spice fortress, you can always buy two and stack them on top of each other (hence the name). Each shelf slides out and tilts down so you can easily see which spice you’re looking for. But how do you know which spices are where without opening all the drawers? Easy! Just use the preprinted spice labels to affix the appropriate spice name on its spice slot, and you’re all set. Now instead of spending your time taking all your spices out of the cabinet while desperately searching for one in particular and then having to shove the whole mess back in the cabinet again, you can simply pluck out the one you want. Perfection!

Note: Having a spice organizer does not mean you automatically possess cooking skills.

5 out of 5 stars.

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The only surefire way to lose weight and stay fit is portion control and exercise. Hey, if you aren’t down with the whole working out thing, you can at least cut back on those super-size American portions. It might seem like you’re denying yourself at first, but you’d be surprised how little you’ll miss those gigantic plates of food. Besides, wouldn’t you much rather eat a little bit of something delicious than a lot of cardboard? The Pasta Basket (Amazon, $11.31) is actually three pieces of cookware in one: measuring cup, strainer, and cooking basket. To measure the perfect portion of pasta for one person, simply fill the cup to the serving line (or use handle for longer pastas). To cook the pasta, place the basket in a pot of boiling water with the handle resting on the edge of the pot. Draining your pasta is easy because all you have to do is lift the basket out of the water. You can even cook four different kinds of pasta all in one pot if you were so inclined (or if you have a family of finicky eaters).

Like most people I know, I’m seemingly incapable of measuring the right amount of pasta to cook. Without fail, I always make too much. I’m thinking about seeking pasta therapy.

5 out of 5 stars.

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