I like to cook. I do not like to clean. The problem is, cleaning almost always seems to follow cooking in some regard. Maybe you’re proficient enough in your culinary skill that your kitchen doesn’t need a thorough cleaning after each time you cook, but mine usually looks like a bomb went off in there. If I need a tablespoon of flour, you can bet there’s a cup of it scattered throughout my kitchen. My point is, I don’t need any help making messes but I sure could use some when it comes to cleaning them up.
The Utensil Pot Clip (Vat19, $6.99) understands me and as such, has decided to help make my life easier. Instead of putting my cooking utensil of choice on the counter, which leaves a pile of food to be scraped off later as well as picking up whatever crumbs might be left there from my last cooking attempt, I can now slide said utensil into this handy holder. This little guy clips to the side of most pots and will hold your cooking utensil up off the counter and over the pot. No more messes! No cross-germ contamination! The clip features heat resistant rubber feet that won’t scratch your pot and the whole shebang can withstand temperatures up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit so you won’t even burn your hand when you unclip the contraption. It’s kinda perfect, right?
Note: You still have to do the dishes.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Dimensions: 3″ x 2″
- -Clips onto most pots
- -Food residue drips into pot
- -Heat resistant rubber top and feet
- -Withstands temperatures up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit
- -Dishwasher safe
Sometimes I stay up late watching TV and I end up falling asleep on the couch. When I wake up, it’s in the wee hours of the morning and there’s nothing on but awful infomercials. Of course, I could always turn the TV off and go to bed, but I almost never do that. I get sucked into the terrible product sales pitches and how ridiculous it all is. One of the things I’ll never understand is why people buy super expensive knife sets when you can get by with something on the cheap.
I’m not saying that you should get your knives from the Dollar Store because that’s just stupid – trust me, they break in half almost immediately. However, you can buy a decently priced knife set and make it last with something like the Kitchen Magician Knife Sharpener (Plasticland, $16.00). It’s hella easy to sharpen a knife and why wouldn’t you want to? It makes your knives like new and as long as you don’t let them go too long without sharpening, one set of knives should last you a long time. So if you’re gonna go the knife sharpening route, why not get one that looks like you’re a magician? It’s pretty much a no-brainer.
Tips for knife purchasing: Make sure your knife has a plastic handle (wood traps germs) and at least two tongs in the handle for maximum stability. I prefer a serrated edge, but to each their own.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Dimensions: 8.5″ x 2.25″ x 2.5″
- -Sharpens dull knives
- -Made of plastic
Society has basically run out of ideas. Whether it’s music and movies or some other kind of media, there seems to be an absence of original thought as of late. In fact, it seems there aren’t even a whole lot of unique gadgets out there, just a lot that claim to be improvements on the original. Some genuinely are better than their predecessors. Others, not so much.
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.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 14 3/5 x 10 1/5 x 3
-Flatbed toaster with stainless steel heating surface
-Toasts 1 side at a time
-Toasts up to 4 slices at a time
-Works with any size or type of bread
-Variable shade settings from 1 to 9
-Defrost and reheat options
-Slide out crumb tray
-On/off indicator light
-Made of stainless steel with black silicone finish
-1 year limited warranty
I think if you’re going to subject yourself to the act of camping, you had better be prepared for roughing it. To be fair, my idea of “roughing it” would be to stay in a shitty hotel room, but to each their own. I went camping not too long ago and it actually wasn’t that terrible. I’m not saying I’ll be doing to again this weekend, but I managed to survive in the semi-wilderness. Next time (if there is one), there are a few things I’d bring along with me though.
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.
Specs:
-Makes grilling easy
-Attaches firmly to any stick
-Secure storage cap included
-Can be used as a fire poker
-Great for camping
I know it’s a little early to be thinking about Halloween, but realistically you’ve only got a couple of months to get together a kickass costume. That’s not a lot of time if you’re going to go the totally awesome (and only acceptable) route and make your own costume. And if you’re going to throw a Halloween party, you’d better start planning your shindig because scary spooktaculars don’t throw themselves.
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.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 34″ long
-Screen printed skeleton bones graphic
-Adjustable neck strap
-Waist tie
-Available in pink pop, licorice black, or acid green
-Made of 100% cotton
-Machine wash
