Sometimes I feel like I take entertaining a bit too seriously. I mean, I’m the type of person who goes all out for theme parties, making sure that every snack served pertains to event or else it has no business being there at all. Needless to say, I’ve become somewhat of a snack connoisseur and yes, I am judging your snack selection.
Just because you go through all the trouble of making sure you have a wide selection of tasty treats, doesn’t mean that your sustenance will be a success. For that to happen, you not only need to make sure you have enough food but that it stays in optimal condition for the duration of your get together. What you need is the Electric Heated Dip and Chip Snack Tray (Kegworks, $39.95). What good is your homemade queso dip if it congeals into a cold clump halfway through your party? With its removable ceramic dip bowl and heating base with inline power switch, your dips and spreads will stay hot all night long. Sure, you could break out a mini crock pot and a separate chip bowl but why go through all that trouble when you this duo does the same thing all in one convenient location? And if you’re not all about hot dips all the time, you can use this snack tray without the heating base to serve cold dips as well.
I have another chips ‘n’ dip tray that looks just like this one, only it plays “La Cucaracha” every time you open the dip bowl.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 14″ x 3.25″ x 14″
-Capacity: 21oz (dip bowl)
-Electrical: 120VAC, 60Hz, 0.22A
-Keeps dips tasty and warm
-Heating base with attached inline power switch
-Retro 1950s design
-Removable ceramic dip bowl
-Plastic melamine chip tray
-Use without heating base for cold dips
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
It’s summertime and that means one thing: grilling. I don’t care if you’re a hardcore carnivore or a straight-up vegetarian, you’ve got to enjoy the deliciousness of a grilled meal. For a lot of us, it’s hard to get a quality grill experience going because we’re simply not that good at it. Even if you consider yourself an expert grillmaster, there’s always more to learn.
For all the novices out there, the aFire Mini Grilling Planks (Amazon, $11.46 – $11.86) will give your grilling an edge that rivals even the best grillmasters. These grilling planks come as a set of four and are available in four different types of bark that yield varying tastes. It couldn’t be easier to use them as all you really have to do is soak them, set on the grill, allow the smoke to enhance your food, and enjoy. With a high natural oil and flavor, each hand selected grilling plank imparts a smoky flavor and aroma to the food cooked on it. What’s really great is that they work with both gas and charcoal grills, so you can use them just about anywhere.
Don’t you want Dad to be the cream of the crop when it comes to grillmasters?
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 7″ x 2″ x 6″
-Set of 4
-Available in black cherry, cedar, golden alder, or sugar maple
-Imparts smoky flavor and aroma to foods
-Higher natural oil and flavor
-Hand selected
-Sustainably harvested
-Easy to use: soak, heat, smoke, and enjoy
Summer after summer, you pull out the grill for a BBQ. Every year it’s the same thing – burgers, hot dogs, maybe some chicken or steak. I mean, who doesn’t love a good cookout? That’s not to say that it couldn’t use a little bit of spicing up…
The BBQ Branding Iron (Nerd Seven, $14.95) lets you personalize your grilled delights with ease. With 52 changeable letters to choose from (as well as extra vowels), you can write just about anything – whether you’re creating a special meal for a loved one, trying to dissuade your brother from eating the last burger, or simply marking doneness. You get two lines of letters with nine letters per line, secured by end locks on each side, to create a phrase to remember to mark your meal.
Just promise me you won’t resort to human branding – it’s not cool and it’ll get you locked up in Rikers. Don’t believe me? Read this: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/821857/kristina_caban_burns_exlover_samir.html
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 18″ x 3.5″ x 1″
-Brand all your BBQ creations
-Includes 52 changeable letters
-Extra vowels
-Two lines of letters/9 letters per line
-Two end locks to secure letters
-Handle with care
-Hand wash
Work can be a pretty stressful place, even without all the layoffs and lack of job security lately. Sometimes it can feel so overwhelming that you can’t focus on your work because there’s just so much to do. When you feel yourself starting to go over the edge, it’s important to try to relax. Some people find that breathing exercises help, while others slowly count to ten. It’s all about finding what works best for you.
When searching for a stress-reliever, don’t overlook the power of your sense of smell. The USB Aromatherapy Oil Burner (ThinkGeek, $5.99) plugs into your computer’s USB port and uses heat to create a soothing work environment. The set includes a mini bottle of lavender oil (known for its calming effects) but any scent will work in this device. Just squeeze a drop or two of essential oil on the “x” and plug this baby into your USB port (horizontal ports recommended). Then you can sit back and let your olfactory neurons be stimulated.
Close your eyes and you might be able to pretend like you’re not even at work. It’s a long shot, but it’s worth a try.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: Aprrox 2.5″ long
-Includes oil burner and mini bottle of lavender scented oil
-Works with any fragrance oil
