I drink a lot of tea and I have to agree with the notion that loose tea is better. There’s no need to start arguing about it; I’ve done the necessary research and it’s simply the truth. The problem with loose tea versus tea bags is that tea bags are just so darn convenient. I mean, you can reach for a tea bag and you’re in business whereas loose tea involves measurements and contraptions. It can be a bit daunting at first.
My least favorite thing about loose tea is cleaning out my infuser afterwards. No matter what, tiny specs of tea leaves always get stuck inside it and it seems like I spend an eternity trying to get them out. Meanwhile, my tea has gone cold. The Paper Tea Filters (Not On The High Street, £4.50) allow you the luxury of loose tea living without the hassle of fine mesh infuser cleaning. Because these paper filters are disposable, all you need to do is fill one with your tea of choice (I’m currently into oolong), slide the wood stick through the notches, and place the whole thing in your cup. The wood stick keeps the filter upright and provides a burn-free extraction. Each set of 40 even comes packaged in its own reusable cotton bag!
Tea: the other breakfast beverage.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Set of 40 filters and wood sticks
-Loose leaf tea infusers
-Disposable
-Made of non chlorine bleached pulp fibers
I always love a good morphing gadget. I mean, why buy two things when you can buy one multi-purpose item? In addition to taking up less space, it’s nicer on the wallet (not to mention just good sense).
This Trivet Set (Generate Design, $39.00) is right up my alley. In case you don’t know (and some people don’t), a trivet is used as a barrier between a hot dish and your countertop. Some of us lazy/poor people just use a pot holder, but that’s neither here nor there. I’m already jazzed that this set includes not one, not two, but three trivets of varying colors so imagine my delight when I realized that each trivet can be repurposed into a coaster or dish drainer! The secret here is the flexible silicone they’re made of which allows them to be easily molded into another useful shape. When you look at it that way, it looks like you need some trivets in your life.
A trivet for all seasons! Well, three of them at least.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 10.2″ x 8.7″ x 1.6″
-Set of 3 trivets (black, orange, red)
-Also functions as coaster or dish drainer
-Made of silicone
I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve ruined dinner because I had something to do that would “only take a minute” – it always takes longer than that, and by the time I’d get back to the kitchen it’d almost be on fire. Setting a timer seems like it would work except when I’m running around different parts of my house I can’t exactly see the stove, if you know what I mean. I need a quick and easy visual cue to keep myself on track…
…which is exactly what the Color Alert Kitchen Timers (Vat19, $9.99 – $14.99) do. Instead of relying solely on a faint beeping noise, each of these timers uses color codes to signal how much time is left before your kitchen bursts into flames (or, dinner is done). Whether you choose analog or digital, the method is the same: simply twist the timer clockwise to add time or counterclockwise to deduct it. The timer has a 60 minute set time maximum and will glow green when there are more than 10 minutes remaining. Once you hit that 10 minute mark, the color switches to yellow and will stay that way until you whittle your way down to a minute. At this point the timer will glow red, sounding an alarm to signal the end of the allotted time and continue to glow red for another full minute. Basically as long as you can remember to look at the timer, you and your food should be fine.
“Danger, Will Robinson! Your souffle is burning!”
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4″ x 2.5″
-Color changing timer alert:
-Green: 10+ minutes remaining
-Yellow: 1-10 minutes remaining
-Red: 0-60 seconds remaining
-Turn clockwise to set time
-Available in analog or digital
-60 minute maximum timer duration
-Digital timer can be paused or restarted
-Digital timer features 12 hour clock
-Batteries included
I was off yesterday so I decided that it would be a good day to cook something a little more involved than my traditionally half-assed dinner creations. And since it was bitterly cold out, I thought stew would be the perfect meal for such an occasion. I got out all my ingredients and started with the potatoes. In no time flat, I had turned my kitchen into a trash receptacle. There were potato peelings all over the counter, the floor, even myself. Sure, I could have dragged my trash can to where I was and peeled the potato hovering over it, but I’ve lost many a potato that way.
The Counter Edge Cutting Board with Collapsible Scrap Bin (Amazon, $24.99) allows you to go about your cooking preparations without turning your kitchen into a compost heap. The cutting board itself features an L-shaped design that easily fits over sinks or counters and has non-skid feet to ensure that it stays put. The removable scrap bin attaches to the edge of the cutting board with a seal between the two so that even liquid rich foods won’t leak out onto the floor. The bin’s four cup capacity is more than enough for most cooking preparations and the set is designed to collapse for snug storage. You might have to get accustomed to standing a little further back from your vegetables, but at least clean up will be a breeze!
In case you were wondering, my dinner was stew-licious.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 11.5″ x 15.5″ x 1.8″
-Integrated bin collects scraps
-Board fits over sink and counter
-Bin attaches to board
-Bin has 4 cup capacity
-Collapses for easy storage
-Dishwasher safe
-Patent pending design
I’m trying to be good about eating breakfast every morning because when I don’t I just get grumpy and I don’t want to do anything. I like a no muss no fuss breakfast, so I usually go with cereal. Or at least you would think that was the easy way out, but how am I supposed to deal with the soggy cereal epidemic we have on our hands? I can’t let my cereal sit for two seconds before it’s rendered inedible by it lactose counterpart. Something has to be done, for the good of breakfast cereals everywhere.
An answer to my plight at last! The EatMeCrunchy Cereal Bowl (Latest Buy, $13.95) lets you have your cereal and eat it too! The secret to this bowl’s plan is a hidden removable shelf within the bowl that separates milk from cereal until you’re ready to mix the two. Only a small part of the bowl lets the milk and cereal mix, until then you keep your cereal dry on higher ground. When you’re ready to eat a bit, just slide some cereal into the lower portion. Amazeballs!
Don’t even tell me you’ve managed to eat a whole bowl of corn flakes without a serious case of the soggies because that’s just nonsense.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 6.7″ x 2.4″ x 5.7″
-Keeps cereal from getting soggy
-Removable shelf inside bowl
-Dishwasher safe
