My kitchen utensils are so boring. I mean, I have more than enough gadgets to get by, but they’re just not any fun. Wouldn’t you rather use a peeler that looks like a beehive hairdo than that generic one you got from the dollar store? My thoughts exactly.
Sure, I could buy a trillion basic toothpicks, but where’s the fun in that? Also, they’re disposable so you’re pretty much committing yourself to killing the Earth. If you’re a friend of Mother Nature’s and/or a geek, then you’ll appreciate the Foodfighters Party Picks (ThinkGeek, $9.99) as an exciting alternative to banal kitchen accessories. The set comes with twelve army men, six green and six grey, in a variety of poses with two toothpick feet attached to the bottom of each one. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy concocting elaborate battle scenes with your food!
May the best man win!
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Set of 12 army men toothpicks
- -Includes 6 green and 6 grey
- -Handwash recommended
- -Made of plastic
I really love to bake, but the problem with baking is that it’s very rarely single serving style. I mean, sure I want a few leftovers but I don’t think it’s healthy for me to eat a whole tray of brownies by myself just so they won’t go to waste. And even if you have a larger amount of people to bake for, there’s no guarantee that they won’t wuss out and spout some nonsense about being on a diet or being full – whatever, dude, it’s still totally your fault that I have to throw away 16 out of 24 delicious cupcakes.
If only there was a way to still be able to make your favorite dessert without the guilt of throwing away most of the leftovers…something like the Split Decision Pie Pan (Taylor Gifts, $16.98), perhaps? Who in their right mind would make one giant pie that no one will finish when they could make two pie halves that everyone can enjoy? Ok, so if you were of the one giant pie persuasion, you can still do that with this pan because it comes with removable nonstick inserts. Once the pie is done baking, just lift and serve for easy removal that won’t break the crusts.
I can’t stress enough how great of an idea this is for holiday baking – nobody wants to bake a whole mince pie just because it’s Grandpa’s favorite when they could instead bake half a mince pie and half a pecan pie.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 9″ diameter
-Bake two pies in one pan
-Includes pie pan and two inserts
-Create two halves or one full size pie
-Lift and serve
-Nonstick coating for even baking
-Easy cleanup
-Made of coated carbon steel
Like most people I know, I work exclusively on my laptop. I mean, does anyone even buy desktop computers anymore? I kid, I kid – I know they do, but the majority of those consumers are either baby boomers or gamers. A laptop just makes more sense for the money because it’s lightweight and portable, making it perfect for travel. And if you’re a home office traditionalist, you can always hook yourself up with a banging wireless keyboard and mouse set to supplement your desktop needs. As much as I love my laptop, I hate its speakers. I have to turn them up full blast most of the time and even then the sound isn’t that great.
If you love your laptop but find yourself unwilling to compromise on good sound, then the Laptop Speaker Bar (ThinkGeek, $59.99) can help bridge the gap. With a simple clip-on design, this speaker bar attaches securely to the top of your laptop and is powered by your laptop’s USB port. There’s no annoying software to install either, just plug and play. The USB cable itself tucks neatly into the back of the speaker so your laptop isn’t overrun with a multitude of stray wires. Once plugged in, you can enjoy a wealth of sound emanating from this compact bar as it features a room-filling 360 degree sound. This speaker solution is perfect for travel (travel case included) or even just as an upgrade from your less than luxurious laptop speakers.
Fun fact: This speaker would also work swimmingly when watching movies on your laptop.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-360 sound from your laptop
-Includes speaker bar and travel case
-Plug and play via USB cable
-Clip on design holds speaker bar securely
-Fits most laptops and netbooks
-USB cable tucks neatly into back of speaker
-Compatible with Mac or PC; USB port required
I hate to go to a friend’s house empty-handed. Even if they insist that I don’t need to bring anything to a dinner party or backyard bbq, I feel strange showing up without some sort of contribution. Now, I like to cook, but if you are without that skill set in your arsenal then you probably stick with my favorite backup: booze.
It doesn’t matter how good your intentions are, if you bring warm booze to a party that’s just unforgivable. Save yourself the public floggings and embarrassment by not just chilling your beverage of choice, but making sure it stays cold. The Wine Bottle Cool Wrap (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $6.95) is like a koozie for a wine bottle. Because the wrap attaches via velcro straps it fits just about all wine bottles and it comes in a variety of fun colors. All you have to do is pop it in the freezer for a bit and it’s ready to keep your vino nice and cold.
Pair this wrap with a bottle of your favorite vintage and you not only have a delectable drink, but also the perfect hostess gift. For those of you who don’t know what a hostess gift is, it probably doesn’t matter because no one’s inviting you anywhere anyways.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 7″ x 13.5″
-Wine bottle koozie
-Freeze koozie to keep wine chilled
-Fits most bottle sizes
-Attaches via velcro straps
-Available in blue, red, pink, green, and clear
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
