GRAVATI MILL What goes up must go down—just turn this baby upside down and ‘gravity’ (thank you Newton!) gets this battery operated pepper or salt mill grinding! Sleek design comes in 6 fab colors: red, yellow, orange, green, chrome & silver. $24.99 from Trudeau. Available at Saks Inc, Ketchum Kitchens, Fortunoff, Kitchen Kaboodle II, Metropolitan Market, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Le Gourmet Chef, Linens ‘N Things and cooking.com. CHAMPAGNE CORK CATCHER Pop goes the cork-- often at the expense of a nail or an eye! Forget the towel and the fear! This simple device will make you look like you know what you’re doing—so you’ll be enjoying that bubbly without losing anything! Little ridges in the device hold the cork as it gently prepares for lift-off at speeds of 30-40mph hour. Then pop goes the cork and catchin’ goes this handy dandy device!! $20 www.surlatable.com THE SILICON CHEF Here’s a sneak peak of a cooking tool for all we Martha wannabees! It’s a portable hotplate set that comes with scannable recipe cards that you just pop in and it’ll start cooking. Radio frequency transmitters regulate the heat, the recipe tells the pan what it’s cooking and beeps take you step by step through each recipe. There’s even a one step cheesecake, crème brulee and The ‘starter’ set comes with three pans, 24 cards and there’s 100’s more available…Should you choose you can also use it as a standard hot plate—but why would you want to!! It’s new technology and it’s quite pricey, so you may consider hiring a chef until the cost comes down—particularly since they’ll also clean up! Besides, until this tool can suggest and serve me the right glass of wine for each meal it’s not fool proof enough! $1500 www.vitacraft.com Which leads us to my next, more reasonably priced gizmo… SOMMELIER WINE CHILLER If you’re like me as long as my white wine isn’t warm I’m a happy camper. But there are many out there who like their wines served at the right temp—particularly their reds. This gadget’s for you! All you do is put your bottle in and select from 26 ---yes I said 26 types of wine- and presto it’ll chill or warm your wine at the proper temperature. And, an alarm will go off when it’s ready…So see you can be a wine afficiondo without even trying…Is this a great world or what?! $100 www.brookstone.com TEETER TRAY Whether you’re naturally klutzy like me or just try to carry more then you can handle to minimize the number of trips you have to make-this tray will keep your drinks in tact and allow you to get as tipsy (naturally or otherwise!) as you choose! It’s fun, comes with 6 colorful plastic cups and has a kitschy design. If you’re really brave you can use the top as a tray to serve food, too. An accidental must have at only $29.95 www.teetertray.com SCOOBA Scooba dooba do get this! Let me start by admitting that I am an irobot devotee—first with their Roomba which vacuumed my home as I watched from my comfy couch; then I got the Roomba Scheduler which let me program my clean-ups and not be anywhere in sight; and NOW I never have to worry when guests or I drop any food and drink or my son leaves a trail of mud for me!!! With a simple touch of a button it’ll prep, wash, scrub and dry your hardwood, tile and linoleum floors. So come on gals…drop that mop and put that scooba to the task- you’ll thank my in the morning! $399 www.irobot.com POT CLIP: $6.99 Save a dish! Forgettabout using a spoon rest when you have this nifty space-saving gizmo—just attach this clip to your pot or pan and you’ll be able to keep that spoon truly close a hand. It’s dishwasher safe, too! $6.99 Available at www.thecontainerstore.com POP ART TOASTER Pop goes the toaster! This is a really fun way to get your kids making their own breakfast and eating it too—which makes it an accidental housewive’s dream cooking tool! Toasters colors vary according to number of plates they come with. Art Plates are interchangeable and removable featuring fun designs and expressions (Chicks Rule, I’m Toast, Bite Me!!) Another bonus: plates and slide out crumb tray are dishwashable. And, coming this summer they’ll be introducing the Pop Art Toaster Creative Coloring Kit with edible food color designs…TIP: For aspiring Van Gogh’s it’s best to use good old fashion bread to insure the best art—of course if they’re going for the abstract look the nooks and crannies found in English Muffins are the ticket! $24.99-$34.99 depending upon number of art plates. Assorted colors. www.target.com |
