bread

It's not lame; it's lah-may

To continue our celebration of Bread Month at The Brooklyn Kitchen, a shop in my neighborhood that's the best go-to spot for appliances and kitchen gadgets, I'm introducing you to this odd-looking blade that breadmakers know as a lame (lah-may).

Maybe you've already been introduced to this curved-blade tool, also known as a grignette. But if you're like me and it's new to you, here's the deal: this little guy is responsible for the pretty patterns that show up in the crust of freshly baked breads like baguettes and round boules. Chefs use the … Read more

Fresh baked bread, just like Mom used to make

Smelling something familiar can bring us back to moments in our childhood, and one of my favorite smells of nostalgia is that of freshly baking bread. And with bread makers like this Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Bread Maker, that smell means a much larger loaf.

The bread machine comes with a timer that can be set up to 13 hours ahead, so you can set it at night and have fresh bread for breakfast. It also comes with 10 bread cycles, including a super-speedy 2-hour Quick Bake, and an option for light, medium, or dark crust (with a viewing window … Read more

White Bread Wrist Rest: Without it, your hands are toast (get it? TOAST)

The current generation of compunerds is totally screwed. We (yes, I'm one of you) spend at least eight hours surfing the Internet on a daily basis, weekends included! Those YouTube videos aren't going to watch themselves, right?

That's why ergonomics is so important. We need specific keyboards and mice to angle our wrists properly and alleviate all that unnecessary stress--I can't think of a bigger weekend downer than the dreaded "mouse arm."

Thanks to the brilliant minds at Brando Workshop, we now have another ergonomic tool at our disposal. The White Bread Wrist Rest … Read more

Bread Slicer best thing since sliced bread?

Even as we approach the Official Season of the Turkey Sandwich, I doubt many of us will really need the precision of a bread slicer. Granted, it does have its uses. My bread machine has a propensity to produce loaves that look somewhat like renegade muffins: big poofy tops pouring over a tall base. Sometimes, they can be difficult to slice evenly. However, I trust that a few uneven slices will still taste just as delicious.

For those who do prefer uniform half-inch slices of bread, this Norpro Bread Slicer with Crumb Catcher might be just the thing. The acrylic … Read more

Bread Bag makes for warm rolls at the table

I never met a bread I didn't like. From French, rye, or sourdough, all the way through to the mysterious-sounding pumpernickel, bread has been a delicious and nutritious staple in my life. Even that squishy white stuff once had a place in my heart (although I was a kid then).

With a life-long affinity towards grainy goodness, I tend to notice bread-related products when they a-rise. (Sorry). This Bread Bag from Uma is simple in nature, but elegant in execution. With four magnets along the opening, the bag can be closed to keep bread warm at the table. This … Read more

Bread board-igami

My greatest literary love has always been for books that teach me something I don't know. At this point, most books that fit this description are the types of nonfiction books on the Times best seller lists, but some of my favorite all-time books came from the Klutz series.

The Klutz series of books consisted of instruction manuals that were attached to the fun toys the manuals described how to use. A cat's cradle picture book came with a set of fancy strings, a how-to yo-yo set came with a brand new yo-yo, and one of my personal … Read more

BreadCrumbz G1 Android app plots Point A to Point B

BreadCrumbz (beta) is another one of the new Android apps I like. I got a run-through of the free multimedia directions app a few months ago with the developer, and I gave it a spin on my own here in San Francisco. BreadCrumbz uses GPS, Google maps, and the G1's camera phone to help you track a route, like directions from the train station to your house.

You essentially start a new route, take photos along the way to mark the path, and label everything with helpful hints. You can tag an image and annotate it with an arrow … Read more

MacBook Air-O-Matic: It slices! It dices!

Sure, the MacBook Air can't spin a DVD or connect to a FireWire device, but did you know it possesses the ability to slice though a loaf of bread? If the photos on this translated-from-the-German forum post are to be believed, the Air can easily make its way through an oatmeal dinner roll. So, if you've been putting off an Air purchase because its features are too few for the price, add bread knife to the list and recalculate.

Before you get too concerned about the safety issues here (and it can't be too long before we … Read more