Serving

I'm a big fan of advance preparation. Before my kids go to bed, I like to set out clothes for the next day, set out their schoolbags, and pack their lunches. But my kids love to have things like soup, rice, couscous, or other need-to-heat items in their lunches, and those get packed in thermoses. Which cannot go in the microwave. So I either have to make them in the morning and stress myself out or heat them in a different container and make more of a mess. Neither option appeals.

The Aladdin mini lunch bowl is a clever … Read more

Misting oil can be useful in just about every type of cooking: it keeps cookies from sticking to baking sheets, just as it adds flavor to salads. Using a mister means that you're getting less fat when you use oil, as well. But commercial spray oils aren't exactly friendly to the environment. A pump mister that you can refill can eliminate aerosol cans. The Table Top Mister allows you to pump any kind of oil you'd like to use, from olive oil to peanut. The mister has a no-clog filter that makes it easy to use. You … Read more

Every Fourth of July party needs plenty of decorations, dishes and utensils covered in the American flag. Your ice cream spoons can join the party, provided that they're the American Flag Ice Cream Spoons. The set includes four spoons that are extra long so you can use them to scoop ice cream from a deep soda-fountain glass, as well as eat other tasty treats, like sorbet or frozen yogurt. The spoons measure 7.5 inches long. They also happen to have resin flags wrapped around the pole that makes up their handles for a patriotic taste. There's even … Read more

There never seems to be enough ice. Whether it is a party atmosphere, and somebody has to go on an ice run, or if it is simple everyday use that continually depletes the ice trays, ice is a commodity worth more than its weight in gold water. The perfect solution for cooling down drinks on a hot day, ice is always in demand. Either on the rocks or in the rocks, the transient nature of ice makes it a party favor that is difficult to keep in stock. Luckily, there is a back up plan for easily making more.

Placating … Read more

Dieting is hard enough if you're a reality show contestant with a personal chef and a trainer at your beck and call. For those of us left to our own devices in ordinary kitchens, we've got to remove every possible obstacle if we're going to meet our goals. That's where products like the Measure Up Bowls come in. These microwave- and dishwasher-safe porcelain portion bowls keep you on track by letting you serve proper portions right in the bowl you're eating from. Nothing extra to wash, and you can simply eat--and enjoy.

The bowls come … Read more

Hosting a gathering is never easy. There's the menu to be considered, eating preferences to be anticipated, and last but certainly not least, the drink selection to be determined. After all the preparation is over and it's time to greet the guests, it's not uncommon for hosts to run through a mental checklist: hors d'oeuvres? Check. Music? Check. Appropriate lighting? Check. Cold drinks? Che--uh-oh.

Faced with the unpleasant proposition of facing off with a thirsty crowd, party hosts in need of rapidly chilled beverages have little recourse. They can toss drinks in the freezer for a … Read more

When you're decorating cupcakes, cookies or other baked goods, it can seem like you need a whole box full of decorating supplies, which is more work than anyone who isn't a master baker wants to take on. The Kuhn Rikon Frosting Decorating Pen has simplified the whole process, even eliminating the need to squeeze on a tube full of frosting. The pen offer two speeds to save your hands and get the frosting on your treat a little faster. It also has five different decorating tips: not only can you use frosting to write messages, but the decorating … Read more

Everybody appreciates a home-cooked meal. Oddly enough, often that home-cooked meal is had away from home. At parties, the standout on the spread is always, without exception, the homemade food. People gather around the food, tasting it, asking questions about what's in it, or simply saying how delicious it is--hopefully. Naturally, some food will travel better than others, but no matter if you are making chili or dip, you are going to need a way to get it to the party.

Doubling as a serving dish and a cooker, Proctor Silex's Citrus Colors 1.5 Quart Slow Cookers … Read more

The typical method of transporting your sandwiches to work or to school is to put them in baggies. Of course, that means that you use a new baggie every day you make a lunch. That's not particularly good for either your pocketbook or the planet. The Wrap-N-Mat offers a simple alternative, however. The mat has a food-safe liner that allows you to wrap up sandwiches without worrying about mess getting out or dirt getting in. When you get to lunch, you just unwrap your meal and eat on the unfolded mat. The Wrap-N-Mat wipes clean between meals, and it … Read more