sur la table

Some very refreshing swizzle sticks

In spring and summer, drinks taste much better when they're icy cold, and manufacturers have come up with a vast array of ice shapes to add into your juice pitchers.

What I haven't seen yet, however, is anything like this tray of Ice Kabobs. Made out of silicone, it makes three kabobs out of ice in fun strings of shapes. You can use them as swizzle sticks for a party, cold spears in a water pitcher, or simply as an addition to your own personal glass when you're trying to cool off at home.

The Ice Kabob … Read more

Helping hands to hold your corn cobs

The only time I crave corn on the cob is during the summer. Don't get me wrong, I still love a nice warm corn chowder in the winter: I just wait for the warmer weather to eat cobs of corn. As far as I'm concerned, cooking corn cobs right on the grill is the only way to do it.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who draws this connection between the warmer months and our favorite husked vegetable, as evidenced by these cute little Barbecue Folk cob holders. Each one is shaped like a different character dressed … Read more

An attractive storage solution for your E.V.O.O.

People have asked me several times to name what I use more than anything else in my kitchen. My first instinct is to name my good santoku knife as the winner, but if I'm being honest, then I'd say it's a bottle of olive oil. I cook with it every day, use it as dressing, mix it into my recipes, and drizzle it on finished soups, and if I were to write down what I eat every day, olive oil would show up on the list at least once every day of the week.

For the most … Read more

Say "I love you" with something sweet

Nothing says, "I love you" like a home-cooked meal, and nothing tops off a delicious dinner like homemade dessert. Just in time for Valentine's Day, you can get your hands on these silicon heart-shaped molds by Fauchon and make a dessert that's both tasty and festive.

Silicone molds have become popular vessels for baking. They store easily, allow for painless food removal, are dishwasher safe, and prevent the burned-on residue that shows up so frequently on metal pans. Since the heart is an odd shape, using a silicone mold means that your cake will come out … Read more

Slider tools have all of the fun, none of the fast food

If you were to look out of the front door of my apartment, you'd see a White Castle hamburger joint down the street. For those who aren't familiar, White Castle is a fast-food restaurant that specializes in burgers and fries, specifically a widely recognized miniature hamburger with grilled onions that causes indigestion problems. This miniburger, appropriately dubbed "the slider," is at the core of the comedy film, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, and is popular as a late-night snack or novelty meal.

Do I like the idea of a miniature hamburger? Absolutely. Do I … Read more

Get precisely measured salad dressing every time

I like salads. I can't think of any meal that is more customizable. Basically, you cut a bunch of stuff up and throw it in a bowl. Which as a definition for salad suits me just fine. Whether I decide chunks of meat constitute a salad or opt for a vegetable-based ensemble, as long as it's in a bowl, I call it a salad. (As long as it's not soup, that is). More often than not, as a final touch, I reach for oil and vinegar.

Oil and vinegar are a classic combination and offer even more … Read more