Category Archives: Gadget Thursday’s with Alanna
Corkcicle Cool
You know the feeling, when you get home on a Friday evening from a long week at the office, and all you want to do is relax and enjoy a nice glass of wine? Well whether it be wine, beer, a cup of tea or a dish of ice cream, we all know how great it feels to forget about the work week and kick-start the weekend with our favorite little treat.
corkcicle from wired.com
For all my fellow wine-o’s, today’s gadget is the Corkcicle. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer white or red, the Corkcicle will keep your white wine cool …
Nuts Galore
hazelnuts from wikipedia.org
Whether it be walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts or peanuts, crushed nuts are a great addition to so many snacks and meals. Sprinkling nuts on salads gives it that extra crunch. And baking with nuts is another whole story.
One set back is that nuts tend to be a little expensive. But with the Williams Sonoma Nut Chopper you can now buy nuts in bulk and grind them down until they’re at your preferred size.
Just fill the top compartment, choose the setting size and turn the handle. The crushed nuts will collect in the bottom container.
nut chopper from williams-sonoma
The Nut Chopper …
Fruity Tools
Two foods that I can never get enough of are fruits and veggies. Sweet and juicy, and without all the guilt that comes along with eating pizza and ice cream. But in our busy lives it’s often hard to squeeze in an apple a day when our stomachs are screaming for something more hearty, like a sub or sandwich.
Thankfully, these gadgets from Williams Sonoma will help you get your daily fix of nutrition without any hassle.
First, the OXO 3-in-1 avocado slicer is the perfect pitter and pre-per for your avocado halves. The sharp slicer cuts through the avocados skin. Next, …
Pretzel Paradise
pretzels from pickycook.com
Soft, chewy pretzels have been a favorite snack for hundreds of years. Originating in Germany, pretzels have become a staple at concerts and carnivals around the world. Whether you like them sweet and covered in cinnamon sugar, or savory and salty dipped in mustard, there’s a pretzel out there waiting to be customized to your personal taste buds.
And now you can make homemade pretzels with this convenient little gadget. The Nostalgia Electrics Soft Pretzel Maker will have family and friends in awe. The interchangeable, non-stick plates can either make two large or six small pretzels at one time.
from …
Garlic Goodness
garlic from eatingwell.com
One word: Garlic. I use garlic in so many things when I cook. Tomato sauce, mashed potatoes, stir-fried veggies; they all taste so much better when I add a little (but usually a lot more than a little) garlic.
For the amount of garlic I use when I cook it’s surprising that I don’t own a garlic press. Chopping garlic the old fashion way, mincing and slicing on my wooden cutting board, works pretty well. I still get the same delicious flavor, it just takes a little longer and leaves my fingers smelling like garlic for a couple days, …
Double Dutch
Dutch oven from dutchovenmania.com
Today’s gadget is one that many of you may already own. A staple piece among cookware, the Dutch oven is a reliable and very versatile tool. The Dutch oven is perfect for cooking stews, soups and chili on cold winter nights.
Dutch ovens have been in use for hundreds of years all around the world. Most countries have their own version of this heavy-duty cooking vessel that are also known as casserole dishes. The French cocotte, the Japanese tetsunabe, and the South African Potjie are all very similar designs.
The thick walls of the Dutch oven are usually made of cast-iron which …
I’ll Have S’more of That
s’mores from whatscookingamerica.net
The smell of a campfire can instantly lift my mood, bringing back happy memories and warm feelings. Friends and family huddled around a fire telling stories and drinking hot spiced cider is one of the most comforting fall images I can think of. And it doesn’t get much better than snuggling on the couch in front of a log crackling and blazing in the fireplace.
And what would an open fire be without a s’more in hand?
So as we turn the corner to winter, with the first snow looming over our heads, there comes a gadget that will allow …
Candy Crazed
jack-o-lanterns from southernliving.com
Ever since I was a youngster I’ve always looked forward to Halloween. Costume planning is a year-long thought process and the entire month of October calls for spooky celebrations. And on top of all the typical Halloween hype it’s also my mother’s birthday, which calls for double the celebrations!
Growing up my mom always hand-made our Halloween costumes. We would help pick out the fabric and she would sew up beautiful, one-of-a-kind master pieces. But in the hustle and bustle to get us ready for the local halloween-day parade, her birthday was often put on the back burner.
Now that …
Rice-Aroma
maple tree from buzzle.com
I recently spent some time visiting friends in upper New York State. It was the perfect autumn get-away. The air was crisp and clear and the foliage was unbelievably beautiful. Maple trees ranged from bright yellow to deep reds and burnt orange.
A few of my friends attend St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. Although they live in a dorm they managed to make the space into a cozy, comfortable home. So comfortable, in fact, that the only time they spend away from their humble abode is to go to class, grab a scarce meal from the …
