It’s a sad fact that when I clean out the drawers and cupboards in my kitchen every few months, my response is not, “Yippee! Look at all that space!” It’s, “Woohoo! Time to look for some more gadgets!” I’m a gadget addict, obviously.

Kitchen gadgets make kitchen life fun - and sometimes easier

Kitchen gadgets are some of those things that make life in the kitchen just a little more fun. You don’t need them, but they do make your life more fun, and sometimes even easier. The other night I made 200 chocolate chip cookies for teacher gifts. That meant the big stand mixer, and I sure could have used this nifty gadget – a mixer paddle with the side-scraping spatula incorporated -  instead of stopping every couple of minutes to scrape down the sides of the bowl. In fact, I have ordered it. Absolutely ingenious! There is no way I am making 16 dozen (plus) cookies again without it.

Cool off with fun-shaped ice pop molds 

Also, with the hot hazy days of summer upon us, I’m looking for more ways to cool off. I think I have found it in these ultra fun shaped ice pop molds. Since my kids enjoy making smoothies, I think I’ll have them pour some of their next creation into one of these molds. Even better, they come in other fun shapes, too (read: more gadgets). 

Fun shapes for the kids 

Silicone has really taken off in cooking and baking. From baking to hot pads to ice trays, this flexible material makes for lots of fun. We have Lego ice trays and penguins and stars (they all can double as butter molds) and I’ve seen dolphins and Tetris shapes and all sorts of others. A little trick to cooling down? A single drop of food grade pure peppermint oil in each ice cube tray before freezing - and when you use those ice cubes for water later, it’s like you are cooling off from the inside out. Aaahh.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Another fun gadget for summer will be this ice cream sandwich maker. Between the cookies I make with the spatula paddle and my favorite homemade ice creams, I think I need to up my time on the elliptical.

Speaking of that homemade ice cream, get the kids involved by getting one of these nifty ice cream makers. Send them out into the yard to kick the ball and earn their ice cream by making it first! We’re going camping later this summer and that means S’mores (with dark chocolate for us). As much as a little grit from a found stick is more authentic when roasting marshmallows, I’m thinking we’ll take along these skewers this time.

Poached eggs made easy 

One of my favorite all-time breakfasts is Eggs Benedict (traditional and variations). Not the healthiest, I know, but I love it. We’ve never made it at home much because we never did refine the egg poaching skill. However, these silicone egg cups look like they will do the trick – and my husband will be making me my favorite breakfast for years to come.

Butter up 

And finally, corn on the cob is a frequent menu item in the summer. Grilled or boiled, this nifty gadget for corn on the cob applies butter just right.

Happy summer, everyone!

PointsandPrizes.com Keyword: POACHING worth 50 points good through 07/06/08.
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