Kitchenaid has a reputation for quality cooking accessories, and this mixer definitely takes the cake.  Weighing in at 22.8lbs, it won't dance around on your counter as you're trying to add ingredients, and it also features a tilt-back head to make adding to the work bowl even easier.  The powerful 325 watt motor can handle the stickiest dough and whip egg whites to fluffy per...

If you've ever wanted to try canning your own jams, jellies, pickles and sauces at home, this kit is a great way to get started.  The Ball Home Canning Kit comes with a 21 quart waterbath canning pot, wire canning rack, jar-lid lifter, bubble-freer spatula, canning funnel, canning tongs, $10 worth of coupons for Ball products, and the excellent "Ball Home Canning Basics" book...

It's always nice to come home to a delicious smelling apartment after a long day at the office.  With my rival crockpot I can safely and easily cook a warm meal over the course of a day without any worries.  Throw in some pork, vegetables, seasonings, and a small amount of flavorful liquid and set it on low to cook all day.  It's also great for cooking...

In the autumn, I love to sample the delicious harvests of the many apple orchards scattered through Massachusetts.   But as much as I love making pie and applesauce, coring and cutting all of those apples can be a real pain.  I saw this little gadget at my local Marshalls and decided to give it a try.  What a time saver!The stainless steel blades slide easily through tougher...

Want to get the perfect sear on your steaks?  How about a crispy crust for your pizza? This laser thermometer by BonJour measures surface temperatures using infrared technology.  It provides nearly instant read out and can measure temperatures up to 932 degrees fahrenheit. I found this device to be both accurate and easy to use.  Since you can operate it with one hand, ...

I truly believe that there is no greater gift for someone who is living on their own for the first time than this all-purpose cookbook.  With recipes ranging from very easy to extremely challenging, it shows a wide range of techniques while leaving room for the cook to be creative.Each chapter is based on a specific type of food, (i.e grains, vegetables, pastries, meat, poultry, fish) and ...

Pyrex makes some really excellent pieces and this is one of my favorites.  This 8 inch square, 2 inch deep glass baking dish is great for brownies, coffee cake, small portions of meat/poultry, and small casseroles.  It has a total capacity of about two quarts. What's so great about glass?  Unlike some metals and plastics,  non porous glass cookware won'...

This game seemed to me to be the latest example of Electronic Arts releasing a game before it had been polished and finished well.  While this year's version of Madden certainly has its charms, I found myself mostly disenchanted with it.  The good: I'm not going to make any bones about it:  This game looks beautiful in HD.  The graphics are crystal clear, and the int...

The premise of Viva Pinata is really clever.  You've inherited a garden on Pinata Island and it's your job to populate it with flowers, fruit, trees, and pinata animals.  A wonderful open-ended game, what you put in your garden is entirely up to you.  The species of pinata animal that will appear vary by how you choose to let your garden grow.This game allows the player t...

This fryer proved to me that food can be deep-fried without it becoming grease-laden.  I'll admit I've always been wary of deep-fried foods as they usually leave me feeling sick to my stomach and regretting it.  Not so much with the foods from this Waring Pro fryer!  The precise 1800 watt heating element and temperature control allow food to be crisped perfectly...