At any given time, I have at least 3-4 boxes of brownie mixes in my pantry.  I’ve also been known to make them from scratch once in a while, but I don’t have the kind of time 50s housewives had so that isn’t exactly a regular occurrence.  I love plain brownies, frosted brownies, Funfetti Brownies, and even cheesecake brownies (on occasion), so you can probably guess how thrilled I was to see a pan just for brownies.

The Baker’s Edge Nonstick Edge Brownie Pan capitalizes on something all true brownie lovers know - the best part of the brownie is the edge.  Baked properly, the edge of the brownie is just a little bit more firm than the rest, but every bit as flavorful.  Even better, it has a satisfying “bite” and perhaps just a hint of a butter taste, if that’s how you greased the pan.  At $34.95, the Baker’s Edge Nonstick Edge Brownie Pan is a brownie bargain.

I love ice cream.  Actually, love is a huge understatement, but I really can’t think of a better word.  If ice cream were a man, we’d be happily married and living in a subdivision somewhere by now.

I love making homemade ice cream, too, but it’s always a pain to deal with.  I have a dedicated ice cream maker, but it’s a lot more cleanup than I care for, plus I hate having an extra appliance around.  When I saw this KitchenAid Ice Cream Culinary Kit, I knew it was meant to be.  I just need to buy one of these bad boys and some delicious fresh ingredients and my own private stand mixer-fueled ice cream factory will be back in business.

KitchenAid Ice Cream Culinary Kit
You scream, I scream…who’s up for ice cream? The KitchenAid ice cream culinary kit provides the same results as doing it the old fashioned way, without all the work: now you simply have to make your own. Just mix up the fresh ingredients and use the freeze bowl and attachments, for use with most KitchenAid stand mixers. Kit includes a freeze bowl, KitchenAid ice cream scoop, gourmet ice cream mix, and Hershey’s ice cream toppings.

Just yesterday, I could have used this machine to save at least an hour.  I spent way too long peeling potatoes for potato salad, and my fingers have the cuts to prove it.  I have a similar peeling device for apples, but it doesn’t work on potatoes.  I guess the spring isn’t tight enough to get through the tougher potato skin.

Of course, that makes me think that I could find a way to tighten the spring on my apple peeler and get the same results.  Maybe I don’t need a potato peeler after all…

Potato Peeler
Peel potatoes or apples quickly and easily with our Potato Peeler.

For years, I suffered from a serious problem - all my pepper grinders only ground pepper.  I think back to those days as a clueless kid, and I’m glad I’ve gotten wiser over the years.  Today, I opt for a sleek and sophisticated stainless steel Chef’n Dual Salt & Pepper Grinder.  It matches my kitchen, and it has the ability to grind both my salt and my pepper.  I no longer have to inundate my meals with piles of regular iodized table salt.  Today, I can grind sea salt and fine peppercorns to my heart’s content.

Yes, I tend to get a little crazy when it comes to pepper grinders.  I don’t care, though.  Everyone else is free to think I’m crazy; I’ll still have my Chef’n Dual Salt & Pepper Grinder.

Chef’n Dual Salt & Pepper Grinder
One-Handed Pepper Grinder and Salt Dispenser / Stainless Steel Design

I’ve always dreamt of being one of those quaint 1950s women who has time to do things like peel vegetables and make fresh juice, but it never seems to work out that way here in the year 2008.  I guess I should probably shift my fantasy to something more realistic like marrying a rich man who can get us hired help (kidding!).

Anyway, there’s no time like the present to start fulfilling unfulfilled dreams.  This retro-looking Metrokane 3510 Mighty OJ Juicer might just help me live out my wildest 50s housewife fantasies - and enjoy fresh, healthy juice at the same time.  Sweet!

Metrokane 3510 Mighty OJ Citrus Juicer
Mechanical citrus juicer / Squeezes fruit up to 600 pounds of pressure / Cobalt blue with chrome top / Classic retro 50’s design

I always tell myself that I’m going to do the right thing when it comes to recycling and green habits, but I rarely do.  I started composting once about a year ago, with a giant ugly compost bin in the backyard.  Unfortunately, that lasted about a week.  What can I say, the winters are cold and the summers are wet.  Who’s going to trudge outside to compost when there’s a perfectly good garbage disposal inside?

When I came across these cute compost crocks today,  I got that same old feeling - the one I get right before I start something new.  When I saw that they came in cobalt blue, I was sold.  These Kitchen Compost Crocks will be mine.

Kitchen Compost Crocks
Collecting kitchen scraps for composting shouldn’t detract from your kitchen decor. These sleek, ceramic compost crocks are attractive enough to keep on the kitchen counter.

I’m a huge fan of colorful cookware, and this lime green casserole dish from Lafont of France has me ready to grab a man off the street just so I can fill out a wedding registry.  Or wait, I could just use my debit card - but that would make too much sense.

Anyway, this Lafont of France Green Cast Iron Au Gratin Baker would look spectacular in a white, airy kitchen. The shape and color make it perfect for something as quaint as a tiny cottage or as chic as an urban loft.  I would almost feel bad cooking potatoes in such a cute casserole dish…until I remember how absolutely delicious potatoes can be.

Luckily, these guys make an entire set in this color, which I’ve included below.  How could anyone buy silver pots and pans with cookware this colorful in existence?

Lafont of France Green Cast Iron Au Gratin Baker
Price: $49.98
A lively apple green hue lends stylish appeal to this extraordinary cast iron au gratin pan from Lafont.

Lafont of France Apple Green Cast Iron Buffet
Price: $49.98
This Lafont buffet sits beautifully on your kitchen shelf until you use it again.

Lafont of France Green Cast Iron 2-Qt Saucepan
Price: $39.98
The apple green color of this quality saucepan from Lafont of France makes cooking even more of a pleasure.

Lafont of France Apple Green Cast Iron Casserole
Price: $59.99
The possibilities for wonderful dishes are limitless with this quality cast iron casserole from Lafont.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted my own espresso maker.  Sometime in the next few weeks, that dream is going to become a reality.  Although I’m not decided on a model just yet, this Breville Cafe Roma Espresso Maker is the front runner for now.  I’ve researched quite a few, and most are either really expensive, or they get really bad reviews.  This Breville model seems to be the best combination of quality and price that I’ve seen yet.

Once I get my new espresso maker, I’ll be able to make my own delicious gourmet espresso at all hours, and you know what that means?  More caffeine for me and more blog posts for all of you.  So yes, I definitely need to hurry up and make a decision on this espresso maker thing.  What do you guys think?  Should I go with the Breville Cafe Roma Espresso Maker, or do you have any better recommendations from personal experience?

Breville Cafe Roma Espresso Maker
Reproduce the exquisite taste of your favorite coffee shop drinks with this outstanding stainless steel espresso maker. It includes a 15-bar Italian Thermoblock pump that forces water through the coffee to create perfect espresso shots. The froth enhancer helps makes delicious froth to top off your drink. One year limited warranty. Model #ESP8XL.

I used to have a Snoopy Snow Cone Maker, but as cute as it was, it kind of sucked. You had to work your tail off to get the ice to shred, and by the time you had a decent amount, the stuff at the bottom was half melted. Then, you’d add the syrup and what hadn’t melted before would be melted from the temperature of the syrup.

It was a great lesson in “cute isn’t ALWAYS better”. This Snow Cone Maker, on the other hand, looks like it’s built to work. Just look at that huge pile of glorious shaved ice. It may not be warm yet, but I can eat like it is.

At $39.95, this Snow Cone Maker Kit comes with 24 snow cone cups, a 16 ounce dispenser bottle and two, 2 ounce packages of cherry and blue raspberry flavoring.

I’m a huge fan of the color green, so these Le Creuset Silicone Spatulas got me pretty excited.  While they are a little on the pricy side ($6-$14 each), we need to remind ourselves that they are GREEN.  And SPARKLY.  Plus, since they’re colored, they won’t get all nasty when you cook things like spaghetti sauce.

I’m plotting the demise of my current spatulas as I type.  I won’t feel right getting the new ones until the old ones are gone.  I see a horrific garbage disposal “accident” in their future…