Have you ever tried to get a gift for someone who has everything?  Or worse yet, for someone you don't know very well.  To avoid any awkward gift giving, the Spice House offers a multitude of excellent options, enough to meet the needs of just about anyone.  I have used box sets from the Spice House as gifts for weddings, for Father's Day, for anniversaries and birthdays. 

If you know someone who loves to grill, get them the barbecue set.  If you know someone who loves hot teas, chocolate or coffee, there's a beverage set.  You can mix and match, pick your own, or let the company prepackage something for you -- the freshest spices from around the world, shipped to your front door. I've even gotten this as a gift for myself -- and all of my family and friends reap the benefits!

~ starting under $20

No one loves leftovers less than I do.  I would guess, however, that few people actually use leftovers more than I do!  Food crammed into plastic containers and aluminum foil is an essential part of my meal planning schedule.  And if you're anything like me, then every hour of your day is already accounted for, so saving a few precious minutes may help sustain your sanity.  On the other hand, if you're like my husband, then saving money tops your list.  Either way, this 'clever' version of tupperware may exceed your needs too.

I long ago realized that the cheap, convenient solution, which saves time in the now, may not be worth the cost in the end.  So it's a truly great day when you can find a product that is both inexpensive and durable.  I've been using Reynold's Cleverware for over a year now and I am more delighted with them everyday. 

My favorite feature is the small opening in the lid which lets steam escape during microwaving, but clicks tightly shut when you want food to keep in the fridge.  Better yet, they don't melt in the dishwasher and each lid still fits airtight!  They come in square, circular or oval designs and can stack inside of each other for easy storage. 

My husband loves them because I no longer constantly transfer food from cheap plastic containers to proper dishes and then waste hot water washing both.  Now, I can use the same dish for storage, reheating and serving, then rinse it out before sticking it in the dishwasher. I won't need to throw them out anytime soon, but when I do, they're recyclable. 

I suspect that in the amount of time I've had them, they've saved me hours of work.  A few minutes a day and a few dollars a month may be worth your time too.  Check out their website for more information:  Cleverwareusa.com.

At a time of great reflection, I'm reminded that it's often the simple things in life that bring true happiness. Case in point: the Pulltap's corkscrew from Pulltex. If you've ever worked in a fine restaurant (or dined at one), you'll notice that the servers aren't sheathing 3 lb. mechanical corkscrews that look like they could Transform and Auto-bot all over your Pinot Grigio. Do us a favor: if you own one of those monsters, throw it away.

The Pulltap's Corkscrew is a gold standard in design and function. A practiced user can open a bottle in seconds without butchering the bottle's cork or wrapper. The key is in the patented hinged double lever which helps you pull the cork without cracking/breaking it. A Teflon coated worm makes for easy insertion/removal, and the attached serrated knife lets you slice a quick ring around the foil top for a professional presentation.

We've had our current Pulltap's for about 5 years. I expect it to last another 25. That is unless someone steals it. They have a way of disappearing at parties...  (We're currently on our third.)

Fortunately, you can get yours from Target or Amazon for under $10, or wherever the finest of bar tools are sold. Pick one up today and you won't look back. Best of all, you won't look like a rookie using the wrong tool for the job.

[See the Pulltap's in action after the jump]

I love my morning coffee. And I mean it when I say that I love "coffee": old fashioned, American-style brewed coffee, produced by an electric coffee pot. I've used about a dozen machines over the years to brew my sweet elixir. The Capresso MT500 has my vote hands down for producing the best tasting, most consistent quality coffee ever.

If you're a zealot about filtration, grind technique, water temps, and bean quality you are likely milking some sweet brews from whatever pot you use now. I certainly thought I was before upgrading to the MT500 a little more than a year ago. But, like all things creative, the right tools make all the difference.

Capresso was born in 1994 to fill the coffee-pot gap left by espresso machine manufacturers. Since then, they have been acquired by Jura, a master in brewing technology since the 30's. My thanks to Capresso for building a machine for Americans. I was starting to get used to buying coffee pots made by hair dryer manufacturers

Here's a short list of why the MT500 works so well:
 

1. Stainless Carafe- easy to clean, doesn't drip, doesn't burn coffee post-brew
2. The stylish polished body holds up well and doesn't scratch
3. Brews a full pot quickly, and has a mode to allow longer steeping for smaller quantities
4. Internal Filter that reminds you when it's time to change
5. Filter basket can be taken to the sink with the filter to keep both clean and taste free
6. Programmable, Auto-shut off, clock, etc.
7. stable brew temperature of 201 degrees F- I've measured my basket at 200 on the nose
8. Stainless lined heater element (no aluminum in your coffee)

For an enthusiast, the most important dynamic is the perfect and stable brew temp. The right combo of temp/time makes all the difference in flavor and aroma extraction. With the Capresso MT500, you'll be so well equipped at home you may start skipping the drive-thru at your local coffee shop, saving time, gas, and money - a perfect trifecta. 

Is the Capresso MT500 the perfect coffee maker? Quite possibly.

Full specs can be found at Capresso. You can get it from Williams Sonoma, or buy one online for ~$180 from Amazon.

For someone who doesn't cook, I sure do love good bowls.  I buy a lot of them for serving food my husband makes, holding fruit and veggies, and for basic organizing. If you think a bowl is hardly ideal for organization, think again. When the bowl is made from durable recycled melamine, and it's super good looking you'll find yourself using it everywhere.

Meet the Zak Confetti Bowls.  With many shapes and sizes, and a great price you will find a place for one of these in every area of your life.  I have them all over my studio holding anything from paperclips to side release buckles.  They make the room a little bit brighter and leave me feeling a bit more eco-friendly.
You can find them on Amazon for around $32 or at Urban Outfitters, Target and every hip little shop in your town. Yes, the Zak bowl is catching on.

It seems like the week flies by. Waking the family, readying for work, dressing the kids, packing lunches, knapsacks, messenger bags; finding shoes, car keys, and bike locks....all this before I'm even out the door headed for work. I treasure those one or two slow mornings we seem to squeak in over the weekend. And sometimes, when we're all feeling it (and a parent has gone to market for extra eggs), we bring on the Belgian waffles.

This appliance is one of our well-loved additions to the kitchen. It cooks reliably perfect waffles with its handy timer lights -and pops them out 4-up, every four minutes. (That's 60 per hour for the economy crowd.) We often make extra to store; but I've been known to raid the fridge before they're even cold. Sometimes a daddy has to get a little extra.

The Wafflechef, by Krups. You can find yours for ~$50.

Brewing espresso at home is messy business. If you brew "too many shots to count" per day, allow me to introduce you to my favorite hunk of mess-busting plastic: the Grindenstein Knock Box from Dream Farm.

This beautiful little vessel, with it's understated curves and welcoming smile, is destined to become your new favorite waste bin. The illustration explains it's clever simplicity: brew, knock the grounds into the bin, & use them for something other than anchoring your garbage can. (mine go to the garden)

The steel bar hidden under its durable rubber membrane offers a rigid thump, and the plastic is billed as indestructible. At 4" tall, it's discreet enough to fit at any coffee station, and could rest on the drip tray of most home machines. Dishwasher safe, cheap, and durable; I've been using mine for a year and it's exceeded my expectations.

Buy it for $20 from Dream Farm

When was the last time you've had this much fun with cupcakes? Cupcakes baked in (and served from) Silly-Feet silicone baking cups by Wilton will put a smile on the faces of children and adults alike. (just don't eat the googly eyes)

Silly-Feet! cups make a great gift for fun loving bakers: 4 for under $10 from Amazon.

If you can find a goofier use for silicone in your kitchen, please send us the tip; we'd love to see it.