I got tricked into child labor with this thing...

No, that's not a medieval torture device or something you'd find men using in the garage. In fact, it's an all in one Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer. Never again will you have do each in a separate step! You pull back on the lever, attach the apple stem side to the sharp prongs, adjust the peeler, and crank away! In seconds you'll have a perfectly peeled and cored apple. It's not limited to just apples either. You can basically peel and core anything that needs to be peeled or cored. Fantastic.

I know this sounds like I'm trying to sell you the product but that's not true. This scary looking thing actually takes me back to my childhood when my grandmother would make home made apple pies and apple sauce.

It's a Marcel Proust thing.

Instead of her peeling the apples herself she bought this handy device to do it for her. The one she has isn't as shiny as this model is, as I'm sure she bought in like, the 50s. However, it was my duty when I was little to peel the apples and I had no problem playing with the device. Free child labor. I would continuously peel the apples to eat apple shavings rather that cut slices. My mother uses it herself from time to time as well and though I'm almost 23 years old, it's still my job to peel all those apples.

This product is from The Pampered Chef and it costs $31.50 for just the device itself... the wooden stand is an additional $14.50. Highway robbery, I know. Luckily you can just attach the Peeler/Corer/Slicer to basically any counter and crank away.

Re-Inventing the T.V Dinner

While reviewing oresentations in my Food and Emerging Media class at UB, one of the girls in my class (Holly) showed us a picture of a TV slash microwave to help describe her final project. She said that the owner could watch Youtube videos on the screen while waiting for your food to be cooked. I took a look at this device myself and came across this:

Yeah, how awesome looking is that? It's hard to tell that it's a microwave at all but it'll still nuke your burritos to perfection. What's nifty about this is that it's an actual TV WITH a DVD player. This device made its debut at the International Franchise Association (IFA) in Berlin, Germany, in 2007.

Whoa.

Here's a little closer look:


And another at the actual controls of the DVD player and TV:

Also, here is some of the dimensions/ specifics that I don't really understand but I'm sure they're impressive to someone who does:


An invention like this just proves that we're moving at a fast pace and we need appliances to compliment that. To someone with no time to spare, this device may appeal to him or her because it's basically three for one special. Another option is that it could be for someone who lives in tight quarters where space is precious and limited. This is truly something out of the Jetson's and perhaps won't be such a novelty item come 50 years, if even that.

AVING.COM (Global News Network) is where I found the super-wave and the pictures.

[[ Insert Edward Scissorhand/Wolverine Pun Here ]]

Okay, I just think this is down right silly. Finger Forks. Instead of eating with a fork in your hand it's on your finger ? The website I found this on says that it's meant for buffets or where small appetizers are served so you don't have to eat with your fingers. I guess you either travel with this stainless steel miniature utensil (20 mm opening and 100mm length) in your pocket or maybe it would be already supplied at a fancy buffet.

It's actually ridiculous looking:
Instead of trying to do with with a fork, I thought I'd take a stab ( pun totally intended ) at trying to make this myself. However, instead of a fork (spearing food is too easy) I decided to make a Finger Spoon. This is how you can do it yourself:

Step 1: Find a cheap plastic handle spoon and dismantle it:






Step 2: Create replica of Finger Spoon. I went with packaging tape because I couldn't find the green duck tape this time. If you really want to get into it, I bet you could find a strip of metal and solder the two pieces together to form the finger opening. Since I don't have those skills, I went with tape:




Step 3: Attach fancy spoon to your finger of choice. I'm a righty so right index finger for me:

Step 4: Test out your new device! I went with Cheerios to give this a try:

I tried eating with my modified spoon a total of three times before I got annoyed. The spoon/fork is attached to your finger in a way that in order to use it like you would any other utensil, you have to awkwardly reposition your hand. You can't reposition it between your finger and thumb like you would with a normal fork/spoon. Also, you have no idea what to do with your other fingers since they aren't helping you grasp your new Finger Spoon. The entire motion normally used to feel yourself is remodeled and feels unnatural.

Basically, I don't like my version at all.

Pros: You don't have to eat with your fingers and have to deal with sticky/icky-ness. Children may find it fun to use and may facilitate in easier feeding times. Also, it's great to pretend that you're a human Swiss Army knife or a comic book character like Wolverine. However, the biggest plus would be if you or someone you know suffered from a stroke (or any other debilitating causes) could use this Finger Fork to assist in self feeding if holding a utensil becomes difficult.

Cons: The big thing for me is that it feels unnatural and awkward. Why not just go for a regular fork instead? I couldn't find a price on it because the websites ( Like Amazon. com and Google) I searched through either had no idea what it was or a price just wasn't listed. Also, I couldn't find a US store that has it in stock.

Slashfood has interesting comments about it if you scroll towards the bottom.

"Novelty Kitchen Devices"

I found this short paragraph fishing through The New York Times and though less than 200 words, it hits home to why new kitchen tools are constantly popular:

"Novelty Kitchen Devices"

The feature of the business, in cooking utensils and kitchen appliances this season is said to be an unusually large demand for various novelties and labor saving devices. Mixers of various sorts, appliances for merging butter and milk, thereby increasing the amount of butter; meat grinders, and many other such novelties have been bought, it is reported, in greater quantities than ever before. This is thought to be due in great part to the scarcity of domestic servants, which has forced many women to do their down housework and enabled them to see more readily the value of these articles.

No author was given but it was placed in the Automobiles section, page 50?

By taking a look at what was happening for women in the early 1900s can explain why there was a lack of domestic servants, most likely women themselves. Women of this time are breaking out of their traditional roles as housewives and mothers and branching out to increase their education and career opportunities. This is impart to some states allowing women to vote before the 19th Amendment was ratified. Also, the introduction of women's colleges and admitting women to previous men only universities. " In 1870, an estimated one fifth of resident university students were women. By 1900, the proportion had increased to one than one third." (WIC)

This explains why women, still at home or busy with a few found, career sought out new novelty kitchen devices to help around the home and to make cooking for a family easier. The appliances mentioned in the article are till used today but with more shine and luster added.

[ Anatomy class at The Women's College, an affiliation with Brown]

Information used/more can be found at Women's International Center

I never made PB&J with a spatula ...

Okay, I stumbled upon this little gem while doing some research for this blog. As soon as I saw it, I laughed. Basically, it's a double ended spatula made to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches easier. The rounded edges help gather the very last bit of peanut butter and/or jelly within the container and prevents mixing of the two (thanks to handy color coding). Oh, another big selling point is the one tool lessens the amount of silverware needed, hence less to wash, if you're the type of person to use two knives instead of one.

Here, take a look:

Fancy right? Well, I decided to make one of my own to see if it's all that it's crack up to be.

Step #1: Gather your pb & j materials. I'm a crunchy peanut butter fan myself ... but whatever works for you will work for this model.

Step #2: I never made my sandwiches with a spatula so I gathered two butter knives instead. Oh, and duct tape to hold it together. The color is optional.

Step #3: Assemble duct tape and knives to look something like this.

Step #4: Test your new specialized spreader !

After all is said and done ... I had a completed sandwich that didn't taste any different or better. I didn't find my home made spreader more efficient or take up less room in my dishwasher. Maybe because I'm a person that doesn't mind using the same knife because I can use the other piece of bread to clean it off before I go dipping again in another container.

To sum up:

Pros: Less silverware to clean up, simplistic style/shape is appealing, color coded ends to aid in memory retention of which end ended up where, can be used with any food that is spreadable (i. e. frosting), and made of flexible silicone to reach every last bit.

Cons: According to Google, prices can range anywhere from $2.49 to $24.99 (not including shipping), which the higher up it does, the more silly it is to spend that much on a glorified spatula. It also borders on unnecessary. Also, you have to watch out for your sleeve because this will probably happen:

P.s., here's the link to the actual product that I looked at if you're actually interested in buying one, found at CentralChef.com