prepping

Because sometimes cherries are the pits

I'm not usually one to champion gadgets that only serve one purpose, but I suppose I can at least appreciate when a single-purpose kitchen tool makes an attempt at improving its efficiency.

And improving efficiency is exactly what this Cherry-it Pitter accomplishes. Instead of the single cherry pitted by the gadget's predecessors, it pits up to four at once, storing the waste in a compartment that can be emptied easily after cleanup.

Maybe you won't be using it very often, but imagine yourself as you prepare to make your next cherry pie. A gadget like this makes … Read more

Mini food processor brightens up the kitchen counter

No matter what decor your kitchen is decked out in, chances are it goes with red, blue, green, or yellow. More importantly, no matter how small the meal you are making may be, chances are it would be made easier with a food processor at the ready. While it may be nice to have a large 14-cup capacity always on hand, that may not always be the case. They can be large and bulky, thus often being resigned to cabinet storage when not in use. Some appliances have earned the right for more attention and are deserving of everyday use.… Read more

Easy prep with Cuisinart Elite Food Processor

A food processor is a fun kitchen tool to own. Once you dive into creating a meal with one, you never want to go back. They chop, slice, shred, and mix easily and at the touch of a button. As a kitchen task time-saver, food processors offer top-notch execution. It seems that with many tools designed to cut down on tedious tasks, overall quality often suffers. Not so with food processors. In fact, they keep improving.

The Cuisinart Elite Die-Cast Food Processor is constructed to last for years of use, while providing quality and convenience. With three nesting work bowls (… Read more

Buzz Out Loud 963: Gambling in your jammies

We're not sure that Barney Frank gambles in his pajamas, but he's fighting for your right to do so in the United States. Also, Verizon gets a little slutty, looking for an iPhone...and an Android phone...and pretty much anything else. And Blu-ray is on the rise, but so are digital downloads.

Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 963

Pre release date: June 7? http://www.precentral.net/pre-release-date-june-7th http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/palm-pre-138-to-build-according-to-isuppli/

Report: Verizon thinks Pink--as in Microsoft iPhone rival http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/04/verizon-courting-microsoft-for-iphone-competitor-pink.ars

Motorola’s … Read more

Keep juicy roasts juicy by keeping the juice

Cutting boards are an essential item in any kitchen. There is no denying any cook needs a good place to safely cut meats and vegetables. Anybody who is doing any amount of cooking will have to be doing some cutting too. Cooking and cutting simply go hand in hand. The problem is not only finding the perfect spot to set up your prep station, but finding the perfect cutting board too. I know when I prep foods, often more than what should ends up on the floor. When it comes time to carve things that are a bit trickier, say … Read more

Get TaxCut Standard 2008 for $1 at Dollar Tree

April 15 still seems like a long way off, but it's not too early to get a deal on tax prep software. Dollar Tree is selling H&R Block TaxCut Standard 2008 for just $1 (plus tax in most states).

What, no link? Alas, you'll have to use a little shoe leather to get this deal: Dollar Tree is a brick-and-mortar operation. Use the company's store locator to see if there's one in your neck of the woods.

This version of TaxCut includes one free federal e-file. As for state returns, well, that's where … Read more

For extra-wide peels, use an extra-wide peeler

It's always nice to have the right tool for the job. Anybody who has ever tried mashing potatoes with a spoon or mincing garlic with a fork can certainly attest to that. While it might be obvious that a peeler is a necessary tool for the kitchen, sometimes it's the little things we overlook.

The Kai Ultimate Wide Peeler available for $19.95 at Williams-Sonoma is an oversized utensil designed for specific tasks. Capable of producing buge slices of cheese, chocolate, or vegetables, this peeler is more versatile than the average standard-sized variety. Additionally, the extra-wide 4.25-inch … Read more

A sink your sous chef will thank you for

Just when I thought we had run out of ways to eliminate the need for us to do the dirty work in the kitchen, I stumbled into the completely foreign land of the prep sink. Until seeing the Kohler Crevasse Prep Sink and its cousins, I was under the impression that a kitchen sink is a singular, possibly double-basined place for all rinsing, draining, disposing, and soaking needs, with some allowance for shapes and colors.

Not so, apparently. I should preface the following post by explaining how I currently deal with my food scraps. Living in New York in an … Read more

Get TaxCut Basic 2007 for a buck at Dollar Tree

My Cheapskate-in-law Charles reports that Dollar Tree has H&R Block TaxCut Basic 2007 for... drum roll... a dollar! You'll have to visit an actual brick-and-mortar to get this deal (click here for Dollar Tree's store locator), but it's worth the drive if you've got a store nearby: The download version costs $14.95.

This version of TaxCut is best for folks with, well, basic tax-prep needs. Note that the program covers only your Federal return; the State edition will run you another $29.95.

Because not everyone is an SAT genius

We would never cheat on the SAT or any other exam, of course, but if we were of that ilk we might consider taking along one these gadgets and claiming that it's just a standard calculator.

The "Pocket Prep" SAT and ACT tutors from the Princeton Review may not have all the answers one would need, but it should come close if it's doing its job right. The handheld device, which has a black and white LCD, includes drills "to maximize grammar and essay scores anywhere, anytime."

It does have a calculator, by the … Read more