old-timey

Ice cream fans have got it made. Just walk into any ice cream establishment and point to any one flavor that looks appealing. (Or two flavors, or three.) Among the dozens of flavors there will be (at least) one to suit every mood or craving. It's hard to think of another food item that offers so much to choose from. (That's not even considering all the other frozen delights such as yogurt or sorbet.) Though options abound for ice cream fans, sometimes the best flavor is the one you make yourself.

The Nostalgia Electrics Old Fashioned Ice Cream Maker … Read more

Refrigerators have a long history of being severely limited--at least in regards to controllable customization. From their humble beginnings as boxes basically designed to hold a giant ice cube, the "icebox" has come a long way. No longer are kitchens held hostage by slowly melting blocks of ice, but the same incapability to regulate temperature effectively exists today as it did back then. Sure, our modern refrigerators let you dial in preferred temperature, something their old-timey counterparts could only dream of, but when it comes right down to it, these giant monoliths found in every kitchen are still … Read more

The World Series may have come and gone (for some reason earlier this month), but that doesn't mean the real national pastime has to roll over. In fact, "rolling over" is exactly what this particular pastime excels at. While baseball may not be the same without hot dogs, you can take them away from the game and enjoy them throughout the long cold winter. Of course, if you want that authentic flavor that can only be had from uncountable revolutions on the heat source, you are going to need something special.

The Nostalgia Electrics Retro Series 50s Style Hot Dog Roller … Read more

There is something refreshing about occasionally doing prep work without the need to plug anything in. The knife may be the ultimate in manually operated prep tools, but when it comes to specialty preparation, usually there is an energy-eating gadget on hand. Pasta preparation, even though it is thousands of years old, is no exception in the modern world.

The Italian-made Atlas Pasta Machine is a perfect example of old-timey tech that still has a place in today's kitchen. The hand-crank machine creates four types of pasta in a variety of thicknesses. With a few turns of the handle, … Read more

Short of visiting every drive-in and independent fast-food joint within a 50-mile radius of your house, I am not quite sure how you could amass a collection of those iconic food-serving baskets. Sure you could order from a restaurant supply store, but do you really need a case of baskets? Probably not. It might be in your best interest to forgo the swiping of restaurant-related accessories, and just pick up your own small batch of Burger Baskets & Liners via Sur La Table.

Now that we are officially in the grilling season, we are all going to spend more time … Read more

Ice cream is one of those craveable foods. When the need hits, it hits hard, and for those struck by this affliction, the only cure happens to be the same subject that caused it in the first place: ice cream. The desire can present itself any time of the day or night. Faced with an empty freezer, the only solution therefore is to go to the store. Stores that are open around the clock may be abundant, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will have the flavor that you want. A secondary choice may be selected, but it might … Read more

The other day, I wrote about another manually operated hand-cranked appliance, the Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper. Considering popcorn and pop go together so well, I think there is room enough to explore another old-timey gadget.

The Crystal Clear Ice Crusher (in Gift Box, no less) is simple to use, but might be the best way to get the job done. Imagine a hot summer day filled with the sounds of icemen of yore hawking their quickly deteriorating product. Suddenly, the prospect of having to grind your own seems downright modern. Simply open up the icebox freezer, take out a few … Read more

Kitchen gadgets have been around for a long time. Toasters first appeared in the early 1900s, and it seemed gadget hounds have been filling their kitchens with them ever since. Luckily, they have progressed somewhat from their earlier, more dangerous days. But there are some items that deserve a second look as possibly being the best solution to a given task.

The Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper is a classically styled, vintage-inspired design that uses good old-fashioned arm strength to accomplish the task. Popcorn is popped directly on the stovetop. Simply place kernels and oil in the pot and start cranking. … Read more

Just can't let go of that old-timey stand-up toaster? Do you have a love for grilled cheese sandwiches? (Who doesn't?) Well, if you refuse to get yourself a toaster oven or a panini press, then this product is for you.

Toastabags are little bags for your toaster. Yes, you read that correctly. Little bags for your toaster. Apparently what you do is pile up all the ingredients you want between two slices of bread and jam it down into your toaster. How this possibly cannot be a fire hazard is completely beyond me, but so be it.

However, … Read more