prepara

Chop, shake, and dip ice-cream toppings fast

Ice cream waits for no one. With the sun beating down, there exists an opportunity that must be taken advantage of: ice cream eating before screams (for a replacement cone) fill the air. While melted ice cream may simply be a fact of life during summer heat, there is a way to maximize not only the time-to-ice-cream ratio, but also the flavor potential.

The Prepara Topper Chopper makes quick work of chopping and distributing ice cream toppings. Not limited to ice-cream toppings only, the gadget gives users an all-in-one solution thanks to its multitasking abilities. The simple hand-crank operation makes … Read more

Prepara's cookbook holder solves kitchen dilemma

Once upon a time, recipes were handed down from generation to generation, finding immortality in the form of little index cards filed safely away in a well-worn box in the kitchen. This tradition continues, but it has competition. The cookbook is, of course, not a new invention; however, that just highlights how elusive the perfect cookbook holder has been. I don't know if the Chef's Center Cookbook Holder by Prepara is the perfect solution, but it may be a step in the right direction.

Featuring a spring-loaded clear splatter guard, the cookbook holder keeps books open, lettings cooks … Read more

Prepara sprouts dirt-free garden

It's hard to ignore the incessant messages to buy local, plant a garden, check for organic labels, and lead a sustainable lifestyle, yet most of us dismiss these suggestions as practices that require too much money, time, and effort.

And it's true--they really do.

Last summer I went through a green phase, heading to the plant store to purchase soil, seeds, shovels, pots, and everything else that Martha Stewart suggests I buy. Well, $120 and two weeks later, I had forgotten I'd even planted a garden and deemed my project a failure.

Thankfully, there is hope for … Read more

Pint-size herb gardens, sans sunlight

Spring is almost here and stores are starting to carry herb seeds again. Every year, I plan to grow an herb garden, and every year something gets in the way of my dream. I had a parsley plant that kicked the bucket after a cat mistook the pot for a litter box; a basil plant that flowered and soon after grew some sort of white fungus; and a little pot of oregano that shriveled because of a shortage of light in the kitchen.

On my more frustrated days, I've vowed to abandon the idea of growing my own herbs, … Read more

Peel me 3 times, safely

I have a killer potato peeler living in my kitchen. It stalks innocent fingers and when least expected, it tries to take a bite out of them. Unfortunately, sometimes it succeeds. Well, look out medieval-torture-device-posing-as-a-kitchen-utensil: Your days are numbered...and I'm in a mood for counting.

Not only does the Trio Tri-blade Peeler from Prepara have a retractable blade, but it also has three blades. A twist of a dial at the base of the unit selects which style of blade is needed. The 'soft' blade setting is used to peel soft skinned produce, such as tomatoes and peaches, … Read more