Home & Garden Blog » Kitchen Gadgets

Kmart Coupon: $5 Off All Hamilton Beach Small Kitchen Appliances

ernani — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:19:11 +0000

Let’s face it. Waking up in the morning to get ready for work or school is not the easiest task in the world. I don’t even know how many times I’ve hit the snooze button on my phone before finally getting out of bed. However, if there is one thing that I actually look forward to before leaving for work, it’s having a nice breakfast.

There’s nothing better than a big, delicious meal to start the day. Whether it’s pancakes, waffles, eggs, fruit or toast with coffee, juice or a smoothie, you need the right kitchen appliances to get the job done.

Shop online at Kmart.com and find all the small kitchen appliances you need. Choose from a variety of kitchen appliances such as toasters, coffee makers, blenders, toaster ovens, electric griddles and much more.

Additionally, you can also save an extra 5% off all Hamilton Beach small kitchen appliances. Just use this Kmart coupon when you check out. Be sure to make your purchases soon, because this offer will expire on March 26, 2011.

Start shopping now and start your day the right way!

Making Ice Cream On The Go

brock — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:19:09 +0000

A few years ago, my wife and I bought a fancy ice cream maker, so we could make delectable frozen treats whenever we wanted…I mean whenever the kids wanted. It was a bulky machine with canisters that sat in the freezer until we need it. Guess what? We hardly ever used it.

Half the time, we didn’t remember we had it. The other half, we didn’t have the patience to sit and wait for the ice cream to freeze when a five minute trip to the convenience store yielded nearly the same thing with more variety.

That was before the Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker. It melds family fun and exercise with everyone’s favorite creamy dessert. It’s a unique invention, because the ice cream is made by shaking, rolling, tossing and otherwise abusing the contraption. This is great fun when you’re the father of three boys.

Before electricity, people were forced to crank and turn ice cream makers while children impatiently waited for their scrumptious treat. Today, we have electric ice cream makers with lots of buttons and fancy lights, but the children are still left waiting.

With the Play and Freeze, making ice cream becomes a family activity, so the time flies and before you know it, the ice cream is done. You can also feel less guilty, because you just spent the last 20 minutes working off at least part of the calories of the ice cream.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

The machine is a large plastic ball (which looks like something you’d put your hamster in), perfect for lawn bowling or a rousing game of catch. It requires no electricity and runs completely on people power. You unscrew the cap and put in the ice and rock salt around a center tube that houses the ice cream mixture. Then, you and the rest of the family go outside and try to be as active as possible. The more active you are, the faster the ice cream freezes.

After about 20 minutes of vigorous workout, you can go back inside, open the Play and Freeze and scoop out your sugary treat. It also won’t break the bank retailing for under $30 on Smarter.

Parents today are charged with the difficult task of keeping their children active and fit in a world that seems bent on keeping them sedentary in front of the television or computer. The promise of freshly made ice cream may be one of the few things to lift their Facebook frenzy and bring them into the light of day.

Do it Yourself: V-Day Cocktail Recipes

colleen — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:07:01 +0000

Want to make a cocktail this Valentine’s Day that’s sure to make a splash? Try a spicy new cocktail to make it a memorable night. Cocktails are all about two things: the right liquor for you and your companion’s tastes and tolerances, and the right presentation. Maybe you’ll want an Agave Kiss,
if you like tequila, creamy drinks, and raspberries. Or maybe a little Besame Kiss with Chambord and Lime for a fruity, delectable taste. To make either ofÂ these drinks, you’re going to need highball glasses and cocktail strainers, and a few other kitchen gadgets. The preparation is all part of the presentation.

Maybe if you really want to make a sensual, delicious dessert for a whole crowd, look no further than drunken fruit recipes. With five and a half pounds of your favorite fruit and two quarts of your favorite top-shelf liquor, you’re sure to mix a fine dessert that will be fun to eat and even more fun to feed others! For this you’re going to need a large jug and several jars to store the fruit while it soaks up the alcohol.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/kennyhindgren/3281934120

Best and Worst: Valentine’s Gifts for Women

colleen — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:49:37 +0000

The worst gifts you can give a woman are gifts that seem judgmental. Remember, this is different for many women. The general things to stray away from are weight, body image, and anything that seems to draw attention to a woman’s faults. Giving a woman a scale is probably the worst gift imaginable, and if you have given the special lady in your life a scale, you have to go back to step one of general care and compassion for others, and beg forgiveness immediately, if the woman is still talking to you. In this same line, giving a woman the gift of a gym membership or extra large yoga pants are less than desirable, but remember, some women would find these extremely caring and thoughtful gifts. Keep your special lady’s feelings in mind before you damage them this holiday season.

Good ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts involve heartfelt messages and thoughtful, convenient solutions. I suggest going for the triad gift giving experience: give one sweet/ edible gift, one small heartfelt gift, and one practical, useful gift. There isn’t a lack of sweets to choose from, and the heartfelt gift I can’t really help you with, but the practical or useful gift I can. Think about kitchen supplies and storage, like cookware, cutlery, kitchen linens, and food storage. These gifts don’t exactly scream “I love you”, but they do say “I care about you and want to make your life easier, so we can spend more time together”. And that’s a wonderful message too.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/back_garage/3250024891

Recipe Spotlight: Make your own Chocolate

colleen — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:49:28 +0000

We all have food cravings. Sometimes, it’s for something super salty, sometimes super sweet: whatever is going on biologically doesn’t concern me, it’s how you best manage your craving to do the least amount of damage to your waistline, and still feel satisfied.

For me, it’s all about the chocolate. And with Valentine’s Day coming up, there’s nothing I’m more excited to do that bake some delicious desserts for me and my loved one. My favorite website for delicious, decadent desserts is Williams-Sonoma’s recipe site. They have some outrageous recipes and never cut corners, which can be a good and bad thing.

If you want to go more basic, though, you can always make chocolate truffles with this simple recipe from Essortment.com: All you need is eight ounces semi-sweet chocolate, three-fourths cups of heavy whipping cream, one-half of a stick of unsalted butter, one-half of a cup of cocoa powder (or as much as needed to coat truffles), and optional fillings. Check out the rest of the recipe for more detailed instructions.

Beyond the recipe and the ingredients, you need the machinery to make the chocolate! Fondue pots are perfect for melting chocolate without burning it. To make the bite-sized chocolate truffles, you are going to need a melon baller.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/41954547@N04/4226993126

Create Your Own Valentine’s Date: Fondue Sets

colleen — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:31:26 +0000

Last week we talked about creative at-home dates for Valentine’s Day. But why reserve creative dating to the holidays? Think a little outside the box every week, and plan a fun dining event or activity for you and your loved one. Maybe create a delicious stew for two or make some fun and festive drinks. Eating out can always be an expensive affair, with the extensive overpriced wine list at most fancy fondue or hibachi restaurants and the expectation that you will be tipping the waitress at least 20% so as not to seem cheap to your date. Waiters aren’t the only ones that need tips, so here are a few suggestions for how to have creative meals without the restaurant pricing.

To stay on a budget, consider cooking some eclectic meals that would cost a lot at a fancy restaurant but require much less spending when created at home. Maybe buy a little burner or chocolate fountain, so you can roast marshmallows and make S’mores with your significant other, or break out the cute fondue sets for some tasty treats.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/kubina/957806470

Special Sales: College Shopping 2.0

colleen — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:30:59 +0000

Walmart’s newest dedication to using social networking tools and Web 2.0 interfaces may be rooted in capitalism and greedy corporations, but there are some great user benefits that save the college-bound a few hundred in shipping, packaging, or unnecessary double and triple trips back and forth to the local department store. Walmart.com’s new College 09 site has a wonderful selection of thrifty and stylish supplies for the young and the educated, including some “Value Bundles” that should be checked out for their super thrifty status. Featured on their top selling value bundles are:

Kalorik Sunny Morning Basic Kitchen Appliance Set, Tangerine and White: $85.00 Coming with a toaster, a blender, a coffee maker and a kettle, this is a cute set that will brighten any freshman’s smile when they wake up for that first 8 a.m. class.

Another great steal is the Girl’s Twin Bedding and Towel Set at $45.00, with a bright lively pattern for the comforter and sham and 6-piece towel set for all your bathroom needs.

Now what about the boys? While the girls have their bright orange kettles and striped comforters keeping them colorful and hydrated during finals, what will the boys use?

I won’t lie, I’ll suggest the Mainstays Tall Corner TV Stand and Viore 26” Class LCD HDTV Bundle for $349.00 out of experience and necessity. 26″ HDTV with digital tuner and the stand makes this a complete package, and perfect for the Xbox hookup. No joke, these things are a necessity! Video games are a growing market, the boys are doing “research” into a prospective career field. No lie!!

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more kitchen appliances and tv stands.
Discounts on towels and twin bedding.

Seasonal Highlight: Bender Blender

colleen — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:03:56 +0000

It’s summertime, and the drinks are sweating more than you are. What do you do to chill off? Consider buying a blender to make some fun fruity drinks that are nutritious and–perhaps?–alcoholic. Fresh margs, pineapple juice, maybe event your own blended beverage for the next pool party or summer grill. You want to make sure you’ve got a solid, working blender, especially with an ice crushing function that is sturdy and reliable–I’ve been there, when the blender breaks, smashing ice in a plastic bag with a sledge hammer in the backyard. It’s fun, but not practical or delicious, especially when you get grass or dirt in the uneven ice chips that scatter across the driveway when the bag breaks (and believe me, it always does!).

Some tips for blender shopping:

1. Ice crushing function. Already been described above.
2. Long cord/ functionality outdoors. You want to be part of the barbeque and picnic! It’s so much more fun than making the drinks in the kitchen while everyone’s outdoors enjoying the fun and the sun.
3. Removeable top pitcher for easy pouring and handling. You want to make sure the bottom is securely fastened, too, or else your yummy beverage is going to fall all over the place!

Some of our top picks for blenders for the summer season:

1. Back to Basics 3-Speed Brushed Chrome Personal Blender Express , BPE3BR : $22.00

The thriftiest of all designs, this is for the college kid on a major budget crunch with a sweet tooth.

2. Oster 14-Speed Blender from Kmart.com: $24.99, marked down from $29.99

Beautiful standard design with many speeds to play around with. Much sturdier top than the Back to Basics blender above.

3. Cuisinart SmartPower Premier 600W Blender: $99.95

With a 600-watt motor, this is the best blender on the market, with the price to match. Buy this if you’re looking for a real lifetime investment in partying and happy drinking.

Shop for through a wide selection of affordable blenders.

Party On: What to Look for When Buying a Mini Kegerator

colleen — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:58:28 +0000

While I have strived to make my posts for Smarter.com’s Home and Garden section as PG and universal as possible, I will admit that I have been leaving out one important summer event: the all-out party and beer fest that certainly comes at least once a year at any well-bred household! To have the best beer bash around, there are some basic necessities: a fantastic grill and grillman (or woman!), nice selections and summery tasting beer, and some form of relaxation and/or entertainment. Why not combine the last two, and add some major hospitality points, with a kegerator? Yes, it rhymes with alligator and is probably your little brother’s nickname from back in college, but who cares: summer is a time to relish those eventful, fun, and somewhat mischievous purchases, and if Smarter.com can provide a discounted price for an awesome product, why not indulge?

What to look for in a kegerator:

Beer selection is the one and only priority in my book. Unfortunately, it’s rare to find a multi-brand kegerator. If you’re going to invest, you need to pick one that fits a beer you absolutely adore. To get that pub poured taste, you want to make sure you enjoy the taste to begin with. Don’t go for something too heavy, like Guinness: make it something more light and enjoyable to everyone, through multiple seasons. Here are some great priced kegerators to try out:

1. EdgeStar Mini-Kegerator and Beer Dispenser: Smarter.com features a great bargain at Buy.com on this delectable item, coming in around $119! The EdgeStar design fits a 5-liter mini keg and perfectly fits (and pours) the Heineken Draughtkeg. This is really a bargain, and a very sleek design too.

2. Now if you’re looking to commit to a installation piece, check out the sleek Summit Beer Dispenser and Kegerator. Holding over a 23 liter keg, this is a sleek piece that is meant for a true beer appreciator. For $981.14, this is a bargain deal considering all the benefits and long term use of the product.

Find at Smarter.com: Shop through all kegerators.

Discount Salt and Pepper Shakers – Unique and Nifty

evette — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:56:07 +0000

I admit it, I never could figure out those 80′s Rubik’s cubes. I would get baffled and just masterfully peel the sticker squares of the sides I could not get to match up, some people call it cheating – I call it clever.

Well these Rubik Salt & Pepper shakers do not require any thought, just twist the top half and out comes the seasonings. Plus for you arty folks, adds a bit of whimsy and kitsch to your decor.

I also like these Peacock Salt and Pepper shakers!

Right now Gift Collector is featuring a sale on all fiesta kitchenware and this nifty set is ~~marked down from $22.00~~ to $14.99!

For more discount Kitchen Gadgets & Tools, click here.