When I look at an Ice Cream Ball, one of the first things I say to myself is ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ It’s a neat product that your kids will love. I can almost guarantee it.

This ice cream ball is great to take to the beach, on camping trips and on picnics. You can even use it right in your own backyard. Making ice cream, in this manner, is a nifty way to get a bit of exercise and have fun doing it.

The ball comes in two sizes… pint and quart capacity. You place rock salt in one side of the ball and ice cream ingredients in the other. Then you pass, lightly kick or toss the ball around, for 30 minutes. It’s as easy as that!

You can use virtually any ice cream recipe in an ice cream ball. If you purchase a few smaller size balls, you’ll find that it really won’t take much extra effort to make two or three kinds, in a single ‘exercise session’.

If you are interested in making ice cream in a more traditional manner, please read my post on the Cuisinart ICE-45 Ice Cream Maker. It makes soft serve ice cream, sherbet and yogurt. All I can say is… YUM!

There are several companies that make old fashioned Apple Peeler Corer Slicers, like the one pictured here. Honestly, looking at it makes me feel a bit old, since my mom and grandma both owned one. That being said, it really is a nifty contraption to have on hand… especially during apple season.

As the name implies, this appliance peels, cores and slices apples (and potatoes). Believe me; the kids will LOVE to help you with this once tedious task. They’ll probably eat more apples, as well.

This particular apple peeler, brought to you by Back to Basics, is constructed out of cast iron and should last for years. It either attaches to the edge of your countertop or table or ‘suction cups’ to the top of a flat surface.

(Yes, I just made up and used the term ‘suction cups’. What can I say except that it’s been a strange week.)

The peeler also features a thumb screw that allows you to choose a thin or thicker peel option.

If you prefer an electric apple peeler that doesn’t slice or core, feel free to read my post about the Rotato Express Electric Peeler. Although this one looks like its more fun to use, don’t you think?

The Williams Sonoma Meatball Grill Basket is one of the coolest pieces of grilling related cookware I’ve run across. It gives new meaning to homemade meatballs the easy way, doesn’t it?

I love meatballs, but have never given much thought to cooking them on the grill. Think of how much yummier they would be packed with flame broiled flavor.

(I typically cheat and buy pre-made meatballs from Gordon’s Food Service. But, I think this product would give me incentive to make my own, at least during the summer months.)

This grill basket accommodates one dozen meatballs at a time. Obviously, you could mix up any ground meat recipe you happened to be in the mood for. Lamb, veal, beef, poultry or sausage would all be fair game.

It features perforated wells, which enable the fat to cook out of the meatballs without dripping into your BBQ. The removable handle makes the grill basket easy to turn. Just flip it over and you’re good to go. Homemade meatballs have never been so much fun to make!

Another great grilling accessory worth your consideration is the Lodge Logic Pre-Seasoned Round Cast Iron Grill Press. I invite you to take a minute to read what I have to say about it.

This garlic peeler tube is probably one of the niftiest gadgets I’ve seen in a while. As a true lover of garlic, I’ve added it to my list of kitchen must haves… that just keeps getting longer and longer.

You simply insert whole garlic cloves into the flexible tube, press down and roll back and forth between your fingers. When you hear the skins break away, the cloves are good to go.

They will slide out of the tube, leaving the skins behind. Clean up is a breeze, just a quick rinse of the tube is all it takes. This looks to be SO much easier to use than a traditional garlic peeler, don’t you think? It really makes me wish that I had planted garlic, in my garden, this year.

I add garlic to every dish that I can possibly can. It’s one of my favorite seasonings and, let’s face it, nothing else beats the flavor of fresh. Honestly, I only use garlic powder as a backup.

If you are a garlic lover, like I am, feel free to share your favorite garlic related tip or recipe. More importantly, remember this. There is no such thing as TOO much garlic!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for home cotton candy machines… well maybe.

When I was little I used to love attending neighborhood ice cream socials, because of the ice cream AND the cotton candy.

Times have changed and with the help of one of several different home cotton candy machines, you can easily let the kids whip it up in your own kitchen. (I know it isn’t the healthiest of snacks, but everything in moderation, right?)

The unit pictured here is manufactured by Nostalgia Electrics. I have showcased a couple of their other products in the past, including: an old fashioned hot dog roller and a popcorn machine. (In case you haven’t heard me mention it, I love retro looking appliances.)

Honestly, making cotton candy at home with a machine like this one is a breeze. All you do is pour the required sugar mixture into the top, turn it on and watch it materialize. Really, how much easier could it be?

You can purchase cotton candy floss sugar or floss concentrate separately. The sugar, which is ready to use out of the bag, comes in flavors such as cherry, grape, orange and strawberry. However, the concentrate must be mixed with granulated sugar. Happy cotton candy’ing!

Memorial Day is a distant memory. The camping season is upon us. That means there is no better time to invest in a Pie Iron… or two. Honestly, they are appreciated by kids of ALL ages, myself included.

Pie Irons are available in both round and square varieties. Besides pie making, the square ones are great for sandwiches, pizza rolls and fish sticks, while the round ones work well for things like burgers and pita bread creations.

With a little practice, you can even bake things like refrigerator biscuits and cinnamon rolls. The Pillsbury doughboy will be proud!

There is no set in stone rule that you have to wait to actually GO camping to use a pie iron. If you are one of countless families that have a fire pit, in the back yard, you are definitely good to go.

‘Fire pies’ have become so popular that you can even purchase accessories to go along with your pie iron. Consider picking up a cookbook and/or carrying case, as well.

Do you have a yummy recipe that you’ve adapted for a pie iron? If so, feel free to share it with the rest of us. Especially if it happens to be dessert oriented.

I have always been of the opinion that you can’t ever have too many kitchen gadgets. If you looked in my kitchen drawers, you’d see what I mean.

I just ran across the OXO 22 Piece Tool and Gadget Set and it looks like a winner. I have a family member who is getting married, in a few weeks. Since it is the first time she will be setting up house, this would make the perfect gift. Don’t you think?

I have several OXO products, myself. So far, I’ve been very pleased with the quality. This set includes gadgets such as: measuring spoons, veggie peeler, ice cream scoop, whisk, measuring cup, corkscrew, spatula, tongs, can opener, slotted spoon and more.

It is constructed from high-grade nylon and features easy grip handles. All pieces are heat resistant and dishwasher safe… top rack only.

You could easily split this set up into two smaller groupings. That way you would have two gifts, ready for giving, whenever you need them.

Since this is a top quality tool and gadget set, it will last for years to come. You won’t have the expense of replacing these items… over and over again.

Thanks to OXO you’ll always have the right tool, for every job in the kitchen.

If you do a lot of baking, chances are you use a lot of brown sugar. On the other hand, if you DON’T do much baking, chances are there is a bag of HARD brown sugar in your pantry, right? (Not to worry, it happens to the best of us!)

Enter the Brown Sugar Softener. These nifty little ceramic disks will prevent your brown sugar from hardening, even under the most extreme weather conditions. They come in a variety of designs and are inexpensive enough to allow you to buy several.

Why on earth would you need more than one? Well… the disks also keep things like popcorn kernels, cookies, raisins and other dried fruits moist and ready to eat or use in your favorite recipe. Pretty cool, to say the least.

The softeners are simple to use. Just soak in water for twenty minutes and add to the storage container, with your brown sugar, cookies, etc. They will keep things moist for up to 3 months.

When you notice that things are starting to harden a bit, remove the disk from the container and let it dry overnight. Re-soak it and place it back in the container.

I think these would make great stocking stuffers or even wedding shower favors, don’t you?

I need new ice cube trays. I am ashamed to admit that mine are eons old. Just for the fun of it, I decided to look online to see if I could find some ‘conversation starter’ cubes as opposed to the boring, square, ones that my old trays produced.

All I can say is WOW, am I ever behind the times! I honestly think I found an ice cube tray for every occasion. Martha Stewart would be proud.

You now have the choice of adding jazzy cubes to your drinks, based on the event you are celebrating or the mood you are in.

I found dolphins, penguins, stars, smiles, hearts, apples, submarines (great if you’re a Beatles fan), lemons and Homer Simpson… yes you read it right… Homer Simpson. Believe it or not, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

I also ran across even more inventive trays such as long, skinny, cubes you can easily add to your bottled water and the adorable Ice Princess cubes, shown above.

Since I’m on the subject of ice cubes, I want to share this tip. When serving punch, don’t add cubes made with water. Make several trays of frozen punch cubes and add those instead. It’s the easiest way to eliminate a watered down taste.

I’ve always preferred homemade salad dressing. It’s SO much tastier than the majority of commercial brands. I honestly can’t tell you why I don’t make it more often. If I owned the Emulstir Emulsifier and Salad Dressing Maker, I probably would.

(This in turn means I would eat more salad, something I’ve needed to do for a LONG time. If you are in the same boat, I suggest you add this to your ‘must buy’ list.)

This handy gadget looks like it’s very easy to use. You simply remove the lid and add whatever ingredients you will be utilizing… oil, vinegar, your favorite herbs. Next, you replace the lid and squeeze the handle a few times to blend.

Thanks to the nifty stir stick, your recipe will be mixed to perfection. What could be simpler than that?

The acrylic container is dishwasher safe. It is suitable for refrigerating any leftover dressing, if it isn’t gobbled up immediately.

There are countless salad dressing recipes, on the Internet. I’m going to order an Emulstir and start making a list of all of the yummy dressings I want to make. If you have a recipe you’d like to throw my way… remember, there’s no time like the present.