I’ve mentioned in numerous posts that I’m a kitchen gadget and small appliance junkie, which should be apparent when you look at the tag cloud on the right.

I’ve recently written about a peanut butter mixer, a fondue pot, a soymilk maker, adjustable measuring cups and a partridge in a pear tree. (Just kidding about the partridge.)

This particular post is a short survey, of sorts. No need to panic, it’s only one question in length. I would LOVE to know, as would the entire ChefShopper readership, more about your all-time favorite kitchen gadget or small appliance.

I couldn’t live without my trusty sandwich maker. In fact, I’ve retired three of them. I would also be lost without my bread machine. Homemade bread is definitely a comfort food, in the Strong household.

Due in part to my participation, here, I have a wish list that seems close to a mile long. (Shhhhh… don’t tell my husband. You should see the look on his face when the UPS truck pulls into our driveway.)

The information I gather from your responses will be very helpful to me, in regard to planning my future purchases.

So… don’t waste another second. There is no better time to tell us all about your favorite kitchen gadget.

I like the compact look of the Progressive International Tower Slicer. It measures 5.1 x 5.6 x 7 and produces almost perfect ¼ inch slices… or so say the product reviewers.

This slicer quickly does a more than adequate job on, both, fruits and veggies. Potatoes, carrots, oranges, lemons, onions, tomatoes and cucumbers have all met their match. I’m thinking that this would probably work on sturdy cheeses, as well.

After you insert the blade, you place whatever you are going to cut on the blade insert. Next, you position the lid (complete with pusher) and press down firmly. What you end up with is eleven equal fruit or veggie slices. Pretty nifty!

I’m sad to report that my Vidalia Chopper was recently laid to rest. Suffice it to say that my hubby doesn’t own his own strength…

So, I am considering this is a probable replacement. The price is right and it will take up very little space. (Space, or the lack of it, is a big issue at my house.)

Do you own a chopper that you can’t live without? What do you think of this one? I’d love to know your thoughts. They might help me with my final buying decision.

I’ve used an adjustable measuring cup for years. It’s not something that I need every day, but it comes in handy for a lot of ‘sticky’ ingredients.

Compared to mine, the Kitchenart Pro 2 Cup Adjust-A-Cup adjustable measuring cup is an upgraded model. It matches all of the black and stainless steel appliances that are so popular today.

(My cup is sunshine yellow. I shudder to think how matching appliances would look, in my kitchen!)

Adjustable measuring cups slide apart, very easily, as two separate cylinders. They are dishwasher safe and super durable.

I basically use mine to measure ingredients like peanut butter, honey, yogurt, molasses, butter, etc. But, in reality, you can use it to measure just about EVERYTHING.

With the holiday season upon us, this is a must-have item. Since it will allow you to spend less time washing out ‘goopy’ measuring cups… you’ll have time to make extra batches of cookies.

(Kids think this type of measuring cup is great fun. When my son was little, he loved to push ingredients into our mixing bowl.)

If you have experience using one of these, I welcome your comments. I’m curious as to whether or not you think it’s as handy as I do.

My Mom bought me a similar peeler (Daisy), several years ago. I loved it! It’s nice to see that they are again available.

The Rotato Express Electric Peeler would make a great gift for those who hate peeling fruits and veggies or have a hard time doing so. If you make homemade applesauce or can peaches and other things, you might consider purchasing this peeler, as well.

(Honestly, looking at this I see the possibility of more potato salad and mashed potatoes in my future.)

The arm on the machine easily adjusts to skin thickness and texture. There is very little waste, because it peels away a thin layer. The Rotato Express is even capable of zesting fruits.

It comes with a nifty knife made especially to scoop out potato eyes and has a built in storage compartment underneath… for the knife, spare blades and batteries.

The peeler runs on either 4AA batteries (not included) or the 6 volt adapter, which comes with it. (I think I’d opt for the adapter.)

OK, I’ve talked myself into making this purchase. As I mentioned above, I LOVED the one I had. So, if you have a yummy potato salad recipe you’d like to share, there’s no time like the present!

If you are looking for unique stocking stuffers for those who love toasted sandwiches, consider these groovy Toastabags. Why didn’t I think of this? It’s SUCH a creative idea!

All you do is make your favorite sandwich and pop it into the reusable bag, which comes as a set of two. Each bag can be used up to 150 times and is dishwasher safe, making clean-up a breeze.

You can actually use these for more than sandwiches. Wraps, pastries, frozen french fries and probably even burritos are all fair game, when it comes to these bags.

I have a sandwich maker that I simple adore, but I can see myself using these as well. I’m thinking that you could even get away with freezing certain types of sandwiches that you could pull out, at a moment’s notice, popping them into the bags. It’s doable, don’t you think?

Whether you love tuna on rye, grilled cheese (try one with Mozzarella and garlic) or classic BLT’s… Toastabags are calling your name. The toasted sandwich just got a whole lot easier. Ain’t technology grand?

What is your all-time favorite grilled sandwich? Since these bags are something I see in my future, I need all the recipes I can get.

KitchenArt makes some of the coolest products! I just discovered the KitchenArt 18500 Mini Adjust-A-Burger and hope there is still time to add it to my Christmas list.

If you love burgers and the cute little sliders, which are becoming increasingly popular, this is the gadget for you.

Hamburger presses have been around for ages. They are available in many different styles. But the Adjust-A-Burger is one step ahead of an ordinary press.

It makes 1, 2 and 3 ounce patties, with the twist of the wrist. First, you select the size of burger you want to make. Next, you fill the clear, top, sleeve with meat. Last but not least, you unlock the sleeve and push up. (Turning the container over will release the patty.)

Actually, this will work for any type of burger… meatloaf, tuna, salmon and even crab cakes. If you are a ‘White Castle junkie’, you’ll save a ton of money making sliders at home.

The burger maker comes apart, for easy clean up. Better yet, it’s dishwasher safe.

Do you think the Adjust-A-Burger would be a welcome addition to your kitchen gadget stash? I’d love to hear your comments and tips for making the perfect burger.

I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but my husband can’t get enough. So, I’m seriously thinking about getting him a coffee press, for Christmas.

This particular model, the Bodum 10573-16 Chambord 8-Cup Coffee Press, comes with a bonus 4 minute timer. If you enjoy Bistro style coffee, it is definitely worth your consideration. (There are smaller, as well as, larger models available… ranging from 3 – 12 cups.)

Because of its double wall construction, your coffee will stay warm for up to two hours. The Bodum Coffee Press features a gold plated titanium filter, so paper filters are not necessary.

(This type of filter allows only essential oils to pass through, leaving the unwanted grounds behind.)

The press is a wonderful way to make ‘pour over’ coffee, in a pot that is quite nifty looking… great to use when entertaining a small group. It has a rubber base, which prevents tabletop scratches.

Coffee lovers will be the first to tell you that pressed coffee is much better than that brewed in a traditional drip coffee maker.

Have you had the opportunity to try this type of coffee? If so, please tell us what you thought about it. If it’s as good as all of the reviews I’ve read all I can say is… move over Mr. Coffee!

I’ve never owned a cookie press and I really can’t tell you why. They have always intrigued me, especially around the holidays. (I guess I’ve always envisioned myself pumping out dozens of cookies, just like Martha Stewart.)

The Wilton Cookie Master Plus Cookie Press is cordless, so I’m thinking rechargeable batteries would be the way to go… making sure they are fully charged before starting your baking session. Requires 4 AAA batteries.

It features reverse action technology, which means there is no need to take it apart to refill it. Pretty handy!

It comes with 12 aluminum disks, in standard and seasonal shapes. The set also includes four filling/decorating tips and two recipe booklets, showcasing both sweet and savory dishes. Can you say appetizers?

Besides cookies, I think it would be great for filling deviled eggs and maybe even making snazzy cheese topped crackers, if the cheese wasn’t too stiff to fit through the disks. You could even use the decorating tips to fill doughnuts. YUMMY!

Those of you who have used this cookie press with success are more than encouraged to share any tips and hints you might have. Your favorite recipes are welcome, as well. After all; there is no such thing as too many cookies.

Airplanes and reindeer and stars, oh my! Now, you can be the most creative pancake maker on the block, without breaking the bank.

Honestly, I’ve never realized until now how many different pancake molds are out there. They would all make great stocking stuffers… especially the ‘winter themed’ ones. Perfect, for the gadget lover who has everything, don’t you think?

I think I’ve mentioned before that I’ve always had a difficult time making pancakes. Either they’re not the right color (I can almost hear my sons voice… Mom… are pancakes SUPPOSED to be black?) or they turn out looking something like puzzle pieces. I really think these molds would help.

The molds pictured are stack and fill molds. How cool is that? The finished product yields a flower tower, three tiers high with a yummy surprise oozing down through the middle. (At under $20 a set, they’re a steal of a deal.)

Whether you decide to fill them with blueberries and whipped cream, chocolate chips and bananas or apples drizzled with caramel and streusel topping the outcome will be a resounding YUM!

I’d love to hear about your favorite pancake topping or toppings. Tips and tricks for the perfect pancake are also welcome. It’s never too late to learn how to do it right!

During all of my travels through Cyberspace, I have never encountered the Joyce Chen 4 in 1 Microwave Rice Steamer. After reading all of the rave reviews, it’s definitely on my ‘gotta have it’ list.

I seldom make regular rice at home, due in part to the fact that I’m never altogether pleased with the way it turns out. However, this steamer seems like it might be the answer to my problems.

Not only does this steam any variety of rice, you can also use it for many kinds of veggies (including potatoes), pasta, meat and even popcorn. How nifty is that?

The set includes: 2 quart steamer bowl, locking outer lid, popcorn lid, steaming insert, steam recirculating inner lid and rice paddle.

Steamer and lids are dishwasher safe or can be washed by hand, whichever method you prefer.
If you are interested in Chinese cooking and cuisine, Joyce Chen offers many additional items that are sure to help you in the kitchen. Cooking for the public, since opening her first eatery in 1958, she developed her line of products and ease of use in mind?

If you have used any of Ms. Chen’s other products, I’d love to hear what you think about the line, as I’m sure would everyone else who stops by.