I purchased a Deni Magic Vacuum Food Saver, many years ago, when it was first introduced. It continues to be a popular model, even today. If you don’t have the budget to invest in a more expensive vacuum sealer, I hope you will consider the Deni. Unless you will be freezing and storing TONS of things, it should do the trick.

Groceries aren’t getting any cheaper. Because of this, throwing leftovers away just isn’t an option for most families… at least not mine. That’s where a vacuum food saver comes to the rescue.

Buying food bulk can save you a great deal of money. When you package that food in sealer bags, it can stay fresh up to five times longer depending on the specific product. It’s really a win-win situation.

The Deni Magic Vacuum Food Saver is fully automatic. The base is removable, for easy cleaning. It’s capable of packaging things in bags, canisters, jars and bottles. The compact size makes it perfect for smaller kitchens or RV’s.

Speaking of RV’s or better yet camping, sealing items like matches, flashlights, towels and even clothing is advisable. You know what they say, ‘better safe than sorry’.

It’s also good for storing keepsakes like photos, comic books, post cards, etc.

The Keurig Mini One Cup Coffee Maker is an excellent choice for those who have been cursed with a small kitchen. It doesn’t feature a lot of bells and whistles, but for the price you simply can’t beat it.

This little brewer guides you through the entire process of making a yummy beverage (coffee, tea or hot cocoa) in one to three minutes. There is absolutely NO guesswork involved. How cool is that?

It is interesting to note that this one cup coffee maker won’t work if you are using a see through cup. As a safety feature, the unit won’t begin the brewing cycle if the LED sensor doesn’t ‘see’ a cup sitting on the drip tray.

The Keurig mini is perfect for the office, RV or dorm room. Since the water fill area will only hold 8 ounces of water, at a time, you will always be privy to the freshest cup of coffee possible. Clean up is a breeze… there virtually isn’t any.

I highly recommend that you consider the purchase of the Keurig one cup coffee maker. It gets great reviews and is less expensive than the full featured models.

If you have a hankering for espresso, I invite you to read my post about the Delonghi EC5 Espresso Maker, as well.

If you do a bit of research, you will find that there are several brands of small deep fryers on the market, today. They are perfect for one or two person households, when small portions are ‘just enough’.

The Deni Mini Deep Fryer is one such model. Pictured here, it is one of those small appliances that you will probably want to keep on you countertop. It can be used to prepare a wide variety of quick meals and snacks, without taking up a great deal of space.

This little fryer will fry the same foods that a larger unit will. Chicken, donuts, french fries, poppers, cheese curds, fish, small pies and a wide variety of veggies are all fair game.

A one quart oil capacity means that you won’t have to spend a bundle, on cooking oil. If you get in the habit of straining the oil, after every use, you will save even more money.

This small deep fryer has a cool touch handle and an odor eliminating filter in the lid, which I feel are VERY beneficial features. The lid has a nifty viewing window, as well. This allows you to keep an eye on things, greatly reducing the possibility of getting burned.

I’ve been feeling a bit nostalgic this week. I’ve also had quite a craving for popcorn… ‘old-fashioned’ non microwaved popcorn.

I’m happy to report that my problems are almost over. I just ordered a Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper.

This one is a slightly revamped version of the popcorn maker my Mom used, when I was growing up. Talk about yummy memories!

Let’s face it; the Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper makes popping just plain fun. It is capable of making both theater style popcorn and kettle corn. The motorized stirring rod is the key to popcorn perfection.

Preparing it this way is SO much easier than making it on the stovetop. The best part is there are almost NO un-popped kernels. In fact, the Stir Crazy Popper successfully pops approximately 25 percent more popcorn than other machines using the same amount of kernels.

I always loved the built in butter well and the fact that you just flip the popped corn into the cover that magically turns into a bowl… well, maybe not magically…

It has a heat resistant base and handles. The power cord is removable, for easy storage, as well.

Popcorn, minus the butter, is a very healthy treat. One cup of air popped popcorn contains only 31 calories. All I can say is GET POPPIN’!

I have owned several Hamiliton Beach products, over the years. I’ve been quite pleased with all of them. (I guess that’s why I’ve owned several!)

The Hamiliton Beach Mealmaker Multicooker is another great all-in-one appliance especially suited for small kitchens. It’s large enough to accommodate a whole 4 ½ pound chicken, a 2 pound bag of frozen French fries or 10 ears of corn.

The Multicooker can handle almost every task that requires steaming, baking or frying. Have you ever deep-fried a whole chicken? (Think turkey fryer only much smaller.) With the help of this cooker, it can be done in approximately 35 minutes. That’s faster than cooking the same bird in a roaster or rotisserie.

Since the fryer basket can be lowered and raised, with the lid on the unit, there is no need to worry about dangerous splattering. The basket also has a hook that holds it above the oil (or water in the case of boiling or steaming) for proper food drainage.

The Hamiliton Beach Mealmaker Multicooker features a cooking timer, adjustable temperature controls and a ‘ready’ indicator light. This nifty appliance also has a break-away cord that will prevent it from tipping should said cord get tangled.

I’m adding this cooker to my wish list. Care to join me?

If you have never done any convection oven cooking, I hope you will consider the purchase of the model pictured here. The Avanti Convection Oven with 2 Burner Cooktop would be great to use in apartments, dorm rooms that allow them or RV’s, as well.

This nifty appliance does it all. It bakes, broils and can handle rotisserie, convection and stovetop cooking tasks. It features a 60 minute timer and multiple heat settings. I really can’t think of anything that this convection oven couldn’t accomplish, with the exception of microwaving.

It also features a tempered glass door, automatic shut-off and a slide out rack for added convenience. The Avanti Convection Oven comes with a rotisserie kit, baking-broiling tray and crumb tray.

The top burners consist of one 600 watt burner and one 1,000 watt burner. The inside oven area is large enough to hold up to four pieces of toast or comparable products.

If you have a teeny tiny kitchen, like I do, this Avanti oven is ‘just the ticket’… as my grandma used to say. It measures approximately 25 inches wide by 16 inches tall by 16 inches deep.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any experience with convection oven cooking and would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Last Friday, ALL three can openers in my house decided to die within a five minute time span. They consisted of one electric and two of the ‘old fashioned’ models.

Normally, it would not have been a huge deal, but since I had to cook for an open house that was being held on Saturday I was a bit perturbed. Thank goodness for ‘open all night’ discount chains.

I’ve decided to invest in the Black & Decker Under Cabinet Can Opener, pictured here. Due to my lack of counter space, I think it will feel right at home. It is part of their Spacemaker collection that has been available for years.

It is currently only available in black, which means this under cabinet can opener will match other black and/or stainless steel appliances that are so popular, today. It is covered under a one year warranty.

This particular model features a bottle opener, knife sharpener and a bag cutter, as well. Think of it as the Swiss army knife of can openers.

Under cabinet appliances are so appreciated by those of us who have been cursed with a small kitchen. I’m still waiting patiently for an under cabinet sandwich machine and waffle maker combo!

Every season is grill season with the Sanyo 17×12 Nonstick Smokeless Indoor Electric Grill. The reviews on this product speak for themselves. Although it’s not an outdoor grill, it certainly seems to be the next best thing.

This particular model packs 1300 watts of power and has a 200 square inch cooking surface. Smoke-free cooking is made possible because of the removable drip pan, which can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher. This also means healthier cooking.

Those who have purchased the grill suggest adding a bit of water to the drip pan and spraying the grill grate with nonstick cooking spray, before using.

If you love freshly grilled vegetables, the grate is small enough to allow you to prepare smaller veggies without them falling through… or worse yet getting stuck in between.

Another great feature that you might not expect, on an indoor electric grill this affordable, is an adjustable temperature control. Honestly, I’m more than a little impressed!

If you have never done much indoor grilling, there’s no better time to start than now. It’s a very healthy way to prepare meals and you’ll never run out of new recipes to try.

If you prefer an outdoor grill, please consider reading my review about this nifty portable gas grill, as well.

I am sad to report that my toaster is on its last legs. It is unfortunate, because I love the toast it produces. It is almost identical to the toast my grandma’s toaster used to make.

Even after all these years, I can close my eyes, while taking a bite, to be magically transported back to her kitchen. If only I could stay there.

After my toaster goes to ‘toaster heaven’, I’m seriously considering replacing it with one of these Egg and Muffin Toasters. Honestly, I can see myself eating more eggs, simply because of the convenience factor.

The egg and muffin toaster, pictured here, gets good reviews and is affordably priced. Those who have purchased it say that it lives up to its claims and makes yummy poached eggs and equally tasty toast, English muffins, bagels, etc. What more could we ask for?

If you said the ability to warm pre-cooked meats and prepare both soft and hard boiled eggs, look no further. This toaster can handle those tasks, as well. In fact, you can boil up to eight eggs at a time.

If you happen to be a fast food breakfast sandwich junkie, this egg and muffin toaster is for you. It really could save you a bit of money in the long run. Don’t you think?

Chances are you are reading this post because you Googled the phrase ‘how to make cookies’ or something similar. Am I right? If so, please read on. Have I got a nifty little cookie maker for you!

The Nostalgia Bakery Express would make the perfect gift for anyone interested in whipping up a batch of mini cookies, in just a matter of minutes (without heating up the entire kitchen).

Because of its small size, it would be great to use at birthday parties, fundraiser events, sleep over’s and even in an RV.

The Bakery Express bakes six, 2 inch, cookies per batch. It includes 12 cute cookie cutters and eight cookie molds. The baking tray is constructed of non-stick aluminum for easy clean up. It features a handy temperature control dial, as well.

Nostalgia Electrics is well-known for producing, fun, countertop appliances. I’ve showcased their cotton candy maker and hot dog roller/grill combo, in the past.

The question of how to make cookies is no longer a mystery with this particular cookie maker. Whether you’re hungry for chocolate chip, peanut butter or oatmeal cookies, the Bakery Express has you covered.

If you’ve had the opportunity to use this appliance, feel free to share your comments with cookie lovers everywhere!