The smart cutters and choppers these days are using ceramic knives because they stay so sharp for so long, and who remembers to have their knives sharpened? Ours measure 7" long over all, with a red, green, or deep aqua handle, a 3" blade and a sheath. Don't go into the kitchen without one. Slice, dice, chop and mince, and forget about sharpening. Like you always do.

You'll need a set of tiny strainers. This (3)-piece, all-metal set includes (1) strainer each at 3-1/2” dia, 3” dia, and 2-1/2” dia. Cute as a bunch of baby buttons, and the current favorite of the artisanal cocktail crowd for keeping coffee crumbs out of the espresso martinis.

Just like the classic Yankee drill, but for the kitchen. Has that “as seen on the television” kinda feel. You push the silver or rubberized handle, our choice, of this 14” long spring-loaded whisk and it spins clockwise on the push, and reverses when you let up on it. The 10-tine head is 2.4” dia at the bottom x 2.25” long, with a little center pin to keep it off the bottom of the bowl or jar or whatever. In stainless steel. NOTE: The advertised smaller whisk is no longer available. We only have the larger 14" long whisk. Sorry for any inconvenience.

A lovely mini-funnel, made for pouring Dad's special medicine into a hip flask, but just dandy for filling salt and pepper shakers or anything else with a little yap. Stainless steel with a 1-3/8" ID intake mouth and a 5/16" ID outlet. 1-7/8" tall OA.

This Lighthouse H2O filtering water pitcher is BPA-free, holds 3-2/3 quarts (that’s 3-1/2 liters) and measures approx 11-1/2” tall x 10-1/3” deep x 5-7/8” wide. Filters out solids, heavy metals, pesticides, toxins and chlorine, and then alkalizes the water to a healthy 8.5-10 pH with a pure, silky taste. Includes (2) 6-stage, screw-in filter cartridges with replacement indicators. Filters last for about 60 days each and are available all over the internets. On the Web, this pitcher sells for 50% more. Just sayin’. At this price buy a few just for the 2-filters. 

We gotta stay, we love a nice water bottle. This one is made of brushed stainless steel and holds (27) oz. Stands 10-1/2” tall x 3” dia at the base. Mouth is 2” dia, with no sharp edges, and the black cap (with either a green or blue accent), had a nice, comfortable finger loop. Screws closed and seals easily, too. Best four bucks you’ll spend this year. Wash it by hand and keep it out of the microwave, but you already knew that.

These silicone hot pads double as trivets or oven mitts. Measure 7-1/8" dia x 3/16" thick with 1/4" honeycomb indentations to further dissipate heat, plus a 3/8” hole near the edge so you can hang them up. We’ll pick one in red, blue, green or orange, and you can redecorate your kitchen to match. They also double as the world’s safest frizbees.

Pickles, tamales, red cabbage and the like keep getting tougher to open, so why not give yourself a little help with this (4)-size jar opener? It’s (2)-sided with one side handling 1-1/2” and 2” lids, and the other opening the 2-1/4” and 3" lids. The handle provides you with extra leverage, and a comfortable grip. Comes in an attractive red and gray, and it’s easy to store.

If only someone made see-through, sealable snack baggies that you could easily wash and reuse. Oh, wait—they do, and we’ve got ’em! From Essential Produx (says so right there in the bottom left corner), these pouches are durable and dishwasher safe. You'll receive a pack of (5) bags, just pick the size: the 8-1/4" x 4" bags; or the 8-1/4" X 6-1/2" bags. Their uses are endless.

That's Nyoh-kee to you if you didn't have an Italian nonna. If you did, she probably got her grooves on with a fork. Unless she was a stylish, latter-day nonna, in which case she made her little grooved potato dumplings with something like this board, made of beech wood with a grooved surface 4-3/4” long x 2-3/8" wide on a 3-1/4” long handle. Faster than a speeding grandmother with a floured fork.