Flying the caffeinated skies with the TuGo Cup Holder

tugo

Once upon a time, coffee was abundant but really not that good. Then along came the coffee craze and suddenly everybody was drinking well-crafted coffee drinks. More importantly, everybody was drinking coffee suited exactly to their tastes. As the nation became entranced with the beverage, it became imperative for us to get our coffee fix anytime, anywhere. The coffee chains were only too happy to oblige.

Running concurrently with this phenomenon was an increase in the ever-exacting standards of the airline industry. It only makes sense; efficiency is next to safety when we take to the skies. No longer would the passenger who insisted on stuffing all of their luggage into the overhead bins be tolerated. The size of carry-on luggage became quantified and baggage companies stepped in to create TSA approved bags.

Fast forward to 2009 and we have the inevitable conclusion: airports full of travelers all balancing a cup of coffee while struggling with their nearly identical carry-on bags. Clearly, something had to be done. Enter the TuGo Cup Holder. Simply attach in-between those two bars (don’t tell me you use something different!) that comprise the handle on your luggage and rest your double soy latte half cream mocha right on in there.

(Via bookofjoe)

Pocket pie for your pocket

pocketpie

Everybody likes food-on-the-go. Grabbing a bite when out and about is a quick and easy to way to refuel. While there may be seemingly endless options for the mobile eater, portable pies could use a little more representation. Sure, you could opt for a McDonald’s Apple Pie, but wouldn’t one you had baked yourself be so much better? Sure it would.

Preparing portable pies doesn’t have to be the messy affair you may think it is. These Pocket Pie Molds from Williams-Sonoma make it easy. Just roll out your dough, use the mold to create either a star or heart shape, place it in the mold along with your desired filling and crimp it shut. Baked or deep-fried, the little pies go a long way when you are on the go.

Hide those unsightly upside-down ketchup bottles

Bottoms Up Ketchup Bottle Holder

All those upside down bottles in your fridge may be fine when they’re out of sight, but when it’s time to take ‘em to the table, you should really clean up your act. No matter how good a spread you got going on, presentation does still count. Oh, if only there was a way to keep mostly-used ketchup bottles at the table without having to look at them.

Oh wait, there is.

The Kitchenart Bottoms-Up Bottle Holder may seem to be nothing more than a cheap plastic kitchen gadget designed to separate you from your money, but you have to look further than that. Place this on the dining room table and your tablescape will immediately be transformed from gauche to gosh. As a bonus, if you need a conversation starter, your guests will surely be asking what the heck that broken plastic thing is for.

KitchenArt Hot Dogger makes hot dogs your own

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A hot dog by any other name would taste just as sweet savory. Unless of course, that hot dog wasn’t a hot dog at all. While there may be many varieties of tube-steak deliciousness out there, it never hurts to improve upon perfection. Or rather, it never hurts to make hot dogs your own. If that means making hot dogs out of ground beef or what have you, than so be it.

The hot dog is a personal journey of discovery, and who am I to say what type of dog anybody should eat? (Except don’t use ketchup, please.) Whatever you choose to make your hot dog into, you’re gonna need a mold like this KitchenArt Hot Dogger to form it into place.

Collapsible kitchen gadgets from Progressive

Collapsible Over Sink Dish Rack by Progressive

In the future, all kitchen products might be collapsible to save space in what is sure to be a world full of gadget-filled kitchens. Until that time becomes a reality, we’ll just have to make do with this starter set of five. Click on through for a gallery of images. (Sadly, none from the future.)

Continue reading Collapsible kitchen gadgets from Progressive

Spice jar meets measuring spoon

Airtite Auto-Measure Spice Jars

The goal of any good kitchen gadget should be to combine common tasks into one streamlined operation. When measuring out herbs and spices why bother digging out a measuring spoon when you could just integrate one into the jar itself? That’s exactly what is going on with these Airtite Auto-Measure Spice Jars.

Available in either black or white, the 5-ounce spice jar conveniently dispenses dried herbs and spices one-quarter teaspoon at a time. Included is a shaker top for instances where good ol’ fashioned eyeballing it is good enough—which now doesn’t have to be each time since you won’t have to hunt for those pesky measuring spoons.