Waist Aprons with Pockets

For teachers, art or baking, these waist aprons with pockets are both fun and functional.

As a working mom, I don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen and I'm never going to be called a Martha-Stewart wannabe (I leave that to my mom) but I do enjoy a bit of baking throughout the year and, especially, around the holidays.

Try as I might, too, flour does fly while I'm making pies or cookies and I always end up having to change clothes when I'm done.

For years, I thought an apron would be akin to driving a minivan (another thing I've avoided) but as I've gotten older, I find I'm drawn to some of the things that I fought against most of my life - things that might cause someone to label me a (gasp) "homemaker".  

Best Pastry Mat with Measurements

Last Thanksgiving I FINALLY found the best pastry mat for rolling out my pie dough and it includes measurements right on the surface to keep me on track.

For years now, I've made anywhere from four to six pies for the holidays and that doesn't count anything else I might do for the rest of the year.

I get a kick out of making them...except for when it comes to rolling out the crusts.

Those things fight me every time - they stick to my counter, the dough gets everywhere the longer I fiddle with it, and by the time I go to move them into the pie plate they are falling apart.

I'd tried everything.  I'd used waxed paper on the counter and taped it down.  I'd used parchment paper, saran wrap, double layers of saran wrap - you name it, I'd given it a shot.

Red Electric Can Opener

A red, electric can opener, such as the three featured here, makes fun work out of a boring task.  They cheer up the kitchen, get the job done, and well outperform those boring, old models.

My kitchen has a lot of brown and cream and I love red appliances instead of black or chrome because I think they do a better job of making my work space appear more homey and less sterile.

So, when it was time to replace the manual one I'd been using - oh - probably since I had my first apartment years ago (before a career, kids, and home ownership), I knew exactly what I was after.

Over the Sink Cutting Board

The best kitchen gadget I’ve bought in ages is an over the sink cutting board. As the holidays approach I’ve been thinking that I’d get one for each of my siblings. Let me show you the three I liked best and why I chose the one I did.

Before I do that, let me just paint a picture for you. It’s one that I’m sure you’ve run into before, too.

I was making salsa for a get together with my in laws a few weekends ago. I’ve had this one cutting board that we got as a present from our homebuilder when we moved in (which I thought was a pretty ingenious present). It’s made out of the same material as our kitchen countertop so it all matches.