Hey, Hot Lips
Even big kids like to throw on this playful pair of Hotheads oven mitts. Made of silicone rubber, these tough puppets can take the heat (and the cold) of cooking with a big smile on their faces. Their mega mouths have terrific no-slip grip; $20 per pair includes one orange dog and one green frog. (888) 365-0056, www.uncommongoods.com.
Caribbean Blues
This evocative ocean hue is the latest color to be imported from French cookware company Le Creuset. The stoneware pitcher ($35), three-in-one corkscrew ($20), cast iron Round French Ovens in five- and seven-quart sizes ($200; $235), silicone large spatula spoon ($12), silicone mini cool tools ($6/set of two), and enamel-on-steel demi teakettle ($50) are among the items making a splash in the company’s latest wave of color. (877) 273-8788, www.lecreuset.com
Extra Crispy
In stainless steel, the countertop Cuisinart Brick Oven uses two brick inserts to give breads and pizzas a super crisp crust. The fully functional toaster oven/broiler can bake, broil, and toast, reaching temps of almost 500 degrees. And with nearly a cubic foot of interior, it accommodates a 12-inch pizza or pie or 5-pound chicken; $249. Macy’s, 72-780 Highway 111, Palm Desert, (760) 346-9300, www.macys.comOil and Vinegar
The Girl and the Fig fig balsamic vinegar adds a sweet tang to a prosciutto sandwich; $11.50. A Perfect Pear from Napa Valley Pear Vinegar with pour spout makes a great gift; $22. Both from The Market on El Paseo, 73-375 El Paseo, Palm Desert, (760) 341-4262. Just a few drops of Trader Joe’s Hot and Spicy Chili Oil takes your favorite dish up a notch; $1.69. Made with olive and canola oil infused with fresh garlic, Trader Joe’s Garlic Oil enhances vinaigrettes, dips, marinades, pastas, and sautéed vegetables; $3.99. Cold-pressed for the best flavor, try Trader Joe’s Toasted Sesame Oil in soups, on noodles, or for stir-frying; $1.99. All three at Trader Joe’s, 67-720 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City, (760) 202-0090; 44-250 Town Center Way, Palm Desert, (760) 340-2291; and 46-400 Washington St., La Quinta, (760) 777-1553It’s Snowing!
Whether making a protein smoothie or one powerful margarita, fans of the blended beverage should see Breville’s ikon Die-Cast Blender with two extra settings: “smoothie” and “snow.” Hit “smoothie” and the blade’s speed adjusts to suit what it is blending. On “snow,” ice cubes quickly turn to powdery white snow, ideal for frozen drinks. A food processor setting tackles pancake batter, pesto, dips, or pureed soups; $199.99. Visit www.brevilleusa.com for locationsDare to Be Square
Lightweight melamine dinner plates go from indoors to out. Mix and match the three tile prints in orange, green, and blue; $8 each. The plates are part of a modern home accessories collection produced by Working Class Studio, a product development venture of the Savannah College of Art and Design. (912) 525-5180. www.shopscad- online.comLunch to Go
Pack it at home and eat on the run with the Gourmet Getaway lunch tote by Built NY. Claiming to be the neo-prene “picnic basket of the future,” it insulates hot or cold food and bev-erages for up to four hours and comes clean in the washing machine; $24.99. (212) 227-2044, www.builtny.comPhoto Chari GodakandaFrench Toast
Some of the most popular items in the Palm Springs Art Museum store are from a handy collection of mini masterpieces that add pop-up action to your everyday petit dejeuner. In a handful of bright designs, these toasters designed by Créa Créa are from France; $65. Palm Springs Art Museum Store, 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs, (760) 325-7186. www.psmuseum.orgSpeedy Spuds
Why heat up the oven (and the whole house!) just to enjoy the starchy goodness of an old-fashioned baked potato? Pop the Express Bake PotatOH! in the microwave and in less than 10 minutes it cooks to light and fluffy perfection inside its clear wrap. Safe, delicious, and available in both russett and sweet potato varieties; 89 cents each at Wal-Mart stores in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and La Quinta; www.walmart.comPiece of the Action
Pizzas cooked on this grill-top pizza stone boast a traditionally crisp crust and bubbling-hot toppings simply by using the high heat of your gas grill. The stone and its raised stainless-steel frame come with an attached thermometer and tempting recipes for grilled pies; $99.95. Williams-Sonoma, The Gardens onEl Paseo, 73-505 El Paseo, Palm Desert, 862-1290, www.williams-sonoma.comStar Quality
Hand-painted by Savannah College of Art and Design artist Tasica Singleton, the Fallen Star Plate brings poetry to the table: “He was a fallen star / all dusty and warm / On the beach, all alone / Sitting, watching the waves / Until midnight & / after the rain / And he wanted to be / part of the ocean / to touch the waves.” No two are alike; $60. (912) 525-5180. www.shopscadonline.comPhoto Chari GodakandaPut a Rock In It
This flashy doorknob bottle stopper in ame-thyst looks more like a Vegas-style gemstone to us. Reach for it whenever you can’t polish off that cabernet …. There’s always tomorrow! $16. Vino 100, 68-718 E. Palm Canyon Drive, #203, Cathedral City, (760) 321-5478, www.vino100cc.comMake it a Double
Prepare café-quality crema atop a rich, dark brew with the new ikon Espresso Machine by Breville. Innovations include a front-access two-liter water tank, stylish green back light, engineering-grade stainless-steel body with top warming tray, and Easy Eject™ filter system (for use with single, double, and pod filters); $399.99. Visit www.brevilleusa.com for locationsUn-boring Storing
Festive melamine storage container sets with plastic lids in Multidot from French Bull are dishwasher safe, high-heat resistant, and shatterproof, though not microwave-safe. You can’t have everything with these party-perfect good looks! $32/set of three. (800) 227-0314, www.plumparty.comTee Time
OK, they’re a little corny. But what better to set out at a post-links barbecue than this corn-on-the-cob accessories set? It includes eight golf ball corn skewers, golf tee basting brush, hole-in-one microwavable butter dish, and four corn trays; $22. (888) 365-0056, www.uncommongoods.comPhoto Chari GodakandaCooking With Gas
Rekindle the romance of cooking at home with La Cornue CornuFé Stove. This French beauty gleams with five gas burners, two electric convection ovens with side-swing doors, and fittings in satin chrome or satin chrome with polished brass accents. For the body, choose stainless steel or a classic porcelain enamel in black, Provence blue, or ivory. They’ve even shrunk the customary long wait; $8,000 plus $1,300 for white-glove delivery. Williams-Sonoma, The Gardens on El Paseo, 73-505 El Paseo, Palm Desert, (760) 862-1290, www.williams-sonoma.comJazzy Duet
This pair of Café Latino espresso cups sets the groove for a swinging morning. Microwave and dishwasher safe, the cups can be stored in their signature tin; $23.95. Coordinating melamine tray (not shown); $14,95. Mad French Lady, 68-718 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City, (760) 770-0220, www.madfrenchlady.comAfternoon Napa
Flick the cap off new Vignette Wine Country Soda in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They’re all natural, caffeine-free, nonalcoholic, with just a hint of soda-pop fizz. Refreshing on a hot day, they make a lightly sweetened complement to a European-style picnic; $3 each. The Market on El Paseo, 73-375 El Paseo, Palm Desert, (760) 341-4262.Photo Chari GodakandaHey, Hot Lips
Even big kids like to throw on this playful pair of Hotheads oven mitts. Made of silicone rubber, these tough puppets can take the heat (and the cold) of cooking with a big smile on their faces. Their mega mouths have terrific no-slip grip; $20 per pair includes one orange dog and one green frog. (888) 365-0056, www.uncommongoods.com.
