The New Fondue

A couple of years ago I was dragging my aching feet and legs on the last day of the massive International Home & Housewares trade show in Chicago, bleary-eyed and convinced if I saw one more variation on a can opener I would scream. Suddenly into my limited field of vision appeared a photo of a small pizza; being male, I started to involuntarily salivate (it's a Pavlovian conditioned response common to our gender). Drawn as if by rare earth magnets to the booth with the pizza picture, I first gazed upon a really great idea that they promoted as "the New Fondue." It was The Pizza Dome; they weren't quite ready to release it in the states, but they were gauging interest, and I was interested. It's an authentic, electric-powered, portable brick oven for your home for cooking pizza, calzones and other baked goodies the way you might gather around to cook fondue. It comes with 6 individual spatulas, a special dough cutter to cut out perfectly sized mini-pizzas, and a cookbook with recipe ideas. Gather together the ingredients you and your guests might like on a pizza: cheese, sauces, meats, veggies, pineapple, olives, anchovies, whatever; put them in bowls, fondue style; cut out a circle of dough (made from scratch or store-bought) with the cutter; choose your ingredients for your own special mini-pizza, put it on the spatula and put it in the dome for 6-8 minutes (plenty of time to create the NEXT mini-pizza you want). A great way to bring together the family for a dinner at the table; friends for a fun gathering; or several males with the aforementioned Pavlovian conditioned response (better buy extra ingredients). This would be a fantastic wedding or housewarming gift, or a gift for that special person or couple that "has everything." The bonus for me? It's now available at The Afternoon. Oh, and yes, they had pizza samples at the booth in Chicago. Gets me every time.

Zap! Pop! Munch!

There are many times we receive things here at The Afternoon and I think "I want that!" but occasionally we get something new and I think "I need that!" Such is the case with the new microwave popcorn popper. In my search for delicious, air popped popcorn without the expensive popper, I have ruined pots, pans, mixing bowls, and very nearly destroyed my microwave! But it was worth all the sacrifice to finally get the perfect popcorn. A cheaper alternative to the bagged instant popcorn, this amazing bowl requires no oil, making it a healthier alternative as well! Oh, and you can serve the popcorn in the same bowl you pop it in, cutting back on dishes! PERFECT! Come check out the whole new line of microwave cooking tools from Nordic Ware, and maybe you'll find something that you need too (also, these make GREAT gifts for college kids!)

The Clean, The Scrub, & The Spaghetti

It was the dead of winter. In the midst of sprawling trade show that will remain un-named, a mysterious high plains drifter (cleverly disguised as a sales rep) took 3 of us to a hidden, unmarked room to view "the goods." There stood the industrial designer, freshly landed from Japan and speaking very little yet clearly proud of the extraordinary new product he had brought to these parts to test the local reaction. It looked like spaghetti - really, mounds of yellow and rose-colored spaghetti. But it's so much more. It was our first glimpse of the Goodbye Detergent! Spaghetti Scrubs, the oddest-looking and undeniably coolest things and you will ever love to use to scrub your pans. One is made with recycled corn cobs; the other, peach pits. Their unique shape is perfect for reaching all those little creases and corners in your cookware and bakeware that you can never get to - and for generating intriguing conversations around the kitchen sink. Best of all, they allow you to clean with little or no detergent - you know, the stuff that makes your local creek look all bubbly - just wet these scrubs with some water and you're ready to go. They're reusable and will last for 3-6 months of regular use. Without another word, the drifter passed out of sight as our host from Japan shook our hands; we knew we'd pass this way again.

Crash! Boom! Pow!

Release your inner caped crusader with our new Two’s Company Pop Art Tote Bags! Make a statement with a hot pink ZAP!, electric green WHAM!, cool blue POW! and bright orange BAM! Enough colors and onomatopoeias to kick any bad guy’s butt, with room inside for a few extra comic books! And if you manage to solve a big crime and/or save the world, you can cut the picture out of the Daily Planet and put it in one of the chic and sparkly matching frames!* *Disclaimer: bags and frames do not actually give you super powers; they’re just super cute. If exposed to Kryptonite, wipe clean with a damp cloth. Every day use by mortals and earthlings strongly encouraged.

A Haunted Tea Party

It's August, and you know what that means! Fall is just around the corner, and with it comes a happy parade of witches, ghouls, and ghosts. But wait! There's a newcomer on the Halloween scene this year, and she's someone you already know! Alice and all her pals have already arrived at The Afternoon, and they're ready to help you celebrate your favorite occasion with this Haunted Tea Party collection. Seriously, the Drink Me Punch Bowl might just be the coolest thing this side of wonderland!!!

(*oh, and you need to check out our fabulous Alice cards!)