Pondering the items in my kitchen that make my life easier, faster, or just a little bit happier, I was initially going to pick a tool that would make me look like a person with cool and edgy tastes. But the truth is, the item that makes me feel grateful every time I use it is this kind of dorky tool I bought on a whim from my local hardware store.

Item: SodaStream Source
Price: about $150
Overall Impression: An elegant redesign of the iconic home soda maker.

In my household, we've been SodaStream users for years, first with the Pure model and then the Fizz. Although these home carbonators have been very functional for making sparkling water and soda, I've never really loved SodaStream's product design. That is, until designer Yves Béhar got involved. More

This past year we really took to heart the plight of the newbie cook: how do I set up my kitchen? What are the essential tools, appliances, and cookware to have at the ready? To help with this, we put together our own guides to cookware, bakeware, tools, and all the essential non-food products one needs to start off successfully in the kitchen, which we've included here. Rounding out this list is a post on great chef's knives, the best multi-tasking tool every kitchen should have (but especially small ones), and why it's worth it to splurge on one particular cooking thermometer. More

Need to let off a little steam? (From your pans, that is.) Lid Sid will help you out. More

Q: How do I pick a grill press/steak weight? There are so many out there that I don't even know where to begin. What are the pros and cons of one over another? What things do I need to consider when looking for one?

Sent by Gordon More

Item: Eco-Friendly, Dishwasher-Safe iPad Stand from Chef Sleeve
Price: $34.99
Overall Impression: Smart design, slim and light-weight, looks equally classy on the kitchen counter or in the coffee shop.

I use my iPad constantly in the kitchen—double-checking a recipe, looking up a weight conversion, reading email while the water comes to a boil. Having a stand to hold the iPad upright and keep it out of harm's way when whisking and stirring is essential. With this new stand from Chef Sleeve, form meets function in one of the most beautiful designs I've seen yet. More

Q: I recently got an immersion blender as I need to be on a mostly liquid diet due to a medical condition. I'm loving making pureed soups, but have run into a slight problem. Many of the recipes call for carrots, sweet potatoes and other harder vegetables to be shredded. What is the best method or product for the job? More

Q: I recently purchased pink peppercorns and the flavor is delicious! I tried grinding them in a pepper mill, but since they're much softer than black peppercorns, they aren't dense enough to push through the grinding mechanism. Does anyone know of a pepper mill that will grind pink peppercorns only? More

If you find prepping vegetables for cooking to be a bit of a drag, then a vegetable chopper is the gadget for you. No more slicing, dicing, or chopping by hand. Just pull or push (depending on the model) and it's all done for you. Here are 3 popular models to try: More

Too much beer is hardly a bad problem to have, but there are times when, yes, you open a bottle and realize you can't finish it. This often happens to me when I open large 750 mL bottles of specialty (and quite often very alcoholic) beers. Unless I open it with friends, it's just too much for one sitting. I used to worry that the leftover would go to waste, but now I just save it for later. More