Cooking

Someone at Ford Motor company seems to have a sense of humor.

This $69 branding iron from Ford will imprint the "Ford tough" logo on your steaks, hamburgers or anything else you choose. I'm not sure why anyone would want "tough" meat, but it could be one way to mark the well-done from the medium-rare steaks at your next barbecue.

Kudos to the Truckblog for finding this gem on the Ford Collection Web site.

We hate to say this, but we fear that this whole multimedia-kitchen thing may be getting out of hand. As much as we appreciated the built-in LCDs, espresso makers and, of course, beer on tap (we're human, after all), those conveniences were restricted mostly to the refrigerator--where we spend most of hour waking hours anyway. But a range hood? That's a little sick, even for us.

Nevertheless, Siemens plans to introduce its "Media Range Hood" to North American markets sometime next year, Appliancist says. Based on the "AvantGarde MultiMedia Hood" that has been selling … Read more

They say a watched pot never boils, but with the Kenwood Response kettle you won't be able to look away. That's because the sides of the kettle are constantly changing color, from a cool blue to a hot red, as the water inside heats up. Aside from the rainbow lighting effect, the Response kettle also features a switch on the side that lets you heat water to exactly 176 degrees--the perfect temp for brewing green tea. The kettle will then hold the water at that temperature so you can always top off your cup or brew a second … Read more

Have you ever found yourself thinking that veggies would go down easier, if only they tasted more like bacon? You may want to top them with Bacon Salt. The brainchild of two bacon-loving former tech workers, the zero-calorie seasoning lets you add a bit of bacony goodness to any food product. It comes in three flavors--original, hickory, and peppered--and, according to this post from Seattle alt-weekly The Stranger, has been enjoyed on "potatoes (fried, mashed, whathaveyou), corn on the cob, popcorn, watermelon, pineapple, steak, eggs (fried, scrambled), green beans, assorted vegetables, chocolate, Bloody Marys, pasta, guacamole, and peaches." … Read more

Will product designers ever stop finding inspiration in the simple shape of an egg? The smooth, rounded shape of the Form trio of kitchen tools owes its existence to a photograph of an egg admired by designer Charles Job. The set consists of an egg timer, an egg slicer and a salt and pepper set that snap together. Each tool is available in your choice of sleek black or white plastic. "Boil an egg; slice it and eat it with salt and pepper--that is the essence of Form," says the product Web site.

If you want a little splash of lemon or lime juice for your tea, you might be tempted to make do with one of those plastic facsimiles. But two Danish designers have come up with a more elegant solution: a stainless steel twist that you can screw directly into a fresh lemon or lime. Give the citrus a squeeze to coax a little juice from it. You can also leave the twist inside the lemon when you return it to the fridge, so fresh juice is always a squeeze away.

Need more juice? Look to this concept juicer from designer … Read more

With football season in full swing we're witnessing the annual migration of that heartiest of parking-lot breeds, the tailgaters. Little did we know, however, that their work has been elevated to an art form.

While amateurs toil with such tools as MP3 coolers and barbecues, an elite corps will be rolling out the "Tailgating Trailer"--a self-contained portable party apparatus that includes "a 27-inch LCD TV, satellite, DVD, generator, propane grill, hand-washing sink with running water, beer on tap and even a toilet," according to BornRich. (Microwave is optional.)

As much as we admire its … Read more

Next to dentists, scales are our worst enemies. Not the fish or music variety, but the kind that unfairly make us cut back on our sensible daily diet of Domino's and Krispy Kremes. Worse yet, they're getting more powerful all the time.

But most of them do their work after the fact, happy to just mock us without helping. What we really need is some intervention--such as a scale for the food, before we eat it. The EatSmart Nutritional Scale, for instance, "serves as a food guidance system to regulate calories, nutrients and portion size appropriate." … Read more

To paraphrase the T-shirt: This was supposed to be the future. Where is my robot chef for days when I'm too tired to cook?

Turns out, the future is just around the corner. Liu Changfa, a retired professor in Beijing, has grabbed headlines with the prototype of his "food robot." The 5-foot-tall iron chef comprises a base that houses a computer, a gut that contains an induction cooker and a pot, and a chest that frames a screen. The chef also has a robotic arm to help with stirring as well as a C-3PO-esque mien that's … Read more