Hamilton Beach: 5 Gotta-Have Gizmos

Some people would consider it an advertorial faux pas to put together a list of “must-have” items… all from the same manufacturer. In fact, I normally pride myself on mixing it up; incorporating great pieces from a variety of different brands. But to understand my reasoning behind dedicating an entire post to Hamilton Beach, I suppose you would have had to be there with me at last week’s media preview.

It happened, friends. That twitchy, tingly feeling at the tips of my fingers, which usually signals I’m about to reach for my wallet, slap down my Visa card and declare,

“I’LL TAKE IT! I’LL BUY IT ALL! I WANT EVERYTHING!”

The last time this happened was H&M’s Summer 2011 collection. And since the price of most Hamilton Beach small appliances are actually less than an H&M outfit (I know, right? insane!) you can imagine how giddy I felt.

Want. Want. Want. Tra-la-la-la-la.

So this season, I’ve decided to forego a predictable $39.95 H&M tunic and treat my entire family to this $39.99 Mess Free Belgian Style Waffle Maker instead. Hmm… one season of wear vs. years of breakfast time happiness? No contest.

And just what makes it “Mess Free”? First, it comes with a pre-measured batter cup, so you’ll always pour the perfect amount (excellent for those who normally just eyeball it… and fail). Second, if you’re an incurable eyeballer and decide to pour away, the batter overflow channel keeps the excess from seeping all over your countertop. And third, you can break the finished waffle apart into 8 sticks, perfect for munching on the go (also guaranteed to be a hit with the kiddos.)

So what else makes the cut? Here are four more of my fave gotta-have gizmos from Hamilton Beach:

bébé All in One Baby Food Maker – Ah, products that give you little excuse for laziness. (Er – maybe this shouldn’t be on my list, after all.) But here’s the deal: hands up if you made your baby’s food from scratch… for more than two weeks. Okay, now hands up if you could have used a product that slices, steams and blends foods all in one? PLUS, can be used as a chopper or small blender? And is dishwasher safe? Like I said, zero excuses. So I present to you, the VERY BEST baby shower gift you could possibly give a mom-to-be. The Hamilton Beach bébé All in One Baby Food Maker retails for just $69.99 for the 3-cup model; $79.99 for the sophisticated 5-cup version. Go ahead. Be a champion gifter.

Party Dipper Food Warmer – Repeat after me: “I will not bring a bottle of Merlot to an informal dinner with friends.” Instead, follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Purchase the Hamilton Beach Party Dipper Food Warmer.
2. Whip up a quick spinach, artichoke or cheese dip, and place it in the Party Dipper.
3. Bring the dip to a party. It’ll stay nice and warm, and the removable ceramic dish and lid are microwave/dishwasher safe.
4. Leave the Party Dipper for your hostess. At just $14.99, you’ve now effectively given the finger to all those Merlot-toting guests. Ha ha.

Ice Shaver – This I MUST have. Because I swear that deplorable ice cream truck always slows down in front of my house, beckoning my two boys to spend every cent I earn on cold treats. $4 for a snow cone? Buy the Hamilton Beach Ice Shaver, and it’ll pay for itself after less than 12 uses. Not only can kids enjoy slushies, snow cones & icy treats with your favorite soda or fruit juice, but mommy and her girls can tip back tropical and mixed drinks once the little ones are in bed. Retails for $44.99. Heck ya.

5 Burner Outdoor Grillstation – Okay, so this isn’t really a “gizmo” as it is the answer to your summer feasting dreams. Since I really don’t speak BBQish, click here to view the specs. But know this: every inch of this Grillstation is engineered to make cooking outdoors a pleasure. From its extra large, easy to read gauges to its ergonomically designed hood and burners, even gals can take on the role of resident grill master.

(The Hamilton Beach website is actually a wonderful resource for recipes, including ones hot off the grill – Mahi Mahi With Ginger And Dill, Southwestern Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Grilled Tomatoes with Cumin Butter and more.)

And so I’ve only left about 26 Hamilton Beach items off my “Gotta-Have” list, and yes, my hand is still twitching with the need to splurge on these affordable, incredibly intuitive products. Check out their site for more amazing items, or just stick around… I’m sure I’ll be talking about another favourite product before long.

Click here to visit Hamilton Beach Canada.