Unless your driving your Jeep around without doors or live in a neighborhood where you don't need to lock the car doors, the constant mental wear of daily locking and unlocking your car door will slowly wear you down until you die. In addition, those little scratches near the door lock will slowly lower the value of your car till your car dies. And, who hasn't forgotten to lock their car when in a hurry, juggling, or looking at their phone. All of the above problems? SOLVED by Keyless Entry and Exit. Walk up to your car, press a button, and the door sees you have your key and unlocks. Get out of your car, close the door- the door locks automatically. Like magic. Like cruise control, this is something that totally seems unnecessary until you get it, then it seems like something you can't live with out. Get it on your next car. P.S. We have at least one car that let's you lock and unlock with a button, but does not automatically lock when you leave the car. Locking automatically is much better.
Read MoreDishwasher with a 3RD RACK!
Are you tired of cramming your dishes into your dishwasher and still not being able to fit everything in? Well, have you heard of a dishwasher with a third rack? That's right, a third rack! It's the ultimate solution for those who are tired of constantly running out of space in their dishwasher. At first, you might be thinking, "Do I really need a third rack?" But trust us, once you have one, you'll never want to go back to a dishwasher without it. The third rack is the perfect spot for all those small items that never seem to fit anywhere else, like lids, cooking utensils, and even extra silverware. But wait, there's more! Not only does a third rack provide extra space for your dishes, but it also ensures that your dishes come out cleaner than ever before. With a third rack, you can place your larger silverware in the 3rd rack, allowing for better water circulation and a more thorough cleaning. And if you're worried about the third rack taking up too much space, don't be! Many dishwashers with a third rack are designed to be slim and sleek, making them perfect for even the smallest of kitchens. So, if you're ready to upgrade your dishwasher game, consider getting one with a third rack. You'll be amazed at how much extra space you'll have and how much cleaner your dishes will be. Trust us, once you try a dishwasher with a third rack, you'll wonder how you ever lived without one! The one below is one we've had for a couple years now. It's fantastic! Kitchen Aid KDTE204KPS
Read MoreBreville BOV860BSS Smart Oven Air Fryer, Countertop Convection Oven, Brushed Stainless Steel
If we were fancy people, we'd have multiple ovens in the kitchen. We'd ask Jeeves to get our fresh bread from the pantry oven and to bring it up via the dumb waiter. We'd efficiently juggle green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. Instead, we have this "toaster oven" on 'roids. This exact one. It's fantastic. Of course, Breville wants you to feel like you're a fancy person. They do not call this a "toaster oven". It will make a lot of toast all at one time, but no- this is a SMART oven. It's not smart enough to go on Jeopardy. It's not even as smart as an Alexa speaker. This thing can't answer any of your questions. This can, however, slow cook, air fry, toast, warm, cook cookies, roast, broil, cook pizza, etc. Having this, and a sous vide immersion heater, will make your holiday cooking a breeze. Cooking dinner in this keeps the kitchen heat down. Is this as good as an instant pot? Yes, but keep your instant pot, too. Is it pricey? Yes. Watch for a sale. Even at the full Amazon price of $350, I'd say it's worth it. You could honestly get rid of a slow cooker, an air fryer, and a toaster, freeing up more space in your cupboards. Go forth. Make toast.
Read MoreSnow Blower
I'd have shoveled snow till I died. A likely outcome in some of Colorado's wet and heavy snows. My wife had other ideas, however, and from some of her first photography business proceeds purchased me a gift- a snow blower. Quick and easier work of big snows, wet snows, and heavy snows. I now feel sorry for neighbors with no snow blower. Sometimes I do their driveway and sidewalk out of pity. Sometimes I don't. The model below- suggested by a friend who worked in the hardware business .. forever.. has electric start. I wouldn't have gotten that either. Nothing wrong with the old fashioned pull till your arm comes out of the socket model. Plugging this thing into 110 v (or whatever it takes) and lighting her up when it's -10 degrees outside. Sweet. A clear sidewalk is a thing of beauty. "The Beast"
Read MoreSous Vide
Sous-vide short ribs with Parmesan polenta and roasted carrots Sous what? Sous-vide (say “sue veed”) is French for under vacuum. In a nutshell, it's sealing food in vacuum bags, and submerging in a precisely controlled temperature hot water bath for a (usually) extended period of time. This has some advantages over many forms of higher heat cooking such as: Less chance of overcooking.Ability to get a perfect "doneness," especially in steak, etc.Longer window of time when food is "perfectly" cooked.Frees up your oven for other stuff Many restaurants already do this, your steak is probably in a water bath before you order it, slapped on a grill for some searing, then plated and brought to you. Possible downsides: You cannot, as some think, cook something for an infinite period of time. (Things become mush.. not good).Food needs a char at the end.Like a crock-pot- you have to do some planning ahead to have your food ready when you want.You need to own or buy a vacuum sealer.Can't cook a whole turkey. Really, the positives outweigh the negatives. The amazing food you can make with one of these will make you a believer. I've used it to finish smoked brisket (2 hours in smoke, then into the sous vide. I've cooked perfect poached eggs (good for large quantities, like at a brunch), cheesecake filling, creme brulee, 36 hour shortribs, and nearly perfect steaks. About the only thing not great in this are things that seem like they should not be tender and medium cooked.. like chicken breast. There are really two units available for the home chef (plus variations), the Anova, and the Joule. Both do the job from a cooking perspective. The Joule is like the "Apple," the Anova is like the "Microsoft." I went with the Anova (generally on sale for $79 or less now.) You can get a version with WIFI. I don't think you need that. (Or the bluetooth, really) See a nice analysis / comparison @ Life Hacker Sous-Vide Shoot Out Pro Tip: Make sure you cover your pot with wrap to keep the water evaporation to a minimum. The device will STOP if the water level gets to low during a cook. Here's the model similar to what I'm using. Click here: Annova 800W Bluetooth Here's a link to the prettier but more expensive Joule. (Note: You pretty much CAN'T use this without your phone, either. Click here: Joule 1100 W Finally, to do sous-vide, you'll need to vacuum seal stuff before placing in the water. Here's one that should do the trick. Not the one I'm using. Mine's gigantic, and I dislike it for that reason. This is an Amazon recommendation. Click here: Food Saver Vacuum Sealer Happy cooking!
Read MoreSoft Edge Can Opener
My first soft edge can opener was a gift from a friend. (Thanks Clark!) That model was a Black and Decker electric model that took up nearly as much room on the counter as the microwave. I nearly discarded it immediately as unnecessarily large, and unnecessary. Removing my first lid, however, I exclaimed, "What sorcery is this?" The lid had separated cleanly from the can, but without the deadly sharp edge that normally strikes fear into the hearts of men. Admittedly, one loses a valuable protective weapon against home invasions, by giving up old style can openers. Being able to sling a tin-can shuriken at bad guys while exclaiming, "ah, ah," long ranked as my fourth most likely course of action if invaded. Realistically, I had to admit that any member of my household was more likely to become the victim of a tin can injury, than an ne'er-do-well. More likely yet the likelihood that I, the clumsiest of the Ferguson clan seemed equally likely to suffer a fatal, or at least concerning injury at the hand of a sharp can lid. Besides, lids that part from cans like magic? How can I say no? [ReviewDisclaimer] This can opener isn't one I've used, but is well rated, has the soft open edge, is electric, and isn't the size of a large microwave.
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Automatic Ice Maker
My first refrigerator, a dorm model, had a micro miniature ice tray, presumably to provide ice for micro miniature cocktails. The ice tray, perpetually empty, and unable to provide sufficient ice for a full can of warm Coke, was quickly abandoned, and the tiny freezer section relegated to building up frost for a defrosting that would never come. Multiple places-to-stay later included larger versions of that dorm fridge. Ice creation was laborious back breaking work (similar to coal mining) that required filling and refilling trays in a Sisyphean task. Ice stubbornly refused exit from said trays. New and improved ice trays became an ongoing obsession; levers for release, rounded half cubes, rubber trays. Removal of ice was planned carefully like an elaborate game of ice Jenga. Never be the one to take the last cube(s). Leave the refill to someone else. Home refrigerators have been around since the 1920’s, and refrigerators with automatic ice makers since the 1950’s. Somehow, however, that technology hadn’t trickled into the Ferguson home clear into the 1990’s. When fortune and our first new refrigerator finally afforded us a never ending supply of ice, we quickly became fans. With the exception of one particularly stubborn model that regularly “froze up,” we have enjoyed our magic ice, since. So, you can offer us a discount on the floor model with the non-working ice maker, and we’ll pass. Lazy? Perhaps. We’ll just watch you make ice from the comfort of our recliner holding our frozen strawberry margarita made from our constant supply of semi circular “cubes.” References: https://bigchill.com/blog/inspiration/blog/refrigerators-through-the-decades/
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Safety Razor
Honestly? I just got fed up with buying 13 edged blade cartridges at the super market that now required an armed security guard to deactivate the lasers and unlock the cabinet to sell me a replacement blade for my razor. Not to mention the credit check that went with buying that replacement. At the time, there were no services to supply me with replacements on a regular basis, though I think that might be a fine alternative, so I stepped back a generation and started shaving with a safety razor. I've gone through a few different razors, some different shave soaps, and added a preshave oil. Was my department store blade "safer?" Absolutely. You can't drop this in your carry-on and zoom through TSA checks. This requires a deliberate action and time to shave. There is something thoroughly satisfying about making a thick lather from soap, the heft of the solid metal razor, and putting a new blade in- any time I damn well please. I believe Ron Swanson would approve. Below are some of the items I've landed up on. Feel free to go your own way. That's what a man does. Disclaimer: I can not comment on whether any of the below accouterments would be useful to the ladies. [ReviewDisclaimer]
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Fuzzy Slippers
Welcome to my first post, hopefully in a series, of Things You Didn’t Know You Needed posts. I remember distinctly the first time I said to myself, “I didn’t know I needed this. Now I can’t live without it.” My wife, Toni, bought me fuzzy slippers from LL Bean. I’m not a slipper guy- or so I thought. If I were a slipper guy, they’d be something austere, not fuzzy. Living in a cold climate, though, these things were awesome. My feet, were wrapped in warm slipper fuzziness. In addition to the warmth, my feet now had their own fuzzy carpet to take with them. The fuzzy slippers were the catalyst in helping me recognize Things You Didn’t Know You Needed. I’ll be sharing my “luxury” item epiphanies with you. Feel free to send me yours too. This is the blog of those items we live blissfully ignorant and happy without. Then one day, someone gifts us the TYDKYN, or we buy one, or we inherit one. Then, we’re never the same. Life is never the same. We’ll never be able to live without that thing; for good or bad. I think that’s ok. -Byron Disclaimer- my slippers are L.L. Bean moccasin style slippers (with a drawstring). I love them. I do not love the drawstring. I find I have to keep tightening them, and that the leather shoelace doesn't stay knotted. I do, however, have this problem with other shoes. I like shoes with velcro, or slip-ons. Don't ask me to do anything too complicated. This pair is more highly rated than the L.L. Bean slippers, but at a slight cost increase. [ReviewDisclaimer]
Read MoreWelcome!
Welcome to "Things You Didn't Know You Needed!" On this site, I'll share with you products, ideas, tips and tricks, and stories about things you didn't know you needed. I'll only list things that I truly find interesting, clearly letting you know whether this is something I've used, not used, an affiliate for, etc- but doing all in my power to deliver honest, unbiased, reviews of some really cool stuff. I hope you enjoy! Byron Ferguson -Editor of Things You Didn't Know You Needed
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