Speed up air-drying dishes

Doing the dishes should be its own reward. After cleaning a sink full of dirty dishes, a whole rack filled with fresh plates waiting to be used again should be enough to satisfy any home cook. But it's not. They have to dry. Of course, one could use a towel to simply speed up the process, but there is another way.

The Bon Home Heat And Dry Dish Rack ($99.95) makes dishes available to use again at the flick of a switch. Disguised as an ordinary dish rack, this particular model hides a convenient fan underneath. Air is heated and directed over the dishes, drying them quickly and automatically. Measuring 20.5 inches wide by 16.25 inches, the 7-inch tall, 750-watt appliance offers quiet operation while blending in next to the sink.

With space for six place settings, the dish rack is large enough to accommodate most any household. Movable wire racks allow for customized configuration, and an elevated shelf keeps stemware and other fragile items separate from dishes. A multicompartment utensil holder features specialized slots designed to protect cutlery while at the same time accommodating general flatware. Though the sink full of dirty dishes still has to somehow make it on to the contraption, the drying appliance finally validates the excuse to just let the dishes air-dry.

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Green your kithcen

I don't know whether to laugh or to cry when my friends tell me they just spent $7 for a package of "fresh" basil. Me, I just head to the backyard with my kitchen scissors and cut off a handful of leaves. The seeds I planted about a year ago cost me 89 cents. The pot was $1, and the soil was about $3. So for less than the cost of a single package, I've got myself a permanent supply of truly fresh herbs.

But I live in Houston, where year round gardening is no problem. You might live somewhere with actual seasons, somewhere where 65 degrees is not considered cold enough to leave you bundled up in blankets, as I am right now.

So you might be interested in the Prepara Power Plant Mini soilless indoor garden. If you have a kitchen window that gets good light, set the container on the sill and let air, nutrients, and water do the trick. You can use any seeds with the Power Plant, and if your first garden goes well, you can upgrade to the Pro size for more growing options.

The low-maintenance system can keep you supplied with fresh herbs (or vegetables, or even edible flowers) all year long. No green thumb necessary.