Hurt myself. Again. Hard to type. Even harder to work in the kitchen. Thank goodness for the Staybowlizer!

But before I start singing the praises of my new favorite kitchen helper, let’s talk about ME…

Between all the writing I do and the constant kitchen activity, I got me some vicious carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand (I even have the ugly wrist brace to prove it). In addition to curating this fabulous website, I’m a culinary consultant… so I really can’t afford to miss a day’s work.

Thank goodness I met the Staybowlizer folks at the International Housewares Show in March (where they won an Innovation Award).

The sturdy Staybowlizer really is like a third hand in the kitchen (or in my case, a second hand). It holds your bowl in place so you can whisk your vinaigrette and stir your batter without your bowl dancing off the countertop.

This is a great alternative to the “damp towel ring” many of us have used to steady a bowl on the counter. The suction-like bottom keeps the Staybowlizer where you want it, and the tapered opening lets you tilt and angle the bowl for easier whipping.

You can also invert the 8¾-inch Staybowlizer ring on top of a pan of boiling water to create a double boiler. It’s made of BPA-free FDA standard food-safe silicone and is microwave and oven safe to 500°F.

Best part? It’s dishwasher safe. And, it comes in a lot of cool colors, so it even looks nice on your table as a trivet.

You can find it on Amazon.com or TheGrommet.com.

Here’s a great video that will show you what it’s all about:

I food poisoned myself… and the same thing could happen to you.

Quite simply… I didn’t wash my vegetables carefully enough. Self-inflicted food poisoning.

How many times have you bought fresh veggies, given them a quick wash and then added them to whatever you were preparing? Didn’t think twice about it, did you?

But how do you know if that cilantro wasn’t accidentally dropped on the supermarket floor, then returned to the shelf and nestled in with the other bunches? It looked okay… green and fresh and supermarket floor dirty.

And what about those apples? No bruises, right? Well maybe the person who was searching for the perfect apple just before you had something very contagious and touched the very same apples you’re carting home. Sure, you’ll wash them… but how well?

I could go on and on and get even more gross, but there’s no reason to… you get the drift.

For a while I was using Rebel Green Fruit and Veggie Clean…. but I ran out and didn’t replace it. Mistake. Rebel Green is made with all natural ingredients that lab tests have proven remove some of the most common strains of bacteria and pesticides on fresh produce… more effective than rinsing with water alone.

I’ve pulled together some more quick tips to keep your family safe and prevent foodborne illness in your home.

If your tablet has become your sous chef, here’s the perfect way to keep it clean, off the counter and in perfect view: Upper Desk’s Portable Cabinet Mount. 

There are a lot of products out there that will hold your smart device while you work in the kitchen. The problem is that most of them take up valuable kitchen counter real estate.

This cabinet mount securely installs to a cabinet or shelf in seconds and can be used with tablets and other smart devices (like your phone). It’s got an easy latch system that requires no tools or permanent hardware, so it won’t leave marks or holes. Very portable.

But the best part is that the mount has a 180° rotating arm that you can swivel and position to see it best. It also has angled settings to reduce glare. Here’s a demo:

Upper Desk’s Portable Cabinet Mount works in either landscape or portrait mode and is compatible with protective cases. And, it’s not just for kitchens… you can use it anywhere you want to view your smart device hands-free. Great for step-by-step tutorials!

I met Roderick Phillips, the mount’s inventor, at the recent International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago and he asked me to give his product a try. Mr. Phillips came up with the device while tinkering in his garage. It’s such a great product, it was selected as a finalist in the Home Organization + Storage category at the 3rd International Housewares Association (IHA) Innovation Awards. Way to go Mr. Phillips!

I love it when people have dreams and work to make them real. It’s sweet.