May 02nd, 2023

This is, quite obviously, a can opener. Handy little gadget.  Tim bought this one for me at least 10 years ago, back in Colorado.  And it was, at the time, an especially thoughtful gift because the handle was made specifically for people like me who have arthritis in their hands.  That over sized crank was very helpful and much appreciated.  I used the absolute heck out of it in the subsequent years.

But because it was been well used, the blade has (as blades do) dulled and it had gotten to the point where I would have to go 'round any can 3 or 4 times at minimum to open it.  Ridiculous and of course painful for my hands.  It was aggravating. It was time to seek out a new can opener.

So I went online looking to see what sort of new innovations there are in the realm of can openers.  New things are being invented all the time. Why not in can opener world?  Don't laugh because I was not disappointed.    I found a product called, "Kitchen Mama",  a name that made me smile all on it's own.

Have you heard of this product?  In case you have not, here you go.  It's the silliest looking thing and the least can openery looking can opener I've ever seen.  More than anything it looks like an oversized capsule.  And guess what, there is no crank.  No crank?  Then how does it work?  Perhaps by magic?  Perhaps not.

I read about it, watched a You Tube video, and read about it more.  Then I told Tim about it and he was sufficiently impressed that he ordered it for me.  It  arrived over the weekend.  I tore into that package like a badger!

I didn't even bother reading the instructions (well to be fair, I almost never bother with the instructions - shame on me).  I just loaded the batteries in, found a jar of olives in the pantry that, sure, could be opened, why not.  I set the giant capsule on top of the can, pushed the button and voila!

A perfectly opened can of olives with No Sharp Edges!
​

Holy Cats!  I was so excited!  I felt like a little kid on Christmas morning.  I was overcome with an urge to open every can in the pantry.  I did not, of course, but I REALLLLLY wanted to.  I have since opened a can of baked beans (to go with the hamburgers I made for dinner that night) and that can opened up just as beautifully and effortlessly.  WOW!

I cannot recommend this can opener enough.  If you are looking for a new can opener, check out the Kitchen Mama one.  In fact, even if you aren't, look it up on You Tube and watch the video.   Coolest Gadget Ever!

BUT that wasn't the only thing in the package. No.   When Tim ordered the new can opener for me, he also ordered something else.  And it took me a few minutes to figure out what it was.  I'll show you a picture:

Looks a little Star Trekian or maybe something from the Jetsons. Actually come to think of it, the new can opener made me feel a little like Jane Jetson too.  (remember that old cartoon?)  Give up?

It's a jar opener!  I did not request one.  Never felt I needed one actually because Tim is my official jar opener.  Any jar that needs to be opened that I cannot open on my own, I hand to him without a word, and he opens it and hands it back without a word.  No conversation necessary. We both know our roles in that particular little dance.  But he is either tired of being my jar opener OR he is thinking...what if he isn't around when I need a jar opened?   Or what if he is busy on a work phone call and I am having a jam jar emergency?   It could happen! 

Of course I had to try it out.  Of course I did!  And this one I did read the instructions for.  I will be honest, this one took me a couple of tries to get the "feel" for doing it. But once I got it, I got it.  And from that moment forward, it's been easy peasy.  And what was the first thing I opened?  Ice cream of course!

Worked perfectly too :)  Tried it  again last night on a jar of spaghetti sauce.  Awesome!

Two gadgetty products that I highly recommend.  I have never been a gadget sort of person so I'm surprised at how much I love both of these.  My dad was really into gadgets.  My sister and I gigglingly referred to him as "Gadget Man"  when we were kids.  heh.  Gadget Man.   I guess was his super hero name.  

But me?  Not even a little bit.  I have said no thank you very much please to lots of gadgets from bread makers to pasta machines to snap on strainers, no thanks.  I have nothing against them, just never felt the need for them.  I don't like a lot of extraneous stuff cluttering up my kitchen.  But dang, these two gadgets have won me over. Especially the Kitchen Mama Can opener. That thing is a game changer.

There you have it folks, the tale of two gadgets. And I highly recommend them both.

And since the whole thing feels so space aged to me I will close today with the phrase that everyone recognizes but is still of the future: 

​ "Live well and Prosper"