Mike, Author at Life's A Tomato

Copycat Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette

Last week was salad week here. Every once-in-a-while I go on a one-week long campaign to make salads. Not little ole wimpy salads, but meal-sized salads that dreams are made of. To add a special touch I often make dressings from scratch, like this copycat Chipotle honey vinaigrette. This dressing checked all the boxes. Perfect consistency (very important!). Nice and creamy. A little sweet. And a little heat. Heck, I just realized that my favorite salad dressings are a lot like barbecue sauces! Huh!

One Great Dressing. And Marinade.

This copycat Chipotle honey vinaigrette is not only great on salads, it’s also great as a marinade for chicken. Just let chicken breasts (or whatever cuts you prefer) get happy in the dressing for an hour or so, then grill as desired. So make extra vinaigrette and enjoy!

Check out my new site, Dress My Salad, for more great salad dressing ideas!

Kakamono 2-pack Porous Squeeze Bottles,Leak Proof Refillable Condiment Container for Kitchen Use,Salad Dressings,top dispensers for ketchup mustard mayo hot sauces olive oil(10 oz)

Also try my copycats of Panera’s Strawberry Poppy Seed dressing and also Outback Steakhouse’s Ranch dressing.

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5 from 1 vote

Copycat Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette

This dressing checked all the boxes. Perfect consistency (very important!). Nice and creamy. A little sweat. And a little heat.

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword copycat, vinaigrette

Prep Time 15

Total Time 1 15

Servings

Calories 167kcal

Equipment

Blender

Ingredients

½ cup red wine vinegar
⅓ cup honey
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder
1 teaspoon lime juice
¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Place all ingredients except for the olive oil into a blender.
Blend on low speed. With the blender still running, slowly add the oil.
Refrigerate for one hour before serving.

Notes

Stir well before serving.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Easy Rotisserie Chicken

I recently purchased a new gas grill. My old one was almost 20 years old and has seen almost 4,000 cookouts. Parts for my old gal were hard to find. I knew it was time to upgrade. One of the things I absolutely wanted was a rotisserie, something I did not have on my other grill. I was excited to fire up and make an easy rotisserie chicken for one of my first cooks on the new grill. The process was simple, quick, and the end result was absolutely delicious. I was so very, very glad I got a rotisserie!

Gas Or Charcoal, It’s A Win

Of course, you don’t need a gas grill to make this easy rotisserie chicken. Charcoal is even better if you want that great smoky flavor. Either way, you’ll love this. The chicken turns out incredibly moist, much better than I ever expected. And the flavor. My goodness. The rub has the perfect amount of sweetness.

Sauce Is Optional

If you decide you want to sauce your chicken before removing it from the grill, just grab a nice long-handled brush and gently brush the sauce on 5-10 minutes before the bird is done.

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I cannot wait to make this again. Wings are also great made on a rotisserie, as are boneless chicken breasts. I also love to make rotisserie-style chicken on my Char-Broil Big Easy.

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5 from 1 vote

Easy Rotisserie Chicken

I was excited to fire up and make an easy rotisserie chicken for one of my first cooks on the new grill. The process was simple, quick, and the end result was absolutely delicious. I was so very, very glad I got a rotisserie!

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword chicken fingers, easy, rotisserie

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1 45

Resting Time 15

Total Time 2

Servings chicken

Calories 1982kcal

Ingredients

1 whole chicken approximately 4 pounds
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 teaspoons paprika
kosher salt
ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

Fire up your rotisserie.
Because of the brown sugar in the seasoning I turned my temperature to medium-high otherwise you can cook on high.
Rinse the chicken and pat dry.
Thread onto your rotisserie. I like to season my bird on the rotisserie, but you can do it off the rotisserie if you prefer.
Combine the brown sugar, paprika and salt and pepper to taste.
Rub the chicken with the oil.
Apply the seasoning mix. Get it everywhere.
Turn on the rotisserie and let the chicken cook for approximately 1 hour 45 minutes or until the temperature reaches 165 F as measured in several places.
Let rest 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Be careful removing the chicken from the rotisserie. Both the chicken and the metal bar are hot!

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

onlyfire 6042 BBQ Stainless Steel Flat Spit Rotisserie Grill Basket for Any Grill, Fits 1/2″ Hexagon, 3/8″ Hexagon, 3/8″ Square&5/16″ Square Rotisserie Spit Rods

Butter Burgers

Why is the sky blue? Do fish wait to swim after they eat? Why would you add butter to a hamburger patty? I can answer the last question, at least. Because it’s good! Butter adds fat and we all know that a juicy burger is a great burger. But why stop there? You need a tasty beer sauce. And some crunchy smoked bacon too. And a slice of American cheese too, just in case.

No Wimpy Buns!

You’ll need a bun that can hold up to these butter burgers. One of those wimpy little el-cheapo buns isn’t going to get it. Grab some hearty pretzel buns and you won’t get soggy, fall-apart sad burgers. You’ll have happy burgers!

I like to use a burger press when I make burgers. It, in combination with some patty papers, enables me to crank out a whole bunch of equally-sized burger patties in no time at all with little cleanup.

Weber Original Burger Press, Black

Also try my spicy bacon burger.

Inspired by a recipe from Trisha Yearwood.

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5 from 1 vote

Butter Burgers

You’ll need a bun that can hold up to these butter burgers. One of those wimpy little el-cheapo buns isn’t going to get it.

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword burgers, butter

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings servings

Calories 1742kcal

Author Inspired by a recipe from Trisha Yearwood

Equipment

Ingredients

For the burger

8 slices bacon
4 tablespoons unsalted butter plus more for buns
2 pounds ground chuck
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 slices cheddar cheese or American
4 pretzel buns

For the beer cheese sauce

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small onion finely chopped
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups light beer
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 clove garlic minced
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
6 ounces sharp Cheddar grated
6 ounces Swiss cheese grated

Instructions

For the burger

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Place the bacon on a baking sheet lined with foil and bake until lightly brown but not completely crisp, 15-20 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and keep warm (I put an upside down plate over the top of the bacon).

For the beer cheese sauce

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Add the onions and cook until soft, 2-3 minutes.
Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, until it starts to brown, about 2 minutes.
Whisk in the beer until smooth.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the beer is cooked out and the sauce is reduced, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the cream and garlic. Stir continuously and cook until the sauce has thickened, 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper.
Slowly add the cheeses and stir until melted.
Keep warm over low heat.

For the burgers

Cut butter into small pats.
Form beef into 4 balls, Press butter into centers then form into patties Season with salt and pepper.
Heat a grill or grill pan over medium high heat.
Add patties and cook on one side until browned.
Flip and cook until done.
Top with cheese slices (see my note below) and remove to a plate.
Butter both sides of the pretzel buns and place on the grill, cut-side down. Grill until golden brown and toasted.

For the burgers

Top buns with cheese, bacon, burgers, and cheese sauce.
Serve with plenty of napkins!

Notes

I like to put the cheese on my bottom bun instead of on the grilled patties. It helps form a barrier between the juicy meat and the bun, preventing it from getting soggy.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

Weber 6493 21-Inch 3-Sided Grill Brush

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Weak. I was just nothing but weak when I sat down in front of a bowl of this chocolate peanut butter ice cream. I should’ve stopped eating it long before I did, but I couldn’t. Packed with chocolatey flavor and peanut butter creaminess, this is seriously yummy ice cream. This is not diet ice cream, either. That’s probably why it’s sooooo good.

You Could Add Nuts. If You Wanted To.

I love nuts in ice cream, but I did not use crunchy peanut butter when I made this. If you’re tempted to add nuts, do it after you’ve made the ice cream. Just fold it in. Roasted peanuts or chopped pecans are best.

I use my old trusty ice cream maker. It’s not fru-fru fancy, and it doesn’t have a bunch of buttons and flashing lights, but it’s a real workhorse. It doesn’t make a huge batch of ice cream at once, but I’ve found it perfect for the two of us and it would be fine for 4 people too. Probably 8 normal people, but this ice cream is so good it’s hard to be ‘normal’ around it and eat just a small scoop.

Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine, 1.5 Quart Sorbet, Frozen Yogurt Maker, Double Insulated, White, ICE-21P1

Also try my butter pecan ice cream and my homemade strawberry ice cream!

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5 from 1 vote

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Weak. I was just nothing but weak when I sat down in front of a bowl of this chocolate peanut butter ice cream.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword chocolate, homemade ice cream, peanut butter

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 1 45

Total Time 1 50

Servings cups

Calories 608kcal

Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

2 cups half and half
¼ cup cocoa powder
½ cup white sugar
pinch kosher salt
½ cup creamy peanut butter do NOT use crunchy

Instructions

Whisk together the half and half, cocoa powder, sugar and salt in a large sauce pan
Heat over medium-high until boiling and starting to foam.
Remove from heat. Whisk in the peanut butter until blended and smooth.
Chill in fridge for at least 1 hour then process in your ice cream maker.

Notes

This ice cream isn’t light. Nor is it meant to be! Enjoy!

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Chik’N-Lik’N Chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.

Man oh man, this Chik’N-Lik’N chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy was good. Not sorta kinda good, either. Give-me-another-piece good. I was blown away by how much I loved the sauce. Perfect Texas flavors without being overwhelming. Not spicy, just darned good. And the absolute perfect consistency for brushing on anything grilled or roasted.

The Big Easy Does Chicken Well

You need to make Chik’N-Lik’N chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy. It’s amazingly good. I didn’t go heavy on the sauce. I wanted the flavor, and I got some. But I didn’t want to bury that great roast chicken flavor you get from the Char-Broil Big Easy. And I didn’t. Every bite was perfect. I can’t wait to use this sauce again, and not just on chicken.

Char-Broil The Big Easy Bunk Bed Basket

Also try my Chik’N-Lik’N chicken wings. Man, are they ever great! And my State Fair chicken, sweet black pepper and my Texas Sriracha chicken on the Big Easy are all fantastic too!

It’s always a good idea to keep a few spare grease trays on hand for your Char-Broil Big Easy.

Char-Broil 2425514W12 Big Easy Grease Tray, Silver- 5 pack

Love your Big Easy as much I love mine? Check out my Big Easy Add-Ons page and my free Big Easy eCookbook!

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4 from 1 vote

Chik’N-Lik’N Chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy™

Man oh man, this chicken was good. Not sorta kinda good, either. Give-me-another-piece good.

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword Big Easy, Char-Broil, chicken

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1 20

Total Time 1 35

Servings servings

Calories 258kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts bone-in split, or whatever cuts you prefer
vegetable oil
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
Chik'N-Lik'N BBQ Sauce

Instructions

Lightly rub or brush the chicken with a light coating of oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Fire up your Big Easy.
Transfer the chicken to the Big Easy basket.
Cook for approximately 20 minutes per pound or until it reaches 160 F as checked in several places.
Lift basket and brush the chicken with the sauce using a long nylon brush. Return to the cooker and cook another 5-10 minutes or until the internal temperature has reached 165 F and the sauce is set.

Notes

Substitute your favorite BBQ sauce.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

Char-Broil The Big Easy Bunk Bed Basket

Angry Whopper Sauce

Burger King recently came out with their Angry Whopper. It’s loaded with all darned near everything you can imagine, from jalapenos to onion petals to bacon. And angry sauce. Now, I didn’t set out to make the Angry Whopper at home. I was after the Angry Whopper sauce. And I found it. Wonderfully spicy and creamy, the sauce turns my normal (but fantastic anyway) grilled burger into a delight.

Spicy Burgers are Better Burgers

I wouldn’t hesitate to kick up the heat in this angry Whopper sauce. A little more hot sauce and a little more cayenne pepper isn’t gonna hurt anyone, so I say go for it. This is also a great sauce for a cookout. No one wants that old boring ketchup. They want a great burger sauce instead!

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Also try my Fire-Eater burger sauce!

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3 from 2 votes

Angry Whopper Sauce

I didn’t set out to make the Angry Whopper at home. I was after the Angry Whopper sauce. And I found it. Wonderfully spicy and creamy, the sauce turns my normal (but fantastic anyway) grilled burger into a delight.

Course Burger Sauce

Cuisine American

Keyword burger sauce

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings servings

Calories 67kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

3 tablespoons brown sugar packed
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
1 tablespoon Frank’s RedHot Sauce
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon chili powder

Instructions

Combine all ingredients.
Refrigerate until ready to use.

Notes

Stir before using.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

Weber 6493 21-Inch 3-Sided Grill Brush

Avocado Egg Salad

Avocados going on sale is always a happy time for me. I cannot get enough of them. I like them on greens, on burgers, in dressings, and of course, in avocado egg salad. This salad has the perfect creaminess but still a bit of texture from the eggs. It also has a nice refreshing bite from the chives. Not a lot, but just a pleasant taste that rounds out the perfect sandwich filling.

The Perfect Sandwich

I thought that croissants would be the perfect bread for serving avocado egg salad. The tender, sweet bread goes so well with it. The only problem was that I couldn’t get enough! I had never wished that croissants were larger more than I did after that first bite! Why? Why! Why are they soooo small?!

I absolutely stink (best word I could think of) when it comes to making boiled eggs. Hard or soft, doesn’t matter. I am egg challenged. So I picked up a little cheap egg cooker like the one below. This lil baby cranks out 7 eggs in about 15 minutes and they’re perfect each and every time! I don’t even feel bad any more that I just cannot make boiled eggs!

DASH Electric Rapid Egg Cooker for Hard Boiled/Poached/Scrambled Eggs or Omelets with Auto Shut-Off Feature, Black, 7 Egg Capacity

Also try my (no avocado) delicious egg salad.

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5 from 1 vote

Avocado Egg Salad

This avocado egg salad has the perfect creaminess but still a bit of texture from the eggs. It also has a nice refreshing bite from the chives.

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword eggs, salad

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings servings

Calories 430kcal

Equipment

Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

3 large eggs boiled, shelled, chopped
1 large avocado seed removed, chopped
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon chives can substitute 1/2 teaspoon dried
kosher salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
4 large croissants

Instructions

Place eggs and avocado into a medium bowl and mash lightly with a fork or potato masher.
Add all but the croissants and mix.
Cut croissants in half lengthwise. Divide egg mixture between bread and serve.

Notes

This egg salad is best served immediately after preparing.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Deluxe Smoked Spiral Hot Dogs

If you have a smoker, you need to make deluxe smoked spiral hot dogs. They are quite different than regular ole grilled dogs. Not only do they pick up a great smoke flavor, they have a slightly different texture… a little denser. Cutting them into spirals makes for a great presentation. It also makes sure your toppings stick to the dogs.

Practice. Practice. And More Practice.

The first time or two that you try and cut a hot dog into a spiral you might not have great success. I can’t say my first few came out super-duper pretty. But after that I got the hang of it. They then came out just like I’d hoped. The same technique can of course be used for sausages such as smoked sausage or half links, too.

Try Marinating Them, Too!

I like to marinate my hot dogs in a combination of Worcestershire sauceand seasonings before cooking them. It definitely adds a lot of flavor and moisture to the dogs. It’s an added something that people don’t expect when they take that first bite.

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Also try my other version of yummy smoked spiral hot dogs.

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5 from 1 vote

Deluxe Smoked Spiral Hot Dogs

If you have a smoker, you need to make deluxe smoked spiral hot dogs. They are quite different than regular ole grilled dogs

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword hot dogs, smoked

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 30

Servings

Calories 229kcal

Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

4 Hot dogs
Hot dog marinade I used my easy hot dog marinade
4 Hot dog buns
Your favorite toppings

Instructions

Working one at a time, slide the skewer through the center of a dog, lengthwise. If you get it crooked just carefully pull it back and try again. I’ve found that laying the hot dog on a counter and sliding the skewer in while keeping it perfectly horizontal helps. Alternatively you can buy a hot dog spiralizer. See the post text for more information.
Take a sharp knife and starting at one end, slice into the dog until you hit the skewer while keeping a 30-45 degree angle. Rotate the dog until you’ve sliced all the way to the other end. Don’t worry if they aren’t perfect and don’t worry if you have to sacrifice a dog or two until you get them the way you want them. Remove the skewer and slice the remaining hot dogs.
Place dogs into a container. Add the marinade and refrigerate while you fire up your smoker for 250 F using a light wood such as hickory or maple.
Transfer the dogs onto the smoker and smoke for 1 hour.
Remove dogs and serve on buns with your favorite toppings.

Notes

Make a big batch and refrigerate for heating and eating later.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Grilled Ginger-Orange Carrots

You gotta eat your veggies. You can’t just slap a few burgers onto the grill (love my Weber grills!) and call it dinner. Or so I’ve been told. So, why not make those veggies yummy! These grilled ginger-orange carrots definitely don’t taste like boring carrots. They pack a little sweet, and a little heat. Often carrots are too sweet for my taste. The spiciness in these little delicious bites definitely offsets that sweetness.

Carrots With A Twist

I’m a big fan of Sambal Oelek, an Asian chili garlic sauce. It’s nice and thick and spicy. You might not like that heat in your grilled ginger-orange carrots as much as I do. So I’d start with a little less than I state in the recipe and taste it. If you like it, stop. If you want more kick, add more! No one wants boring carrots and the sauce is definitely what makes these carrots special!

Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket

Also try my spicy cranberry glazed carrots.

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4 from 1 vote

Grilled Ginger-Orange Carrots

You gotta eat your veggies. You can’t just slap a few burgers onto the grill and call it dinner. Or so I’ve been told. So, why not make those veggies yummy!

Course Side

Cuisine American

Keyword carrots, grilled

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Calories 113kcal

Equipment

Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

1 pound carrots large, peeled, sliced as desired
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
kosher salt to taste
2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons orange marmalade or more, to taste

Instructions

Brush carrots with oil.
Fire up your grill for indirect cooking.
Combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
Add the carrots and toss to coat.
Transfer carrots to the grill (I recommend a grill basket for easy cooking and cleanup) and cook 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender.

Notes

Season with a little more salt before serving, if desired.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket

Cucumber Salad

There are lots and lots of cucumber salads in the world of recipes. I really love the crispness of the cucumbers, the bite of the white vinegar and slight sweetness. Of course there’s dill and plenty of it. I’m pretty sure dill exists solely to be used with cucumbers.

This version is essentially the same as my all-time favorite creamy version but minus the ‘creamy’.

The Perfect Pork BBQ Sandwich Topping

This cucumber salad does not have to be served just as a salad, either. It’s fantastic on top of a pulled pork sandwich. It’s also a nice change from the usual dill pickle slices (or coleslaw) you often find on a sandwich. The crunchiness and flavors are fantastic.

Lucy’s Family Owned – Natural Distilled White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 oz) – 5% Acidity (White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 fl oz.))

Also try my refrigerator cucumber salad.

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5 from 1 vote

Cucumber Salad

There are lots and lots of cucumber salads in the world of recipes. I really love the crispness of the cucumbers, the bite of the vinegar and slight sweetness. Of course there’s dill and plenty of it

Course Side

Cuisine American

Keyword cucumber, salad

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 3

Total Time 3 5

Servings servings

Calories 26kcal

Equipment

Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

2 medium cucumbers sliced thin
⅓ cup white vinegar
⅓ cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon kosher salt
⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
fresh dill weed chopped

Instructions

Place cucumber into a resealable container.
Place remaining ingredients except dill into a jar. Seal and shake until combined. Alternatively, whisk the ingredients together in a bowl.
Pour liquid over cucumbers. Seal and shake gently to coat. Refrigerate for 3 hours.
Serve sprinkled with fresh dill.

Notes

You can use a sugar substitute.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)