Living in a cramped Manhattan apartment, I'm often envious of the myriad gadgets and gizmos my suburban friends are able to comfortably fit in their oh-so-spacious kitchens.  Of all the culinary wonders displayed in my friends' abodes, the one I covet the most has to be the Crock-Pot.  As the mother of a toddler and a newborn, the idea of throwing a few ingredients in a machine, flipping a switch, and coming home hours later to a perfect home-cooked meal is more than a little bit appealing.  Indeed, the inner gadget hound in me is intrigued not just by the Crock-Pot, but also by any number of kitchen appliances and tools designed to make life easier and help me step up my cooking game.  So of course I was thrilled to be invited to an exclusive event showcasing the latest products from Ball, Crock-Pot and Oster, each of which was completely ingenious and left me clamoring for more counter space!

First up was the Ball Brand FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker.  I've always been intimidated by the idea of making jam or jelly from scratch, but this handy machine completely demystified the process.  The FreshTECH allows you to make delicious jam or jelly using your favorite fruits in just 30 minutes.  Its SmartStir Technology consistently stirs the jam or jelly while it cooks so that you don't have to stand over a hot stove, and it also helps to ensure that you don't burn the jam/jelly.  The machine comes with everything you need to create tasty jams and jellies, including a quick-start guide with recipes, dual setting buttons and an anon-stick interior.  With an MSRP of $99.99, the Ball Brand FreshTECH would make a perfect gift for the foodie in your life! 

I next got a peek at the Crock-Pot Ultimate Cook & Carry Slow Cooker (MSRP $69.99).  Aptly billed as the "next generation Crock-Pot," the Ultimate Cook & Carry kicks portability up a notch by with its specially designed stoneware, which maintains an optimal serving temperature even without a power source.  A travel temperature gauge provides visual feedback on the temperature of the food once it has been unplugged, while robust, integrated handles, a locking lid and cord wrap make transport easy.  This 6-quart slow cooker features programmable controls, including four pre-set time settings, and an auto-shift to warm feature with count-up timer.  The slow cooker's removable oval stoneware and locking lid are each dishwasher safe, making clean-up a breeze. 

And of course I wasn't leaving the event without checking out the Oster Versa Performance Blender, which is now at the top of my "must have" list.  This is not your ordinary blender by any stretch of the imagination.  Rather, with its professional 1,400-watt motor, the Versa has the power and speed to crush ice, grind nut butters, puree hot soups, whip up sorbets and much, much more.  It also sports a 64-ounce BPA-free Tritan jar with a no-mess spout, a stainless steel six-point blade that spins at over 250mph, and three programmed settings (Smoothies, Dips/Spreads and Soup) so that with a touch of a button the Versa will automatically start and stop and use the perfect speed and time.  And, with a suggested price of $399, the Versa is actually much more affordable than many of the other well-known performance blenders on the market.  I realize that seems like a steep price tag, and it is, but when you think about the fact that the Versa could replace several of your other kitchen items, it actually makes a great deal of sense. 

Fingers crossed that I will one day have a kitchen worthy of each of these items.  Until then, I'll just have to ogle them from afar!