Technology eases roasting

Making a perfect roast is somewhat of a science that requires the cook to consider a number of factors: type and size of meat, temperature, time and doneness. Why not take advantage of technology in your search for perfection with the CDN Wireless Probe Thermometer/Timer ($49.95, Executive Chef)? Not only does the device have settings for each criteria, making a good roast almost a no-brainer, it also has a remote pager that allows the cook to putter elsewhere until an alert sounds.

Extra blades thin apple slices

An apple corer is a pie-baker’s best friend. But most slice the fruit into six or eight thick pieces, requiring an extra step of cutting the slices again by hand. That problem is solved with Amco Houseworks’ stainless steel Dial-A-Slice ($29.95, Executive Chef), which has extra hidden blades that can cut an apple into as many as 16 thinner pieces perfect for pie.

Clean corn with stripper

There’s nothing quite like fresh corn — its crisp kernels popping sweetness with each bite. But husking corn and removing the clingy silk can be a hassle. Huskers will find a helping — and cute — hand in the Animalhouse Bunny Corn Stripper ($10, Compleat Kitchen). The peeler’s stainless-steel blade removes two layers of corn silk at a time, adding ease and efficiency to a necessary task.

Leaves and candlelight trim a table

With so much going on in the kitchen, make it easy on yourself by dressing the table with these sparkly fall-colored gems and leaves ($5.16 clearance priced, Pier 1). Simply scatter them around some candles or use to fill a glass vase.

Turkey benefits from good brine

Do your bird justice by brining it to keep the meat moist and succulent during roasting. Brine solutions, largely salt and sugar, are simple enough to make from scratch, but the results can be on the salty side. Try this Turkey Brine mix ($18, Williams-Sonoma) with sea salt, dried apples, juniper berries, lemon peel, peppercorns and herbs for an infusion of fruity undertones. It’s also good for chicken and pork.

Kit creates pretty cookies

Ever wonder how they make those gorgeous holiday cookies you see in the magazines, the ones with detailed imprints and flawless icing? Home bakers are one step closer to the same precision with Wilton’s Push ‘N Print! Cookie Making Set ($11.50, Compleat Kitchen). The kit comprises a round cookie cutter, spring-loaded plunger and three disks bearing holiday designs; the plunger evenly embosses the disks’ images into the dough. From there, decorating is a breeze. The kit includes a shortbread recipe especially suited to the task.@Headline — small1a:Cardholders add panache

Bring a touch of casual elegance to your Thanksgiving table with these cardholders from the Heirloom Pumpkin serveware collection (set of four $19.95, Williams-Sonoma)

Rack bird for fool-proof removal

You roast up a holiday turkey to juicy and golden-brown perfection but the trickiest part is yet to come. Transferring the slippery bird from pan to platter can lead to disaster. Enter Cuisipro’s Roast & Serve rack ($22.99, Bed Bath & Beyond), which doubles as safe transport. Simply place the rack (seen here holding a chicken) in the roasting pan, set the raw bird on top and roast. When done, grab the handles and place rack and meat onto a serving platter. Remove the silicone-tipped pin that holds the two sides of the rack together, pull the handles apart and voila! A fool-proof transfer.

Peeler does more than skin

The best foods are about more than taste. They must look good and be good for you as well. Create gorgeous, nutritious and delicious dishes with the Julienne Peeler by Kuh Rikon ($19.95, Executive Chef). The device, which boasts a sharp, stainless-steel blade, allows the cook to add "perfect, thin strips" to more than just salads. Try it on chocolate, for instance, for a fancy dessert.

Gadgets keep hands garlic-free

Garlic is a kitchen essential, but working with the pungent bulbs can leave a cook’s hands odorous long after the food is served. Two tools can fix that problem right up. A rubber garlic peeler tube ($6.50, Compleat Kitchen) makes quick, painless work of removing the paper-thin layers of garlic skin. Simply place bulbs inside the tube, roll with a bit of pressure, and the job is done. Then, take the stripped bulb and mince it with NexTrend’s Garlic Twist ($23, Compleat Kitchen). It’s an award-winning tool that, with a few twists, transforms whole garlic into minced pieces.

Decor need not be expensive

The window of opportunity for Thanksgiving decorating is relatively small compared to the glamorama that is Christmas, so many people shy away from purchasing special home accessories. Inexpensive yet sophisticated options abound, though, if you’d just like to dress up your table for the food-centric holiday. Kmart’s Essential Home line and Walmart’s Better Homes and Gardens accessories offer fall-themed items for as little as 97 cents — $15 at the high end. Find table linens, candles, votive holders, potpourri, infusers and dishware. For extra value, choose colors that can carry into Christmas.

Sauvignon blanc choice with meal

Thanksgiving is not the day for your favorite big, buttery chardonnay or fruit-forward cabernet sauvignon. On this, the biggest eating day of the year, you want a wine that will complement the food, not compete with it. A good, all-purpose choice is a sauvignon blanc from New Zealand, easily found at most supermarkets. Light and crisp, this white wine can be sipped before and throughout dinner and won’t weigh anyone down. And most bottles have screw tops, making them easy to stow in an ice chest. The well-respected Kim Crawford bottle is just $13.99 at Costco.

Gravy a groove using separator

Gravy can make or break a holiday meal, so why mess around? The Catamount gravy separator features a silicone lid with stainless-steel mesh strainer to filter solids for the smoothest gravies. Made of flameproof laboratory glass, it’s freezer-, oven-, stovetop- and dishwasher-safe. Find it at Williams-Sonoma in 2-cup ($24) and 4-cup ($28) sizes.

Sourcebook

» Bed Bath & Beyond, 98-145 Kaonohi Street, Aiea, 486-3791, www.bedbathand beyond.com

» Costco, various locations, www.costco.com

» Compleat Kitchen, Kahala Mall, 737-5827, www.compleatkitchen.com

» Executive Chef, Ward Warehouse, 596-2433, executivechefonline.com

» Kmart, various locations, www.kmart.com

» Pier 1, various locations, 589-1212, www.pier1.com

» Walmart, various locations, www.walmart.com

» Williams-Sonoma, Ala Moana Center, 951-0088, www.williams-sonoma.com