Zapper Spuds

These shrink-wrapped baking potatoes take all the guesswork out of quick microwave meals. Because they’re sorted by size, they always take the same amount of time to cook, and because of the wrapping, they cook evenly all the way through. Just put them in the microwave for 7 to 9 minutes and you’re done.

Express Bake potatoes, 50 cents each from Ralphs supermarkets.

Utterly Trivet

This silver-plated bronze leaf trivet is a wonderful accent piece for the holiday table. The trivet comes from metalware designer Michael Aram. Each piece is hand-cast and finished so that no two pieces are alike. Just the thing for a hostess gift.

Leaf trivet, $30, at New Stone Age, 8407 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles. (323) 658-5969.