Mushroom Slicer

If you’re a mushroom lover, this new mushroom slicer may be just the thing for you. It can slice up a box of mushrooms in minutes, though we found it works best if the mushrooms are fresh and firm. The steel blades will slice a batch of uniform mushroom slices for salads, soups or stir fries. It also works well on strawberries and some vegetables. It locks closed for easy storage and is dishwasher safe.

Mushroom Slicer, $14.95 from Sur La Table stores.

A Carton of Heirlooms

Heirloom tomatoes are varieties that have been around for many years. Many of them have special shapes, colors and flavors that aren’t commonly found in regular commercial tomatoes. The only problem is that to get them you usually either have to go to the growers market or know a gardener. Now Earthbound Farms makes heirlooms easier by packaging a colorful mix of them for sale in upscale groceries. The flavors may not be quite as vivid as the best home-grown heirlooms, but they’re a lot less trouble. Varieties include Big Italian Plum, Black Prince, Earl of Edgecomb, Eva Purple Ball, Flamme, Green Zebra, Lemony, Marmande, Paul Robeson, Pink Ping Pong and Power’s Heirloom.

Heirloom Tomatoes (1-pound carton), $4.99 from Mayfair and Gelson’s stores.