ITEM #1 Bricks
Butterflied chicken on the grill cooks faster and more evenly when weighed down, and a brick has the perfect size, shape, and inexpensive price tag for the job. Just set a rimmed baking sheet on top of the chicken and put two bricks in the pan, or place two aluminum foil-wrapped bricks directly on the bird.
ITEM #2 Ruler
For the best-looking cookies, it’s important to start with balls of dough that are all the same size. In order to get an accurate measurement, set a ruler—or a manly yardstick if you dare—on top of the mixing bowl. Rather than placing the ball of dough on top of the ruler (where it’s hard to measure the equator), bring the ball up along the side of the ruler.
ITEM #3 Bungee Cord
Most kitchen garbage bags tend to slip down inside the trash can, inviting an unpleasant mess to clean up later. To keep them in place, secure the bags to the receptacle with a lightweight bungee cord. Just make sure you don’t throw out the cord along with the trash when you change the bag.
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Seriously, “Dad’s garage”? What is this, 1956? Ooh, he better not see the womenfolk sneaking away with his special man’s-only ruler in their flour-covered aprons! Good god.
Hi caroline, thanks for stopping by. This was intended to be a light-hearted nod to Father’s Day when it was published. We’ve done a lot of wackier themes, like Jane Fonda (http://www.americastestkitchenfeed.com/curious-shortcuts/2011/08/3-kitchen-tricks-we-learned-from-80s-aerobic-workouts/) and zombies (http://www.americastestkitchenfeed.com/curious-shortcuts/2011/07/how-to-raise-3-ingredients-from-the-dead/).