A Steadier Place to Slice

Keep the Toast at the Ready

The Butter Bell crock is an age-old European way of storing butter at room temperature so it is creamy and easy to spread. Fill the base of the crock with cold water, pack a stick of butter into the top of the bell-shaped lid and put the lid into the crock; the water will create a seal. Water should be changed every three days.

Butter Bell crock, $17.95-$21.95, from Sur la Table stores, or order on the Internet at www.butterbell.com, or call (888) 575-1900.

*

Small cutting boards tend to slip and slide around when you’re using them. But the new “Gripper� cutting board has small rubber “grippers� on the bottom that help hold it to the counter. The cutting board, made of plastic, is dishwasher-safe and comes in bright colors.

The “Gripper� cutting board comes in two sizes: 11x14 inches, $14.99, and 8x11 inches, $7.99, both in orange, green or blue, from Linens ‘n Things stores; Koontz Hardware, 8914 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 652-0123; and Cooking.com, on the Internet at www.cooking.com or call (800) 663-8810.

Donna Deane