Bean Bags

One way of holding books open, holding crafts in place, sewing, or other tasks that generally require one hand to hold  and one hand to operate, use a bean bag.  I made one on the sewing machine, but it was difficult, so I would recommend buying some (maybe at a toy store?) or having a friend make some for you.  I used dried beans in mine and packed it very full in order to get as much weight as possible.   It is about 5 inches by 7 inches. You could have them made in various sizes and "squishiness" in order to accommodate your needs.  Double stitch the seams about 1/8 to 1/4 inch apart to keep the beans or rice from popping out.  Any other ideas for holding stuff?

Cart in the Kitchen

I think I said before that I love to cook and I am trying to figure out ways that are useful with one hand.

I wanted a small rolling cart for the kitchen, but found them to be very expensive.  Voila!  I already had one in the linen closet!  So the towels were unloaded into the already messy linen closet (that's for another time) and the cart was moved to the kitchen.

Now, I use my wheelchair and wheel around the kitchen, loading the cart with all the items the recipe calls for.  It is really nice having everything in one place.  I visit the pantry, refrigerator, cupboards, and drawers to get everything I need before I start..ingredients, utensils, bowls, and bake ware.

If I had a stainless steel rack, I could even put hot things from the oven on it.  But, alas, I have a cart with plastic coated wires which will not work for hot pans.  The cart does have multiple shelves, though, which is very handy when making something with bulky ingredients that take up lots of room on the cart.

I love using the cart !  It saves me a lot of extra work. 

What do YOU use a cart for?

Squeeze Bottle

I love to cook, so I watch America's Test Kitchen on television, even though I cannot make most of the recipes.  One day, I saw the chef using a clear plastic bottle with a nozzle, sort of like the ketchup bottles at diners.  The America's Teat Kitchen crew were using the bottle for vegetable oil.  I get my canola oil at Costco in large bottles, so making a mess once to fill the squeeze bottle is definitely better than making a mess every time I want to use oil.  I got two clear plastic squeeze bottles at Bed Bath & Beyond.  I have not decided what to put in the second bottle, but I suppose it could be anything.  Any ideas?

Pourfect Products

I love to cook but am still getting used to new ways of doing things after my stroke last year.  I found a manufacturer that makes various cooking products that may be of help to the single handed cook.  See the products at http://pourfectbowl.com/.  I bought the large bowls in a set of three from Amazon.  They have features that are very helpful to me like rubber bottom rings for non-slip, a handle and wings at the elongated spout with which to pour, and an egg cracking edge (which I have not mastered.)

Scraping a bowl while pouring is impossible with one hand which is why I got the Pourfect bowls so I could pour my concoctions into the pan or other cooking container.

  If you have tried any of the other products, please comment here!  Thanks!

Non-Slip Mats

I have found that all phases of cooking with one hand requires a non-slip mat on the kitchen counter.  We have granite tiles which hold the non-slip pads wonderfully.  I can't speak for Formica or other synthetic surfaces.  Often, medical supply websites will suggest that you purchase a roll of a self-adhesive matting  called Dycem in 8 x 36 inch rolls for around $40.  See http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RPY39G/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000C221US&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1AEW61VDYRESNFWFB29Y

My husband found an equally non-slip product for between $5 and $15 depending on the manufacturer and size.  For examples, see http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_389438_389438 or http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AKK0WM/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0000AXFTQ&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1RM043HP3GWPNHF227W7. .  Generically, these are called non-slip tray liners for a tool box or router pads and usully come in rolls approximately 12 inches wide 36 or 72 inches long.  The pads can be found at hardware stores and wood working stores.  Some manufacturers are Regal, Zerust, Northern,  and Wood River. The pads are open weave or closed low desity foam and can be hand washed and laid flat to dry. I have not and probably will not put hot dishes on the mats. These mats are so inexpensive, you can even cut them as a placemat or to fit under your favorite mixing bowl.

This information is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all non-slip products, but is meant to get you thinking about alternatives and how to save money.  Best wishes!

"One-Handed in a Two-Handed World"

I purchased Tommye-Karen Mayer's book "One-Handed in a Two-Handed World, 3rd Edition" and am very happy with all I've learned.  She gives practical advice for dressing, grooming, cooking, sporting, working, and many other activities, mostly without the use of gadgets.  She strongly believes in her Three Secrets:  Body Positioning, 4 Fingers & a Thumb, and as a last resort, Gadgets.  This book can be purchased in several editions from seversl places.  A few places you can purchase her book are http://www.princegallison.com/onehand.html and http://www.amazon.com/One-Handed-Two-Handed-World-Tommye-Mayer/dp/0965280535.