Abstract: A combination bread toaster and steamer device includes a pair of vertically oriented bread slots extending into a housing from a top of the housing; means for elevating and lowering bread in the bread slots; a steamer compartment, disposed on the housing, including a heater pan configured to receive water; and at least one heating element associated with the bread slots and the steamer compartment.

Abstract: A method for toasting bread and simultaneously cooking or warming another food with a single device, comprising the steps of: inserting at least one piece of bread into a vertically oriented bread slot of a combination bread toaster and steamer device; placing water into a heater pan of a steamer compartment on the combination bread toaster and steamer device; placing another food into the steamer compartment; and activating at least one heating element associated with the bread slot and the steamer compartment

Abstract: A dual use pour and dispensing carafe and coffee maker includes a carafe device, configured to contain a beverage, removably disposable on a base of a beverage maker. A handle is disposed on a side of the carafe, and an outlet and a valve are disposed near a bottom of the carafe. Thus, the carafe can be removed from the base by grasping the handle on the side of the carafe and the beverage can be poured from a top of the carafe.

Abstract: A method for making and selectively dispensing a beverage includes making the beverage in a base and storing the beverage in a carafe removably disposed in a carafe receptacle of the base. The carafe is selectively laterally removed from a lateral opening in the base; the carafe is tipped and the beverage poured from a top of the carafe; and the carafe is laterally replaced into the lateral recess of the base. The carafe is selectively retained on the base and the beverage dispensed from a downward facing outlet on a bottom of the carafe by selectively displacing a valve disposed in the outlet.

Abstract: A handheld food preparation appliance and a method of selectively preparing food ingredients. The handheld food preparation appliance has a housing including a handle and a chuck. The handle and chuck are pivotally coupled together and have two interconnected orientation configurations with respect to one another, including an aligned configuration in which a longitudinal axis of the handle is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the chuck, and a transverse configuration in which the longitudinal axis of the handle is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chuck. The handle is configured to be gripped and the chuck is configured to support at least one rotational element. The appliance has a motor carried by the housing. The appliance also has two separate switches associated with the housing and operably coupled to the motor. Each switch is operable with a different orientation configuration of the handle and chuck.

Abstract: A beverage mixer device with a base including a motor to turn a drive mechanism extending from the base. The beverage mixer includes a container, removably disposable on the base. The container has a mixing assembly rotatably disposed in the container and engagable by the drive mechanism when the container is disposed on the base. The container also includes a spigot operatively coupled to the container to dispense contents of the container. A spigot actuator is carried by the base, and a linkage is operatively coupled to the spigot actuator on the base and the spigot to operate the spigot. The spigot actuator is operatively coupled to the motor such that operation of the linkage actuates the motor to turn the mixing assembly in the container.