Abstract: A corn popper includes a vessel open at the top, and a removable top cover. A handle integral with the cover includes a pistol grip portion relatively remote from the vessel when the cover is attached. A stirring mechanism, supported for rotation about a vertical axis within the vessel when the cover is attached, rotates responsive to the squeezing of a trigger mounted slidably with respect to the pistol grip section of the handle. The means for driving the stirring mechanism include a drive gear angularly fixed on the stirring mechanism, and a pinion movable linearly into and out of driving engagement with the drive gear, and also rotatable, by virtue of an extension of the trigger.

Abstract: The present invention is a tamping and stirring rod for use with a receptacle of a food and beverage blender including a plurality of rotating blades disposed inside. The receptacle has an open top and a top cover formed out of a flexible material with a hole in its center. The tamping and stirring rod urges either foodstuff or ice cubes into the receptacle. The tamping and stirring rod includes an elongated, substantially cylindrical member which has a distal end and a proximal end and which is formed out of a flexible material. The elongated, substantially cylindrical member is an integral member with a foot at its distal end. A plastic cap is snugly inserted into the top cover and has a bore having a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the elongated, substantially cylindrical member which is concentric to the hole in the top cover and through which the elongated, substantially cylindrical member is slidably inserted.