Melon Ballers And Other Kitchen Tools That Make Entertaining More Festive

The first big cookout of the season, a kiddo's birthday bash, or even a fancy dinner party might be the best opportunity to whip these underappreciated utensils out to make entertaining easier. It might just be that little-used melon baller or those wedding gift ramekins that save the day at your next warm weather party.

Baking sheets get a lot of use, but there isn't a ton of variety in their repertoire. Why not turn them into serving trays for a delicious spread at your next low-key gathering? They can also be used as surfaces for decorating cupcakes at a birthday party or Christmas cookies at your holiday celebration. Just make sure that all of the sides are raised and don't taper off for easy to tidy up sprinkles.

That ice cream maker with the detachable freezer bowl has a use beyond making frozen treats. Its freezer bowl is ideal for quickly chilling wine or other drinks when guests arrive early and there is no time to waste.

The melon baller can do so much more than just create perfect rounds of melon. For one thing, it makes shaping cookie dough for those big batches a breeze. A melon baller is excellent for scooping small servings of ice cream at a kid's party or forming meatballs for your canapés. 

Cake batter, soaking beans, mixing salads — the uses for large bowls go on and on. But the night before your party, how about using a metal bowl to make a giant ice cube for your punch bowl? The half-rounded ice cube will surely keep your spring cocktails cold longer. 

Muffin tins have more uses than just birthday cupcakes or Saturday morning muffins. They come in handy when setting up a decoration station at your next DIY party. Each cup can hold colorful sprinkles or mini M&Ms for a cupcake or ice cream bar. 

Maybe you purchased it as a joke or to make Sunday mornings more amusing with fun-shaped pancakes, but that playful pancake pen will be a hit at your next cookout. It can dispense caramel or chocolate syrup for ice cream sundaes or make filling goodies less difficult at a dessert DIY gathering.

A pie tin is not just for sweet things and lattice tops: it deserves a spot at your next backyard barbecue. Use one to create a quick smoker by filling it with damp wood chips and placing it over hot coals in your grill. Impress your guests with your ingenuity and smoky snacks. 

The slow cooker is not your grandma's gadget anymore, and it has no reason to be collecting dust in your kitchen. It is great for so many big-batch appetizers and to warm punches — perfect for entertaining. Your slow cooker can also keep your bites hot, and it makes for an excellent serving vessel.

Not all of us are pastry chefs who whip up crème brûlée on a nightly basis, so those cute little ramekins can become obsolete. That Cinco de Mayo fiesta or springtime bash is the perfect occasion to use them for personal dip portions. Double-dipping most definitely will not be an issue.