The Aeropress is one of the best things to ever happen to coffee. This $25 device is capable of producing an espresso-like brew that rivals even the best espresso machine, and it does so in a fraction of the time and effort. When I woke up this morning in need of some coffee, I knew that it would be the perfect thing to use for my first “Tools and Gadgets” post.

In search of a vegetarian Peep equivalent, I made some delicious marshmallows set with xanthan gum instead of gelatin, but stumbled when it came to trying to pipe them out like your everyday, mass-produced Peep.

Casting sugar is used mostly to make bases and supports for showpieces, but it can also be a quick way to form custom shapes. Once you learn the technique, you’ll look at everything with new eyes, wondering what would happen if you poured sugar into it.