A new calculator especially designed for cooks just came on the market.  Its array of features is rather complete, the presentation is intuitive and the gadget appears to be of high quality.  It’s called “Kitchen Calc” and is made in the USA by Calculated Industries in Carson City, Nevada.  In two models, hand-held and counter top, the Kitchen Calc coverts all culinary units of measure—temperatures, weight, dry and liquid volume, fractions and decimals.  What’s more, it can scale recipe ingredients and portion size in one operation.  For example, if you have an entrée recipe that yields 6-ounce portions for 8 people and you wish to make it as a hot appetizer with 4-ounce portions for 12 people, it can be done straightaway with this gadget.  It features three special keys that 1) record original quantity, 2) desired quantity and 3) computes the adjustment.  It also has a timer, which is useless unless your kitchen is quiet or you still have the hearing of a child.  The hand-held model, for about $30, has a fold-back hard cover and is packaged in a flexible clear plastic liner that enables you to use it without feeding the keys with whatever is going to be spilled next. The countertop model, which can be read without reading glasses, costs an additional $10.  Look for the Kitchen Calc at your cookware store. 

A note of caution is appropriate here:  Scaling of recipes is not always linear for consistent results.  At FoodFit.com, 500 recipes were presented on the site when it opened, each was written for yields of 2, 4, 6 and 8 servings.  Only the culinary staff prepared these conversions, because recipes calling for a pinch of cayenne, a tablespoon of wine vinegar, 2 drops of food coloring or a teaspoon of vanilla or lemon extract, as examples, need expert and thoughtful interpretation when scaled up or down.