I was recently up in Provincetown where my friend Andy always makes home made bagels.  It's always nice to be in a summer house where someone else takes control of the kitchen — and when it's someone as culinarily competent as Andy, I ask for a list of their favorite kitchen tools and gadgets.  The Polder 3-in-1 Kitchen Timer was on Andy's list.  Convenient and intuitive, it features a lanyard so you can wear it around your neck, and a magnet so you can stick it somewhere convenient.  Buy it in black or white for under $15 at Amazon.com.