Married with Kitchen Must-Haves

Maybe you are new to the kitchen, or maybe you've made a resolution to be in the kitchen more often this year. Maybe you are looking for a gift for the cook in your life, but be careful, you don't want to look like the person who gifts a vacuum cleaner (wow thanks, I can't wait to clean more floors...). No matter what it is, I've always found it interesting to see what things I reach for most often in my kitchen and compare it to other cooks that I know. 

So I've decided to compile a list of my current Must-Have Kitchen Tools. This is not an exhaustive list and I've left out the little goodies like measuring cups and spoons, but you may find something you've never seen, or you may realize what you've always been missing when trying to fit your grilled cheese in one pan. Either way, I hope you find this list helpful. I'd also love to know what is your favorite thing in the kitchen, so please comment away! 

Hand Blender- having this hand blender is amazing. I received one as a gift from my hubby last Christmas. Its great for blending gravy, sauces and soups right in the pot as well as making the creamiest mashed potatoes around.

Meat Thermometer- This is your life saver, literally! A cook's worst nightmare is under-cooked meat and so an instant read thermometer, like this digital one, will help you to know whether your meat is safe to serve.  Many recipes will tell you the temperature that you should expect your dish to have, and if it doesn't, look up  a Meat and Poultry Temperature Guide.

Large Skillet- A large skillet is your friend when making those one dish meals like Shepherds Pie, Mac and Cheese, or they can fit several fried eggs, pieces of french toast or grilled cheese sandwiches side by side. I find myself reaching for it over and over again. Look for one with tall sides, a glass lid, two handles for easy carrying and a non-stick cooking surface.








Ramekins- These little friends give you some style in the kitchen. Everything looks better when its cute and small. Things I have made in a ramekin are: Creme Brulee, Chocolate Souffle, Corn Bread Muffins, Mini Chicken Pot Pies, Mini Shepherd's Pies,  Mini Fruit Crumbles (Apple, Peach, Berry). I have a small collection of different colored ones and some varying sizes. The most common size for many recipes is a 6 ounce ramekin, so if you plan on making precise desserts like soufflee's and creme brulee, I would recommend this size. 

Mixing Bowls- For the cooks and bakers out there, having a number of different sized mixing bowls is essential. I like these in particular because they come with grips on the bottom to ensure that when you are whisking those eggs into stiff peaks, you don't send the bowls flying into orbit. 

Crock Pot - If you are familiar with my blog, you will know that I have a few recipes which involve the crock pot. It is the working cook's best friend. I've used mine to roast chicken, cook ribs and make a pot roast. I've also used it to a cook whole potatoes for thanksgiving or used it to serve a large amount of hot apple cider for a party. The beauty of the modern crock pot is that it's not your grandmother's, they often come with digital dials, warming functions, timers and specific heat settings. Mine is a medium tech model, which provides me with high and low settings as well as timed options-and once the meal is done, it automatically goes to the warming function until I get home or until the meal is ready to serve. Amazing!

Santoku Knife-  This is the lesser known sister of the common chef's knife. These knives are a wonder and I have one small and one large. They are the ones that I use most often for their sharp blades and precision cutting just about everything. The slight grooves on the sides of the blade make it perfect for dicing any of your difficult foods but also a dream when slicing meats.

Assorted Spatulas- There is a spatula for every job in the kitchen and you need at least one of each. You never know when you need to scoop, scrape, flip, mix, lift or saute!