My Favorite Kitchen Tools

I believe that, if you love to cook like I do, 
then your tools are just as important to you 
as a mechanic or carpenters tools are to their trades.

Tools that you are comfortable with, 
and make the job easier,

make creating a meal or special treat for family and friends fun instead of a chore.

Today I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite tools.

 

First up is my wooden spatula. 

As you can tell, it is used and abused. And loved.   

I use it every. single. day.  

If it were to ever break or get misplaced, why I don't know what I'd do!  

It would be like loosing a dear friend.

Next would be my chef knife.

It is a part of one of those sets you get that sit in a block

on your counter. 

We got the set when we moved into the house about 8 years ago.

 The set has many knives but this is truly my favorite.

It dices right through onions, apples, potatoes, frozen meat etc.

I have really put it to the test and it has never failed me.

I still have all 10 fingers.

A good knife does not have to be expensive.

Just find the one that feels right in your hand.

The weight and grip on this one fits me perfectly.

Note: Never, ever, ever put your good knifes

in the dishwasher!  The detergent is caustic and will

dull the blade! 

Dull blades are dangerous which is why I have this:

 My trusty knife sharpener.

 Every couple of weeks I will run my knife through this about 20 times.

It's awesome at sharpening!

I got mine at a restaurant supply house but,

we found one for Mr. B's mom at Ace Hardware too.

I do all of my veggie cutting and chopping on

this wood cutting board Mr. B got for me for Christmas one year.

I use a cheapy plastic cutting board for meat.

Never put meat on a wooden board!

The wood just soaks up those nasty juices and holds on to them.

Not good!

Every month or so I will give the board a good cleaning with

baking soda, coarse salt and water.

Mix into a paste and rub it over the board good.

Rinse, let dry and then season with food grade mineral oil

(I found mine at Bed Bath & Beyond).

Never use vegetable type oils.

They will go rancid. 

Again, not good!

 Under the wooden cutting board sits a nice thick

square piece of marble left by the previous homeowners.

I use this for rolling out pie and cookie dough.

Marble stays at a cool constant temperature,

perfect for pastry!

I love my Sunbeam mixers!

Did you know that they are actually more powerful than the 

Kitchen- Aid mixers?

The only downside is, you don't have the option of attachments.

That's fine with me. I've never had cause to need any of them.

And, they are too expensive anyway for my thrifty ways.

The hand mixer even has a cute little drawer

to keep all of the different beaters in.

The stand mixer is the only kitchen appliance, save our Keruig,

that stays on the counter 24/7/365

 

This baby mixes up Grandma's Gingersnap Cookies all day long like a champ!

It never over heats and justs keeps beating and beating and beating!

Now, let's get to cooking shall we!

I admit it, I am a BIG fan

of Calphalon!

I love how sturdy the products are, whether they be 

stainless or non stick.

I have had this Calphalon skillet FOREVER!

And,

it still looks pretty good.

This puppy gets used just about every day too.

 I'm also a fan of my Lodge enameled cast iron Dutch ovens!

I have the 5 quart and a 3 quart size.

I swear when I got my first one, the 5 quart,

it totally made me a better cook!

I cannot imagine making Chicken & Dumplings for Mr. B

in anything else!

Oh and, Made In America and, 

waaaay cheaper than those French ones I can't pronounce,

and seriously, just as heavy duty.

Of course, we all love our crockpots!

I've had my Rival for years and it gets used

a lot!  I'd say at least twice a week.

And of course, it makes a danged fine Pork Chili too!

Last up in my tool box is, 

my Cuisinart Electric Pressure Cooker.

 Now to be honest, I've always been afraid of pressure cookers.

You always hear stories about them exploding etc.

Not now my friends!

This electric pressure cooker has changed my life!

This sucker cooks up, fall off the bone ribs in less than half an hour!

Cold day?  Need some comfort food but the couch and blankie too cozy for you?

How 'bout you whip a hearty, tender beef stew (using the cheapest meat in the store)

before that couch can even get cold?

Or, say the family wants something different for dessert?

In the time it takes to pour them a bowl of cereal,

you can place a bowl of hot and steamy rice pudding in front of them!

Who's the hero? YOU!

 Well, it would be you if you had one of these fancy-dancy 

machines!

So, there you have it.

My very favorite tools in my kitchen.

What about you? 

What is your go to, can't live without it, ain't no dinner cuz I lost it tool?

Click here to see where I may be partying this week.
AND
Don't forget to come by on Tuesday's

for the link party.