Since Christmas is coming up soon I
figured that I would make a small list of products I just can't live without.
1.
Flex-It Silicone Measuring Cup Set:
We received these as a wedding
gift and I thought they were cool but wouldn't be that useful. I was wrong and
I actually use these more than any other liquid measuring tools in my kitchen.
They have replaced my Pyrex 2 cup measuring cup which I still use but not very
often. There are a few reasons I love them so much. First, there are three
sizes 1 cup, 2 cups, and 4 cups which are really nice if you need to measure
different amounts at the same time, not to mention I have to do dishes less
since I have three of them. Second, they are flexible which makes it really easy
to pour liquid into tight spots. Third, they are made out of a flexible
material so they don't break if you drop them. And lastly, they take up very
little space for storage since they nest inside of each other.
2.
Ici Silicone Spatula:
This was also a wedding gift along
with a few of the other Ici Silicone Tools. The spatula is my favorite though
for a few reasons. It is really easy to clean, it doesn't flex, it is great on
non-stick, and surprisingly is scoops up food really well despite its thickness.
For example pancakes can be hard to get under and flip but this spatula makes
it really easy. Also note, I have had it for almost four years and it still
looks like new. I would have guessed that the rubber would wear away but it
hasn't. It is also heat resistant up to 600 F.
3.
Wear Ever 1.5q Sauce Pan
I purchased this saucepan right
before I went to college for the first time at a discount store like TJ Maxx
just because it was cheap but ended up loving it. I make macaroni and cheese in
it due to the lid. The lid has holes cut into it so that you can strain without
having to pull out an actual strainer. One side of the lid has small holes and the other side has
larger holes. It has also been useful for anything else that I need to strain
after right after cooking. I really like it for making ganache or other
sauces due to the size. The metal has also held up really well with no
discoloring and is easy to clean. Overall it is a cheap saucepan and I really
like how it performs. I'm not sure if they still make them but you can find
them online.
4.
Goldtouch Pans
So I think this is Arielle's new
favorite. We make a lot of nachos and since Arielle does most of the dishes she
wants to make sure that they are easy to clean. These pans have the
"Goldtouch" which makes almost nothing stick to them. We have been
using a cake pan to make our nachos in but I would like to try to make a cake
in the two pans and see how well they work on their non-stick ability with
cakes which are fragile.
5.
Honing Steel
I have always sharpened my knives
with a knife sharpener that has a course and fine area to drag your knife
through but the honing steel is a new favorite. I always sharpen my knives
before I use them which is a really good habit to get into. I feel the honing
steel makes the knife sharper than the drag through sharpener and is faster and
easier. It takes some practice but after you get it down the knives become very
sharp and it is noticeable. I purchased mine as a part of a knife set but you
can buy it individually at Williams-Sonoma or other places. The brand shouldn't
matter but I have only used this one by Zwilling J.A. Henckels.
Funny story: I was sharpening a
knife and showing Arielle how fast I was just like on TV but ended up slicing
my hand open since I missed one of the strikes. I have seen really good chefs
sharpen them towards their hands but I would recommend sharpening always from yourself
so you don't end up like me. Also I don't do well with blood so it was good
Arielle was there to bandage me up and finish dinner.
Ending
Notes:
These are my favorites right now but
I do love almost every item I have in my kitchen. As a cook I like to keep
things simple and usually stay away from all of the kitchen appliances. I do
use my appliances from time to time for larger jobs like making a coconut cake
or large amounts of pizza. I had my pizza wheel break this week which doesn't
make me happy but I will be out looking for a new one and will give a product
review down the road.
Thanks for reading my blog and let me know if you have any
questions or topics that you want answered.
