10
Cooking Essentials for the New Year
Happy New Year’s everyone! Here is a list of 10 tools that
every kitchen needs to make the next year of cooking easier. If you like the
tools you see feel free to click the links below the images, they will take you to some great products with great prices!
Reusable non-stick Baking Mats:
These
baking sheets are an amazing invention. You can use it with any baking
dishes that you own. Personally I love to use it when I am making cookies,
meringues, and biscuit’s. There is no mess left on the sheets and the finished
product never sticks! These make your life easier and leaves you with perfect
cookies! I attached a link to an amazing deal on a set of baking mats.
Artisan Metal Works Silicone Non-Stick Baking Mat Set
Hand Mixer:
Any
kitchen needs a great hand mixer! They are the wonder tool and helps with so
many different recipes! I love to use mine whenever I make mashed potatoes,
meringues, cookies, whipped cream, etc. The possibilities are endless. You want
to make sure you have a good quality mixer that can handle any task you throw
at it. One great brand that I have found is Cuisinart, they produce great
quality hand mixers and when I was trying to decide which one to buy between a
Kitchenaid and Cuisinart and I am very happy with the choice I made. Below is a
link to a great deal I found on one.
Cuisinart HM-50 Power Advantage 5-Speed Hand Mixer
Cast Iron Skillet:
The
best thing about using a Cast Iron skillet is that they are the one thing that
you pass down to your kids, grand kids, etc. But that all depends on
how you treat them. If you use it right these skillets are
incredibly useful and really help amp up your dishes. You cannot
break this thing, it’s made of Iron and are always reliable. It nonstick,
cheap, versatile (you can make virtually anything in them as well as
throw them in the oven, on the camp fire, or on the stove top.). Heat
distribution in cast Iron skillets are absolutely amazing, they are also
grills! Stuck in a college dorm with no grill but a stove top? Have no worries
cast iron skillet is here! Finally, you save money on soap!
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Skillet
 |
| My Cast Iron with Baked Mac-n-Chee |
Baking Sheet:
Don't
be fooled by the title, baking sheets can be used for more than just cookies! I
love to roast vegetables, make homemade chips, bake potatoes, really anything!
Even heating up frozen food a baking sheet is a necessity.
Good Cook Set Of 3 Non-Stick Cookie Sheet
Good Cook Set Of 3 Non-Stick Cookie Sheet
Chef’s Knife:
After going an entire
year without a chef's Knife I can honestly say that this is a serious
necessity. A decent sharpened Chef’s Knife can make any job of prepping food
easier. Thank goodness my grandmother gave me a Chef's Knife when she did,
using dull cheap pairing knifes did not do the job that one of these can do, and
they were more dangerous and are not a good knife to learn to cook with. In
fact my boyfriend ended up cutting himself more with a cheap knife then he did
with the Chef's Knife. If you have money to spare this would be the one thing
to splurge on. You can never go wrong with a great knife.
OXO Good Grips Professional 8-Inch Chef Knife
Silicone
Spatula:
Silicone spatula's work
wonders and can be used in many different dishes. Personally I use mine to
clean out bowls to make sure I get enough cookie dough, batter, etc. out as
well as using it to cook up certain meals. The great thing about silicone is it
is heat resistant and can stand the heat of the stove top while you mix your
scrambled eggs. Spatulas come in all shapes and sizes, it’s great to have a
variety as each spatula can have a different purpose. This tool has many
different uses and that is why it is in my top ten cooking tools for 2014 list.
Tovolo 12-Inch Silicone Spatula Tools, Nylon Handle, Set of 3, includes Spatula, Angled Turner, Spoonula, Summer Sky Color
Mixing Bowl
Mixing bowls are a must have, and the great thing about these
mixing bowls is their dual purposes as both a mixing bowl and Tupperware.
I personally prefer glass mixing bowls, one big reason is you are able to see
your batter completely and you are able to see if you missed a
bit of flour on the bottom. And if you are done baking cookies and want to save
the batter for later you can throw the lid on and put it in your fridge, even
better if you made a big pot of soup and have leftovers pour it into the bowl
then slap the lid on. Not to mention these bowls are on a great deal!
Pyrex Smart Essentials 6 Piece Mixing Bowl Set
Large Sauce pot
This is a serious necessity, whether it be cooking pasta,
making sauce or steaming vegetables a decent sized pot is a
must. Preferably four quarts, and made of a decent material to ensure proper
heat distribution. Last year I used a friend’s pot that
was terrible at distributing heat evenly and it took twenty
minutes or more to get the water to boil in it. Now I am on the search
for a new cooking pot and found this great product that also happens to be
under $30!
Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 4-Quart Covered Saucepot
A Great Set of Cooking
Mitts:
The worst thing is realizing that you have nothing to pull out
that steaming hot tray of cookies/baked mac n cheese out of the oven once you
have spent so much time cooking it. That is why it is always great to have a
set of cooking Mitts on hand so you can avoid possibly burning your hands and
ruining your dish towels. There are so many different types of
cooking mitts that you can use them to add personality to your kitchen. Or you
can stick with basic ones, I always find it hard to get the cute ones because I
fear them getting stained or ruined. I have attached a mitt I found that has a
great selection of colors as well as great reviews.
Ritz Royale Collection Puppet Oven Mitt with Neoprene
Pyrex Set
I am thrilled to say I have my first Pyrex Glass bake ware/Tupperware
Set. I am so excited to use it and all its possibilities. This is a must have
and are yet another multi use item. One of my biggest pet peeves is stained
plastic Tupperware, but now that is a thing of the past. I am even
able to bake things inside of my Tupperware so leftovers can
just stay in the dish and that means one less dish I have to clean! These
dishes are also microwave safe, this is a dream come true for a cook who wants
more simplicity in their kitchen.
Pyrex Storage 10-Piece Set
No comments:
Post a Comment