THANK GOD FOR KITCHEN ESSENTIALS
It is that time of year- where we are all thankful for friends and family, cozying up in blankets, and going hog wild over Black Friday deals. On Thanksgiving after I have had my fill of turkey and incredible side dishes (let’s be honest Thanksgiving is all about the sides) I scour the ads for who has the best kitchen utensils on sale. Being a single twenty something I dream about getting married… for all of the amazing cooking essentials I could register for! One day I know I will meet the perfect kitchen aid mixer and we will live happily ever after. Until then I thought I would write about some of my favorite kitchen tools- some are must haves and some are dream items (great to add to a Christmas list and are way better than socks!)
Blenders
Nutribullet / Magicbullet: these small blenders are great and super versatile. You can use them for smoothies on the go, to chop up nuts, or to grind your coffee. They are also super affordable. The small blender life is great for single servings.
Vitamix: scouts honor- owning a Vitamix has changed my life. Not only can you make large batches but they are super powerful and can handle anything you put in it- it literally cleans itself (I now believe we need more things that clean up after themselves #amiright?) If you and your significant other are constantly arguing about filth use the line “why can’t you be more like our vitamix?” I think that should end that argument. Downside: Cost. If I did not live at home there is no way I could afford a Vitamix. We did purchase ours refurbished for a discount. I also imagine there will be some great Black Friday deals on Vitamixes and competitor The Ninja. When I do get married- or have my singleness commitment ceremony- I am hopeful one will be wrapped under my chocolate covered strawberry fountain #thatregistrylife
Good set of knives: Knives can literally make or break a dish. Especially presentation wise. Cutting any vegetable or squash could be disastrous if your knives aren’t sharp enough. Cutco knives are the Cadillac of knives; they have a forever guarantee. That’s even longer than a lifetime! That way you can pass your knives down and your children’s children can get them replaced or sharpened! If you aren’t ready to make that type of commitment Kohl’s and TJ Maxx always have great deals on knife sets. Don’t skimp on your knives, I don’t think it is possible to regret your decision to spend more on a great set. Your sweet potato will thank you.
Tupperware: I love leftovers. I always have and I hope I always will. I will stop eating a delish meal just so I can eat it again later. I believe my love of leftovers comes from my dad- he is a leftover fool, but he is much more liberal with mixing leftovers then I am. He is willing to have sesame chicken, with part of an Italian sub and a Greek salad. Maybe if we all took the same liberties the world would live more harmoniously. Needless to say we use lots of Tupperware. A few years ago for my birthday, a good set of Tupperware was the only thing on my list. I ended up receiving this set and have never looked back. I do a lot of meal prep during the weekend- divvy everything up into Tupperware and eat out of it for the rest of the week. It is super nice to have one set that you can mix and match- that way you are not searching through your drawers or getting seriously hurt from your Tupperware falling on top of you (a la those amazing infomercials)
French Press: I love coffee! So much! #marrymecoffee! I think my love for coffee stems from my Gilmore Girls addiction, but I will save that for another post… or my therapist. I heart Starbucks as much as any other basic white girl (Starbucks lover anyone?) but there is something about making your own pot of caffeinated goodness that is so rewarding. I also feel like a super fancy barista when I use my French Press. My favorite coffee beans are Brioso Coffee in Columbus. Here are instructions for making the perfect cup of French press coffee
*special shout outs to coffee grinders , kitchen scales and milk frothers
Cast iron skillets: are amazing! I understand that they can be intimidating and you are asking yourself questions like: “What’s the big fuss? And what’s the deal with not every cleaning them? “and I know some people think the only practical use for them is using them as a weapon, a la “Tangled.” But let me tell you friend- they are amazing! It creates a great crust on something, it can go from stove top to oven, back to stovetop with the flip of a hot pad covered hand, they are relatively inexpensive and they are a great way to impress family and friends. Here is a great resource for all of your cast iron skillet needs. I have a friend who has cast iron skillets that have been passed down generation to generation (How cool is that?!) but for the rest of us we can go to TJ Maxx or amazon to get ours.
What are your favorite kitchen essentials / tools / gadgets? I want to hear from you all. Enjoy your Thanksgivings, especially the side dishes. Until next time, happy eating!
Liv