Now, I will say that I really don't have just 5 favorites. I have like a million but these are probably the 5 that make my culinary adventures easier on a regular basis. I will also go ahead and make the disclaimer that the pictures and links on this page are simply examples and suggestions. Trust me, I am not getting paid to advertise any of these items :-) I also know that many of you may already have these things and use them on a regular basis and have even better tips than I do. This was just a fun blog for me to write and I hope you enjoy the info whether it is new or old to you! Here we go...
1. The Immersion Blender - My husband will tell you that every time I use this tool I get so excited. Why you ask? Have you ever looked at a recipe and decided not to make it because there is a step in there that requires you to ladle the mixture into a food processor or blender, mix it and then put the food back in the dish you got it from? More dishes to clean! That alone makes me cringe. Then there is the inevitable possibility that the food processor or blender lid isn't on right and the food goes everywhere. Now there are more dishes and counters to clean! I submit that the Immersion Blender is the solution to this problem. I love making smooth creamy soups and I love that all I need to do is cook it all in one pot and then use my trusty tool to blend it up in the same pot. It works beautifully and is a true time saver. Immersion blenders can cost as little as $30 and as much as $130. Usually the best ones range from $40 to $70. The link below will take you to several options. I know it is rather taboo to ask your husband to get you a blender for a special occasion, but go ahead and give him the green light on this one! You will be glad you did!
Immersion Blenders
2. Ice Cream Scoops - Ice Cream Scoops are such a wonderful invention. Not just for scooping ice cream but basically for any type of food you want to turn into a ball shape. I have 3 different sizes of ice cream scoops. I use these on a regular basis when I make cookies, cupcakes, muffins, meatballs, sausage balls and especially the 100 red velvet truffles I made last Christmas! These are a real time saver and easy to clean. Now the key to this is buying scoops that have a trigger button or spring hinge handle like the one pictured below. The food stays in the scoop better and releases the food in a more perfect ball shape. You can spend as much or as little on these as you want. It all depends on how much you think you will use them and how long you want them to last. Mine were a gift from Williams Sonoma and were the mini, small and medium sizes. I am thankful Santa made the investment for me :-) To give it a try purchase or use one you already have in the regular/medium size. Then use it for your next batch of muffins or cupcakes.Once you start, you will want to purchase the other sizes as well.
Ice Cream Scoops
3. Plastic Cutting Mats - I love a good sturdy wood cutting board. But, there are a few drawbacks to them. For me, the major drawback right now is space. If any of you have ever been to seminary housing or lived in it you know counter space is limited. So having a big cutting board out all the time is difficult and there really isn't anywhere to store it. Enter the marvelous multi-colored plastic cutting mats! What I love about these is that you can easily store them, they clean up beautifully and you can color code them based on what you are cutting on them. For example, you can cut meat on the red one, chicken on the yellow one and veggies and fruit on the blue and green ones. Or, because they clean up so perfectly and are non-porous you can just use whichever one you grab first. These are really flexible and make it easy to move prepped food anywhere in your kitchen. The best part....they are super cheap. I bought some for $10.00 and they hold up great. Even if you like the big wood cutting boards like I do, give these a try. They are a great addition to any kitchen.
Plastic Cutting Mats
4. The Plastic Knife - There will be no link or picture for this one because let's face it...you know where you can buy plastic knives and what they look like. No rocket science for this one :-) But, did you know what a useful tool the plastic knife is? Whenever I make brownies or any type of a dessert bar, this is my go to tool. Regular knives make the brownies have messy edges when you cut them, but if you use the smooth side of a plastic knife you will have perfectly cut brownies every time. Plastic knives also work great for cutting sheet cakes, cornbread, pies and the all important dressing/stuffing at Thanksgiving. So next time you have some leftover plastic knives from a picnic and you are tempted to throw them away, save them for your next batch of brownies. (remember that plastic melts :-) Don't try to cut anything right out of the oven. Give it a little time to cool before you use the knife.)
5. The Crock Pot/Slow Cooker - The crock pot is probably on everyone's list, but it is such a huge help that it had to be in my top 5. I personally equate the crock pot to that of a sous chef. I do most of my meal planning, shopping and cooking on Saturdays. It makes for a pretty busy day but it is a huge help during the busy week ahead. Thankfully I have a husband who eats leftovers so you can best believe leftover nights are factored into the weekly meal plan. I basically prepare one huge meal that consists of a meat and 2 sides then I usually have a soup on the stove and then I use my handy sous chef the crock pot. While cooking the big meal for the week I have another meal cooking away in the crock pot and there isn't a thing I have to do to it! These 3 meals will feed us for 6 days. The crock pot is a huge time saver and because it is one dish, clean up is a cinch. And if you have been reading closely through this post you know how important easy clean up is to me :-) Slow Cookers have a huge range in price. We are talking anywhere from $50 -$400. My personal favorite and the one I use at home is the All Clad 6 quart. It is pictured below. If you use a slow cooker a lot and want to save up for a really nice one this one is great! But you can also find some equally great ones for far less on the link I attached. It all depends on you and your family's personal needs. I do recommend a 6 quart though because you can make plenty for a large family for one meal or for a family of 4-6 to have leftovers. Recipes are easily doubled in the 6 quart size. Whatever size you get or have, just be sure to put that sous chef to use....it is a life saver and you can find a million crock pot recipes online as well as whole cookbooks devoted to them.
Crock Pots/Slow Cookers
That is all for this post. Thanks for reading the whole thing if you did. Hopefully something helped you or entertained you :-) I have listed two of my favorite websites below. I can always find a good recipe from either of these women. The first one many of you will know and the second one is becoming more and more popular. Happy Cooking from Wake Forest!
The Pioneer Woman
Mel's Kitchen Cafe
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