There are times when I convince myself that I simply cannot live without ANY of the many, many cooking gadgets and tools I have carefully arranged and collected in my kitchen.
Then I remind myself that “I’ve done it before,” and that it truly is possible to lean out my princess preferences and survive with a little less than preferred.
So, I think about my essentials. The things I use every single day – literally – can cannot cook without.
I think about my month-long sojourn in France, attempting to cook and prepare delicious meals with the bounty of farmer’s market fare with a silly knife hardly sharp enough to slice butter (not an exaggeration, by the way), two broken burners on a scratched stovetop, no counter space, and one measly warped pot. And I remember the items that really would have been exactly what I needed – and what I do need – for every meal.
I have a few – just a few – I just can’t cook without.
- 8″ All-Clad Copper Core Fry Pan: yes, I use this every single day. I do love my cast iron and would never want to give up those puppies (I love the pretty colors too), but the fact that I can “accidentally” char and burn this dealio and then scrub the heck out of it to reach stainless steel shiny perfection once again makes me very happy. And, I love the copper core. Love, love, LOVE it! The heat conduction is amazing.
- Shun Sora Chef’s Knife: I’m all about quality and with the 4 Shun knives with which I’ve been gifted, this one truly is my favorite. I love my Blue Steel, my Utility, and my pairing knife too, but this Sora does it all for me. It’s comfortable in my hand – it just feels right, and I’ll keep it close to my heart, thank you very much.
- Vitamix: There was a time in my life when I lived out of duffel bags for almost 2 years, moving from here to there, there to here, and so on. Nearly all of my belongings were packed away in storage during that time – ALL my kitchen utilities – except my Vitamix. Can you believe I carried that thing with me all that time from apartment to apartment, house to house, etc.? Crazy, maybe. But you foodies will understand. It’s the best. I love it. I puree, whip, blend, process until my heart sings in this kitchen of mind, and I’ll continue to do so.
- Silly Spatula: Yes, this silly yellow rubber spatula of mine has been with me for over 10 years now. I have no idea the brand-name or where I picked up the little thing. But it’s the best. I have many other spatulas, spoons, whisks, tongs, and so forth, but this silicone deal does the trick for anything and everything. I so adore it and hope with all my heart that it never wears away.
Now, all of that said and spilled, I have a confession to make. My musings were directly inspired by BlueStar Cooking when I heard about their friendly little foodie project. I was invited, among other professional chefs and kitchen passionistas, to spill the beans about my “can’t-cook-without-it” tools. The idea is that beginners tend to give up on cooking because they don’t know where to start, or think they need an arsenal of kitchen tools to cook like a pro. So I wanted to share my tips on how just a few high quality essentials can do the job!
And guess what…
I was also asked to share about my dream kitchen. Yes, my dream kitchen. I am a BIG dreamer. Big, BIG!!
And you know what I really want?
THIS:
The BlueStar 36″ French Top Sealed Burner Range
IN SAPPHIRE
…with brushed bronze accents
… … isn’t she just beautiful… …
I can only imagine this resplendency living in my kitchen.
But hey, dreams do come true ~ sometimes.
