These are some of my favorite items in my kitchen. I hope they will help make your cooking dreams come true.
Ulu Knife
I first learned about Ulu knives on a trip to Alaska about 10 years ago. They are such a great tool for mincing herbs or making a chopped salad in a bowl. They typically come with a wooden chopping cradle similar to the one in the image here that you can order on Amazon.
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer
I have had my Breville Smart Oven for a couple of years now and use it 90% of the time versus my large freestanding oven. I toast bagels, broil peppers, bake bread, roast veggies, and air fry potatoes. Plus, it fits a 9 X 13 casserole perfectly so you don't have to heat up your whole kitchen for a lasagna or other one dish dinner. You can also dehydrate food but I have not tried that yet. Here is the link to the one I have from Williams Sonoma.
Garlic Press
Like this one from Williams Sonoma. This is a huge timesaver. You put the cloves in there skin and all, squeeze them and out pops perfectly minced garlic. You will never buy pre-minced garlic again once you see how easy this is to use with fresh garlic.
Silicon Egg Poaching Cups
I never was very good at poaching eggs perfectly but these things take the guesswork out of it. After some trial and error, I found a six minute egg in one of these is perfect for me. Here is the link to one popular version on Amazon.
Mandolin
A mandolin is a great time saver if you have a lot of slicing to do and want consistent slices. I use this for pickles and to make very thinly sliced red onions for salads and sautés. They are also great for making your own potato chips which I haven't tried yet. Hey! There's a good idea for the dehydrate setting on my Breville oven! These can be really fancy and expensive but I have this simple Oxo one and it works just fine for my needs.
Cast Iron Skillet
Cast iron skillets can seem intimidating. I did not start using one until I watched Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman) make it look so easy. They really retain the heat and are great for getting a golden sear on meat. I also love to make frittatas that can go from stove top to oven without changing pans. I am all about as few dishes as possible. Here is a classic one from Lodge.
