This is a guest post written by Harry Jennings – a cooking fanatic and regular food blogger.

Cooking at home is without doubt increasing in popularity, with TV chefs rising to stardom and spreading the word of good food. People are being shown how to create exciting dishes at home, and a new breed of wannabe chefs is taking over much of the planet. As we become more adventurous in the kitchen, we develop our skills; and in order to do that we need the right equipment.

In this post we’ve put together a list of our top 5 kitchen utensils that no kitchen should be without. If you don’t own all of these, perhaps it’s time to invest! As a little tip, it’s always a good idea to invest in high quality kitchen equipment, as you really do get what you pay for.

Solid Pots and Pans

If you scrimp and save when it comes to pots and pans, you really can find that the poor quality stuff can make cooking even more of a difficult task. With flimsy pans you’ll find it hard to control the heat, which will often result in you burning your food. Also, you need to make sure that the pans are non-stick, otherwise you’ll have a real task on your hands when it comes to cleaning up!

Quality Knives

Poor quality, blunt knives are every chef’s nightmare. Make sure that you have some good quality blades and that you sharpen them regularly. You should have a variety of different shapes and sizes of knives, as it makes it easier if you have the right knife for the job in hand. For example, slicing bread with a fruit knife is going to cause problems.

Stick Blender

Whether you’re making a soup, a sauce or blitzing your herbs and spices, stick blenders are the ultimate tool. You just have to look at chefs like Jamie Oliver to see how often you can use a blender to make the fiddly chopping jobs a breeze.

A Good Mixer

Anyone who tries their hand at baking needs a good quality standing kitchen mixer. Forget putting in all that extra elbow grease to get the perfect mixture, let the electric mixer do the hard work for you. You can get some really stylish models now, such as the Kitchenaid Mixer, which can actually make a great touch to any kitchen.

Pestle and Mortar

A Pestle and mortar is by far the best way to combine different herbs and spices. With a pestle and mortar you can infuse the flavours of the ingredients that your working with, and they’re a great tool for creating tasty dressings.

OXO kitchen tools are like a trusted friend in the kitchen.  They are reliable, dependable and they’ll never let you down.   You can count on them when you need them most and they’ll never give away your secrets (like the time you licked the brownie batter bowl to a polished shine!)


So which of the many OXO tools are my favorites?  Here’s my top 10.

OXO Good Grips Cherry Pitter

I adore cherries.  Eat them by the handful.  But the pits are, well, the pits.  If only cherries could be eaten without them life would be good.  With this innovative cherry pitter, you can save yourself the embarrassment of looking like a trucker spitting your pits everywhere and easily punch them out into a bowl instead.

OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner

A good salad spinner is invaluable in the kitchen.  It washes and dries your lettuce with a few simple spins, is easy to clean and makes healthier eating easy and fun.  My kids love to help with this kitchen task so if you have little ones, let them spin the salad.  It’s one less thing for you to do at dinnertime.

OXO Steel Can Opener

I can’t even count how many can openers I have gone through over the years.  It can be hard to find a really good one that will stand the test of time.  I prefer steel can openers with chunky handles and rubber grips so it is comfortable to use as well as strong and durable.

OXO Good Grips Silicone Pastry Brush

I am so grateful for the invention of silicone (in the kitchen that is….).  And a silicone brush is a really handy tool to have in your gadget drawer.  I use mine for everything from brushing on glazes to saucing up hamburgers.

OXO Good Grips Cookie Scoop

I still remember the first time I saw someone use a mini scoop to measure out cookie dough.  I thought it was ingenious!  Now, these are a must have tool for any baking Mom.  Using a cookie scoop ensures that your cookies are all the same size so your whole batch bakes to an even golden brown.

OXO Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set

Another must have for the baker in the family.  A set of stainless steel bowls is essential.  They are easy to clean, look really professional, don’t retain smell or flavor and stack together for easy storage.  I use my stainless bowls every day – couldn’t live without ‘em.

OXO Good Grips Bottle Brush

My youngest baby is now almost four so it has been a long while since I have needed a brush for cleaning baby bottles, but when I did, this tool was a lifesaver.   Now I use it for things like canning jars and thermoses so it still gets the occasional workout.

Upright Broom & Dustpan

Okay so this one isn’t exactly a kitchen tool, but it is certainly a necessity if you cook and bake like I do.  Perfectly compact, this broom and dustpan can easily be stored near your kitchen for those quick clean ups.

Good Grips Dough Blender

When I use my dough blender, I pretend that I am a pastry chef in France somewhere making the most divine dessert.  Really I am just blending together some butter, brown sugar, flour and oats to make a topping for apple crisp but still… a girl can dream.

OXO Salt and Pepper Grinder

Everyone needs a good set of spice grinders.  They look professional and elegant and let’s be honest, everyone loves to twist them right?  They bring a restaurant-like feel right to your kitchen table.

So there’s my list.  Do you have any favorites to add?

For Christmas last year, my Mom gave all the men in my family a new Keurig coffee maker.    It was such a great gift and since then my husband has fallen completely in love with his little machine. But for me – as a non-coffee drinker – I am far more in love with the cute K cup holder that twirls beautifully on my counter.

The carousel tower holds 30 little K-cups and rotates on a lazy-Susan type base for easy access.  It looks so homey and comforting when it is full of K-cups – it makes me wish I liked coffee!

I also love this little k-cup holder when it comes to entertaining.  Okay… for me entertaining means having my siblings and their families over for dinner but still….. The mini brewer and the carousel are always a big hit when we put it out after dinner and everyone gets to choose their own coffee flavor.

There are a variety of different k cup carousels out there.  Some, like the one pictured above, are a more rectangular design while others are shorter and more round.  There is even a space saver design that is more like a drawer – quite neat.

Be aware that when you purchase a carousel tower, the k-cups are not normally included.  Thankfully though, you can buy K cups just about anywhere these days.  My local kitchen specialty store has a huge variety of different flavors and you can mix and match your favorite individual cups.  Needless to say, I have a lot of fun whenever I stop in.  Amazon.com also sells k-cups for a great price if you need to fill up your tower.

And here’s a hint:  These two items together would make a perfect Father’s Day gift for any coffee loving Dad.

Whether you already own a food processor or are considering buying one, I thought this list of my top 7 food processor uses would be helpful.

I know when I was considering buying my first food processor, I often wondered whether or not I would actually use it.  I certainly didn’t want it to become another one of those appliances that gets stuffed into the back of the closet because it never gets used.

Well there really is no need to worry about that with a food processor.  It is an indispensable kitchen tool that can be used for so many things.  And if you don’t believe me – take it from one of the world’s most popular cooks – Rachael Ray!

In Rach’s Summer 2008 issue, a reader asked what the superstar cook’s favorite appliance was.  Rachael answered that her “favorite – and only – appliance is a food processor.  Other than my knife, cutting board and stove, it’s all I need!”  Cool.

So there you have it.  Now on with the list…..

1.  Slicing Fruits & Veggies

Most food processors come with a slicing disc that is attached to the inner stem of the machine.  It sits near the top rather than the bottom of the food processor bowl for a more even slice.  This is perfect for preparing thinly sliced scalloped potatoes or cucumbers for the top of a salad.

2.  Shredding Anything

No longer will you need to spend the extra money to buy pre-shredded cheese at the supermarket.  Save yourself the cash and let the food processor do all the work.  I use the shredding disc to grate cheese, cabbage for coleslaw and potatoes for hash browns.

3.  Kneading Dough

If you love to bake fresh homemade bread, then you will love how easy it is to knead dough with a food processor.  There is no “knead” to flex your muscles when you have a food processor – save that for the gym!

4.  Making Salad Dressings & Sauces

One of my favorite food processor uses is to making delicious homemade dressings, sauces and marinades.  Just keep the sharp blade whizzing as you slowly add in the ingredients you like most.  The possibilities are endless.

5. Crushing Ice

Oh yes!  These little machines and their blades are powerful enough to crush ice in a hurry!  So if you love to sip daiquiris and pina coladas on the patio, then you can count on the food processor to help you out.

6.  Soups & Purees

Who says you need a blender to make purees?  A food processor can do the job equally well.  Whether it is a fruit smoothie or a creamy broccoli and cheese soup, the sharp blades and large capacity bowl of a food processor ( especially the Cuisinart 7 cup food processor ) are just the ticket.

7.  Baby Food

I have talked about this one in a few articles here on the site.  When I was making homemade baby food for my little ones, I started out with a blender.  It worked okay but once I switched over to a food processor, I found it so much easier.  Again, the blades and bowl are perfect for making baby food.

So are you convinced yet that you need to have a food processor in your kitchen? Well if you want to learn a little more about why I think everyone should own one, check out my review of the best food processor for the money!

If you are a new Mom and are considering making homemade baby food for your wee one then you are probably wondering what type of machine you need to do it.  There are so many different kinds of appliances out there that it can be hard to decide which one is worth buying.  In my humble opinion, the best choice for new Moms is to use a food processor for baby food.

Here are several reasons why a food processor is the perfect choice for making baby food:

• The large capacity bowl means you can make bigger batches of baby food at one time (perfect for freezing).
• The variety of different blades that come with a food processor means you can slice, dice, chop and puree almost any food you can imagine.
• The pulse feature allows you to keep food chunkier as your baby grows and can eat more solid textures.
• Sharp food processor blades can even grind up the all-important whole grains to add to your baby’s diet.
• You can use a food processor in your kitchen for cooking and baking everyday food for the rest of your family as well.
• The wide mouth bowl makes it easy to remove the blades and clean up when you’re done.  Most food processor bowls and accessories are dishwasher safe – love that!

When I first started making my own baby food, I used a blender.  It worked okay, but here are a few frustrations I had along the way:

• Blenders are really designed to liquefy so it was difficult to make baby food with a thicker consistency.
• The narrow base of the blender makes it difficult to get the food out after it is pureed and it can also be hard to clean.
• Although a blender looks like it has a large capacity, it doesn’t lend itself well to making large batches of baby food at one time.
• I like appliances that offer me a lot of versatility in the kitchen and blenders don’t really have many other functions – other than milkshakes and smoothies however, which I adore!

So the answer is yes… you can use a food processor for baby food and in fact, it is probably the best choice you can make.  Give a food processor a “whirl” – you’ll love it!

If you don’t already have one, be sure to read my review of the Cuisinart 7 Cup Food Processor.  It would be the perfect choice for making baby food.

If there are two things in this world that I absolutely love (besides my husband and kids of course because they aren’t so bad either) it is pizza and cast iron cookware.

One is a big part of my traditional Friday night routine – accompanied of course by a cold Pepsi, a movie on the TV and three little pizza smeared faces curled up around me.  The other is a big part of my cooking endeavors on almost every other night of the week.

So when I stumbled on this pre-seasoned cast iron pizza pan from Lodge Pro Logic, I heard the angels sing.  It was like a match made in heaven!

My mouth is watering…..

This 14” cast iron pan is just what every pizza lover needs in her arsenal.  It comes pre-seasoned – although I would suspect that re-seasoning it in the traditional way would only add to the flavor of your pizza.  I’m thinking a few Sunday breakfasts with a pound or two of bacon sizzling on top would do the trick.

And although I love the size of this pan, the curved handles and the fact that it retains heat like nobody’s business, the thing  I love most about this type of pizza pan is the authenticity it offers to home cooks.  Using this pan would be like creating your very own pizzeria right in your own kitchen.

Yummy homemade pizza with a perfect golden brown crust that is soft and chewy with just the right amount of crispiness – is there anything better in life than that?

Oh no my mouth is watering again……

The only other recommendation I can make about enjoying pizza at home is to go the extra mile and make your own dough.  Use your Panasonic Bread Maker or the Best Food Processor you can get your hands on to do it.  You “knead” to make your own dough… promise me you will!

I’ll admit it – as much as I love being in the kitchen cooking or baking delicious food for my family, there are a few tasks that I don’t enjoy.  One of those tasks is peeling potatoes.  I’m not sure why really but when potatoes are on the menu I find myself wishing that there was some magical way to make the potatoes peel themselves.

Unfortunately, this never happens.  I can’t wave my wand, shout abracadabra and have a pile of peeled and sliced potatoes fall right into the pot.  Man, it would be great if I could though.

So last night as I stood at my counter doing the unfavorable chore of peeling some Yukon Gold’s I was thinking back to a tool my Mom had for peeling potatoes.  It was as close to magically peeling potatoes as you can get – or at least it seemed that way to me as a child.

It was a tool that, if I remember correctly, mounted to the edge of the counter and Mom would crank the handle to rotate the potato against a sharp blade.  This not only peeled the potato but sliced it as well.  (Personally, the slicing part isn’t an issue for me.  I just throw the spuds into a food processor.  But peeling…… well that’s a different story!)

So after a fair bit of snooping around I found that these manually operated “magic” potato and apple peelers are still around.  In fact, they are extremely popular and sell like crazy on Amazon.com.  Guess I’m not the only one that hates peeling!

Of course these machines have come a long way since then.

What make today’s models even better than the one I remember Mom having is that they do it all. They are a peeler, corer and slicer all in one.  You just stick your potato or apple on it, turn the handle and presto change-o, you have easily and rather magically avoided the dreaded duty of peeling a pile of potatoes. (Say that five times fast!)

One of the questions I get asked about all the time is how to make fondue. I think it can be a confusing thing for people because it is something you don’t do very often. But if the process of making fondue could be simplified somehow, I think it would be an excellent way to mix things up a bit at your next party or family get-together.

Making fondue in a traditional fondue pot like the bestselling Cuisinart CFO-3SS Electric Fondue Maker has to be one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of the kitchen. Although fondue pots are a popular bridal registry item and are often given as house warming gifts, by the time the thank you cards are sent, the fondue pot has usually disappeared never to be seen again. They end up in the back of a closet or in the attic or even *gasp* re-gifted!

So why does everyone want a fondue pot when no one really knows how to make fondue?

Fondue can be easy to make. Sure there are some recipes that require rare vegetables or marinated meat and some even call for exotic ingredients but those recipes are the reason your fondue pot is gathering dust instead of being used.

The key to getting use out of your fondue pot is to pick very simple recipes that are easy to make. A basic cheese fondue that substitutes regular Swiss Cheese for the more expensive and harder to find Gruyere cheese or a Mocha Fondue for coffee and chocolate lovers are simple, tasty and inexpensive. Here are a couple basic recipes that use very common ingredients for you to try out:

Swiss Fondue

2 cups dry White Wine
1 Garlic Clove
1 lb Swiss Cheese – shredded in your Cuisinart Food Processor
3 tbsp Flour
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
1/4 tsp White Pepper
Salt to taste
Nutmeg to taste

Rub the inside of the fondue pot with the garlic clove and add clove to pot.

Heat up the white wine & lemon juice on medium low heat – should be hot but do not boil.

Mix flour and shredded cheese in a bowl.

Slowly add cheese mixture to wine and lemon juice and stir constantly.

Add remainder of ingredients to the pot.
Optional: Add a splash of Kirsch or Blackberry Brandy
To Dip: Italian bread cut into cubes, vegetables or flat breads.

Mocha Fondue
8 oz Semisweet Chocolate
1/2 cup Hot Espresso or Coffee
3 tbsp Granulated Sugar
2 tbsp Butter
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Chop chocolate into small pieces and set aside.
Heat espresso and sugar in fondue pot on low heat.
Slowly add chocolate and butter while stirring.
Add Vanilla and a splash of Irish Cream (optional)
For Dipping: Angel Food Cake, Apple Slices, Bananas, Strawberries, Pound Cake, Pretzels, Pineapple Chunks, Marshmallows – really anything goes!!

Fondue can be easy to make and it’s definitely fun. The key is to use simple recipes so that you can spend your time enjoying fondue and not worrying about getting a complicated recipe right. Isn’t it time that your fondue pot became a permanent fixture on your counter top? Just don’t shove your other handy appliances like your Panasonic bread maker or KitchenAid Attachments into the closet Ok?  Promise?

As far as I can tell, there are three groups of people that will find the FoodSaver v2840 useful in their kitchen – people who like to eat fresh healthy food at home, people who like to save money whenever possible and people who enjoy an organized and efficient kitchen.

I know I fall into all three of those categories….  How about you?

You see, vacuum sealers can help with all of these things.  Here’s how:

• A vacuum sealer like the FoodSaver v2840 allows you to cut back on the amount of time you spend cooking meals in your kitchen.  Simply prepare extra large batches of meals like pasta, burgers or casseroles and freeze whatever you don’t eat right away.  Then re-heat your frozen meal on a night when the kids have soccer practice or a ballet recital – definitely beats eating fast food when you are in a pinch for a meal!

• Vacuum sealers can also save you a bunch of money over the years.  Sure the upfront cost for a good quality vacuum sealer may seem like a lot but over time you can potentially save yourself a lot of cash!  The best way to save is to buy meat in large quantities when it is on sale, seal it and store it for future use.  No more freezer burnt meat!
  

  Courtesy of FoodSaver.com

• And lastly, I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for a way to keep my fridge and freezer more organized.   There is nothing worse than having to stuff your food into any tiny spot you can find and then quickly slamming the door shut to stop everything from falling back out.  Sound familiar?  Well a FoodSaver vacuum sealer can create small tidy packets of frozen food that you can stack and store with ease.

Want to see if the FoodSaver v2840 is the right model for you?  You can keep reading my two cents or you can click here to check out this great deal.

Why Choose the FoodSaver v2840 Advanced Design?

Well if you have used FoodSaver products before than you know that the name FoodSaver is synonymous with top quality sealer products that are durable, affordable and well trusted.  The v2840 is no exception.  With its sleek stainless appearance and its improved functions and features this food sealer is a great buy.  

Here’s what a few happy customers are saying about this model:

If you have a refrigerator and/or a freezer and store food, you want one of these!

I recommend this FoodSaver to all my friends and those who have bought it like it too.

This is my first experience with a vacuum seal product and it has been a great one.

Consumers are obviously quite pleased with their FoodSaver sealer purchase.  In fact, the FoodSaver v2840 reviews are so positive that the product has earned itself a 4.5 out of 5 star rating at Amazon.com with close to 150 written reviews.  Go here to read more.

What Do I Get For My Money?

• Improved functionality and new innovative features like an extra wide sealing strip, two sealer settings and multiple food settings for use with both solids and liquids.

• A new design that actually flips up to help save counter space

• A convenient drip tray that is safe for the dishwasher

• A continuous roll of bags to get started right away freezing your food

• Full instructions (including a DVD) – although many reviewers claim that the machine is so easy to use that the instructions aren’t even required!

How Much?

Well that all depends on where you shop!  I have seen this model priced quite a bit higher than the current price at Amazon.com.  But you shouldn’t expect to pay more than $210.00 for this top of the line model.

Is There Anything Bad about This Machine?

Well nothing is perfect – not even the v2840.  While the majority of the reviews are positive, a few people commented on the loss of suction over time due to the wearing of the foam gaskets.  These gaskets create the seal between the lid and the base of the sealer and over time the weight of the lid seems to “squish” the foam on the bottom.  There is an easy remedy however.  Simply remove the gaskets, wash them and let them dry.  Then replace the two foam pieces and the model should function as good as new.

A vacuum sealer is a fantastic way to save time, money and frustration from an overstuffed and unorganized freezer.  Do yourself a favor and read more about the advantages of a FoodSaver v2840 for your kitchen.

Kitchen gadgets for Mom are always a great gift idea.  Whether Mom is an extraordinary cook, a baking whiz or just loves to putter around in the kitchen, these gadgets will make her heart flutter.

Microplane 40020 Zester/Grater

For years I used a standard hand held cheese grater to zest lemons, grate chocolate and so on.  It wasn’t until I bought a microplane that I realized just how important it is to have the right tools in the kitchen.  This handy kitchen utensil easily allows Mom to grate, zest or shred in the palm of her hand.

Silpat Non-Stick Baking Mat

Love, love, love my Silpat!  I use this non-stick silicone mat almost every day.  I simply slide it over top of my baking sheet and I can be sure that whatever I am baking, from cookies to scones, will come out with a delicious golden brown bottom with no burning or sticking.  And I love the clean up.  No more scraping burnt bits off of my cookie sheets.

Wilton Easy Flex 3-piece Silicone Spatula Set

Every Mom needs a good spatula set in her kitchen.   While I do love my wooden spoons, a silicone set comes in very handy as well.   I love that these ones are heat, odor and stain resistant and come in three different sizes.

OXO Good Grips Pastry Scraper

At first glance, you may think that this tool couldn’t possibly have many uses in the kitchen.  Well that would be a very wrong assumption.  This versatile scraper can be used to easily slide chopped veggies from a cutting board, it can be used to measure and cut bread and pastry dough and for the lazy cook it makes slice-and-bake cookies even easier to divide!

Wilton Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack

This one is on my very own Christmas list this year.  Right now I have a single tier cooling rack in my kitchen and use it all the time.  The problem with only one tier though is that there isn’t enough room for even a single batch of cupcakes and cookies and they end up overflowing onto my counter.  A second and third tier would be fantastic!

KitchenAid Pasta Roller Attachment

If you have read my review of these excellent Kitchenaid Mixer Attachments then you know how much I adore them.  They simply attach to the side of Mom’s stand mixer and within minutes she’ll be cooking up fresh tasty strips of homemade pasta.  This is one kitchen gadget for Mom that the whole family will get to enjoy!

Cuisinart 7-Speed Hand Mixer

Whether Mom needs to whip up a quick batch of muffins for the school bake sale or the kids want fresh whipped cream atop their hot chocolate, a hand mixer will be Mom’s best friend.  Armed with this multi-purpose kitchen tool, Mom will be able to handle any kitchen challenge you throw at her.

EatSmart Digital Kitchen Scale

For health conscious Moms a digital kitchen scale is a great kitchen gadget gift idea.  This scale allows her to keep track of calorie intake as well as control portion sizes so she can keep her New Years resolution on track this year.

Progressive 19 – Piece Measuring Cup and Spoon Set

Over the years, I have lost or broken more than my share of measuring cups and spoons so I am always on the look out for great quality measuring sets.  I love the colors of this smart set (white, red and gray) and the fact that they are durable and dishwasher safe makes them even more attractive.  So if Mom has a drawer full of mismatched measuring cups she will love this neat and tidy collection.

Oregon Scientific AW131 Grill Right Wireless Talking Oven/Barbeque Thermometer

If there is one thing that my husband does better than me in our kitchen it is definitely cooking meat!  I always struggle with knowing whether or not the meat is cooked properly.  This wireless thermometer takes away the guesswork.  You simply stick the probe in the meat, set it to the temperature or doneness level you desire and let it tell you when the meat is ready.