I'm not a chef. But I'm passionate about food - the tradition of it, cooking it, and sharing it. - Zac Posen
After living under the roofs of some pretty fantastic home chefs (aka our parents), it was a little intimidating creating our first kitchen and cooking meals together. These kitchen essentials helped us build confidence in our cooking skills and made cooking together both enjoyable and easy.
Pots & Pans:
-- Great for pasta, potatoes and vegetables! The non-stick aspect and medium size makes it very versatile. No extra strainer needed, which is one less thing to clean.
Dutch Ovens
-- As Gordon Ramsay says, "No color, no flavor!" This pan transformed our cooking. You can do it all. You can cook on the stove top and then pop in the oven. We love to brown, bake and braise meats (I'm a sucker for braised beef and pork). I've made some delicious stews as well. It's definitely the most expensive $$$ item on our list but worth every penny.
-- It's an essential for beginners. You'll be using your non-stick for everything because its simple to use and easy to clean. It is slow to heat up but retains a steady level of heat. We recommend springing for the higher end all-clad vs. a cheap alternative because this one will cook more evenly and last much longer! Only good things to say about this pan.
-- It includes an 8-Inch fry pan, 1-1/2-Quart covered saucepan, 3-Quart covered sauté pan, and 6-Quart covered stockpot. Love this set! The larger stockpot is great for using the Sous Vide and making starches for larger gatherings. The smaller saucepan is essential when cooking for two (e.g. rice, sauces). We use the larger sauté pan and fry pan to add more color and flavor when non-stick is not essential.
Knives:
-- Definitely invest in a good-quality knife set. We love the Global brand for the shape, weight, balance and ease of use. They are designed in the Japanese style and look great too. (Pro Tip: Williams Sonoma will sharpen them for free if you don't feel comfortable sharpening them at home)
Gadgets:
--The nylon tips are perfect for keeping you from scratching non-stick pans. The small size provides you with good control when cooking. We had to buy two because we use it almost nightly.
-- When building your perfect kitchen, you need the tools for almost any occasion or meal. Good quality, useful set with classic and simple storage.
(Pro Tip: not to be used on your non-stick pans but absolutely perfect for stainless steel).
Non-Stick Spatulas:
-- Why not bring a little color and humor into the kitchen? Or stick to the tried-and-true classics? Find the joy in cooking by #findinghappyfull tools!
-- This was a gift that we initially thought was useless...until we realized most of our favorite meals needed a zester to add that extra acidity. Also, great for grating garlic and ginger, which we seem to do a lot.
-- Dishwasher-safe. Durable. Simple to use. The best way to slice a nicer block of cheese when you're tired of deli slices. What more could you ask for?
-- It's super convenient for smaller kitchens. The storage case keeps them upright, compact and out of the way. The color coded plastic cutting boards keep you safe from cross-contamination of foods while cooking (e.g. uncooked chicken or fish). Best of all, they are dishwasher-safe!
-- They should call this an "Everything Slicer." Another gadget that is an unsung hero of the kitchen. Makes life just a little bit simpler.
-- We use this almost every night for something like roasted vegetables, baking salmon or baking cookies. A must-have!
-- A great tool for making sauces, dressings and more. Forget about the messy process of squeezing oranges, lemons and limes because this will get every last drop without the seeds or pulp!
For a little more cooking inspiration, check out Samin Nosrat's blog as well as her cookbook Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking and the Netflix series under the same name! If she can't make you fall in love with cooking, then I don't know what will. Enjoy!
I hope these kitchen tools boost your confidence in cooking and help you share #happyfull meals with the people you love. The ultimate goal is #findinghappyfull experiences to cherish for a lifetime.
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