Kitchen Favorites

Happy Friday! In lieu of my (sometimes) regular Wine Friday post, I'm participating in a really fun Linky Party! One of my favorite blogs, 33 Shades of Green, is hosting a Kitchen Favorites Party today.

I've been meaning to do a post about some of my favorite kitchen gadgets for a long time now. As many of my friends have been planning weddings and setting up registries, I've thought that this would be a really handy list to have if you were starting out! So, great idea, Alissa! Here are my Top 12 favorite kitchen gadgets that I look forward to using and get the most help from:

Salt and Pepper Grinder Mill

There is a big difference in fresh-ground salt and pepper and the regular stuff. These are really fun to use and ours even light up. My parents get a kick out of them! They are from Williams-Sonoma.

Microplane Herb Mill

I LOVE THIS. I have fresh herbs in the warmer months and love this gadget. It's dishwasher safe and is very convenient when you need a large amount of chopped herbs.

Nut Chopper

I am a recent addict of this nut chopper. My mother-in-law grabbed me one from a Williams-Sonoma outlet sale and I thought "I'll never use that." Well, I was wrong. It is so handy and has a fine or coarse grind option. I am a big fan!

Apple Peeler-Corer-Slicer

I remember registering for this and my mother saying something like "oh, you don't really need that." Well, I have grown to adore this classic contraption. When making an apple pie, or my Taffy Apple Pizza, this is a huge time-saver and is just plain FUN to use. I get excited when I have an excuse to pull this out of the cabinet!

Avocado Pitter and Slicer

This is another prep tool that I like. We love avocados in the summer and the slicing end of this tool is great. It leaves nothing to waste!

Strawberry Set

I am a strawberry fanatic. I can't get enough of them. They are my absolute favorite food! When I saw this set at a store, I had to have it. The pitter has become my favorite tool. It hulls the top out so easily, and wastes less than just chopping the top off with a knife.

Cuisinart Immersion Blender

An immersion blender is a MUST. I repeat, a MUST. I also get excited when I get to use this gadget. I love to make this salad dressing, and it's really handy for soups.

Pampered Chef Coating Trays
I am a big fan of breaded things. These coating trays make it easy for dredging and it all goes into the dishwasher afterwards. Bowls are not always the best for dredging and these are just perfect.

Calphalon Multi-Pot
We are big pasta lovers in our house. This multi pot is super convenient for cooking and draining pasta. It also has a top steamer basket that I use for broccoli and other vegetables. Second to my skillets, this is the piece of cookware I reach for the most.

Grill Pan
A grill pan is a gal's best friend if you don't want to use a full grill. My husband is great about firing up the grill, but sometimes we only want to grill one thing, or the weather is cold. I love the convenience of this item and the clean-up is a breeze.

Pampered Chef Baking Stone
Every kitchen needs a good, seasoned baking stone. I really like the line that Pampered Chef has. It is great for pizzas and cookies, among other things.

Herb Keeper
When I'm not growing my own herbs in the warm months, I want the get the longest life out of purchased herbs. This little item keeps them fresh for as long as possible in the fridge.



I hope you have enjoyed my Top 12 round-up! I'm all about items that make life in the kitchen easier and these products have become favorites of mine. I could also easily do a Top 12 list of pieces that I've found to be totally useless :) Maybe I'll do that post soon, too!

Now - head on over to the Linky Party for more ideas!

Have a great weekend!!