a few of my favorite things
le creuset baking dish (with lid!)
Who doesn’t need a go-to baking dish? But how about a baking dish that comes with a lid? Now you have my attention! And it is not just any lid, but a solid lid that you can actually stack things on top of and the contents inside will not be smushed or ooze out of the sides onto your hands or car’s seats. After going through a few holidays lugging things to my parents’ house and the foil cover getting stuck to the crust on my mac and cheese, I decided it was time to find a solution. Oh and the lid can also become a serving platter. Your casserole’s chariot awaits.
Staub pumpkin cocotte
It may not be pumpkin season year round, but I would be happy to have this pot in my kitchen year round. I find that things taste better when you love what they are being served out of. Similar to the sensation of everything tasting better that comes out of your mom or grandmother’s kitchen. Your affection for them and the space you’re in with them, just make things taste better. I am applying that logic to this pan because honestly, it makes me happy every time I look at it. The soups, chickens, dips, or chilis that come out of this thing are bound to be delicious as well. Speaking of delicious, look at that perfect orange color. Yum—remember you eat with your eyes first!
staub animal knobs
They say accessories make the outfit so why not accessorize your pots and pans? My obsession started with the adorable chicken on my Coq Au Vin pot. Since then, I have collected the precious pig for this and I think I am going to put the fish knob on this one next. My ultimate goal is to get this enormous one and put the hard to source cow knob on it. Apparently it is only available in Europe. Challenge accepted.
SiLpat silicone baking mat
When Aladinn asked Jasmine if she wanted to go on a magic carpet ride, I think they were riding on this. This is a Silpat and if you don’t have one—you need one! See also: A magic carpet ride for cookies. It is a reusable, nonstick liner and comes in different sizes for all of your baking needs. You don’t want to use oil/nonstick spray when baking? Use this. You want to make clean up a breeze? Use this. You want to ensure your baked good achieve a perfect bottom? Use this. I wrote an entire post here comparing different baking surfaces and reviewed how they affected a batch of cookies. I will let the picture speak for itself.
Breville COntrol Grip Immersion Blender
My husband often jokes that efficiency should be my middle name. While I think I will stick to my maiden name serving as my middle, I truly believe that efficiency is the middle name of this Breville appliance, or as I call it “the magic stick.” It comes with an immersion blender head, a mini food processor (perfect for pesto or sauce making), and it also has a whisk attachment. All with a dial control for speed. Honestly, it is perfection personified for the home cook.
TOVOLO Cupcake Scooper
I’ll be honest, I did not register for this when I got married. But, thankfully, my sister-in-law gave me a cupcake essentials basket at one of my bridal showers. I looked at this little gadget suspicoiusly as I unboxed it. How could this be any different than using a measuring cup? Oh how I was wrong. This is a lifesaver in the areas of time and clean up. It also ensures equal batter distribution, which makes your baked goods cook evenly. Give your two spoons and a rest and buy this little beauty. It’s less than $10.
mICROPLANE ZESTER
I don’t know about you, but if I can avoid mincing garlic, I will. Ever since I sliced my chubby, little, 8-year-old finger open because I was very over-enthusiastically cutting my cheeseburger for consumption, I have been a little nervous around knives. I have two chefs knives I love, but this little baby makes the small cuts for me, and can do it right over the pan. Win-win.