Recommended Items

Digital Scales

Make the transition from measuring by volume to measuring by weight. The consistency of your finished products is worth it.

These are the best scales! I have periodically tested the accuracy of the scales that I have owned for several years and they have always tested true. These scales weigh to within 1/8 ounce and you can zero out any bowl to get a “tare” weight. Very handy, easy to use, very reliable.

Bench Scraper

Everyone needs a bench scraper. When you chop vegetables on a cutting board, you dull your knife every time you use that knife to scoop up the pieces. After you have rolled out biscuits, pie crust or anything requiring a floured surface, a bench scraper efficiently scrapes the excess flour up and off.

I particularly like this bench scraper. It’s slightly sharp and excellent for cutting biscuits, breads and measuring the thickness of any dough on the board. Its multiple uses include measuring the length of just about anything up to 6 inches.

KitchenAid Professional Mixer

This is the mixer that I use. Despite its large size for a small household, the features of the Professional KitchenAid make it worth the money. Metal gears instead of the plastic in the smaller versions, and a 575 watt motor make this a real workhorse, able to handle stiff doughs without overheating.

It handles smaller volumes fairly well, but of course it shines with 3 cups or more in the bowl. If you often cook for large gatherings you should consider this larger KitchenAid mixer.

Chop Wizard

I rarely recommend gadgets. But this Chop Wizard is a true timesaver when you have a lot of veggies to chop up. The company has improved the durability of the unit, so you can feel more confident that pressing firmly to chop a vegetable won’t break it.

The cleaning piece that now comes with the chopper was much needed and works well. Only caveat – very firm vegetables like carrots should probably be diced by hand.

Sturdy Kitchen Spoon

This is a great cooking spoon. The handle doesn’t get hot and the spoon portion is really strong. It can stir up batters and scrape a pot with ease. I own several.

Simple Apple Peeler

I love this little apple peeler. I’ve gone through several over the years and what I like about it is you control the size of the slices. Or if you want to dice a peeled apple you can do that without worrying about the thin circular slices that peeler/corer/slicer appliances force you to take. I like control of what my processed apple looks like. Plus, with supervision, this is a kid friendly way to involve children in the kitchen.

KitchenAid Cordless Hand Blender

I did my research on immersion blenders before I plunked down any of my hard-earned money. This was my pick, even with the higher price. This blender is cordless, and if you’ve ever operated an electric mixer at the stove you will appreciate its convenience and safety. I also like the attachments that make this arguably the most versatile blender out there. I chop small quantities as I would with a food processor, whip egg whites, mix pancakes and of course, smooth out cream soups in a jiffy. And it delivers the reliability of a KitchenAid. Excellent.

Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat

When I need to better understand the “why” of food interactions this book has become a primary information source. I like Samin’s down to earth discussions. She has lived the experiences that I have suffered through, and tells about it. Her hand drawn illustrations and charts make me smile as I learn. I like to give this book to my cooking friends as a gift that I know will be appreciated.

Herb Scissors

These Herb Scissors save a lot of time when I want small slices of an herb like Parsley, Cilantro or Basil. They’re nice and sharp, and I like the little comb for cleaning between the blades when it’s time for clean-up, too!