Hi, it’s me! I know it’s been a little quiet around here, and I’ve honestly been having a hard time coming up with content that’s meaningful and worth reading. The world we’re living in right now is different and weird and overwhelming. I want this to be a place you can go to be entertained, but I also don’t want to write just for the sake of writing. I want you to be able to take something away from what I share here. Figuring out what that means when stores are closed and people are shopping less is a challenge, so thank you for sticking with me. Along those lines, since I know a lot of people are cooking more, I thought I would share what I’m using most in the kitchen.
I’ve always been good about making home-cooked meals for dinners during the week. Even more so over the last year and a half since we decided to focus on eating healthier. Spending more time at home and not wasting time commuting is motivating a lot of people to flex their creative muscle in the kitchen, and I love that! The thing is, there are a lot of kitchen supplies, and while you probably have the basic essentials, I wanted to share some lesser known items that I use a lot.
When it comes to food prep, I’m a big fan of the brand Oxo. I have two sizes of their cutting boards, and I love how they grip to the counter so they don’t slide around while you’re slicing. I use a lot of their kitchen tools too, but I especially love their tongs. It may sound random, but I find myself reaching for them a lot while I’m cooking.
If you’re using more canned goods, this can opener locks onto the edge of the can before it cuts, and makes the process much easier. For those who are baking a lot, I recommend an expandable cooling rack like this one. It’s compact for storage, but gives you lots of real estate in case you decide to double the recipe.
Should you ever need to zest a lemon or grate some fresh ginger, you have to have a Microplane on hand. It’s like a longer, thinner grater, but you have much more control, especially for smaller or oddly shaped foods. Also, I’m a wimp and my eyes get easily irritated when I’m chopping onions, so these stylish goggles are a must.
This set of mini spatulas is similar to one that I have, which I use a lot. Most often, it’s when I’m trying to get the last of something out of a measuring cup or small bowl, and I love that they’re each a different shape.
One thing that I definitely didn’t know I needed is this dual wrap dispenser. Mine holds plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and although it’s intended to go in a drawer, it’s nice enough looking that you can totally leave it out on the counter for easier access.
Last, but not least, if you’re a bubbly drinker like me, you absolutely need special bottle stoppers. I picked up my first one of these at a vineyard in California, and my second at an event with Chandon, but this is a great option too. There’s nothing worse than coming back to a bottle after a couple of days and finding it flat, so do yourself a favor and grab a couple of these.
I’m sure there’s more I could share, but that’s my list of the random things I’m using most in the kitchen right now. If you have favorites, leave them in the comments! I’m always looking for recommendations.
