My Everyday Kitchen Essentials

In the words of Maria Von Trapp, "Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start!" When I think about my everyday kitchen essentials they are actually very limited. I may be a collector of all things kitchen but on a day to day basis I go back to the same tried and true tools to get the job done. Here are the pieces that I can't live without!

1. KitchenAid® Artisan Stand Mixer. I STILL have the same basic white stand mixer that was given to me by my parents as a birthday gift in college. What college freshman asks for a stand mixer? Well, evidently I do. Even after all of these years it's still creaming butter like a champ!
2. Ball Mason Jars in various sizes. I use mason jars for EVERYTHING. Small jars used as juice glasses, ½ pint jars for storing sauces and quart jars for dry goods in my pantry. I save leftovers in mason jars and use them to gift homemade goodies. I even throw cut flowers in them for easy vases. They are so versatile! These two sizes are my favorite: 32 oz wide mouth & 16 oz wide mouth.
3. Mini Prep Food Processor. If you hate chopping onion and garlic (like I do) then you will love this tool! I can mince up onion for recipes in just a few pulses and save myself the tears. Plus I used this a lot when I was pureeing food for the babies.
4. Microplane Rasp Grater. Turns out I zest A LOT of citrus, go figure! This baby is used almost daily. It's also awesome for a quick grate of fresh garlic. Bam!
5. Whisk. Ok, so I have a silver handled whisk not this beautiful brass one but I couldn't help myself! I use my whisk all of the time for making sauces and of course for baking. Aren't whisks fun?
6. Wooden Spoons. I have a ton of wooden spoons both new and vintage thanks to my Aunt who sent me some old family heirlooms. You can never have enough wooden spoons! I have my favorites that I use for different purposes. I keep them all in a large ceramic water pitcher next to my stovetop for easy access. These olive wood spoons are so gorgeous!
7. All-Clad Pots & Pans. These pans get a whole lot of use in my kitchen: 12" non-stick & 9" stainless.
8. Quarter Sheet Pans. I love these little guys! They just so happen to be the perfect size for roasting veggies or baking salmon fillets when you are cooking for two (+ two babies.)
9. Fine Mesh Strainer. I use this strainer every single day and sometimes twice a day! Washing berries. Straining canned beans. Draining pasta. Rinsing rice. Oh, and this large strainer from William Sonoma fits perfectly across the length of my sink which makes it hands free. So convenient!
10. Lemon Press. Again with the citrus! I love my lemon press and use it all of the time for both lemons and limes. Hello, margaritas?
11. Ice Cream Scoops. Not just for ice cream my friends! I use the small scoop for cookie dough and the medium (standard size) scoop for portioning out ground beef or turkey for meatballs and sliders and filling muffin tins with batter when baking. Of course I do scoop the occasional ice cream with it as well.

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