The Nine Indispensible Items in my Kitchen

I can't believe it's already 2009.  The ringing in of the new year usually brings with it a slew of promises for personal betterment, but I'm not one for resolutions.  So, I thought, instead of resolving to lose 5 pounds, read Tolstoy, or dust the house everyday, I'll make some new year's proclamations instead.  

That's more my style after all.

So, today I give you (in the spirit of '09) the 9 most useful items in my kitchen:

9. My silpat liners-- they make meringues so easy to remove and are great for my annual Christmas truffle-making bonanza.

8. My box grater-- sure, a microplane is great for small zesting jobs, but when I need to grate a block of cheese (much more economical than buying the pre-shredded bag) or go to town on some potatoes and zucchini, nothing is better. Plus, it's dishwasher safe!

7. The Joy of Cooking-- If you don't have this book, please go on Amazon.com and order it right now.  It has a recipe for pretty much everything in the world.  And, chances are, it's a good one.  Simply put, TJOC is like having a little old grandma who lives in your kitchen and tells you exactly how to make all her old favorites, plus a number of international dishes.

6. My big wooden spoon-- Nothing says homemade like a wooden spoon. I use it for everything, from baking cookies to sauteing sausage. I also really love my silicone spatulas.

5. My Kitchen-Aid Mixer-- Before the kitchen aid, my mashed potatoes were pretty good, but now they are sublime.  It cuts my mixing time in half and it looks cool on the counter when I'm not using it.

4. My "jelly board" cutting boards-- I love the bright colors, their no slip bottoms, and especially the fact that they can go in the dishwasher.

3. My Zojirushi Rice Cooker-- I can pop the rice in in the middle of my work day and it's ready to eat with dinner that night.  Whether I am making fragrant basmati rice, Japanese short grain, or even a curried chicken and rice casserole, the results are always perfect.  

2. My Cuisinart Coffee Maker-- it looks so cool and I love the gold cone filter.  Plus, without it, I wouldn't be able to write this post (or do anything else, for that matter).

1. My Mario Batali Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven-- I have a ton of pots and pans that I use on a regular basis, but this one is guaranteed to be used almost daily.  I use it for pasta sauces, braising meats, making chili... almost everything.  Best of all, it goes from stove top to table and keeps food warm for hours.