My Favorite Things

Over the years I've formed a very close relationship with some of my kitchen items.  Perhaps, unhealthy.  I actually might cry if my steamer stopped working.  So, I thought I'd post a few things that I find to be the most helpful in my kitchen.  Things that I just couldn't live without.  So here we go.

Martha Stewart.  Ex- con or not, she knows her shiz.  I absolutely love these biscuit/cookie/donut cutters. You can find these at Macy's. They make life easier when making mass amounts of biscuits and since they're "nesting" cutters, they don't take up much space in my drawer.  And its a good thing.

Chicago Cutlery makes a really good knife set on the budget.  I bought mine a few years ago for next to nothing at Kohl's, we didn't have much money back then.  But I had a coupon, they were an extra 30% off and I had a gift card from my birthday and I literally bought these for like 20 bucks.  A good knife makes all the difference.

When I make cookies, I MAKE cookies.  I'm serious about some cooking making.  That's why I love The Food Network's cookie sheets.  I've used these for pizzas as well.  Perfectly golden crusts and cookies everytime.  They clean up so easily and these are the only ones that say they're non stick and actually ARE.  Amazing.

The French Rolling Pin.  Amazing tool in the kitchen and in combat if need be.  Perfect for pastry rolling and precise rolling.  I love this thing.

KitchenAid.  Beautiful, glorious.....KitchenAid.  I've already established I'm serious about cookie making.  I had put off getting one of these for years and its almost shameful how much one of these things cost. When our nanny of four years and friend were coming up on their wedding, she asked if I would make around 600 cookies for her cookie bar she set out for guests while the bridal party had their photos taken.  So I bit the bullet and finally bought one. But, my motto in all things is, if you're going to be a bear, be a big one.  So I got the commerical grade.  No regrets.

I'm originally from Illinois and the only other state in the country that's as gung ho about their pizza as we are is New York.  I make mass amounts of pizza for our family.  This pizza pan is deep dish and is like a little taste of home.  If you want a two inch thick crust, and let's face it, that's the only way to eat pizza, pick up a Nordic Ware Pizza Pan.  And for the record, Illinois does it better.

Veggie Steamers.  Makes my life so much easier and healthier.  Perfectly cooked vegetables everytime. I use mine almost every day.  Life. Changed.

I'd also like to thank Ipod, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, The Temptations, Diana Ross, Frank Sinatra, Evanescence, Lucero, Pink Floyd, BB King, Muddy Waters, Blind Melon, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson,  Jay-Z, Queen, Elvis, Terry Reid, The Black Keys and A Perfect Circle for providing the tunage for me to zone out and relieve some stress in the kitchen.