Healthy Cooking by design

I was talking with a friend the other day who was wondering if expensive means better in the kitchen.  My answer - sometimes.  Hobart and KitchenAid mixers are great, but a small Sunbeam hand-held has served me well for years.  Here are a few of my favorite things to use in the kitchen:

• Stainless steel knives.  I am currently using a 5-knife set from Ikea for $12.00 that I got on vacation.  (They are on the web and ship to you, in case you’re interested…)  I like the ones that have some texture at the blade so that what you are cutting doesn’t stick to the blade.
• A cutting board that is dishwasher safe.  I use a heavy plastic one that has a lip to retain juices.  They say plastic and wood do not dull knives as much as glass or marble.  But most wood ones can’t go in the dishwasher - a very easy way to kill bacteria.
• Walmart or Old Time Pottery non-stick pans.  I buy one of the cheaper non-stick pans and then only use plastic or wooden utensils for cooking and serving and a soft cloth for washing and drying.  I replace it every 4-5 years when it begins to let foods stick.  For me it works just as well as a pan that costs twice as much and may or may not last twice as long.
• Flexible rubber type muffin cups.  Easy, nonstick, dishwasher safe - worth the investment.
• Pampered Chef Baking Stones.  I use mine all the time to bake bread, pizzas, biscuits, cookies, or anything you would use a baking sheet for.  It keeps food from sticking or burning, keeps it hot when brought to the table (down to the last slice of pizza), and is simple to clean.
• A good, heavy stock pot.  I use a Revere Ware copper-bottomed one.  Mine was a wedding gift, but you can find them at yard sales or estate sales.
• My great-grandmothers cast iron dutch oven and cornbread skillet.  A winter stew or chicken noodle soup simmered all day in an iron pot with a side of healthy cornbread is amazing.  Ask your grandma if she still uses hers, or watch yard sales or estate sales for iron cookware.  To avoid rust, wash by hand with soap and water immediately after use and towel dry.
• Gadgets like a panini maker, waffle iron, crock pot, roasting pan, programmable coffee maker, food processor, etc.  I usually research online customer reviews and prices of different brands and then ask for the one I want for a Christmas or birthday gift.
• Stainless steel kitchen scissors from Walmart or Big Lots.  I snip things like green onions over top of a salad or tomatoes still in their can to better disguise them before dumping them into a soup.  I also use them to trim things like stew beef.  I can take it straight from the package, snip it into a pot as I trim any fat, and then stick the scissors straight into the dishwasher - no mess.  I also snip boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders the same way - straight from package to crockpot in perfect bite-sized pieces.
• Stainless steel box grater.  I grate hard-boiled eggs, potatoes, cheese, cinnamon or nutmeg, chocolate, etc.  I think it even works better than most of the fancy hand held parmesan graters.
• Rectangular baking dish.  I use a glass one that comes with a snap on rubber lid, an insulated bag with handles, and hot and cold packs that slide under or over the dish.  To me, it fits every occasion and cleans up easily in the dishwasher and never rusts.

I’m sure I’ll think of more things later and be surprised that I didn’t mention them.  Maybe I’ll add them later.  Or maybe you’ll tell me your favorites and why.

3 Responses to “My Favorite Kitchen Items”

Leave Your Name, Email, Website, and Comment