Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
By Seanna Kelly Metzger
I loved Amy’s Favorites post yesterday! I love best of lists and top tens, and learning other’s opinions about what works for them. Plus, I think I like to talk about myself. So I decided to do one too.
In the kitchen I love my …
Vita Mix – it’s a super high-powered blender. I see them in smoothie bars and such. This sucker is powerful. I swear I could make peanut butter from scratch in it and it wouldn’t even break a sweat. Mostly I use it for shakes, but I use it to chop things up too sometimes. I’ve had it for almost 10 years and it’s still strong as it was new.
Gaggia Espresso Machine – I’m not one of those coffee people, but the 1-2 cups of coffee I have each day must be made at home on our espresso machine. (I guess in Starbucks speak, they are Americano, but whatever.) I just love how the coffee tastes. It can steam milk and all that for lattes, but I just pull espresso shots for coffee. I’ve had this for about six years, and it’s still running strong too.
Breville Panini Maker – My husband showed up with this a few months ago and I was thinking, “Great, another appliance I have to find room for in a cabinet somewhere.” I wasn’t feeling a sandwich maker, you know? It does make divine grilled sandwiches but it also is a really great grill too. I use it for veggies, chicken breasts, turkey burgers, oatmeal pancakes, actually I use it now whenever I grill anything. By the way, I never even looked for a place under the cabinet because it lives on the counter top, next to the espresso machine and vita mix.
Non-stick Pans – No specific brand because I’ve found that the non-stick coating starts to peel and all wear out at the same pace, regardless of the brand or price. I use a set of non-stick pans to death. I sauté veggies, cook ground turkey jumble, and egg whites. Not so much chicken breasts and steak any more since we got the panini maker, but I used to. (Cast iron skillets are good for these too; probably better. I’m not so good at grilling cuts of meat so I need the help of a good pan.)
Gladware – I can’t life without these containers. You can buy them at the grocery store (no special trips), they are inexpensive, it comes it every shape and size, the lids seal up pretty well, and it’s not tragic if you lose it, it cracks or otherwise dies. Since we have to schlep food everywhere, I’ve found these are the best. (Not just Glad, but Ziploc, or the store brand too.) And can I add that in a pinch; when space is limited, zip top baggies work too. For both gladware and baggies, don’t use them in the microwave. The bad stuff in the plastic leaches into food when these guys are microwaved. (Make like a physique athlete and learn to prefer your food cold - cuz you’re constantly eating and have no time or way to heat the food up, or you have to eat in a 10am staff meeting and don’t want to draw any more attention to yourself or what you’re eating. It’s either that or eating in the restroom – just kidding. Don’t eat in the restroom.)
I don’t have a favorite cooler but my very bestie uses a soft-sided zip top cooler with a shoulder strap that was awesome. I liked it because it held so much but wasn’t huge. I don’t know the brand; I’m sure there are lots of good ones like this to choose from out there. Since I work from home, I eat at home most of the time and when I don’t, I end up tossing a gladware container, fork and paper napkin in a small Lululemon shopping bag. I need to go find a cooler.
Reusable shopping bags – Speaking of shopping bags, I am crazy for the big reusable shopping bags that everyone is selling for like $1. Why didn’t anyone think of this sooner? I love them because they are strong and you can stuff them full of groceries and they have handles long enough to use like a shoulder strap! Love, love, love these guys.
What about you? We all love to talk and share, and we all want to know your favorites too. What has because something in the kitchen that you can’t live without? Your tip could be the very thing that gets another reader over that annoying thing they’ve been stuck on. Let us know!
