TOOLIN AROUND

I thought I would share a few of my favorite kitchen tools with you this week. These are tools of my trade, my survival tools. If you happen to have a favorite, let me know. (And we are talking kitchen tools!)

Wooden Chopping Board

Forget those plastic boards and the ever popular chopping sheets. They are bad for your knives, your wrists and the environment. To keep your board from slipping, lay a piece of wet paper towel or damp dish cloth underneath. You’ll get a solid base which will make your chopping, slicing, dicing or slamming a pleasure.

Kitchen Tongs

My favorites are from Good Grips and I have them in every size. In this case, size does matter, especially if you use them for stirring, turning, flipping, twirling and grabbing. If you are cooking on the stove, in the oven or on the grill, get out your tongs.

A Good Knife

Splurge on a decent one. It should have some weight to it and feel good in your hand. Seven to eight inches is the perfect size for almost anything…. Just like your mind, keep it sharp!

Micro Plane

This is a tool with many uses and a must for any recipe that requires a citrus zest of any kind. It’s a quick way to grate some garlic or shallots into your favorite sauces or dressings. It also works beautifully on hard cheese to top off your pasta or shave some chocolate for a simple garnish for dessert. Get one that is all stainless and not surrounded by plastic. They hold up in the dishwasher and won’t crack.

Cocktail Shaker

This is an essential tool for creativity…LOL. Again, stainless steel is the way to go, especially if you want a cold one. If you want it extra cold, wrap it with a dish towel and shake it hard. Work those chicken wings!

Liquid Measuring Cup

I could survive without this tool; however in my line of work… a guess wouldn’t cut it. My favorite is Pyrex. The lines and the writing on the cheaper versions tend to wear off. What good is a measuring cup if you can’t measure? It doesn’t really look nice as a vase.

Whisk

A much needed tool to incorporate whatever you like to incorporate into your sauces or just making a simple rue for thickening. Rub it between your hands to whisk up a quick salad dressing. If you rub it hard enough… who knows, perhaps a genie will appear!

Reamer

The juice from your citrus will fly out with this little handy tool. I also use it to make a lovely edge on my pie crusts. Or you can simply roll it on the back of your neck to release the stress from cooking for a crowd. On second thought, ream the inside of a fresh lime for tasty margarita!