Happy New Year! Four days in, and I hope your 2015 is off to a fabulous start! I love that the beginning of a new year brings so much hope, positive vibes and happiness. It’s almost as if the possibilities are endless! Resolutions are the grown-up wishlists that get us closer to where we aspire to be.
Just five years ago I realized the ability to cook edible food was a necessity missing in my life, and here we are! (So crazy that is has been FIVE years!) For those of you resolving to learn how to cook this year, I’m going to share what you REALLY need to start! It is easy (and very expensive) to get excited and go crazy, not to mention get overwhelmed, at Williams-Sonoma or Bed, Bath and Beyond. Have no fear: this must-have list will keep you stocked in the kitchen! (Also, think space saver for your other “get organized” resolution!)
Kitchen Must-Haves:
Kitchen Aid Mixer: I know these cost a lot, but you will use it for EVERYTHING from making pancakes to sauces… trust me that it is worth the investment! A lot more places sell them now, so it’s pretty easy to find a good deal. (I got mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond and used one of their famous 20 percent off coupons.) I like that you can pick a color that inspires you — mine is Ice Blue and is so happy!
Square Brownie Pan: not just for brownies, but you will use this to bake chicken, roast veggies and all in between! I love this one from WS’s Goldtouch collection — they are pretty inexpensive, non-stick (bonus points being easy to clean!) AND help get you perfectly cooked dishes every time.
Cookie Sheet: a must-have for baking cookies, meatballs, baking winter veggies, toasting granola/seeds… so many uses! I recommend getting non-stick, and you can snag one at a great price at TJMaxx/Homegoods. (Mine is a Calphalon from TJMaxx forever ago.)
Non-stick Frying Pans with Lids (one large, one small): frying pans sound like a given when you’re first starting out, but it is easily overwhelming with all the options available. Trust me on this: get non-stick! Stainless steel sounds wonderful, but you’ll be channeling your inner sailor when you are scrubbing away. Use the large for making tacos, cooking chicken, pancakes, etc. The small one is great for sauteing veggies, starting a sauce or making an omelet. Getting more than two will clutter up your kitchen and collect dust. Mine are both Calphalon and I love them!
Large Soup/Pasta Pot with Lid: your go-to in the fall and winter for soups, chili, making rice and pasta! I did go for stainless steel on this one since is mostly used for boiling and simmering. I use this one from Chantal and LOVE it!
Muffin Tin aka the ultimate gateway to cupcake land! (You’ll understand this if your sweet tooth is as big as mine!) Muffin tins are great for baking portions, especially if you meal prep for the week. I use mine for everything from making omelet cups to mini meatloaf. I use this non-stick Calphalon one, which is helpful for when baking gooey desserts or eggs.
What about blenders, food processors, etc.? To be honest, I purchased a pretty expensive food processor and have only used it a grand total of five times in all five years of HWL! It’s not worth the expense or space that it takes up with all the attachments. (Save your money.) Blenders are great for making smoothies, and that’s about it. For soups, I highly recommend an immersion blender. You don’t have to worry about spilling hot soup when pouring into a blender, and it comes with a lot of attachments that you can throw in the dishwasher for easy cleaning. Here’s the Cuisinart one that I use — it works really well, and is inexpensive. Bonus: one of the attachments turns it into a mini food processor, and is the perfect size for making homemade pesto sauce.
I know this ended up being a longer post, but I hope you find it helpful in your new cooking adventures! What are your kitchen must-haves?
