I really enjoy cooking with ingredients that are whole and fresh. Most of the time I spend in the kitchen is not actually in the cooking of the food but in the prepping. So having some tools to make that process go as efficiently as I can is priority. As much as I like to cook , I've got other things I'd like to do to, so here is a list of my favourites and when and what I use them for:
Pampered Chef Chopper : Great when your doing the one arm cooking (baby or small child in the other, and great for those little kitchen helpers. I hold it down and my sous chef does the slapping) Amazing for quick chopping of fruits and veggies for salsa, salads, soups, and rice pilafs. As long as it doesn't have to look pretty, I chop it, or.
Scissors: Snip it. From crust off sandwiches to, herbs, lettuce, and trimming fat off meat, these are handy to have.
Garlic Press: I bought a Pampered Chef one and it's been great. There's nothing like fresh minced garlic.
Small Hand held Grater: I use it for Ginger ( which works best when you take the skin off the fresh ginger and then put the whole pieces into the freezer, and grate it when frozen), Citrus Zest, Whole Spices like Nutmeg.
Hand Zapper: Easy peasy for blending up soups, hummus, bean dips, marinades, eggs
Rotisserie: Helps with the low fat cooking of meat...easy and super yummy, chicken, tenderloins, roast, and even a turkey. ( This is one of those go to comfort things, that always turns out...unless you forget to turn the heat feature on, and just have it on rotate :)
Mandolin: This tool I picked up in China Town in BC, but you can find them around in Winners or Homesense..the best for slicing up veggies for wraps, sushi, slaws and salads and the occasional finger or nail, so I always us the safety guard.
BBQ: If I can cook it outside I will, especially in the summer. From the usual meats and potatoes to, the unusual fruit, salads and tea smoking. Also a must have for the BBQ is the veggie wok, where grilling a stir fry of veggies or shrimp is quick and tasty.
