My Favorite Things-Kitchen Edition

I love products! I am a loyal product lover. If I find a product that I love to use I will only buy it and not sway away. I will also talk about the product, I love, to anyone that will listen to me. And since I have a captive audience, via blog world, I have decided to tell you about my favorite things!

Since I knew this could be a thirteen page post in itself, I've decided to break it up into categories i.e., kitchen, beauty, clothing, running stuff, etc.

First up is the kitchen. Since I've just spent some quality time in my kitchen the past weekend making several loaves of zucchini bread and using almost every utensil I had, I figured it was best to start in there!

Better Dinnerware-A Must!

When we were registering for our wedding my bestie, Lindsay, told us that we had to register for good dishes. I, of course, laughed it off and said that we weren't fancy people like that. She convinced me to register not for china but better dinnerware. We registered for the Pfaltgraff dinnerware in Pistoulet and LOVE it! We have been using the same dinnerware since 2004 and it looks just as good as it did the day we received. Beautiful colors that can transition from everyday eating to special occasions.

 

 

Pampered Chef-Essentials that last a lifetime!

 

Chip clips seem so weird to have as an essential but we use them for so much more than chip bags. We use them to seal cereal bags, lettuce bags, cheese, or lunch meat. They are so handy to have an the sizes are great. I have had my set since 2006 and they are in great condition and we have not had a casualty yet!

My other favorite item is the meat grinder. You use this when you are frying any ground meat. It is so much quicker than using a spatula to break up big chunks of meat. We use this so many times a week it rarely makes it into the dishwasher because we need it and just have to wash it by hand. Great quality and dishwasher safe!

Great Wal-Mart buy!

We got our first electric skillet from my in-laws as a wedding gift and have loved it ever since. This is so handy to use when you don't feel like getting out a pan to cook in or don't have a pan to cook in because they are all dirty and you are too lazy to wash them. We use this several times a week and for around $20 is a steal.

 

Kitchen Aid-Need I say more!

 

I wanted a Kitchen Aid mixer for so many reasons and none of them were to actually cook. They were pretty and came in a multitude of colors. You could nearly have one for each season if you wanted. There was also something about what they stood for. Only serious cooks/bakers have this mixer. Why else would you pay that much money for one and never use it? Well after much hinting to my husband I received one for Christmas after we got married. It wasn't used much those first years of being married but I can now say that it's used on a regular basis. Worth every penny! Also don't buy one brand-new, check out E-bay and get a refurbished one for much cheaper. Works like a charm. :)

 



 

 

Tupperware-Plastic made Perfect

 

I attended my first Tupperware party, since 1995, last summer. Things have definitely changed for the brand and they are updating their colors and necessities to those of their clients.

 

A great buy I cam across was the microwave omelet maker. This is an ingenious idea. You literally whip up some eggs, add in a dash of milk and what ever else you feel like then pop it into the microwave for a couple of minutes and BAM, omelet! So delicious and fluffy! My favorite combo is chopped ham with cheese and tomatoes. Deliciouso!

 

 


This next gadget is the greatest invention EVER! It's a microwave steamer. I use this to brown all of my meat and it works amazingly. I have never had an issue with it not browning. Put your ground meat in the top and kinda crush it up so it's not in a big giant ball and then microwave for 3 minutes. Take out and use the meat grinder (from above) to break up the big clumps and then microwave again for 3 more minutes. 6 minutes is all it takes to do a pound of hamburger and it drains all of the fat from the meat for you. Yes, please! We use this more nights than none. 

Rachael Ray-Yummo!
Have several Rachael Ray items and love them all. They are good quality and not junk. I have these pots and they are wonderful. Worth every penny!

 

 

I got these knives for Christmas this year from my husband. I always felt like we were using our steak knives for everyday things when you could just use a paring knife instead. We got cheap ones from the store that never lasted and dulled quicker than you could blink an eye. We haven't had to sharpen these once since we've gotten them. Who wouldn't want to cook and chop stuff with these fun colors!

These spoons aren't just spoons. The notches on the sides are so they can rest over your pot and not get your counter or stove top dirty. My favorite use for them is when I'm making lasagna and have to ladle the sauce over the noodles constantly. I can hitch it on the side of the pot and all of the sauce will go right back into it. No waste!

Salad Shooter-Professional
I love this Salad Shooter because it's so easy to use and clean up. Want to make stuff for salads for the week? Use the Salad Shooter and have it done in an instant.

Scooper-Not just for ice cream!
 I use this scooper for making sausage balls, cookies, putting mix in cupcake sheets, and of course ice cream!

Zak Bowls-Too cute to not use!
I love these bowls. I use them for anything and everything possible. They come nestled in these four great sizes and have tons of personality. They really are my go-to bowls for mixing or bowling stuff for later preparation. I use them so much I have bought myself a second set of them. Whenever I use them for a potluck or holiday dinner I get so many great compliments on them because of their style. Tres chic!

What are your favorite kitchen items? Any of my favorites, yours too?

I'm working on a link-up for my future "Favorite Things" so be on the look out for a button to grab!