October 4, 2013 • Notes from the Kitchen... •

As promised, I am sharing my top 5 favorite kitchen gadgets today!!!  I am so excited to share them with you as they make my life in the kitchen so much easier.  They range in price from a few dollars to a few hundred, but as my husband would say, they’re worth it all day long! So, without further adieu, the top 5 kitchen must-haves, in no particular order, are…

1. Le Crueset Signature Round Dutch Oven, 13 1/4 qt.

This item is near and dear to my heart for many reasons.  Firstly, nothing can go wrong in it.  It cooks everything evenly and never burns a thing!! That being said, it is REALLY heavy, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you have trouble lifting.  Secondly, I love this dutch oven because my husband bought it for me when we were dating.   At this moment, how many of you are thinking of the scene in Father of the Bride when Bryan buys Annie a blender and it almost costs him the wedding??  I actually had the opposite reaction because I had been dreaming of one of these and the dream came true!! For once in life, reality lived up to the hype and I highly recommend one for your kitchen.  I have this one, a 9 qt. signature oval as well as a 5 qt. braiser.  Ok, so bad news first…they can be expensive.  BUT, the good news is that you can find them at TJMaxx for a steal, which is where I found my braiser.  Also, check for discontinued colors for an excellent deal.  That’s exactly how my husband found the gray one for nearly half off at Williams-Sonoma!!

2. Wusthof Grand Prix II – 15 Piece Knife Block Set

This is a tremendous knife set, especially if you are looking to buy a new set or have never invested in quality knives.  It has all of the basics, plus 6 fabulous steak knives.  My cousin generously bought us these for our wedding 4 years ago and I’m pretty sure we’ve used them almost every day since. (Thank you, Koumbaro Nick!!)

3. KitchenAid Hand Blender

Perfect, perfect, perfect for pureeing, blending, and whipping.  It is so easy to use and clean, so it’s a double winner.  From baby food to hummus to whipped cream and everything in between, this is an affordable, reliable go-to gadget that I couldn’t do without!

4. Cuisinart Rechargeable Salt and Pepper Mills

I had been wanting these for years, but thought they were too expensive to buy for myself.  I was ELATED when I found them on zulily.com for a discounted price.  My son loves these; particularly the little lights that illuminate the food as you add salt and pepper, enabling you to see exactly how much you’re adding.

5. Olive oil bottle and spout

Lastly, but certainly not least, this gadget disclaims the idea that you get what you pay for.  Considering that you can pick up the bottle and spout for $5.00 or less and you will use it daily to drizzle, pour, and splash, the R.O.I. on this one is phenomenal.  (If you live it Pittsburgh, you can pick them up for even less in the Strip District!!)

* Mediterranean Baby is not sponsored by any of these products and is not receiving anything from them in return for this endorsement.

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