Hello friends! I am back with a question and answer video answering YOUR KITCHEN QUESTIONS that I asked you to send in. Thank you so much for all your questions. I answered as many as I could. Everything is in the video and more pictures and links on where to find some of the products are listed below.
More Info.
I got a lot of questions about Cast Iron Skillets. Many people wanted to know where to find cheap cast iron skillets. The ones I have were passed down to me so its been a long time since I have bought any but you can find Cast Iron Skillets reasonably priced. I normally see them for around $30 which is not too bad for a pan you should have for a very very long time if you take care of it. I also got asked about what kind of pots and such I would recommend for someone starting out or even starting over. First I really think investing in the best pans you can is very important. I really love the Rachel Ray 10 piece set. The entire set is under $150 and if that doesn't work for you.. I would suggest buying one item at a time until you build the collection you want. Making the investment in good pans will pay off every time. They will cook more evenly, not warp, and hold up much longer than cheap pots and pans that you will have to replace often. In terms of stocking up a new house, I would suggest to any young person to head into their local Dollar Store where everything is in fact just $1 and having a look at all the different utensils they have. You find a lot of decent items for a fraction of the cost when shopping there. I still get items from there all the time because I love the price.
I also got asked about what are my favorite utensils are but these are just my favorites.
I love a hand mixer. My Wolfgang Puck mixer works so great. I couldn't find the exact one to link to but this one is basically the same and it works like a dream. I think this works so much better for most people than a big Kitchen Aide Mixer. I also love just a standard potato masher that works so great on those busy week nights. Another useful tool I love in the kitchen is a big set of wooden spoons. They work so good and I have had my set passed down from both of my grandmothers and wouldn't ever want to be without them. We love the pizza cutter too! I find I use it so much not just to cut pizza but to cut dough and other items with ease. The hand juicer I love works beyond my expectations. I love it. My hands are not very strong and I am able to juice a lemon or lime with little effort using this tool. I am also very much in love with my Asian Spider Strainer that allows you to drop food into hot oil without getting burned. Its also good to drain small amounts of pasta...it has a ton of uses. If you have the chance to get one of these kitchen tools, I would jump on it because we use this all the time. The kids love to get their Ramen Noodles out with it because its safer than trying to dump an entire pot of water in a standard colander.
I also got a ton of questions about knives and how I sharpen them. I sometimes use a rod like knife sharpener that works pretty good. But my favorite would have to be the the handheld Smiths Knife Sharper. I tried finding this product for you guys but I couldn't. However, this is another nice sharper that would do the exact same job! I think having at least one good knife in the kitchen will make your life so much easier. I have a huge collection of knives but one of my favorites is the Rachel Ray Rocker Knife that is light and easy to use without any kind of training or skill. Just hold and let your wrist do the work!
Another person asked what are my favorite cookbooks. I have so many but my top two would have to the Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child and The Amish Cook at Home by Lovina Eicher. Both books speak for themselves. Julia Child made a book about French Cooking with recipes that any home cook can make. The entire book is an inspiration with so many dishes that will amaze you. The Amish Cook at Home is another favorite. The book is broke down by seasons with such good home cooked recipes. Both books are favorites! My Red Electric Kettle has also got a ton of questions. Its so handy to have in the kitchen. You don't just have to use it for hot tea. It can be used for instant oatmeal, drinks, hot water for noodle cups, and its also great for recipes that require hot water like jello. It heats up to boiling in about 1 minute and being it is not a stove top kettle, it doesn't get greasy and you don't have to move it when you cook! The last item I want to talk about is a meat thermometer. So many people don't have these and its a shame because I know their meats and fish would come out so much better if they used one. I love the Polder® Safe Serve Instant Read Thermometer to test food before serving it up to my family. It works by battery and lets you know exactly the temperature for what you are cooking while letting you know how cooked the item is. Seriously its a life saver!
I almost forgot...
I also got a lot of questions about these rubber Food Network measuring bowls. They were a gift from my mom and I can't find them but these are very much the same. I love my set so much and they nestle together to fit nicely in the drawer. These get used all the time and one of the best items in my kitchen!
Thank you so much for all your questions! It was fun just concentrating on the kitchen. I will be sure to reach out again next month with another question and answer series....stay tuned for the topic!
I would love to know what some of your favorite kitchen items are...let me know!
