Sometimes it is the simple things that bring a little pleasure to our day.   Today I’m sharing the kitchen tools that make me smile.  These are my Top 10 Favorite Things in the Kitchen.  You might find a gift idea for your favorite cook or suddenly have an idea for your own wish list.  May you enjoy your kitchen as I do mine!

#10  Olive Oil Bottle with Pour Spout

Olive Oil

There is something truly satisfying about grabbing my bottle of olive oil and pouring a few tablespoons in a hot pan.  I always do it with a little flourish, as though that makes a difference to the pan or the food I’m preparing.   Olive oil is a great base to sautee.  It’s healthier than most oils, it adds great flavor especially when paired with garlic and onion, and you don’t need much.  I keep it handy on my counter and it is used regularly in my kitchen.

#9 Tiny Prep Dishes

Prep Dishes

I wanted these for a few years.  I had a few small glass bowls that did the job, but even they were bigger than I needed.  Last Christmas, I got a set of 4 tiny little cups made of silicone.  They are perfect for holding chopped herbs, onion, veggies, or whatever I need.  Then, I can gently squeeze the sides and they pour what I need where I need it – no mess, no fuss.  I love them!

# 8 Cookie Spatula

Cookie Spatula

Do you know how hard it is to get cookies off a tray with a large spatula?  For so long, all I ever had was a cheap rubber spatula that I think everyone gets when they move into their first apartment.  My mother-in-law told me about this particular spatula and it is simply the perfect size and shape for removing cookies, lifting out brownies or cake, and even flipping burgers in the pan.  Plus, it’s sharp without being a knife, so it’s easy to use to cut through baked goods for serving. 

#7  Kitchen Aid Mixer

I pull this baby out at least once a month.  I love it for whipping potatoes or mixing up cookies.  Since I can let it mix while I prepare other ingredients, I feel like it saves time and stress.  It is big and heavy, but also of very good quality.  It’s an appliance that lasts a lifetime.

#6 Salt and Pepper Grinders

Sleek Salt and Pepper Shakers

Bought for $6 at IKEA, these little beauties are sleek and functional.  Filled with coarse sea salt and black peppercorns, they sit next to my range to lend flavor enhancement to each dish. 

#5 Silicon Mats

Silicone Mats

Parchment paper works, but you have to tear it up into the right size, keep it from rolling up on your batter or candy mix, and then it becomes waste.  These mats are resuable, fit a cookie sheet perfectly, and go right into the oven.  I use them on the counters with hot candy or in the oven as a non-stick base for baking.    They are the perfect non-stick tool.

#4 Corkscrew

Corkscrew

If you don’t have a corkscrew in your kitchen, you are missing out!  How else can you open the cook’s bottle of wine while you prepare dinner?  Seriously, a corkscrew is a must have.  It took me some practice to learn how to use such a basic tool, but it was worth it.  I don’t condone heavy drinking, but enjoying a glass of wine while I prepare dinner is like chopping up the garlic, it’s the first step of preparation!

#3 Cheese Slicer

Cheese Slicer

When my best friend gave me this a few years ago, I had no idea how easy it is to use or how often it would make an appearance on my counter.  I can cut up a block of cheese in just a couple of minutes with no mess.  This is my favorite tool on nights I entertain. 

#2  7″ Global Santoku Hollow Ground Chef Knife

7" Global Chef's Knife

Do not ever underestimate the beauty and practicality of a very good knife.  I like this particular brand.  The handle is filled with sand for balance.  It’s made of stainless steel.  It’s sharp and lightweight.  Ever since I got this knife, I understand why professional chefs have good knives.  If you care to cook at all, get one that fits you.  It’s like a wand for a wizard, your personal tool for magic!

#1 Tablespoon Sized Spring Loaded Scooper

Spring Loaded Scooper

This is it, one of the cheapest tools in my kitchen, but one of the very best.  If you read my  “Who is the Suburban Cook?” page, you will learn I hated cooking and baking as a child.  I discovered that part of that frustration was the mess.  Have you gotten irritated with cookies because you are using two spoons to scrape dough onto a cookie sheet?  It’s messy, sticky, and time consuming.  Voila!  Let me introduce you to the spring loaded scooper.  I know, this isn’t rocket science.  Yet, I can master a bowl of cookie dough in minutes.  Toppings on toast?  No problem!  This tool makes me smile with satisfaction with every single scoop.