Food and Fitness Fundamentals
With the holidays just around the corner, you may find that you are still in need of some last minute gift buying suggestions. Whether your bequest is directed toward a “foodie” who loves to spend time in the kitchen or a person who barely gets by when preparing a meal, consider some of my favorite kitchen gadgets to help create a more easy and enjoyable cooking experience.
Wrap Master This has literally been my ultimate kitchen gift. I have given it to many family members and friends, as well as to myself. It is a set of dispensers that hold aluminum foil and plastic wrap. They fit nicely into a drawer or cupboard, and are an incredibly quick and controlled way to pull the wrap right onto a container or bowl. Once in place, a gentle closing of the lid creates a clean even cut, which eliminates the dreaded tangling and mess that often follows, especially when dealing with plastic wrap.
Rotato Potato Ok…this may sound a bit odd, but I truly love this quirky gadget when it comes to peeling large quantities of potatoes. It is definitely an entertaining topic of discussion when it comes out of the cupboard, but the bottom line is that it is an amazing tool. Mine is the electric version.
Stainless Steel Pineapple Slicer and Corer This is a gift I bought my teenage daughter several years ago. Within seconds it cores and slices a whole pineapple making perfect rings for grilling and creates a fabulous presentation for a simple fresh fruit platter. Since the outer shell is still intact, it too can be used as an interesting and creative centerpiece or serving bowl.
Electric Pepper Grinder I am very picky when purchasing a pepper mill. Years ago, I found a stainless steel one on line that mimicked what I saw a waiter use at a high end restaurant. To this day it remains my favorite pepper mill. With a gentle push of the button on top, it not only automatically grinds pepper; but it also has a light that shines down onto the food below. Last but not least, it can be easily used single handedly, which makes it exceptionally appealing when cooking with messy hands.
Knife sharpener One thing I have never been able to craft well is sharpening knives with a stone. Chef’s Choice Diamond Hone electric knife sharpener is now one of my favorite kitchen items that I use very regularly in order to keep my knife blades in peak performance.
Immersion Blender This is another gadget that I have really begun to enjoy using the past few years. It is ideal for blending/mixing/pureeing semi liquid foods and quickly transforms them into the consistency of your choice, whether it is chunky style for homemade tomato sauce, or smooth delicate gravy. I also have a small version for frothing milk when making my morning lattes.
FoodSaver Even though I am approaching the “empty nest” stage of life, I still love my FoodSaver which allows me to buy in bulk then package and/or freeze in sizes that fit my family needs. In addition, I often vacuum seal items that will freezer burn fairly quickly. I also frequently use it as a method of storing leftovers for future use.
Rotary-Style Cheese Grater This is an ideal handheld grater to use for a quick sprinkle of fresh parmesan or other hard/semi hard cheeses and is especially useful when serving a scrumptious Italian meal. It is simple to disassemble for easy cleaning and is dishwasher safe.
Thermapen Instant Read Thermometer This is another item that has been on my wish list for quite awhile. I finally purchased it last year and love it. It has a high level of accuracy, reads a temperature in 3 seconds and folds up conveniently for storage.
Enameled Aluminum Citrus Squeezer Recently, I finally broke down and bought a citrus squeezer and absolutely love it. It is easy to use, squeezes out all the juice with little effort, and also strains seeds. I consider it the best reamer/juicer I have ever used. I bought the lemon version, as it works effectively for smaller limes as well.
So there you have it, my short list of favorite kitchen gadgets and just in time for holiday shopping! If you have some cherished gadgets of your own, feel free to share them in the comment section below.
