Centsational Girl Kate is having a Favorite Kitchen Gadgets party. I'm no chef, but with a husband and three sons I do a lot of cooking, so I'm happy to share my favorites tools.
First and foremost is my KitchenAid stand mixer. When I got married, back in the Middle Ages, these mixers were not found in very many homes. But by about 1990 I had started wishing for one. I'll never forget that at Christmastime 1994, when we had two little boys, Jack asked if there was anything I would really like to have just for myself. When I answered, "A KitchenAid stand mixer," he shook his head and said, "I'll never understand women." But I got my mixer and I've used it almost daily ever since.
See? I was in the middle of using my mixer when I stopped to write this post!
Some people think a stand mixer is just too big for their kitchens. I do have a big kitchen now, but I've used this mixer in several places, including the kitchens of a small rental house and a tiny apartment. No matter how limited my counter space, I'll always make room for my KitchenAid!
As for other gadgets, there are a few I use a lot. First, my spring-loaded scoops. These are useless for dipping ice cream, but the small one is awesome for dipping cookie dough.
The large one is amazing for scooping pancake batter onto the griddle. Perfect pancakes every time!
Now for a couple of old-school tools. First, my favorite measuring cups. These are made by Tupperware. They nest perfectly, so they take very little storage space.
You know what I like best about these? Look closely:
A 2/3 cup and a 3/4 cup measure. The entire set is six measuring cups: 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, and 1 cup. These are worth their weight in gold.
Last but not least is my oldest kitchen gadget. My mother insisted on buying me one of these before I got married in 1985. It's made by Ecko and is called a "Kitchamajig." Embossed in the steel are the words "Strains, Drains, Beats, Blends, Whips, Mixes." Honestly, it does all those things really well. I don't know if Ecko makes these any more, but they should. If you ever see one at a garage sale, grab it.
My Kitchen Aid Mixer is one of my favs too! I also have an oversized plastic *fork* with three plastic prongs. It is in bad shape but the only ones I find now have only two prongs. I use it for everything!!!
ReplyDeleteI love my Kitchen Aid mixer, too. When we built this kitchen I had them put it on one of those hide away shelves that pulls out and snaps into place. I love it. My mother had one of those slotted spoon things, too. Now I wish I had kept it. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteI have the smaller scoop and I use it all the time for cookies. And I used one just like your bigger scoop at church last week to scoop ice cream and now I REALLY want one! Where did it come from?!?
ReplyDeleteI love this post! You remind me so much of me--ha! :) My Kitchen Aid mixer stays on a roll-out shelf underneath my island, but it gets used, if not daily, almost daily. I use the small kitchen scoop for cookies every time (in fact, my daughter broke it when she was home from college recently, and I promptly went out and bought a new one!). I have often thought I needed a bigger (ice cream) scoop, but never had a use for one . . . until now! Great idea with the pancake batter. And those Tupperware measuring cups? Yep, I've got 'em! Mine are off-white in color, but I too have loved the 3/4 and 2/3 cup measures.
ReplyDeleteI do not have that whisk thingy you showed, but I do have something similar that my mom swore by when I was growing up. It's called a Foley Fork, and it has a plastic handle like that, but it's a fork-type thing. I use it for browning ground beef, and it reminds me of my mom every time.
I have a Kitchen Aid standing mixer but I confess that I hardly ever use it. I guess I need to do more baking?
ReplyDeleteRichella, I could have written your post, with the exception of the last gadget. I'd just add one more: my Cuisinart food processor. With all the carrot cakes I make, I LOVE having it.
ReplyDeleteYour measuring cups brought a smile to my face! My mom has the same ones in yellow, er, Harvest Gold. ;)
ReplyDeleteAmen on the Kitchen Aid mixer, by the way!
What a funny duh moment!! I too LOVE my scoopers & use them for making cookies & cupcakes but NEVER thought of using them for making pancakes! GREAT idea!
ReplyDeleteME TOO on the tupperware measuring cups! I love the 2/3 and 3/4 :) I need to find me a new set though because I melted my last ones. *sigh* The kitchamajig looks so neat~I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for that one.
ReplyDeleteNice list! I have one of those spring loaded spoons, but I need a better one. They're great for cupcakes too!
ReplyDeleteI love my Kitchen Aid, too. If I was buying one now ... it would be lime green. I also love my good knives (made by the Swiss Army Knife folks.)
ReplyDeleteGreat post - I NEVER thought of using a scoop for pancakes - fabulous idea!! My fav tool is my garlic crusher!
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