Tools of the Trade -- What I use in my kitchen

Recently I asked for blog post topic suggestions on my Facebook page.  Fellow Portlander Abby suggested that I write about what my favorite kitchen tools and appliances are.  Since I feel like these things really nurture the way that I eat, I thought a post about them would be helpful to those who are trying to change or spice up their eating habits.  I'd recommend investing in any of these kitchen tools -- I'm so thankful to have them as a part of my kitchen!

1.  Crock-pot.  I love my crock-pot, and it loves me back.  I have found that beans don't make my stomach turn into a gassy and bloated state of discomfort when I soak them in water during the day, rinse them, and then cook them in the crock-pot overnight.  Just this morning I woke up to a crock-pot full of garbanzo beans, and I rediscovered a recipe for no-sugar-added apple butter that cooks up in the crock-pot in 12 hours.  Sometimes when I know I'll be busy in the evenings, I set up a soup, grain, or pulse in the crock pot in the morning, and it will be steaming hot and perfectly done when I'm ready for it that evening.  Crockpots on Amazon start at about $25.00, which is cheaper than most regular old stainless steel frying pans.

2.  A good blender.  When Andrew and I moved back to Portland, this was our first investment that we made for our kitchen -- a good, strong blender with stainless steel motor and blades.  This baby is strong enough to whip up nut and seed butters, turn soups into smooth purees, and makes a killer smoothie in the morning.  My refrigerator would also be a sad place without the hummus that the blender and I make almost weekly.

3.  Good, sharp knives.  We asked for these knives as part of our wedding registry.  Before using these knives, I didn't realize what a difference it makes when chopping up vegetables to have a high quality knife.  After I got them, I felt that it made a world of a difference.  Having different knife blades makes meal preparation so much easier, and this set even comes with its own knife sharpener, although I've been thinking about getting a few of ours professionally sharpened.  One thing I still need to work on is not slicing my left thumb while cutting things...but that's another story.

4.  A large cast-iron pancake pan and a gigantic silicone spatula.  Our weekend mornings would not be complete without Andrew's gluten free buckwheat-millet crepes.  The low brim on this pan makes spreading the batter a breeze while also facilitating the flipping action of something so light and airy.  We also use this pan for toasting gluten-free bread, cooking potatoes and root vegetables, and pancakes.  The spatula is silicone, so it's heat safe up to 495 degrees, so I don't have to fret about plastic melting into my food. 

5.  Stainless Steel Baking Sheet.  I love stainless steel.  It feels so clean and doesn't interact with my food in a funny way.  I associate aluminum with Alzeimer's and non-stick with the Teflon flu, so I asked for this lovely baking sheet for my birthday and was super excited to start using it for my baked goods.  Perfect for kale cookies and falafel, baking sheets are a must in a foodie's kitchen.

6.  A huge stock pot.  I use this to cook up huge batches of things like mung beans and lentils in the morning, and then save the left overs to eat with lunch and dinner.  This fellow is stainless steel, and it's super easy to clean.  The glass lid has a small hole in it for venting steam, which makes me happy for some reason.  I like to feel like I'm saving energy when I use it -- I am able to turn off the burner before the beans/lentils are cooked and after about 20 minutes, the residual heat has cooked them to a delightful tenderness.  Cooking a huge batch also saves me from turning on a burner again at both lunch and dinner.

7.  Cookbooks!  I read cookbooks like most people read novels.  They're usually strewn about the house and are the first thing I organize when I'm cleaning up.  Cookbooks are great inspiration and are fun to browse through before taking a trip to the market. 

8.  Mason Jars.  I use mason jars for everything -- transporting my lunch, drinking glasses, storage for nuts, beans, grains, spices, sprouting, and left overs.  They've held many flower bouquets, preserves, and tomato sauces, and just look pretty all lined up in my pantry.  You can find them at flea markets, hardware stores, and even Target, and come in a variety of practical sizes. 

What tools do you use every day in your kitchen?  What do you enjoy using the most?