5 Kitchen Essentials
Okay, so these are not my only 5 kitchen essentials. They are just 5 of my kitchen essentials. I will be sharing more of my favs periodically but these were the first 5 which came to mind. Some of you had requested learning more about what tools are an integral part of my cooking process here in the Amalgam Kitchen. So here we go.
1. Microplane Master Series with Walnut Handles
I use my Microplanes daily. To grate ginger, nutmeg and spices, zest citrus, shave chocolate or anything else I need to make tiny. One can buy Microplanes individually but I love this set, it’s a great investment, you get a variety of grate sizes for your various needs and they are lovely to hold and look at with their walnut handles. These are simply a must in my kitchen. Be aware though, the walnut cannot go in the dishwasher, the water and heat will dry the wood out. Wash by hand, which honestly I always do anyway with my plastic handled Microplanes I use, because I don’t like when the bits of food dry on to the plates while waiting a run in the dishwasher.
I have a growing collection of mortar and pestles. What exactly is a mortar and pestle you ask? It is a receptacle made of wood, ceramic, or stone where you mix and grind the ingredients with a type of baton made from the same or another material, used for grinding the ingredients. The mortar and pestle originates in Ancient Egypt and dating back to 1500BC and used to make medicines in pharmacology and said to have been used 6000 years before that for food preparation. Let’s just say the modern day food processor replaced this ancient tool of food preparation. But they are still around and not only do I love working with them, I love how they look as a decorative feature on the counter. For me, the mortar and pestle is a great way to connect with the food you are preparing. Grinding garlic, with basil, and pine nuts into a smooth pesto is so satisfying. This Japanese, ceramic mortar is chic looking, very utilitarian (the inside has a texture which is very efficient for grinding herbs and making sauces), and it won’t break the bank. I love the cream exterior color and reddish soil colored interior.
Someone once said, “ a kitchen without a knife is not a kitchen”, and for me this rings true. I would be lost without a good knife. I have amassed quite a few of them by now but my go to time and time again is my MAC Santoku Chef’s 6 and 1/2 inch knife. It is affordable (knives can be prohibitively high in price depending on the maker), sharp, reliable, sturdy, easy to handle, a workhorse. When anyone asks me if I had to choose just one knife, what would it be, this is the one.
It is great for chopping and dicing vegetables and fine slicing if you need.
Whenever I am in the kitchen and forget to put on an apron, I regret it. Time and time again, I have looked down and noticed an oil spot on my shirt. So frustrating. I have made it a habit to put on an apron whenever I am cooking. I have an array of them in different fabrics, colors and shapes but this Gjusta Goods one is my favorite. It is adjustable, has two handy front pockets and a pen pocket and comes in 8 colors, I love the charcoal.
Silicon spatulas can be handy but these hand made wooden spatulas feel so good in my hand and look adorable in a utensil crock pot next to a range on the kitchen counter. It is nice to have utensils in various, shapes, sizes and materials. They add texture to your kitchen quiver. All of Four Leaf Woodshop’s utensils and cutting boards are hand carved, using traditional carving tools and thus no two pieces are alike. This spatula comes in a lovely dark walnut wood as well. Check out their gorgeous cutting boards.