Bodum Travel Press

Leave it to Bodum to come up with the ultimate French Press for people on the go like me.  I think most serious coffee drinkers melt at the thought of a cup of coffee poured from a French Press.  This allows people like me to indulge in this decadence every day.  The Bodum embossed gripper around the travel press makes it great for driving or mitten-clad hands for those of us that live in the tundra.  Reasonably priced and so easy to clean, I never want to think about having to live without this affordable luxury.  Get yours and let's have a virtual cup of coffee!

kon-tent tools: pizza cutter

I love this pizza cutter, it is by far the easiest one I have ever used.  It reminds me of the days when I used to make pizzas at the local restaurant in my hometown.  Interestingly enough, I always wondered if I would ever find one of these and it was an absolute fluke when I ran across it.  Made by Bialetti, the company that manufactures stovetop espresso pots.  The best part is that it's super cheap, only $13 and available here through Williams-Sonoma.  I'd definitely call it one of my essential kitchen tools.

Baking Tools 101: Pie Beans

Blind baking, the process of pre-baking your pie crust so you it can be filled with a filling that is either cooked on the stove or fresh fruit requires you to weigh down your pie crust while it initially bakes so your pie crust doesn't become a shrinking violet.  A lot of companies want to try and sell you expensive, ceramic beads but years ago I decided to detour the expense to my wallet and I purchased some inexpensive dried beans.  15 years later as you can see in the above picture, those dried beans are still going strong and I am positive will provide me a a lifetime of wonderfully-baked pie crusts. I keep them stored in a vintage glass jar on the counter since I believe they deserve a place of honor in my kitchen - they have definitely earned their life tenure.

Oxo Clear Knife

I love this Oxo knife and what simplicity it brings to my kitchen.  Developed to cut lettuce since when you cut lettuce with a metal knife it has a tendency to brown the lettuce, this eliminates that completely.  Making chopped or layered salads for later is a breeze now because my lettuce is no longer brown.

BUT, this always works wonders in all of the non-stick pans to cut in.  We pay oodles more money to make our lives easier for these pans and yet when we need to cut the product in the pan, you have to use the micro precision of a surgeon to try and not hurt your pan.  This knife, eliminates any worries.

Best of all, it's cheap - Go get one, you will be so happy you did.  In fact, get two so you have a spare!

Tools: Kitchen Timer

Bengt EK Design designed this eye-catching triple timer from Sweden. It has a 120 minute, 60 minute and 20 minute timers, giving you the ability to time three things at once. I love the retro look and I also like how I can hear it when it goes off. You can order this through me for $35.

Essential Tools - Börner Prima V-Slicer

I have had this Börner Prima V-Slicer mandoline for ten years and it is still sharp enough to slice through anything. From tomatoes to carrots to citrus, it effortlessly cuts your produce into consistent, uniform shapes. I use this constantly and as part of my efforts to try and show people appliances that are a must-have in the kitchen, this would rank in my top ten. I do not deny that it is an investment, but one you can be confident will last in your kitchen for a lifetime.

It comes with a sturdy case that you can store the mandoline and all the attachments in, so things are rumbling around inside a drawer. Being that it is stainless steel, you can put it in the dishwasher. Remember to use the safety holder, as this blade is extremely sharp and I can speak from experience that when I have not paid attention - it has nicked me a couple times.

Essential Tools - Basting Brush

I have used the traditional boar hair basting brushes since I started cooking 30 years ago. They were a necessary evil as although they did the task well, I always seemed to find some of the hair in the food - leaving me shaking my head with embarrassment if that food item happened upon someone else's plate but mine.
When I first saw the silicone baster, I shook my head again as the silicone rush seemed to be running full throttle - too much silicone this and that; but I also was underwhelmed with the size of the brush head. It was insufficient for the job. Boar hair could handle room temperature butter or barbecue sauce, this initial product could not. The concept was there, just not the delivery.
Now there is something that I can say with full confidence works like it should, only minus the fear of ever eating boar hair again. It is made by Silicone Zone and sold through various stores. I only have to wash the brush part, it comes off the handle with ease. The brush surface is large and populated enough so that it can handle thicker sauces and butter, plus the benefit of heat-resistant silicone. They also are coming in a great eggplant color now too, so not just the green - they keep enticing me.... I would recommend this as an essential tool in any kitchen.