Sunday, December 7, 2008

Nina's Favorite Things

One of Oprah's most popular shows is her annual "Oprah's Favorite Things" show where she gives away to the audience her favorite things. I enjoy watching it to get ideas of things to give to people for Christmas, birthdays, or just because or find about about things to add to my wish list.

This blog post is all about some of my favorite kitchen and cooking related things from the past year.

Chicago Metallic Bakeware
available at Costco and other merchants

I have used many brands of bakeware in the past but this is by far my favorite. It cleans up easily and I think food bakes more evenly in them. You could probably get away with not using cooking spray, grease , or flour to prevent food from sticking because the special non-stick coating is magical on these bad boys. Chicago Metallic bakeware is also sold at Williams Sonoma but you can get a set at Costco for a fraction of the price.
Hard Boiled Egg Timer
available at World Market and other merchants

No need to worry if your egg is cooked through when using this little gadget. The timer turns from red to black to indicate how done your egg is. Eggs cook perfectly every time. This is definitely an Easter Egg must have but also a wonderful Christmas stocking stuffer.


Baking From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan
Available at Borders and other merchants

If you've read my blog you probably know by now that I am a Dorie fan. I've owned this cookbook for less than a year and I've made more recipes from this book than from any other cookbook I own. The directions are clear and easy to follow and the pictures are gorgeous.



Pampered Chef Santoku Knife
available through Pampered Chef

I never understood the difference between a good knife and a bad knife until I bought one of these. It feels so wonderful to hold it that I could chop, dice, and mince all day. I wish I could trade in all my old knives for a complete set of these but I will just have to build up my collection slowly. I think this will help me appreciate them more.



Wilton 3-in-1 Carrying Case
available at Michaels and other merchants

This carrying case is perfect for cakes, cupcakes, and mini cupcakes but I've also used it for cookies so it could be renamed the 4-in-1 carrying case. The lid stays securely attached unlike other carrying cases I've owned. People have asked me if they can borrow it because it is so convenient.

Wilton Cake Decorating Kit
available at Michaels and other merchants

If you or anyone you know is taking the Wilton cake decorating series this kit or the deluxe kit is a must have. It comes with all the tips and gadgets required for Wilton Course 1. The tool box makes it easy to organize and carry all your supplies. If you still can't figure out what to get your favorite baker for Christmas I also recommend a gift certificate for cake decorating classes or other cooking classes. I completed the Wilton series in 2008 and it was fantastic!

Cooks Waffle Iron
available at JC Penney

I love the smell of waffles in the morning. This waffle maker is so fun because it flips 180 degrees. The lights let you know when it is done. I would prefer one that has removable griddle plates for easy cleaning but I don't make waffles enough to justify the cost. If you want to see pics of my waffle maker in action check out of my chocolate waffles.


Cuisinart Blender
avaliable at Bed Bath & Beyond and other merchants

The motor went out on our old blender so that was the perfect excuse to buy a new one. The old blender was terrible. It didn't mix very well, liquid would leak through the top, and it was hard to clean. This Cuisinart blender is awesome. It makes smooth and even smoothie blends very quickly. And most importantly it doesn't start smoking when I turn it on.

Aroma Rice Cooker
available at Costco and other merchants

This rice cooker has a white rice and brown rice setting so any type of rice you want comes out perfectly every time. It is also a steamer but I've never used that feature. Once the rice is done it automatically switches to the warming function so rice stays warm through dinner in case you want to go back for seconds. The rice cooker includes Sensor Logic™ technology to self-adjust for consistent, restaurant-quality results. It makes perfect sticky, fluffy rice.

Wilton Bake Even Strips
available at Michaels and other merchants

I thought these were a gimmick when I first saw them. After many attempts to trim the crowns off my cakes evenly, I decided I was tired of lopsided cakes and the crumbly mess. The Bake Even Strips are magical. So far I've gotten perfect cakes without crowns every time I've used them.



**If you have any favorite kitchen products leave a comment and let us know.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Great post! I am going to check out that egg timer, that is so cool!