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Tag Archives: Essentials

January 29, 2017 · 2:31 am

My Top 11 Kitchen Essentials

I am in the middle of a huge home renovation including a new kitchen, 2 bathrooms, flooring throughout and more. It is a bit chaotic to say the least but I am trying to focus on the end result. I was thinking about what I would consider my top 11 kitchen essentials. I have a lot more than that, believe me, but let’s start with 11.

KitchenAid Mixer

My first would be my KitchenAid Mixer, it is actually my second one. My first was a classic and is still great but when we redid our kitchen almost 10 years ago, my husband bought me a bigger, badder one that matched our stainless steel appliances. I have the KitchenAid Professional 600 Series Bowl Lift Mixer in liquid graphite.

I never use anything else to mix up dough, cookie batters, cakes, frosting and so much more. It is definitely at top of my kitchen essentials list.

Number 2 would be a good set of knives. I have a Wusthof Knife Set with Knife Block. However, in our new kitchen we have a knife block that is built into a cabinet and a drawer with knife storage so we will be storing our knives there. With or without the block they are a great set of knives and tools.

VitaMix Blender

Number 3 is my VitaMix Blender. I did a lot of research before getting this blender and I have not regretted the purchase once. I have both the wet and dry container and just love it. I used to have to keep it on my island as it was so tall with the container, but in the new kitchen design we created a special area for it. The cabinets will be raised up so that my VitaMix can fit underneath the counter even with the tall 64 oz container on. Imagine designing our kitchen around our VitaMix! That is how much we love it!

I use it to make all kinds of smoothies, soups, frozen treats and more. It works so well and I love the retro look. If you are considering one, just go for it, you will not regret it. I just found out they now make a low profile VitaMix with a wider 64 oz container that fits under most cabinets. I am still confident I did the right thing because these blenders are workhorses that last forever. I also like the retro appearance of mine better that the low profile models.

Cast Iron Cookware

Number 4 is our cast iron pans. I no long like to cook in non-stick cookware due to the potential health effects. We have our stainless steel pots and pans but also invested in several pieces of cast iron cookware. I really like that it releases iron into the food which is important to women like myself, who need to supplement their iron.

Emile Henry Bread Pans (Number 5,6 & 7)

Another favorite is my Emile Henry Bread Loaf Baker, Bread Cloche and Baguette Baker. I never knew I could make bread like this constantly from the first time. I adore these and would not dream of baking bread any other way.

Emile Henry Butter Jar

With fresh bread you need to have butter and that brings us to number 8 in the top kitchen essentials list, the Emile Henry Butter Jar. I love how I never need to deal with hard butter and have spreadable butter all the time.

Vita Clay Smart Organic Multicooker

Next up, my Smart Organic Multicooker by Vita Clay. With all the news about crock pots leaching lead into food, I love this healthier option to slow cook my food. Not only that, this is a rice cooker and yogurt maker. Best of all no lead leaching in our food.

Keurig 2.0

The strangest thing happened, I used to be a major coffee drinker but my friend told me about bullet proof coffee, you know that coffee you make with grass-fed butter and coconut oil or MCT oil. I hated it, but drank it to see if it would give me the crazy energy it promised.

It did not, I am high energy anyway and it did nothing to boost that. I will tell you what it did do, it made me hate coffee! Coffee was something I used to savor and look forward to. The short time that I was drinking the bullet proof coffee, it totally killed my taste for coffee. Even when I went back to drinking it like I wanted, I could barely finish a cup. Anyway, I totally cannot drink it now and drink only tea.

My husband on the other hand is a coffee addict and so my next kitchen essential is our Keurig 2.0. We have been Keurig users since 2010 and have 2 larger Keurigs and one mini. However he has full use of it now that I am not drinking coffee.

Electric Tea Kettle

My Electric Tea Kettle as a tea drinker is my best friend. I can bring it almost anywhere like in my office and have my tea without any hassle. There are all kinds of electric kettles, my daughter loves her Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle and has it at her desk at work. She says it is the best and can have her tea at the perfect temperature any time.

Well, that is my top 11. It was hard to pick and I could go on for at least another 11 that I feel are essential to the well performing kitchen. I will do that another time.

In the meantime, tell me what some of your top kitchen essentials are? I would love for you to share your answers in the comments.

8 Comments

Filed under Cooking, Home & Garden, Kitchen, Mommy Ramblings

Tagged as coffeemaker, Emile Henry, Essentials, Kitchen, Knife Set, Mixer, products

December 18, 2013 · 11:16 pm

Holiday Travel Essential Package For Baby Giveaway With Tortle & 2 Red Hens Diaper Bag!!!

Did you know that 1 out of 2 babies develop flat head syndrome and that it is totally preventable? A pediatrician developed a product called Tortle, this lightweight baby beanie can prevent flat head and even treat babies who have developed flat head. Target.com will carry three Tortle designs; Blue Elephant, Pink Flowers and Solid White. The Tortle beanies are available in medium and large sizes at a suggested retail price of $19.99. You can follow Tortle on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to stay up to date with all the latest product news.

Developed by Dr. Jane Scott, a Board Certified Pediatrician and Neonatologist, the Tortle beanie is an FDA-cleared patented Class 1 medical device that promotes proper head and neck movement which is essential for appropriate development. Tortle helps prevent and treat early stages of flat head syndrome: plagiocephaly (the flattening of the baby’s skull) & torticollis (unbalanced neck muscles). Tortle works by gently deflecting a baby’s head from side to side when they are sitting or lying on the back of their head. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends regular head repositioning of babies younger than six months.

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The incidence of Plagiocephaly and Torticollis (or Flathead syndrome) has increased to epidemic proportions since 1992 with more than a million babies being diagnosed with the condition each year in the U.S. alone. This is due to their lack of movement and the amount of time infants spend on their back (the safest place for them to be). If left untreated, there can be long-standing problems. Treatment is frequently expensive and can be somewhat uncomfortable for a baby. Plagiocephaly and Torticollis are almost 100% preventable with repositioning and Tortle makes this safe and easy. It is recommended that all newborns wear a Tortle for the first 6 months of life to support healthy development.

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Dr. Scott, whose specialty is Pediatrics and Neonatology, is recognized as an expert in the areas of Plagiocephaly and Torticollis. In her nearly 30 years as a practicing physician, Dr. Scott has counseled and educated hundreds of parents to help prevent as well as treat the many problems associated with Flathead Syndrome. Dr. Jane’s mission is to prevent Flathead Syndrome-an epidemic affecting the babies across the world. Please visit tortle.com for more information.

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Traveling with baby is a breeze with the 2 Red Hens Studio Rooster Diaper Bags! These custom designed bags give mom all the style and sass she had before baby, and all the functionality she needs now that her precious little one has arrived.

Features include:

• Interior zipper pocket, bottle holder and 2 elastic pockets

• Convertible stroller straps

• Attached key fob

• Magnetic snap and button closure for easy access

• Extra long changing pad in 2 Red Hens signature red dot pattern.

Available in 5 custom designed, vintage-inspired patterns:

• Chevron Stripes, Grey Damask, Peacock Mum, Pink Lemonade and Owl Dots

Recommended retail: $50

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Based in Denver, Colorado, the 2 Red Hens Studio collection of Vintage Chic Inspired Items for Modern Mamas include diaper bags, the Toy Nanny, Shopping Cart Nests, and a range of accessory items. Limited edition handcrafted one-of-a-kind diaper bags and dolls are also offered. For more information visit 2 Red Hens.com. Follow 2 Red Hens on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and visit their blog.

Tortle and 2 Red Hens are sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a Tortle and 2 Red Hens Rooster Diaper Bag in their choice of style! The value of this giveaway prize packages is $69.99! Thanks to Tortle and 2 Red Hens for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US and Canadian residents.