Kitchen Essentials at the Holidays

The holiday season is upon us! Last year was our first year hosting Christmas at our place, although “our place” was an AirBnB in the burbs outside of Minneapolis. Being in a kitchen that wasn’t ouors, trying to make a meal that’s supposed to be bringing family together was difficult. At the same time, it gave me a real sense of gratitude about what makes a kitchen feel well-stocked.

Cast-Iron Skillet

A 100% metal skillet that can go from the stovetop to the oven is essential for finishing meats or creating really rich baked stuffings. We love this one from Lodge, the best cast-iron manufacturer ever.

Large, Wooden Cutting Board

I find that wooden cutting boards are nicer than plastic. It seems to just work better with a high-quality knife. I also like one that is really oversized so that there is lots of room to work. My current favorite is this one.

Sturdy Chef’s Knife

Having one good knife is better than having ten crappy ones. We’ve invested in knives that we really love and that are easy to use and maintain. Our current favorite is this one.

Balloon Whisk

This is the one thing I missed the most at our little AirBnb was a high-quality balloon whisk. There’s such a huge difference in quality with whisks. It’s important to find one that is not easily bent out of shape. I love this one, and use it often.

Silicone Scrapers

If you don’t have a wooden spoon or a flipper, this is a great tool that can be used in so many ways, from making sauces and soups to baking and making batters.

What are the things you need to have a well-stocked kitchen?