Now that the holidays are over, you might have gotten gift cards or want to exchange something. I didn’t receive any kitchen items for Christmas (probably because I do a pretty good job of buying them for myself) except from a friend, who bought me some prep bowls and the Sweet Melissa cookbook that I had on my Amazon cookbook wishlist. Yes, I have a cookbook wishlist. But that’s another post…
So to help you spend that holiday cash, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things in the kitchen.
1.KitchenAid Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixers
First, I’d just like to point out that I did not pay this much for mine. If you watch the price, it does go down. If you don’t know the trick to price-watching on Amazon, I recommend CamelCamelCamel Price History. But this mixer? I love this mixer. I don’t know how I ever lived without a mixer in my kitchen. I actually got my first KitchenAid mixer last year for Christmas, and I bought one of the cheaper models on sale at Kohl’s (yes, I bought my own Christmas present. From my husband). About six months of use later, I realized that I needed a mixer with a higher wattage of motor. If you plan on doing a lot of heavy baking–especially bread dough or making marshmallows–you’ll want to go with the higher wattage. The lower wattage models are fine for light mixing, but once you start moving into heavier dough or longer periods of mixing, you’ll burn the motor out on a lower wattage model. Another consideration is that often the cheaper models don’t come with attachments or the bowl shield, only the paddle mixer. I use the dough hook and the whisk all the time, and actually bought them for the old model. So when comparing model prices, take that into consideration as each additional attachment can run up to $30.
If you’ve always wanted a mixer but just weren’t sure how much you’d use it, trust me, get the mixer. You’ll find you use it much more than you think and that you’ll be more willing to make things/try things because you have the mixer. Everyone in your home will benefit.
2.Black & Decker 2-Speed Food Chopper with 3-Cup Bowl
So I do own a food processor, but I never use it. I hate pulling the food processor out, there’s no place to store it, and it’s bulky to clean/put in the dishwasher. So I bought this small countertop food chopper almost two years ago and I use it almost daily. I use it whenever a recipe calls for chopping or mincing onion. Which, as you know, is a lot. The chopper is small but mighty, and I’ve even used it to finely chop carrots, which it handles with ease. I use it in baking too, to chop things like nuts. The blade is very sharp, the container holds 3 cups and fits very easily in the dishwasher, and it takes up almost no counterspace, so I always have it handy. If and when it ever dies, I will immediately invest in a new one, because I can’t imagine doing any cooking without it. What can I say, I’m a lazy cook 
3. Crockpot
Another must-have tool in my kitchen. In the winter especially, I use the crockpot at least once a week, often more. It’s essential for days when Brianna has evening activities, because otherwise we wouldn’t have a hot meal. And I already mentioned that I’m a lazy cook, and there are recipes where the combination of the chopper and the crockpot allow me to be very lazy. Like just throwing a chicken in the crockpot with some seasoning and letting it cook.
What crockpot you buy is, I think, an individual choice. I own three, all different sizes, and I actually like the one with the programmable timer settings the least (the one pictured). My favorite is a crockpot I got used, handed down to me from a friend. It’s an oval six-quart crockpot with just three settings on the knob. If you’re going to buy a crockpot, start cheap and see if crockpot cooking suits you before investing in a fancy crockpot with all the bells and whistles.
If you do get a crockpot, get these liners. They make cleanup a snap. The time and effort saved from scrubbing off baked food? Priceless.
4. My last item is purely for fun. A wine refrigerator. I always have cold wine, and I have somewhere to keep all the wine I’ve collected during my travels. This particular one is new to me, a 48-bottle fridge with dual climate control via a touch screen, and an interior light. A bit of an upgrade from the 8-bottle cooler I was using. And yes it is full. No, not all my wine fits in there. What can I say? I like wine!
I actually have more kitchen essentials I could share, but I’m going to save them for another day. Tell me, what are your kitchen essentials?
**Note: the links in this post are associate links so there’s a small benefit if you purchase through them, but I only use them because Amazon makes it easy, not that I actually expect anyone to run out and buy a wine refrigerator.
30. Dec, 2009 
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Where I come from, you usually find the KitchenAid mixer on the bridal registry. I decided there was no way in hell I was waiting however long that would be (still not dating anyone that seriously), and I bought my first and current one as a “going away to grad school” gift to myself a little over 8 years ago. It’s the introductory model, so I’ll probably upgrade either as a 35th birthday present to myself or when I get married, whichever comes first (likely that 35th birthday). I’ve been a fan of KitchenAid since I was three. No joke. That’s when my mom got hers, and it’s been a steady workhorse ever since.
Also, I adore those slow cooker liners! They’ve been a godsend for cleanup, especially when I do the roast for my pulled pork.
My new fav kitchen essential is my large silicone colander. Similar to this: http://www.target.com/Norpro-Silicone-Knockdown-Colander-Blue/dp/B000V8EWLY
It folds flat so it fits in my skinny cabinets and has pull out handles so it rests on any size sink.
Love It.
I love my KitchenAid mixer. I’ve had it for almost 14 years and it’s still going strong.
I bought the crockpot liners but my DH started freaking me out about cooking my food in plastic.
My kitchen must have is my convection oven. I love it so.
Love my food chopper and my tupperware shaker. I’m marginally attached to my favorite knife.
I own two of your favs — Kitchen Aid mixer and crockpot. I bought the two when a home goods store was going out of business. These two items have been sitting in my basement for over 9 years in their original box.
The only one that has come of the basement is the crockpot. I think reading about your plugs about the crockpot made me finally unearth it. So far, I’ve only made braised short ribs, twice. Gotta go dig out the slow cooker cookbook I know have among my many cook books.
One of these days, the Kitchen Aid will come out.
Jusy, I feel so sad for your poor Kitchen Aid. She’s so lonely down there in the basement. Bring her up.
I love my Artisan series KitchenAid mixer, though someday I might upgrade.
My Silpats are another thing I love and use anytime I bake cookies.
My wooden spoons are my kitchen essential. I have about 8 of them and could use a couple more. You don’t have to worry about the finish of the pan if you always use a wooden spoon. As far as cleaning goes, I pop them in the dishwasher.
I love my kitchenaid also, and I’ve been drooling over a professional one like your link at Sams club. But the 5-quart “heavy duty” one keeps on chugging. Luckily, they can be repaired when you bust a gear (I want one with metal gears some day…)
Love my All-Clad pans. Totally worth the investment. Oven proof. Dishwasher proof (essential if you let someone else “help” with the cleanup). Steel wool scrubbable. Mine are not decorative. Not in the slightest.
Kristi Lea, I totally want a set of All-Clad one of these days. My mom has a few pieces and I adore cooking with them when I’m at home. She and my dad use Bar Keeper’s Friend powder cleanser to clean them (http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/). Right now, I’ve got a set of Calphalon which I really like, a Le Creuset slow cooker that I haven’t quite figured out how to use yet (I got it at TJ Maxx & couldn’t pass up the deal), and a Le Creuset skillet (Xmas pressie!!) that I’m looking forward to breaking in
Love my crockpot, but couldn’t live without my hotplate. So much nicer for pancakes, eggs, grilled sandwiches, toasting, and what not than a griddle. Perfect for taking along short trips where you want to make homemade breakfast out of the cooler rather than get dressed and find a cafe (or brave continental hotel fare) to eat.
Love my Pro600 kitchenaid. Love the mini-bowl insert that allows me to do small quantities. Can’t wait for the silicon-wiper-blade paddle attachment, but it’ll wait til I’m employed again.
Kitchenaid ROCKS.