A Good Year For Cooking!

Start the year right with the right tools for the job, and in this case the job is producing good food all year round. Cooking up all this marvellous food is going to be much easier when everything you need is to hand, that's why taking the time to stock your kitchen with all the essentials will make you a very happy cook indeed!

So, lets begin with the small basics, and what is the most humblest of them all if not the wooden spoon?
Wooden spoons are just great, aren't they? They have a way of making you feel like a true baker, whether you're folding in flour, creaming butter and sugar together or stirring thick winter soup.
Choose one with a long handle so not only can you use your favourite deep saucepan but you keep your hands away from any hot foods.
Unlike metal spoons they won't burn your hands, however they do need a little bit more love so do hand wash them.
Kitcheners tip: keep two wooden spoons, one for sweet baking and one for savoury. This way your cupcakes won't have an after taste of garlic!

Slotted Spoons are great for lifting foods out of liquid, allowing them to drain. Not just for peas and carrots!  Oh no! Slotted spoons are also great for lifting foods out of hot oil.

Ever burnt your hand trying to turn food in the oven? Or had to jump back a bit quick when food slipped back into the hot water? A good pair of Tongs may be in order! Grab and turn food quickly and easily, also great for avoiding dropping your friends spaghetti onto the floor...
Kitcheners tip: choose tongs with a silicone coating for extra grip, ones that lock are also great for space saving.

A Ladle is another favourite  not just for getting the soup to the cup but also great for getting the whisked eggs into the omelet pan and cake mix into cases.
Kitcheners tip: use your ladle when making pancakes, not only does it transport your batter to the pan but acts as a measure too, so each of your pancakes is the same size!

Out of all the whisks, if you only have one, let it be the Balloon Whisk. Why is that I hear you ask? Because they can whip cream like there's no tomorrow, turn egg whites into fluffy clouds and believe me, your meringue peaks will have never looked better.
Kitcheners tip: use your whisk when you want the smoothest and loveliest of sauces.

The Peeler is such a versatile little thing. My mother still uses a knife to peel potatoes and I followed suit, however since owning a peeler I can safely say that once you have one in your life, you will not want to be without it ever again. Ever. Use it for peeling all kinds of vegetables, make your salads look beautiful by slicing the carrots and cucumber into ribbons, slice courgette length ways for stir-fry's, create tiny curls of chocolate or shavings of cheese...I could go on.

Graters come in handy more often than you think. Great for hard cheeses, nutmeg and citrus zest. Choose a good flat grater such a Cuisipro, they're easy to clean and have a non-slip handle. They also come with a protective cover that's great for catching your nutmeg or cinnamon.

A good Pastry Brush makes good looking pastry. So why not skip the tiny wooden one with it's bristles that end up looking like hairs all over your pies, and instead grab a silicone brush. They're more hygienic as they can be washed much easier and the soft silicone won't mark the pastry when you're glazing.
However if like me, you do prefer a bristle brush, choose a high quality one with natural bristles that won't fall apart. This one by Rosle is great, it comes in different widths and the rounded edges makes for softer glazing.
Kitcheners tip: you can also use your brush to grease baking tins and dishes, no more oily hands!

Spatula's, get yourself a thin metal one for generously icing cakes. They're great for making your icing look professional without the need for a piping bag and gives cupcakes a wonderfully rustic aesthetic. Because of the nice rounded edge it's also great for removing biscuits from baking trays without any breakages! Never cry over a broken biscuit again!
A larger spatula is also a very handy idea for when you need to turn and shift food about, such as in a frying pan. If you choose a slotted one the oil can drip through.
Kitcheners tip: use a nylon spatula with non-stick pans to protect the non-stick coating.

A Fish Slice is rather like a large spatula with a solid head. It makes turning large pieces of meat, such as fish or chicken, easier as it slides nice and neatly underneath the food and can support the weight as you turn it over.
Kitcheners tip: whilst in a cooking frenzy don't grab your metal fish slice to use on your mushrooms in your non-stick frying pan! The metal will scratch the coating so always use your trusty spatula.

Stay tuned for the second part of A Good Year For Cooking! When we delve into what should be lurking in your cupboards...

All of the products mentioned above can be found in our shop, and many on our website! http://www.kitchenercookware.com/

Millie Fraser