A super sweet friend of mine from BYU gave me $25 at Williams-Sonoma as a wedding gift and I went crazy adding completely awesome yet somewhat silly items that cost somewhere around $25 to my cart. You know, something like The Great Cupcake Cake Pan, which I would pay a ridiculous amount of money for and use a handful of times. Happily I decided to use some sense and browse through items that would prove a bit more useful to me on a daily basis, which is how I found the VeggieChop. Pull the ring and the blades go round, chopping your food up into little chunks much faster than can be done with a knife (unless you are Julia Child of course, don’t you love when she chops up that enormous pile of onions?). Even That Husband loves this little device and when I listed off the givewaway items for the week he said this one was the best I was giving away.
I’m sure you get the idea, but I found this nice little promo video on YouTube so you can see exactly how it works in practice:
Amazing no? You’ll love it I promise. Just answer the question below to enter:
What’s one of your must-have items in the kitchen?
Comments close at 11:59 pm on 2/25/2010, and the winner will be announced on Saturday. Entries that don’t answer the question will be deleted because I like when people follow directions. 
February 25th, 2010 on 2:03 pm
Microplane zester! Couldn’t live without it!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:04 pm
I love my Pampered Chef Garlic Press. Nothing like a lot of fresh garlic in everything!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:05 pm
My garlic press is my must-have! I use garlic in everything I cook and mincing is no fun, so my garlic press makes my life easier.
This VeggieChop would do wonders for me when chopping onions. I absolutely hate chopping onions. I hate how it makes my mascara run down my face and I always make my husband do it.
I hope I win!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:06 pm
I was going to say our Slap Chop, but this makes the Slap Chop look like a lot of work!!!! This looks much easier to clean too. What a find!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:06 pm
A good chopping knife! When we got married my husband’s only gift wish was a good Wusthof, and he was right, it’s all you need!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:06 pm
Fun gadget! This sounds completely extravagant, but I couldn’t imagine living without my Kitchenaid Mixer. I’ve had it for years! I would consider registering for a second now that I’m getting married!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:07 pm
My KitchenAid mixer! I can’t live without it!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:09 pm
My Bosch. I love it. I need it. I can’t live without it.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:09 pm
A big chopping knife. I use it just about every day!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:11 pm
Wow, this contraption is so cool! I have never seen one before!
A good set of knives is a must-have. And LOTS of prep bowls and cutting boards!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:12 pm
oh yes. it looks like an amazing item to have! it would be so useful!!
i have to have my steamer.. i love steamed anything!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:13 pm
My Pampered Chef pitcher! It has a built-in plunger to mix the drinks, and so you can give your drinks a quick mix before pouring. I don’t think I would ever make concentrated juice or lemonade without this thing, yet we always have some in the fridge because of it!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:13 pm
A good chef knife and my KitchenAid stand mixer. I use both nearly every time I cook!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:13 pm
My kitchen-aid mixer! It’s a hand-me-down from my mom, it’s 70′s yellow but is still going strong. I really enjoy baking so it’s wonderful.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:15 pm
My must-have item in my kitchen is my KitchenAid stand mixer!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:16 pm
Oh definitely my pampered chef kitchen spritzer!!! it takes regular olive oil and makes it spray-able… such a healthier way to add oil when I don’t want a lot!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:17 pm
My must have is our Cuisinart 4 in one griddler. I use it to cook all my chicken, beef, make our grilled cheese sandwiches, and so many other great things! I use it more than any other thing in my kitchen.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:18 pm
My santuko knife that hubby got me for Christmas a couple years ago. I love that thing!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:18 pm
Santoku knives get more use than anything else in our kitchen.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:19 pm
my Wusthof knives.
They’re awesome.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:19 pm
I love my microplane grater/zester. So much I’ve been known to gently correct my man when he doesn’t clean it with the care and respect it deserves.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:20 pm
a salad spinner. I dont know why but before we had one, if we ever made our own salads it was the salad iin a bag. Now that we have the salad spinner we buy the lettuce by the head (soo much better value)!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:20 pm
My favourite is the Magic Bullet. We use it for everything!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:21 pm
My meat tenderizer/pounder is surprisingly my favorite. I have such a hard time knowing how long to cook chicken breasts, but with the pounder I am able to get the thickness consistent. It also helps getting the meat thinner so it doesn’t have to cook as long. Just a few minutes on each side. Granted, you could also use a can of soup or any other hard, heavy surface, but it is so much fun using the meat tenderizer and it gets out a little bit of the angst as well
February 25th, 2010 on 2:23 pm
It’s boring, but I love my brita filter. I can’t imagine water without it.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:24 pm
I worked in a locally-owned gourmet kitchen shop like WS all through college…so I have a lot of favorites! I love my set of glass mixing bowls, as well as my microplane, and a le creuset spatula that I can never do without!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:24 pm
Wow! I’m looking at everyone else’s comments and I *wish* I could say my favorite was my KitchenAid mixer! That’s high up on my wishlist. I’m a newlywed and don’t have many gadgets at all. My husband and I, however, currently live in a sad little apartment with a pathetic excuses for appliances. We’re renovating a house and I’ll have new stuff soon. So, really, I’m going to say my must-haves are good appliances. It’s no fun when your dishwasher doesn’t do the job or fireworks shoot out of the old oven (true story)!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:24 pm
In terms of big-ticket items, I pick my flame-colored 6.5 quart Le Creuset dutch oven. My husband and I routiney say that it’s presence in our life is one of the best things about being married.
For gadgets, I pick my Oxo Good Grips tongs. I love those things!!! I use them every single night for cooking.
phruphru Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
that’s “its” not “it’s” ugh, sorry.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:25 pm
I agree with TH this is my favorite give away yet. I agree with a lot of the ladies above. I need a good knive. It will pretty much do anything!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:26 pm
We got new knives from our wedding registry and they are my favorite. I don’t know the brand name, but they’re actually sharp and cut things! Genius I know, but they’re so much better than the cruddy ones I had from college.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:26 pm
I love my salad spinner…I hate wet, slimy lettuce!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:27 pm
My standalone mixer I use it for everything!
PS My uncle makes the greatest salsa with a contraption like that so now I’m going to have to beg that recipe off of him and then go buy one of these so I can make it too! I hope I win!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:29 pm
Hmmm the item that probably gets the most use in our kitchen is the Bullet. My husband makes himself smoothies all.the.time!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:29 pm
Garlic peeler, hands down.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:30 pm
I love my kitchen aid mixer. I have in it a little baking nook on our counter and use it several times a week for all sorts of stuff, not just baking. The salad spinner is also used quite frequently.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:31 pm
That kitchen gadget is so cool! I have never seen anything like it
I would have to say my favorite is my kitchenaid mixer. i use it for everything!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:31 pm
My steamer for fresh veggies!! yummy!!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:32 pm
My Good Grips veggie peeler!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:32 pm
My favorite is my baking stone from Pampered Chef. I use it every week for home make pizza night. But you can cook basically anything in those pans: cookies, brownies, cakes, casseroles. Love it!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:37 pm
I love my kitchenaid mixer. Just looking at it makes me want to bake something delicious!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:38 pm
KitchenAid Mixer for sure. I love that thing!!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:39 pm
My must have is a really good chefs knife.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:39 pm
Definitely my new shun knife that was a Christmas gift—it is amazing!
Love your blog!!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:40 pm
I love my magic bullet! It’s so handy but also easy to store. I use it all the time
February 25th, 2010 on 2:41 pm
I would have to say my Kitchen-Aid mixer! I grew up using one, and one day I was at my husband’s (then boyfriend) house and had to mix a recipe by hand with a wooden spoon. Terrible!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:43 pm
I love love love my kitchenaid hand mixer! Always handy in a pinch
February 25th, 2010 on 2:45 pm
My husband is kitchen gadget crazy, but the most important things to me are a good knife and good pans.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:48 pm
It sounds super basic but I have some metal mixing bowls with tupperware-type covers, and they are soooo useful. You can use them for mixing and for fruit and then you can cover them and put them in the frig or use them as storage….
February 25th, 2010 on 2:50 pm
Oh my goodness, I totally need this little tool! My favorite kitchen gadget is a garlic press..makes adding fresh garlic to anything so EASY!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:51 pm
Rubbermaid Professional 13-1/2-Inch High-Heat Scraper. It does EVERYTHING, folding, sauteing, mixing, stirring, scraping, spreading… I could go on and on….
February 25th, 2010 on 2:51 pm
I need one of those. My little “salsa” maker chopper thing broke and I haven’t been able to find one since. Let’s see… my go to kitchen utensil… garlic mincer, good knife, cast iron skillet
February 25th, 2010 on 2:52 pm
I am fairly simple when it comes to kitchen gadgets, but I don’t know how I’d replace my blender!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:52 pm
My favorite is definitely my kitchenaid mixer (in part because it is red and looks so cute!)…I also really love my slanted measuring cups (the kind you don’t have to lean down to see if the water/whatever is at the line)
February 25th, 2010 on 2:53 pm
I would have to say the KitchenAid mixer as well, I love to bake yummy goodies!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:54 pm
My Furi coppertail knife set, definitely. I use those two knives for everything.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:54 pm
I would have to say our blender since we make smoothies each and every morning. I love that thing!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:56 pm
The Kapoosh! It’s a knife block that sharpens and preserves your blades, and no fumbling around trying to get the right size knife in the right slot! I use knives all the time, so it really helps me out.
See it here: http://www.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=226905&cm_mmc=GoogleShopping-_-6-_-77-_-MP677
February 25th, 2010 on 2:57 pm
A blender for sure! My boyfriend and I love to make smoothies – such an easy way to get fruits and veggies!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:57 pm
A salad spinner–no one likes a sobby salad!
February 25th, 2010 on 2:58 pm
My Silpats. They’re magic.
February 25th, 2010 on 2:59 pm
Kuhn Rikon paring knives. I have the set of three – one each of red, blue, and yellow. They are really great knives, and they are cute, too!
February 25th, 2010 on 3:03 pm
It’s a tie between sharp knifes and non-stick pans.
It is pointless to cook if everything sticks to the pan and pointless to cook if you can’t even cut through the ingredients.
Nothing fancy, just good quality knifes and pans!
Paloma Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
oops… knives!
February 25th, 2010 on 3:03 pm
mixing bowls – it’s like i can’t get enough
and i love when they are nested and just perfectly sitting all together looking pretty
but i do use them daily and could always use more
February 25th, 2010 on 3:05 pm
Kitchenaid mixer!!! I planned my entire kitchen/dining room color scheme around it- ha!
February 25th, 2010 on 3:13 pm
Another amazing giveaway, especially since J LOVES salsa. My must-have kitchen tool is a set of REALLY great knives. Most def.
February 25th, 2010 on 3:15 pm
I can’t live without my Better Homes & Garden cookbook! It has so many good recipes, and even if I don’t follow them completely, it gives me lots of good ideas for dinner. I also have a couple of ward cookbooks, complied with everyone’s favorite recipes, and those are pretty nice to have around too.
February 25th, 2010 on 3:18 pm
I’m torn between my KitchenAid mixer and my crockpot – both get used a ton!
February 25th, 2010 on 3:20 pm
My good knife set. It seriously makes cooking much more fun.
February 25th, 2010 on 3:22 pm
I too love my Kitchen Aid mixer – I wanted one for-ev-er and when my sister upgraded hers, she gave me her old one! Works great!
I just started going to Pampered Chef parties and they have some great stuff too – I even hosted my first party last week. The item I’m most excited to get is the Deep Covered Baker – it’s one of those stoneware dishes, but it’s glazed (to make it pretty). But the awesome thing is you can use it in the microwave….yes, the microwave!!!! I’ve borrowed a friends DCB and have made some awesome things in that taste and look like they didn’t come out of the microwave! I’m so excited to get mine!
February 25th, 2010 on 3:23 pm
While I also love my KitchenAid stand mixer, my must have gadget would have to me a citrus press.
February 25th, 2010 on 3:26 pm
Big wooden spoons! Seriously…I can’t stand plastic ones for some reason.
February 25th, 2010 on 3:26 pm
I don’t know how to narrow it down to just one must-have thing!! I think the #1 thing I use in my kitchen is my knife set. I couldn’t live without it, I use it for every meal it seems. I think for baking my must-have is my Kitchenaid Mixer.
February 25th, 2010 on 3:27 pm
I can’t live without my silcon scoopy-shaped splatula. The scoopy-ness is key for mixing brownies.
February 25th, 2010 on 3:27 pm
My stock pot! Simple, I know, but without it I couldn’t make my soups, homemade spaghetti sauce, chili – none of my winter staples!
February 25th, 2010 on 3:28 pm
This might be kind of weird… but I think a steam mop is THE kitchen accessory. Because I sometimes drop things on the floor. And by sometimes, I mean almost every time I cook.
The steam mop gives me the ability to take my own sweet time enacting the 5 second rule, without feeling like that tomato that just rolled off the counter landed in the remnants of last week’s “raw chicken incident.”
Jenna Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Steam mop? I want!
February 25th, 2010 on 3:30 pm
My mandolin slicer.
February 25th, 2010 on 3:30 pm
My grandfather gave my mother a jar opener when she first moved out on her own, and when I got married she passed her extra one down to me. I love this thing! I use it at least twice a week.
(This is the closest one I can find… I guess they don’t sell it anymore! http://www.kitchenaria.com/kitchen-essentials/utensils/professional-jar-and-bottle-opener/kitchenware_1610.html )
February 25th, 2010 on 3:36 pm
It is really hard to pick one…but I would say it is Shun Knives. Close second would be the KitchenAid Stand Mixer…and third….Keurig Coffee maker.
February 25th, 2010 on 3:38 pm
I purchased a Ninja from an infomercial and I love it. But this seems like less cleanup for smaller jobs like this! I love it!!! How fun!
February 25th, 2010 on 3:38 pm
I’d have to say lately – our Hamilton Beach crock pot… I set that thing on and it’s ready for when my husband gets home
not too interesting… but look at all these ladies and their kitchenaid mixers!!! LUCKIES 
February 25th, 2010 on 3:38 pm
Ooh, I love this!
ONE must-have item? I could name about thirty.
Some of my very tops: silpat, la creuset dutch oven, cuisinart food processor (I use it probably more than you’d expect!), kitchenaid mixer, santoku knife, and a good wooden spoon.
February 25th, 2010 on 3:47 pm
A good chefs knife is a must have for me.
February 25th, 2010 on 3:49 pm
My Crock-Pot for sure! I work during the day, and lets just say the hubby could burn a pot of water. So I love setting my crockpot up with all sorts of goodies and coming home to a delicious smelling kitchen and something good to eat. It looks like this cute little chopper (which I have nothing like!) would help me out in my morning routine!!!
February 25th, 2010 on 3:51 pm
Oh I’m so excited! My old favorite is more of a lifestyle necessity rather than a cooking necessity – my hot shot hot water heater because I love hot chocolate like the rest of the world loves coffee. The cooking must have is a personal blender that I snagged from an old roommate – anything from soups to milkshakes to even once quacamole. It’s an impressive little thing.
February 25th, 2010 on 4:01 pm
My apple green cast iron skillets. My mom got them for my husband and I three years ago, and we use them every day!
February 25th, 2010 on 4:01 pm
My favorite is my over the sink cutting board with a built in strainer from C&B. Makes chopping and cleaning veggies a breeze!!!
February 25th, 2010 on 4:08 pm
this is the toughest question ever! probably my veg. peeler bc I use it for a lot more than peeling (choc. chaving, parm cheese shavings etc.) just love it!
February 25th, 2010 on 4:09 pm
wow that would be AMAZING for onions. i would agree that a garlic press is awesome but i also love my glass baking dishes with accompanying snap on lids…bake, eat, put away!
Jenna Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Ohhh me too! I’m just about to go heat up some leftovers sitting in one of those dishes!
February 25th, 2010 on 4:12 pm
Of all of the items, I love this OXO smooth edge can opener that I bought on a whim to use the rest of my gift card at Williams Sonoma! I mean, who knew I would be so in love with it (we use a lot of canned items and I hate the electric can openers – this one is easy and no sharp edges!).
February 25th, 2010 on 4:13 pm
probably my baking pans. I think I use them almost every single day for dinner or making yummy sweets!
February 25th, 2010 on 4:21 pm
Cast iron skillet. Either I or DH ends up using it at least once a day, every single day of the week. Love it.
February 25th, 2010 on 4:21 pm
My favorite kitchen item is my pairing knife set. I’m not sure the brand, but I ordered the set through my grandmothers church. They are the most flexible knives I have every used.
February 25th, 2010 on 4:23 pm
#1 would be my Cusinart Chef’s knife- wouldn’t think that it would be that amazing, but it so is. Following a very close 2nd is my Calphalon Wok- my little baby!
February 25th, 2010 on 4:25 pm
I don’t cook much, but I absolutely love my Pampered Chef baking stone. I seem to use it everytime I cook.
February 25th, 2010 on 4:26 pm
My All-Clad slow cooker! I use it at least once a week and it’s just so decadent!
February 25th, 2010 on 4:29 pm
I am surprised by the number of entries that involve really bulky or expensive kitchen items.
My favorite, most used, most incredible item in the kitchen is my toaster oven. It was only $49.99, but we do SO much in that. We toast our breakfast breads, heat up leftovers (much healthier and safer than microwaving), bake some simple dishes, and more. I LOVE my toaster oven so much!
Two other simple favorites… a good paring knife and a great mini spatula, perfect for cooking oatmeal or stirring a mini batch of cupcakes…
February 25th, 2010 on 4:34 pm
I love my santoku knife!
February 25th, 2010 on 4:35 pm
My Kitchenaide mixer!!!!! Just got it in October for my b-day and I use it ALL.THE.TIME.
February 25th, 2010 on 4:37 pm
I love my kitchen scissors! I hate trimming chicken, but scissors make it so much easier!
February 25th, 2010 on 4:42 pm
my must have is my food processor. i hate grating cheese so it does the work for me in seconds!
February 25th, 2010 on 4:43 pm
my favorite kitchen gadget is my lemon squeezer. it’s totally frivilous, and i don’t use it every day (or even every week) but it’s the most fun one, i think.
February 25th, 2010 on 4:51 pm
I could never go without a salad spinner!
February 25th, 2010 on 5:05 pm
My cast iron dutch oven. I love the fact that it can go from stove-top to oven to fridge and dishwasher! The thing is heavier then life, but I love it!!!!
Oh and I can’t live without it… it has been in storage for 3 years now, yeah traveling with 2 bags and 140 pounds of total weight, not a lot of room for a 40 pound kitchen item. I can’t wait to get back to a kitchen and use it!!!
February 25th, 2010 on 5:10 pm
My KitchenAid. My parents gave it to me when I graduated from BYU and I wondered how much I’d really use it. Answer? About five times a week. I love that thing.
February 25th, 2010 on 5:16 pm
Paper towels because my husband is a germaphobe.
February 25th, 2010 on 5:17 pm
my bestie got me a pretty red hand mixer – and i’m obsessed with it. i can’t believe i mixed all my batters and doughs by hand before! not to pooh-pooh the kitchenaid stand mixers, but this cleans up SO much easier and whips up cookies just as quick.
LOVE this giveaway gadget Jenna!
February 25th, 2010 on 5:30 pm
My Crock-Pot. I don’t think I could live without it, especially during the winter!
February 25th, 2010 on 5:34 pm
Oh gosh, I love my clay pot (romertopf) that cooks everything so quickly and leaves it all so juicy! Or a super sharp knife. Or my husband – he’s very handy to have in the kitchen, and he’s definitely a must have!
February 25th, 2010 on 5:38 pm
A sharp knife! Can’t live without one
February 25th, 2010 on 5:39 pm
Another something I didn’t know I needed until I had it…my Kitchen Aid Mixer…I can’t imagine not having it now!
February 25th, 2010 on 5:45 pm
KitchenAid Mixer
I don’t use it daily, but I lurrrrves it!
February 25th, 2010 on 5:46 pm
<3 my kitchenaid stand mixer!
February 25th, 2010 on 5:48 pm
I couldn’t live without my Le Creuset Oval Dutch Oven! I was hesitant to even register for it, since it’s so expensive, but it’s by far the most used item in my kitchen. My husband and I cook with it practically every night and I love it! Plus, it’s bright green, so it brightens up the kitchen : )
February 25th, 2010 on 5:49 pm
I love my spoon spatula! I received it as a wedding gift (my wedding was the same day as yours!) and discovered its versatility!
February 25th, 2010 on 5:52 pm
I don’t know how I would cook without my spatula – mixing, stirring, flipping, scraping – it does everything!
February 25th, 2010 on 5:54 pm
Salad spinner! Definitely! But our mango splitter is a close second!
February 25th, 2010 on 6:04 pm
I make tons of smoothies, so my KitchenAid blender is one of my most-used kitchen items. I also love whipping out my salad spinner!
February 25th, 2010 on 6:19 pm
My must-have item is my 10-Piece OXO Crock with Tools Set (http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=746&f=11846)–it has everything I need!
February 25th, 2010 on 6:26 pm
This looks amazing! Chopping veggies is one of my least favorite things-this would make life soo much easier.
My favorite kitchen gadget is my George Foreman grill-I love panini sandwiches and this is a great way to make them.
February 25th, 2010 on 6:27 pm
My Oxo Garlic Press! I hate mincing garlic.
February 25th, 2010 on 6:32 pm
I absolutely love my air popper for popcorn. I seriously eat popcorn about twice a week!
February 25th, 2010 on 6:51 pm
My tongs! They’re plain Oxo ones but I use them all the time and I get super excited whenever I see them on Food Network!
February 25th, 2010 on 6:51 pm
This looks awesome – I’ve been thinking about getting a mini-food processor – but maybe this is all I need!
Love my wusthof (sp?) knife. I didn’t realize the importance of having a great chopping knife before I got that as a gift.
I’m also big into pampered chef goodies… the can strainer is brilliant. The flat drainer is so quick and easy to clean. (Hold against pot to drain water rather than having to use the full on strainer)
Little things but I use them almost daily!
February 25th, 2010 on 6:57 pm
Definitely my santoku knife!
February 25th, 2010 on 7:10 pm
i would say my henckels knives set. can’t cook without it!
February 25th, 2010 on 7:10 pm
My Santuko knife from Williams Sonoma – I think that’s the kind of knife it is
I use it for everything!
February 25th, 2010 on 7:18 pm
My must-have item is my vegetable peeler. I love butternut squash, and couldn’t function without my left-handed friendly peeler that whips off squash skin in a snap!
February 25th, 2010 on 7:19 pm
This seems to be a theme, but my kitchenaid mixer is hands down the greatest appliance ever.
February 25th, 2010 on 7:20 pm
Lots of chopping knives!
February 25th, 2010 on 7:25 pm
My dough cutter/scraper thing (this: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/stainless-steel-pastry-scraper/?pkey=cbaking-pastry-tools|ctlpstacc)
It’s awesome; I use it for so much!
February 25th, 2010 on 7:30 pm
For big projects, I love my KitchenAid. I also use my Wusthof serrated knife for almost everything. It’s wonderful.
February 25th, 2010 on 7:30 pm
I really love my food processor and my santoku knife. Also, my big bamboo cutting board is sweet because i can cover the sinks in my kitchen in order to gain more chopping space (stupid galley kitchen!)
February 25th, 2010 on 7:36 pm
I have to have my garlic press, there is nothing like fresh garlic and nothing better than not having garlic smelling fingers just to have it!
February 25th, 2010 on 7:40 pm
our shun elite knives (wedding gift). make cooking a dream. In the close second is salad spinner.
February 25th, 2010 on 7:51 pm
a good cutting board is my go-to kitchen tool. it just makes me happy to chop on a pretty and large wooden board! i hate a small scuffed up plastic board.
February 25th, 2010 on 7:54 pm
This contraption looks amazing. I don’t have many kitchen items, but I use my microplane all the time to zest lemons and limes and to grate cheese.
February 25th, 2010 on 7:58 pm
oooh, it’s a tough call between my Kitchen Aid Pro Heavy Duty and my Cuisinart food processor, which seems like a bigger, electric version of the VeggieChop
February 25th, 2010 on 7:58 pm
I looove my new knives! So sharp and fabulous!
February 25th, 2010 on 7:59 pm
I have this nifty little gadget that pops jar lids so they are easy to open. Life saver!
Best of luck to everyone!
February 25th, 2010 on 7:59 pm
I LOVE having a mandolin slicer. I use it all the time, especially on potatoes. My husband wants something with potatoes almost every night, so this has become a go to item!
February 25th, 2010 on 8:12 pm
My super sweet husband just bought me one of those gel floor mats that they sell at Bed Bath and Beyond. It has made washing dishes and standing at the stove so comfy.
February 25th, 2010 on 8:18 pm
could not live without my blender and my mandolin slicer. and my good set of knives. and my soup pot. and my mixer. ugh. i cook a lot!
February 25th, 2010 on 8:22 pm
I had to get an ice cream scoop from pampered chef – they are phenomenal!
February 25th, 2010 on 8:47 pm
This looks great – I hate chopping up veggies! Thanks!
My must-have in the kitchen is a non-stick flat saute’ pan with a lid – I make a ton of meals all in this one pan! I also love my pretty blue KitchenAid mixer that was a wedding gift from my awesome sister and brother-in-law!
February 25th, 2010 on 8:50 pm
My Henckels knives that my dad gave me. He bought most of them at “scratch and dent” sales in Germany, so they have little nicks and were cheap, but they work perfectly.
February 25th, 2010 on 8:52 pm
I love having the combo of my awesome electric can opener and can strainer from Pampered Chef. It makes draining things from cans (ie: diced tomatoes, corn etc) so much easier than holding the top on and pouring.
February 25th, 2010 on 8:57 pm
Probably my garlic press and my silpats. They are both amazing and a must have!!
February 25th, 2010 on 9:06 pm
I actually adore my cheese grater! Seems like I use it every day – omelets, sandwiches, tacos, etc. It’s amazing!
February 25th, 2010 on 9:07 pm
I couldn’t live without my KitchenAid stand mixer. I use it for EVERYTHING and it has made my life so much easier. It’s so sad when I cook in a kitchen that doesn’t have one, because I don’t even know what to do with myself!!
February 25th, 2010 on 9:08 pm
A good set of knives is crucial.
February 25th, 2010 on 9:34 pm
My Salad Spinner. My husband is crazy and doesn’t believe that it actually does anything useful but no more soggy salad for me.
And if I don’t win the chopper I might just have to go buy one. It looks awesome.
February 25th, 2010 on 9:49 pm
my measuring cups. even though my husband makes fun of me for measuring stuff like cereal, i use several every day
February 25th, 2010 on 10:52 pm
my toaster. it’s the cheapest one that the store had, and i didn’t think i would even use it very often, but I do.
Every single morning.
February 25th, 2010 on 11:00 pm
I don’t have a lot of fancy tools in the kitchen (oh how I would love a Wüsthof Classic Hollow-Edge Santoku, a Kitchenaid Mixer..), but my brother got me a Cuisinart Food Processor for Christmas which I LOVE. I’ve made soups with it and salsas (though I can’t figure out how to make pico de gallo in it). That looks perfect for making pico de gallo, obvs from the video
February 25th, 2010 on 11:08 pm
ummm… i don’t know if it counts as a gadget, but my stoneware. LOVE my rectangle stoneware!!
February 25th, 2010 on 11:30 pm
My quesadilla maker! My mom bought it for me thinking it would be fun to play with a few times, but I swear it’s one of the items I go to most. Hubs and I end up having some variety of quesadilla at least once a week – and it cleans up in no time flat!
February 25th, 2010 on 11:58 pm
TONGS. i use them to flip almost everything when i cook! they are definitely a MUST-HAVE!!
February 26th, 2010 on 12:02 am
Sharp knives are my must have. All great meals start with good produce chopped by sharp knives:-).
February 26th, 2010 on 12:07 am
Food processor. I make homemade vegan cheeses out of nuts and tofu, and blending it is a snap!