LaraThalice's Top 5 Kitchen Tools

There are a handful of kitchen tools that I pull out of the cupboard and stare at in grateful awe before carrying on with my mission. Every time I use one of them, I think, "I need to let the world know how amazing you are!" So, I'm finally letting the entire world know about these dudes/dudettes.

1. Cuisinart Smart Stick Immersion Blender
I put this as number one because I honestly can't get over it. Every time I use it, it's like Christmas. I want to meet the inventor. IMMERSION BLENDER, YOU MAKE MY KITCHEN LIFE COMPLETE. I have considered traveling with it before, just because it's so freaking awesome. Pureeing soup in an instant without having to move it to the blender is by far the best thing in the lands. I also puree fruit in liquids to make popsicles, quick smoothies, and syrups. The other GREATEST THING IN THE LANDS is that I can barely-chop up dressing ingredients (lazy), plop them into a Pyrex measuring cup (okay, these cups are goddesses, too, and love how they can handle the heat) with some oil, and give it a quick puree for a fantastical salad dressing. Oh, and tomato sauce, duh.

2. Wüsthof Classic Ikon 8" Cook's Knife - 4596/20
A true workhorse in the LaraThalice kitchen - chopping, mincing, slicing and dicing my way through a cooking fiesta. I use it multiple times a day, it's super easy to sharpen, and my hand never tires. I find it to be the perfect size for every recipe I've ever cooked, only sometimes pairing it with my Wüsthof Paring (har har) knife. You don't realize how much a good knife speeds up the prep process until you own one.Now picture my voice introducing the next line to come down the runway at NYFW: It also features a contoured handle for comfortable fit and a more contemporary appearance...ooo la la. **NOTE: Although this says "Dishwasher Safe", it is always best to hand wash your beloved knives.

3. KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Qt. Stand Mixer
The colors and attachment options alone make this kitchen toy a favorite. I use it to knead bread, make pasta dough, whip cream, eggs, pasta fillings, sugah, buttah. My brother even borrowed it to grind venison burger. It deserves its own apron, actually, because it may do more work in my kitchen than me. I may or may not kiss it goodnight each evening.

4. Lodge Cast Iron 12" Skillet
What can't you cook in one? I actually don't know. Mine is 3.25" deep, which I find perfect because it allows me to cook quite a variety in it. And after you've used it for a while, it tends to make everything else you cook in it taste wicked good. I've made everything from the obvious soups/stews, braised chicken, and perfectly seared fish, to pad thai, grilled mac & cheese, and pancakes. That's quite a variety, I'd say!

5. Kitchenismo Fine Mesh Stainless Steel Food Strainer & Sieve
This little beast is truly underrated. I am big on minimizing kitchen gadgets and love when one thing does multiple tasks (if you couldn't tell from this list, already).
It not only strains the obvious – food but it acts as my sifter, ricer, steamer, rinser, and even allows organics to steep in boiling water to make Easter egg dye.
It's the perfect size. I really think my favorite thing about it is that it eliminates a gaumy sifter. Yes, I said "gaumy." It's a Maine thing. I can't help it. We use it in place of awkward/bulky/clumsy. My husband says I made it up. I say I learned it as a sternwoman on my Dad's lobster boat.
I'm having trouble remembering where I got my strainer and there is absolutely no branding on it. So, I actually ordered the ones I linked to (and posed with, left), to make sure they compare/are the same thing as mine (pictured right). I was unable to find the single-item listing so I've linked to a 3-pack. You won't be sorry owning the mini strainer. I use one a lot for decorative powdering, spices, fine pureeing, tea, even camp coffee (which actually is delicious and a must-know when the power goes out). And, as for the middle one, I don't know. Just meditate on it. I bet it would make a fun beach toy (for the young and old).

Bonus: Microplane Gourmet Series Black Fine Grater
I did a bonus instead of a Top 6...because who writes Top 6 lists? But, really this is right up there with the rest. It grates everything from zests, to garlic, ginger, and nutmeg, to name a few, with the obvious cheese thrown in between. It's light, ergo-friendly, and I like how it can rest on the receptacle so there is less stress on my hands.

Bonus: 2 T Pyrex measuring shot glass (6-teaspoons, 2-tablespoons, 1-ounce, and 30-milliliters)Am I allowed to have two bonus items without changing the title of this list from "Top 5"? The greatest thing about this little imp is that I can measure from 1 tsp up to 2 T (or ounce and milliliters equivalents) and only get one thing dirty, not 5,287 spoons. It's such a good friend.
**NOTE: I would NOT recommend the dishwasher. The writing will slowly wash away and then you just have a (was) fancy shot glass.