I've linked some of my favorite products mentioned in blog posts. Full disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program, so I earn a little fee if you purchase items via the links below.
I use this ALL of the time - I bought it originally to help with portion control and such, and now I use it for more precise baking, portioning out cookie dough, meat for meatballs or burgers, and much more. It's held up for many years.
This mandoline is awesome for uniform slices of onions, cucumbers, potatoes, and so much more. I use it to slice up a huge mound of onions for French onion soup, potatoes for a gratin, etc. I did find out that hard way if you get too excited, you will hurt yourself. So use the guard, go slow, and BE CAREFUL.
I never knew I needed a fat separator, but my mother-in-law got me one for Christmas, and I use it more often than I thought I would! I separate the fat from slow cooker meals like barbacoa or Korean beef, cooking liquids from a beef roast or chicken to make gravy, etc. Very handy!
Another great gift I received was this Cuisinart Smart Stick Immersion Blender. I use it for soups, sauces, etc. I have an older version of this - this is an improvement!
I use these divided containers from EasyLunches to pack lunches with less packaging - they hold up nicely, and from elementary to high school, they have remained "kid-approved."
These disposable gloves are biodegradable, so I feel better using them! We use them for chopping jalapeños, working with raw meat, etc.
PARCHMENT PAPER.
Use it for everything.
These organizers are awesome for the pantry, fridge, linen closet or under the counter. We use them everywhere!
This is an ingredient in a recipe for Peruvian Green Sauce someone brought to an event at work - it's good on just about anything! Give it a try:
When we make barbacoa, the recipe we found tasted the best included dried avocado leaves. You can find them in some grocery stores, but this is what you're looking for:
Kitchen Tools
We drink a lot of coffee beverages and drinks with supplements added so this little handheld blender gets a workout every week!
This set is super cheap, but they work great and look nice left out on the counter or table:
We use these for prepped veggies and fruits, leftovers, etc. Pro tip: stick to one shape of containers for maximizing storage space and easier stacking - square or rectangle tend to be are better than round for that purpose.
This is an awesome kitchen thermometer. It's lasted much longer than any other low to mid-range priced one I have purchased before:
I use this ALL of the time - I bought it originally to help with portion control and such, and now I use it for more precise baking, portioning out cookie dough, meat for meatballs or burgers, and much more. It's held up for many years.
This mandoline is awesome for uniform slices of onions, cucumbers, potatoes, and so much more. I use it to slice up a huge mound of onions for French onion soup, potatoes for a gratin, etc. I did find out that hard way if you get too excited, you will hurt yourself. So use the guard, go slow, and BE CAREFUL.
I never knew I needed a fat separator, but my mother-in-law got me one for Christmas, and I use it more often than I thought I would! I separate the fat from slow cooker meals like barbacoa or Korean beef, cooking liquids from a beef roast or chicken to make gravy, etc. Very handy!
Another great gift I received was this Cuisinart Smart Stick Immersion Blender. I use it for soups, sauces, etc. I have an older version of this - this is an improvement!
I use these divided containers from EasyLunches to pack lunches with less packaging - they hold up nicely, and from elementary to high school, they have remained "kid-approved."
These small containers are a more earth-friendly way to include individual portions of dressing, dipping sauce, etc. in packed lunches. They're easy to open, but they don't leak.
These disposable gloves are biodegradable, so I feel better using them! We use them for chopping jalapeños, working with raw meat, etc.
PARCHMENT PAPER.
Use it for everything.
These organizers are awesome for the pantry, fridge, linen closet or under the counter. We use them everywhere!
Just like in the photo, these divided bins are perfect for organizing individually packaged snacks like protein bars, fruit snacks, hot chocolate, etc. You can also use them for storing art supplies, personal care items, etc.
These shelf and bin liners make refrigerator clean-up quick and easy. They absorb spills and moisture, and can be cut to size.
Entertaining and Fun
My grandma gave each of us one of these for Christmas one year - they come in a variety of colors. It's just a fun piece to put out on the table for water - it's called a "Gurgle Pot" - and it actually "gurgles" when you pour:
I use this melamine tray all the time, especially when I need to transport a charcuterie or dessert board. The handles are helpful and it's sturdy enough to handle the travel.
These tray tables are for more than just eating your "TV dinner" - we take off the removable drink holder and set them out when we are hosting lots of people for places to set down drinks or plates. They're collapsible, too, so you can store under your couch or in the closet when you're not using them.
We picked up one of these for our longer dining table and our card table, and we use them for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other gatherings. They wash up nicely, and can be dressed up with seasonal decor.
Favorite Ingredients
I use this salt in the grinder linked above for everything. So good!
This is an ingredient in a recipe for Peruvian Green Sauce someone brought to an event at work - it's good on just about anything! Give it a try:
When we make barbacoa, the recipe we found tasted the best included dried avocado leaves. You can find them in some grocery stores, but this is what you're looking for: