1. A flat cooking utensil. I have found that this is my 'go-to' item when cooking everything from pancakes, to scrambled eggs, to fish and even pasta. Surprisingly, one of my absolute favorites in this category is this IKEA 365+ Hjalte one. So much so, that I have bought several for friends and family. It's soft handle is ergonomic and it's plastic texture is perfect for any pot or pan, both metal, cast-iron and non-stick. I have left my utensil resting on my hot pans before and it never created those nasty plastic indentations from the heat. The bonus is they cost just $3.99 each and you can throw them in the dishwasher!
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2. My Mini-Prep. I own the Cuisinart Mini-Prep but there are so many versions out there. So here's what I love about my Mini-Prep. Whenever a recipe calls for "finely minced" or "finely chopped" onions, garlic, or ginger - or a combination of all three, I can throw it all in my Mini Prep and I have the least stinkiest and least labor-intensive way of prepping these items. There's nothing worse than doing this by hand! The Mini-Prep bowl has just two settings: chop and grind. Its capacity is roughly 24 ounces or 3 cups and there are only 3 components to the small appliance: the base motor, the bowl and the removable blade. Both the bowl and the blade can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Cuisinart also sells their appliance with a spatula and a recipe book. I store my mini prep in a drawer by my cutlery, it's that small! If you don't own one of these, definitely go buy one for yourself, they retails for about $40.
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Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor DLC-2A |
3. Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Olive Oil is oil pressed from olives which are fruits from the Olive Tree. I hear the process is actually very simple and if you actually press an olive, you can see the oil come out! Olive Oil is proven to be incredibly good for you. It has a lower smoking point (due to its high monounsaturated fat content) which also allows you to cook food without extra risks of burning it and safely at a very high heat.
So what do you buy? Always buy Extra Virgin Olive Oil!!! It is extracted using natural methods and is standardized for purity, taste and smell. Extra Virgin Olive Oil always has a distinctive taste and is high in phenolic antioxidants (one of the main reasons why olive oil is so beneficial). Extra Virgin Olive Oil is also very high in monounsaturated fats (good fats!), contains a modest amount of vitamin E and K and is loaded in antioxidants, some of which have been proven to have powerful health benefits (such as anti-inflammatory properties and protection against cardiovascular disease). Studies have shown in preliminary evidence that Extra Virgin Olive Oil can help fight Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, heart disease, joint problems and strokes.
I always try to buy Olive Oil that is source from a location reputed for its high quality olive oil, such as regions in Italy, Spain and even locally in California. Always, read the label and see where your Olive Oil comes from, and do buy the more expensive one, it is expensive for a reason! Your food will always taste better when cooked in a higher quality oil.
