Spending as much time in the kitchen as I do, there are a few staple items that I love and absolutely cannot live without!  I get questions all the time about what products I use and where to find them so I thought I would share all my favorites with you all in one place 🙂
Cookware
6-Quart Crock Pot
 – First and foremost, I LOVE my slow cooker!  This is absolutely essential during the week when I know I have a long day ahead of me and won’t have time to cook that evening.  Plus I mean c’mon, doesn’t food just taste waaay better after simmering all day long?!  This particular crock pot is Amazon’s #1 best seller and it’s only $49!  You really can’t beat such an affordable price, especially for how long it will last.  If you need some recipes, some of my favorites are turkey chili, chicken tortilla soup and even vanilla almond oatmeal.
All-Clad Stainless Steel Fry Pan
 – Ah you guys there is nothing better than a good stainless steel skillet, they are seriously great for EVERYTHING!  Sauteing veggies, cooking chicken breasts, making perfect omelets – these pans literally do it all and best of all they are dishwasher safe which makes cleaning them super easy.  Some of my favorite recipes include lemon and herb spaghetti squash,  healthy cauliflower fried rice and my favorite veggie frittata!
Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven
 – Okay yes this pot is super pricey, but it might literally be my favorite thing I have in my kitchen.  I received this as a Christmas gift from my parents a few years ago and I absolutely LIVE  for it you guys!  Le Creuset’s products are of the highest quality and it certainly shows when you cook with them.  They cook everything really evenly (similar to that of a slow cooker), they are super durable and also just look really attractive on the table!  These dutch ovens are also dishwasher safe too which can be really convenient.  Le Creuset products totally get better with age!
Kitchen Tools
Spiralizer
 – I absolutely LOVE my spiralizer!  This tool is such a great investment (only $30!) and there are literally so many things you can make into noodles – zucchini, sweet potatoes, squash, bell peppers, cucumbers….you name it, chances are you can spiralize it.  This makes eating veggies super fun and clean-up is a breeze.  If you’re worried about where to store this, they also conveniently sell hand-held spiralizers
 for only $10.  Seriously if you’re on the fence about purchase one, take my advise and just DO IT – then you can make this, this or even this!
Steamer Basket
 – This is actually the exact steamer basket that I own and I love it soo much.  I purchased it on a whim while randomly at the store and I literally use it every week!  Trust me it’s nothing special, only $10, but so convenient to have around.  It opens up really large so you can steam a lot of veggies all at once, but becomes super compact when you close it up for easy storage.  I also love that this is plastic, unlike the usual stainless steel steamers most people use, so it doesn’t scratch up everything when you put it away!  Sometimes your favorite tools can be the littlest things.
Wusthof Classic Knives Set – I can’t tell you how important it is to own a good set of sharp knives. Â There are many quality brands out there, but Wusthof is just one of my personal favorites. Â They are super durable, ultra-sharp and last a LONG time so you know it’s a good investment. Â Plus with the gorgeous wood block they look fabulous on my kitchen counter! Â This particular set comes with 12 pieces so it’s pretty pricey, but you can buy them individually and work up to your collection. Â This three piece starter set
 is a great option if you’re looking to save a little money, but have some quality pieces.  Trust me, you’ll thank me later!
Kuhn Rikon Peeler
 – This little plastic peeler may only be around $4 (and you can even buy a set of 3
 for only $9!), but seriously guys I use this ALL the time!  I love this peeler because it’s super lightweight and easy to grasp, it always stays sharp which is great because nobody has time for dull peelers AND it easily (and quickly I might add!) peels or shaves literally anything and everything, even if your fruit or veggie has firm skin.  I especially love it for weird shaped fruit and veggies like butternut squash because this peeler curves right along with the vegetable making it super easy to peel without taking half the flesh off!
Baking Tools
KitchenAid Stand Mixer
 – Guys I can’t tell you how much I love, love, LOVE my stand mixer.  Seriously I can’t live without it.  As most of you know, I’m not exactly the best when it comes to baking, but that’s why this mixer comes in handy for me!  Simply throw everything into the attached bowl and it takes care of all the work for me.  That and I use it for SO much more than just baking.  You can get attachments to make your own pasta, core and slice apples and other fruit or even make your own ice cream!  Aside from muffins, bread and cookies, I use this a lot to mix up mashed potatoes, make pizza dough, or even shred chicken.
