May is right around the corner and with it, Mother’s Day, a time for some serious kitchen gifts.
Meanwhile, I’m still in the kitchen working on all my cooking goals from the winter. I had so many plans:
. Homemade bread recipes I wanted to try
. Homemade pasta including ravioli and corzetti
I have all these recipes in the works for communal eating. I’ve been jotting down ideas, menus and creating recipes and menus for get-togethers including:
. Fondue (both cheese and chocolate)
. Hot pot
and
. Hot rock cooking techniques.
There is something about sitting around pots of food and cooking and sharing the experience with friends and family that is just plain fun! I have family visiting this summer, and I wanted to surprise them with some “interactive” food experiences!
I also wanted to tackle paella this winter and I’ve just run out of time.
Wish me luck as I try and tackle it all before guests arrive. I’m not sure I’ll get it all done, but I’m pulling out all the kitchen tools I’ll need to get a jump on it.
MY KITCHEN MUST HAVES
Lot’s of new things showing up from some of my favorite brands but my “must have” item in the kitchen is the KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Absolutely love this model. I’ll need my stand mixer for making bread dough and pasta dough, and a million other recipes. It is the workhorse in my kitchen.
I’m absolutely swooning over Williams-Sonoma new Brass collection. All your kitchen appliances come in three colors: sea salt and brass, olive tapenade and brass, or Damson blue and brass. I’m having a hard time deciding, but if I go with a new evergreen KitchenAid stand mixer (above), I might have to go with the tapenade BUT my heart is screaming for the blue…decisions, decisions, decisions!!
PAELLA
This is the paella pan I use and it is a beauty. Perfect for use on your stove top or on an outdoor grill, it is made of hammered copper. Sertodo Copper is a piece of art, and I love it. Now to work on the perfect seafood paella…
BREAD
Making your own bread doesn’t have to be hard and it is a delicious addition to any meal. Having a LeCreuset Bread Oven has been on my wish list for a long time. It would make an amazing Mother’s Day gift. Include Mastering Bread: The Art and Practice of Handmade Sourdough, Yeast Bread, and Pastry (A baking Book) for the perfect gift.
Other more affordable bread ovens do exist and I’m liking the cast-iron enameled loaf-shaped pan and the French Baking Pan with three baking slots for baguettes. If you go the baguette route for Mother’s Day, these baguette-proofing baskets – a set of two natural rattan rising bowls with liners, make a nice addition.
Getting the perfect Sour Dough Starter doesn’t have to be hard. This 239-year old starter from a San Francisco family is the absolute best. Their story is remarkable and the product, even better. (read all about their family in the link) For just $7.99 you get a sour dough starter from MomsSanFranSourdough. Email them and they’ll send you a dozen free recipes too!
PASTA
If you start with a KitchenAid stand mixer, you are in great shape when it comes to making pasta. The mixer does all the heavy lifting and the KitchenAid pasta attachments (3-piece pasta roller and cutter set) do the rest. That’s how I tackle pasta and recommend you do the same. If mom already has the stand mixer, the pasta set is a great gift. No stand mixer? Start there.
There are other types of pasta making machines, and the Italian made Marcato Atlas 150 pasta machine and cutter with hand crank is highly rated.
Having other pasta tools really help when making pasta. A bamboo pasta drying rack for your long strands of pasta is a must. A ravioli maker press mold set, and individual ravioli stamp maker cutters are necessary for great-looking ravioli.
FONDUE & HOT POT
I must say, I love fondue – both chocolate and cheese! Can’t get enough of it. I like to have multiple fondue pots in my kitchen, so I can put out different types of fondue at different times (appetizer and dessert). Two of my favorite pots are the Swissmar Zuri 11-piece stainless steel fondu set (Mom would love this!) and the Cuisinart 3 quart Fondu pot that also works when doing Chinese Hot Pot dishes
I love the Cuisinart option above for hot pot but also like this electric hot pot with a divider. It has two sides (double the options) that work great for hot pot and shabu shabu recipes – so fun!
HOT ROCK COOKING
If you are new to hot rock cooking, it is so much fun. I first tried it at a Hot Rock restaurant in NYC. Screaming hot stones were put at everyone’s table with large platters of thinly sliced meats and veggies that you would then cook on the hot rocks. Lots of sauces and condiments were served along side for a really fun and immersive dining experience. I tracked down some “hot rocks” that could make this work at home.
The Artesia Lava Rock cooking stones come with a serving tray and side bowls for sauces. It can be used indoors or outdoors. The Nutrichef Cooking Stone Grilling Set comes with knives and a serving tray.
Did you like my newest finds? Stop by my online shops to browse my favorite Everyday Kitchen items, Seasonal Shop, Tabletop and Barware, my Food Pantry and my Wish list. Never miss a recommendation or deal again. Visit This Week’s Finds for my monthly steals and deals.
Happy Shopping!
