In digging through my cluttered appliance cabinet the other morning to reach the crumb-covered blender to make Dash a smoothie, I gave a little “hey there” nod to the pile of other crumb-covered appliances I thought were absolute kitchen necessities back when I was establishing myself as a homemaker, in the great homemaker-establishing ritual of creating a wedding registry. At the time, I considered toast, crackers & cheese and Ramen noodles perfectly good meals, but put a wedding registration barcode scanning gun in my hand, and suddenly I’m Martha Stewart. I need a panini maker and a fruit spiralizer and a really good bread maker because I’m going to bake bread every day. In fact, I’m going to grind my own wheat. I’m going to make my own ravioli noodles and definitely serve soup in those little mini cocottes because I’m going to be married and then I’m going to be a mom, and married moms serve soup in cocottes (no they don’t). My entire wedding registration is a perfect representation of the domestic idealism that has tripped me up sometimes, but I’m not necessarily mad about it. Domestic dreaming triggers a euphoric little burst of dopamine for me, as perusing through a Williams Sonoma catalogue will demonstrate–even if I never actually get to making that cinnamon-dusted, 3-tiered cake in the shape of a sand castle. I find comfort in the idea of my domestic possibilities.
Perhaps there’s no greater representation of my homemaker dream ridiculousness though than The Embosser. I came across it in the glossy catalogue pages for a fancy stationery company shortly after our wedding, and when I saw it I knew–screw the bread machine, The Embosser was the thing that was going to take me to a new level of Homemaker. The Embosser was a heavy silver handheld press that was custom designed with your last name initial and whatever phrase you chose to set you apart as a family; and with a simple squeeze of its handles, you could turn paper, foil labels–anything into a personalized seal. I couldn’t order it fast enough, and in my true impulsive no-time-to-think-this-through urgency, I typed the first thing I could think of for the phrase that was going to encircle our initial and represent us a family. You ready for this? LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH. What can I say, it was the year of the framed plaque, and my truths came from the aisles of Homegoods, But here’s the best part. I couldn’t even get the phrase right. I ordered it to say LAUGH, LOVE, LIVE.
So I patiently waited two weeks for The Embosser to arrive, ordering gold foil labels and making plans for all that I would emboss in the meantime. And that’s when the idea came…an epiphany I was sure was my greatest one yet.
I was going to emboss…our toilet paper. That’s right, toilet paper. I was going to learn how to fold the end of our toilet paper roll into one of those fancy little origami triangles like the Ritz Carlton, and then I was going to take it up a notch by embossing the triangle with the Hampton Homemaker seal.
Our parties would never be the same. Our guests were going to feel so pampered when they stepped into our bathroom, sat down on our toilet and reached to wipe only to pause with recognition at our hospitable detail and the oh so important reminder to LAUGH! LOVE! LIVE!
Do I really need to tell you about the result of this purchase? The sustainability of this great idea? The Embosser dream lasted all of one party when I realized that after someone used the restroom, I had to run in to refold and emboss the toilet paper again for the next guest. And that was the end of The Embosser.
I found it recently–tucked in a drawer with a stack of thank you notes I never sent and the attachment tool likely to some kitchen appliance I thought I needed but never use. There will always be a little Martha Stewart inside of me, and I’ll never stop tearing out pages of intricately braided pie crusts in her magazine for inspiration. But I know where I comfortably stand when it comes to making my house a home, and it doesn’t involve embossed toilet paper.
Do you know what my most used kitchen tools are? Two small things I never thought I’d need but use almost every day…this counter scraper and these herb scissors. There you go, wedding registry women. You’re welcome. And three things I never purchased but are still on my list…a huge dutch oven (are the LeCreuset really worth it?), a KitchenAid mixer and a cordless Dyson Animal because so many people have told me it’s life changing when it comes to keeping your car clean.
Have any household tools you thought you couldn’t live without that are now covered in dust? An unexpected household item that became your favorite thing? Do tell.
Augh. My juicer. It’s been used a good amount of times and I do like the end result. But man… if you had told me how much cleaning that thing requires… I would NOT have registered for it…
The Dutch oven is totally amazing. We use it for so many things but our favorite is gumbo and rice pudding.
Also yes to the Dyson and vacuuming out your car! The kitchen aid mixer is a must however get the big bowl so you can make larger batches of bread dough or double a cake recipe etc.
I second the dyson animal. I know some people think a husband giving a cleaning tool as a gift displays some sort of backwards, insensitive male expectation. But my husband giving me that? True love. The most romantic thing. It wasn’t even a holiday. Just saw it at Costco and knew it would make me happy and bought it despite the price tag. I’ve never touched my broom since. That vacuum ain’t ever going nowhere because I’ll tell you what it sparks, Marie. It sparks joy! 🙂
Hands down our surprise favorite household item is an amazing spatula! The Victorinox fish turner. Yes, it is technically a fish turner, but it’s so much more. At $15 I would never spend that much on a spatula. Flash forward 2.5 years we used it every single day, it’s still in perfect condition, and we love it so much we gave everyone in our family one for Christmas this year! Every time we use it we say “omg I love this thing!”
I have both, the LeCreuset Dutch oven in two sizes and a Kitchen Aid mixer. I use my mixer so much that is just stays on my counter every day. Get them, you will not be sorry!
The other one is a Insta Pot. I was a bit late to the game on this one but I tell you, as a busy mom of teens it is a life changer. I get caught up in the day, forgetting a regular basis to take meat out of the freezer to dethaw for dinner so I am sure you can invision what dinners become…eggs, toast, cereal in the car on route to soccer practice….. But here is the kicker….you can cook meat in that wonder pot from FROZEN! Life changing!
Instant pot all.the.way. It might be my best purchase of any type of all time.
Love Love Love (Or laugh love live? ;)) the le creuset pots!! they are durable, heat evenly, and clean easily – even the most baked on crud. you can often find them slightly discounted at Home Goods or once I even saw them at Costco. the kitchen aid is a workhorse of a mixer and is a life saver when mixing up many batches of cookies (Christmas I’m looking at you!). I’ve had both since our wedding 20 years and counting! if you take the plunge you won’t regret it!
Regarding the dutch oven – I have both the Le Cruiset and a Lodge dutch oven I got on Amazon. I actually reach for the Lodge one more. I like them both equally in terms of how they cook, but the Lodge is a better size for us.
I didn’t use my KitchenAid mixer much at all the first 10 years of marriage. But now I have the space to keep it on the counter, and I find myself using it WAY more often than I did when I had to dig it out. That thing is heavy. But I love it now.
Agreed! I was going to comment the exact same thing – we have both le creuset and lodge and we use the lodge every week. They both clean up amazingly well – no stains or defects on either of them. If I needed another, I’d buy the lodge (and I don’t scrimp on pots and pans… They are my FAVORITE luxury).
If you get a KitchenAid mixer, get the pro. Worth every penny. I don’t use mine often but I do make crazy, sculpted birthday, cakes 3 times a year and I’m always glad my husband spent the extra money on the pro for me. When I use the standard one at other’s houses (teaching caking skills to them), I can’t manage the speed dial – I make a complete mess of their counters!
The surprise in our kitchen is the pampered chef chopper thing. My sister in law gave it to my husband long before we met and he never used it. I thought it was ridiculous. Well… I use it every time I chop garlic.. many times a week.
I registered for a chocolate shaver (yes… You read that right). We finally got it out after several years of marriage and it broke instantly. No chocolate shavings for us!
Yes to the kitchen aid mixer! Totally worth it solely based on the fact that it shreds chicken which is one of my least favorite cooking jobs. It’s heavy as shit though so make sure you get a color you’re happy leaving on your counter for 100 years. No to the Dutch oven (though TJ maxx always has them for cheap if you want to test it out)
Kitchen Aid mixer is worth every penny!! Love my Dutch oven but I’ve got the LeCreuset and one from Sam’s and there is no difference other than pride of ownership. Buy a cheap one first, see if you’ll use it, then upgrade at a good gift giving opportunity.
Six months after I got married I finally received a diagnosis and it was Celiac. I had give away toasters and breadmakers etc because I was very sick and we couldn’t risk even the smallest contamination. I did tote around a waffle maker for 6 years unopened but I do use that now ? – to be honest while I love my kitchen aid stand mixer and have used it son much I have replaced it once, the handheld mixer I got while in college is still in use today and very handy. But things I would say yes to getting? Instant Pot. Absolutely hands down get an Instant Pot. Also a stove top Wirlygig popcorn maker I’ve used mine for 10 years. I really want a handheld vacuum- I even considered asking for one for Christmas ?
I also love our Whirly Pop!
Not sure about the others, but the Dyson V8 Animal is worth the investment! Even the kids use it.
This is what I’ve heard–that kids fight over who gets to clean! This sounds like a miracle! Ha.
I just received the Cuisinart enameled cast iron Dutch oven for Christmas! It’s only $80 compared to the $300+ Le Creuset version. Now I’ve only been able to use it a few times so far, and I’ve never used a Le Crueset one, but so far, so good! American’s Test Kitchen recommends the Cuisinart Dutch oven as a very good comparable to the Le Crueset for literally a fraction of the cost. Cooking is my hobby and I think I do more advanced cooking than your average home cook, but I highly doubt I do enough to justify the Le Crueset.
I just saw one at Homegoods the other day and debated getting it! Maybe I need to go back!
I found a round, white dutch oven on clearance at World Market and it has been so worth it! My sister has a Le Crueset and from what I can tell, the two pretty much function the same. It is literally the first pot I reach for! Also, I live and die by my bench scraper!!! Bread dough, pie crust… it has saved me so much scrubbing!
Get a Le Creuset Dutch oven! We have all Le Creuset pots/pans because they have a lifetime warranty and clean up so well and the colors are amazing! It’s an investment but find an outlet store and you can get it on a discount!
Haha, we have a bacon press from our registry that has never been out of the box and sits gathering dust in a cabinet. Also, an electric knife that has been used once- my dad used one religiously to carve meat when we were growing up, so of course I knew we needed one for our registry.
I use my Le Creuset mostly to bake bread and Kitchen Aid for pizza dough, but I don’t know if I’d miss them if I never had them? I guess it depends on one’s baking/ cooking habits.
Ha–we use our electric knife ONCE A YEAR. To carve the Thanksgiving turkey. That’s it. Back in the box until next year.
We have the panini press my husband needed. We have a bread machine, donut maker and waffle maker my mother insisted we needed. About once a year I think “I should use that bread maker” but I never do. Ever.
As a hobby-food blogger people give me specialized appliances and tools all. the. time. I myself don’t want a cherry-pitter (or a slider burger press, or cookbooks) but actually want a suuuuper high quality knife. I regret thinking owning a Dyson made me a grown up- I hate it an never use it. My Belgian waffle maker gets quite a workout for a frozen stash for weekday breakfasts and house guests. Also, acrylic taco stands make us all very happy on weekly taco nights.
Brett is going to be so happy to read this–ha. It will give him an excuse to find taco stands on Amazon!
Most fun taco holders ever: https://www.amazon.com/KidsFunwares-TriceraTACO-Taco-Holder-Prehistoric/dp/B01LZNTN8S?keywords=dino+taco+holder&qid=1547229909&sr=8-5&ref=sr_1_5
My teenaged boys both have one and we still all laugh every taco night. 🙂
We have these!! The kids LOvE them!
The Dutch oven is a great purchase but there are brands that are great! I have the Target Threshold brand and I use it multiple times a week and it is still going strong 3 years later. I also hear the Costco brand is good.
Kitchenaid mixers are so worth the money.
I had those fancy soup crocks with lids and we only used them once (and that’s because a friend came over and made French onion soup.) Kissed those bad boys good bye eight years after getting married.
Cordless Dyson are the BEST! Use mine all the time! I also use my Kitchen Aid stand muxer pretty often. No need to buy the big Pro midel, I bought the cheapest midel 10 years ago and it’s still working fine! As for Le Creuset, I niw have the set my parents got as a wedding gift almost 45 years ago so they do last forever!
I have had the cheapest model of Kitchen Aid for 22 years! Never had to have it repaired or buy a part for it. I did buy an extra bowl which I love having (and store all the attachments in).
Ironically enough, the Kitchenaid mixer was my must have I’m going to do all of the things item that was more trouble than it was worth. It’s long gone now. The cordless Dyson Animal though? Soulmate.
Le Creuset Dutch oven is worth it – use mine all the time. Definitely did not need a fancy bread board with a knife insert. Haven’t used it once!
No must have recommendations here, but that Black-n-Decker steamer you are holding in the photo, my most favorite. Used it all the time until it had a peaceful death one day. I received a fancy replacement, which I use, but not nearly as much as that gem. Oh, and yes, our 20 year old bread machine, which was used maybe a few times a year, has made a comeback. It makes the best dinner roll dough and my daughter has fun rolling them with me, and the rolls, yum!
I have a 20 year old breadmaker that was a hand-me-down. I make French bread, cinnamon roasting bread, pizza dough, and sandwich rolls. I accidentlycsentvthe paddlecdown the garbage disposal and I’m having a heck of a time finding a replacement.
Recipe Please? ?
We got a Popsicle maker for our wedding and have never used it – ever. I had dreams of using it to make all these tasty treats, and it has been out of the box, but I never did anything with it. Most used kitchen items though are our All Clad cook wear that we received – love all of it. Also our garlic peeler! My sister bought one for us and I love it.
Regarding the dutch oven… I have a tramontina and it’s wonderful and only $50. I heard about it for several years before finally getting one a few years into having my own apartment. 🙂
Legit had to Google “cocottes”.
-The failed housewife
Me too girl, you are not alone. 🙂
Le Creuset is worth every damn penny. We have 3…yes three. A nine quart dutch oven, a 5.5 quart dutch oven, and a 3.75 quart braiser. We cook a lot in our house and there are times where we have something in both the 9qt and the 5.5qt.
I am obsessed with my immersion blender – I make a lot of purees and soups and the food processor is such a pain in the ass to clean. I
I don’t have most of the other things you mentioned, but I do have the three you wonder about and all of them are amazing and used faithfully and regularly! The Le Creuset are amazing – I got 2 for our wedding and use them alllllllll the time. Dyson is the best and my kitchen aid is my favourite!!
Me too – I have all these and wouldn’t be without any of them!
DO NOT buy the Damn (capital D) mixer. It takes up space, is heavy, cumbersome and seriously annoying to try and find a way to store if you don’t have a cabinet that will fit the special shelf that they can sit on.
Don’t laugh… my good ole’ slotted spoons, bamboo spoons, and my wooden rolling pin that my cousin hand made for me. Use them all the time!! And when I am fancy and I am fancy every week with this one… my Pampered Chef fluted slicer. It makes wavy french fry looking cuts on cucumbers (or pototoes). I love that thing. I don’t think they even sell it anymore, to be honest. I also use my mini cookie cutters to make fancy designs on my pot pie crust. I know my family could care less but it’s pretty for me. I really wish I had a food processor. Seems like every recipe calls for using one to grind up something.
I can attest to the dyson animal (literally nothing better), the lodge Dutch oven mentioned above; works great and was $60 – not $300 and the instant pot; use it weekly at a minimum. Don’t have a KitchenAid mixer but it’s my small appliance dream!
Lodge Dutch ovens are just as good as Le Creuset and way more affordable. I got one for my wedding and use it all the time. We also got an instant pot last year and it’s completely replaced my crock pot. I still use the Dutch oven for things I bake/cook in the oven.
I thought I wanted the big kitchen aid mixer but we didn’t get it and I’m now thankful. I have a hand mixer I only use about once a year, and that giant heavy one would take up way too much space!
I splurged on the dyson cordless v8 about a year and a half ago and I truly didn’t know love could be like that between a girl and an appliance. With three messy kids and two big, shedding German Shepherd, it is life-changing.
I use my Dutch Oven almost every single time I cook. It is a Lodge red enamel and I couldn’t live without it. I have had my Kitchen Aid mixer for over 20 years and still love it today! What could I do without? The rice cooker, bread maker and cair pop maker, all now purged from my kitchen.
I imagine I’ve missed the point of your post…. But now I desperately need an embosser!!
LeCreuset and KitchenAid were both wedding gifts, only because my husband is a chef and insisted. However, I admit, TOTALLY life changing, I use both and LOVE THEM!!!
I recently got the Dyson Animal from one of my best girlfriends as a Baby shower gift (at Everly’s shower actually ?) and it’s seriously life-changing. I can carry the baby and vacuum the whole house. It’s even user friendly enough that my 10 year olds favorite chore is vacuuming ??
LeCreuset (we have 4 sizes) and KitchenAid were both wedding gifts, only because my husband is a chef and insisted. I use both and LOVE THEM, making stock and cookies has never been easier!
I recently got the Dyson Animal from one of my best girlfriends as a Baby shower gift (at Everly’s shower actually ?) and it’s seriously life-changing. I can carry the baby and vacuum the whole house. It’s even user friendly enough that my 10 year olds favorite chore is vacuuming ??
I use my KitchenAid mixer, my food processor (great for shredding your own veggies and cheese), high quality blender (cold and hot foods), instant pot (got a year ago and love!) I also have a dutch oven (Batali brand) and it use it a lot for soups.
I’d recommend a few good pots/pans and a good chef’s knife.
Stay away from the pasta maker and deviled egg holders!
Just over here reaching past the gigantic wooden salad bowl and its 6 matching serving bowls that looked just like the set my grandparents had…I was so sure I’d be fancy and serve every salad we ever ate in a bowl to the side of the plate that I put it on our wedding registry. I’ve used it exactly zero times. We’ve been married for 8 years.
I am in love with my Le Creuset Dutch oven! It is not only functional and cooks everything fantastically but it is so beautiful. The aqua color I purchased goes with my kitchen decor and I always leave it out on the stove top because it’s so pretty. Almost as good as a trip to Paris!
Love, Love my Dyson stick vac. In fact just received my second one (in five years) at Christmas. I can not live without it. I’ve had my KitchenAid Professional Series stand mixer for 14 years. That thing is a workhorse and never leaves my counter. I can’t imagine not having it. I also really want a Le Creuset Dutch Oven (red please) but have not broke down and bought one.
Another thing I didn’t think I’d have much use for but use often is my hand held blender. Best Thing Ever.
I’ve managed to let go of unused small appliances over the years. I bought my son and Daughter in Law a Toaster Oven, having never owned one myself. I thought it might be practical for two young adults just starting out. They use it all the time and I used it several times when I visited. Now I’m trying to figure out how to kill our 4 slot toaster so I have an excuse to buy a toaster oven as a replacement.
The kitchen aid mixer I was desperate for…that was used 2 or 3 times but spent the majority of the 5 years since our wedding inside a cabinet…was recently sold on Facebook Marketplace. We used the money to take our dino obsessed son to the Field Museum in Chicago to see Sue the T-Rex.
Lodge is a great alternative to Le Creuset. If you never use it you wont feel as guilty (and you arent out a car payment). When you do you’ll love how well it preforms and how easy it is to clean. I have pulled pork slowly cooking in mine right now.
I use my KitchenAid multiple times a week. Not for the 100s of homemade ice cream and fresh pasta recipes I pinned when I got it, but for banana bread, pizza dough, cookies and bixed brownies.
Those and Williams Sonoma kitchen towels are splurges I never regret.
I waited ten years until I finally had counter space for the kitchen aid mixer and I love it! I bake and use it a few times a week.
My rice cooker hasn’t been used in years because I buy Trader Joe’s frozen microwaveable.
I have a crate and barrel Dutch oven that I rarely use because it’s just way too heavy! Requires two hands to pick up which makes washing it a major pain. Not worth it.
My favorite/most used kitchen tool—solid silicon spoon with flat spatula like end. Amazon-it’s perfect for everything!!
Love my kitchen aid (don’t remember how to really bake without one), and my Dyson both going strong 13 years later. Also love my Dutch oven, it’s a no fail dinner every time-❤️Kirkland.
Totally thought I would love my Roomba so much but ? by the time I prepped the house and moved stuff it would just take 5 more min to get out my Dyson. It also doesn’t hold that much and we have SO MUCH DOG HAIR.
Oof, we were sold by the infomercial ALONE to buy a Magic Bullet, lol. The only thing we ever made was smoothies. Never the salsa, cheese sauce, baby food, etc. Just smoothies.
Least expected, but most used is our stock pot.
A Kitchenaid mixer, really?! See, this is totally one of those game-changer kitchen appliances for me – baking, mashed potatoes, cauliflower grits, I freaking use this thing ALL THE TIME! Lemme mash, whip, and whisk all da things.
Another worthwhile item is a silicone mixing spoon with a groove that hooks to the edge of a pot. AMEN to not dropping spoons in.
My kitchen aid mixer is 35 years old. I have all the attachments and love (and use them all). Part of me would like the darn thing to break (it is almond, proof of its age) but my mother gave it to me for my wedding shower. She is no longer with me, but the kitchen aid is. Her kitchen aid (at least 50 years old) is at Roost. You may have used it yourself Kelle. I also love and use my Vitamix and my LeCreuset Dutch ovens. I would have to say my rabbit ear wine corkscrew is my absolute favorite, it has never let me down.
Get the mixer! And leave it on your counter. I use mine weekly and am about ready to upgrade! And the LeCreuset, get that too. I have two that were received as wedding presents 35+ years ago and they are also used on a regular basis…although my brother would say to get the Straub (I think that is it) instead. He gave one to my 22 yo son who loves to cook and he was thrilled!
Hi. Dont know if this will get posted but I think we ALL have so much STUFF sitting around, right? So funny. Kelle, i dont know if you remember me. But early on, on your blog I commented alot. You emailed me and called me “the blog mama”. so sweet. I have been absent for long. Much turbulence and losses, griefs. But I have been catching up on your blog. Much Love to you and yours, Linda~
Oh sweet Linda, I remember you! Back when Nella was a baby and I was so new to special needs, you were the sweetest voice of comfort of community. I’m sorry for the loss and grief that has followed, but community remains, and I’m giving you a great big virtual hug right now. Good to see you in this space. Much love to you.
Oh, dear Kelle, such kind words from you-no surprise there! ha..Thank you. Yes, community remains. My oldest daughter, with two little kids, has followed your blog for some time now. Thanks for the hug; can always use those! Continued success, and blessings to you. xo
My instant pot and my Blendtec blender have all been life changing. I also love my Pampered Chef food chopper and my Bosch Compact stand mixer/food processor. Most of the rest of my stuff is pretty basic. I do actually own a Nutrimill and grind my own wheat (or, for the past several years, have the kids do it) but I don’t bake all my own bread or anything- just muffins or pizza dough occasionally. I also love my tiny set of Pampered Chef cookie cutters- it comes in a little tin and has one heart, one star, one leaf, one apple, one pumpkin, and one chili pepper. A tiny set that has something for every occasion (though I don’t usually use the chili pepper).
There was a part of me that saw your embossed toilet paper and thought “Oooh, that would be cool!” for a second before I realized it was probably a bad idea.
You definitely need the kitchen aid mixer and the LeCreuset dutch oven! We’ve had our mixer since we married 25 years ago and also the Dutch oven. Great quality and worth buying!
I got a Vitamix because I got sucked into the Costco demonstration and thought “hmm, I’m sure I’ll use it a few times. How much better could it be than our Ninja?” Wrong. I use it every day for things like making my own almond milk, peppermint hot chocolate and various other stuff that I never knew I could make. It really is amazing.
Girl, you need to go get your three wants right away! All are workhorses and worth every penny. Granted, I say this as someone who will buy any and all kitchen gadget, including the herb scissors and the aforementioned Vitamix. I do have a Le Creuset addiction, so I am absolutely biased on that front but I use them all the time. My favorite is the doufeu, which is a giant monster, but it cooks meat like you wouldn’t believe and makes HUGE batches of soup/chili.
The mixer is great for so many things, and it’s wonderful if you have to whip something that takes forever and you don’t want to stand there and babysit, like frosting for Christmas cookies. I also got the spiralizer attachment…life changing!
The Dyson is awesome too, and I use it every day for upkeep and it really picks up stuff. I love it for quick car messes, which having two boys is almost every day. I mean, they make the mess every day..cleaning it every day would be like Sisyphus with the rock.
Also, if there is a Le Creuset outlet near you that is definitely the way to go.
Le Creuset is 100% worth it. They are amazing quality, last forever, and clean up really easily. Your kids will be using your Le Creuset in their own homes eventually if you get some. Also have a KitchenAid mixer and love it. The thing that I didn’t know I needed but has changed my life is the immersion blender. The thing I’ve never used is my pizza stone. But I swear, one day we will be that family that has a weekly homemade pizza night, and then it will come in very handy. ?
Get a Kitchenaid mixer and watch a ton of the Great British Baking Show. My 12 year old and I watch an episode and then bake, it’s so fun!
Love my kitchen aid and Dutch ovens (I have a LC, cusinart, and lodge…I use them weekly they all work the same.) and I love my wusthof knives. Worth every penny. What I never use is the fancy pie mat I had to have…annoying to clean! Cleaning flour off the counter is way easier. Also, pinch bowls. Who has the time to pre-measure!
I don’t know about the Dutch oven, but a Kitchen Aid mixer is totally worth it. If you ever get one, spring for the big one! It can handle a triple batch of chocolate chip cookie dough.
I have a Martha Stewart cast iron Dutch oven and thinks it’s just as good as the fancier brands!
And I can’t live without my Instant Pot or Joule sous vide.
Happy New Year!!
This is hysterical. I bought at embossed for my wedding. I had our monogram on it, no phrase. And I sat there in my hotel room the night before the wedding embossing about 1,000 white cocktail napkins. If ANYONE noticed, I’d be surprised. But, I have to say, just knowing that they were there made me happy. I have to find that thing, actually, not sure what I would use it on, but it was cool.
Dutch Oven….Sur La Table has an awesome one and I don’t remember it being a ton of $. I use it all the time….soooo good.
Still have to get into the instapot thing…and the slow cooker thing. Goals for 2019!
We received the mixer as a wedding gift. I might have used it once. Then it lived in the attic for years until I heard my cousin wanted one. I gave it to her, made her a happy girl, and I don’t even notice it’s gone!
The Dutch oven is totally worth it but you don’t need to spend the money for an LC. Lodge makes a great one and in the fall Costco has one (Kirkland brand ..it’s consisered seasonal) that is also great. The KitchenAid stand mixer is totally worth it. The other two things I love in my kitchen are good knives (J.A. Henckels) and my pots (AllClad). Both were worth every penny I spent.
I have only four small appliances kitchenaide, food processor, juicer, and Belgian waffle maker. I’ve had them all for 25 years and I use them all of the time. No need for any of those new gadgets!! I agree about the scraper. That thing is like gold. Yes the le creuset is totally worth it. I use my Dutch oven daily, and I also have the saucepans with the lids that are also pans. ? heaven.
Interesting reading the Dyson comments … I got one two months ago it is amazing apart from the fact that fully charged it only lasts about 20 minutes !!
Love my Dutch oven! I use it almost every day. We have a lodge though. It’s a fraction of the price.
Also love this story!
You need the kitchen aid! I literally use mine 3-4 times a week. Just don’t be tempted by the snazzy colors. You’ll regret that pink in a few years?
Best..KA stand mixer..mine is ap 35 yrs old too bought in Fl..refurbished!It Has made birthday cakes wedding cakes..shower cakes and grandchidrens cakes now.
A bread maker is a must for me..I stick it in my bread garage.
Least used..too many to mention.
I have an embosser:) I do use it though:)
It doesn’t have that Live Laugh Love on it..Gosh I think one yr I received 3 gifts w/ that emblazoned on them;)
I am dying (with laughter!). Love how you embossed your toilet paper for a day :)!! I try to purge my home every year or so of things we are no longer using, my list was similar to yours of things I had to have, then didn’t end up using. However, I am really wanting to buy a Roomba vacuum cleaner and a Bosch stand mixer (my parents had one when I was growing up). Now every time I make cookies/buttercream frosting/anything where ingredients come flying out of my bowl- I am dreaming of the Bosch and its LID to keep all those white powdery messes inside the mixer :)!
I really love my Le Creuset dutch oven. It is red and I keep it out on my stove all the time ~ matches those Wolf oven knobs! I made a huge pot of soup in it just last night. As someone mentioned, it is heavy though. Anyone with hand or wrist issues should probably choose a lighter version. I bought one for each of my 20-something sons who all like to cook. This will insure they each will have at least one quality kitchen item to contribute to a future marriage! I bought all mine at HomeGoods. You just have to be on the lookout for the color you want and make sure that the top fits snugly. No reason at all to pay full-price unless you’re in a big hurry and can’t find the color you want.
My game-changer kitchen item was a lime squeezer. I frequently make key-lime pies (using regular-sized limes) as well as big batches of guacamole. One day my husband walked in with a Williams-Sonoma lime squeezer and it changed my life. It also changed his since I no longer ask him to help me squeeze the limes when I’m making a pie.
Toilet paper embossing! That is so awesome and funny 🙂 My mom bought us a kitchen aid mixer for our wedding gift because her mom bought one for her. BEST gift ever. It especially paid off once we had our girls. It is the one appliance I cannot imagine not having. That and a food processor.
This post is hysterical! I have never been so ambitious and never even use the simplest appliances such as my waffle iron (that’s why they make frozen waffles) or mixer (I can mix brownies with a wooden spoon). I’m lucky to get myself to the stove. Would you like to know what my favorite kitchen gadget is? It’s a jar opener that belonged to my ex’s grandmother. I’m almost 75 so you know that thing is old.
Dang, now I want this stupid vaccuum
I love my stand mixer. Research the models, I bought a professional one, they have a bigger, stronger motor and handle bread making better. I also love my cast iron skillets, I wish I had those years ago. I did get a slow cooker from my wedding and I love it and use it all the time.
The enameled dutch ovens! I reallyreallyreally wanted one. My Mom got one as a gift, and discovered it was too heavy for her to use. So she gave it to me. I love cooking in cast iron- I have used cast iron cookware for 40+ years, every single day!
With that much cast iron love flowing through me…
The enameled cast iron is MUCH heavier. When you have strong sons handy to move a full pot for you, that’s great! When you don’t… You set it on the burner/ oven rack before filling it, and empty it before moving it to the sink to clean.
And… that gorgeous inner enamel? It gets stained. Bon Ami, bleach? Elbow grease, lemon juice? Salt and white vinegar? Just know it is NOT going to stay that beautiful cream color.
I used mine for a couple of years… and the enamel began to chip off. The Dear Husband was carrying the pot to the sink for me, and noticed the missing chips, as well as splinters of enamel still attached. He forbade me to continue cooking in it.
I still sort of drool over the nice big enameled dutch ovens when I browse HomeGoods… but I won’t be replacing mine.
I’m currently making my wedding registry and this is super helpful and funny! I’m really debating on what I’ll actually use or just keep above the fridge until I need it one day…
When my husband and I got married (30+ years ago), I don’t think I registered for any good knives. I got what I got and I made do with them for probably 18 years. I didn’t know I was missing anything. I didn’t know I ‘needed’ good knives. At some point my husband bought me one Cutco knife. I loved it. I used it for everything. Then my oldest son started selling Cutco when he went to college. He has been selling them ever since. I now own many Cutco knives. They are amazing. I use several of them a day. I LOVE them! They are lifetime guaranteed, you can get them sharpened for free. They have been worth every penny! And I’m not even getting paid to advertise! 🙂
The Bosch MUM 6 – definitly. It doesn’t come in fancy colours, but is a real work horse. I am using mine since 30 years now. You can make large batches of dough, change the bowls with lids, add a mixer or a food processor.
I am seriously crying I am laughing so hard at this post! I really needed a good laugh so thank you! Might be my favorite yet.
And for me the kitchen aid is so worth it and I got a blendtec blender for christmas and would say that is right up there.
I am not going to lie, I clicked on this post because the embossed toilet paper image really drew me in… I think it’s adorable. however, after reading your story, I will take it from you and pass on this “must-have” and I’m sure my husband would kill me if I brought that home anyway. for what it’s worth, I definitely would have felt pampered as a guest in your home 😉
I just stopped at the phrase “embossed toilet paper”. I’m just gonna sit here, take a sip of wine and enjoy the world in which this exists 🙂
Ha!