Top 10 - Items that make my kitchen

All of the normal kitchen items aside, here are ten things that I cannot live without in my kitchen.

#1 - Pepper Grinder
I like the flavor of freshly ground pepper so I decided to purchase a grinder. I knew that I would be getting what I paid for so I made sure to do a lot of research. My grinder is a Peugeot.

#2 - Misto

The Misto is amazing!  It's like PAM or any other non-stick spray but it uses your own oil.  You fill the canister with an oil of your choice and pump the lid with the canister to create the pressure necessary to spray.  Currently there is extra virgin olive oil in my Misto.

#3 - Extra Virgin Olive Oil

I used Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO for the Rachel Ray fans) for just about anything that I cook. I look for an EVOO that has a lot of natural flavor and keep it right next to my stove top for easy access. 

#4 - A good knife

My husband and I got a set of knives for our wedding. This knife is my favorite to use.  The blade stays sharp and it has a comfortable grip to make sure that I have control of the blade when I'm chopping, dicing, mincing, etc. 

#5 - Kitchen Shears

If you do not have kitchen shears, stop reading and get some NOW!  These bad boys are a lifesaver!  There isn't anything they can't cut through.  Chicken bones, done! Veggies, done! Anything else, done!

#6 - Pasta Spoon

This is the best utensil for your pasta dishes. It makes it easy to serve spaghetti and proportion your pasta entrees. 

#7 - Tongs
Not just for BBQ's.

#8 - Music
I love jamming when I cook.  Cooking is something that makes me relax. Add some music and I've got myself my very own par-tay. I'll either plug my iPod into a docking station or turn up the iHeartRadio App on my phone.

#9 - Inspiration
When I was little, I can remember watching Tyler Florence in Food 911 and knew that I wanted to cook.  So it began.  I still watch Food Network, the Cooking Channel, and look through hundreds of recipes on blogs, in magazines, and in cookbooks. I sometimes make exactly what a recipe instructs. Mostly I create something all my own.

#10 - A fun place
I love being in my kitchen! It is my space to relax and be me. Audrey got me this cutting board as a gift. It combines two of my favorite things, Marilyn Monroe and food. (I recently moved so the cutting board is still in the packaging.  Don't judge me.)