GIRLS LIKE TOOLS TOO: by leslie manning
Over the years my kitchen drawers have mysteriously filled themselves with gadgets, tools, spatulas and a few things I have no idea how to use.
A minimalist at heart, I’m always trying to narrow my kitchen down to items that get frequent use. So when Leslie had the idea to share her favorite/most used items, I said “YES PLEASE”!
Now I need to have a garage sale. And go shopping.
ENJOY!
Elizabeth
PS: Will you share with all of us your favorite kitchen tools?
GIRLS LIKE TOOLS TOO: by leslie manning
Some girls have shoes and some girls have purses. Me? I have kitchen tools. This foodie, while at any stuff mart store, can be found in the kitchen section. My studio, aka my kitchen, is where I feel most creative. Here is a list of my fave kitchen tools beyond my beloved baking stone, handy food scale, classic cast iron pan and good kitchen knife. The following tools work hard to make my list and must be affordable. In fact, nothing is over $20 and only one is even close.
Microplane Zester Grater (40020)
This tool has changed my citrus life. I mostly use it for grating lemon and orange zest. I use zest in my baking, pasta salads, and over granola. I used to cut my hands up badly before I bought one. You can also use it for hard cheese. It’s super easy to clean and hasn’t dulled in the decade I’ve had it. (Amazon.com $12.95. Just so you know, 456 people gave this tool FIVE STARS, you will too!)
Mini Silicone Spatulas
These tools get as much attention as my children. I use them several times a day. You can scrape jelly and peanut butter jars, yogurt containers, and get the last drop of maple syrup out of a measuring spoon. For the person in your life who has everything, you can even personalize them! (Amazon.com $6.22, not personalized or Williams Sonoma $14, personalized)
Mini Mesh Strainer
This tool makes sugar fairy dust possible. It also makes me a gourmet cook in under ten seconds. What else can make these promises? I sprinkle fairy dust (or powdered sugar) over brownies, lemon bars, pancakes, waffles, and pretty much every moving food target. I also love this for sprinkling cocoa powder or cinnamon over whipped cream in lattes and cocoa. (New Seasons Market, $2.99)
Herb Snips
These are sometimes called herb scissors or herb shears. This is the number one tool I have that friends say, “That is SO cool! Where did you get that?” These make my herb life much easier. They have five blades, are razor sharp and chop herbs at hypersonic speeds. (The WEBstaurant, $6)
Oxo Good Grips Julienne Peeler
I snapped up the best dealio on this in the clearance area at Marshalls, about $3. My best use for it? Zucchini! (Quick recipe break: Make “noodles” out of the zucchini using this tool, add some sun-dried or fresh tomatoes, and toss with pesto.) For those who eat cheese, sprinkle some parmesan on top, amazingly easy! Who doesn’t love healthy and easy? (Amazon.com $8.99 or Bed, Bath & Beyond $9.99-use a 20% coupon and it’s cheaper than Amazon.)
Bamboo Toast Tongs
Nobody wants to burn their fingers. May I make a confession? When a piece of toast or bagel gets stuck down in my toaster, I grab my bamboo tongs and reach down into the toaster abyss as if I’m playing the game Operation and try to get the small broken piece out without it buzzing and turning red like the game. Okay, my toaster doesn’t really buzz. Especially when you unplug it first. (Amazon.com, $3.46)
Mini Serving Spatula
I love this spatula! I have had it for years. It scoops brownies out of difficult pans and is just the right size for your cookies on a cookie sheet. The following is a true story. Not being of sound mind and body, I brought this spatula to a potluck as a serving utensil. When I went to pick it up after the potluck, the unthinkable happened. It. Was. Missing. I guess I was a bit…let’s call it “frenzied”…because everyone thought I had lost my daughter. Oops! No, just the spatula. My spatula. It had fallen on the ground. Found her! I mean, found it! (The Pampered Chef, $5.50)
Silpat Non-Stick Baking Mat
Another item I use almost every day. Think of it as a green alternative to parchment paper which is usually used once and thrown away. Bonus: it’s easy to clean too. I reheat pizza on it, bake cookies, scones, and toast nuts on it. I use a perforated cookie sheet underneath it for even baking. (Amazon.com, $19.83)
Thanks for letting me share my fave kitchen toys. If you have another use for one of the tools I mentioned, or if you have a favorite tool that I didn’t mention, we definitely want to hear from you. Happy creating!
Leslie
- Posted
- June 2, 2012
- In
- The Kitchen
Leslie, we’ve got to be one soul in two bodies. I loved every minute of your kitchen tool blog–it’s also my favorite place to create! I’ve got to get myself some of those mini-spatulas
Great pics by the way! Smiling from ear to ear at what our little writer’s group is accomplishing 
Definitely kindred souls! Love you!
You’re awesome, Leslie! Thanks for making me laugh and for these great ideas. I’ve been looking for a better way to chop my herbs and not my fingers. Glad you found your daugh–uh, spatula.
Thanks Mel!
Hope to see you soon!
Coveting the julienne peeler. Repenting now.
I’m not gonna lie, it’s pretty nifty! You can borrow mine.
A few months ago I bought a lime press, adore it! Saves my dried out hands from the sting of lime juice. Sadly my excessively strong husband used it last week and squeezed so hard the handle snapped! I’ll be buying another soon!
Have you ever tried moisturizing with oil? Coconut oil is my favorite and works wonders on dry skin. (It also works from the inside out if you eat the yummy stuff). I love my cheap wooden reamer to do juicing of citrus, but it’s much too ouchy with dried hands!
Hi Lonna! Thank you for adding the lime press, perfect! Along with saving hands, I love that with the seeds stay in the press. Can’t tell you how many times I have had to pick seeds out of flour, batter, etc. Sorry yours broke.
But yay for strong husbands! 
We love our veggie spiral slicer! It turns so many yummy veggies into healthy “pasta”. The kids love watching as 6 foot noodles appear before our eyes!! A favorite is (raw) zucchini noodles with sauce of any kind
a great recipe can be found here at http://ohsheglows.com/2011/01/31/15-minute-creamy-avocado-pasta/
There are two different types of spiralers over at Mirador Community Store on SE Division and 21st. We use the Paderno World Cuisine slicer which works wonders. And there’s another by Joyce Chen. Both are found cheaper on amazon, but if you haven’t visited Mirador yet, a worthy trip! Canning supplies, fermenting crocks, cheese making, kombucha, oh my!
Happy spiraling!!
Okay, what time does Mirador open?
I have never been there and I think I need to plan a field trip immediately. Who wouldn’t want to spiral? Thanks for posting Lizzy and for the yummy recipe. Avocados and fifteen minutes? YES please!
Oh girl, you must! Open 10-6 mon thru sat. Enjoy!
Leslie, you are precious and I love the title of this blog.
Girls play with fire, hot and heavy pans, and knives, don’t mess with us! Not to mention we also have brain power to stop the person trying to put aluminum in the microwave! In addition to your list I would have to say a few of my favorite tools in the kitchen are glass prep bowls and tupperware. Organization and proper storage open up the door to endless possibilities! Love you fellow foodie! 
Haha! Thanks Jess!
I do confess to heart flutters when I see glass prep bowls on cooking shows. You are spot on. Organization is KEY in the kitchen all the way from food storage to cooking prep. I am incredibly more creative when I can see what I have to work with. The perennial home decorating quote, “Use what you have” begins with food in the kitchen if you ask me. Love you big Chef Jess!
Oh my, this feels like one of those check lists on Facebook…how many of these tools do you have?
I must admit to owning five of these and many others
Thank you Leslie for the info. I will make a list and start adding these tools. While I cook and bake all the time, my tool drawers are embarrassingly emptpy. Now I know what to get!
Happy to help a friend in kitchen tool need anytime.
Wow – love all of those tools!! So much fun!!
I love the goodie gadgets and as I read this I see that all these gadgets my daughter has…hmmm, she has been reading your blog! Love the humor and purpose. Thanks Leslie!!!