a well equipped home: kitchen

My beloved LeCreuset in the early stages of toffee

How do you make sense of the swirling jumble of crazy in your head? Three years ago or so, my sweet husband has realized that if I'm in the kitchen stirring up the 7th batch of cookies (in the same day) or finishing the 3rd pot of soup, I'm probably trying to put the crazy to order in my mind.

One of my favorite kitchen tools--pictured above--is my Le Creuset enameled dutch oven. Some have said it's like a second child. I love it. Simply said, there is nothing else in my kitchen that distributes heat as evenly, maintains temperature as well--or is just pretty to look at. And, as if all that wasn't enough, it makes me happy inside. There's no better assurance than knowing when I take the lid off the pot--the plain-jane food I'm putting in will be transformed into melt-in-your-mouth, shovel-it-in-as-fast-as-you-can kind of food. Now that's a good deal.

It's not too late! Add this to your Christmas list immediately. You--and those who eat with you--will be glad you did.

a well equipped home: kitchen

My kitchen is the running joke between my sister, my mom and myself. I have a well-equipped kitchen, mainly because I believe you can be as successful as you are prepared. However, there are also many gadgets and gizmos that see the outside of a drawer scant two times a year (like the corn cob scraper I just had to have!).

However, there are some kitchen tools that I can't imagine doing life without. For the next few Fridays during the hustle and bustle of this busy cooking & baking season, I'll be sharing some of my most favorite tools with you. 

My all time, number one, most used kitchen tool: The KitchenAid Mixer. It has a designated spot on my counter, is rarely wiped clean, and is used almost every day. 

Here's what I would buy if I were in the market today:

The KitcnAid Deluxe Edition 5Qt Mixer from QVC.com

The flex edge beater is new! and, I want one!

Best of all, with a glass bowl--you can put it directly in the microwave!
and, it has the measurements printed right on the side. Great engineering.

If you're interested in picking up this mixer and all the beaters & hooks for a great price (more than a $100 OFF!), click here. If my mixer and I didn't have such a sweet history, I would be getting myself one!