Kitchen items I can't live without

There are several kitchen "items" that I am not willing to do without.  In no particular order:

Electronic scale.  This is especially true if you love to bake.  You will get much better results if you can weigh your ingredients instead of measuring them in cups.  I don't know why--that's just the way it is.


Garlic press.  Keeps your guests/family/friends from finding large hunks of garlic in their food if you're pressed for time and don't mince it thoroughly.  Personally, I love garlic and wouldn't be upset, but if you're making something with a smooth sauce, you'll want to use a press.

Stand mixer.   You can use this bad boy for just about anything.  It's especially helpful for when you're working with something very dense/tough (like extremely thick cookie dough).

Food processor.  This is actually a new addition for me.  I've been cooking regularly for 15+ years, and I only recently bought my first one.  The first time I used it was to slice cucumbers.  I fed it through the tube and when I opened the lid, my cucumber had turned to complete mush.  I learned the hard way that if you want to slice or shred something, you must first remove the blade (ahem) and leave only the slicer attachment attached.  

Something to hold my hair back.  Yes, I know that headbands aren't kitchen utensils, but it is my biggest fear ever to serve someone food with a hair in it.  It's disgusting enough if it's your immediate family who's eating the food, but if you're making something to take to a family cookout/holiday dinner, or (worse yet) to work for a potluck, would YOU be happy taking a bite of something scrumptious, get a tickly feeling in the back of your throat, and proceed to pull a 10" long hair out of your mouth?  This happened to me at a work function once, and I assure you it was not pleasant.

Sharp knives.  It doesn't matter if they're cheap, but they must be sharp.  I spent $50 on a sharpening stone at the Cooks Warehouse in Atlanta, and have used it once.  Not even a "full once."  I sharpened half of a knife and decided it would be best to have my husband do it as I need all 10 of my fingers if I want to continue cooking.  He did a bang up job, but hasn't done it since.  These things are dangerous.  He told me that Publix will sharpen them for free in the meat department, but I have a bit of a problem carrying a bag full of knives into a grocery store.  Dull knives suck.  And when you DO have them sharpened/sharpen them yourself, be sure never never never to put them in a sink full of dishwater.  I heard a horror story once about my father-in-law sharpening his wife's knives and one of them ended up in a sink of soapy dishwater.  It didn't end well.   And don't put them in your dishwasher--it'll dull the blades considerably.

Magnetic strips.  I keep my knives stuck to one, and it's bolted into the area above the stove.  I have three young children and knives are my biggest fear around them.  I believe it cost about $8.00 at Ikea.  Plus, it frees up counter space if you don't have a bulky knife block sitting there.