Between cooking meals, packing lunches and grabbing a quick snack, we spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Let’s make that time well spent. Reach for these five useful items to make to food prep fun, efficient and delicious.
Try some new recipes and invite friends over for dinner.
1. Get Rolling.
Be the champion of the holiday baking season with this marble rolling pin. Chill the pin to roll perfect pie crusts, and let the weight of the marble make rolling out cookies effortless. A handy wooden holder keeps your pin safely on the counter and doubles as a dough scraper. Marble Rolling Pin and Holder Set, $55, Pampered Chef, Velvet Speicher, 610.589.5005. pamperedchef.com/pws/velvetspeicher
2. Slow and Steady.
Dutch ovens are here to handle it all: braises, soups, pasta in sauce, fresh baked bread. This cast-iron one features a tight-fitting lid to seal in moisture, and an enameled finish for quick clean-up. When the meal’s ready, transfer this bright blue dish to your table for beautiful serving. Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven, $345, Baldwin Brass Center, 623 Penn Avenue, West Reading, 610.373.1040. baldwinbrasscenter.com
3. Utensil Euphoria.
Streamline the space beside your stove. This slim pull-out drawer expands your work area and keeps utensils within easy reach during cooking. Sort and organize the multiple caddies to get the tools you need quickly. Use the bottom shelf for storing pitchers or serving bowls. Base Pull- Out Organizer, $400-$600, Empire Home Center, 2741 Bernville Rd., Leesport, 610.926.0500. empirehomecenter.com
4. Flip for It.
Keep soft butter close at hand. Made of shatterproof BPA-free plastic, the Butterie Dish holds up to two sticks of butter and lets you leave it out for a day or two. Open the convenient flip-top lid to spread butter on fresh bread, or mix up a delicious buttercream icing. Butterie Dish, $13, Simply BOLD Café, 550 Penn Avenue, West Reading, 610.207.7368. simplyboldcafe.com
5. Mediterranean Marvel.
Grown and bottled at Casa Ligaro in Calabria, Italy, this extra virgin olive oil adds delicious flavor, heart-healthy fats and antioxidants to your meal. Besides cooking, use it as a salad dressing, a dip for bread, or to finish pasta. Casa Ligaro Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $12.99 (500ml), $17.99 (1 liter), $19.99 (first press unfiltered 1 liter) Russo Gourmet Foods Market, 1150 Bern Rd., Wyomissing, 610.898.1918. russofoodmarket.com
