| Many food-obsessed people think they need to have | | | | Measuring spoons and measuring cups: Especially if |
| a kitchen full of all the latest appliances and fancy | | | | you're going to be cooking recipes out of a book or |
| kitchen tools. If you watch a typical hour of television | | | | off the internet, you're going to need some |
| on certain cable channels, you're likely to see a | | | | measuring tools to help ensure that all your |
| number of commercials advertising all kind of goofy | | | | ingredients are in the right amount. You might be |
| products that promise to slice and dice and generally | | | | surprised by how easily a seemingly minor |
| make your life easier. But if you belief the hype, you'll | | | | mis-measurement can ruin a meal. If you want your |
| soon have a kitchen full of pricey gadgets that you'll | | | | dishes to have a professional flavor, use your |
| never even use. | | | | measuring cups and spoons to make sure everything |
| That being said, there are a few essentials that any | | | | is present in the perfect amounts. |
| well-stocked kitchen should be without. In addition to | | | | Cast-iron cookware: Non-stick cookware is popular |
| the standard utensils and implements, it's also a good | | | | these days among non-professional cooks, but most |
| idea to have these classic cooking tools easily at | | | | professional chefs scoff at it. If you want to be a |
| hand whenever you're cooking. | | | | truly skilled cook, you're going to have to learn how |
| Cutting boards and knives: If you want to be able to | | | | to cook with cast-iron pans. Even though they tend |
| cook food at home, it's best to start with knives and | | | | to stick, it's important to learn how to use oils in the |
| cutting boards. These are the implements that you'll | | | | cooking process both for anti-sticking purposes and |
| use for every meal. As you're cooking, your cutting | | | | for flavor. Plus, non-stick cookware comes with |
| board will be a sort of home base-the spot that you | | | | chemicals that many people are wary of. |
| return to again and again as you move through the | | | | Timers: When it comes to cooking, it may help to |
| cooking process. | | | | think of time as just another ingredient; if you put in |
| Mixing bowls: In spite of what the name suggests, | | | | too much or too little, things can go awry. And when |
| mixing bowls are for more than just mixing. They're | | | | you're waiting for something to cook, it's very easy |
| where you put all your ingredients during different | | | | to lose track of time, to forget what you were |
| stages of the cooking process. For example, if you're | | | | doing, or to misjudge the amount of time that has |
| cutting up several different vegetables to roast on | | | | passed. That's where a handy, easy-to-use timer |
| the skillet, you'll use a mixing bowl to add each | | | | comes in. If possible, find one that allows you to set |
| vegetable as you cut it up. Later, mixing bowls are | | | | multiple timers at once for the various components |
| also useful as serving dishes for salads and other | | | | of your meal. |
| mixed dishes. | | | | |