Some Kitchen Essentials

If you want to make cooking at home enjoyable then you need to be well stocked with kitchen essentials to make cooking enjoyable.

With too many utensils, gadgets, and accessories are not really required. All you need is a few handfuls of essential items. If you are going to cook at home you will need a cutting or a chopping board one for veggies and one for meat. You can find a perfect one for your kitchen at shops which sell utensils and if the board is to be a little different then go online.

Keep a measuring cup and spoon because most cooking requires measurements . A basic set will do just fine they need not be antique pieces they are for functional use.

You will need spatulas which is something you cannot do without. You will get silicon version in various shapes and colors to go along with your kitchen essentials. Flexible one allow you  to toss, turn and flip easily. You need at least two wooden spoons you can use to stir stews, soups etc.

To go along with all this you need a basic skillet. In it you can cook vegetables, meat, eggs, fish, chicken, tofu etc. It will be heavier than the usual.

To make sauces you will need to have a small saucepot. These you will require to melt butter, make sauce, warm leftovers, to boil water or make tea. A large stockpot is required to cook stews and cook soups etc.
 

A kitchen cannot do without a knife one large and one small. They both can handle all the cutting and chopping requirements in a kitchen. And maybe you can add a paring knife  to peel and make precise cuts. Whisk  to whisk eggs, make pancake batter, and simple salad dressings.

Tongs to flip meat, chicken, and fish, for taking waffles out.

Colander  to drain noodles, wash berries and vegetables, and strain broths.

Grater to grate, shred, and make zest. Buy different sizes of zesters/shredders/graters are made for each use. Mixing bowls to toss vegetables, mix batter, toss ingredients.

Food processor to blend, shred, puree, and make pizza dough, pepper grinder, potholder or oven mitts, and salt.

Nice to have a few extra items like those mentioned below:-

Extra large stockpot, cast iron skillet for browning potatoes and hash browns, french toast, and peppers.

Hand blender to make smoothies and salad dressings, a cookware set which has 5, 10 or 14 piece collection, muffin pan is a versatile pan which can be used to also bake eggs or special recipes and also make cupcakes.

For all your baking requirements you will need pans at least two of standard sizes. If you’re making dough, you will need a rolling pin. And no you cannot use a bottle. A sifter or strainer to sift flours and a mixer is something no household can do without.

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Know Your Knives

Knives! No kitchen is complete without them – small or big they are important. They are a simple instrument that does so much work.

A dull knife will make you angry and a sharp knife will cut your veggies and cold cuts so smoothly that you can’t help but smile. The knife one uses to cook makes a lot of difference.

There are various types of knives one uses in a kitchen. Knives are a budding chef’s best friend.

There is a difference between a country loaf knife and general bread knife; there is a difference between a cleaver and Chinese chopper.

 The best chef knife is the JA Henckel’s International Classic 8” if you do a lot of prep work. It has thin blade, and very lightweight and small. You will love it in your hand.

Best Japanese chef knife is Global G-2-8inch knife. It is sharp, strong and very comfortable to handle.

The best ceramic knife is Kyocera advanced ceramic revolution series 5 ½ inch Santoku knife. It is lightweight and sit comfortably in the hand and slides through cheese, tomatoes, brownies etc.

The best butcher knife is the 7-inch stainless steel chopper. It is very sharp take care while using it. It has great grip and uses weight cleverly. It is big and yet not heavy or bulky.

Best carving knife is the Professional 10” meat cutting knife.   Victorinox 6 inch curved pro boning knife with flexible blade. It easily cuts the tender meat.

Best sushi knife is the Kitchen + Home non stick sushi knife. It is light weight, and feels small but is very sharp the holes help it not getting stuck.

The best paring knife is the J A Henckels International Classic 4” pairing /utility knife is hefty but a great knife.   

The best serrated paring knife is a Victorinox 3.25 inch paring knife with a serrated edge, spear point black is an affordable knife and does the job perfectly and is very sharp.

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State of the art kitchen

Two important things will create a state of the art kitchen for you in your home. Design and appliances are two things to keep in mind when making a new kitchen. 

Design

See that he kitchen is laid out to its maximum, break down each zone  like cooking, washing, cleanup, fridge, baking space, utensil space, storage space for grains and all stuff. There should be enough walking space where you can walk without getting into things.

Appliances

Keep the sink wide and deep and hands free faucets. Cook tops and ovens keep them modular and the fridge keep in mind the how much you need to store, its finish and design. A nice drip coffee machines

When you style your kitchen, always choose a simple color like silver, white or black. You can add color wherever you desire. Keep easy wipe surfaces so you do not find it hard to clean. Make sure you have plenty of drawers and cupboards to store the kitchen stuff.

A few examples of state of the art kitchen include an ultra modern designed kitchen feature off white walls and flooring, mirrors, overhead lights, splashes of black and white marble, tempered glass, natural wood. You can create a kitchen which is oblong, long, or square.

You can also go in for black cabinets and silver outlines, dark hardwood flooring, and light beige walls with vents overhead. If you have space left over,  let it open into the living room. 

Another style you can use is to have white sliding doors that can hide the cabinets which contain the appliances, behind it.

You love dark wood, you could try dark and rich tones in your kitchen try black flooring, dark wood paneling with metallic look to get a rich look.
If it is just wood color you love go in for a natural wood cooking table /island with white marble top, surround it with white wood cabinets and have a beige tile floor. In the open space keep the dining area and large built-in wall racks.

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Basic rules of kitchen safety

Cooking is fun, and should be fun but safety in the kitchen is also a priority. There are many things in the kitchen which can be dangerous and cause harm. The kitchen is filled with knives, oven, fire, electrical appliances etc.

Good habit keeps you from getting into trouble. Always pay attention to what you are doing in the kitchen – it may prevent slips and accidents.

Keep your kitchen clean, get safety equipment and make sure children are not left alone in the kitchen.         

Image Source : Kraft Canada

                                                

 Never cook wearing loose clothes.

Tie up your long hair while cooking. 

Never wear dangling jewelry while cooking as it can get tangled in the pot handles.

Image Source : Kitchen Cooking Safety

Use pot holders but avoid leaving them near open flames.

Turn the pot handles away from the front of the cook top so no child touches or grabs it.

Don’t keep meat, fish, and dairy products out for long as they spoil faster.

Clean oil, milk etc spills immediately so you and no one slips and falls.

Keep meat and poultry separately.  

Wash your hands often when handling food - while cleaning and cooking also after handling poultry products.

Get a fire extinguisher. Learn how to use it but do not read instruction on the day of the fire.

The kitchen design should be practical for eg, you do not have to walk ten feet for salt.

The distance between cook top to fridge, sink to stove should not be obstructed.

Move the obstructions out of the way – like plant, table etc.

Keep the appliances like oven, toaster, microwave clean.

Unplug the electrical appliances – mixer, coffee maker, cooker etc.

Install a smoke detector near the kitchen but not in it as any cooking that creates smoke will trigger the alarm every now and then.

Do not over fill oil and grease jars.

Do not use metal in microwaves.

When you start cooking do not leave the food unattended, as left over grease etc can catch fire.

Keep paper towel, pot holders, and dish towels away from the cook top.

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Modern kitchen

White marble to yellow modern kitchen means a new definition of cooking in style. They have to look sleek, sophisticated and very impressive – a space to cook, eat and entertain.

There are hundreds of combinations with which you can create a very modern looking kitchen. These can be from traditional to country to modern kitchen look. If you cannot decide then you could probably do a mix and match from the antique market to the high street market creating an open kitchen. Maybe a mix of colors or a different color scheme could put everything together.

An oak dining table with a rug below could be the centre of attraction, a place of family get together, a sfa could become an extension to this family space.

Creating a bright light and airy space you need windows from top to bottom. Add a definite color to give it a contemporary look in cabinets and upholstery. A set of lampshades will complete the look.

The sink could overlook the garden, with colorful bulbs planted giving it a urban and contemporary look.

A chic kitchen should not cost the earth you could just lay a pattern tiles instead of the white look. Or just white walls, and white tiles and grey units will convert the kitchen into a timeless piece. Add to it geometric pattern tiles sticking to the white and grey combo.

A blue kitchen also looks sleek and very modern and stylish and more so if the cooking utensils match the color scheme. To make an open plan space keep the units along one side and you get an light and airy feeling adding to it are the garden doors and glazed roof.  

You could also go in for the very sleek look with a completely integrated kitchen that is designed for modern living. We all love the seamless look and how everything is incorporated.

To make your kitchen look bigger go in for glaze look, have a large skylight, have floor to ceiling handle less glass windows. They let the light stream in making the kitchen look bigger and brighter. You can fill the kitchen with furnishings , cushions, armchairs giving it all the creature comforts.

If you want to add a little drama to your kitchen, choose black tiles. Soften the look with a berry shade. Here you have a kitchen which will definitely stand out. Cute looking accessories - ‘Home sweet home’ sign or pot and kettle tiles create a homely feel and look.

Trying to create a good looking kitchen on limited budget. Make small changes like new door handles and workstations, have open shelves etc. Pale grey creates a contemporary look. It is very versatile and looks great with all neutral colors like  white and the natural stone flooring. Bar stools and trio of pendants in various designs finish the scheme perfectly.

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The Best Wall Decor Ideas

There are very little options to decorate a small home. But there are many ways you can make the apartment feel perfect. All you need to do is to make use of the open space – that is the walls.

The empty walls can be made to feel stylish and cozy instead of stark and empty. There are many things which you can use to bring out your style and personality in the walls. If you love books, or collect art or are a nature enthusiast you can surround yourself with the things you like and love.

Decorate your walls, use bright and bold colors, use stencil, patterns and wall paper and decorative paint. These have more impact in small space.

You can use an oversize painting / photograph commands more attention in a small space. Try a black-and-white photo add color with a vibrant abstract.

Color adds personality to a wall by displaying art, photographs, wall hangings and other paraphernalia. Use simple frames or ornate variety.

You can show off a tapestry/wall hanging to add color and pattern, and will add a sense of softness to a space. You could frame vintage scarves/pretty textiles. The advantage is you can remove the frames when you wish to head to another home.

Hang Mirrors to reflect light making the small space look bigger and brighter – an oversize mirror or small pieces in salon style.

Paint a Mural on your wall let it be hand painted or draw a motif to create an impact.

You could add shelves to place books – display hard covers, small sculptures and small odds and ends.

Hang your favorite plates and dishes, and fine china by using wire plate hangers.

Add Sculptures and also add a source of light to make it eye catching without it taking up lot of space. It will bring light and style.

Plants don’t have to sit on the window you could hang or wall-mount them adding nature to your life and space.

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Bonsai for the interiors

Bonsai is the Japanese art form. It means growing miniature trees of original versions – oranges, peach, pear, banyan, bamboo etc. They are grown in beautiful containers and are very popular in the world.  The original plant is carefully cut, shaped including the roots so it can remain small and yet retain the original shape. Bonsai can be used inside and outside the homes.

The bonsai trees are displayed on gravel floor or window facing benches. The sun pours in through the windows, or skylights and are an ideal place for growing the bonsai plants.

A bonsai tree is a nice addition to the living room and can be displayed on the side table, shelf, where it stands out and will be the focal point of the room giving it a Zen ambiance.

Bonsai trees are meant to stay small and what better place than one in your home. The proportions of the bonsai maintain a balance and cohesiveness of the décor. Bonsai is minimalist and modern and gives the place a fresh and soothing look and vibe.

A center piece may balance a stunning chandelier. A bonsai may lift the mood of the room, making it look different and create an air of calmness. Bonsai can provide a relaxing hobby while trimming the miniature branches to look like the silhouette of the original.  

A single piece of bonsai commands the attention of everyone who enters the room.  But keep them out of reach of pets and children. They will most probably ruin the plant due to curiosity and also because many of these plants are toxic for both children and pets.

Bonsai trees will catch your eye as a stand alone or in group of threes; you could almost have a small forest or yourself.

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Toys for Kids

Toys and childcare

Toys are important for the child’s growing and learning years. Those parents and care givers of children need to be very careful in choosing toys for their children. Every year over 150,000 toys related injuries are reported. These mostly include falls, swallowing of very small toys, or pushing them up their nose or ears. Sharp edges will cut them.

Select the toys carefully keeping in mind how they have been designed and the quality of the toy. Do not keep any toy that has sharp points and edges, or very small parts. Also avoid toys which make a loud noise or propel objects.

Buy those toys that are age relevant and not to intricate for the child. Each toy has a reference written on it. 

Always read labels for safety, toxicity and washable materials. 

Look for electrical parts and if they have been tested for safety.

Read the instruction on the toy before using it and explain to your child how to use it before he or she operates it.

Always stay close by when the children are playing. Watch carefully and spot the accident before it happens.

Check the toys for any broken pieces, they could be hazardous. Sharp and jagged edges of wooden and plastic toys can be very dangerous. See that only non toxic paints have been used on toys.

Teach your children to keep the toys away after playing with them as they are likely to trip on them.

Keep the toys on shelves, and let them see which they want to play with and tell them to keep it back in its place after playing.

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