Kitchen Essentials - 3 things I couldn't live without....

My kitchen is my happy place and even more so in the past few days as I've been busy working on new products for My Secret Kitchen.  Its like re-connecting with the business all over again - an authentic food business that creates amazing foods to make meals more amazing.  Six years later and I still love the awesome challenge of creating new foods for our customers and consultants to fall in love with too.

They say staying in is the new going out which is great for someone who loves being in the kitchen but not so great if you don't. And that is the beauty of My Secret Kitchen products - adaptable for everyday and the wow factor for special occasions without spending hours cooking when we are all so time-poor.  Little luxuries are the name of the game and little gadgets can be big helpers too in the kitchen. So here are 3 essentials that I couldn't live without in my kitchen...

NUMBER 1 - Spatulas and Tasting Spoons (plus a few My Secret Kitchen products)

Next to the hob is my trusty pot of spatulas and tasting spoons to get every last luscious drop (or lick) of yumminess from the bowl and who could call themselves a good home cook if they don't sample what they are making along the way? Also my personal culinary team in the form of My Secret Kitchen Oak Smoked Rapeseed Oil, My Secret Kitchen Lemon & Chipotle Spiced Sea Salt, My Secret Kitchen Balsamic Reduction, My Secret Kitchen Secret Firecracker Chilli Spices and My Secret Kitchen Secret Wild Garlic Spices.

NUMBER 2 - A Beautiful Mixing Bowl

 

 

William Morris said have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. My mixing bowl does both and regardless of what comes out of the oven after said mixing I get a zen-like satisfaction from using my beautiful 'Bixing Mowl' (family joke).

 

NUMBER 3 - Music Maestro Please

 

 

No kitchen is complete without a media area - aka the phone, DAB radio and ipod docking station. Dancing in he kitchen is optional but music is a must in our family and our time in the kitchen.  Its the unwritten rule that Planet Rock is on Saturday mornings and Radio 2 on Sunday mornings (who doesn't adore Steve Wright's Love Songs). During the week my ipod plays various playlists, this week Ellie Goulding, Paramore and Fall out Boy; maybe you just might be able to taste a little musical magic in our finished products?

This blog wouldn't be complete without a recipe or two so here's a work in progress - Maple Caramel Florentines with Apricots, presented pre-baking in a rather nice bowl....I'll let you know how they turn out....