I don’t really need an excuse to buy a gadget, normally something from Apple, or IT related, but I’m no stranger to a kitchen gadget.
When I started cooking Pinch of Nom (PON) meals I soon realised I really needed a Food Processor, I was worried if I would use it, but I do use it a few times a week. Things like making butter chicken, you need to purée the ingredients to make it smooth, chopping oats up to make a breadcrumb for fishcakes, and I now grate all my cheese that was as it is super fast.
I have had to buy a new gadget this week, which I will come on to, but I thought it would be worth talking about my favourite kitchen gadgets and why I love them.
Vegetable Chopped
I suppose we have to start with the new one, I have seen these used by people, on TV adverts on some home shopping advert on an obscure channel in the early hours, but never thought it was worth it. I have good knife skills, okay I cut myself from time to time, but tell what chef doesn’t doing all the cooking. On Wednesday I was prepping the Peppers to make Kung Pao Pork, and cut my finger (so I thought) putting pressure on the finger and washing it under water as I always do.
Then the daughter say “Is that a bit of your finger?”
“Of course not” I reply “it’s just a cut!”
With a disgusted face she replies “Are you sure?”
Okay she was right, I had sliced a bit of thumb clean off. Yes I went to A&E, yes I went back to Plastics clinic the next day, but I also jumped on Amazon and bought a Four in One vegetable chopper.
Anyone that follows PoN recipes will tell you, lots of onions, lots of peppers, lots of diced carrots, which means lots of chopping. This little beast has been amazing the last two days, peal the onion, cut in half and [WHACK] onions are diced. Dishwasher safe, simple to clean and thumb intact.
There are lots of styles this is a 4 in 1, so two chop sizes and a two spiralisor things, I want chopping so all good.
Air Fryer Kebab Skewers
Like many, I love making kebabs in the summer, I love cooking on the BBQ, but 1. Weather and 2. Effort, means I have been making them in my Air Fryer. The normal kebab sticks are long, so I have to chop little bits off. I was thinking this is a waste, I wonder if I can get short ones for an Air Fryer? Well Amazon didn’t disappoint, I found this little set that is designed for the Ninja Air Fryer.
14 mini kebabs and the kit, came with lots of cool little bits, tongs, marinade brush, mini silicon mits to pick it out. Anyway used it yesterday and total winner for me.
15 minutes in total to cook in the air fryer. Plenty of time to knock up a potato salad and some corn on the cob.
Mixing Bowls
I have been married now 22 years, and we have never bought mixing bowls, we have got by on the ones my wife had when she left home for nurse training, last earlier this year I decided I need to get rid and get some new ones.
I got this set of 5 stainless steels ones, with lids, all different sizes, and they are great, they washout super quick no matter what has been in them. I love them that much, my daughter is off to Uni soon and I’m thinking I’m going to need to get her a set as they will last her ages.
you can also see from the Amazon image they came with some measuring spoons and a little whisk, good for the draw, they are not my everyday choice, which brings me on too…
Measuring Spoons
Another thing I have had in the draw for years a little set of meal ones, kept together with a cable tie! They are short, too big to get in spice jars, so I did some research and found some funky magnetic ones.
From Tablespoon down to 1/8 teaspoon it covers most needs. They are clever, they have a dry end and liquid end. Can I just say, I actually do it the other way around from what the images shows. I like the long spoon end for going in herb and spice jars, and the bucket end for liquid.
Kilner Jars
As I write this, I’m starting to realise that most of these have been bought to service the needs PoN has caused me!
I have so much more store cupboard type ingredients now, that I have had to store them all for when I need them. Things like, but not limited to, Orzo, cornflour, Panko breadcrumbs, Long grain rice, basmati rice, ground almonds and don’t start me on the spices, I have so many now, that I have little Kilner jars for the spices I use the most, Cumin, Chilli powder, Garam masala and more.
I have all different ones, from Kilner ones, but lots of Ikea versions, like the ones below which are great,
These are just a selection, there are many more!
Bread Bin
A WHAT? I hear you say, but yes, a bread bin is one of the best things in my kitchen. Until about a year ago, my bread was in the plastic tub, that was being held together with gaffer tape, but with all the different bread options we have, I needed a better solution. This was the biggest I could find that would house, bread, wraps, crumpets, English muffins, rolls, pittas, it’s a big list which needs a big bread bin.
Metal tub with a nice bamboo lid.
Garlic Press
I have always used a normal press, but it was too small for the larger cloves, I ungraded. This is simple, peal and rock the press onto of it.
The skin peeler I find a bit of a faff, but the little brush is great to clean out the wholes. Simple and quick and you can carry the garlic on it to the pan.
Cookbooks
Okay, it’s not a gadget but I could not live without my PoN cookbooks. I use some more than others, but each one is vital to the progress I have made in the last 18 months.
The recipes are meals I want to eat, some feel trashy like Fish Finger Pie, some are everyday classics like Chicken Tikka Masala and some are dinner guest worthy like Beef Bourguignon.
They are just some of my gadgets, I could go on about my boiled egg maker, air fryer, blender, silicon quiche dish, my microwave rice cooker, but you would get bored.
Why not tell me your favourite kitchen gadget, I would love an excuse to buy more.
Chicken Pasta Bake
This is one of my own and it’s not healthy healthy, but I is super yummy.
Ingredients
- 500g Chicken Breast
- 1 Onion diced
- 2 Garlic crushed
- Some veg, carrots or sweetcorn
- 300g of dried pasta shapes
- 1 Can condensed chicken soup
- 150ml Semi Skimming milk
- 2 Tsp Wholegrain mustard
- Salt & Pepper
- 40g grated cheese
Method
- Cook your pasta as per the instructions, drain and leave to the side.
- Cook you veg. If using frozen sweetcorn microwave so you can eat it, and carrots, boil till just before cooked and put them to the side.
- In a pan, fry off the onion and garlic in oil or spray (whatever is your way) until soft.
- Add the diced chicken to the pan and brown on all sides.
- Add the condensed soup, mix in and then add the milk. The milk should be about half the condensed soup can so save using a jug you have to wash.
- Mix the soup and milk to thin, the mixture down to a nice sauce. If it looks thick add a little more milk.
- Add the wholegrain mustard and mix in.
- If you then have space in the pan, add the pasta and mix it all together and then pour into an over dish. If your pan is not big enough, empty the pasta into the dish and top with the chicken mixture.
- Add salt and pepper and top with the grated cheese.
- Cook on 200c for 20 minutes and the cheese is browned.
- If you wish to make this in advance, to eat later, add 10 minutes to the cooking time to ensure it is hot throughout.
That’s all there is to it, it’s super easy and very tasty.
Please leave me comments and messages, I love reading your thoughts.
Cooking by Matt 