Power Tools

I can be so inspired by a new gadget, pot, pan or small kitchen appliance. I was wondering if any of you young-uns asked me what kitchen tools are most inspiring to me, I would have to mention the ones I affectionately call power tools. They get this designation from me if they not only inspire me but if they have multiple uses and make many tasks more efficient than before. The one that helped me invent the term in the first place is the 1/2 sheet cake/jelly roll pan you can find at restaurant supply stores (which by the way are the best resource for kitchen power tools any where any time.)
With these you can not only bake cookies, you can also make pizza in them, roast vegetables, use several when making homemade pasta (more on that later) and dry bread crumbs in the oven. I recommend buying the package of three with the plastic cover if you can find them. When I met Rick, my fella, he had three of these and I was so taken with him because of it. Now I have seven of them in my house and there have been times when all of them are in use. That is rare but it so cool when it does happen. They are very handy during mass cookie production at Christmas, during a group pierogi lesson/production line and during canning.
My other favorite power tool is my Kitchen Aid. I have had one for 3 years now and I still get misty just thinking about it. Baking cookies, making bread and pasta are more fun and more efficient than ever. If you can afford one, get one. I don't recommend the ones with pretty colors. They are really just for those who want one on their counter. There is really a term for them, "counter candy." I am too serious about cooking for that. I recommend the taller ones that have arms that extend on which the bowl rests. They usually come in white or a dark gray. They are badass.
Now when it comes to pots and pans, I am a great fan of heavy duty stainless steel like All Clad, but you can find good deals on similar brands with nice heavy bottoms one item at a time for reasonable prices at places like Marshall's and TJ Maxx. Kmart also carried some nice less expensive heavy bottomed stainless steel pots through their Martha Stewart line. I have one called a "sauteuse" that is perfect for a pot of soup or stew for two. It is 100% stainless so it can go in the oven and on the stove top. I hate non stick because no matter what it always get scratched eventually and that disgusts me, especially when I have to throw it out. I want pots and pans that will outlive me.
Speaking of those, let's discuss cast iron. You really should have at least one 9 inch cast iron frying pan. They really are easy to clean with a brush and hot water and dried quickly. They are the best thing for frying potatoes, chicken or anything else you can shallow fry. My newest favorite is of course the cast iron piece mentioned in my earlier post.