Best Kitchen Tools – 12 Favorite Daily Kitchen Tools

Best Kitchen Tools – 12 Favorite Daily Kitchen Tools

These are my top favorites in the kitchen that I can’t live without! The best kitchen tools that make the cooking process easier and more enjoyable. Add them to your list!

Here’s what I can’t live without when it comes to the kitchen!

I loooove sharing things like this because I secretly want to know YOUR favorites.

I’ve been wanting to share my current top ten kitchen items with you and was inspired yesterday when I saw Joy share her kitchen splurges. I absolutely LOVE seeing what items people use in the kitchen – what changes the game for them and makes everything easier. I’m all about easy.

Most of these below will come as no surprise! You will recognize a lot of these items from either seeing them in my photos or reading about them in my monthly favorites.

A few years ago I shared a complete list of my kitchen essentials – all of my favorite things that I recommend after 15 solid years of serious cooking. I update that list frequently and still stand by all of those items, but wanted to give you a quick peek at the things I use daily, or almost daily.

The kitchen items that I can’t live without!

The ones that make a huge difference when it comes to moving about in the kitchen and getting things done.

Share yours with me below!

12 Best Kitchen Tools I Can’t Live Without

The Scrub Daddy

Is it weird to talk about a sponge first? If you haven’t used a scrub daddy before, you are missing out. It is the best sponge that exists EVER – perfect for cleaning everything (especially silverware) and makes dishes a breeze. If you’re like me and make sure everything is spotless before it goes in the dishwasher, you need this.

Meat Chopper

This was life changing for us. It chops up ground beef or turkey so incredibly well – and easily. I have three or four of these and can’t go without them whether I’m making bolognese, tacos, etc.

Parchment baking sheets

This is one of the best things you can buy for your kitchen. I have gone through countless packs of these and they are a dream. You will never buy a roll of parchment paper again. Seriously.

The Nutribullet

I use this almost daily, but not for smoothies! This is how I make the most incredible vinaigrettes and dressings. I use it for my ranch dressing and my cilantro lime vinaigrette. It’s the perfect size and just so easy! I can’t live without this. And of course, if I’m making one small smoothie (as if that happens in a fam of 5, haha), it works for that too!

Global Knife Block

Good knives are the best tool for success in the kitchen. I have always had the hardest time spending money on good knives – they just don’t seem as fun as other items. But they are necessary and will totally change the game when it comes to cooking. Global knives are my absolute favorite. We use every single knife in this block, sometimes every day! They are so sturdy, sharp and sleek.

Mezzaluna knife

I also always have a mezzaluna on hand for chopping herbs and cutting homemade pizza. This makes it so simple to chop fresh herbs and garlic. It also just makes cutting flatbreads or smaller pizzas very easy. I also use it to make chopped salads – aka, the best salads.

W&P Porter Sealed Bowls

These jars are one of my favorite ways to store leftovers, sauces, dressings and more. First, they are pretty. But second, they are sleek and fit well in the fridge, plus keep the food super fresh. They are very secure. I use both sizes, but probably grab the 24 oz more often.

Weck tulip jars

This is another jar I use often for sauces, dressings and extras like pickled onions. Real life – I never use the clamps on these, but I do use the lids. They aren’t sealed tight which means what goes in here is limited. But I like these for serving or when I set out a lot of toppings or dressings. I use all the sizes of weck jars, but this tulip one is probably my most used.

Le Creuset Cast Iron Braiser

You probably recognize this because I use it in many of my recipes and photos here! If I want a heavier pan to throw in the oven, I love to use this one in the 3.5 quart size. I find that it’s a nice size and isn’t too heavy. I have the matte white shade and love it.

Greenpan Reserve Cookware

I am the HUGEST fan of my greenpan cookware. I’ve used it now for years (5+? or maybe more.) and can’t go without it. It’s the best nonstick cookware I’ve ever used. Now I do follow the rules and don’t go over medium heat (you don’t need it if you heat your skillet properly!) and hand wash these. Best pans ever.

OXO gold sheet pans

I get asked every single day about my gold sheet pans! These are the hardest working pans in my kitchen and I adore them. The OXO ones are my favorite, but I also use this three pack from Target too. I love the smaller ones. I probably have 20 to 30 of these gold pans and they are the best.

OXO stainless salad spinner

Salad spinners make me feel very 1990s, but I am telling you – they make one heck of a salad. They are the most efficient (and fastest!) way to get your lettuce/greens dry and crisp. Using this is one of the reason most of our salads at home taste restaurant-worthy.

[This post is not sponsored! There are some affiliate links above. Thank you for your support!]

11 top Milwaukee chefs share their favorite kitchen hacks

11 top Milwaukee chefs share their favorite kitchen hacks

A Personal Trainer Shares her Favorite Cheap Healthy Foods

A Personal Trainer Shares her Favorite Cheap Healthy Foods

Inflation is really impacting food prices and, therefore, all our wallets are getting skinnier. Many of us have a tendency to assume that healthy food is expensive and it can be easy to feel frustrated when you feel like you have to choose between between saving money and eating healthy.

As a trainer, I believe that nutrition is crucial to good health and no one should have to skimp on that. There are a lot of affordable grocery items that are both healthy and inexpensive. Here are my tips for how to feed yourself — and your loved ones — delicious, nutritious meals that don’t break the bank.

Mixed frozen vegetables on a bowl, top view
Contrary to popular belief, frozen veggies are not less nutritious than fresh vegetables.Roberto Machado Noa / Getty Images

A cheap and healthy grocery list

  • Frozen veggies: I buy whatever’s on sale because they’re as nutritious as fresh produce, but don’t spoil. I throw them into a bowl and microwave them or add them to a stirfry.
  • Frozen berries: Whatever type is on sale dictates my smoothie flavor for the week! I’m partial to raspberries — I love the sweetness with a little sour — but if pineapple chunks are on sale then I buy those instead. They also serve as ice so that my smoothies aren’t watered down, and frozen fruit doesn’t spoil like fresh fruit so I don’t have to worry about wasting it. Plus, some berries — like strawberries — are so packed with nutrients that dietitians call them super fruits!
  • Canned tuna: This is a super fast protein I can dump on top of salads or put on top of open-faced peppers with slices of pickles and cucumbers on top for a crunch.
  • Chickpeas: Canned beans are great to have on hand, and I’m partial to chickpeas because, being Lebanese, I can easily whip up hummus for a protein-packed snack, or I can put them in the oven with some seasoning for baked chickpeas as a snack or salad topper.
  • Rotisserie chicken: Shred this already-cooked chicken and make chicken tacos, chicken dip or a chicken stirfry.
  • Tofu: Sub in tofu instead of meat for a vegetarian meal or a Meatless Monday. Or instead of buying pricey eggs, scramble tofu which has a similar texture to scrambled eggs to make your next breakfast scramble! You can also add tofu to smoothies instead of protein powder. If you’re not sure how to cook tofu, check out our guide for how to cook tofu.
  • Lentils: Lentils are another meatless option to get in protein. Whether you make a stew, soup, or are simply looking for a non-meat protein option on top of a salad, these beans are great for your wallet and your protein intake!
  • Store-brand cheese: If you don’t feel bloated after eating cheese, check out non name-brand cheeses at your grocery store that are still reasonably priced. Use cheese as a snack for protein or as a topper for warm casseroles!
Spicy Tofu with red sauce.
Tofu is so versatile that you can use it in everything from smoothies to curries. Wheatfield / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Healthy recipes on a budget

If you want to put some of these ingredients to use right away, here are some delicious recipes to get you started.

Berry-Banana Smoothie

This smoothie calls for strawberries and blueberries, but you can use any frozen berry that’s on sale. You can also sub in spinach or another dark, leafy green for kale.

Spiced Roasted Chickpeas

ClarkandCompany / Getty Images

These chickpeas are super easy to make and you can use them in a multitude of ways. Roasted chickpeas make for a great salad topper, and they’re also a great protein-rich snack.

Barbecue Chicken Quinoa Salad

Courtesy Matt Armendariz

This barbecue rotisserie chicken salad makes for a nutrient-dense meal any time of day and using rotisserie chicken makes it easy to make.

Chickpea and Tuna Salad

Laura Vitale

This chickpea and tuna salad is healthy, delicious and it requires no cooking! Win-win-win.

More meal planning tips from a trainer

Chefs share favorite soul food recipes to kick off for Black History Month

Chefs share favorite soul food recipes to kick off for Black History Month

To celebrate the start of Black History Month, “Good Morning America” invited two small business owners to celebrate their rich history and recipes as they compete to see who has the best soul food.

Chef Lavinia McCoy and Betty-Joyce Chester-Tamayo faced off for the soul food showdown with two recipes each: one batch of their famous macaroni and cheese, respectively, and another dish of their own.

PHOTO: Chef Lavinia McCoy and Betty-Joyce Chester-Tamayo at the soul food showdown for "Good Morning America."

Chef Lavinia McCoy and Betty-Joyce Chester-Tamayo at the soul food showdown for “Good Morning America.”

ABC News

McCoy represented her business, Gourmet Soul and Catering based in St. Louis, Missouri, while Chester-Tamayo brought the flavors from her Memphis, Tennessee soul food spot, Alcenia’s.

Check out their recipes below.

Macaroni & Cheese

Chester-Tamayo’s classic mac and cheese recipe uses macaroni shells and finishes in the oven for a beautifully cheesy, bubbly baked dish.

Ingredients

4 cups shell macaroni

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups evaporated milk

6 tablespoons salt (water and macaroni)

10 cups water (cover macaroni)

3 tablespoons pepper

3 cups cheese (you can use a combination of cheese blends)

1 cup pure butter or margarine

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 325 F.

Boil water and 2 tablespoons of salt. Once the water is boiling, add macaroni and cook for 15-20 minutes until tender. Use fork to test. While macaroni is boiling, beat eggs, milk, remaining salt and pepper into a sauce pan. Remove macaroni when tender. Drain and rinse in cool water. After draining take the cooked macaroni and place in a large casserole pan.

Add the butter to hot macaroni and stir. Add the cheese and stir well. Top macaroni with remaining cheese and pour milk mixture over it. Cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes in oven until done. Do not overcook.

Meatloaf

Chester-Tamayo also shared her famous meatloaf recipe with “GMA.”

Ingredients

5 pounds hamburger meat

1 cup white onions

1 cup red onions

1/2 cup green onion (about 6 stalks)

3/4 cup each orange, red, yellow and green bell peppers

3/4 cup celery (2 stalks)

1 1/2 packages French onion soup mix

6 tablespoons Mrs. Dash

5 tablespoons Greek seasoning

4 tablespoons Creole Seasoning

5 tablespoons garlic herb

5 tablespoons garlic rosemary

3 eggs

36 ounces ketchup

1 cup light brown sugar, divided

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a large 11-by-14-inch casserole dish add hamburger meat. Separate down the middle and add 3/4 of the prepared ingredients. Cut the white onions, red onions, green onions, bell peppers and celery. Add 3/4 of these ingredients to the meat and reserve remaining for the top.

In a separate bowl, mix together soup mix, Mrs. Dash, Greek seasoning, Creole seasoning, garlic herb and rosemary. Add 3/4 of the dry spice mix to the meat mixture and reserve remaining for the top. Add the eggs, 1/2 the bottle of ketchup and 1/2 cup light brown sugar. Mix meat mixture well until all ingredients are evenly distributed. Form into a loaf the length of the pan.

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ketchup and brown sugar. Pour on top of the meatloaf. Sprinkle with remaining vegetables and dry spice mix.

Bake at 325 F for 80 to 90 minutes. Remove and slice into generous slices.

Mac and Cheese

PHOTO: A bowl of homemade mac and cheese.

A bowl of homemade mac and cheese.

Gourmet Soul and Catering

Chef Lavinia McCoy’s version of the classic dish uses traditional elbow macaroni and a variety of cheeses.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 tablespoon salt

1 pound elbow macaroni

8 tablespoons (1 stick) salted butter

1 cup 3-cheese blend (Monterey Jack, mozzarella, mild cheddar)

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese – garnish

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup (8 ounces) Velveeta, cut into small cubes

1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt (Lawry’s)

Directions

In a large sauce pan or Dutch oven, place 2 cups heavy cream, 1 cup of shredded cheese (3-cheese blend), 1 cup cubed Velveeta, 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar and cover. Place in 375 F oven and bake 25 minutes.

Cook macaroni noodles per instructions on box, adding 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of salt to the water. Cook 10 minutes on medium high until al dente. Drain macaroni, pour into mixing bowl, stir in stick of butter, and add cheese sauce out of oven. Add 1/4 teaspoon seasoning salt and combine. Taste, tweak as needed.

Pour macaroni mixture in baking dish, cover with freshly grated sharp cheddar, and place in oven, uncovered, for 15 to 18 minutes, or until brown and bubbly.

WATCH: Janai Norman shares the secret to her mom’s macaroni and cheese  

ABC News Correspondent Janai Norman and her mom, Tammy, make one of their family’s favorite holiday dishes, macaroni and cheese.

Shrimp and Grits

Chefs share favorite soul food recipes to kick off for Black History Month

A plate of shrimp and grits from Gourmet Soul and Catering.

Lavinia McCoy, Gourmet Soul and Catering

McCoy’s second soul food recipe is also a southern classic dish.

Ingredients

Extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup chopped red pepper

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 cup fish stock

1 cup chicken broth

Dried basil

Old Bay seasoning

Granulated garlic powder

Granulated onion powder

Bay leaves

1 cup of 3-cheese blend (Monterey Jack, mozzarella, mild cheddar)

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 quart + 1/4 cup heavy cream

8 tablespoons (1 stick) salted butter

1 cup (8 ounces) Velveeta, cut into small cubes

Old Fashioned Grits or Quick Grits

Raw shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails off (size 16/20)

Fresh parsley, chopped (garnish)

Directions

In saute pan, drizzle olive oil and add chopped celery, onion, red peppers and green peppers. Sweat on low.

Add chicken broth, seafood or fish stock, 3 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning, 3 tablespoons granulated garlic, 3 tablespoons granulated onion, 2 tablespoons dried basil and 2 bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer on low.

In saucepan, add 1 quart heavy cream, bring to a slow boil, add cheeses, melt.

In a separate saucepan, cook grits per package instructions. Omit salt, and once cooked add 1/4 cup heavy cream; whisk.

After approximately 20 min simmering, add seafood sauce to the heavy cream mixture, stir continuously until well combined. Taste and add more Old Bay if necessary. Simmer on low until ready to plate.

In saucepan add 3 tablespoons butter, 2 teaspoons Old Bay, 2 teaspoons granulated garlic; melt and combine, then add peeled and deveined shrimp (tails off). Cook 2 minutes per side.

Add spoonfuls of grits to bowl and ladle on cream sauce. Add shrimp and garnish with dried parsley.

My 7 Favorite Cooking Tips From Cuisines Around The World

My 7 Favorite Cooking Tips From Cuisines Around The World

Finding out about a region or region’s tradition is 1 of my most important objectives as a traveler. Meals is an vital window into the tradition, so when I journey, I commonly just take cooking courses to discover far more about my destination’s regional way of lifestyle.

Even when I’m being at dwelling, I locate occasions to get cooking courses from chefs who give courses on the cuisine of their indigenous land. These classes provide prospects to develop my horizons in advance of I go and approach what I may want to expertise when I’m in the country or region. 

Listed here are seven of my preferred cooking guidelines from cuisines throughout the world that I use regularly. If you don’t travel to these locations but want to take pleasure in their food items, you are going to uncover these recommendations helpful.

Some guidelines mentioned in this report were being acquired as aspect of hosted visits, though many others I took at my have cost.

Chile rellenos

A see of the chile rellenos at La Sena

Picture credit history: Amy Piper

1. Just take Security Safeguards When Performing With Chiles

Southwestern, Mexican, Or Asian Cuisines

I mention this tip 1st, as it not too long ago slipped my head, and I experienced the implications. Cooks use chiles in quite a few cuisines about the entire world, and I don’t forget mastering this suggestion at the Santa Fe University of Cooking, where chiles are a regional preferred in cooking in the southwest United States. Whilst I enjoyed the roasted green chile-sweet corn chowder built with Hatch green chiles at La Plazuela Cafe in La Fonda on the Plaza, I ate it practically every day through my excursion. This dish spurred me to learn more about cooking with various community chiles.

Chiles are very hot simply because a compound referred to as capsaicin is in the membranes that consist of the seeds. Capsaicin is odorless and colorless but can pack a significant punch in your mouth and other sensitive parts, like your eyes. So you are going to want to stay clear of touching your eyes after functioning with chiles. The very best way to safeguard towards the burn is to don plastic gloves, watchful not to inadvertently touch your eyes or other sensitive areas. Plastic bags can function as a substitute if you really do not have gloves. Even right after working with gloves, clean your arms with cleaning soap to stay away from any difficulties.

2. Developing A Darkish Roux Usually takes Endurance

Cajun And Creole Delicacies

Roux is a mixture of fats (oil or butter) and flour, using on a range of shades, from white, blond, brown, and darkish brown. Each colour is ideal for a certain sort of dish. For example, you are going to find light-weight roux in sauces like béchamel. A dark roux is the foundation of fantastic gumbo but it usually takes tolerance.

When I was having a cooking course at the New Orleans Faculty of Cooking, one of the dishes we developed was gumbo, and the dark roux appeared to consider permanently. It might have only been about 15 to 20 minutes, but standing and constantly stirring so it did not burn off seemed like eternally.

Eventually, I would ask if it was ready, and the instructor would say, “No, preserve likely.” Then, finally, it reached the deep, flavorful brown important to a tasty gumbo.

From working experience, to have a prosperous dark roux, you need to consider the warmth small and sluggish so that it does not burn off.

Gumbo in New Orleans

A plate of gumbo in New Orleans

Image credit score: Amy Piper

3. Use The Holy Trinity

Cajun And Creole Delicacies

An additional suggestion I acquired at the New Orleans Faculty of Cooking was employing the Holy Trinity. The Trinity is a traditional mirepoix of carrots, onions, and celery. But in Cajun cooking, they adjust points up a bit and use environmentally friendly bell peppers instead of carrots as the vegetables in gumbo. This is critical simply because making use of carrots relatively than inexperienced bell peppers will change the dish’s taste, and you won’t have the identical flavor as the dish you seasoned in New Orleans. Also, dice the veggies in a uniform measurement so they will cook dinner evenly in the exact volume of time.

4. Caramelization Equals Taste

Steakhouse Cuisine

I was executing some menu planning for a little evening meal bash, and the subject of steak arrived up. My teen daughter encouraged against it, declaring, “Steak is not your greatest dish.” From then, I was identified to find out to prepare dinner a terrific steak. I attended a webinar with a few Omaha cooks and acquired some techniques to up my game.

Initial, up to 12 hours before cooking, time the steak with a liberal volume of fresh ground black pepper and salt to impart the most flavor. Then, enable the meat stand at area temperature for nearly two several hours prior to searing it.

Then, dry the steak with a paper towel to prevent excess humidity. Setting up with a dry steak allows to caramelize the steak. H2o results in it to steam and change grey.

Get the pan screaming hot. Employing oil in a sizzling solid iron skillet, sear the steak creating caramelization and a crust on the area of the steak. Building the crust will take about two and a 50 {d2b09b03d44633acb673e8080360919f91e60962656af8ade0305d5d8b7e4889} minutes on every side. Which is what creates the crust. Check out the cooking times on this chart for your desired doneness. 

At the time the steak has a nice exterior crust, enable it rest for 5 to 7 minutes. Then finish the steak in a warm oven, about 450 degrees, for about 5 minutes until you achieve the wished-for inside temperature. Finally, rest the steak for about 15 minutes — the much larger the steak, the additional relaxation time.

Seared steak

Seared steak on a plate in Omaha

Picture credit score: Amy Piper

 5. Steak Is Extra Economical When You Stretch It

Steakhouse Cuisine

Chef Colin Duggan of Kitchen Desk taught how to make steak, which is often a luxurious item, to extend, so a solitary steak can serve four or extra folks though nevertheless showing lavish.

First, make 1 steak into breakfast burritos for 4 or extra. Then, dice the steak, and stir it into cubed potatoes, scrambled eggs, some cheese, and Mexican toppings like sour product and guacamole.

Transform it into a lunch for a group by creating a Philly cheesesteak pizza. Leading the pizza dough with a gentle distribute of pizza sauce, and incorporate diced steak, tri-colored bell pepper strips, and mozzarella cheese for a delectable pizza. Alternatively, bulk that steak up with the very same substances, incorporate it to a sub roll instead of a pizza crust, and create a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. Finally, add some French fries for a complete meal.

For supper, lay sliced ribeye throughout a massive family members-sized salad, incorporate some difficult-boiled eggs for further protein, and have that for a summer time soup and salad dinner.

If you’d like to try out some other kinds of dining establishments whilst you are in Omaha, verify out this article.

Live lobsters in Nova Scotia

Live lobsters ready to be cooked with elastic bands in Nova Scotia

Photograph credit: Amy Piper

6. Clear away The Bands Just before Cooking Lobster

Nova Scotia’s Seafood Delicacies

February is peak lobster season together Nova Scotia’s South Shore. From Barrington (Canada’s Lobster Cash) to Peggy’s Cove, they celebrate these luxurious crustaceans. I used a week discovering Nova Scotia for the duration of their South Shore Lobster Crawl. When I frequented, the Kilted Chef, Alain Bossé, done a just one-hour cooking demonstration titled “Lobster 101.” I uncovered quite a few guidelines for cooking lobster throughout this session. 1 of the most crucial recommendations was that you must get rid of the rubber bands from the lobster claws prior to putting the lobster in the pot. If you don’t clear away them, the rubber imparts a rubbery taste to the lobster.

To do this devoid of the claws pinching your hand, use just one hand to cross the lobster claws, use your other hand to clear away the elastic bands, then place the lobster headfirst into the boiling h2o — cook the lobster for 12 to 15 minutes.

Cooked pasta

Cooked pasta created at the Local Epicurean in a cooking class in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Picture credit score: Amy Piper

7. Include Salt But Not Oil To Pasta Drinking water

Italian Delicacies

For the duration of a cooking class at The Neighborhood Epicurean in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we learned to insert salt to the drinking water to taste like the ocean, but not oil. Adding oil to the water prevents the sauce from sticking to the pasta. 

Then remove the pasta from the pot applying a slotted spoon alternatively than draining it, or you’ll shed the coveted pasta water down the drain. I’ve done this on much more than just one occasion, leaving me devoid of the starchy addition to my sauce. Instead, reserving the salty pasta water provides flavor to the dish and permits you to modify the sauce’s consistency.

Melissa Clark Talks “Dinner in One” and Her Favorite Kitchen Tools

Melissa Clark Talks “Dinner in One” and Her Favorite Kitchen Tools

The pandemic reignited a lot of people’s love for cooking. And it was easy to maintain our sourdough starters and take on days-long culinary projects as our social calendars sat empty and we worked from home. While the love for cooking has remained, commuting, travel and social engagements have returned, meaning we have less time and energy to whip up that homemade meal — and tackle the cleanup that comes with it — than we did two years ago.

As someone who cooks for a living, Melissa Clark feels our pain, which is why she was inspired to write Dinner in One: Exceptional & Easy One-Pan Meals. Each recipe in the book can be made in less than one hour, and they’ve been streamlined to require only one pan, pot or skillet during the cooking process. “[During the pandemic], I went from cooking dinner four or five times a week to cooking three meals a day, every day,” Clark says. “The dishes piled up, and I started to resent them. So cooking became a puzzle — how to make the most delicious food to sooth and satisfy, but how not to make myself crazy with dishes at the end of the meal.”

I myself have always loved cooking, but it became the daily habit I wanted it to be during the pandemic. Exchanging recipes with family and friends became a weekly ritual to keep things exciting and fresh. One particular friend told me I had to read Clark’s Dinner in French and sent me a copy. That’s when I became a devotee to Clark’s recipes, cooking through her ode to France and as many of her NYT dishes as humanly possible. And after making an abundance of her meals, I can say that her recipes are about as foolproof and delicious as they come. 

Dinner in One has tons of options for modification, whether you want to substitute a different ingredient or even make certain recipes vegan. Many even have a note on how to “Veg It Up,” which gives you a chance to pack the dish with vegetables. “Baby spinach!,” Clark said when asked about her personal favorite way to add more veggies. “I add it everywhere, pre-washed, straight from the box into the soup-stew-chili pot. And I’ll roast any veggie that will let me. Having a side of roasted veggies goes with everything, especially if you’re turning the oven on anyway — might as well stick a pan of cut-up, oiled vegetables in there, too.”

The 10 Best New Cookbooks of 2022

Clark is an expert in one-pot cooking, so we asked her about the other multi-purpose kitchen tools she can’t live without.

Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester Grater with a black handle

Microplane

Microplane

“A microplane for garlic, ginger and citrus zest is such a great way to add flavor quickly, and then you can toss it into the dishwasher.”

Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester Grater ($16.99)

Cuisinart 5-Ply Stainless Steel Sauté Pan With Lid

Cuisinart

Deep Pan With Cover

“I also love a deep, 10-inch sauté pan with a cover, which I can use for sautéing and also for making pasta sauces (and pastas!), stews, braises and even small batches of soup. The high sides make it more practical and multifunctional than a slope-sided skillet.”

Cuisinart 5-Ply Stainless Steel Sauté Pan With Lid ($89.95)

orange Escali Primo Digital Food Scale

Escali

Digital Kitchen Scale

“Once you start weighing things instead of measuring, your life gets easier and your dish load gets lighter. You don’t need cup measures for baking anymore, just add ingredients directly to the bowl. It’s so much more exact and leaves you a lot less to clean up.”

Escali Primo Digital Food Scale ($25.11)

If you’re looking for a little dinner inspiration tonight, this roasted tuna recipe from Melissa Clark’s Dinner in One is a quick, delicious meal that only requires the work of your Dutch oven.

Roasted Tuna with Brown Butter Corn, Tomatoes and Chile

Clarkson Potter

Roasted Tuna with Brown Butter Corn, Tomatoes and Chile

Ingredients
  • 1½ lbs. tuna, cut into steaks about 1-inch thick
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt, plus more as needed
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced or finely grated
  • 1 tsp. ancho chile powder (or substitute another chile powder)
  • 4 Tbsp. (½ stick) unsalted butter
  • 5 scallions, thinly sliced (white and green parts separated)
  • 2 jalapeños, seeded and diced
  • 2 cups corn kernels, fresh (from about 2 ears) or frozen and thawed
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • Lime wedges, for serving
  • Flaky sea salt, for serving

Directions
    1. Heat the oven to 325ºF. Season the tuna all over with kosher salt and black pepper. In a small bowl, combine the garlic and chile powder. Rub the mixture on the tuna and set aside while prepping the other ingredients.

    2. In a 5- or 6-quart Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the foam subsides, the milk solids turn golden brown, and it smells nutty and toasty, 2 to 4 minutes. (Watch carefully to see that it doesn’t burn.)

    3. Stir in the scallion whites and jalapeños and cook until tender and golden, 2 minutes. Add the corn, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 7 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, the ½ teaspoon kosher salt and a grind or two of black pepper. Nestle the tuna steaks into the pot and drizzle with the oil. Cover and bake until the vegetables are tender and the tuna is cooked to the desired doneness, 10 to 13 minutes for rare, 15 to 20 minutes for medium.

    4. Taste the corn and add more kosher salt and a squeeze of lime, if needed. Serve topped with the scallion greens and flaky sea salt and the lime wedges on the side.

    5. SWAP IT OUT: Thick salmon filets will work well here in place of the tuna.

    6. VEG IT UP: You can add tender greens to the corn and tomatoes. Before serving, remove the tuna steaks from the pot and tent with foil to keep them warm. Add 4 to 5 ounces (4 to 5 cups) of baby greens and stir over low heat until they wilt.

Reprinted from Dinner In One. Copyright © 2022 by Melissa Clark. Photographs copyright © 2022 by Linda Xiao. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Random House.