Cooking Tools

A few other tools I love:

• Le Creuset Dutch Oven
• Wooden spoons & spatulas
• Really good sharp knives

I am a crazy, clean freak, but I don't mind because it makes me happy! So, it is not a surprise that I like to clean as a cook because there is nothing worse than cooking for hours, eating for minutes, and having to clean for another few hours. And there is no way I can just leave the mess. 

When I start cooking, I will pull out all of my tools needed to cook. Then, I will prep my food. As soon as I get through my prep work, I will clean up the kitchen before I start cooking. While I am cooking, I clean or do whatever dishes I can to keep up with the mess, even if it's just wiping the counter. 

Keeping up with the mess and cleaning up after each step along the way will make cleaning after dinner so much easier!

There are a few ingredients that I will always have on hand. If I am not feeling the meal I have planned, my go-to ingredients are always in my kitchen, and I can make pretty much anything my family and I love. 

• #1 Must-Have - GARLIC! I am so in love with garlic and anything with garlic in it!
• Lemons - They are so bright and fresh that they can be used in just about anything, including water! 
• Chicken - Chicken is my favorite protein, and I can cook with it for every meal for the rest of my life. 
• Chicken broth - It's just a must
• Panko breadcrumbs - Thank you to my daughter for getting me away from regular breadcrumbs and giving me the love of Panko breadcrumbs! 
• Olive Oil - It's a must!