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* * * Meal Prep Containers * * *
Yes, the lids come in a variety of colors to match your client's kitchen.
Suggest the hands-off approach of sending your client the link so it arrives
in their kitchen just in time for your cook session.
7-cup Pyrex
These 7-cup Pyrex bowls are great for prep ahead meals. I'll cook up a large risotto, then spoon it into four bowls so they're ready to heat and serve for individual lunch or dinner on the go.
2-cup Pyrex
I may have 52 of these 2-cup Pyrex bowls that hold mostly salad items. In summer, I'll prep each bowl with a different item like black beans, crumbled feta, chopped tomato, shredded lettuce, sliced olives or cilantro then for dinner, open up each one and set it on the dinner table for a salad buffet.
1-cup Pyrex
These 1-cup Pyrex storage containers are the perfect size for salad dressings or garnish. They also pack up well in kids' lunchboxes.
insulated grocery bag
This is the best quality insulated tote I've ever had. I bring it to parties, picnics, and haul groceries in it. Those lightweight grocery bags don't last long, but I anticipate this heavy duty one lasting at least ten years.
reusable baggies
Gone are the days of boxes of disposable plastic bags. Enter the new generation of reusable plastic.
FUN reusable baggies
These are much more fun for the kids than the clear plastic ones.
baggie drying rack
No more throwing them away when you're done. Now you can hang dry your reusable plastic.
reusable "paper" towels
Are you in the process of getting rid of all your disposables? Here's another new product, reusable "paper" towels.
Go from "I don't know where to begin" to running a profitable personal chef business so you have control over your own hours and income.
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* * * Kitchen Equipment Box * * *
These are my highly recommended brands.
immersion blender
You may notice this Breville immersion blender attached to my hand during half the cook session. I use it to puree marinara, vegetable soups, salad dressings, and pesto. It's way less cleanup than a food processor.
vegetable peeler
I admit, I am in love with the OXO brand. They seem to truly test their products and understand the consumer. This OXO peeler is excellent for peeling potatoes, cucumbers, and making lemon twists.
mini whisk
I love this OXO mini whisk! I use it for simple sauces on a daily basis. So cute. I've had the same one for about five years and currently shows no signs of wear.
multi-purpose grater
This six-sided Cuisipro grater is like a Swiss army knife. I can zest lemons, grate cheese, mince ginger, and mandolin slice zucchini.
knife guards
Of course I bring my own freshly sharpened knives to cook sessions. To transport them safely, I place them in these knife guards. If you're traveling anywhere with a kitchen knife, this is the minimalist way. I mean, who doesn't travel with knives, right?!
citrus juice press
You'll find yourself using this juice press more often than you think. There is a large (orange) press, medium (lemon), and small (lime). I find the sizes silly. Just get the lemon size and call it good for all three citrus fruits. If you drink cocktails at all, bonus.
mini tongs
These Tovolo mini tongs are the best! This was another one of those items I started using in someone's client, then found out how useful they were. It's the item I didn't know I needed until I had it!
meat thermometer
I have found that I do love the probe thermometer with a cord. The probe goes into the meat while the cord and brain of the thermometer can be outside the oven. Genius.
waterproof watch
I wear this Garmin Vivo watch to every cook session because of its ability to undergo lots of water splashing on it and never get phased. After a cook session, I head to the gym and can track my one-minute rest between sets. It has some other heart rate and miles tracked features as well. It's pretty amazing!
fine mesh sieve
This is my second favorite kitchen tool after the immersion blender. Behold, the OXO fine mesh sieve for rinsing rice and quinoa plus draining pasta and sauces. I've tested out numerous models and learned to never buy an off-brand sieve. Cheap sieves fail by rusting, the handle breaking, or having weird edges that catch food particles, making cleaning difficult.
meat cutting board
For cutting meat, I prefer this white plastic cutting board. The white color easily shows off any deep nicks or food stains so I know when it's time to replace. It's also dishwasher safe, bonus.
can opener
I tried out several crappy models before appreciating this OXO can opener. I added the can opener to my equipment box when I began to encounter those crazy Swiss-style can openers that I can't figure out!
masher
This Tovolo silicone masher is the brain behind guacamole mashing, refried beans, and of course, mashed potatoes. I love all things silicone, so easy to clean. The Tovolo brand is known for its fun colors.
temperature stable cup
Not in the equipment box, but in my car awaits a Yeti temperature-controlled giant glass of ice water. I get really parched after a long cook session and this thing saves my day.
vegetable cutting board
I always carry a bamboo cutting board for vegetables. I love how this one can be personalized! I'm already planning on who to gift it to next.
labeling Sharpies
For labeling Pyrex containers, I place a strip of masking tape on the top and fill out the label with a fine-point black Sharpie. The fine point makes for a more legible of name of the dish and date.
all-purpose spoon
Tovolo makes such quality products that this spoon will last years and quickly become your favorite all-purpose utensil as well. There's on in my equipment box and one in my kitchen drawer.
measuring spoons
Rather than those annoying measuring spoons on a ring, these OXO measuring spoons snap together, so one can be used without having to watch the entire group. Great invention!
non-abrasive sponges
Abrasive sponges can scratch expensive appliance surfaces, so it's important to bring along non-abrasive sponges like these from Scotch-Brite.
container labeling tape
Your container labels need to be sticky enough to adhere to the food container, but not so sticky the client is annoyed with your choice of tape. Scotch is my preferred brand as the cheaper brands do not stick to containers and instead get lost in the frig.
Go from "I don't know where to begin" to running a profitable personal chef business so you have control over your own hours and income.
Learn More aboutthe Meal Prep Business Course
* * * Items in my own Kitchen * * *
I don't bring these items to cook sessions with me, but do find them really handy at home. Some of these items I may have learned about from someone else's kitchen then bought one for myself, ha!
pots and pans set
I personally find All Clad to be the absolute best brand for pots and pans. There are many different finishes, but the best are the tri-ply and five-ply. This is the tri-ply set and has all the pots you'll need for a proper dinner. Feel free to burn away then watch the residue wipe right out without soaking or scrubbing.
non-stick pans
These carbon steel pans by Lodge have the perfect surface for cooking omelets and most anything that can be cooked in a skillet other than citrus. You will fall in love too.
casserole baking dish
This is a must-have in your kitchen for winter. Le Creuset is the best quality. I have tried other brands and they often need replacement after two to five years. Once you have one of these, you'll find yourself using it daily and wonder how you lived this long without it.
high-speed blender
Before the Vitamix, I had a pretty amazing Oster blender, but had to kick that to the curb when I discovered how this high-powered motor can puree salad dressings made with nuts as well as truly make my smoothies smooth. There is so much you can do in the Vitamix. Between my hand blender and this guy, my kitchen appliance life is complete.
air fryer/sous vide/rice cooker/crockpot...
I kicked my crockpot to the curb after discovering this air fryer that can do it all. After a few uses of this 9-in-One Air Fryer , I may get rid of my stove/oven next...
toaster oven
My new best friend, the Cuisinart Convection & Toaster Oven. Gone are the days of microwaving and here to stay are the days of the speed convection oven.
coffee grinder
A proper Americano starts with a proper grinder. Coffee in our house is no joke. This Mazzo Luigi coffee grinder is proof.
kitchen compost bin
We're trying to save the plant over here and this compost bin is my go to for that purpose. I forego the bags, however, and just rinse between uses. Even if you dump the contents behind a bush in the backyard, you are helping the ecosystem and keeping the deer away from your blooming flowers.
salad dressing container
Obviously this salad dressing shaker is not in my equipment box, but after seeing it at a client's house, I feel like everyone should have at least two! The lid sits airtight for easy shaking and then tilts to pour from the angled nozzle. It's good quality, easy to clean, and holds about 1.5 cups of dressing. Yum.
dishtowel wall hooks
These are the cutest buddy hooks. The plastic guys screw into the wall and can hold your potholder, dish towels, or just be decorative.
garlic keeper
Garlic, potatoes and onions should always be kept in your cupboard, never in the refrigerator. This is a fantastic little garlic keeper that looks cute on your shelf too.
food storage clips
You always need chip clips! These are handy for the usual - chips, crackers, cookies, all the stuff that you push to the back of the cupboard so they don't tempt you.
oyster knife
Mmmm, oysters. Shucking them, however, is not fun. This oyster knife does the job though!
quality dishtowels
These European-made dishtowels are heavenly. Thick, professional-grade, super absorbent and 100% cotton. Of course they come in a rainbow of colors.
slotted spoon
This silicone spatula is my number one kitchen tool at home and in my portable tool box. I love this spatula! If I'm in my home kitchen, it's likely in my hand.
slotted spatula
This Tovolo slotted spatula is in daily use at my house for frittatas, quesadillas and turning everything over in the oven. It is silicone so won't scratch your precious cookie sheets and pans.
mortar and pestle
This is a non-porous, natural granite mortar and pestle set for grinding herbs, spices, nuts and seeds to release their full flavor and aroma. I can smell the basil pesto already.
measuring spoons
There's nothing worse than measuring spoons on a ring! You use one and then have to wash the whole stack. These magnetic measuring spoons are great for stacking and storing. There are other magnetic measuring spoons on the market, but I highly recommend choosing a name brand. I've tried some of the generic brands and after a few washings, the magnetic label falls off. Fail.
measuring cups
You know I love the OXO brand. These are the highly recommended quality measuring cups.
baking mats
These silicone baking mats are the best invention. I place one atop a cookie sheet to protect it from stains and unnecessary scrubbing. Once out of the oven, just wipe clean with minimal mess.
electric citrus juicer
Making cocktails was never more fun after purchasing this Breville Motorized Citrus Press. I spotted this model behind a bar one night and the next night (thanks to Amazon overnight shipping) it was in our kitchen making margaritas.
bar equipment
I do have to get off work at some point and this OXO bar set is just the perfect high quality set I prefer. Just add ice.
cocktail shaker
The weight of this cocktail shaker is ideal. Cocktail Kingdom puts out amazingly good quality products. Without these, there would be no happy hour at my house.
corkscrew
I spotted this corkscrew at a client's house and went home to order it for myself! After breaking so many, it was nice to find a great quality one for under $10.
coupe glasses
The perfect coupe glass is essential to the perfect cocktail. I enjoy the weight of this this particular glass. It's just begging for the addition of liquid intelligence.
dinner plates
I prefer presenting my dishes on white plates to let the food be the star. These Cordon Bleu dinner plates are the best quality I've found. I may have the whole set!
bowls
I love the subtle design imprinted in these white Jamie Oliver bowls. They're the perfect size for breakfast cereal, soup and actually most of our weeknight dinners.
salad dressing pitcher
Matchy matchy my white dish fetish is this Cordon Bleu salad dressing pitcher. Assemble-your-own salad buffet is a weekly theme in this home. I say, let the colors of the food shine on white dishes.
Go from "I don't know where to begin" to running a profitable personal chef business so you have control over your own hours and income.
Learn More aboutthe Meal Prep Business Course
* * * Kitchen Gifts * * *
holiday gifts, hostess gifts, birthday gifts, and gifts Just Because
stand mixer
This Kitchenaid stand mixer had me at the beautiful color.
sous vide
Just vacuum seal the filet mignon in plastic pouches, then heat slowly in a temperature-controlled water bath. Behold the Sous Vide, but I like that this one is half the size of other sous vide machines, small enough to fit in a drawer. Works with iPhone and Android.
decanter
Waterford decanter that can be personalized with my initials so everyone knows, hands off!
chopsticks
LED Lightsaber chopsticks!!! Maybe these should be on my wish list instead of the kids' section. Hmmm
cookie cutters
Unicorn cookie cutters! I'm imagining how cute these would be at a unicorn themed party. Yes!!!
tea bag
I may or may not own this unicorn tea bag holder. Not sayin.
oven mitts
Protect those cute little hands with these Mickey Mouse oven gloves. So cute. I wonder if they come in adult size.
blanket
Cutest thing ever! I'm already looking forward to the next picnic on this portable waterproof blanket.
appetizer platter
This memorable handcrafted ceramic appetizer platter can hold so many different treats. The recipient is going to be delighted!
serving platter
Guess what to put on this platter? Martha Stewart makes a pretty good quality turkey serving plate.
decorative bowls
You can't help but be a good mood while eating out of these colorful serving bowls. Six Annovero porcelain bowls are included in the set.
chef knife
What chef wouldn't drool over this carbon steel Wusthof knife.
tea kettle
What tea love wouldn't be fascinated with this Aldo Rossi tea kettle. The simplicity of the design has me and the fact that it's Italian art.
taco holder
Yes, it's the nachosaurus and the tacosaurus. You may have heard they were extinct, but indeed I found them online.
bento box
For kids or adults, behold the portable bento box. It's BPA-free with removable compartments, leak proof, and has kid-friendly latches. Yes please!
ceramic non-stick bake ware
I love this new ceramic cooking discovery. No need for sprays or muffin liners, just bake naked and your muffins slide out with each. This Greenlife ceramic baking set is my preferred brand.
ceramic griddle pan
When you want to wake up in the morning and scream "Pancakes!" this pan is it for mini cakes that don't stick. And, it's in my fav color.
ceramic pots and pans
If you're looking for a full non-stick kitchen, this set is ideal in price and size. It would make a great "welcome to your first apartment" gift.
stylish crockpot
Yep all these ceramic products come in soft pink as well!. Design your entire kitchen to be matchy matchy.
Go from "I don't know where to begin" to running a profitable personal chef business so you have control over your own hours and income.
Learn More aboutthe Meal Prep Business Course
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