Household Products I Can't Live Without
Being of the hyper-organized descent and intolerant of clutter in any variety, I am very particular about the household products I bring into my home. Anything that isn't put to use on a regular basis or doesn't drastically improve the quality of life for my family is headed straight for the chopping block. As a want-t0-be minimalist, gift-giving can be one of the most challenging tasks as I strongly dislike giving gifts that add clutter or don't provide some sort of solution for the recipient. Here you will find my round up of the products I am using and loving in my home that also make useful, practical and functional gifts for any homeowner. Let's start with those in the kitchen!
Nespresso Creatista Espresso & Coffee Maker. I have had a Keurig coffee maker in my house for years, but the truth is, I regularly find myself wandering over to Starbucks for a latte. The Creatista machine allows you the freedom to make hand crafted espresso drinks precisely to your liking while keeping the number of manipulatives relatively streamline. Plus, it just looks pretty sitting on a counter.
Stainless Steal Herb Shears. I love giving these as a gift to anyone I know who cooks at home. These make chopping herbs a synch and the included blade cover makes cleaning in between blades a painless task. The great price point makes them a perfect hostess gift.
Cuisinart Toaster. I have had this Cuisinart Toaster since I got married 13 years ago and have put it to work on the daily. The design is simple and streamline and with no digital elements, there isn't much that can go wrong with it. Easy to clean with two slide out crumb pans. The retro design makes it easy on the eyes.
Kitchenaid 5-Speed Hand Mixer. This was another item we registered for when getting married that looks as new as the day we got it despite years of use. A hand mixer is something everyone should have on hand whether you cook in your home regularly or not. At around $40, these make a nice gift and come in a rainbow of colors to accent any kitchen.
Kitchenaid Immersion Blender. As an alternative to having a large blender on your counter, I love having this handheld Immersion Blender. I use mine mainly for pureeing soups while they are still in the crock-pot but it works for smoothies too. A slim design, easy to store kitchen tool that will quickly become an essential!
OXO Jar Opener. This was another tool we received when getting married that I can't live without. Slide the mouth of the tool over whatever jar you are attempting to open. The extended handle design gives you greater range of motion making even the tightest lids unscrew with minimal effort. A lifesaver!
Kitchenaid Slow Cooker. I use my crock-pot at least once a week. I did quite a bit of research before purchasing mine as more expensive models now offer the option of searing within the slow cooker insert. While a nice bonus feature, the reviews on that newer technology were quite poor, while being priced at the top end of the spectrum at around $350 (here's the one I had been watching - it's beautiful!). At $85, this Kitchenaid model was the highest rated slow cooker by Food & Wine Magazine. I liked that it offers three different cooking temperatures (vs two like most machines).
Grapefruit Knife. Forget having to store an additional set of spoons for eating grapefruit - all you need is this crazy handy tool for prepping your grapefruit. One end features a rounded blade that contours perfectly to the outer edge of the grapefruit. On the other end, the double blade allows you to quickly separate slices from their skin - add a little sugar and you are good to go!
Cuisinart Mini Food Processor. While I have often considered upgrading to a full size food processor, I just don't know if I'd be as willing to pull it out if disassembling, cleaning and storing were a bigger job. This mini food processor is the perfect tool when you need an onion or almonds chopped and don't want to do it by hand. In fact, since receiving this gem of a kitchen gadget, I'm not so sure I've chopped anything by hand. The mini size means the parts don't hog all the space in your dishwasher and storing it in a regular size cabinet is easy.
Every last one of these is a product I am using and loving in my own home. I can vouch for their performance and attest to their user satisfaction. I have two more posts coming on products I can't live without in my home! In the meantime, I'd love to hear what you can't live without in your home. Tell me about them in the comments - I'm always on the hunt for more great useful and practical gift ideas!
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