We all get by with a little help from our friends, and The Pickup Line is no exception. Meet Melissa, our recipe guru, who's here to make sure your dinners are easy, delicious and good for you too! Melissa has a passion for family meal planning (she's been our go-to on what to cook for years now), so we got a little nosy and asked her how she makes it all happen. Below is her list of kitchen must-haves:
Dutch Oven: It's a vital part of my kitchen! I use it ALL THE TIME to prepare big family meals. It's fantastic for stews, soups and so much more!
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Global Knives: Huge on my wishlist! The handles are simply amazing. The knives are light and they cut to perfection! Go for the gusto and get the full set or start with just one!
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Wood Cutting Board: Every kitchen needs one! I use it EVERY DAY!
Vitamix Blender: This is my all-time number one appliance. In my house we use the Vitamix every day for a variety of recipes ranging from morning smoothies, to soups, and sauces. My kids are very comfortable using it as well! My favorite feature aside from its efficiency is it self-cleaning! The best money ever spent!!!
Microplane Zester: This microplane is the perfect size for any piece of citrus. The handle is very comfortable.
Breville Juicer: It is quick, and gets rid of all the pulp leaving you with a smooth juice each time no matter what fruit or vegetable I have used.
Chef'n FreshForce Citrus Juicer: My favorite appliance of all!! This makes juicing all citrus so easy and gets every last drop of juice out! Best part no pits!!! Ever!!!
All-Clad Slow Cooker: This one has a non-stick insert that you can use on the stove to brown meat and then transfer into the cooker. I love how it automatically switches to the warming option when it finishes.
Cuisinart Food Processor: I love that I can quickly and easily meal prep with this processor. The tube feed at the top makes it easy to incorporate liquid ingredients into the recipe.
ChefLand Bowls: These stacking bowls have a great variety of sizes for all different recipes. Easy to stack and put away.
KitchenAid Stand Mixer: A classic -- couldn't imagine baking without it.
Pyrex Measuring Cup: I like the 4-cup option vs. smaller measuring cups because it allows me to use it for more of a variety of measurements within the same recipe or going between different recipes. A lot of soups and sauces call for larger liquid measurements so this makes it more convenient.
Silpat Silicone Baking Mat: This is a great nonstick reusable baking sheet that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes allowing it to be used in different places. You can use the gooiest of ingredients and it won’t stick!!
Oxo Steel Salad Spinner: I've stopped buying pre-washed greens and started washing them on my own. This spinner gets the water out quickly, and I love the sturdy, stainless bowl.
Philips Air Fryer: Like food that's crispy on the outside and tender inside? That's what an air fryer can do! Great for salmon too. Oh, the possibilities!
