Guilty. I've let my kitchen knives get dull. Yes, even me, the one who tisks at clients' dull knives. I could give you excuses, but that's all they are. A couple of years ago, I dropped my favorite Wustof 8-inch chef's knife and the tip broke. My knife sharpener reshaped it for me into a [...]

One of the guilty pleasures of house-sitting is cooking from other people’s pantries. There can be disasters such as the time I baked bread with rancid flour. And there can be delightful surprises—a tin of hot Spanish paprika, unusual vinegars, and specialty olive oils. It's summer; vegetables and fruits abound, especially when staying in Sonoma [...]

With a jar of black bean hot sauce in the pantry, I am only a microwaved potato or a bowl of noodles away from a quick and healthy snack or meal.

When I first stepped on a gel kitchen mat, it was love at first step. Cooking requires a lot of standing. Which is hard on the feet and legs. Good fatigue mats provide great cushioning and, in my opinion, every kitchen should have one.

When my kitchen scale stopped working, I panicked. I'm not sure I know how to cook without one.

A powerful blender makes great smoothies, sure, but it also makes quick work of tomato sauce, chili sauce, pureed soups, vegetable and herb purees. It even grinds grain into flour or sprouted wheat berries to fold into nutritious breads.

Good anchovies make food for the gods. Poor quality anchovies=cat food.

Is the chicken done roasting? The bread baked? The custard cooked? There are millions of culinary occasions when you need fast, accurate temperatures.

These small, super-sharp mandolines are so easy to use and store that they quickly become indispensible.

This salt will turn a plain dish into something extravagant.