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I have to make a confession. I am addicted to buying things for the kitchen. From high tech kitchen gadgets to simple accessories, I have to have them all. In my defense, I do spend a lot of time in the kitchen and I do cook a lot so they do get used. Fortunately I have a large kitchen with a good work top area and lots of cupboards. If I was dropped on a deserted island without any kitchen gadgets, I must admit that I would probably struggle. It's not that I'm spoiled, I just love using them.

My kitchen is crammed with the things that I've treated myself to and I also receive kitchen gadgets as gifts. It drives my husband mad! There are basic fundamentals that I update every so often, such as the food processor and deep fryer. Now, I'm not saying that an ice cream maker is essential but it is fun, as is the yogurt maker. I love my bread maker. I can put the mixture in at bedtime and wake up to the wonderful smell of freshly baked bread. The only down side is that I put on weight because the bread is so tasty. The rice cooker is very useful too, no more sticky lumps of goo.

I like to cook dishes from around the world so my kitchen gadgets reflect that I have a pasta maker and parmesan cheese shaver. I also like Chinese food so I have a non stick wok with all the accessories and a bamboo steamer for fish and vegetables. Indian food is another of my favorites and I have a set of Balti cooking pans and bowls. Not all kitchen gadgets are the result of modern technology. One of my treasured possessions is my granite pestle and mortar. It's very efficient for crushing herbs and spices for my curries and I think it's just about unbreakable.

My Espresso coffee maker saves me in the mornings. That's one of the things I'd rescue from the house if there was a fire. I insist on the best, sharp kitchen knives and I have an electric knife sharpener. My knives sit in a knife block, including the large meat cleaver. I also have a knife with an extra thin blade for slicing salmon and ham. My other kitchen gadgets include a fruit and vegetable slicer, a juicer and a salad spinner.

Most of my friends grew out of the 1970s phase for fondue sets, but I still like them and I have a very nice cast iron one. I also like to make jam from the plums and blackberries that grow in my garden. I have the pan, thermometer and muslin strainer. You can't beat a good old fashioned egg timer for making perfect eggs. Probably the most useful of the kitchen gadgets I have is the bookshelf that holds all my recipe books!

Labels: Gadgets, Kitchen