Toddler Cafe - Jennifer Carden [8]
small cookie scoop * This is a tool I use in many of the recipes in this book because it makes even-sized balls of dough or meat and keeps your hands clean.
good-quality nonstick pan * This will make your time in the kitchen much faster, and cleanup will be much easier. Get the best quality you can afford. As my friend Michelle says, “When you’re trying to pass off those black flakes as pepper, it is time for a new pan”—not to mention that we shouldn’t be eating that stuff!
apple corer * Stop trying to cut out the hard part of the apple. Use a corer and make your life easier. Pop out the center of the apple, core and all. It also works nicely as a small extra cookie cutter.
apple wedger * This tool cuts an apple into perfect wedges and cores at the same time.
box grater * Usually a three- or four-sided tool for shaving or grating vegetables and cheese; perfect for grating fresh nutmeg or chocolate.
skewers or popsicle sticks * You be the judge: Is your child ready for sharp, pointy objects? If you show them how to respect them and that they are not toys, then maybe? You can pick up lollipop and Popsicle sticks at kitchen supply stores and in many craft stores. Try putting bites of food on small fancy toothpicks or short skewers.
zip-top bags * Fill them with pipeable foods such as nut butter or mashed potatoes, cut one corner off, and squeeze. Perfect for drawing designs, frosting, filling ice cube trays, or for condiments.
cheese slicer • This tool is super when you buy block cheese; it makes perfect slices every time.
vegetable peeler • Other than the obvious, this can be used on raw veggies to make ribbons. One of my favorite uses is on hard butter to get easy-to-spread slices, or on block cheese to make perfect curls every time.
small strainer spoon or spider * Find these at kitchen supply stores or at an Asian market. They are small and perfect for poached eggs or pulling gnocchi out of boiling water.
bench scraper * A flat stainless steel or plastic tool for scraping bread dough or chopped vegetables off the cutting board. Also handy for cutting dough such as gnocchi.
pantry essentials & smart shopping (don’t be caught with your cupboards bare!)
I am not going to tell you to totally reorganize your kitchen. I’m sure you have enough to do already and, unless you are ready to hire a professional organizer, I bet it’s not going to happen. Luckily, there are a few things you can do that will help streamline your time in the kitchen.
A well-stocked pantry is going to make you feel ready for anything. You should be able to see everything you have or your creativity won’t flourish. Your brain is full of things like scheduling play dates and how much more garbage you can pack into the can before you really have to take it out. You want food fast, and this will make it easier for you.
First, use the shopping list in the back of this book. Make a bunch of photocopies to help you stay organized. Put it up near your pantry on a clipboard with a pen; if your pen is missing, you will never use the list. Write down items you need as you finish the food or as you are tossing out the empty container. Train other members of your family to write down foods as they finish them, too. This way you won’t have to keep it all in your head or try to write a list on scraps of old paper while driving to the store.
The categories on the list are arranged by grocery aisle and can cut your shopping time down, especially if you are shopping with kids in tow. I know you don’t want to go back to the store tomorrow! It can also help you remember what you have bought in the past. If you get in a rut, you can just look back at your old lists and see what ingredients you bought two months ago, but you have to save the lists! You will also have a stocked pantry of items to choose from so your meals will be right at the tip of your fingers. After you stock up, see if you can make a dish using this book as a guide and inspiration without having to go to