One of my favourite kitchen gadgets next to my knives is a Hand Blender. If you do not have one then it really is a must. It is so versatile for making sauces and blending soups that I couldn’t be without mine.

I use a Braun, and I have got loads of attachments for it from ice breakers to whisks. But to be honest I use it mostly for blending soup and sauce in the pot, and don’t need to take it out, into a liquidiser and then back to a pot.



If you have not got one then get one, you will wonder how you were able to live without it before.



I have put a few on the Amazon shop for you to look at, they don’t cost much, and are a god send. I know many chef use them too so they can’t be that bad if Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey have one.

What you need in the kitchen - A good set of knives

I have always said it and will keep saying it to everyone i know. the best thing to have in the kitchen is a good set of knives.



I do not know about you, but how many times have you been away to a self catering apartment only to find the knives in the drawer are blunt. Cutting onions is like trying to use a brick to dig the garden.



So a good set of stainless steel knives are king in the kitchen.



I would recommend three, a pairing knife, a boning knife and a large chef’s knife as a minimum. I also have a number of others I use but these are the minimum I would recommend.



I have tried to put them on the shop, and looked for the best value possible. Do not buy cheep knives as it is not worth the money. I spent nearly £100 on three knives and a sharpener over 18years ago and they are still as good as they were new.