I was just reading an article about up and coming chefs in San Francisco, and the reporter asked each of the chefs what they can't live without in the kitchen. Melissa Chou of Aziza (which my sister and her partner recently visited and said it is phenomonal!) nominated her Dad's old radio as her indispensable kitchen item. Louis Maldonado of Cafe Majestic says he would be lost without his Masamoto knife. And Justin Simoneaux of the Moss Room says preserved lemons are his go-to ingredient.

So I have been thinking - what are my essentials in the kitchen?

My Kitchenaid mixer. A group of friends bought this for me as a going away present when I moved to Australia back in 2001. This mixer came all the way Down Under with me, and then all the way back to the U.S. last year. It has mixed up countless birthday cakes, batches of cookies, weekend muffins, wedding cakes, pizza dough...and the design is so classic that it cheers me up just to look at it.

Furi knives. Furi was started by an Aussie mechanical engineer, and they make incredible knives that feel great in the hand and stay sharp for ages. I also just got the most gorgeous new knife for my birthday this year (thanks Chris!). It was made by a Japanese company that has been making samurai swords for 700 years. This knife is truly a thing of beauty, and wicked sharp!

Cast iron skillets. They are cheap, they can go from the stove top to the oven, and they just get better with age. What more do you want?

Good salt. The most important ingredient in any recipe, from cookies to meat pies. Most commercial salt in the US is stripped of all of its minerals - and therefore unique flavor and nutrition. There are so many amazing salts on the market now. When we lived in Australia I loved to use Murray River pink salt. I also love French gray sea salt, it has such a lovely silver color and amazing, deep mineral flavor.

A glass of wine. Ok, I promise I don't drink when I am baking meat pies for PPC, but when I am home preparing dinner for Chris and I, I just love sipping on a good glass of wine. It is such a wonderful feeling to putter around the kitchen, radio on, working with great ingredients and enjoying a drink after a hard day's work!