Molly and I thought it could be of help to you and your valentine this year to suggest a few kitchen essentials to make that romantic February 14th even more special. Cue the garlic press…

Here is a roundup of some of my necessary kitchen items that will not only help you prepare the perfect meal for that perfect someone, but will assist you in being a better cook year round.

Microplane – is worth the small investment! (Besides citrus zest and parmesan cheese, it’s also great for grating garlic) Amazon

Liquid measuring cup (I like the 4 cup size as it’s versatile. It can act as a mixing bowl for simple recipes). Macys

Garlic press (saves time and prevents your cutting board from getting garlicky).Amazon

One large sauté pan 10-12 inches (Calphalon or All-Clad are good options). Bed, Bath & Beyond

Small serrated knife (Victorinox, super sharp and gets things sliced easily, like tomatoes). FSW

One small ceramic, non-stick pan for eggs ONLY. Amazon

Tongs. Amazon

Mixing bowls of various sizes. Williams-Sonoma

Measuring spoons. Bed, Bath & Beyond

One medium saute pan. Williams-Sonoma

One chef’s knife (6-8 inch blade. I like Japanese brands like Misono or Suisin). Hocho Knife

Dry measuring cups. Sur La Table

Swiss vegetable peeler. Cutlery & More

One large heavy bottomed pan (like Le Creuset or cast iron). Williams-Sonoma

Spider (great tool for taking pasta from a pot or for blanching vegetables). Amazon

---

Molly England earned her master’s degree in social work at The University of Edinburgh. She currently lives in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband and their three children. She is a devoted blogger and a passionate Certified Bradley Method® Natural Childbirth Educator. In 2015 Molly founded Bluebonnet Babies, a virtual hub providing products and resources based on evidence, research, experience and love to parents making healthy and informed choices. Blogging enables Molly to achieve her goal of empowering families across the globe as they navigate pregnancy to parenthood. Her work has appeared in Holistic Parenting Magazine, the Pathways to Family Wellness Blog and more. She recently began freelance writing and is featured in Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine’s February Issue. Visit Molly England’s website Bluebonnet Babies.

Claire Handleman has been a chef in New York for 10 years, working at some of the city’s best restaurants. She previously worked on ABC’s Emmy-award winning show The Chew as an assistant producer and participated in Food Network’s Chopped competition…and won. Claire has been traveling the world for the past dozen years but focuses a majority of her time in South-East Asia. She has come to regard Thailand as a second home and spends many months each year learning Thai cuisine. She is currently working on a book with the hopes of sharing the incredible cuisine her Thai friends have shared with her. While she travels and works, she shares stories, recipes and travel tips on her blog Passport to Eat.