Most Useful

"Do not eat after 7PM! Eat lots of plain toast and pasta! Avoid raw vegetables! No gluten! No dairy! Eat only fruit before 10AM!"

With a diagnosis and (healthy) recommended diet, I jumped off the dizzy-making food-go-round. I simplified my repertoire of meals and got serious about cooking gear.

My pick for Most Useful kitchen purchase of 2007 is the 12" Le Creuset® skillet - we use it 1-3 (or more) times every day. It took some time to get used to the weight of this cast iron baby; indeed my wrist still aches after a vigorous sautée--oh, why I don't use our All Clad® stainless pan for sautée? Proper choice or not, I've simply assigned my loyalty to another.

A close second place for Most Useful is the 7" Wüsthof Santoku. That knife outsharps all others--except its Very Useful paring companion.

Did you make any noteworthy investments in your kitchen last year?