What can’t you do without in the kitchen??

Having been creating Award Winning Breakfasts in the B&B here for many years now, there are a few things that I just couldn’t live without. A tad drastic a statement, you may say, but some of these items, I would struggle to produce the award winning breakfasts we have become so well known for.

My Top Five

1. Silicone Griddle Pad

This is a life saver–we use it on the cooler top ring on the Aga, and here, oil free, we can cook eggs and pancakes, we can crisp up bacon and brown off tomatoes. We also use another type of silicone sheet to keep the Aga lid clean, but I can live without if needs be, by replacing that by a tea towel!

2. Apple Corer & Peeler

Who knew there was such an invention! I stumbled across one of these just this year, but it has made our life here much easier!

We like to make lots of homemade chutneys with all the homegrown we have-=between out trees here and the ones down the lane at our neighbours, we have bags and bags of apples for making lots of lovely different types of chutney. One of my favourites is an apple & date chutney and I do try to make them all without refined sugar, some use dates, others Xylitol, just to mix it up a bit.

This contraption, peels and cores and slices in one go-a marvellous invention. If I was super critical, it peels fairly thickly, so you’re left with apple spaghetti! As long as you’re quick, you can chop this up and add to a salad for a little sweetness, I do hate to throw any food away!

Here’s a Facebook Live I did when I trialled it for the first time–have fun!

3. A Breadmaker

Although we make artisan breads by hand and then cook these in the Aga–the more common loaf-the basic white and wholemeal loaf, that we go through plenty of, we do make these in a breadmaker. This means we can get on with all the other thigs we need to cook whilst the breadmaker is taking care of itself. Over the years, we have gone through a few models, we are currently using a Panasonic, which is doing a great job for us, and with it being a more upmarket make, spare parts are readily available.

And why I love making bread?? The same reason as why I love making other things-you know what you’re putting in it, you know what you’re eating and that way you can make sure you’re eating as healthily as possible. As an example, our sourdough loaf has 3 ingredients in it, one supermarket loaf of bread I looked at the other day, had 32 ingredients on the back of it, some of which I didn’t recognise as food at all!

4. An Egg Boiler

Maybe an extra gadget in some households, but for us here, not having to keep an eye on eggs boiling when you’re busy cooking other things is a relief. This little gadget, not expensive, will cook your eggs to the desired consistency-hard, soft or medium, and buzzes once the eggs are ready for perfect eggs & soldiers-just writing this is making me fancy that now! and of course, for me, it’s gluten free bread, for my soldiers!

5. Garlic/Ginger& Parmesan Grater

Something that looks like a saucer that you’d put olives in to pick at, is one of my favourite gadgets. This nobbly saucer grates all of the above–no peeling garlic, just rub it on the nobbles. No peeling Ginger-just rub away and parmesan is just as simple, and what’s great, is that it doesn’t take up much space at all. A great find, and we now sell these here at Fields Lodge, so if you want one, just email me!

What are the gadgets you can’t live without? I could quite easily list a few more without thinking too long!

Let me know, I’d love to hear from you.

Happy Cooking!

Email me with your pictures or questions at info@fieldslodge.co.uk

To read more about life in Fields Lodge click here