Holiday Kitchen Checklist to Equip Your Kitchen

If you're planning on entertaining friends and family at any time this Holiday Season, there are a few things you would be smart to invest in. You may or may not already have some of these items in your kitchen, but with some things, it is always smart to have more than one of that same item. For instance, imagine trying to make a full dinner with only one baking dish, one mixing bowl or one pot holder.

Here are some items to consider while you're in the planning stage of your menu:

• A 10-inch chef knife and a serrated bread knife - These are great items for slicing meat and freshly baked yeast or fruit & nut breads.

• A cutting board - Wood is the preferred cutting surface of most chefs. However, many folks prefer plastic, because wood tends to hold onto smells and germs and bacteria - especially when working with meats, poultry, onions or garlic.

• One Teflon pan - It's versatile enough to use if you're planning on sautéeing and/or frying.

• One 4-quart pot: Use it to boil pasta, potatoes or even a small chicken.

• A pair of tongs - The 8" ones are easier to handle than the long ones, and can be used to avoid the fork and spoon method of dishing out salad, and the stainless steel tongs can also pull kitchen or grill duty.

• A toaster - Just one kitchen item that you can't do without any time of the year!

• A good cookbook - Try "The Joy of Cooking" or a Betty Crocker cookbook. Gives you great recipe ideas, alternatives and preparation tips.

• A 4-cup measuring cup and measuring spoons - Approximation is not always the best way when following recipes. These two items come in very handy any time you're in the kitchen.

• Mixing bowls, potholders, oven mitts and extra baking dishes - You can never have enough of these. It's very hard to make a dinner for guests if you only have one of each of these items.

• An immersion blender - This hand-held gadget allows you to whip up smoothies, milkshakes or even frozen cocktails in a jiffy, and it's much more versatile and less messy than a conventional blender.

• An oven thermometer/timer: Great items so you don't over-cook and burn your food. There's nothing worse than a dry turkey, roast or ham as your main course!

• A stockpot with strainer: The 15-quart pot with a stainless steel interior and a strainer is great for making pasta and boiling your potatoes.

• Bottle, wine and can openers - Don't get caught without these at Holiday time (or during football season!), since many folks like to indulge in a drink or two this time of year.

• Coffee mugs - For after dinner coffee or tea, make sure you have some extras on hand.

• Cookie sheets - Use for cookies, yeast breads, biscuits, dinner rolls or store-bought frozen appetizers and finger food that you have to heat up in the oven.

• Dish towels - Dishwasher in the kitchen or not, you still will need a couple of towels to atleast wipe your hands off as you cook.

• Pie server - Someone slaved away in the kitchen for a picture perfect pie (or your local bakery did). Don't mess up the presentation by trying to serve it with a fork!

• Salt and pepper shakers - Yeah, enough said.

• Splatter screen - If you do a little frying during the Holidays, the splatter screen will protect your other pots and pans on the stove from popping grease - not to mention there will be less mess on your stovetop and counter.

• Serving spoons - Each dish or side should have its own spoon. Your food will eventually wind up all mixed together in your belly, but for presentation's sake, don't mix your sweet potatoes with your green beans with your baked macaroni and cheese because you don't have more than one serving spoon.

Okay, so now you have your list, but were to shop? Take a look at these stores online, at the local mall or local shopping center:

• Bed Bath and Beyond: Bedbathandbeyond.com

• The Cook's Warehouse: Cookswarehouse.com

• Cost Plus World Market: Worldmarket.com

• Dollar Tree: Dollartree.com

• Linens 'N Things: Lnt.com

• Target: Target.com

• Wal-Mart: Walmart.com

If you're in the Atlanta area, you can also try:

• Restaurant Equipment Market: 3639 Presidential Parkway,. Doraville, 770-455-0069

• Southeast Fixtures: 5404 New Peachtree Road, Chamblee, 770-455-8889

Hope these tips to equip your kitchen for Holiday duty have helped. Happy Shopping!