SHOP: Wilton Giant Cupcake Cake Pan

I have dreamed of making something like this, but my attempt was going to be a freehand cake sculpture. However, I need not worry about how to do it, because Wilton has come out with a two-piece cake mold in the shape of my favorite dessert, the cupcake!

Made of cast aluminum, it features a reflective, non-stick surface for quick release, and can stand heat up to 450 degrees. Available at Sur La Table for $27.95 MSRP

TIPS: The Basic Kitchen

When I first moved into my apartment, I was bewildered by the thought of having to buy everything necessary to cook in my own place. My mom always had a crazy amount of cooking supplies in her kitchen, as we did, at one time, have a family restaurant in San Diego. So, in case you are wondering what makes a “basic kitchen”, here are my two cents:

Cookware:
fry pan
sauce pan
saute pan
stock pot

Recommended: Stainless steel or stainless with copper bottom

Cutlery
Chef’s knife
Bread knife
Paring knife

Recommended: High end knives like Henckels or Wusthof, as they have good weight and balance, and can be sharpened back to perfection, or one of the new Santoku knives that are lighter weight and are honed evenly, so no difference between left & right handedness

Cooks’ Tools
Can opener
Vegetable peeler
Wire whisk
Grater
Wooden spoons
Heat resistent spatula (silicone)
Ladle, slotted spoon, pasta fork
Corkscrew
Measuring cups & spoons
Tongs

Other supplies
Pyrex mixing bowls
Colander
Cutting board (I prefer wood)
Oven pans/baking dishes (depends on what you intend on cooking, but get a good roasting pan as a start)
Pot holders

Electrics
Blender/hand blender
Microwave
Toaster/toaster oven

Recommendation: If you’re on a budget, just go to somewhere like Target and buy cheapies. However, if you plan on some serious cooking, you may want to invest in a little more expensive electrics, like a more powerful blender or a microwave with higher wattage, cause really, you get what you pay for.

Getting fancy: The more advanced your cooking is, the more tools you will need (well, actually, you will want). Serious kitchen aficionados will buy electric mixers – I am hoping to get a Kitchen Aid when I have the money and space – and expand your pan collection by getting specialty pans (I have a well seasoned paella pan as well as a brand new crepe pan). I also got myself a George Foreman grill, for quick and easy indoor grilling, when I don’t want to use my grill pan. Once you get into cooking, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you will begin to visit kitchenware stores and work yourself into a frenzy over all the available options out there.

Hope that this is helpful to someone out there! Buon apetito!