Today I found the two best things. Let’s peep Best Thing #1 first:

This Kitchen Science Measuring Cup gives you regular measurements (which is helpful when cooking, but sorta boring), but you also get to see cool and useful information related to the volume of stuff you just poured into the aforementioned measuring cup (above). For example, one and a half cups of whatever you’re cooking with equals one hundred pieces of penne regate pasta!

And now, check out Best Thing #2:

This isn’t a dust collector that sits on the shelf at your mom’s house. This is, in fact, probably the best game ever invented and I want it. It’s called the Babushkas Bourres Drinking Game and this is how you play:

1. Spin the top, which is marked with images corresponding to the 3 (different sized) Babushka dolls.
2. Once the top stops spinning, locate the Babushka doll that corresponds to the image the dreidel landed on (it’s all color/size coordinated. So good).
3. Pour a shot into the corresponding Babushka doll, which is actually a shot glass. . .Surprise!!
4. Take the shot.
5. Pass the top to your left. Or right. Whatever.

(Best Things #1 and #2 both make fun gifts for your pals, but I hope you cop atleast one Best Thing for yourself too!)

Although my kitchen has never been that fancy (I currently have a teeny kitchen with one counter), I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to kitchen accessories and appliances. Maybe snob is the wrong word, but I am from the school where I believe in spending more on things in the kitchen that I will most-likely be able to use for the rest of my life. Basically, I shop for clothes at H&M and the Gap, but all of my kitchen stuff comes from specialty stores. If you’re just starting to build up your kitchen to its full wonderfulness, there are a few culinary classics to start out with:

1. One stainless steel saucepan. All Clad brand, originally made for professional chefs, are by far the best.  A little pricey, but they last forever. You might be passing down your All Clads to your grandchildren.
2. A Le Creuset Cast-Iron Braiser or French Oven. You can make almost anything in one of these; the cast-iron distributes heat slowly and evenly, especially good for stews, soups and sauces. They come in an amazing color palette as well.
3. A good peppermill- Don’t be fooled by electric or funky shaped peppermills. The best are the simple old school wood peppermills with a steel mechanism. Peugeot makes a super duper high end one for $300, but they also have a smaller model at $25.
4. A stainless steel colander- a good, sturdy colander is a must have for cleaning vegetables, straining pasta, and rinsing fruit.
5. Good knives- If you make the investment to buy a good set of knives you won’t be sorry- as long as you find a good sharpening service in your area to take them to, you’ll have them for your lifetime. You’ll also have an easier time prepping food and you’re less likely to have the unfortunate dull-knife-finger-cutting debacle. My favorite brands are Shun and Wüsthof.

If you have these few staples, this will be a great beginning of a gourmet kitchen. Check out some other recommendations- Gourmet Kitchen Must-Haves