KitchenAid Stand Mixer
A longtime kitchen workhorse for baking, whipped cream, doughs, and larger batches. It’s one of those appliances I keep pulling back out because it handles so many of our baking projects.
Favorites
What We Actually Use
These are the things that have earned a place in our everyday life — in the kitchen, around the house, in the garden, and out with the animals. Some are simple, some make a job easier, and all of them are things we actually use.
Nothing makes this page just because it's trending. These are things we already use in our own home, garden, and with our animals. We'll keep adding to it as something proves useful enough to recommend.
Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Kitchen Favorites
The tools and appliances that have earned their counter, cabinet, or cooking-space real estate.
KitchenAid Hand Mixer
This is the hand mixer I reach for when making cookies, cakes, and smaller batches that don’t need the stand mixer. It’s simple to use, easy to pull out, and gets plenty of use in our kitchen.
Pyrex Glass Bakeware
Pyrex is one of those kitchen staples I reach for constantly. From mixing ingredients and measuring out recipes to baking casseroles, breads, and desserts, these are the glass pieces we use throughout the week. Some have been in our kitchen for years, and they’re still the ones I pull out again and again.
Good for: Casseroles, baking, and everyday kitchen use
Everyday Baking
Pyrex 9×13 Baking Dish
Our go-to size for cinnamon rolls, casseroles, and larger family meals.
Pyrex 8×8 Baking Dish
A square baking dish for casseroles and smaller bakes.
Pyrex Large Baking Dish — 4.8 Quart
A larger glass dish for bigger casseroles and family-size bakes.
Breads & Desserts
Pyrex Loaf Pan
A glass loaf pan for breads and other loaf-shaped bakes.
Pyrex Pie Plate
A glass pie plate for baking pies and checking the bottom crust as it bakes.
Mixing & Prep
Pyrex Measuring Cups — 3-Piece Set
Glass measuring cups for measuring and pouring liquid ingredients.
Pyrex Mixing Bowls — 3-Piece Set
Glass bowls for mixing batters, combining ingredients, and everyday prep.
Muffin & Baking Pans
These are the baking pans and racks I reach for when making muffins, cookies, breads, cakes, and everyday family treats. I keep different sizes on hand because some recipes need a full baking sheet, while others work better in smaller batches. They’re practical pieces that get used throughout the year.
Muffin Pans
Mini Muffin Pan — 24 Cup
One of those pans that gets used more than you think. Great for mini muffins, bite-size bakes, and recipes where I want smaller portions.
Standard Muffin Pan
A standard-size pan for everyday muffins.
Jumbo Muffin Pan — 6 Cup
For oversized muffins and breakfast bakes.
Baking Sheets & Cooling Racks
Half-Sheet Baking Pans
Sturdy sheets for cookies and sheet-pan baking.
Baking Sheet Set
A set of sizes for smaller and larger batches.
Baking & Cooling Racks
For cooling cookies, breads, and muffins.
Cakes & Specialty Pans
9×13 Cake Pan
A rectangular pan for sheet cakes and bars.
Bundt Pan
For bundt cakes and pound cakes.
Rada Knives & Kitchen Tools
Lightweight, sharp, and one of the kitchen tools I keep reaching for. I use our Rada knives for everyday prep, especially fruit and produce.
Rada Peel, Pare & Slice Set
The set I reach for on peach days and other fruit prep — peeling, pitting, and slicing in one place.
See it in this recipe: Homemade Peach ToppingView on AmazonRada French Chef Knife
My everyday chopping knife for vegetables, meat, and bigger prep jobs.
View on AmazonRada Serrated Steak Knives
The knives that live on our supper table — they stay sharp and cut cleanly every meal.
View on Amazon
Cast Iron Cookware
Cast iron is something we use regularly in our kitchen, from everyday stovetop cooking to larger meals that need steady, even heat. We have several skillet sizes, griddles, and Dutch ovens, along with a few tools that help keep everything in good shape. These are the pieces we reach for depending on what we’re cooking.
Good for: Stovetop cooking, searing, and everyday skillet meals
Skillets
8-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
A smaller skillet for eggs, sides, and small-batch stovetop cooking.
10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
A mid-size skillet for everyday stovetop meals and searing.
12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Our everyday skillet for browning sausage, searing meat, and stovetop cooking.
15-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
A large skillet with room for bigger batches and family-size meals.
Griddles & Grill Pans
Reversible Cast Iron Grill & Griddle
A reversible cooking surface with a flat side and a ridged grill side.
10.5-Inch Cast Iron Griddle
A flat, round griddle for pancakes, tortillas, and stovetop cooking.
Dutch Ovens
7-Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven
A roomy cast iron pot for slow-cooked meals, soups, and braises.
7-Quart Enameled Dutch Oven
An enameled pot for braising meat and simmering soups and stews.
Care & Cleaning
Cast Iron Scrubber
A scrubber for loosening stuck-on food when cleaning cast iron.
Ninja Blender
I use this blender for smoothies, sauces, soups, and blending fruit before I cook it down for jams. It’s a practical kitchen staple that gets used for a lot of different jobs.
KitchenAid Immersion Blender
This is what I reach for when I want to blend something right in the pot instead of transferring it to the countertop blender. I use it for soups, sauces, and projects like our freezer tomato sauce.
Our Coffee & Drink Station
This little corner gets used constantly. These are four of the appliances we keep together for coffee, cold drinks, and treats.
Keurig Coffee Maker
Some mornings we brew a whole pot; other times one of us just needs a single cup.
View on AmazonNinja CREAMi
Our ice cream maker for homemade ice cream, sorbet, and frozen treats.
View on AmazonExtra pint containers — 2 pack
Extra pint containers we use for keeping multiple flavors and mix-ins ready to go.
View on AmazonGE Profile nugget ice machine
Nugget ice is the kind our family actually likes, so this gets used every day, especially through a Texas summer.
View on Amazon
Pit Boss pellet smoker and grill combo
This is where most of our outdoor cooking happens — the long, slow cooks and regular grilling when we would rather cook outside than heat up the kitchen.
Good for: Weekend smoking and everyday outdoor cooking
Canning Tools We Use
These are the jars, canners, and tools I use when putting up food from our garden and kitchen. From water-bath canning jams and fruit to pressure canning vegetables, I keep the basic supplies on hand so everything is ready when it’s time to preserve a batch.
Jars & Lids
Pint Canning Jars — Regular Mouth
Ball 16-ounce regular-mouth jars, eight to a pack, for jams, fruit, and toppings.
Quart Canning Jars — Wide Mouth
Ball 32-ounce wide-mouth jars, twelve to a pack, for vegetables and larger batches.
Regular Mouth Canning Lids
Ball replacement lids for regular-mouth jars, six boxes of twelve.
Wide Mouth Canning Lids
Ball replacement lids for wide-mouth jars, eight boxes of twelve.
Canners & Equipment
Water-Bath Canner
A 21.5-quart enamel canner with rack and lid for water-bath canning.
23-Quart Pressure Canner
A Presto pressure canner with a dial gauge for low-acid vegetables like green beans.
Canning Tools
Canning Jar Lifter
For lifting hot jars in and out of the canner.
Canning Funnels & Strainer
A stainless steel funnel set for filling jars neatly and keeping rims clean.
Canning Tools & Accessories
A Supa Ant tool set with the basic canning helpers in one kit.
FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer
I use this for sealing meats, leftovers, and food we’re putting in the freezer. It’s especially handy when buying in bulk or putting away extra food so we can use it later.
Home Favorites
The things we reach for because they make everyday upkeep a little easier.
Dyson cordless vacuum
Cordless is the reason it gets used — it is easy to grab for grass tracked in from outside, dog hair, and crumbs under the table. Ours also has a continuous-power switch, so we are not holding the trigger the whole time. Not every Dyson has that switch.
Good for: Quick daily pickups between real cleaning days
Spin mop
Our regular mop for the hardwood floors. The wringing basket lets us control how wet the mop head is, which is the part that matters on wood.
Swiffer Dusters
Good for quick dusting and for getting around picture frames, shelves, and decor where a cloth is awkward.
Scrub Daddy Cleaning Products
We keep one at the kitchen sink and use it on dishes, the sink itself, and counters.
Scrub Daddy Sponges
Scratch-free multipurpose sponges in assorted colors, in a 5-pack.
View on AmazonScrub Daddy Dish Brush
A soap-dispensing dish brush with a blue handle and a yellow texture-changing sponge head.
View on Amazon
Window Cleaning Setup
This is the simple setup I use for our windows — hot water, Dawn, a scrubber, and a squeegee.
Dawn Dish Soap
A small amount goes into the hot water we wash the windows with.
View on AmazonWindow Cleaning Bucket
The yellow bucket that holds the simple soap-and-water mixture.
View on AmazonSqueegee
Pulls the wash water cleanly off the glass after scrubbing.
View on AmazonWindow Scrubber
For loosening dirt on the glass before using the squeegee.
View on AmazonMicrofiber Cleaning Cloths
Gray microfiber cleaning cloths in a 12-pack, each 12.5 × 12.5 inches.
View on Amazon
Large digital family calendar
One shared place for schedules, the grocery list, and reminders. Everyone adds their own things to it.
Garden Favorites
The things that have actually helped us grow and keep up with our North Texas garden.
Dr. Earth 4-6-3 fertilizer
This is what we work into our in-ground rows when we are getting the garden ready, and again during the season as plants are growing.
Our Garden Watering Setup
These pieces work together to keep our in-ground garden and strawberry bed watered from one spigot.
Brass 4-way hose splitter
It lets the soaker hoses, strawberry bed, and a regular hose all stay connected to one spigot.
KOYMISKU water timer
It runs our watering early in the morning without anyone walking out to turn the spigot.
Henotian 50-foot soaker hoses
We run these through the garden rows and strawberry bed so water goes to the soil instead of the leaves.
BN-LINK seedling heat mats
They sit under our seed-starting trays and help keep the soil warm for germination while we are starting seeds indoors.
Chicken Favorites
The feed, treats, and everyday supplies that have actually been part of caring for our flock.
Nutrena Chick Starter Grower
This is the feed we use with our chicks while they are growing out.
Flock Party Mealworm Treats
A treat, not a feed. This is one of the treats our flock gets in addition to their regular feed.
ImPECKables Grain Pickings
Another treat we give the hens. Their regular feed is still what they eat every day.
Eaton Chicken Nesting Pads
They sit in our nesting boxes and hold their shape, making them easy to lift out and replace when needed.
Flock Party Chicken Feeder
This is the feeder we use for our flock, and it keeps the feed up off the ground.
Harris Farms Poultry Watering Cups
These are part of the watering setup we use. The cups refill themselves as the birds drink.
ImPECKables Starter Poultry Kit
This is the starter kit we’ve used when setting up for chicks. It puts several of the basic brooder supplies together in one place.
Good for: Getting the basic brooder supplies together
Producer's Pride Feed Storage Drum
Where we keep feed. The lid keeps the feed contained and dry.
Livestock Favorites
A few of the feed and supplies that have been part of caring for our sheep and cattle.
DuMOR Medicated Sheep & Goat Feed
This is the pelleted feed we have used with our sheep at the feeder. How much and how often depends on the season and what our animals need.
Producer's Pride Cubed Cattle Feed
These are the cattle cubes we use with our longhorn steers. More than anything, they are how we keep the steers easy to move and easy to be around — they come when they hear the bucket.
Producer's Pride Lamb Feeding Bottle
We keep one on hand because sometimes a lamb needs to be bottle fed.
DuMOR Lamb Milk Replacer
This is what we have used with the bottle when a lamb has needed it.
We'll keep adding to this page as we find things worth sharing. If something stops working for us, it doesn't need to stay here just because we've recommended it before.
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