Kitchen loves

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to cook. If I could have my dream job (now that there's no more NASA shuttle program), it would be to quit my job, go to cooking school, and open up a restaurant.

I love cooking for people that I love. It makes me feel all happy and warm inside. The holidays are my favorite time to cook, even though it's bittersweet. When I was younger, every holiday was spent at my grandparents' house, and my grandmother did all of the cooking. When she passed away suddenly from cancer in 2002, my mom and I took over the cooking duties, but we still have holiday dinners at my grandfather's house. There's something about being in my grandmother's kitchen, making her recipes, that makes me feel closer to her.

Here are some of my favorite things in my kitchen:

My matroyshka measuring cups, a nod to my husband's Russian heritage

My turkey platter. Even though Thanksgiving isn't at my house, I have a turkey platter because it is the same one my grandmother always used and the one we still use. It reminds me of her.

My Mixer. I used to love the Kitchen Aid mixers, until I bought a Sunbeam. Sunbeam isn't as expensive as KitchenAid, and in my opinion, they're better. Kitchen Aid is an orbital mixer, while the Sunbeam is stationary, but the bowl moves. It's the same mixer my Great Grandmother had, my Grandmother had, my Mom has, and now I have. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

All of my Rachael Ray stuff (I'm a huge fan)

Hard Anodized Cookware

Oil and Vinegar bottles

Knife Sharpener

lazy ladle and spoon

slotted turners

Santoku Knife

I've got a lot more, but I think that's good.

So what do y'all love about cooking and kitchens?