Is there anything more American than sitting down to a feast with multiple pounds of meat on the table for each person? Turkey leftovers are real. But, they aren’t a problem, at my house! We use it up in sandwiches, salads, and now the most incredible Turkey Quesadilla. Crispy edges, gooey cheese, tender meat… you know the drill.

Turkey Quesadilla

I can’t remember the first time I blogged a quesadilla. It was probably during the time when I was writing my first cookbook. Talk about being absolutely overwhelmed! Simple and easy lunches were what I survived on amidst the seemingly endless rounds of recipe development, photography days, and writing, writing, writing.

Today, I made a turkey quesadilla for lunch, but not because I was pressed for time. Now, quesadillas just feel like an easy treat. They’re ridiculously simple, since nailing down the process. Cheese and a tortilla with the fillings I want? Who says no to that kind of lunch? Not me. Not today, at least!

And, they make it so easy to use up your leftovers. Any time I have chicken or turkey or steak that didn’t get eaten on the first go round, I shove them into a grilled and gooey quesadilla for lunch. It turns what might otherwise be ordinary or lackluster “leftovers” from the fridge into a small joy.

Speaking of leftovers, I have been loving this winter salad, lately with all of its crunchy, seasonal veggies. All that texture made it the perfect accompaniment to a cheesy turkey quesadilla. And, because it has a vinaigrette dressing, the flavors are well balanced, too!

Turkey Quesadilla Recipe

I use shredded Monterey jack cheese in this turkey quesadilla recipe. And, I think the subtle flavors are perfect to let the turkey take center stage.

Whether you cook every night or just find joy in the occasional evening spent baking, the right tools make all the difference. I have found that some tools become lifelong companions, and others end up gathering dust in the back of a drawer. These kitchen tools are the everyday essentials that I reach for more than any others.

This is not a sponsored post. But, it is a list of things that I consistently recommend. I own every single one of these products. How else could I swear by them? If you want to give the chef or baker in your life an upgrade that will last, these are the gifts to give.

Knives

When it comes to kitchen essentials, I’m not sure there is anything that would be considered more essential than knives. It’s a divisive subject, because chefs have strong opinions on their knives. Well, I have owned a lot of knives. A LOT. I have been given quite a few. I’ve bought plenty of others. And, at one point or another, I’ve tried just about every top-rated or trendy knife that exists.

It was over 10 years ago when I first tried Victorinox knives, while visiting a professional test kitchen. It was love at first slice. I looked up the knives when I got home and my jaw dropped at the inexpensive price. These are stellar knives, and the price point can’t be beat for quality. My 8″ Chef’s Knife and the 4″ Paring Knife are pictured above.

That said, my all-time favorite is a Misen Chef Knife. The weighting of this knife makes it an absolute dream to use. And, it holds an edge incredibly well. It is a higher quality knife, but that comes with a higher price tag. So, Victorinox is the way to go, starting out.

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When it comes to the kitchen, I’m on board with savvy splurges. These are the tools that make your time in the kitchen a little easier, even when you didn’t realize the old tool was making things difficult. My list isn’t really about luxury. These are the tools I’ve found that are worth a little extra cost because they save me time and energy.

Splurge Kitchen Essentials

There are a lot of kitchen “essentials” that people splurge on to give their chef an upgrade. But, these are the three things that I absolutely adore in my kitchen that might not have made their way to yours, just yet.

Some things bring me joy every single time I use them. And, my Unicorn Pepper Mill is undoubtedly one of them. There’s no comparison. It simply showers pepper at every twist. Be warned that it sells out often, though. Once, it was out of stock for two years as they had to replace manufacturers for the bearings. So, if it is available, grab it FAST!

I heard rave reviews about Thermapen thermometers for years before finally giving in and buying one. Just, wow. Lightning fast (and accurate) temperature readings from any angle? Consider me a lifelong fan. If you’re looking for gift that will wow the cook in your life, you just found it.

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Sometimes the smallest tools end up making the biggest impact. I’ve cooked in so many kitchens over the years, from tiny galleys to the open floorplan with a huge island. And, over time I have learned which things I must have at my fingertips regardless of the size kitchen. These are the small ticket items that I consider to be must-have items in every kitchen. They reliably make the job easier, every time.

Small Kitchen Must Haves

I have acquired a rather long list of tools that surprised me over the years. I mean, obviously I’ve owned ladles before. Who would have thought that adding a flat front to a ladle would make it that much better? But, this Chef Craft ladle is the one I reach for, every time. Why isn’t every ladle designed this way? It allows you to scrape the bottom of the pot and get ever tasty morsel of soup.

Have you heard of a fish spatula? Yeah, me neither until I met my friend Rebecca. I didn’t cook fish very often, so why would I need one, right? Ha. Little did I know that I’d learn to use one for darn near ever dish I cook or bake.

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know that I love ice cream. About 5 years ago, I tested every single ice cream scoop on Amazon. And, it was actually one of the least expensive options that won my heart. This Spring Chef heavy duty scoop glides right through hard ice cream (while still giving you the perfect scoop).

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When I first moved out on my own, I cooked with whatever pots and pans were handed down to me from friends and family. Later, when Sean and I were married, we had a shiny new box set of pots and pans that we bought for less than $50 total.

When I tell you that those pans were lightweight? That doesn’t even really describe it. Foods would burn so easily! Those nonstick pans were a mess. I chalked it up to my lousy cooking skills, but I’ve since learned that quality pots and pans actually make a difference.

Over time, I’ve learned to be a little more careful about the quality of the pots and pans. I’ve also learned to use them well. So, I don’t buy or recommend huge sets of matching pots and pans. There are too many sizes that we don’t need.

There are really only a handful of pots and pans that I consider essential in the kitchen. I now own a couple of skillets, a sauce pan, and a Dutch oven that are my go-to for cooking. I’ve been using them daily for the last 5-10 years, and they are still going strong.

I use this heavy duty Misen 12″ steel frying pan nearly every day. This thing is a total champ, no matter what I’m cooking. It heats evenly and works for induction, gas, or electric stovetops. And it is oven and broiler safe to 800°F.

This All-Clad hard anodized 12″ frying pan is HANDS DOWN the best nonstick pan I have ever used. I’ve owned the trendy and viral brand names. They aren’t worth it. Get this one instead. It works for induction, gas, or electric stovetops, and it is oven and broiler safe to 500°F.

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