Cooking Utensils. Today's cook must be efficient and work in a well-stocked kitchen. 

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Every kitchen should have the following cooking utensil tools:

1. Heat resistant spatula. The heat resistant spatula is superb for stir frying. It has the ability to move scoops of food around the pan without damaging the pan, and without melting! This tool comes in a variety of sizes, from small to large, and can be used for non-heat stirring as well. 

2. Stand-up mixer. Give your arms a break and invest in a stand-up mixer, preferably one with a paddle, whip and dough hook. And treat yourself to an added bonus by getting an extra mixing bowl. You can find these mixers at department stores, discount stores and cooking stores.

3. Small food processor. Great for those times when you need to finely chop just one onion, or make fresh bread crumbs from a few slices of bread, this tool is a real help for any kitchen. They are available everywhere, including discount stores.

4. Cushioned baking pans. If you are tired of burnt cookies and cakes, it is time to invest in these airy pans. A cushion of air between layers of metal translates to slower cooking time and less burnt food.

5. Pizza stone and paddle. If you have trouble making crispy pizza crusts, it's these items to the rescue. Make sure the stone comes with a metal handle because these stones are too hot to handle!  The paddle is a necessity for sliding the crust onto the stone.

6. Pasta server. It is so much easier to serve pasta with a pasta server. They come in all colors (plastic), as well as in stainless. Buy this gadget virtually anywhere kitchen utensils are sold.

7. Lasagna server. This is simply a stainless serving spatula that is a bit thicker than normal, and it really does the job! Lift lasagna with ease with this handy tool!

8. An extra can opener. There is no kitchen dilemma worse than being in the middle of making dinner and --- oops --- the can opener is broken. Your extra gadget can be an inexpensive one that you can find at the grocery store for just a few dollars.

9. Many cutting boards, of all sizes. Sharing cutting boards means sharing germs, so stock your kitchen with a variety of boards. Many are dishwasher safe. Buy them anywhere utensils are sold.

10. Spoon rests. Have a few and keep them on or near the range top. They keep your stove clean and pop right in the dishwasher when finished. You can buy them on trips so your kitchen will have a daily reminder of where you've been.

11. A good grater. A good grater is a great thing to have because it can cut anything from cheese to limes. The freestanding ones are handy because they stand on their own, but remember, they will require more storage space than the flat graters.

12. Apple corer/slicer. You can cut an apple into wedges with just one motion, saving time and energy. And just pop in the dishwasher, top shelf. 

13. Graduated measuring spoons. When measuring dry ingredients, why use three spoons when one will do the job? The graduated measuring spoons measure everything from 1/8 teaspoon to a full teaspoon. They even come in teaspoon to tablespoon sizes. 

14. A canister set, but not for flour. Canister sets look lovely on the counter, and are a great place to hide items you'll need in the kitchen. They take the kitchen clutter and contain it in fashion!

15. Plastic tongs. Small plastic tongs are commonly used by caterers, and should be a part of every home kitchen. Use them when serving fruit, cookies, hors d'oeuvres.