A couple of best-quality knives constitute THE most essential kitchen splurge. Long ago, a friend was helping me can pickles. She tried my "okay" chef's knife for about a minute, then set it down and drove miles back home for her own cutlery. She handed me this Santoku and said, "THIS is how a knife is supposed to feel." She was right; a good knife changed the complexion of the whole project.

Seriously, even if you have only the two most-important knives listed above, you really should keep them on a magnetic rack. Not only will the display dramatize your kitchen decor, it will keep your knives handy without cluttering the countertop. And since the knives will never clatter against other items in a drawer, they'll stay sharp and undamaged.

They call this they're "everyday pan" for good reason; I honestly do use it every day. The durable nonstick surface is perfect for eggs, and the all-metal construction means I can use it in the oven for frittata or quiche. The glass lid is a plus, so I can easily keep an eye on things without releasing steam. After the Dutch oven, this is my go-to pan.

It is SOOOO worth it to have a double-walled cookie sheet to keep your little edibles from burning on the bottoms. This one is extra large, too, big enough to handle a pizza. And one of the best non-stick surfaces I've found. Buy two!

Seems like a lot to spend on a spoon, but if you have any non-stick cookware, you'll need something besides metal to stir with, and this is one of the best spoons I've found. It's strong enough to stir big pots of stew, and large enough (holds a half cup) to serve single portions.