What makes my life easier in the kitchen are great quality tools. Here's my go-to list KITCHEN KNIVES The only knives I use in the kitchen for preparing your dishes are Wüstof. If you are keen to get a set, then this set of three will cover all your needs; Or if you want to know what I'm using everyday, it's this 20cm Chef knife. Perfect for all your kitchen needs. My favourite Paring knife is the Victorinox which my mum gave me when I was a young women. I recall her peeling oranges with this knife. It seems it was always in her hands whenever she was in the kitchen. LAGUIOLE has always had a high quality standard, and so I was surprised to see my favourite steak knives recently available at Aldi. I bought my steak knives in France 20 years ago and still love using them each time. I remember the delight I had purchasing them so long ago, and feeling so luxurious. I never put them in the dishwasher. I love how they feel heavy in my hand and I find them so easy to cut with. BREAD CUTTING BOARD (with crumb tray) I've had my bread cutting board since I was in my 20's. I only use it for bread, and I know that it's a major luxury, but each time I slice bread I make a little ritual of it. And it just makes my bread (with butter and jam) taste that much better. The crumb drawer is the highlight, of course. It makes it so much easier, cleaner and feels like I'm in a country house slicing newly baked bread.

Let's start with COOK BOOKS. Here are of my favourites. I'll include some of the pages that have recipes that I've tried too. THE COOK AND THE BAKER I love this one because it has all the delicious things I grew up with in the 70's and 80's in Sydney. And all the recipes are from Cherie Bevan and Tass Tauroa are the founders of the outrageously popular bakery in Bondi. ' My favourite recipes in here include the Amaretti (I've adjusted it a little to make it a little different... This chef can't divulge all her best ideas), the Salted caramel, and the Lemon Curd Shortbread. YOTAM OTTOLENGHI - OTTOLENGHI THE COOKBOOK & JERUSALEM What would I do without the Ottolenghi The Cookbook or Jerusalem cook books? Not only am I the eternal student of such an amazing chef as Yotam Ottolenghi, but he also taught me how to mix flavours from my Moroccan heritage. The best dishes (and simplest) are : the Cucumber and Poppyseed salad, The French beans and Mangetout with Hazelnut and Orange salad, and the Roast Chicken with Saffron, Hazelnuts and Honey.

It's virtually impossible to know what to gift your loved ones, so I've come up with a list of ideal items that I find make my life easier, and pretty too. Maybe it's gifts that will help you make life simpler or maybe you've seen something I have that you'd like. I'll share with you some of the things I use in the kitchen to make your delicious meals or at the dinner table. There will be ideal gifts for MUM or DAD, or DAUGHTERS who want to be just like mum, or SONS too, who want to do the same things as dad. I'll suggest things for the kitchen (of course) as well as things for home. But also things that would be ideal when you're invited to someones home, and they just don't want you to bring one of our delicious desserts. I want your decision making to be easy. I have spent months collating this list, so, grab a cup of tea, and an amaretti (yes, from our store) and visit the lists here for fun and lots of great ideas. Merci, et bon appétit. Ursula