Kristin Cavallari?grew up watching her father cook. Now, as a mom of three, the “Truly Simple” author enjoys making dinner with her own family. “Cooking is my time to zone out and enjoy having fun with the kids,” says Cavallari, who recently partnered with?Rao’s Homemade?to celebrate the launch of the brand’s latest sauces. “We embrace the mess.”
Cavallari, who rose to fame starring in the MTV reality show “Laguna Beach,” is also the founder of the lifestyle brand?Uncommon James. With its flagship store in Nashville, customers can buy clothing, jewelry, home decor, kitchen and beauty products from her brand.
Ahead, the inspirational foodie shares seven of her go-to kitchen essentials with CNN Underscored.
At the top of Cavallari’s list of kitchen essentials is her Microplane grater. With an easy-to-hold handle and a nonslip foot at the base, this stainless steel grater has ultra-sharp blades to finely grate veggies and cheese. “If you're zesting lemons or limes, it’s the best for that,” she says.
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“It’s so flavorsome and perfect for a crazy weeknight meal,” says Cavallari of Rao’s Homemade signature sauce. “I love to make meatballs and use the sauce, as it takes two minutes to whip up, which is awesome.”
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“My mandoline slicer is another essential for when you need to slice things really thinly. I use it for everything,” Cavallari says. A secret weapon for easy food prep, this kitchen tool has a round slicer and two different julienne slicers that let you cut your fruit and veggies to your desired thickness.?
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“I love having a glass of wine when I cook,” says Cavallari, who opts for stemless glasses. These geometric ones from Uncommon James come in a set of two and can be paired with the brand’s?Geometric Wine Decanter.
“I can’t live without my Vitamix blender,” Cavallari says. “I think it’s the best blender on the market for getting fruit and veggies as pureed as possible.” With 10 variable speeds and a pulse option, the 48-ounce professional-grade blender has aircraft-grade stainless steel blades designed to cut through even the heartiest ingredients. “I do a lot in there — smoothies, soup, salad dressings and any kind of sauce.”
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“I love my Caraway cookware set,” Cavallari shares. “They’re beautiful and are much better for you, so I love having that peace of mind.” Perfect for the at-home chef, the 12-piece nonstick set is made from nontoxic ceramic and includes a fry pan, sauté?pan, saucepan, Dutch oven and storage.?
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“I have a Rocket Espresso machine, which is definitely a splurge, but coffee is a very big deal for me,” Cavallari says. “I use it every morning.” Made in Italy, this compact machine lets you brew espresso and froth milk simultaneously and has manual steam and brew controls. “I feel very fancy when I use it. It’s a legit espresso maker.”
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