Tools and Equipment, Part 1

About to mix your first recipe and you don't even own a shaker! Oops! And what the heck is a muddler, anyway? Here are some basic tools and equipment (and you might be surprised about what you have already):

• A basic opener (bottle and corkscrew multi-tasker with a punch. Why have three items?)
• Shaker and strainer set
• Measuring cups and spoons (you know you have these already. A "shot" is 3 tablespoons!)
• Cutting board and sharp knife (again, you have this already, right?)

These basics will serve you well. (For the record, a muddler looks like a mini-baseball bat, used for smashing herbs or fruit at the bottom of a glass. You can smash both on a cutting board with the flat of your knife, but can risk losing some flavor.) For more not-so-basic Tools and Equipment, see Part 2.

(originally posted March 11, 2012)