Kitchen Cookware Must Haves

I've had so many of you ask me what my favorite pots and pans are. I'm kind of sad to say that I don't have much experience with various pieces of cookware because I simply don't have money to spend on beautiful pots and pans - this is a future goal :) I would love to have a set of Le Creuset pots and pans, but that won't happen for a long time. Don't fret. If you're like me, you can get by with some great pieces at decent prices. Here's what I recommend each of you have in your kitchen.

1. Lodge 12 inch cast iron skillet: I love cooking with cast iron for many reasons. One, I like that there are no harmful chemicals in cast iron. Two, I love that it lasts forever. And three, it's just plain amazing to cook with. Cast iron holds lots of heat, and you can even put it in the oven at high temperatures, which makes for great food. It does take a few uses to "season" the pan, which essentially means use it a lot and don't clean it - simply wipe it out. If it for some reason gets super dirty, you can use a gentle sponge to wipe clean, but don't ever use steel wool, harsh soaps, or put it in the dishwasher. I cook bacon and eggs in mine every morning. After I'm done using the pan, I wipe it out with paper towel and leave it. 
2. Lodge 6 Quart Dutch Oven: I love my dutch oven! I use it for sauteing, soups, roasts, casseroles, and just about everything in between. It's great on the stove top, and great in the oven (it can withstand up to 400 degrees in the oven). This is a cast iron dutch oven that is enameled - which makes for easy cleaning. 
3. A small and large stainless steel sauce pan: I wish I had a specific brand to recommend, but I don't. When Matt and I got married, we received a set of Emeril pots and pans (which are non-stick). They did a great job, but the frying pans diminished quickly - probably because we used them multiple times a day. We still have the sauce pans and large stock pot. I wish we would have chosen a stainless steel set - mainly because of the chemicals.  Next time!
4. Vollrath Wear-Ever baking sheet: This was an America's Test Kitchen recommendation, and I'm so happy I made this purchase. Having a nice baking sheet is a kitchen essential. It's easy to clean, and will again, last a long time.

And, that's it! Seriously. These are continuously used each and every day in my kitchen. You don't need to drop a lot of money on cooking sets. What I love about Lodge, is that their products are made in the USA, and they're reasonable. Let me know if you have any questions about these products. I wouldn't recommend them if I didn't love them!