Since engagement season is winding down and heading into wedding season, we thought we would share some ideas for wedding registry must haves for the kitchen. Whether you have been living in your space for some time and your kitchenware’s need updating, or you just got a place to call home together, we created a list of kitchen essentials.

Stand mixer: One of the more common wedding registry items is the stand mixer, specifically the Kitchen Aid brand. I fortunately, had received mine as a very generous gift prior to being engaged. This item is certainly an investment, and not something I would have splurged on for myself. It definitely would have been the first item on my registry, as it has so many uses and is such a quality mixer (I have broken several low-end hand mixers)

This item not only is an essential for an avid baker, it has become a design staple for kitchen decor. Kitchen Aid offers a wide variety of styles and colors and is constantly releasing new colors, and various attachments making it a versatile appliance.

 

Quality pans:  My other highly recommended pans for a wedding registry are a quality stainless steel pan with a glass lid and a cast iron skillet. I have gone through so many non-stick and metal pans that I began researching and investing in better quality cookware. Over time I started with slowly changing over to stainless steel and cast iron.

The stainless-steel pan is pretty much indestructible, it’s resistant to chipping, rusting, denting, scratching, and staining. It also doesn’t leach a metallic taste or disperse any nonstick coating into food like other pans. Since its so durable its dishwasher safe and can be cleaned with steel wool and is refrigerator safe. When adding this item to your registry be sure to choose the higher quality stainless steel pans with copper or aluminum base for even heat transfer ability.

The cast iron skillet also evenly distributes heat making it perfect for cooking meat and sizzling one pan meals. A cast iron skillet requires seasoning, since it’s a seasoned pan you shouldn’t use any abrasive cleaners or sponges. See below how to season a cast iron skillet, and keep this in mind when considering adding one to your registry.

How to season a cast iron skillet:

  • Scrub skillet with hot soapy water
  • Dry thoroughly
  • Spread a thin layer of melted shortening or vegetable oil over the skillet
  • Place it upside down on the middle rack of an oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (Be sure to place foil on a lower rack to catch any drips)
  • Bake for one hour; let cool in the oven

 

The Dutch oven: The Dutch oven is another popular wedding registry item, with proper care they will last your entire lifetime. Just like the Kitchen Aid mixer you can find these in a plethora of colors. One of the more popular brands is Le Creuset, you just want to be sure whichever brand you choose you are getting enameled cast iron. Since it is enameled cast iron it is not dishwasher safe, this is a hand wash only item. Although this is a cast iron pan, you won’t have to season this pan due to the non-reactive enameling. With that said you cannot use any metal whisks or spoons while cooking in them due to scratching. If you add this item to your registry be sure to add in some wooden spoons and silicone whisks!

A Dutch oven is great for making roasts or stews, they evenly distribute heat and can go from stove top to oven up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This is another kitchenware I was previously gifted, and cannot say enough about how essential they are to anyone who loves to cook.

 

Stainless steel trash can: Next up on the wedding registry list is the Simple Human trash can, they offer both in cabinet and free-standing units. This company has made everything about trash sleek, convenient, and user friendly.

The stainless-steel construction is definitely more visually appealing than plastic trash barrels. It has a special nano-silver coat on brushed stainless-steel models to prevent the spread of germs and fingerprints. Simple Human offers so many unique features you didn’t know you needed, like a niche to hold your trash liners, and charcoal carbon filters for odor. There is also the option for dual compartment for both trash and recycling. Most models feature a slow closing lid and strong steel pedal to keep disposing of trash hands free. They even have motion sensing or voice activated opening features on the latest models.

A Simple Human trash can is certainly a luxury item that you may not necessarily buy for yourself. It would make a great addition to a wedding registry if you don’t like the look or function of the standard plastic trash barrels. The Simple Human can definitely improve the aesthetic and cleanliness of a free-standing trash barrel. I made the decision to invest in one after somebody had broken my plastic trash barrel. I’ve had it for five years and its been a great addition to my kitchen and everyone is always so intrigued by it.

If considering adding this to a registry keep in mind that Simple Human makes their own liners that aren’t available at the grocery store. Be sure to add refill liners to your registry and look into where to purchase the correct liner for the unit you want. I have found that Amazon and Bed Bath and Beyond are the most convenient.

 

Blender:  The last item on the wedding registry list is a Ninja Blender, they have a blender type for every type of person. The price point on Ninja is about mid-range between a Hamilton Beach and a Vitamix. This makes the Ninja more powerful, durable, AND affordable. I use my Ninja blender every morning, I was able to choose one that best suits my lifestyle. The Ninja with the various blender cups is great for travel and on the go, and there isn’t a need to wash a blender pitcher every day.

While we are on the topic of kitchenware’s and engagements I thought I would share something I had recently found while looking for recipes. There is a recipe called “Engagement Chicken”, spoiler alert this is not my proposal story.

The recipe was developed by a fashion editor at Glamour Magazine in 1982 after a trip to Italy. She gave the recipe to a co-worker to prepare for her boyfriend and soon afterwards, the couple was engaged. The recipe made the rounds in the office and three other women in the office were offered marriage proposals soon after making the dish for their boyfriends.

In 2003, after Glamour editor-in-chief heard that wedding proposals followed making the recipe, she dubbed the recipe “Engagement Chicken” and ran the recipe in the magazine in December 2003. Soon afterwards the magazine began receiving letters from women claiming that their boyfriends proposed shortly after being served the dish. The magazine claims 70 couples have married after the women served their boyfriends the dish.

I have been wanting to make this dish to see what all of the hype is about. I put the recipe below for others to try, be sure to let us know if the legend is true.

Engagement chicken ingredients:

  • 1 whole chicken (approximately 4 pounds)
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, plus 3 whole lemons—including 1 sliced for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • Fresh herbs for garnish (4 rosemary sprigs, 4 sage sprigs, 8 thyme sprigs, and 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley)
  1. Position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F. Remove the giblets from the chicken, wash the chicken inside and out with cold water, then let the chicken drain, cavity down, in a colander for 2 minutes.
  2. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Place the chicken breast-side down in a medium roasting pan fitted with a rack and pour the lemon juice all over the chicken, both inside and out. Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper inside and out.
  3. Prick 2 whole lemons three times each in three different places with a fork and place them deep inside the cavity. Chicken cavity size may vary, so if one lemon is partly sticking out, that’s fine. (Tip: If the lemons are stiff, roll them on the countertop with your palm before pricking to get the juices flowing.)
  4. Put the chicken in the oven, lower the oven temperature to 350°F, and roast, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
  5. Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Using tongs or two wooden spoons, turn the chicken breast- side up. Insert a meat thermometer in the thigh, and return the chicken to the oven and roast for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the meat thermometer reads 180°F and the juices run clear when the thigh is pricked with a fork. Continue roasting if necessary. Keep in mind that cooking times in different ovens vary; roasting a chicken at 350°F takes approximately 18-20 minutes per pound, plus an additional 15 minutes.
  6. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving. And here’s the secret: Pour the juices from the roasting pan on top of the sliced chicken. Garnish with fresh herbs and lemon slices.

  There you have it, the list of some of our favorite kitchen necessities for a wedding registration. Congratulations to those of you who got engaged over the holiday season! We hope we gave you some ideas for your wedding registry, or products worth investing in. The kitchen is the heart of the home and we hope your family makes plenty of memories in it!