Excellent set of bakeware for those who are just starting out.

This steamer will make so much for you. It's a great replacement for a stove if you don't have access to one. Steamed food is also healthier for you than other cooking methods. One of the best appliances I've ever bought. You can also set it up to cook for you while you're gone. Can't do that with a stove!

Perhaps the best thing I've ever bought. I use this almost daily. I use it to make spice blends and no longer buy any spices from the store. This makes dried spices more fragrant. Buy spices in bulk (nutsonline.com is great), and look up your own spice recipes online. “Poultry Seasoning” is often little more than what you already have on your shelf. My boyfriend uses it to "release anger" :)

These are great for produce. GREAT for produce. I wish I had more of these than I do, in fact. You can buy individual sizes as well, but this is a good (read: economical) to get these storage containers. Because the tops are interchangeable, you can buy the set above, and switch the tops around so that you can put the deeper size bowls with the green lids.

4-for-3 promotion There are different sizes of this item, only the 16" is available for the promotion, however. There is also a version of these tongs with nylon tips!! I use these one for pots, and the nylon tipped ones for the George Foreman! Great tongs, another win for Oxo.

This purchase depends on who you are. How often do you eat pasta or need a colander? I was sick of the cheap ones that the holes aren't punched out completely, take up a ton of space in my cupboard, and sit too close to my sink.

4-for-3 promotion I believe this set that I bought is no longer on the promotion, however, make sure that you look for Corelle on the promotion. That was an absolute caveat of mine. I bought 2 of these sets, flatware, and glasses, and got to have one of the corelle sets for free. Can't beat that with a stick.

4-for-3 promotion I'm on my way to replacing all of my cheap nylon utensils for something really nice: Oxo Steel ones. The key is to go in waves. I'm sure you don't think of this as "budget", but it is if you consider the quality. Buy them a few (4-for-3 promotion!!) at a time, the ones you need the most to the ones you need the least.

This is probably not expected. Let me explain. I would NEVER spend so much on a garbage can, except that mine caused me so much anguish. This one is a step can, that closes quietly, the bags don't balloon inside of them, and I don't have to worry about it getting dirty. If you do buy a simplehuman garbage can, make sure you use the coupons that you get spammed with by BedBathandBeyond.

This is an amazing food processor. It has 15 speeds, which compared to 1 speed food processors like the Kitchenaid that many people tout as "fantastic", is quite outstanding in itself. Juicer, Shredder, Slicer, Dicer, Kneading, Whipping/Creaming... what else do you need? I would recommend this with no hesitation.

4-for-3 promotion For Turkey Day and related uses, I chose this baster because of the removable brush that attaches to the end. Good quality, and I like the 2 in 1 idea.

4-for-3 promotion I already included a mortar and pestle, but I wanted to add this one, because it's a nice solid example, is much smaller for people who don't need/want a big one, and it is much less expensive. I bought this for a gift, and was happy with the weight and the feel of it. You can't find small granite ones, so marble is the next best material.

I needed more space, and so here I turned. I bought this for much cheaper... $290 on cooking.com, and then used a coupon for free shipping, plus I got 5% cashback from my bank. This has been indispensable. If you need more space, this was a great buy. Very beautiful, and well designed.

Amazing set! Amazing per piece cost. Please note that according to "traditional" piece counts, this is a 20-piece set. There are three lids to the bowls that they aren't counting in the number 17. At less than $10/piece you can't possibly be unhappy with this thick set of pots. I baby mine :)

The best roast beef and chicken I have ever had in my life came out of this thing. Sorry Grandma. Use the probe to make a whole chicken while you're at work. I also suggest dumping in some chicken broth. Moistest stuff I've ever had. I've also used it to make Pho (Vietnamese soup). Top notch product.

This item is currently unvailable, but if it does come back, I think it's a pretty decent buy. This item is really a stand in for a piece of info: Get a sponge holder if you use sponges because it drains the water away from the sponge, and helps the sponge to dry out --> bacteria doesn't grow on your sponge.