Kitchen Life Savers

Adam Rees rounds up the latest must-have kit for your kitchen

Top of the shots

Sage Nespresso Creatista Uno

For the serious coffee lovers who want the best possible morning cup without any hassle, this is about as compact and luxurious a machine as you could acquire. Using Nespresso pods it handles intense ristretto, espresso and lungo shots with its simple controls that are the easiest we’ve found on this type of device. You can even choose whether you want less or more than the automatic amount. The steamer nozzle makes excellent frothy milk very quickly, with adjustable temperature and foam controls and a sensor to tell you when it’s just right for those barista-style cappuccinos. It’s not cheap, but we think it’s worth it. BUY IT: From £329. Nespresso online (www.nespresso.com); John Lewis Cardiff (www.johnlewis.com)

Living The High Knife

Tamahagane San Tsubame Chef’s Starter Knife Set

Instead of looking like a gleaming, ceremonial suit of armour these set of knives looks like they’ve spent a few years in the thick of it, being battered from pillar to post. Yet it all adds to the appeal of these beautiful creations that ooze rugged charm and stylish appearance. Consisting of an 18cm Chef’s Knife, 12cm Utility Knife and 9cm Paring Knife they perform as good as they look, feeling comfortable in the hand and honed to such a precise finish using the same techniques as Samurai swordsmithing that they make light work of even the toughest culinary tasks. If you’re serious about having the very best in your block then you need look no further than these Japanese pieces of art. BUY IT: £279.95 from (www.kitchenknives.co.uk)

Staying sharp Kitchen IQ Diamond Deluxe Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener Ever tried carving the turkey with a knife that’s blunt? You’d be amazed the difference sharpening makes. This refined little tool really is a great time saver. Most important is the safety aspect, with both the soft rubber grip and rubber feet ensuring there’s minimal movement but above all sturdy control when you’re handling both straight and serrated knives in such close proximity. You can confidently use Kitchen IQ’s two-step system of coarse diamond rods to smooth and straighten, followed by the ceramic stones to bring your dulled knife edges back to brilliant life. BUY IT: From £9.99. Lakeland Cardiff/Swansea (www.lakeland.co.uk)

Warm and easy

Morphy Richards Soup Maker 501040 BF

Some might say soup from a can in a pan is already easy enough. But, on those cold winter nights when little fuss and maximum warmth is of the highest priority, soup makers like this from Yorkshire veterans Morphy Richards are worth their weight in gold. Simply toss in a few chopped ingredients and hit the button to get either a chunky or smooth soup – it’s even easier to make cold smoothies too – as it cooks and blends your dinner. It’s also blessedly quick to clean in seconds while the simple stainless steel design means it’s aesthetically pleasing as well. Souper stuff! BUY IT: From £99.99. Curry’s Cardiff (www.currys.co.uk)

Festive oven fillers

Angela Gray’s Festive Recipes

Following her books for winter, autumn, summer and, naturally, Welsh cheese, this collection of festive dishes is full of Angela’s trademark touches, with an emphasis on simplicity and the best ingredients for maximum satisfaction. As you’d expect from the founder of one Wales’ best cookery schools, all the techniques and instructions are well thought out and easy to follow, even on the more daunting recipes. And Angela’s charm comes through in her tips on how to reduce stress throughout the festive period clearly coming from experience. The 33 recipes, from the en vogue gin-soaked salmon to the luxurious Bûche de Noël (Yule log to the rest of us) should provide plenty to challenge your palette this Christmas. BUY IT: From £9.99. Waterstones Cardiff/Swansea/Newport (www.waterstones.com)