We have a theory: If you don't like to cook, then you deserve the very best in equipment. Non-cooks or timid cooks usually shortchange themselves-and that's a big mistake. It's not you who can't scramble an egg without it burning; it's that thin, poorly made pan that scorches everything in sight that makes you feel like a failure. Having good equipment is like having a bunch of friends in the kitchen who always pitch in. Sound tools help ensure success and make cooking a lot easier. If you do like to cook, good equipment makes it all the more fun.

This is a collection of the equipment and things we've used and liked for years, along with some new finds. These are our opinions and certainly not the final word on good, bad or indifferent, but we hope that here you'll find value for the money, utensils that become old friends, and gifts you'll enjoy sharing.

Lynne Rossetto Kasper

Sally Swift