After years of cooking and baking in my kitchen, I have come to appreciate the art of mise en place. It’s the French culinary practice of “putting in place,” or gathering your ingredients before working on your recipe, which makes it easier to grab what you need without having to worry about scrounging in the pantry or fridge in the middle of cooking. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve messed up a recipe simply because I needed to grab an ingredient and something overflowed in a pot or deflated in a pan. Needless to say, I prepare everything beforehand, and I love to make the process an aesthetically pleasing experience. And thankfully HomeGoods has just what I need to perfect the art of mise en place.
The discount retailer is selling a set of ceramic measuring cups that are perfect for anyone who loves adding a little color to their kitchen. No, they’re not normal measuring cups or simple bowls — they’re in the shape of produce! That’s right: You can snag measuring cups in the shape of strawberries, lemons, oranges, and peppers for just $9.99 a set. Each set comes with four cups: 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup.
Not only are these cups great for your baking projects and your mise en place, but they also work well as cute serving bowls for small snacks when you have guests over. Olives, nuts, or even a homemade snack mix would all fit perfectly in these cups. Unfortunately the cups are not available online, but Amazon offers a similar product on its website.
The measuring cups from HomeGoods are made of ceramic, which means they can withstand hot foods if needed. However, to keep the intricate detail without any chipping, it’s probably best to use these measuring cups with room-temperature or cold foods, and to wash them by hand.
Buy: Lemon Shaped Measuring Cups, $23