What does a chef and recipe developer always have stocked in her kitchen? Pasta, of course!
Meredith Hayden, a.k.a. Wishbone Kitchen, exclusively filled E! in about all of her kitchen non-negotiables, from gadgets and tools to the pasta shape she's currently obsessed with.
Meredith recently partnered with Barilla to celebrate the organic certification of their Al Bronzo line and the launch of the sauce-gripping Radiatori shape, and says pasta is always well-stocked in her kitchen.
"Growing up in New Jersey, our default meal was pasta. And the organic Al Bronzo line is just a perfect example of how really high-quality pasta makes such a difference in cooking," Meredith explained. "The things I can't not have on hand is always pasta and jarred sauce, whether it be a homemade jar of sauce or a store-bought jar of sauce."
Just in time for summer entertaining season Meredith is spilling even more kitchen must-haves that need to know about, below.
What's a kitchen gadget under $25 that you think everybody needs?
"I love a microplane, I have multiple in both my apartment and my house. I love using it for grating Parmesan cheese, for citrus zesy, and then I also love to use it for garlic and ginger. So instead of finely chopping garlic, I always just use a microplane," Meredith shared.
"A great microplane is my favorite kitchen tool," Meredith told us. This one has sharp stainless steel teeth that allows for grating in both directions, with a soft-grip handle that allows for a comfortable hold.
What's your favorite way to prepare pasta for summer?
"I just made this tomato pasta dish with the [Al Bronzo by Barilla] Radiatori, and it was a five tomatoes sauce," Meredith shared. "It was tomato paste, canned tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, roasted tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes."
Meredith explained, "the way the Radiatori is able to sort of grab onto all of that sauce, it was just a perfect bite of pasta."
Do you have any summer entertaining tips for girls nights or dinner parties?
Want to throw your own pasta party with friends this summer? Don't forget to invite us, and order these essentials we curated!
Get dinner party inspo and delicious recipes from Meredith's cookbook.
Even if you're not baking anything in this adorable tomato cocotte, it will look stunning on the table! Add some bruschetta and dig in.
Order three of these Euro summer-inspired bowls for serving your pasta options out of and enjoy!
Your favorite grilled protein and veggies will look even better when served from this platter.
Whether you're dining inside or al fresco, this linen tablecloth is the perfect piece to build your tablescape around.
For serving up dessert after dinner, how fun are these plates? Made in collaboration with AQUA and Lisa Says Gah, these are serving fun summer energy.
What's your preferred way to eat ice cream? Straight from the pint, from a mug, or in a bowl?
How good does ice cream chips and dip sound?! Whether you want to enjoy ice cream Meredith's way, or make a traditional cone, this fun gadget makes them fresh and tasty at home.
Any other kitchen gadgets you're obsessed with right now?
Meredith loves that "they have all these different sizes and all the different sizes use the same lid," which makes it easy (and satisfying) to store leftovers and more.
Meredith shared that she recently went back to using a "tried and true" Braun blender, which allows for precise control over your texture.
Looking for more? These are the travel products we'd buy before summer trips start.
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