Eating is my favourite hobby. Cooking comes pretty close. Taking nicely styled photos of our food is a new thing. Until recently, I was sticking to cups, jars, plates and cutlery I had at home. It all changed in January. For my birthday, my mum, brothers and friends bought me lots of new small pots and plates to help with my food styling. It might have started a new addiction: hoarding props for my food photos!
Whenever I am out and about, I look for potential food styling props. In the last couple of months, I have found free wallpaper samples in B&Q, tea towels when shopping for food (Tesco & Aldi), Orla Kiely mugs in John Lewis, pretty Kilner jars for smoothies in town (Wilkinson’s, Lakeland, John Lewis), nice jars in Marks & Spencer’s, cupcake cases in the pound shop and delicate china cups in charity shops. When looking for new props online, I generally stick to three places: eBay, Amazon and Dotcomgiftshop.
When I was offered a £30 voucher to spend at Dotcomgiftshop, I started browsing the website and the list of props I fancied was way too long. In the end, I chose a range of things that would come in handy in the next few weeks. First, I went for a pretty fabric bunting for Wriggly’s first birthday party in June. I also chose a cup with matching saucer, a dessert fork, pink and white twine, paper straws as well as scissors and a scrubbing brush. Great value for money!
When I last made my white chocolate and cranberry cereal bars, I wrapped some for Beanie’s lunchbox. I used ribbon and twine to keep the baking paper in place.
You could win a £25 voucher to spend with Dotcomgiftshop
How to Enter
Just use the box below. It is easy to use and you can get more than one entry! If you are not sure how to use Rafflecopter, I have included detailed instructions below the box.
Entries are open until midnight GMT time on 19 May 2015. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The first thing you need to do is to log in with Facebook or your email address. Once you are logged in, the first and mandatory entry option is to leave a comment on this post telling me what your favourite kitchen gadget is. For extra chances of winning, check the instructions in the form. You can pick and choose a range of ways in which to enter. The only one you must click on to get into the draw is the one asking you to leave a blog post comment. You must also leave a comment for your entry to be valid.
Disclosure:
– The giveaway is open to UK residents over 18.
– I was sent given a £30 voucher for DotComGiftShop for the purpose of this review. No payment was received. All opinions and photographs are my own.
I have listed this giveaway on ThePrizeFinder, SuperLucky and Loquax.
I love my Vintage Shop Scales! I ctually purchased them from the Dotcomgiftshop! I have the set in ivory!
I really want those!
My cheese grater , i grate all sort of stuff with it
My Favourite kitchen gadget is my new Potato Ricer, I love how the ricer makes the potato look so much better than a heap on a plate xxx
Tu as choisis très bien ! J’aime beaucoup ta sélection et c’est dommage que le concours soit que pour le résidents en Uk! Snif!!
Pardon! Il faut qe je fasse plus de choses pour l’Europe. x
My favourite kitchen gadget is definitely my stand mixer. It saves me so much time when making cakes!
The toaster- I’m a toast fiend!
my Tefal Actifryer
Absolute brilliant giveaway lovely 🙂
I would enter it if it wasn’t on my blog, he he!
our electric tin opener is has loads of other gizmos on it
I love my Kenwood Chef, it makes baking so much easier
I love my tassimo- great lattes!
My potato peeler!
slow cooker! what a lifesaver 🙂
My food processor!
My favourite gadget is my Blend Active. I love to be able to make smoothies easily in the mornings when I’m rushing about!
My favourite Kitchen gadget has to be my Kenwood chef.
i love the jars, very quirky
Blender, I blend apples up and make an amazing apple pie 🙂
My electric whisk, its only a cheap one but its so useful
It has to be my electric whisk it makes things so much easier.
fridge
I couldn’t be without my kitchenaid mixer x
That’s the 1st thing on my wish list!
My favourite gadget at the moment is a cheese slicer. I’m using it on a Dutch mature gouda
My favourite kitchen utensil has to be the classic wooden spoon.
My Kettle
kettle simple as it is)
Has to be the kettle
My favourite kitchen gadget is my kettle, I can’t function in the morning until I have a cup of tea!
Stand alone mixer!
oh my gosh, I totally could have written this! I am exactly like you – no matter where I am, I am always on the look out for props! 🙂
Your photos always look stunning. You definitely know what you’re doing my lovely! I think I need a few lessons.
My potato peeler x
I love mine, too. It’s the kind of stuff I take on holidays because it is so good!
I love the reusable cake tin liners. They are cut to size, washable and save so much time and trouble when baking.
Got to be the microwave!!
This is a no brainer for me being a wheelchair user I have several gadgets that I rely on but my favourite one is my JML can opener. My mother found it so handy she bought one to, I honestly couldn’t be without it.
Mine has to be my actifry, i’d be lost without it now x
Got to be my kitchenaid i think
My George Foreman Grilling Machine x
I don’t have one but I would really like a waffle maker
my kettle for a cup of tea
garlic crusher
I do love my dishwasher, hate washing the dishes!
I can’t live without my electric kettle 🙂
What a great giveaway! My fav kitchen thing is my new Omniblend V blender!
I think mine has to be the simple veggie peeler, I’m rubbish at peeling with a knife, and I have had the same peeler since 1997 and I go into a panic when I can’t find it!!!!!!
my mandolin slicer!
my hand blender
I love my 4 slice toaster but would love a mixer.
Wow!
Thanks!
Love those props!
They’re pretty, aren’t they?
Potato peeler
I love my potato peeler, too! Couldn’t live without it.
My blender! I don’t know what i’d do without it!
Same here! My Vitamix is my 5th baby. I even considered taking it on holidays with us… oh, and I even have a photo of me cuddling it in my ‘about’ page. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is!
My stand mixer!
Potato peeler – I use it most days.
My potato ricer! 🙂
My dishwasher. Saves SO much time. Had one for years. Such a great help.
my toaster
My Electric knife.
At the moment it’s my stand mixer as I love baking but my wrist joints don’t!
My Kenwood mixer, couldn’t do without it!
My stand mixer
My whizzy stick (aka stick blender)
My blender at the moment 🙂
my electric slicer/grater
my hand whisk
My coffee machine, without a doubt! 🙂
My vegetable/potato peeler – it’s perfect and try as I might I can’t get one which is as good! I might have to sharpen it eventually!
Hazel Rea – @beachrambler
my food mixer x
My hand blender… great for blending healthy stuff like veggies so I can hide them in whatever I’m making for the kids!
My slow cooker – can get on with everything else to do and a mean has cooked itself
my favourite gadget is my smoothie maker! I use it every day!
Knife, versatile. Cutter, chopper, peeler and squasher (of garlic)
my kettle
definitely my microwave
I love my smoothie maker! I’d be lost without it 😛
cheese slicer
I’m always in a hurry so my microwave is my favourite
I love my garlic chopper since i bought it my hands are no longer smelly
Same here. My hands used to smell of garlic for a couple of days before I bought my garlic crusher!
My food processor (so useful) which I won in a competition about 25 years or more ago.
my food processor makes life so much easier!
My steamer, everything has so much more taste when steamed
my electric tin opener
mine is my kitchenaid love it
my blender, use it every day
My kettle, it’s the first thing on my mind every morning x
My favourite kitchen gadget is definitely my Kitchenaid
Are you gloating? I am desperate for one! What colour is yours?
I was lucky enough to win a lovely red one last year 🙂
No way!!!
Kitchenaid mixer
I am so jealous. I desperately want one!
My mixer! It not only makes yummy cakes but saves my arms from all that whisking too! x
My smoothie maker 🙂 <3 x
We love our smoothies at home! My Vitamix is like a member of the family, he he!
My coffee machine.
My coffee machine. I couldn’t function in the mornings without it 🙂
Same here. Coffee is definitely a must in the morning.
The slow cooker, its a godsend
My electric pepper grinder
I love mine too!
Has to be the kettle 🙂
my blender for making soup, hate washing it after though!
Blender 😀
Ice cream maker, so much better than shop bought!
i like my garlic press
My grater, not sure how I’d recreate grated cheese or grate nutmeg without it!
Love my coffee Maker xx
My juicer, I love it!
I love my George Foreman grill
My mixer
My whisk, love making frothy cream to add to desserts, coffee etc
a melon baller!
My kitchenaid.
My filter coffee maker – love it!
My slow cooker – its so handy!
My hand mixer
Coffee machine.
I absolutely love my juicer! its a fairly new acquisition and am still having fun with it! Thank u for the lovely compx
My blender… I use it for loads of things!
My microwave. Can do a lot with that if you are desperate. 🙂
Easy – my kettle
Definitely my scales. I would be at a loss baking wise without them x
my microwave
my electric tin opener so much easier
My potato masher makes lovely fluffy mash
My coffe machine
I am slightly in love with my Boss blender
Our Morphy Richards soup maker! It’s brilliant!
Difficult question – there are so many that are necessary. But an item that I didn’t think I needed but now don’t know how I managed without it is my Microplane stick grater – makes getting zest for baking an absolute doddle! Lemon – Microplane – whoosh, whoosh, whoosh – DONE 🙂
I love mine, too! I just add zest to anything and everything that need lemon juice these days.
My kettle – always love a cup of tea!
George Foreman grill – could not live without it now!
The Toaster. Everyone loves toast!
My fancy Smoothie Maker, I love it!
my slowcooker
My food processor as it used almost every day
Elastic bands – good for opening stiff jars (give better grip) and I use them all the time to close open packets etc
i have a toaster that has an egg cooker in!
I love the microwave because it’s so versatile 🙂
my slow cooker, makes cooking dinner so much easier
Has to be my espresso maker
espresso coffee machine 🙂
My slow cooker is so useful, perfect to walk in to dinner after a long day at work and it’s done all the work!
My Kenwood mixwe
my nutribullet
i love my microwave oven, my mother in law gave it to us and its amazing for roasting and jacket spuds.
I love my hand held avocado slicer thing-a-me-jig! Its so simple but genius – and I eat a LOT of avocado! 🙂
I love avocado. ‘Cado’ is also Jumpy’s favourite food in the world! x
My slow-cooker…….I love coming home after work to the lovely aroma of my meal almost ready to eat….
I love my smoothie maker – couldn’t live without it especially in the mornings for a breakfast drink.
love my toaster:)
The Toaster!!
Nutribullet it is so good x
Definitely my hand blender. Its great for soups and smoothies <3
My vintage looking microwave love it
My microwave!
My potato peeler oh my goodness i couldn’t peel without it! I am left handed and have never been able to use a knife to peel vegetables or potatoes
My hand mixer. I lust after a kitchen aid but this does the job for now!
My toastie maker 🙂
My coffee machine
My apple slicer/corer. I love it!
My kettle
My slow cooker
My coffee machine, I can not live without it 🙂
My slow cooker is perfect for lack of time!x
My slow cooker is amazing, always great to have dinner done when I get in
My Remoska, was worried when I bought it that it would just be one of those gadgets that I didn’t make enough use of, but it gets used so often
What is it?
I have lots of gadgets in the kitchen, but the one I could not do without is my toaster! Hot buttered toast in the morning is a necessity, not a luxury!
My Miele coffee machine. It’s Amazing! Keeps me going on sleep deprived days
Retro Kitchen Apple Corer
Breadmaker
It has to be my kettle. I can’t function until I’ve had a cup of tea in the morning!
The toaster
Juicer 🙂
Mine is my mini chopper and slicer.
My george foreman grill
I can’t live without my coffee machine
I use my microwave for every meal, but a good reliable knife is always the best gadget
Weighing scales
It’s probably my stick blender because it’s so much more convenient and easy to clean than the jug blender or food processor and can do so many jobs.
The blender!
My tassimo
My bread machine
The kettle!
The kettle. I love drinking tea.
My toaster, as its so quick and it means I don’t have to turn the grill on and wait for it to warm up!
potato ricer is awesome
The microwave. Essential as I have 3 young children.x
My actifry
My electric tin opener
My garlic crusher – it makes me happy to not have to chop garlic!
My hand blender xx
microwave
Blender
Yogurt maker 🙂
My coffee machine
the kettle!!
Got to be the peeler!
My coffee maker
My balance scales, with my old weights still in lb and oz. I love them, and they are so much more accurate that electric ones! 🙂
My mixer. It makes it so much quicker to get stuff in the oven and ready to eat!
Got to be my kettle – is there anything better?!
My Kitchen Aid Mixer, makes great mash too!
My garlic press is a joy
My coffee machine
The microwave
My digital scales – they’re SO much quicker and easier than the old-fashion type.
My coffee machine makes me feel alive in the morning!
Same here!
i could not live with out my kettle , but i brought a cappochio spoon and its brilliant to get in to the bottom of my jam jars
Can Opener
My Pizza cutter. It’s one of those little things that you never seem to buy and when you finally do you just can’t believe how much easier it is, and you wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.
I love my little strawberry huller 🙂
My blender. I love making smoothies and soups.
My electric whisk, use it all the time
Food processor
My Kitchen Aid blender
My mums old Kenwood Chef – its 40 years old and still going strong
Electric Can Opener
Kettle
coffee machine – just for the smell of it brewing!
My kitchen aid
my tin opener …..
I love my mixer, makes great cakes.x
This is kind of ordinary, but I have to go with our kettle. We use it multiple times a day.
My potato peeler which peels so many fruits and vegetables as well as cheese etc.
I use my vegetable peeler all the time so it’ll have to be that.
I recently bought a spiralizer, which has been fab for making courgetti spaghetti and fancy salads! 🙂
My Kitchen Aid Mixer – use it for everything.
my kettle
My food processor
My hand blender, I make a lot of soups.
my smoothie maker
My slow cooker. So easy and economical 🙂
I love love love my instant happiness in a cup maker – my coffee machine!
My cheese grater – Grated cheese is just too yummy 😀
My actifry, anything to make chips healthy!!
mixer, smoothies to pancakes!
my slow cooker as it saves me time when i finish work
My electric whisk, no more achy arms trying to whisk up meringues 🙂
My coffee machine x
My halogen oven
My Dualit handblender. I love it
my blender!
My crock pot
kettle
My Jamie Oliver Home Cooker
my slow cooker, i love it.
I love my steamer
My spiralizer. Can glam up my dodgy dinners lol
My scales! Because I’m on a diet and everything gets weighed!
My cherry red kitchen aid mixer is my favourite.
My dehydrator – makes lovely beef jerky!
My rotary cheese grater
My peeler! I use it for cheese, vegetables, fruit and everything else!
My food processor
My breadmaker
My Kenwood I love it
My corkscrew 🙂
Toasted sandwich maker, I love toasties for lunch
My kettle!
Electric Corkscrew – no explanation needed! 🙂
my brownie maker- yummmy
My potato peeler – simple, old fashioned and never lets me down
My crockpot
Soup maker. Saves so much time!
My food processor for making speeeedy cakes x
It has to be my stick blender
Kenwood Chef 🙂 It’s very old now, but still so useful!
My food processor/juicer. I love making delicious fruit smoothies with it.
my hand mixer
my microwave because I cook so many things in it and use it literally every day
My garlic zoom
My halogen oven.I can see things cooking. Less burnt offerings 🙂
my mini food chopper, a god send
I love my Dolce Gusto machine
My Phillips Airfryer
Coffee maker
My kMix stand mixer
Have you been on the mixer launch yet?
Hey, Really it was an great article to read,Waiting for another one till that get more information about ,Keep it up!