Utensils to Keep in your Arsenal

A few handy dandy kitchen items you should definitely have and that I use all the time are:

13X9 baking dishes (I have 3, think that's enough?)
At least one 12 inch cast iron skillet (I use mine for frying anything with onions)
A dutch oven (I have a cast iron dutch oven from Lodge)
A crockpot
A large skillet or frying pan
Pizza pan
Tongs
Potato pealer
Multiple spatulas
Ice cream scooper (I use it for putting batter into cup cake tins)
A really good knife set
A big mixing bowl
Hand mixer
Blender
Splatter guard for your frying pan

I need to practice what I preach and get the splatter guard.  I make bacon in the pan a lot for different recipes and I'm scared to death when I do it.  The tongs come in handy for flipping the bacon but I need that splatter guard. 

If you don't already, you should really watch Alton Brown's show Good Eats on Food Network.  He's a geek after my own heart and he gives THE BEST tips on cooking and utensils.  I've gotten my cast iron items from Lodge based on his recommendations.  He's full of helpful hints and is pretty funny, too.  Even if I don't like what he's cooking I still watch him.

Did I mention I love cooking with cast iron??  These pans have a memory so they retain the flavors you cook in them.  If you don't have one, get one!  Seriously!