I’m not trying to be an endorser of products in general, but there are some go-to products that I absolutely love and would like to share with you. The first one (I may have mentioned this in previous columns) is the Williams-Sonoma Professional Chopper. It is absolutely wonderful and I also have one for Pesach. It’s my go-to chopper.

My next must-have is a Toss & Chop. I use this all the time when I have a salad in the bowl and I didn’t have time to pre-chop the veggies. It chops as you toss, just as it says. I haven’t seen this in stores. I always buy mine online.

Another go-to product is chicken scissors. I only discovered these many years into my marriage, as my mother and her generation cleaned and cut chickens with knives. The chicken scissors allow you a good grip on the chicken and cut off the fat with ease. You can buy these anywhere.

Next on my list is the Scrub Daddy. This is a rather new product that works well in cleaning many things. I use it for dishes and other scrubbing jobs around the house. I like buying them in bulk on QVC, as they sell them in a variety of sizes.

I can’t live without my Miracle Blade Knives. They are very inexpensive, they come in a package with different sizes and shapes, and they are amazing. I bought these for dairy, meat, parve and Pesach because I love them so much! Just beware, they are very very sharp. Store them safely.

The Green Bags made by Debbie Meyer are another great product I have been using to keep my greens and fruits fresher longer. I was a bit skeptical to buy them but I eventually did and found that they really do keep the greens longer than if they were in a regular Ziploc bag.

I also love my Taylor Oven Thermometer. It allows me to probe the meat as it cooks and when the temperature reaches the desired degree, it will alert you. My theory is, if you are spending so much money on your meat, you might as well make sure it is cooked to perfection.

To clean pots and cookware, I also love a product called Astonish. It works very well. Just make sure once you open it that you keep it in a dry place. Really gets off the gook from your pots and pans. This can also be purchased online.

My final suggestion is my homemade dishwashing detergent. It takes me literally less than five minutes to make; I prepare it in bulk and it works very well.

Here is the recipe:

1 cup washing soda. You can either use 20 Mule Team made by Borax or washing soda made by Arm & Hammer

1 cup kosher salt

1 cup baking soda

3/4 cup lemon juice

Measure all the dry ingredients into a bowl and stir to combine. Then add the lemon juice. The ingredients will foam. Mix well. You can place this mixture in old ice cube trays and wait until it dries and use them as tablets. I just waited until the whole mixture dried and then dumped into a plastic bag. I just use about 2 tablespoons per load and it’s fine.

Gail Hochman has been a resident of Bergen County for over 30 years and has been blessed with many grandchildren.

By Gail Hochman