In the last article, I wrote about the need for a few good pans. I promised one last episode in this series of kitchen reviews: electronics and everything else.

I have been thinking about electronics for a while now. I'm not sure that I can suggest much in this department that fits within our current budgets.

The most necessary electronic in any college kitchen is the microwave, but there aren't many suggestions to be made in this department. All microwaves are pretty similar. I would suggest Target or Lowe's if you don't have one.

The only true electrical suggestion I have is to get a good blender. Let's face it: a good blender comes in handy. Currently, UT is a dry campus, so I will avoid pushing the ability of a good blender to create perfect mixed drinks, but blenders can serve so many purposes.

If you watch the Food Network , almost every instructional show will make reference to a food processor. A blender is the simplest food processor. I have both a food processor and blender. If you have a good blender, the other isn't necessary.

In general, electronics and utensils are the last part of a kitchen to be purchased and thought about, but they still play an intricate role to the cooking process.

What exactly does "good blender" entail? How often have you gone to make a smoothie of some sort and instead found the iceberg that sank the Titanic? Get something simple with only two to three speeds. My Waring 60th Anniversary blender has only two speeds and does an incredible job. If you don't think you'll blend things more than once or twice a week, investing in a blender should probably wait until you're done with college. But if you make post-workout smoothies, pesto or margaritas a few days a week, take my advice and invest in a good blender.

Now, we are left with every thing else in a kitchen. So what do you need to have?

One kitchen essential that is overlooked is a set of mixing bowls. I recommend finding a set that nest within one another for easy storage. It is also important to make sure the bowls are microwave safe for reheating and microwave cooking.

As far as tools go, no kitchen is complete without a whisk, spatula, measuring spoons, colander and a set of wooden spoons.

Whisks make so many tasks easier, but it is important to have the right whisk for the job. Use a flat whisk for eliminating lumps in sauces and a balloon whisk for aerating sauces.

Spatulas come in a variety of shapes and sizes. I recommend getting one with a relatively large, two by three inch, scraping area. The scraping area should be made of heat-resistant silicon and a stainless steel handle allows for ease of use.

Recently I saw that OXO made a collapsible silicon colander. This colander folds up to the size of a plate, and is much easier to store than the traditional type.

In general, electronics and utensils are the last part of a kitchen to be purchased and thought about, but they still play an intricate role to the cooking process. I hope this series of reviews has helped you decide how to outfit your kitchen. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at rbaldus@utk.edu.