Ode to my Kitchen Hand Blender

I like an economic kitchen without too many gadgets to waste space (although a food processor, despite its girth, would be a handy item to add someday). So the fact that this little hand blender performs several tricks, is easy to clean, and stores in a small space, it's a perfect fit for this cook rookie.

There are few things that I use so often as my Cuisinart SmartStick Hand Blender. I love it so much that I buy it for every newlywed hoping they will get the same amount of amor, enthusiasm, and intensity as I have towards this thing.

Let me count a few ways that I love my hand blender so: 1) it mixes baby food (SO glad I didn't buy into some baby Beaba, Breeza or Bullet blender), 2) it purees soups right in the soup pot (no more pouring half your soup into a blender and returning it), 3) it whips up nut mixes and chops garlic in a jiffy, 4) it makes just the right amount of hummus or pesto for a snack or a dinner; 5) it actually chops and still comes with a  warrantee to boot). Okay, that's only five, but this means, I use it everyday. It's so handy (excuse the pun).

Anyway, what's your favorite kitchen gadget? I probably need more for my kitchen arsenal...