Have you ever - just for the fun of it - tried turning your compost pile with a dinner fork instead of a garden fork? Of course not. Having the right tools is important and can make the difference between not only success and failure, but fun and drudgery.

Mark Bittman of the New York Times has recently written an article on what he considers the "must have" utensils and cookware that no self-respecting cook should be without. Above you'll see his choices which may not be yours. It's fun, though, to see what other people find essential and what you've managed to get along without for years without any noticeable effects on your quality of life.

Photo and graphic source: the New York Times