There's no easier way to add flavor and richness to a dish than with a shower of freshly grated cheese. And a cheese grater is essential for this task. If you're on the market for a new cheese grater, learn all about the different designs and features in today's graters with my guide to Shopping for Cheese Graters. And then look forward to sprinkling cheese on everything from chili to pasta to scrambled eggs!

Image courtesy Microplane.

With some leftover slices of really good bread on hand last weekend, I was inspired to create open-faced breakfast sandwiches for breakfast, a riff on a half-remembered dish I'd had at a restaurant long ago. While there are a few steps involved in the recipes for Open-Faced Breakfast Sandwiches with Spinach and Bacon, everything is cooked in the same nonstick skillet, and they're done in only about half an hour. The better to linger over another cup of coffee.

In my opinion, kale is one of the most underrated vegetables ever. It's got a milder flavor than its bitter leafy relatives like mustard greens or collards, it's sturdier and more versatile than chard or spinach, and best of all, it's incredibly good for you. I particularly love it in soups and stews, where a handful of it can be stirred in towards the end for bright color and added texture and flavor. Or try dressing up sauteed kale with a sweet-and-sour apple cider vinegar reduction and a sprinkling of pine nuts for an elegant side dish that's lovely alongside a roasted chicken. The leaves can even be roasted in the oven to make additively crispy chips.

• Kale with Shallots, Pine Nuts and Cider Vinegar Reduction
• Crispy Kale Chips
• Cranberry Bean, Sausage and Kale Stew

The 2012 About.com Readers' Choice Awards kick off today, and it's time to begin nominating your favorite companies, brands and products for Cooking Equipment. This year's categories include:

• Best Kitchenware Retailer
• Best Cookware Brand
• Best Kitchen Cutlery Brand
• Best Celebrity Kitchenware Line
• Best Eco-Friendly Kitchen Product
• Kitchenware Brand of the Year

The nomination period runs until February 15. Click here to see all of the Cooking Equipments Awards Categories at a glance, and feel free to spread the word on Facebook, Twitter and amongst friends and colleagues. Be sure to sign up for the Cooking Equipment newsletter to stay informed, and come back after February 22 to see and vote for the finalists. Winners will be announced on March 30.