I <3 my 5-inch Santoku knife. The 7-inch size is more common, but the 5-inch fits better in my small hands, and I find it's more versatile for making delicate cuts.

If you bake, a Kitchen Aid stand mixer is a must. I used my Mom's all the time when I lived at home, and now that I have my own I use mine alot.

Also, I have a Pampered Chef food chopper that I use all the time for chopping up things like vegetables and ginger for soups, omelets, etc.