8.04.2008

And what's more, baby, I can cook

We already know that everyone here at Going40 has foodie street cred. So here's the question: what three kitchen items (gadgets, ingredients, whatever) do you reach for over and over, things you just can't live without? And I'm not talking about the basics: we all need sharp knives and a perfectly diced mirepoix (in case Chef Kyle is reading). Share some things a bit unusual, maybe that someone else would think, "Why the hell do they need those?" Limit yourself to only those things that you consider truly essential to your kitchen. I'll start. Mine include an offset icing spatula, a citrus zester, and Penzey's sweet curry powder. And you?

20 comments:

Elise said...

Ooh, this is my kind of post. Lessee, in no particular order:

1. cherry pitter

2. immersion blender

3. egg slicer

runner up: one of those little rubber grippy things that you use to open jars. What did they do before those were invented?

Eric V. said...

Also in no particular order:

1. food processor
2. KitchenAid stand mixer
3. kitchen scale

Numbers 2 and 3 are essential for my multigrain bread, and numbers 1 and 3 are equally essential for making pastry dough for pies.

the chef said...

I remain idle no more sir.

Season All

cherry wood salad bowl

Lodge number 8 skillet

Erin, A Crafty Lass said...

I'll go with a baking theme:

1. Land O'Lakes Unsalted Butter
2. Silpat
3. Kitchen Aid Mixer

Anonymous said...

14" stainless steel locking tongs

Weber Performer charcoal grill

Chipotle Tobasco sauce

Anonymous said...

1
No tits to pull
No hay to pitch
Just punch a hole
In the son of a bitch.

That's right, for me it's canned (evaporated) milk. When I buy fresh, I end up tossing most of the carton, so I don't buy fresh. I use the canned stuff straight -- makes for rich baking.

2 An apron
As I am notoriously messy around food.

3 Tin baking cups
Slightly larger than traditional cupcake/paper cup size, they make perfect portions of banana bread to take along to work.

Runner up: Windex. The original blue stuff.

Ann

Anonymous said...

Here are my three:

My wonderful, decadent egg topper.

My elegant, long ice tea spoon for stirring tall STRONG cocktails.

My fiberglass, non-stick pastry mat.

deb said...

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

deb said...

OK, seriously.

1. Instant-read thermometer for brewing oolongs at 180-190 degrees, and greens at 160-170 degrees.

2. Penzey's Sunny Paris (for eggs).

3. Phil.

MindyLouSue said...

I had to comment on this...

1. Foley fork--look it up, it is a kitchen necessity!

2. My veggie steamer

3. The Pampered Chef cut 'n seal
---crusts must be removed from all sandwiches when prepared for those under the age of hmmm, 50???

Anonymous said...

I would have to say (in no particular order):
1. Dijon mustard
2. Pasta attachment to the KitchenAid mixer
3. An old coffee grinder that has been converted to a spice grinder
Karen B.

Eric V. said...

^^^
If Tom Were Gay:

1. Martha Stewart's Cookies: The Very Best Treats to Bake and to Share

2. ALL issues of Cook's Illustrated. ('Cause I can't choose just ONE!)

3. Anything Scooter doesn't already have, 'cause we'd be married!

Eric said...

1. Champagne
2. Towel to hold Champagne bottle whilst opening
3. A glass. (It's just not as nice straight from the bottle. Trust me.)

Stephanie said...

This is complicated. There are many factors to take into consideration. First of all, which country am I in?

If I'm in France:
1. Anything from Picard (http://www.picard.fr/).
2. A microwave (Even stuff from Picard doesn't taste very good while it's still frozen. Except ice cream. Duh.)
3. Cheese knives.

If, alas, I am not in France, then I would say:
1. Takeout menus.
2. Phone.
3. Microwave.

Except that the takeout menus and phone don't necessarily have to be in the kitchen (in fact, I find it's handier to keep them in the drawer of the endtable in the living room, so that I don't have to move off the couch to get my dinner), so I guess let's scratch 1 and 2 above and replace them with:
1. Fridge
2. Diet Coke

deb said...

4. Silicon spatulas

5. Refrigerator that pipes filtered water into the ice cube maker and the water spout.

6. Many many options for setting a pretty table.

Anonymous said...

1. wine (to drink, not to cook with)
2. sri racha sauce
3. garlic press

Anonymous said...

When Becca's not around to cook:

1. Cereal bowl
2. Granola
3. Spoon
3 1/2. Rice milk

(I married her partly because she is turning me into a foodie. I still have a long way to go. See #2 above.)

Julia Gulia said...

I don't cook as much as I'd like to/should, but I really enjoy the following items:

1. Marjoram

2. Pastry blender (I'm scared of using the food processor for pastry crust)

3. Pot with holes in the lid and spout--perfect for pasta!

DM said...

1) My Epicurian Cutting Boards and Global Japanese knives (an inseparable pair)
2) Fresh limes and my citrus squeezer (again - they are an inseparable pair)
3) Spanish Smoked Paprika

Thanks for asking.

Anonymous said...

Eric - you funny guy! You're so right. But #s 1 and 2 are already true. Its #3 that's a real sticking point. Don't worry, as much as your man would like me to steal him, I won't. :-)