Kitchen Essentials
I suppose every housewife has her favorite tools. I have a few things that I've loved since before I married and still love today. There are also a few things I've been introduced to that I wonder how I ever got along without. Tools can really make a difference on efficiency in the kitchen.
Cast Iron - The original non-stick cookware. You can cook with it on the stove, in the oven & out on the camp fire. I have a little one for our fresh farm egg breakfasts. It works wonderfully for plain fried eggs or western omelets. I have a 10" for general purpose, a cool green enameled one a friend gave me for my birthday (I'd rather have new cast iron than new shoes!), a DEEP skillet I use for beef stew or spaghetti sauce, and a small dutch oven my dad gave me that I use for Granny's Apple Grunt.
Batter Whip - I had a friend ask me about my batter whip after watching me make biscuits with total fascination. She had never seen such a device and was awed at how I used it for the whole task. I thought everyone made biscuits that way! When the handle broke, I about cried. I had a terrible time finding one online. The actual name of this essential device is "fish spatula". I had never considered using my precious batter whip for fish. Actually, I almost always bake my fish rather than fry it... Now I know. I was delighted to have found one with a wooden handle and a curve similar to the old one I inherited ions ago. The price for these things makes them an added special treasure. Ouch! The children all know it's my favorite kitchen utensil. (Similar in sacredness to my fabric scissors...) My husband has now realized that it works really well for getting the french fries out of my small cast iron dutch oven.
Cast Iron - The original non-stick cookware. You can cook with it on the stove, in the oven & out on the camp fire. I have a little one for our fresh farm egg breakfasts. It works wonderfully for plain fried eggs or western omelets. I have a 10" for general purpose, a cool green enameled one a friend gave me for my birthday (I'd rather have new cast iron than new shoes!), a DEEP skillet I use for beef stew or spaghetti sauce, and a small dutch oven my dad gave me that I use for Granny's Apple Grunt.
Batter Whip - I had a friend ask me about my batter whip after watching me make biscuits with total fascination. She had never seen such a device and was awed at how I used it for the whole task. I thought everyone made biscuits that way! When the handle broke, I about cried. I had a terrible time finding one online. The actual name of this essential device is "fish spatula". I had never considered using my precious batter whip for fish. Actually, I almost always bake my fish rather than fry it... Now I know. I was delighted to have found one with a wooden handle and a curve similar to the old one I inherited ions ago. The price for these things makes them an added special treasure. Ouch! The children all know it's my favorite kitchen utensil. (Similar in sacredness to my fabric scissors...) My husband has now realized that it works really well for getting the french fries out of my small cast iron dutch oven.
Baking Stones - I have a special place in my heart for stoneware. Pampered Chef will always receive my appreciation for introducing me to baking stones. I love the bar pans, the 9x13, and especially the loaf pans. They are also naturally non-stick and bake so evenly.
Stainless Steel - I especially love my Tea Kettle and Coffee Peculator. I love my wooden handled spatulas and copper bottomed sauce pans.
Tupperware Bowls - Tupperware is awesome for mixing, serving, on the go, and leftovers. I have quite a collection. When the Tupperware Lady has a new pink or green piece, I'm thrilled to bring it home. (It's a good thing I don't see her often!)
Stainless Steel - I especially love my Tea Kettle and Coffee Peculator. I love my wooden handled spatulas and copper bottomed sauce pans.
Tupperware Bowls - Tupperware is awesome for mixing, serving, on the go, and leftovers. I have quite a collection. When the Tupperware Lady has a new pink or green piece, I'm thrilled to bring it home. (It's a good thing I don't see her often!)
Now I'm going to 'preach' something I repeat so very often.
Simplify
While tools are VERY important, they can also cause lots of clutter and headache. One CAN have too many kitchen utensils and gadgets. Consider what you do in the kitchen most. (...other than washing dishes) Do you love to bake? Do you fry a lot? Do you like fixing new or fancy things? Is your crock pot your life saver? Whatever your answer is will help determine what tools you need.
Consider the space you have too. If you have a small kitchen without much counter top space, you need to make sure you have a place for everything you really need and limit it to that unless you have a large pantry you can store thing in. Having a large kitchen doesn't necessarily mean you can collect lots of stuff. If you don't have a pantry, some of those cabinets need to be saved for food storage.
Be picky. If you don't love it or use it often, don't keep it! You also don't need 3 or 4 of everything. (I need to take my own advice here...) I completely understand wanting to have an extra of your favorite things, but be careful not to hoard things. God knows what you need and will provide. Trust Him and let others have the surplus of His blessings.
Consider the space you have too. If you have a small kitchen without much counter top space, you need to make sure you have a place for everything you really need and limit it to that unless you have a large pantry you can store thing in. Having a large kitchen doesn't necessarily mean you can collect lots of stuff. If you don't have a pantry, some of those cabinets need to be saved for food storage.
Be picky. If you don't love it or use it often, don't keep it! You also don't need 3 or 4 of everything. (I need to take my own advice here...) I completely understand wanting to have an extra of your favorite things, but be careful not to hoard things. God knows what you need and will provide. Trust Him and let others have the surplus of His blessings.
If this information has been helpful, please consider donating so I can keep publishing. See our disclosure policy for more details.
 |
|