Friday, September 5, 2014

Essential Tools for the kitchen.

We all have opinions on just what we consider essential tools in a kitchen.

 I know I have opinions, and I'm more than happy to share them with you here. 

But really, it's interesting to me to see what some people consider an 'essential' tool and something that they could never, ever cook without.

I've asked people this very question, and it's so much fun to hear what they consider their 'essential tools'.   The funny part, most people don't mention the one tool that no one can cook or prepare food without.

It's not something you buy or inherit, or even create.  Although I guess you could say it is created or made.

I'm talking about 'YOU'.  You are the most essential item in your kitchen, whether it's a place you want to be or a place you don't want to be, but you are the "ONE".  If you are the main food preparer in your home, you are the most essential tool.

Now that I got that out of the way, I want to tell you about a few of my fun tools.

Apart from me that is.

I was going through my kitchen and thinking about some of the fun stuff I own, that I use to prepare food with, aka TOYS. 

I started out taking pictures of this and that and the other, and before I knew it, I had a whole post, and then enough for more than a single post.  So, bear with me and let me share just a few of the Toys I play with in my kitchen.,


 I got these last year, or maybe it was the year before.   I'd seen a french rolling pin somewhere, and decided I wanted one.   I have your standard rolling pin, which I've had for many years, but...
I wanted this one.  And the sheet to roll stuff out on.  I love this, especially when I'm making a Kringle and need to figure out length and width.  And I like the circles on here too.  I like knowing if the pastry I rolled out will fit into the pie pan or not.   When I first got married, I didn't own a rolling pin.  I used an empty vodka bottle.  And it worked great, but... I wanted a rolling pin, so I finally got one.  Just want to say that you don't always need the fancy stuff.  It's fun to have, and useful, but not always a necessity.  And I still use an empty liquor bottle from time to time, especially when I'm rolling something out that needs to stay chilled.  I can fill the bottle with water and ice chips.   I do know they make a rolling pin that you can add iced liquids to, but I don't have space in this kitchen to store something like that. And it gives me an excuse to finish off that bottle of? Or at least open it.


 A few years back I got an immersion blender, and I used it to puree veggies in soups, to disintegrate the ummm, lumps, in my gravy and I loved it.  I still have that original one by the way, but I got this one awhile back.  I can not only use it to puree, but I can whip, beat and generally create stuff using the attachments.   I love my little blender.  And it also has a little food processor bowl you can attach it to, I forgot to take it out and pose it along with the rest of the stuff.  




 I know you're not supposed to put the cart before the horse or in this case, the knife sharpener before the knife.   I still want a Wustof Nakiri knife, but until I can afford one, I'll just have to settle for this little beauty.  Best part, it helps me keep my existing knives sharp. 
In other words, a good knife sharpener is a handy thing to have.




You may not need a Microplane, but they are a nice thing to have.  I watched one of my sisters use one a few years ago to grate fresh ginger into a recipe she was making.   I had to to have one, and luckily for me I got a gift card to store that you can buy all kinds of toys at.  So,  I got the one at the back and I use it a lot.  Especially on the ginger I keep in my freezer.   I bought the one at the front last year, I thought it would be great for hard cheeses, but it's not as handy.   I might still find a use for it. 







and, last in this series of useful tools.   Most of us have a pizza cutter in the drawer, and we use it.  Although I've managed to slice my thumb open when the little thumb guard failed and the whole wheel broke apart.   Which is where the blade at the back comes  into play.   It was an impulse buy in the clearance bin at Shopko over 20 years ago.  And I love it.  I use it to slice pizza, of course, but I also use it to slice my Vanbakkelser, or my   Kringle or  the Caramelized Shallot and Mushroom Tart.  And there are lots of other stuff I've used it for as well.






Now I'm curious, what essential tool/s do you have in your kitchen, apart from yourself, that is?





Sidsel Munkholm - Author
Sidsel Munkholm - Author

Sid loves to cook, feed people and have fun in the kitchen. She shares her successes and the involuntary offerings she sometimes gives the kitchen goddess as well. And she's still looking for the mythical fairy to help her clean the kitchen after a marathon cooking session. Currently working on a cookbook showcasing the recipes from her Danish heritage.

2 comments:

  1. The first thing I thought of was my set of stainless steel bowls. Not really a toy, but I've used these for 40 years (I'm on my 2nd set) & I can't cook without them! The largest one is for mixing everything from meatloaf to coleslaw. The medium one is for my 'big salad' I eat for lunch. I use every size in the set for something & they last forever! Love em!

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  2. I used to have a set, but the largest one I had got used in the attic for a leak, and I didn't want to use it anymore for food prep. But I still have my medium and small ones, and they get used, a lot. Nothing like having a good set of bowls.

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