The Year of the Kitchen
I am deeming 2013, The Year of the Kitchen. I am one of those cooks who doesn’t pre read the recipe, one who frequently forgets to buy necessary ingredients and if a part of the recipe seems silly, just cuts it out, because I don’t understand why I must take 10 extra minutes to thicken the sauce.
I have decided it’s time to become a bit more serious about food. I received 3 cookbooks for Christmas, (all Martha) and in these she breaks down what utensils to buy, when to use them, and importantly for myself, why to use them. She also will be teaching me everything from how cut an onion to making Duck Breast with Orange Gastrique, don’t worry, I’m starting with the onion cause I have no idea what a gastrique is.
One other problem I’m running into is our kitchen equipment. Some of it is from college, like my pots and pans, some it is cheep and dysfunctional and some of it I registered for and received for our wedding and have no clue how to use. To remedy this, I made a list, I LOVE lists, of all the things that need to be replaced or that I don’t have and need. For instance, last year I learned plastic measuring spoons melt and warp in extreme heat…so metal measuring spoons made the list, but not just any, I want slender ones that can fit into spice jars. Get the picture?! I’ve cooked long enough to figure out that the shape of a bowl makes and enormous difference on how much I splatter on the wall when I stir. My list continues from there and includes everything up to a stand mixer. Since I need to replace things I already own, I’m only buying a couple of things a month, so by the end of the year I will have a complete kitchen (except for the stand mixer, I’m holding that over my head as an incentive to finish what I started so I don’t waste a couple hundo on a very heavy counter ornament.)
I’ll share my buys along the way and please share with me what you have and love! Maybe it’s a cookbook or a family heirloom serving spoon, whatever it is let me know. I’d love to hear your tips and tricks.
Thanks for hanging in there with me, I guess I was feeling a little extra wordy.
My favorite buy was the roasting pan I make my grandmother’s brisket in. However, I was just given a hand me down Immersion Blender so I don’t have to use the potato masher to blend my soups and I can’t wait to try it out!
I am so excited that you are doing this and please make sure to share your list at the end, I need to improve my kitchen!
You know, I’ve never had brisket. I find it a very intimidating cut of meat…I do however have a roasting pan, a very cheep one. It’s going on the list! But what makes for a good roasting pan??
What makes a good roasting pan in my opinion is that the cover fits on tightly and it is big enough for a 4 pound brisket (in my opinion). I will give you an easy and delicious brisket recipe and you will never fear it again, I promise!
PAMPERED CHEF! Everything! I have been slowly replacing everything in my kitchen with things from PC! I even have their pots and pans which are AWESOME! I have a stand mixer, which I really don’t use that often. We have a Kitchen Aid hand mixer that is the bomb and will go through just about anything! Where did you get the small measuring spoons? That is always a complaint that I have (that they don’t fit in the jars)
Hmm, come to think of It I have some PC items in my basement that have never been used! Yikes! I haven’t gotten the spoons yet but I think they will be coming from Sur La Table. It’s amazing how useless a simple spoon can be, and here I thought if it measures it’s good. HA!
Get cast iron, and I’ll second the recommendation on the stick blender. Great tool.
If you have a crock-pot, I can give you a no-fail brisket recipe. I buy many things from Homegoods. Your post reminded me the time I saw the move Julia & Julie. I went to the library, and borrowed that Julia Child’s cooking book and made 1 recipe.
I would LOVE to get your no-fail brisket recipe! I’ll send you an email. Thank you! And thanks for the chuckle, I love your honesty with the one recipe.