What is the one thing in the kitchen you can't do without?

For me, there are several things. I can't do without a fridge or stove...or, dishwasher. (I have a garbage disposal...but, it is somewhat superfluous...since we're on a septic system...and, we have to be careful what we put into it. We should have a compost pile...but, we don't...yet!) :-)

But, besides the basics, the one thing in the kitchen I can't do without is my coffee maker!

:donut:

What's YOUR indispensible kitchen item?

(CanuckAmok flees the inevitable taunts of "miogynist! Misogynist!").

Seriously, I try to cook, but I swear that if Mrs. Amok wasn't around most dinner times, I'd have starved to death years ago. I've actually semi-poisoned people with my poor attempts at cooking, albeit not intentionally.

When I was single, I made a date a salmon dinner, and we both nearly died from some sort of food poisoning. As soon as she was able to speak, I was given my walking papers!

one must have a helper. Two cooks in the kitchen is fine so long as it's not me as the primary one. I like to supervise.

My Global 10" chef's knife and my cast iron skillet.

at my sister's house. I cleaned it, seasoned it and now use it daily.

It's amazing what people will throw away.

not being a smartass. See above for an idea of my kitchen skills. WHat does 'seasoning' a skillet mean?

Something with a high flashpoint, like peanut oil. Then rub out the excess as it cools.

Necessary with cast iron as it rusts without it.

with boiling water, then emptying it and rubbing olive oil into it and wiping with a towel..then you cook it it and instead of scrubbing it with cleansers, you again heat water to clean it, wipe it with oil and then store it...never using soap..only hot water and oil to clean and treat it with.

n/t

Clean it thoroughly.
Coat the inside with a very thin layer of oil. (peanut oil works fine)
Put it in a warm oven for a long time.
300 degrees works
Leave heat on for an hour.
Turn off oven and leave pan in it until oven and pan are cool. (overnight)

Cooked on oil is like a layer of Teflon if it is done right.
Don't season too often or the coating will become too thick and start chipping off. (Experience speaking)

Never clean in dishwasher.
Don't soak in water.
Don't use harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbers.
I usually washed in warm soapy water without destroying finish.
A friend has used Comet or Ajax and the pan still held the finish.
(Bon Ami might be a little gentler on the finish)


The waterless salt scrub.
Add table salt to dirty pan. Put pan on burner at medium heat. Use wooden spoon to "scrub" the pan with the salt. Dump dirty salt into trash.
(Be careful, if the salt is still too hot it will melt plastic trash bags.) Wipe out remaining salt with paper towel. If food stuck because there is no finish remaining on the bottom, re-season.

Gotta have one to cook eggses. Can't cook eggses without one. I think I'll go cook some now in butter and sugar with some cheddar sausage. Eggs Jefferson.

I can cook on gas or electric, and I've lived with bad knives. I refuse to live without my microwave oven. I will allow, I'm pretty fond of my Farberwear too, but the Microwave is my big love.

Laura

especially broccoli:

http://in.news.yahoo.com/031017/139/28ltf.html

Microwave blasts out broccoli's health benefits: Study

London, Oct 17 (ANI): Microwave and broccoli must be kept as far away from each other as possible because the former tends to take away the latter's health benefits.

In fact, steaming the leafy greens is a better option as its nutritional value is retained this way.

A new Spanish study, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, has found that up to 97 per cent of broccoli's antioxidant compounds, which have been shown to protect against cancer, reduce the risk of heart disease and benefit many chronic illnesses, were obliterated when it was microwaved.

To be more precise, microwaved broccoli lost 97, 87 and 74 percent of three major antioxidant compounds as compared steamed broccoli's 11, eight and zero percent....

Um, and my seasonings.
And the Quick Chop.
And the George Foreman Grill with bun warmer.
And the Blender.
And the Chef's Torch. (Okay, so I don't actually use it, but it's a freaking blowtorch, man!!!)

But take my damn electric range, please. I live in an apartment so I guess I'm stuck with it.

since I don't cook that often

Oh come on, someone had to say it. And I'm lying about it, anyway!

Little bro! You're letting big sis down!

Not that I don't cook, but my wife sure won't, so if I'm too busy to cook, we'll starve if I don't order out.

That is so damn funny!

:D

is my herb garden in the back yard...fennel, garlic chives, onion chives, two kinds of tarragon, two kinds of oregano, lemon grass, parsely, rosemary, dill, basil (two kinds sweet and lemon) cilantro, and several types of peppers.

No matter what I am making for dinner..I go outside and gather herbs..I swear I can cook without utensils but I would be lost or broke without my garden.

And a real cutting board. I have at least 15 knives, and two cleavers, and use them all.

I usually bring ingredients for a salad to a potluck and cut and assemble it there, but I usually forget knife and board. Inevitably, I'll ask for a knife, only to hear "There's one around here somewhere!" So we find the dull knife. I'll then ask for their cutting board, and the hostess will point to the pebbly glass thing on the counter. Argh! I finally got around to carrying a couple of knives and a plastic board in the van at all times.

nothing else matters

.

I can go w/o a spoon, knife, and other utensils, but I cannot go without my fork.

Not because I don't cook, but rather quite the opposite. I've had to use resourcefulness to create meals more than once in my life, and I've got quite a few more tricks up my sleeve yet.

....and french press.

chop, slice and mix.

'nuff said

It's got a nice plastic ridge on the end for bashing away at the really tough stuff.

During my husband's bachelor days, he didn't have any plates, so he just ate out of a Frisbee.

eom

n/t

Oh, I've got the obligatory fridge, freezer, stove, microwave, and toaster oven. We've got a gas grill and smoker on the patio, too.

No matter how I cook or what I cook, it ain't getting cooked without me. Even though I don't cook on the grill or in the smoker or even that turkey fryer where we overcook turkeys, I make the rubs and marinades for the meat that gets cooked there.

Maybe I should narrow "me" down a bit. It's my hands and my nose that do the cooking.

We don't have a garbage disposal and we do have a septic system. Our compost pile is vegetable scraps thrown over the old septic tank lid or in a gully under a tree. What the critters don't eat is turning into some nice soil. It would be better if I could pirate the coffee grounds. ;-)

Had to cook on my mother's electric stove over Christmas--and hated it.

My cast iron cookware is a very close third.

I guess that's 2 things.

sorry.

I'm the only one left in the whole USA who uses one....but I couldn't do without it for washing greens and veggies. It's as important as my one old "paring knife" which people laugh at also because the handle is almost worn through. I guess my little paring knife would be second.

I have fancy "chef knives" don't use 'em. Use my little paring knife for anything that's a veggie and that includes up to eggplant size. After that I go up a notch, but I get lots of groans over both the "spinner and my contortions with the paring knife." :D

I still use mine. But, lately, I must admit to buying those *cough* pre-packaged salads at the market. I know they're expensive...but, they're so convenient. I just wonder how clean they actually are when they say "pre-washed" and ready to use.

the WINDOW!

i have to have a look first thing in the yard, at the day becoming.

dp

Life wouldn't be worth living without onions and garlic.

:)

and gas stove. I must be a kitchen snob, since unless friends have these essential items (as well as high quality cooking oil--extra virgin olive) I won't cook at their homes. I love to cook for others, but they have to have the right gear, otherwise it's just frustrating.

My post-Christmas consumer fantasy--to get a 15 cup cuisinart on sale...