Comments on: a well-edited kitchen: what's in yours? http://www.shelterrific.com/2008/06/17/a-well-edited-kitchen-whats-in-yours Where people who love their homes click Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:09:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: shelterrific » Blog Archive » help! i need to hang some pots and pans http://www.shelterrific.com/2008/06/17/a-well-edited-kitchen-whats-in-yours/comment-page-1#comment-6973 shelterrific » Blog Archive » help! i need to hang some pots and pans Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:46:33 +0000 http://www.shelterrific.com/?p=4467#comment-6973 [...] when I wrote about a well-edited kitchen? I shared my plight of way too many pots, pans, gadgets, and dishes that I’m just not ready to [...] [...] when I wrote about a well-edited kitchen? I shared my plight of way too many pots, pans, gadgets, and dishes that I’m just not ready to [...]

]]> By: shelterrific » Blog Archive » a new knife on the block http://www.shelterrific.com/2008/06/17/a-well-edited-kitchen-whats-in-yours/comment-page-1#comment-6972 shelterrific » Blog Archive » a new knife on the block Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:03:34 +0000 http://www.shelterrific.com/?p=4467#comment-6972 [...] time in the kitchen and they’ll tell you how important it is to have a good knife. I have a few favorites in my drawer, but there is a new knife I’ve got my eye on. Knifemaker Joel Bukiewiciz hand [...] [...] time in the kitchen and they’ll tell you how important it is to have a good knife. I have a few favorites in my drawer, but there is a new knife I’ve got my eye on. Knifemaker Joel Bukiewiciz hand [...]

]]> By: lisa g http://www.shelterrific.com/2008/06/17/a-well-edited-kitchen-whats-in-yours/comment-page-1#comment-6971 lisa g Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:20:56 +0000 http://www.shelterrific.com/?p=4467#comment-6971 Seems truly superfluous, but these days I can't live without my salad spinner. I participate in community shared agriculture and receive a basket of fresh, organic vegetables each week. I don't think that I've ever eaten so many greens in my life. Needless to say, the salad spinner is a major time saver, making drying veggies super easy. Proper cleaning and storage greatly extends shelf life. Seems truly superfluous, but these days I can’t live without my salad spinner. I participate in community shared agriculture and receive a basket of fresh, organic vegetables each week. I don’t think that I’ve ever eaten so many greens in my life. Needless to say, the salad spinner is a major time saver, making drying veggies super easy. Proper cleaning and storage greatly extends shelf life.

]]> By: Rosa http://www.shelterrific.com/2008/06/17/a-well-edited-kitchen-whats-in-yours/comment-page-1#comment-6970 Rosa Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:16:43 +0000 http://www.shelterrific.com/?p=4467#comment-6970 Before our recent move from the East to the Mid-west, I really took a good look at our kitchen things and did a lot of purging. I got rid of an extra set of cookware--I put two sets in my registry in '99 and got both sets as gifts. I only really used one. Dishware that I didn't love--I bought it for entertaining, but we never had anyone over. My aunt was happy to receive. I also had a mismatched set of Corelle that dh and I brought into the relationship. Those went too. As replacements, I bought White Corelle because I have small kids that needed a light plate to carry to and from the table. I bought a set of 12 and it is our entertaining set too. Plasticware--I have a nice set of glassware with lids from Martha Stewart, so I didn't need smelly and stained plastic for storage. I got rid of the sippy cups--does a 4 and 6 year old need sippies? I replaced them with plastic tumblers. I got rid of all collectible mugs, travel coffee mugs, that superset of glass cups that were given to us at our wedding, which I hated to move around for almost 9 years. Mismatched silverware--I bought a nice set of 12 that all match. I became more organized with storing the extra measuring spoons, cooking spoons, etc. Because I know that I use them all. I also don't have a ton of small appliances. I know what I can manage, and what needs to be let go. With the exception of the plasticware, I donated or gifted all the items that I parted with. It felt good, and I have reaped the rewards of being generous by getting some good luck in return. Before our recent move from the East to the Mid-west, I really took a good look at our kitchen things and did a lot of purging.

I got rid of an extra set of cookware–I put two sets in my registry in ’99 and got both sets as gifts. I only really used one.
Dishware that I didn’t love–I bought it for entertaining, but we never had anyone over. My aunt was happy to receive. I also had a mismatched set of Corelle that dh and I brought into the relationship. Those went too. As replacements, I bought White Corelle because I have small kids that needed a light plate to carry to and from the table. I bought a set of 12 and it is our entertaining set too.
Plasticware–I have a nice set of glassware with lids from Martha Stewart, so I didn’t need smelly and stained plastic for storage.
I got rid of the sippy cups–does a 4 and 6 year old need sippies? I replaced them with plastic tumblers.
I got rid of all collectible mugs, travel coffee mugs, that superset of glass cups that were given to us at our wedding, which I hated to move around for almost 9 years.
Mismatched silverware–I bought a nice set of 12 that all match.

I became more organized with storing the extra measuring spoons, cooking spoons, etc. Because I know that I use them all. I also don’t have a ton of small appliances. I know what I can manage, and what needs to be let go.

With the exception of the plasticware, I donated or gifted all the items that I parted with. It felt good, and I have reaped the rewards of being generous by getting some good luck in return.

]]> By: shelterrific » Blog Archive » five things we learned last week http://www.shelterrific.com/2008/06/17/a-well-edited-kitchen-whats-in-yours/comment-page-1#comment-6969 shelterrific » Blog Archive » five things we learned last week Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:09:08 +0000 http://www.shelterrific.com/?p=4467#comment-6969 [...] 1. Pairing down your kitchen to just the essentials is NOT easy. When asked what she would edit out, Holly summed up most of our thoughts by saying: “Holy moly, I don’t think I could part with ANYTHING I have.” Chara, on the other hand, did come up with a few things that could go: “The hard cheese grater, egg slicer, the cheap measuring spoons, the 4 large casserole dishes — wedding presents… need I say more?” What would you keep or throw out in your kitchen? Click here to weigh in! [...] [...] 1. Pairing down your kitchen to just the essentials is NOT easy. When asked what she would edit out, Holly summed up most of our thoughts by saying: “Holy moly, I don’t think I could part with ANYTHING I have.” Chara, on the other hand, did come up with a few things that could go: “The hard cheese grater, egg slicer, the cheap measuring spoons, the 4 large casserole dishes — wedding presents… need I say more?” What would you keep or throw out in your kitchen? Click here to weigh in! [...]

]]> By: Chara http://www.shelterrific.com/2008/06/17/a-well-edited-kitchen-whats-in-yours/comment-page-1#comment-6968 Chara Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:55:47 +0000 http://www.shelterrific.com/?p=4467#comment-6968 This is such an appropriate question for me right now. We're buying a house and we're going to have to gut the kitchen. I love the way open shelving looks and feels in a kitchen so I'm going through all of my kitchen stuff to see what I really need. What do I have that I use all the time? -4 in. knife -Set of 3 mixing bowls in a creamy green- bought at Big Lots because I like the color and they end up on my table as serving dishes all the time. -Sunbeam Breadmaker- not the best one out there but I'm kind of hard on them. - My medium sized Chili pot. - Wooden spoons - my pyrex 2 cup measuring cup. What do I have but never use? - The coffee maker- I bought a french press since I'm the only one who drinks it. - The hard cheese grater, egg slicer, the cheap measuring spoons, the 4 large casserole dishes- wedding presents... need I say more? - My muffin tin (only once in a blue moon does it come out) - My china (to my frustration- it's all got to be cleaned by hand and I am a little afraid I'll break it). This is such an appropriate question for me right now. We’re buying a house and we’re going to have to gut the kitchen. I love the way open shelving looks and feels in a kitchen so I’m going through all of my kitchen stuff to see what I really need.

What do I have that I use all the time?
-4 in. knife
-Set of 3 mixing bowls in a creamy green- bought at Big Lots because I like the color and they end up on my table as serving dishes all the time.
-Sunbeam Breadmaker- not the best one out there but I’m kind of hard on them.
- My medium sized Chili pot.
- Wooden spoons
- my pyrex 2 cup measuring cup.

What do I have but never use?
- The coffee maker- I bought a french press since I’m the only one who drinks it.
- The hard cheese grater, egg slicer, the cheap measuring spoons, the 4 large casserole dishes- wedding presents… need I say more?
- My muffin tin (only once in a blue moon does it come out)
- My china (to my frustration- it’s all got to be cleaned by hand and I am a little afraid I’ll break it).

]]> By: Michele http://www.shelterrific.com/2008/06/17/a-well-edited-kitchen-whats-in-yours/comment-page-1#comment-6967 Michele Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:49:57 +0000 http://www.shelterrific.com/?p=4467#comment-6967 All my knives are essential. What's really helped my storage is getting a magnetic knife rack. I can't live without my colander! All my knives are essential.
What’s really helped my storage is getting a magnetic knife rack.
I can’t live without my colander!

]]> By: Holly http://www.shelterrific.com/2008/06/17/a-well-edited-kitchen-whats-in-yours/comment-page-1#comment-6966 Holly Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:24:16 +0000 http://www.shelterrific.com/?p=4467#comment-6966 Holy moly, I don't think I could part with ANYTHING I have. My favorite pan might be the large "chef's pan" that I got on sale at Tuesday Morning. It's from the "Calphalon Contemporary Stainless" series - a nice, wide pan, about 4 inches deep and holds 3 quarts total. I fry, saute, steam, caramelize - I can do basically anything in that pan besides eggs! It heats beautifully and evenly and cleans up like a dream. I got 2-qt and 8-qt saucepans at the same time (from the same series), and those are the three items I use most in my kitchen. The 8-quart has cooked everything from a Thai winter stew with tofu and butternut squash to a wickedly delicious pot full of chocolate caramel for gift-giving. These are so superior to any other pans I've had that I'm almost willing to give up my dream of upgrading to All-Clad. Almost. I also have a lot of bakeware - I love baking and have recently started a smidge of catering. I have muffin/cupcake pans (regular and mini); cake rounds in 9 inch, 8 inch and 6 inch; a few casserole dishes, pie plates (one of which is filled with a no-bake strawberry pie right this minute), cookie sheets, jelly roll pans, loaf pans and a heavy-duty square Calphalon baking dish I couldn't resist for some reason but have hardly used. (Maybe that's the item I should pitch.) Big equipment I can't live without: stand mixer/food processor Ditto on this little stuff: wooden spoon, silicone spatula, candy thermometer, plastic piping bags/icing tips, parchment paper (after years of trying both, I like the results of parchment much better than those Silpat mats I used to swear by) Holy moly, I don’t think I could part with ANYTHING I have. My favorite pan might be the large “chef’s pan” that I got on sale at Tuesday Morning. It’s from the “Calphalon Contemporary Stainless” series – a nice, wide pan, about 4 inches deep and holds 3 quarts total. I fry, saute, steam, caramelize – I can do basically anything in that pan besides eggs! It heats beautifully and evenly and cleans up like a dream. I got 2-qt and 8-qt saucepans at the same time (from the same series), and those are the three items I use most in my kitchen. The 8-quart has cooked everything from a Thai winter stew with tofu and butternut squash to a wickedly delicious pot full of chocolate caramel for gift-giving. These are so superior to any other pans I’ve had that I’m almost willing to give up my dream of upgrading to All-Clad.

Almost.

I also have a lot of bakeware – I love baking and have recently started a smidge of catering. I have muffin/cupcake pans (regular and mini); cake rounds in 9 inch, 8 inch and 6 inch; a few casserole dishes, pie plates (one of which is filled with a no-bake strawberry pie right this minute), cookie sheets, jelly roll pans, loaf pans and a heavy-duty square Calphalon baking dish I couldn’t resist for some reason but have hardly used. (Maybe that’s the item I should pitch.)

Big equipment I can’t live without:
stand mixer/food processor

Ditto on this little stuff: wooden spoon, silicone spatula, candy thermometer, plastic piping bags/icing tips, parchment paper (after years of trying both, I like the results of parchment much better than those Silpat mats I used to swear by)

]]> By: Krissy http://www.shelterrific.com/2008/06/17/a-well-edited-kitchen-whats-in-yours/comment-page-1#comment-6965 Krissy Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:59:25 +0000 http://www.shelterrific.com/?p=4467#comment-6965 My cast iron skillet is the one item I couldn't live with out.....and a spatula. Really, that is all I need. I saute veggies/tofu/all kinds of fake meat in there and also make pancakes and that kind of stuff, plus you can put it in the oven. I used it to make a pineapple upside down cake the other night. If I had one pan I had to have forever it would be this pan. Plus, the iron in the pan gets in your food and contributes to iron in your diet! It's win win. My cast iron skillet is the one item I couldn’t live with out…..and a spatula. Really, that is all I need. I saute veggies/tofu/all kinds of fake meat in there and also make pancakes and that kind of stuff, plus you can put it in the oven. I used it to make a pineapple upside down cake the other night. If I had one pan I had to have forever it would be this pan.

Plus, the iron in the pan gets in your food and contributes to iron in your diet! It’s win win.

]]> By: Deb Schiff http://www.shelterrific.com/2008/06/17/a-well-edited-kitchen-whats-in-yours/comment-page-1#comment-6964 Deb Schiff Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:44:42 +0000 http://www.shelterrific.com/?p=4467#comment-6964 Tell me then, what are your most used/loved/essential kitchen items? --Food processor, stand mixer, immersion blender, wooden spoon, silicone spatula. What one item can’t you live without? --Well, when it comes down to it, I could probably live without most things. However, the super-sharp Global chef's knife is pretty essential. What’s taking up space in your cabinets and drawers, but you just can’t seem to find the courage to toss it out? --Nothing. If I had a bigger kitchen, this wouldn't be an issue. ;) Tell me then, what are your most used/loved/essential kitchen items?

–Food processor, stand mixer, immersion blender, wooden spoon, silicone spatula.

What one item can’t you live without?

–Well, when it comes down to it, I could probably live without most things. However, the super-sharp Global chef’s knife is pretty essential.

What’s taking up space in your cabinets and drawers, but you just can’t seem to find the courage to toss it out?

–Nothing. If I had a bigger kitchen, this wouldn’t be an issue. ;)

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