Kitchen utensils-what could you not live without?

[Katie H]

expatgirl, sparrowgrass is an old name for asparagus. My favorite veggie. I have been using that 'handle' on the web for 20 years now. My two acre 'ranch' in the Ozarks is 'Sparrowgrass Hill'. I have a big asparagus bed, plenty of wild plants, and will be planting another row in the spring.

Awesome! I always wondered about the significance of your "handle." Never thought to ask my friend Google. Probably would have told me.

 

[dragnlaw]

.....do go see a specialist if you can afford one......they can help a lot........just don't take any opioids if you can avoid them........`i've only had one aspirin in the last 6 months........`i just don't want to rely on them..........

expat... my specialist tried to get me on opioids to help control the pain, after 2 weeks I threw them out. Was so dopey could not concentrate... but... aspirin, tylenol, aleve, etc - are not opioids (think opium type) those ARE addictive and like you I WILL not become dependent on them. But the others are not addictive - I gladly take them when the pain is too much. I went without sleep for 6 years thinking they were bad for me... no more... I now get a good nights sleep and many times am actually pain free. It's not perfect and it is slow getting over depression that no sleep causes and they are NOT addictive in the same way opiates are.

Everyone's metabolism is different and we all have different reactions to even the mildest medications. So what I am saying is the above works for me. It may work for you - I hope it will when you need relief but only you will be able to judge.

 

[Zagut]

Expat, I can't live without any of the toys I've acquired.

But if I must be narrowed down I'd have to say my cast iron

I have more then the pic but these old pieces hold many memories as well as function today as well as they did in the past.


Second would be the jar opener. They still make this antique but when these old hands can't do it this device always seems to get the job done.

And then I have to add my reading glasses.
Why the H E double hockey sticks do they have to print things on packages so much smaller then they did in the past?

 

[expatgirl]

Sorry, y'all, been out of commission for the last couple of days........so `i'll combine several replies.......Sparrowgrass, thanks for the explanation of your handle.....never in a million years would have guess it meant asparagus, which too, is my favorite veggie......

And Zagut, `i'm so jealous of your hanger for your iron pans.....my kitchen is just too small to have that arrangement......but `i can't live without them either........cooking chili or making cornbread......can't live without them....

And dragnlaw.......`i'm glad that you have found relief using aspirin, tylenonol, aleve, etc.....`i have degeneration in my back and neck and it's only going to get worse......so `i use them when `i have to.........so much better than getting addicted to opioids....

As for glasses.........`i have found a dollar store that `i probably have bought about a thousand pairs cause `i'm always losing them......`i have invested in two magnifying glasses.......one for the kitchen and one for the upstairs to read prescriptions, directions, ingredients, etc., etc., ```` `y'all have a great week!

 

[dragnlaw]

Dollar Store Reading Glasses LOL love them could not function without them!

Every year I gather them all up (at least one of each strength) go to my Optometrist, have my exame, then I lay out all my glasses and ask are these the right strength for doing this.. doing that.. doing the other things..
She laughs, checks them and says they are all just fine.

 

[Rocklobster]

I have a pair of magnetic reading glasses. They are a Godsend... they are part of my work equipment. Just wear them around you neck and pop them together when you need them. Never misplace your glasses again..

 

[dragnlaw]

I've seen and really like those Rock but can't remember if it was the price or availability that put me off.

Nice!

 

[Rocklobster]

I've seen and really like those Rock but can't remember if it was the price or availability that put me off.

Nice!

I'm not sure of the price, either. A friend gave them to me. He said his head was too fat.

 

[expatgirl]

I'm not sure of the price, either. A friend gave them to me. He said his head was too fat.

`i know this thread is cooking utensils but `i absolutely go along with glasses for an absolute cooking utensil necessity......and as for fat heads......your friend needs to go to a dollar store and just try them on....most are made in China, `i'm sure, and come in different sizes..some are bigger and smaller than others.......most of mine last longer than 6 months ........2 bucks a year ain't bad and my opthalmolagist said the same thing.....they're ok to use.......if `i was like my engineer husband `i would have the same pair that `i bought 20 years ago.....

 

[erehweslefox]

Could I post my mixing bowls?

And they are now available at vermont country store.

Mosser Mixing Bowl Set | Glass Nesting Bowls

These came from my grandmother's kitchen, and they are always something I reach for, I'm always trying to mix something, combine something, I like to have mixing bowls to do it. Now they are different from my specific omelette bowl, that is a another matter. touch that one at your peril!

TBS

 

[msmofet]

Could I post my mixing bowls?

And they are now available at vermont country store.

Mosser Mixing Bowl Set | Glass Nesting Bowls

These came from my grandmother's kitchen, and they are always something I reach for, I'm always trying to mix something, combine something, I like to have mixing bowls to do it. Now they are different from my specific omelette bowl, that is a another matter. touch that one at your peril!

TBS

After my mom passed I was clearing out and packing up her things I noticed that ALL her cast iron and ALL her depression glass had disappeared along with other valuables. She had "friends" and a sister that would visit and I can't prove they helped themselves to her things or talked her out of them but that stuff didn't walk away on their own.

 

[msmofet]

I still can't choose just one.

 

[dragnlaw]

I feel for you msmofet, been there...

 

[erehweslefox]

After my mom passed I was clearing out and packing up her things I noticed that ALL her cast iron and ALL her depression glass had disappeared along with other valuables. She had "friends" and a sister that would visit and I can't prove they helped themselves to her things or talked her out of them but that stuff didn't walk away on their own.

Well seems to be a convenient coincidence. Sorry you lost such legacy stuff. You can get mixing bowls from Vermont Country Store, and Lodge stuff, I mean my Beloved Wife bought me a Lodge dutch oven for my birthday.

Sorry you had to deal with that, passing of a loved one is hard enough without people stealing the good cookware!

TBS

 

[dragnlaw]

WHEEE!!! I have a new toy!!!

Got interested in oven stones for baking bread. Pizza stones available locally all seem to have handles and I don't want that. buying on line - wow,, they are expensive and with shipping charges for those weighty things does not help.

I had also seen that there are "squares" sort of like floor tiles.

By pure chance I saw a pkg of 4 tiles, ea 8x8, for about 32$ at Canadian Tire. Snapped those up real fast. Popped them in my oven and ... the oven actually heats faster and hotter! I just leave them in there on the bottom shelf. I read that some put them on the floor of the oven, but I'm afraid to as the gas is directly below that piece.

Love them. Next bread I do I will put the tiles on a higher shelf and bake the bread right on them. I'm not a pizza person but I might even make one... just because

 

[msmofet]

WHEEE!!! I have a new toy!!!

Got interested in oven stones for baking bread. Pizza stones available locally all seem to have handles and I don't want that. buying on line - wow,, they are expensive and with shipping charges for those weighty things does not help.

I had also seen that there are "squares" sort of like floor tiles.

By pure chance I saw a pkg of 4 tiles, ea 8x8, for about 32$ at Canadian Tire. Snapped those up real fast. Popped them in my oven and ... the oven actually heats faster and hotter! I just leave them in there on the bottom shelf. I read that some put them on the floor of the oven, but I'm afraid to as the gas is directly below that piece.

Love them. Next bread I do I will put the tiles on a higher shelf and bake the bread right on them. I'm not a pizza person but I might even make one... just because

What are the tiles made of? Are they glazed (I don't think glazed is good)? My stone cracked and I was thinking ? of getting tiles for the same reason you stated. What should the tiles be made of?

 

[blissful]

About reading glasses. I used the one's I found at gas stations and mega stores for a long time. Then my eyes continued (with age) to get worse little by little. I needed to find 2.25+ strength. Amazon had some reading glasses where you can pick your strength. So I bought 3, one to travel in my purse, one for the family room where my computer resides, and one for the bedroom for my books. I just LOVE these glasses.

My most favorite kitchen gadget, my kitchen scissors. I don't know how I got along in the kitchen for 50 years without a dedicated, take apart, washable, scissors just for kitchen stuff.

 

[Andy M.]

What are the tiles made of? Are they glazed (I don't think glazed is good)? My stone cracked and I was thinking ? of getting tiles for the same reason you stated. What should the tiles be made of?

If you're thinking of getting tiles for a bread or pizza stones, keep in mind the tiles in home improvement/gardening stores (Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) are not guaranteed to be food safe and could contain toxic materials. That's perfectly acceptable for garden or patio tiles but not for food applications. If you can find food safe tiles, they should be unglazed.

 

[Addie]

What are the tiles made of? Are they glazed (I don't think glazed is good)? My stone cracked and I was thinking �� of getting tiles for the same reason you stated. What should the tiles be made of?

You definitely DO NOT want glazed tiles. The safest ones are the red cotta clay ones. Like the flower pots. When I had my tiles, I always gave a light sprinkle of corn meal on them. They sort of act as ball bearings when removing a pizza with a peel.

 

[dragnlaw]

I am/was a ceramist and potter for many years... and no, these tiles are not glazed - these ones are actually made and sold, for the BBQ and/or the oven. High firing clays are perfectly food safe - as already mentioned, garden tiles are not necessarily pure clay - think (but not sure) they usually have some type of a cement like mixture in them.

The reason for no glaze is that they will (probably) disperse the heat quickly, whereas the glaze would create a barrier that the heat would have to work its way around, be something to be cleaned, cause worry with eventual crazing (unfounded) and a multitude of other reasons when a simple unglazed piece of clay will do the best job.

It will develop its own patina. Scrub like you would a Romertopf pot, never any soap, perhaps baking soda, and just water. Plus that is only if you ever even need to clean it!