Claire
Master Chef
I didn't know where to put this, but I'm sure someone will move it if I'm wrong. One serious hint to all new cooks is kitchen towels. Stacks of them. Preferably white, nothing cute, no terrycloth. Many of mine actually came from the automotive department of Wal-Mart or Target. But it is wonderful to have a stack of them ready to go. If you just finished meatballs, you wipe your hands and toss. If you spill some red wine while struggling to get that darned cork out, you wipe it up and toss. If your glasses get splattered with grease, you clean them and toss. Then once a week I soak them, wash them, and start all over again. It is less than one load of laundry (certain other cotton items that need that extra something go in with them), and it sure beats those cutesy ones. Having a clean cloth at my fingertips when I need it is a necessity, and something you don't hear much about.