Friday, January 22, 2016

Kitchen Confessions: Must Haves

     I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I am pretty good when it comes to cooking. I really enjoy it. Some people are intimidated by the kitchen, but personally, it the place that I feel most at home. Sometimes cooking to me means popping a piece of bread in the toaster and then putting peanut butter on it. Other times it means following a recipe or just whipping together a few things that I have in my fridge. Whatever it may be, its something that doesn't seem daunting to me. It is enjoyable.
     I will admit, being in college sometimes makes it difficult to cook. I mean, just think about it. We have a tiny kitchen in our house that 4 people (including me) share. There really isn't all that much space, especially because, for some reason, all of us like to congregate in the kitchen on most occasions. Before moving in, we started thinking up what we could possibly need kitchen utensil wise. Growing up and having a kitchen filled with every gadget you could possibly dream of, I never really thought of the exact tools that I would need to make three square meals a day. So, here is my list for all of you chefs, toast burners and wine pourers.

PREPARE:

Measuring Cups// Kind of goes without saying. These are important, especially if you love to bake as much as I do. When following a recipe, especially if you are making a baked good, it is important to get the measurements just right. I personally just have some plastic ones that were fairly cheap and they do the job just right!

Cutting Boards// We just have a bunch of plastic cutting boards in a drawer in our kitchen. Most people opt for wood boards, but I personally love the plastic ones. They are easy to store and a lot easier to clean. We use them for everything from veggies, fruits and meats.

UTENSILS:

Knives and Knife Sharpener// Again, important. Even more important- make sure they are sharp. I promise you it will make your life so much easier. The sharper the knife, the easier it is to cut things and it also makes it a lot less painful if you do happen to cut yourself in the process. Also, look up a few techniques on basic knife skills and how to cut certain items. It makes prep work a lot easier and safer for those that don't feel as comfortable in the kitchen.

Tongs// For me, I probably wouldn't have thought to bring them. For me, I only think of using tongs when grilling, which I do not do while I'm at school. But honestly, I find myself reaching for these more often than I thought. I use them mainly for cooking meats and roasting different vegetables. They are also useful when plating different meals.

Wooden Spoon// I use a wooden spoon for everything. I think I mainly gravitate towards it because I am forever scared that when I am cooking and using a plastic spoon, it will melt into my food. Unrealistic fear? Probably, but it still worries me! I use a wooden spoon for all of my mixing needs.

BIGGER ITEMS:

Cookie sheets// I use these all the time from actually making cookies, scones, pork chops, chicken and roasting vegetables. I easily use a cookie sheet twice a week if not more!

Saucepan and Frying Pan// Everyone in our house uses these multiple times a day. We use them to make eggs, any kind of meet and vegetables. They really come in handy all the time!

Glass Baking Dish// I love the one that we have here. I use it to make pasta bakes or my homemade mac and cheese! It is the perfect size and it everything cooks evenly!

     As for cooking, I hope to do a little bit more of it this semester. I have a little more free time than I usually do, so I am really looking forward to testing out new things in the kitchen. I think Friday will be my day for trying something new, seeing as I do not have classes on Friday. For today, I currently have beets, butternut squash and broccoli in the oven roasting. On them I made a quick sauce of olive oil, garlic and balsamic vinegar. Once they come out of the oven I plan to put a little goat cheese on top and enjoy. The whole house currently smells heavenly!
the final product! 


Love,
Susanna

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