I'm old, but not so old that I can't learn new things. In fact I shoulda said that 2024 would be my year to try new stuff. I've been watching Youtube cooking shows and one of the items that all the chefs swear by are these deli containers. What makes them so great is that the lids fit all the sizes. I love this idea. I can stack all of these in one tiny footprint and never have to search for a fitting lid. Sigh. So happy. They freeze, go in the dishwasher and are great to use for my next fave item:
The immersion blender, or Mix Stick as I call it. I've had this a long time, but only recently realized how often I am using it. Salad dressings, soups, gravies or sauces, applesauce from cooked apples, and the real star, Dave's milkshakes. Of course I have a regular blender, and a Cuisinart, but this tool is so quick, quiet in comparison, and easy to clean and store, that I rarely resort to the larger blender at all. Still have to try hollandaise with it, which might be a trick to blend while pouring in the melted butter, but worth a try.
For my birthday I bought myself a cordless Kitchen Aid mixer. O my! I am so in love. It is rechargable in like 10 minutes, but so far I have used it often and it is still charged up. It comes with two sets of beaters, the other set doesn't have those black rubber edges. I had a big red Kitchen Aid stand mixer, but it was too much for this small kitchen, weighs a lot to put away, and I ended up giving it to my niece, who also has no room to store it, so it lives at my sister's house. Greatest attribute: quiet running, and really powerful for a hand mixer.
Pop up parchment paper. I have rolls and rolls of this in two sizes, name brand and store brand but this one from Dollar Tree is the best. Who knew? It is just so handy, right size and best price of all the kinds I have. I use it for bacon in the oven alot and then just toss the mess out, and we're done. Of course this works great for roasted vegs and homemade bread (sans baking dish). 
Now this invention took way too long to come to the home cook. I love this so much. It was unavailable for months after I ran out of the first roll, but it is back now and I am so relieved. They've improved the box, making it more sturdy, which was a smart move.
I bought this oil bottle at an estate sale and wrapped it in polymer clay, because olive oil needs to be in the dark. I can keep it on the counter, at my fingertips when I need it, and not have to deal with the ugly bottle.
And last but not least, this is my fave item. I got this at an estate sale, and since this new house had only two teeny drawers, I just popped the silverware in it and got used to having it sitting out. Now even with all the nice drawers I have, I figure this is worth keeping just as it is. The best part? No crumbs in the drawer. Arrgghhhh. That was always my bugaboo. Plus when nears being empty, I know it time to run the dishwasher. 
I love reading about people’s favourite kitchen gadgets! 😂. Corinne
ReplyDeleteI think I am going to have to take a trip to Smart n Final for a few of those items. The deli containers for one. I cook for one so if a recipe makes more than one serving I like to store in one serving containers. My local store isn't providing the Ziploc small containers any more and not even their store brand. They are all large now. I don't feel like investing in Rubbermaid or Tupperwaire and these restaurant deli containers look like the solution. Universal lids are a bonus.
ReplyDeleteI have a nice stick blender but don't use it very often. I should use it more.
I got an Instant Pot so I could get rid of the rice cooker, crock pot and pressure cooker from the kitchen and have only one appliance. That and my Oster Kitchen center which is a mixer, blender, food processor and even a can opener, juicer, ice crusher and has an attachment for pasta and making sausage. I've even make ice cream. I've done all of those things just not very often.
I'm about to make myself an island on wheels out of a small sideboard. The wheels are essential so I can move it around depending on what I am doing. It will also give me extra storage and workspace as I lost a cabinet when I put in a dishwasher.
When I run out of parchment paper and plastic wrap I will have to look for those.
Smart N Final caters to the food service industry but is open for retail purchases so I think that is the best place to start looking.
Mary, have you considered having your own blog? I think you would like it and get a lot of readers.
DeleteI have two Wordpress blogs I rarely post on. I have a private journal with access to only a few friends and have a hard time keeping that up. Plus I think most of my day to day would be pretty boring. I have considered a YouTube channel of nothing but filming me struggling to open boxes, packages, bags and other things that are all marked "open here" but take a machete and a jackhammer to open. It has become a pet peeve of mine that I must use a box cutter or scissors to open everything. I think the only things I don't need them for is a carton of milk and ketchup and occasionally I even have to take a knife to a carton of milk.
DeleteThis small kitchen is very beautiful and practical.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas here, love the utensil container, I might have to have a hunt around our stores, our stick blender has been with us for a long time, wouldn't be without it and as you say its easier than fixing up the larger one - same for us. Super oil bottle.
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