A few of my favorite things

A wise old man once said you only need a skillet, a wooden, spoon, and a fire to cook. Maybe that's true, but kitchen accessories are fun and definitely make it easier to cook. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1) Kitchen Tongs. I never used tongs until law school. What a mistake! Tongs are like fingers except you can pick up hot objects without burning yourself. I use them to toss pasta, rotate osso bucco, flip burgers, sautee onions, etc. If you don't already own them, buy a pair.

2) Dutch Oven. I love my Le Crueset dutch oven. It weighs about 20 pounds, but there is something reassuring in its heft. Like the tongs, my dutch oven is the consummate multi-tasker. I use it for soups, stews, pasta, and if I need it, a weapon (although I have to admit, the skillet version is easier to wield).

3) Good knives. I have Shun Ken Onion Knives. I love them. They are perfectly weighted, and very, very sharp. As I mentioned before, people who say that dull knives are more dangerous are lying. I know firsthand. I truly am a klutz in and outside of the kitchen, hence the name of this blog. Ask my neighbor who just happens to be an ER doctor. I have had a couple of run ins with my perfect knives that I wouldn't trade in for anything in the world. Anyway, it was nothing that a little super-glue, albeit applied under the strictest medically supervision, couldn't fix.

4) A cutting board. I leave mine out. I use it every day, and it looks nice, so it seems silly to put it away. I prefer a heavy wooden chopping block. I know I should use a different board for raw meat to prevent cross contamination, but I don't. I just wash it with soap.

5) A wooden spoon with a long handle. I have multiple wooden spoons, but my favorite one is from Italy. I paid $2 for it and it is made out of olive wood. It is hand carved, and square, rather than curved at the end.

6) multiple pot holders. I don't think this needs any further explanation. Use them.

7) Hot kitchen Fashion Accessories. Aprons are kind of reminiscent of the 1950s, but they are incredibly handy. You can wipe your hands on them, stay clean, and even make a fashion statement. One of my friends recently introduced me to Anna Maria Horner's creations. She is a blogger and a fashion designer. You can purchase her beautiful aprons online. I love them.

p.s. There are lots of other "essential" kitchen tools, but those will be the subject of future posts.

p.p.s. I might have made up what the wise man said...