Comments on: The no-gimmick kitchen http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/ Practical Lifestyle Advice for Homemakers and Home Owners Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:30:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: JaneC http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-81 JaneC Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:37:37 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-81 I got a set of ten glass mixing bowls about a month ago, and I'm wondering how I lived without them (I've only had two mixing bowls for the three years that I've had my own place). There's an appropriately-sized bowl for every task, they're really easy to get clean, can go in the microwave, and are pretty enough to serve double-duty as salad bowls. I got a set of ten glass mixing bowls about a month ago, and I’m wondering how I lived without them (I’ve only had two mixing bowls for the three years that I’ve had my own place). There’s an appropriately-sized bowl for every task, they’re really easy to get clean, can go in the microwave, and are pretty enough to serve double-duty as salad bowls.

]]> By: Just about foolproof (where I am the fool) » Manolo for the Home http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-79 Just about foolproof (where I am the fool) » Manolo for the Home Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:45:08 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-79 [...] the simple stove top sort. I can’t live without mine, which I suppose makes it one of those things deserving of their countertop footprint. In fact, when my family gave me a fancy plug-in espresso maker with a milk foamer and timer, I [...] […] the simple stove top sort. I can’t live without mine, which I suppose makes it one of those things deserving of their countertop footprint. In fact, when my family gave me a fancy plug-in espresso maker with a milk foamer and timer, I […]

]]> By: Christina http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-64 Christina Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:55:17 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-64 There are few things I would run out to buy immediately if they broke. Yes, the food processor (but I only use it when cooking big meals), and my cast iron pan w/lid*, and good knives. But the number one thing I could not live without is my Hamilton Beach Brewmaster coffee maker. *I love my cast iron skillet. It came with a cast iron lid, too. If you can believe it, I got it at a flea market for $15. It looked awful. But, some oil and some time in the oven and voila! Best skillet I've got. I've had it now for 12+ years and it keeps getting better and better. There are few things I would run out to buy immediately if they broke. Yes, the food processor (but I only use it when cooking big meals), and my cast iron pan w/lid*, and good knives.

But the number one thing I could not live without is my Hamilton Beach Brewmaster coffee maker.

*I love my cast iron skillet. It came with a cast iron lid, too. If you can believe it, I got it at a flea market for $15. It looked awful. But, some oil and some time in the oven and voila! Best skillet I’ve got. I’ve had it now for 12+ years and it keeps getting better and better.

]]> By: Tizzy http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-60 Tizzy Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:04:35 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-60 Good knives and a mixer. You have no idea how badly I want a kitchenaid stand mixer but I've found that my 20 dollar Hamilton Beach hand mixer can handle almost anything I ask of it. Good knives and a mixer. You have no idea how badly I want a kitchenaid stand mixer but I’ve found that my 20 dollar Hamilton Beach hand mixer can handle almost anything I ask of it.

]]> By: leeapeea http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-55 leeapeea Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:58:34 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-55 I don't have space or budget for lots o' things in my kitchen, so I am also a fan of the mult-use tool. I've found that Alton Brown (from Food Network) is a great proponent of this ideal as well. His books and show have lots of great suggestions, including using an unfinished tile from Home Depot as a pizza stone and creating a backyard smoke house from teracotta pots. I'm with Lori on the kitchen scissors. My roommate had a pair from her stint as a door-to-door knife salesgirl, and when she moved out she took them with her. Now I have to suffice with my craptastic all-purpose scissors, and let me tell you, they just can't cut the cheese. Or butterfly the chicken. I don’t have space or budget for lots o’ things in my kitchen, so I am also a fan of the mult-use tool. I’ve found that Alton Brown (from Food Network) is a great proponent of this ideal as well. His books and show have lots of great suggestions, including using an unfinished tile from Home Depot as a pizza stone and creating a backyard smoke house from teracotta pots.

I’m with Lori on the kitchen scissors. My roommate had a pair from her stint as a door-to-door knife salesgirl, and when she moved out she took them with her. Now I have to suffice with my craptastic all-purpose scissors, and let me tell you, they just can’t cut the cheese. Or butterfly the chicken.

]]> By: bobbie-sue http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-37 bobbie-sue Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:50:49 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-37 I can't live without my immersion blender and 4-cup and 8-cup pyrex measuring cups. Used together, they're great for pureeing soups. I also use the measuring cups instead of mixing bowls. They're great for making sure you have enough apple slices for your pie filling, and for heating stock in the microwave for making soups or risotto. I can’t live without my immersion blender and 4-cup and 8-cup pyrex measuring cups. Used together, they’re great for pureeing soups. I also use the measuring cups instead of mixing bowls. They’re great for making sure you have enough apple slices for your pie filling, and for heating stock in the microwave for making soups or risotto.

]]> By: angela http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-36 angela Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:48:42 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-36 Good knives are a must and I adore my kitchenaid stand mixer. But I couldn't live without my Le Creuset bakeware. You can use them for everything and nothing sticks to the enamel. Plus the colors are bright and fun. I love my cast iron skillet! My grandma gave me one of the many she has. Garage sales/flea markets are a great place to pick one up cheap. Yeah it can be kinda gross but you take them home and reseason (Alton Brown's I'm Just Here for the Food has awesome tips for care and use of your cast iron) and it's like new. Plus the older ones are often heavier then the newer ones. But don't ever do what my cousin did to my sisters- put it in the dishwasher! Oy was that a mess. Good knives are a must and I adore my kitchenaid stand mixer. But I couldn’t live without my Le Creuset bakeware. You can use them for everything and nothing sticks to the enamel. Plus the colors are bright and fun. I love my cast iron skillet! My grandma gave me one of the many she has. Garage sales/flea markets are a great place to pick one up cheap. Yeah it can be kinda gross but you take them home and reseason (Alton Brown’s I’m Just Here for the Food has awesome tips for care and use of your cast iron) and it’s like new. Plus the older ones are often heavier then the newer ones. But don’t ever do what my cousin did to my sisters- put it in the dishwasher! Oy was that a mess.

]]> By: Jennifer L. http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-34 Jennifer L. Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:11:27 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-34 I bought a cast iron pot some time ago to boost my level of iron as I am borderline anemic. I have found that this pot is also handy as a home security device. I have never felt safer. I bought a cast iron pot some time ago to boost my level of iron as I am borderline anemic. I have found that this pot is also handy as a home security device. I have never felt safer.

]]> By: Lori http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-31 Lori Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:56:22 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-31 Kitchen scissors. Kitchen scissors.

]]> By: Toby Wollin http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-26 Toby Wollin Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:44:36 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2007/12/12/the-no-gimmick-kitchen/#comment-26 I'm not sure how I lived without these (well, actually I know how - with casseroles, baked beans, etc. ending up on the floor of the car), but I finally got several Pyrex(tm) baking dishes that come with their own snap on lids. I love these. I also own a huge Pyrex measuring "cup" (the thing holds about 10 cups so I don't think I can call it that) which I use as a mixing bowl when in a pinch. The other thing that I could not live without and which last forever are: a really good set of knives, preferably ones you can actually sharpen. They make food prep a breeze. I’m not sure how I lived without these (well, actually I know how - with casseroles, baked beans, etc. ending up on the floor of the car), but I finally got several Pyrex(tm) baking dishes that come with their own snap on lids. I love these.
I also own a huge Pyrex measuring “cup” (the thing holds about 10 cups so I don’t think I can call it that) which I use as a mixing bowl when in a pinch.
The other thing that I could not live without and which last forever are: a really good set of knives, preferably ones you can actually sharpen. They make food prep a breeze.

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