As some of you know, I'm the cook in the house. Patti just doesn't like to cook, and I quite enjoy it.
I've done all the cooking since we've been together (25 years now).
Being a guy, I have tool acquisition syndrome. This spills into my kitchen stuff.
First, a few prerequisites.
1) Easy to store.
Especially if it is a minor appliance or something I'm not going to use too often.
2) Easy to clean. We've NEVER had a dishwasher. (I am the dishwasher, although Patti helps with this periodically).
3) Useful in a daily sort of way.
Not everything I've got fits in this category. My mortar and pestle for instance. I don't use it super often, but when you need one, there is no substitute.
I have a couple of favorites:
1) Bagel guillotine. Amazing product. I think the first time I saw one was on TV (the OC I think - my wife and daughter #3 were fans). If you do the bagel thang, it's a must have. Bagels are a Sunday morning thing at the house. I run to Manhattan Bagel - best in Buffalo - and pick up a 1/2 dozen (or so). The guillotine is getting kinda old now though. It's becoming more of a bagel folder than a guillotine these days.
2) Pampered Chef's Cheese grater. Comes with a soft and hard cheese 'wheel'. I'm surprised just how often I use this thing. I've had it for years and I probably use it several times a week.
3) Flexible spatula. It took me a while to find this, (Ikea!), but a spatula that is thin and flexes. Perfect for turning eggs.
4) Pampered Chef's Garlic press - We LOVE garlic. This is an excellent press with a cleaning tool. (If you've ever left one sit before you get to cleaning it, you know what a pain getting these clean is...)
5) Not a 'gadget' per se, but my All-Clad cookware. I lusted after a set of these for at least a decade. They are expensive, but totally worth it. I've had them for nearly two years and often I think how they make a difference. I have the plain aluminum, I don't like non-stick cookware...
6) My cast iron skillet. Heavy mo fo but 'the' tool for the job when making home fries or potatoes anna (holy crap these are excellent!!!) - sometimes old school is the best.
m.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
counting it down again
ok, just 3 and 1/2 days left...
And another week of vacation is here!!! whooohoooo!!!!!
Yes, I know, I just had one. (like a month ago)
And I worked my ass off.
This one, is just for fun. We're gonna do what we want, when we want. Or not. Patti and I are really good at doing very little! Patti can be reading, I'll be puttering around the house. It works for us.
We are watching the grandkids for a couple days, shouldn't be a big deal. Daughter #1 is going to North Carolina to visit some friends. Other than a couple of little projects (self imposed and if they get blown off it'll be no surprise)
I want to build a mirror for our upstairs hall. I've considered using maple, but I think I'm going to go with oak or mahogany. Simple clean design, shaker-ish. Both would look good, it kinda depends on how dark Patti wants the finished product.
But that's really it.
Daughter #3 returns to school for another year of pharmacy grad school. (2 of 4)I think she misses her friends and her apartment. And I think she really enjoys living alone. It's been really nice having her around, and we'll miss and worry about her when she leaves, but it's what she needs to do. Next year this time, she'll be half way through, one more year academics, 1 year internship/rotations. Then she'll be out in the world a PharmD. Man, I am so proud of that kid.
ah, summer....
m.
And another week of vacation is here!!! whooohoooo!!!!!
Yes, I know, I just had one. (like a month ago)
And I worked my ass off.
This one, is just for fun. We're gonna do what we want, when we want. Or not. Patti and I are really good at doing very little! Patti can be reading, I'll be puttering around the house. It works for us.
We are watching the grandkids for a couple days, shouldn't be a big deal. Daughter #1 is going to North Carolina to visit some friends. Other than a couple of little projects (self imposed and if they get blown off it'll be no surprise)
I want to build a mirror for our upstairs hall. I've considered using maple, but I think I'm going to go with oak or mahogany. Simple clean design, shaker-ish. Both would look good, it kinda depends on how dark Patti wants the finished product.
But that's really it.
Daughter #3 returns to school for another year of pharmacy grad school. (2 of 4)I think she misses her friends and her apartment. And I think she really enjoys living alone. It's been really nice having her around, and we'll miss and worry about her when she leaves, but it's what she needs to do. Next year this time, she'll be half way through, one more year academics, 1 year internship/rotations. Then she'll be out in the world a PharmD. Man, I am so proud of that kid.
ah, summer....
m.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
so that makes me...
My eldest gransdon turns 8 this friday. Eight! Holy shit!!!
It's times like these how early Patti and I started our family. When we went to my 20th HS reunion, we had all high school age kids. Mostly, there were toddlers to 7/8 year olds everywhere. Seemed strange then, seems strange now.
He presented us with a list of items he wants for his birthday last saturday. I didn't total it up, but it is easily in the $1000.00 + range.
But that's cool. It's a good thing to know what you want I guess. This is the same grandson that asked for an iPhone last Christmas.
He's very tuned into pop culture. Watches waaaaaaay too much TV and is a bit of a class clown. It makes sense to me that he'd like to live on the bleeding edge of technology. I think he sees (as many people do, not just kids) that owning the latest gadget gives you some cache. He's kinda arty, not very sporty. He plays soccer, Patti and I went to a recent game, but his heart isn't in it. He's remarkably like my son #2, who is finishing his masters this school year in conducting. He's very popular at school and has a bit of his mom's free spirit in him. I like him a lot (of course, I love him too, but I like who he is, ya know?)
Surprisingly, he hasn't got the cell phone yet, but it's only a matter of time. I went to a taco joint for lunch yesterday and there were a couple of kids in there that couldn't have been older than 8 or so and they both had cell phones. Weird.
Our saturday breakfast is going to be a birthday celebration for him, with presentation of the 'big gift'. Should be a lot of fun!
So happy birthday grandson #1!!!!
m.
It's times like these how early Patti and I started our family. When we went to my 20th HS reunion, we had all high school age kids. Mostly, there were toddlers to 7/8 year olds everywhere. Seemed strange then, seems strange now.
He presented us with a list of items he wants for his birthday last saturday. I didn't total it up, but it is easily in the $1000.00 + range.
But that's cool. It's a good thing to know what you want I guess. This is the same grandson that asked for an iPhone last Christmas.
He's very tuned into pop culture. Watches waaaaaaay too much TV and is a bit of a class clown. It makes sense to me that he'd like to live on the bleeding edge of technology. I think he sees (as many people do, not just kids) that owning the latest gadget gives you some cache. He's kinda arty, not very sporty. He plays soccer, Patti and I went to a recent game, but his heart isn't in it. He's remarkably like my son #2, who is finishing his masters this school year in conducting. He's very popular at school and has a bit of his mom's free spirit in him. I like him a lot (of course, I love him too, but I like who he is, ya know?)
Surprisingly, he hasn't got the cell phone yet, but it's only a matter of time. I went to a taco joint for lunch yesterday and there were a couple of kids in there that couldn't have been older than 8 or so and they both had cell phones. Weird.
Our saturday breakfast is going to be a birthday celebration for him, with presentation of the 'big gift'. Should be a lot of fun!
So happy birthday grandson #1!!!!
m.
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