7 Kitchen Tools Worth Your Money

Photo: Shutterstock

Now that you know what sits idle in my cabinet (click here), what tools do I use daily? If space or budget is limited, here are the work horses to buy: 

7 Kitchen Tools ... the Essentials:

1) A Sharp chef knife - Slice and dice away! A sharp chef knife is indispensable to prepare fresh, healthy, real food such as fruits, vegetables and salads daily to keep us healthy. I use a 5" Santouku knife as my chef knife. (I was gifted a 7'' too, but really only use the larger size to slice whole watermelon.)

2) Microwave oven - Once I had a mid-size, but replaced it with a Sharp Carousel 1.4 cubic feet size. Don't let the compact size fool you! Reheats food on an 11 inch plate in 2 -3 minutes flat! You can also cook raw vegetables, make popcorn and melt butter or cheese fast. Such a useful kitchen tool for cooking meals in minutes.

Photo: Shutterstock

3) Pots and pans - The following sizes: (a) 12 inch chef skillet; (b) 4 quart sauce pan; (c) a large wok, (d) non-stick 10 inch skillet; (e) 10 1/2 inch cast iron skillet. 

I rarely grab other sizes, but use these pans continuously. Plus, I use my cast iron skillet to bake cornbread, pizza (from scratch), steaks, salmon and cheesecake. What a heat conductor cast iron is; food cooks evenly! A 12 inch chef skillet eliminates the need for 3 - 4 other pans. It is great for boiling whole spaghetti, as well as, cooking one-pan meat, starch and vegetable stews. I adore the easy-breezy clean-up of simmering one-pan meals!

One non-stick skillet to fry an egg is all you will ever need. Or you could just use your seasoned cast iron skillet (to save a purchase). I own both, but it isn't necessary.

4) Baking pans -  Mine are Nordic Ware -100% aluminum: (a) 2 - 17'' by 12'' baking sheets; (b) one medium baking sheet (see why below); (C) 9'' by 9'' square baking pan; (d) 2 - 9'' round cake pans - You can do every kind of baking, browning and grilling with these common sizes. 

I use the medium baking sheet as a shield against spills of cake batter or casserole juices. Avoid having to clean a mess in your oven at all cost! I use a medium inexpensive baking sheet instead of my better Nordic Ware baking sheets. 

I also have a Nordic aluminum loaf pan, but usually grab my cast iron skillet for baking meatloaf and bread. Can't beat this old standby! So the loaf pan is rarely used.

5) Osterizer blender - Costs about $25. An Osterizer is the pioneer of kitchen blenders. It is powerful, durable and does everything, including crushing ice for smoothies that the fancy $100+ blenders do. Eventually all blenders blow out with constant use, but it hurts less to replace this 14-speed super-trouper! So why spend more?

6) Food processor - 3 cup size - Not too big, not too small. Mostly I grind nuts in it. Sometimes I make low calorie ice cream too: Toss in a sliced frozen banana, drops of milk and pulse! Easy to store and half the price of the big boys. Unless you always prepare big batches of food, this size is plenty.

7) Hand held mixer - I bought a Black and Decker hand-held mixer with 6 speeds at a drug store about 20 years ago, which I use to mix all my cake batters and pasty. Best $12 I ever spent as it is still going strong. Sans fancy bells and whistles, the small mixer does everything a Big Stationary Mixer does, and the cakes and cookies turn out great. Heck, I burn a few calories by holding and twirling it around. This buy taught me to stick with the basics. 

So now let's include your experience. What Kitchen Tool Essentials can you not live without? The best bang for your buck is ...



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5 Kitchen Tools I Will Never Buy Again

Photo: tabla-restaurant

When we set up our kitchens we try to anticipate what will make our lives easier, better and effortless. But hindsight is 20/20. When we know better, we do better. For fun, I'll share a few of my purchasing mistakes.

5 Kitchen Tools I Will Never Buy Again:

1) Coffee bean grinder - When I rise in the morning, I never want to grind coffee beans so I can drink a cup of coffee. Although it doesn't require much time or work, it's an extra step I resist before having a shot of caffeine. And, ground coffee from a can tastes fine.

2) Hot air popcorn popper - Sits idle in my cupboard since I began the microwave-in-a-paper-bag method of making popcorn. Turns out the microwave pops 100% of the popcorn unlike the hot air popper.

3) Large capacity food processor - When this space hog died, I replaced it with a small 3 cup food processor. Cheap, compact and ample!

4) Crockpot - People rave about the convenience of cooking meals while they are not home. But, I worry about unforeseeable accidents preventing me from returning home as expected. It happened to me once. While the heat is on, better to be home. Moreover, the same slow simmering meals can be stewed on a stove top or in the oven while you are at home to check on them.

5) A set of pots and pans - A full set of pots and pans may be the biggest waste of all. You never use all the sizes. Finally, I donated the huge stock pot and mystery size to Housing Works (a charity), and I don't miss them! More space in the cupboard! Go to Home Goods/TJ Maxx and buy only sizes you need.

Since I have no spot for an ice cream maker, bread maker, pasta maker, tomato slicer, apple peeler, etc., etc, etc., Manhattan saved me from making a slew of specialized gadget mistakes! Bread is so simple to kneed and bake in the oven.

How about you? What kitchen tools have been a waste of your money?

Stay tuned: the next blog, Essential Kitchen Tools, will publish on Thursday! Watch this space to see if you agree with me.😊


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Always Buy Good Jewelry Design

Queen Victoria's coronation ring

Queen Victoria had smaller hands then her predecessor, King William IV, so her carnation ring of a large sapphire, rubies and diamonds was made just for her. She left the ring to the Crown. It is part of the Crown Jewels.

Big rare Ceylon blue sapphires are rare in nature, making them expensive. What a shame to cover it up with rubies and close it off with diamonds. I wouldn't do a thing to this ring to preserve history. The ring has much British symbolism, but a better setting would show off the loveliness of all the magnificent top-notch stones.

As commoners much lower on the wage-food-chain, we don't have the luxury of poor jewelry design. A piece of fine jewelry we save up to buy becomes a waste if we don't love and wear it. What's more, many of us can't afford big, perfect stones. So the most important factor to consider is good jewelry design. How the stones are set and arranged matter. 

Don't worry. When you see good jewelry design you recognize it!

And guess what? With good design, less perfect stones can look stunning. A ring sparkles on a finger. Earrings glitter on the ears. A splurge without emptying a wallet is possible for a savvy shopper! So trust your eyes and your gut. Only buy what you love.

Diamonds (made of carbon) rate a 10 on the Mohl Scale of Stone Hardness. Sapphires (blue corundum, a mineral made of alumina and oxygen) and rubies (red corundum) are a 9, while emeralds (made of beryllium) rate an 8. All are hard enough for jewelry. Diamonds are common and plentiful in nature. Emeralds are rarer, followed by rubies, then sapphires. You should buy the gem you love not what costs the most. Why? Because jewelry is not an investment. And diamonds are not rare, but a demand created by marketing, beginning in the 1930s. Once you pay for a diamond ring and bring it home, it loses about half of its value.

The ruby and diamond pendent, belonging to Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain, a gift from her grandmother, Queen Victoria.

Ruby and diamond pendent neckless created for Macy's. Not nearly as pricey as the Queen's, (the ruby and diamonds are smaller and less perfect),  yet beautiful.

Still  jewelry with good design looks gorgeous. Gems catch the light and sparkle when the work of nature (which takes 1000s of years) is improved by a skillful human hand.



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Lousiville After The Kentucky Derby

Photo: horseracingnation.com

After watching the Kentucky Derby, a tourist must visit downtown Louisville for a friendly urban vibe. Main Street is lined with vintage, renovated buildings that have been turned into museums, restaurants, a bourbon distillery (offering free tastings!) and small shops.

Photo: Urban Explorer (The photo credit link no longer works. Since it became a broken link, I removed it.)

From Main Street head on over to East Market Street (which realtors have renamed NuLu) to explore the coffee houses, bars (with delicious food!), as well as, the clothing, craft, furniture, antique and 2nd hand shops populating the block.

Garage Bar: Photo on Yelp by Craig C.

Louisvillians are serious about their food, drinks and hospitality among other things. A down-to-earth city with plenty to see and do.

Photo: SkyBluePrint

During Derby Week festivities begin with fireworks (known as Thunder Over Louisville), the Pegaus Parade, the Belle of Louisville boat race and hot air balloon races. Moreover, activities need not conclude with The Kentucky Derby. So if making the trip to see the race, be sure to build in a day or two to linger in town. You'll have a grand ole time with the locals! Oh yeah, put it on your bucket list.🌹

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Preventers of Woe: Food Savers & Sink Sani Sticks

At times inexpensive household helpers can make our lives simple. Troubleshooting waste and sink buildups before they occur saves time, steps and a few bucks in the long run. I will call these items ... 

Preventers of Woe:

1) A sheet of fenugreen paper is said to keep fruits and vegetables mold-free for 2-4 times longer. Fenugreen is a legume, which is similar to a peanut. So it is a natural way of preserving produce. Provided you don't have a peanut allergy, line the refrigerator crisper drawer with a sheet of it to stop berries, lettuce, tomatoes and peaches from spoiling too soon.

I have been layering my crisper drawers with sheets of paper towels along with an open box of baking soda in an effort to keep my fruits and vegetables fresh a tad longer, not knowing if my method truly works. This product is more of a sure bet. Consumer Reports ran a test. Fenugreen paper preserved strawberries a few days longer when stored in their original package inside a refrigerator. The sheets are cheap and reusable! $5-$6 depending on store. Ordered!

2) Sink Sani Sticks - Drop a Sani Stick of non-chemical enzymes down your bathroom sinks (or kitchen sink) once a month to keep drains flowling. I am careful to keep food and grease out of my kitchen sink, but use Sani Sticks in the bathroom as I wash moisterizers, coconut oil, argon oil and makeup off my face. Toothpaste, shampoo and hair conditioner goes down the bathroom drain also. 

Often while standing in line to pay at Bed, Bath & Beyond, someone will ask me if they really work. I think they do. The enzymes seem to stop oils from lotion and conditioners from clogging the drains. Sani Sticks won't dissolve hair. For that I unscrew a portal (easy, peasy) to remove hair from the drains ocassionally. My apartment super did it for me for years, but after watching him several times, it was a task I learned to do for myself.

Two cheap products to avoid bigger problems. Simple life free from strife. What Preventer of Woe helpers do you buy?


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Chewy Nutty Oatmeal Bars

Photo: McCormick

For breakfast and snacks I decided to make a pan of oatmeal bars. Tasty and healthy; yet containing common ingredients (not special health food store ingredients). Because frankly, I don't want a job (like shopping) before starting a job (like baking). The basic recipe below happens to be glutton-free. (Further down, I have words to say about that.) Delicious!

Here is my recipe:

Chewy Nutty Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter (I substituted coconut oil, but either works. I had to polish off a bit of coconut oil.) 
1 cup brown sugar
3 extra large eggs
6 cups Old Fashioned (5 minutes) Oatmeal (plus extra for the top)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
 A sprinkle of nutmeg
1 cup walnuts
1 cup raisins (or a mix of dried fruit)
drops of buttermilk (any milk works) for moisture - about 1/3 cup
whole almonds to press on top

Directions: 

1) Using a fork, whisk the butter, brown sugar and eggs until creamy.

2) Mix in the baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and oatmeal. 

3) Fold in the nuts and dried fruit.

4) Next add the buttermilk, several drops at a time to moisten the mixture. Avoid a runny texture. 

5) With a spatula press the dough into a 9'' by 9'' oiled baking pan. Be sure to even the dough out. Then press the almonds into the top of the oatmeal dough. Sprinkle a little dry oatmeal on top for looks.

6) Pop into a preheated 350 degree F over. Bake for 20 - 30 minutes. Remove when done (the top gets slightly brown).

7) Scrape the sides of the pan with a knife to loosen, then let cool before cutting into bars. Enjoy!

Extra tips:

1) The basic recipe is super healthy and mildly sweet. If not sweet enough, you can always drizzle a frosting on top. Brown sugar, honey, and white sugar are the same health-wise. Despite the claims, one is not healthier than another. Use all in moderation. I use brown sugar in these bars for the taste alone.

2) If you want more cake-like-bars, add 1 cup of all-purpose flour (a glutton) and another 1/2 cup of sugar to your batter. (Know that the basic recipe is delicious as is.) And know, there is no health reason to go glutton-free if you can digest glutton.

3) To turn a breakfast bar into a dessert bar, feel free to jazz the recipe up by adding: a cup of peanut butter; a cup of caramel squares; a cup of chocolate chips; a cup of coconut; or a mix of any of the mentioned to your batter.

4) Yes, you can leave out raisins if you dislike them. I like adding raisins for sweetness, texture and they keep baked goods fresh longer.

Oatmeal breakfast bars have all the goodness of a hot bowl of oatmeal ... and are easy to pair with a cup of coffee, or glass of milk. I make a batch, eat some immediately and the rest gets tossed into the freezer. Later, remove the squares from the freezer and microwave for 30 seconds, or so to eat.

Get your pastry fix the healthy way!

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Do Adults Need Booster Vaccines?

Photo: Vaccines ProCon

Perhaps your children are grown, out of the house, and you no longer think about vaccines. But did you know getting immunized against disease is a life long job? I did not really think about it. Recently my pharmacy sent me an email to get a booster shot for whooping cough, which prompted me to do research to see: (1) if doctors agree and (2) what other possible shots we need as adults. As it turns out there are a few to consider if you fall into certain catagories. Here is a list followed by links to learn more about each infection and who should be vaccinated:

A handy List 😷*****************************************************************************😷

Adult Vaccines You Need (source: Vaccineinformation.org)

1) Chickenpox (varicella) If you’ve never had chickenpox or were vaccinated but received only 1 dose, talk to your healthcare provider to find out if you need this vaccine. learn more 2) Haemophilus ingluenzae type b Some adults with certain high-risk conditions need vaccination with Hib. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if you need this vaccine. learn more 3) Hepatitis A You need this vaccine if you have a specific risk factor for hepatitis A infection or if you simply want to be protected from this disease. The vaccine is usually given in 2 doses, 6 to 18 months apart. learn more 4) Hepatitis B You need this vaccine if you have a specific risk factor for hepatitis B infection or if you simply want to be protected from this disease. The vaccine is given in 3 doses, usually over 6 months. learn more 5) Human papillomavirus You need this vaccine if you are a woman age 26 years or younger or a man age 21 years or younger. Other men age 22 through 26 who want to be protected from HPV may receive it, too. Men age 22 through 26 years with a risk condition also need vaccination. Check with your healthcare provider. The vaccine is given in 3 doses over 6 months.  learn more 6) Influenza You need a dose every fall (or winter) for your protection and for the protection of others around you. learn more 7) Measles, Mumps, Rubella You need at least 1 dose of MMR if you were born in 1957 or later. Many people need a second dose. learn more: Measles • Mumps • Rubella 8) Meningococcal There are different types of meningococcal vaccines that are recommended for use in adults. People of all ages with certain medical conditions should get vaccinated and some should receive booster doses throughout life. These vaccines may be used to protect people during an outbreak of meningococcal disease. • Meningococcal conjugate vaccine or MenACWY: If you are a first-year college student living in a residence hall, you need a dose of MenACWY if you have never received it or received it when you were younger than 16. Adults who are at risk due to certain health conditions (for example, lack a spleen) need this vaccine. • Meningococcal serogroup B vaccine or MenB: MenB vaccine may be given to any adult who wants protection from this disease, preferably at 16–23 years of age. Adults who are at risk due to certain health conditions also need this vaccine. • Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine or MPSV: Travelers to certain countries might need this vaccine. learn more 9) Pneumococcal Adults age 65 years and older should receive the two types of pneumococcal vaccines (PCV13 and PPSV23). You also need 1–2 doses at an earlier age if you smoke cigarettes or have certain medical conditions. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out when and how often you need to be protected from pneumococcal disease. learn more 10) Shingles (zoster) If you are age 60 (now 50) years or older, you should get a 1-time dose of this vaccine now. learn more 11) Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (whooping cough)  All adults who have not yet received a dose of Tdap, as an adolescent or adult, need to get Tdap vaccine (the adult whooping cough vaccine). Pregnant women need a dose in every pregnancy. After that, you will need a Td booster dose every 10 years. Consult your healthcare provider if you haven’t had at least 3 tetanus- and diphtheria-containing shots sometime in your life or have a deep or dirty wound. learn more: Tetanus - Diphtheria - Whooping cough (Pertussis) Phew, the end! 😷************************************************************************😷 Keep the list in mind to ask your doctor when you go for a checkup. We are so lucky to have vaccines. Not so long ago typhoid, measles and whopping cough were a way of life. No longer! Preventative medicine costs pennies compared to the misery and complications of getting sick. Stay healthy folks!  You may also enjoy: Health Care Reform, A Doctor Weighs In Doctor's Orders: Is It Time For A Checkup? Probiotics To Balance Good And Bad Bacteria Remembering Prince Leopold, Duke Of Albany