The Caffeinated Penguin

Posted By matt on July 12, 2004

So, Liz gave me my presents yesterday (she was at her parents' house the previous week).

- 4 french onion soup crocks (onion soup is one of my favorites)
- A copy of Coffee, which is, as it's name would imply, a book on coffee. I like this because coffee is the one substance that I REALLY enjoy that doesn't bother Liz (cigars bother Liz, and I don't like alcohol as much as I like coffee).
- A copy of The Joy Of Cooking. In case people live in a cave, this is the quintissential cookbook in the US. Some credit it with inventing modern cooking in America sixty-five years ago when it first came out.
- A copy of Alton Brown's Gear for your Kitchen.

So, I guess I know what my role in the new apartment will be, eh? Not that I mind. I like to cook.

People need to come over and keep me company and EAT!

I also need to go to Bed Bath and Beyond (did you know Kitchens, Etc. filed Chapter 11?) and get some things, such as:

- A non-nonstick saute pan (the nonstick ones just don't crisp and brown things properly). I have a nice dense cast-iron skillet, and that works really well (especially for meat), but I prefer the curved bottom of a saute pan for sliced/diced things. So, for general-purpose cookware, I like hard anodized aluminum, because it's tough as nails, nonreactive, and goes in the dishwasher. Calphalon (THE name in hard annodized cookware) actually has a “Saute Set” which has a 3qt saute pan (which is kind of on the smaller side, but considering I rarely cook for more than 2 people, is a good size. If it's too small, I'll buy a 5qt one) and a 10″ omelette pan. I LOVE omelette pans. They're nice and shallow and good for browning things.

- A roasting pan. Neither Liz nor I has one, and it's a good thing to have. I usually just use a pyrex deal, but then the meat sits in the juices and gets soggy on one side.

- Loaf pans. You know, for bread, meatloaf (despite the cliche's I like meatloaf)

- Extra chef's knives – because whenever people come over, everyone wants a chef's knife. It is THE knife.

- A box grater. I have a flat grater, Liz has this Oxo thing that does really fine ribbons (excellent for zest and hard cheese, horrible for anything like cheddar). I hate my flat grater, it's a pain. Set the box grater in a bowl, and you're done. Or, KitchenAid one makes one with a snap on bottom, so no bowl required.

- A pizza cutter, the kind with the slicer IN the handle. Zyliss makes one that's really neat. You can press right down on it, because the half-moon shaped handle goes around the blade. It's not just for pizza though, oh know. Use it to cut dough, or anything else.

- Some rubber shelf liner. I used to use a towel to stop my cutting boards from slipping. However, shelf liner works better. Holy crap, that's obvious!

- A silpat, maybe. You can freeze them, you can bake them, and nothing sticks to them. What's better?

(and I'm only halfway through the book!)

Category: LJ Import
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