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JenBenMen
party of five
Member since 9/06 11343 total posts
Name:
Jen
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What are your Cantt Live Without Cooking Utensils?
Since I am on maternity I am cooking more but realizing I dont have all the "stuff" that could make it better. what items could you not cook/live without?
Message edited 5/20/2009 2:45:14 PM.
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Posted 5/20/09 2:26 PM  |
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maybeamommy
Blessed beyond belief
Member since 10/07 17048 total posts
Name:
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Re: What are your Cabt Live Without Cooking Items?
Things that I always have on hand are...
Good extra virgin olive oil
Garlic - lots of it!
Lemon
A big hunk of aged parmesan (not the green tub!)
Good red and white wines
Pepper (with a grinder that makes cracked pepper... )
Kosher salt
Italian parsley
Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, dill, cilantro, basil)
That's all I can think of off the top of my head!
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| Posted 5/20/09 2:42 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: What are your Cantt Live Without Cooking Utensils?
Posted by maybeamommy
Things that I always have on hand are...
Good extra virgin olive oil
Garlic - lots of it!
Lemon
A big hunk of aged parmesan (not the green tub!)
Good red and white wines
Pepper (with a grinder that makes cracked pepper... )
Kosher salt
Italian parsley
Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, dill, cilantro, basil)
That's all I can think of off the top of my head!
I concur and will add
onions
crushed red pepper
baking basics (flour, sugar(3 majors light brown, dark brown, and granulated) baking powder, baking soda, table salt)
GOOD pure vanilla extract
balsamic vinegar
fresh and dried oregano
whole nutmeg
powdered/ground spices (cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic, onion-I make my own rubs with this stuff. I like control in the kitchen)
I also buy veggies either every day or every other day. I ALWAYS use fresh, never canned or frozen (unless it's something like pasta and peas...then I use Le Seur)
as far as cooking utensils, I love my
large iron caldera
stainless skillet
cast iron griddle
tongs
wooden spoons (especially for sauce)
good knives
have fun!!!
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| Posted 5/20/09 3:09 PM |
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wannabemom
look who's freshly baked!
Member since 12/07 7364 total posts
Name:
aka marriedinportjeff
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Re: What are your Cantt Live Without Cooking Utensils?
I hate fake stuff.... that includes teflon... so I can't live without my cast iron frying pan 
I also love my le creuset pan (shaped like a frying pan, with 2 short handles and a heavy lid.... great for simmering stuff) and casserole pots. Lecreuset is great becuase the lids are heavy, so no water loss while simmering a stew... and they can go into the oven (great for casseroles)
For non-iron, I love clad aluminum pots(allclad).
As for cooking utensils, spatulas of various diameters. For pancakes, you want a wide/flat one, and for frying smaller things (when a pan is more crowded), I use a smaller one. Those, a few ladels, and a few big spoons that are dishwasher safe... that's it. Most other stuff I really don't use!
Another handy item to have around is a good rotating spice rack (not one of the prefab ones with spices already loaded... the lazy susan type that holds any container), and 2 glass bottles with pour spouts for oil (canola and good olive oil)
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| Posted 5/20/09 3:11 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: What are your Cantt Live Without Cooking Utensils?
Posted by wannabemom
I also love my le creuset pan (shaped like a frying pan, with 2 short handles and a heavy lid.... great for simmering stuff) and casserole pots. Lecreuset is great becuase the lids are heavy, so no water loss while simmering a stew... and they can go into the oven (great for casseroles)
I LOVE my Le Creuset pots and fryers. they really cannot be beat.
if you are in the market (meaning OP), they have an outlet at Woodbury Common and often have great deals. they will probably be having a nice sale this weekend for memorial day.
they are $$ but worth every penny if you are seriously into cooking.
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| Posted 5/20/09 3:16 PM |
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JenBenMen
party of five
Member since 9/06 11343 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: What are your Cantt Live Without Cooking Utensils?
great!! what are the best pots/pans to cook in?? i need to buy a new set
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| Posted 5/20/09 5:21 PM |
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rojerono
Happiest.
Member since 8/06 13803 total posts
Name:
Jeannie
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Re: What are your Cantt Live Without Cooking Utensils?
My number one 'utensil'/gadget/kitchen item is my Cuisenart Mini-Prep. I love it, love it, love it.
I also love my grater, my garlic press and my knives. Good knives are EVERYTHING! I am also pretty fond of my balloon wire whisk and my wooden spoons.
As to pots/pans - I couldn't do without my Cast Iron Skillet, my Cast Iron Sauce Pot and Cephalon ONE Dutch Oven. Oh.. and my big azz stock pot.
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| Posted 5/20/09 5:30 PM |
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wannabemom
look who's freshly baked!
Member since 12/07 7364 total posts
Name:
aka marriedinportjeff
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Re: What are your Cantt Live Without Cooking Utensils?
Posted by JenBenMen
great!! what are the best pots/pans to cook in?? i need to buy a new set
I love to cook... and researched the 'pot topic' extensively. the best standard pots are allclad (the regular aluminum clad in stainless). Being the fashionista that I am  , I bought a european version of the same type of pots... (ittala dahlstrom '98) the aluminum conducts heat well... so there are no hot spots, and the steel is inert, so the pot won't react with acidic foods like tomato sauce...)
As for frying pans.... good ol cast iron. a seasoned cast iron pan, if maintained properly (rinse with water, no soap, and dry on stove top for a minute) will last forever, and will provide a durable cooking surface just as slick as teflon... without the creepy chemicals. also, it's the ONLY surface to seer a steak on. It holds a lot of heat, so it won't cool substantially when you put cool food on it. I recommend a LARGE one... 12-13"... as big as you can comfortably handle. Also, it's important that the skillet have a thick base (maintains its temp better)
For stews and casseroles, lecreuset enameled cast iron is the tops... I have a 3 qt, a 6 qt, and a frying pan shaped one (roughly 12" diameter with a heavy lid). These pans are great for when you want to simmer, and not let all the liquid escape... they can go on the stove top or in the oven.
Mind you, all of these pots are $$$ (except for the cast iron skillet), but they'll also be the last pots you'll ever buy. so it's a good investment if you like to cook
Message edited 5/20/2009 6:17:52 PM.
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| Posted 5/20/09 6:15 PM |
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melbalalala
Little Lady
Member since 5/07 5014 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: What are your Cantt Live Without Cooking Utensils?
Tongs, spoonulas, and good knives. I can never have enough of these!
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| Posted 5/21/09 4:26 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: What are your Cantt Live Without Cooking Utensils?
my Shun knives. I have two of them and I use them all the time.
A good cutting board.
Wooden spoons
stainless frying pan and stock pot.
Tongs
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| Posted 5/21/09 5:26 PM |
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LuvmyShihTzu
<3 I <3 my DD <3
Member since 8/08 3325 total posts
Name:
Happiest Mommy <3
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Re: What are your Cantt Live Without Cooking Utensils?
Wooden spoon, silicone spatulta, plastic server spoon and my santuko knives!
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| Posted 5/26/09 11:01 AM |
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