By Elizabeth Prata
I like a clean surface. I have marble countertops and I love looking at them. There are some flecks of mica in them too, and they sparkle.
I'm not fond of clutter. I don't like a lot of "stuff" around me like tchotchkes, knick knacks, or frilly décor. I like to keep the countertops clear so I can enjoy the marble. I like metal and wood and brick. If I had to pick my perfect home, it would be a city loft in a small sized rural city, lol, for 6 months. It would have exposed ductwork and brick walls and maybe a creaky elevator. The other half of the year it'd be a beach house on an island. I would not mind the Death in Paradise detective's beach shack. Nope not at all.
I used to rent a cabin on the Machias River that leads to the sea. It was one room, but that's enough.
Here's the front view, back yard view, and interior
Ahhh, to hear the foghorns, the tide sweeping in and out, the wind in the lupines...heavenly.
But I digress. Gadgets I like. The important thing about organization for me is not having to move around too many things to get to the thing I want. Which means, not having too many things. I dislike stuffed to the gills cabinets and cupboards and closets where I have to rummage. I guess to use modern language these days, I "carefully curate" what I take into the apartment.
This first kitchen gadget solution solved a kitchen sink problem for me. The packet comes with 2 wire sponge holders you stick on the wall of your sink. I stuck them on the front part so when you're in the kitchen you can't see the sponge. The red is me standing at the sink
Looking down from above the sink
They dry pretty well, stay stuck OK (one of them came unstuck but they have extra pads in the packet to use for re-sticking), and can't be seen. I got them on Amazon, they are called ESINAM 2Pcs Sponge Holders for Kitchen Sink.
Next we have Stainless Steel Stove Gap Covers, Stove Gap Filler. I have a good sized gap on the left side of the stove and a tiny one on the right. I had been super careful not wanting anything to fall between the counter and the stove, but one day I was transferring some cooked salmon from the stove pan to my plate, and a small chunk fell between. It fell to a spot I could not reach! I tried and tried but couldn't get it out. Thankfully it was a very small piece but it still haunts me. Another day a blueberry almost rolled into the gap. I'd had enough. I wasn't aware of such a product but I googled and then there it was. This packet comes with two and they are retractable.
You can see the gap was large:
What I liked about this is that the one set filled both the large gap and slid into the tiny gap on the right.
Next up I like this gadget: The Hamilton Beach mini chopper.
It's a mini-chopper but the capacity is enough for me. I chop spinach, black beans, make hummus or dip...its chopper is sharp and it does the job nicely. A great kitchen gadget.
I don't know how, but this Hamilton Beach electric kettle boils water faster than anything. It defies the physics of boiled temperature somehow! When I get home from school I put this kettle on for my tea and a short time later the water is ready. I barely have time to get the teapot and cups out!
No kitchen would be complete, I think, without a crock pot. I got this oldie from a freebie group on Yahoo 18 years ago. The group is now defunct but the crockpot is still going! It's from the 1970s but still works. I can get a whole chicken in there plus vegetables, no problem. Also can get a whole picnic ham in there. It's heavy as all get out. It's got one of those heavy ceramic pots inside, so I keep it on the lower cupboard and lift it up rather than keep it higher and risk it falling on my head when retrieving it from the shelf!
Hmmm, it's a Hamilton Beach also, I see. Methinks HB is a good brand! I made the mistake of getting a smaller crock pot since this one is pretty heavy, but after using it a few times I noticed it just doesn't have the BTUs to cook as fast as this oldie does, nor can I fit a whole chicken or a ham in it. So watch that when you buy a crock pot, think about what you want to use it for. To haul soups or dips to the church fellowship supers? Smaller is fine. Cooking for your large family? Bigger is better.
The thing to watch for if getting one at a thrift store or estate sale or second hand place like that, is the plugs. Make sure the wiring is in good condition.
Last, on top of the crock pot is a packet of parchment papers. I love my air fryer! I don't like using the oven and I learned you can bake in the air fryer. You can extend your baking by using parchment paper, and cook casseroles too. I use papers for just about everything, because all you do is lift out the parchment paper when your item is finished cooking and the air fryer basket is clean! Woo-hoo!
I have a Cosori air fryer that has a square basket so these parchments fit perfectly. You can find your own shape by browsing on Amazon or other place, or just get parchment paper and cut to fit. The thing to watch out for in using parchment paper in the air fryer is that it's light. Don't put the paper in the basket on preheat, or it will fly around and when parchment paper touches the heat coils it could ignite. Also when frying with food, make sure the food is evenly dispersed into the corners, else the paper will curl up and likely touch the coils, and same problem again, can ignite.
So those are my go-to gadgets that help me solve a kitchen problem. What are yours?
No comments:
Post a Comment