Thread: Kitchen Conveniences?

Alan Holbrook <[email protected]> wrote:

> What kinds of things do you good folks do to make kitchen
> chores like cooking and cleaning more convenient? For
> example, I imagine most of us use prep cups, etc., and do
> recipe prep like our chopping and mincing and measuring in
> advance before we start cooking. Any others like that?
>
> I myself got tired of not having enough measuring spoons
> and having a recipe call for a tablespoon of a wet
> ingredient first and then a tablespoon of a dry ingredient
> later and having to stop to wash and dry the tablespoon.
> So I went to the local dollar store and bought 5 sets of
> graduated measuring spoons and 5 sets of graduated
> measuring cups, then went to home depot and bought a piece
> of pegboard and some hooks, and mounted same on the side of
> a cabinet. Now there are plenty of measuring tools handily
> available.
>
> I also got tired of those short cords appliance
> manufacturers put on their electrics to protect us from
> ourselves. So I mounted a small outlet strip on the
> counter where I use my electrics so the outlets are in much
> more convenient reach.
>
> Not rocket science by any means, but they do make life in
> the kitchen a bit easier.
>
> As Andy would say, you?



Alan,

Heh heh heh!!!

I've said it before... "and here I thought only God was in the
details."

I once posted that I took my measuring spoons off the "keep
together" metal ring. Did I get fun attacks for that!!! Ever
the maverick! :-)

Tip of the Day: "As seen on TV," For measuring honey and
molasses, etc., spray your measuring spoon with oil spray so
the measures will more easily depart it's temporary confines.

Thanks, BTW for the kind mention.

Best,

Andy
Paper and plastic.

Andy wrote:

> Tip of the Day: "As seen on TV," For measuring honey and
> molasses, etc., spray your measuring spoon with oil spray so
> the measures will more easily depart it's temporary confines.

I haven't measured either of those in years. Try eyeballing them and
you'll get the hang of it.

"Alan Holbrook" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] 5.247...
> What kinds of things do you good folks do to make kitchen chores like
> cooking and cleaning more convenient? For example, I imagine most of us
> use prep cups, etc., and do recipe prep like our chopping and mincing and
> measuring in advance before we start cooking. Any others like that?

I mostly don't measure unless I am baking. I mostly just eyeball. If I am
cooking rice, I will measure. I have no clue what a prep cup is. I don't
think I have any.
>
> I myself got tired of not having enough measuring spoons and having a
> recipe call for a tablespoon of a wet ingredient first and then a
> tablespoon of a dry ingredient later and having to stop to wash and dry
> the tablespoon. So I went to the local dollar store and bought 5 sets of
> graduated measuring spoons and 5 sets of graduated measuring cups, then
> went to home depot and bought a piece of pegboard and some hooks, and
> mounted same on the side of a cabinet. Now there are plenty of measuring
> tools handily available.

Wow! I bought one new set of dry measuring cups only because my one old set
was starting to look its age and I don't like the other so well. I bought
it at my daughter's school. It folds up into itself. Some of the pieces
went missing. I have two sets of measuring spoons and they're not all
there. I have a two one cup, two two cup and a 4 cup liquid measure. I
only bought extra of those because my others seem to get pushed back in the
cupboard and I have to undo everything to get to them.
>
> I also got tired of those short cords appliance manufacturers put on
> their electrics to protect us from ourselves. So I mounted a small
> outlet strip on the counter where I use my electrics so the outlets are
> in much more convenient reach.

Short cords are not a problem for me.
>
> Not rocket science by any means, but they do make life in the kitchen a
> bit easier.
>
> As Andy would say, you?

I don't think I have any convenience items that I use all the time.
Daughter bought me a Slap Chop. While it works great, a knife is just as
easy.

George M. Middius <[email protected]> wrote:

> Andy wrote:
>
>> Tip of the Day: "As seen on TV," For measuring honey and
>> molasses, etc., spray your measuring spoon with oil spray
>> so the measures will more easily depart it's temporary
>> confines.
>
> I haven't measured either of those in years. Try eyeballing
> them and you'll get the hang of it.


It was an old-fashioned tip.

Thinks are much leisurely today, of course.

Andy

On Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:37:40 GMT, Alan Holbrook <[email protected]>
wrote:

> What kinds of things do you good folks do to make kitchen chores like
> cooking and cleaning more convenient? For example, I imagine most of us
> use prep cups, etc., and do recipe prep like our chopping and mincing and
> measuring in advance before we start cooking. Any others like that?
>
> I myself got tired of not having enough measuring spoons and having a
> recipe call for a tablespoon of a wet ingredient first and then a
> tablespoon of a dry ingredient later and having to stop to wash and dry
> the tablespoon. So I went to the local dollar store and bought 5 sets of
> graduated measuring spoons and 5 sets of graduated measuring cups, then
> went to home depot and bought a piece of pegboard and some hooks, and
> mounted same on the side of a cabinet. Now there are plenty of measuring
> tools handily available.

Nope. Just one set of each, but I do have dry measure cups and wet
measure (glass) cups. I probably have more stainless steel mixing
bowls of all sizes than anyone I know and I have lots of silicon
spatulas and whisks of all sizes & shapes. I have 6-8 silicon
spatulas and sometimes use them all during the course of making a
meal. It's not particularly necessary, it's just me.
>
> I also got tired of those short cords appliance manufacturers put on
> their electrics to protect us from ourselves. So I mounted a small
> outlet strip on the counter where I use my electrics so the outlets are
> in much more convenient reach.

I used to have that, but installed more electrical outlets when the
kitchen was updated - so lack of outlets isn't an issue anymore.
>
> Not rocket science by any means, but they do make life in the kitchen a
> bit easier.
>
My biggest convenience type thing is lots and lots of flexible
chopping mats. I dirty one and get out another for the next item. I
have a knife block... but I don't consider it a convenience, it's a
necessity. I want to keep my "good" knives as sharp as possible
between uses. During the kitchen upgrade, we gave all the
under-counter cabinets rolling shelves. Now, that's a *real*
convenience! Sure, they hold a little less but I now use *everything*
on the shelves instead of using the back as storage and having things
in active use at the front. I've always had lazy susans on my upper
shelves, so that way I don't lose anything at the back there either.


--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

"sf" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..

> My biggest convenience type thing is lots and lots of flexible
> chopping mats. I dirty one and get out another for the next item. I
> have a knife block... but I don't consider it a convenience, it's a
> necessity. I want to keep my "good" knives as sharp as possible
> between uses. During the kitchen upgrade, we gave all the
> under-counter cabinets rolling shelves. Now, that's a *real*
> convenience! Sure, they hold a little less but I now use *everything*
> on the shelves instead of using the back as storage and having things
> in active use at the front. I've always had lazy susans on my upper
> shelves, so that way I don't lose anything at the back there either.

I love those rolling shelves! One of the selling points of this house when
we bought it was that all the cupboards underneath had rolling shelves,
including in the bathrooms. I'd hate to be without them. I think my biggest
convenience is my butcher block on wheels, I use it daily.

Cheri

On 19-Sep-2012, Alan Holbrook <[email protected]> wrote:

> What kinds of things do you good folks do to make kitchen chores like
> cooking and cleaning more convenient? For example, I imagine most of us
> use prep cups, etc., and do recipe prep like our chopping and mincing and
> measuring in advance before we start cooking. Any others like that?

When full, I set my dishwasher to run 4 hours after I go to bed. In the
morning, while the coffee brews, I empty the dishwasher. Then, as I finish
using a dish, cup, whatever, it goes into the dishwasher; keeps my sink and
countertop available and makes doing dishes a task of simply adding
detergent and setting the delay.
--

Change Cujo to Juno in email address.

On 19-Sep-2012, "Julie Bove" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I mostly don't measure unless I am baking. I mostly just eyeball. If I
> am
> cooking rice, I will measure. I have no clue what a prep cup is. I don't
>
> think I have any.
> >
> > I myself got tired of not having enough measuring spoons and having a
> > recipe call for a tablespoon of a wet ingredient first and then a
> > tablespoon of a dry ingredient later and having to stop to wash and dry
> > the tablespoon. So I went to the local dollar store and bought 5 sets
> > of
> > graduated measuring spoons and 5 sets of graduated measuring cups, then
> > went to home depot and bought a piece of pegboard and some hooks, and
> > mounted same on the side of a cabinet. Now there are plenty of
> > measuring
> > tools handily available.
>
> Wow! I bought one new set of dry measuring cups only because my one old
> set
> was starting to look its age and I don't like the other so well. I bought
>
> it at my daughter's school. It folds up into itself. Some of the pieces
> went missing. I have two sets of measuring spoons and they're not all
> there. I have a two one cup, two two cup and a 4 cup liquid measure. I
> only bought extra of those because my others seem to get pushed back in
> the
> cupboard and I have to undo everything to get to them.
> >

Tupperware must hate me; I have had Tupperware measuring spoons and cups
since the mid-70s. Whenever they exhibit issues, significant wear or
breakage, I contact Tupperware, tell them of the issue and receive a free
replacement. Color choices change over the years so my spoon set is no
longer made up of "gold" but now covers the rainbow. On one occasion, they
no longer could match the "style" of a cup set, so sent a new set to replace
the single piece whose handle broke.
--

Change Cujo to Juno in email address.

On Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:38:51 GMT, "l, not -l" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Tupperware must hate me; I have had Tupperware measuring spoons and cups
> since the mid-70s. Whenever they exhibit issues, significant wear or
> breakage, I contact Tupperware, tell them of the issue and receive a free
> replacement. Color choices change over the years so my spoon set is no
> longer made up of "gold" but now covers the rainbow. On one occasion, they
> no longer could match the "style" of a cup set, so sent a new set to replace
> the single piece whose handle broke.

I've never taken Tupperware up on any replacements. Never thought to
replace lids that went bad, just threw them out... and I don't buy
Tupperware anymore.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

"Alan Holbrook" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] 5.247...
> What kinds of things do you good folks do to make kitchen chores like
> cooking and cleaning more convenient? For example, I imagine most of us
> use prep cups, etc., and do recipe prep like our chopping and mincing and
> measuring in advance before we start cooking. Any others like that?
>
> I myself got tired of not having enough measuring spoons and having a
> recipe call for a tablespoon of a wet ingredient first and then a
> tablespoon of a dry ingredient later and having to stop to wash and dry
> the tablespoon. So I went to the local dollar store and bought 5 sets of
> graduated measuring spoons and 5 sets of graduated measuring cups, then
> went to home depot and bought a piece of pegboard and some hooks, and
> mounted same on the side of a cabinet. Now there are plenty of measuring
> tools handily available.
>
> I also got tired of those short cords appliance manufacturers put on
> their electrics to protect us from ourselves. So I mounted a small
> outlet strip on the counter where I use my electrics so the outlets are
> in much more convenient reach.
>
> Not rocket science by any means, but they do make life in the kitchen a
> bit easier.
>
> As Andy would say, you?

When I bake, I weigh everything so my measuring cups are just used as
scoops. My second set of measuring spoons are in the garden shed where they
are used to measure out weed killer and 2-stroke oil.
Graham

On 19-Sep-2012, Alan Holbrook <[email protected]> wrote:

> What kinds of things do you good folks do to make kitchen chores like
> cooking and cleaning more convenient? For example, I imagine most of us
> use prep cups, etc., and do recipe prep like our chopping and mincing and
> measuring in advance before we start cooking. Any others like that?

What is a "prep cup"? Sounds like something from a medical test lab.


Steve

On Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:51:36 +0000 (UTC), [email protected]
(Steve Pope) wrote:

> On 19-Sep-2012, Alan Holbrook <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > What kinds of things do you good folks do to make kitchen chores like
> > cooking and cleaning more convenient? For example, I imagine most of us
> > use prep cups, etc., and do recipe prep like our chopping and mincing and
> > measuring in advance before we start cooking. Any others like that?
>
> What is a "prep cup"? Sounds like something from a medical test lab.
>
I think it's an unstuffy way of saying "mise en place".

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Sep 19, 2:37*am, Alan Holbrook <no.tha...@lets.not> wrote:
> What kinds of things do you good folks do to make kitchen chores like
> cooking and cleaning more convenient? *For example, I imagine most of us
> use prep cups, etc., and do recipe prep like our chopping and mincing and
> measuring in advance before we start cooking. *Any others like that?
>
> I myself got tired of not having enough measuring spoons and having a
> recipe call for a tablespoon of a wet ingredient first and then a
> tablespoon of a dry ingredient later and having to stop to wash and dry
> the tablespoon. *So I went to the local dollar store and bought 5 sets of
> graduated measuring spoons and 5 sets of graduated measuring cups, then
> went to home depot and bought a piece of pegboard and some hooks, and
> mounted same on the side of a cabinet. *Now there are plenty of measuring
> tools handily available.
>
> I also got tired of those short cords appliance manufacturers put on
> their electrics to protect us from ourselves. *So I mounted a small
> outlet strip on the counter where I use my electrics so the outlets are
> in much more convenient reach.
>
> Not rocket science by any means, but they do make life in the kitchen a
> bit easier.
>
> As Andy would say, you?

Did you trace around everything with a marker?

On 9/19/2012 1:06 PM, Chemo wrote:
> On Sep 19, 2:37 am, Alan Holbrook <no.tha...@lets.not> wrote:
>> What kinds of things do you good folks do to make kitchen chores like
>> cooking and cleaning more convenient? For example, I imagine most of us
>> use prep cups, etc., and do recipe prep like our chopping and mincing and
>> measuring in advance before we start cooking. Any others like that?
>>
>> I myself got tired of not having enough measuring spoons and having a
>> recipe call for a tablespoon of a wet ingredient first and then a
>> tablespoon of a dry ingredient later and having to stop to wash and dry
>> the tablespoon. So I went to the local dollar store and bought 5 sets of
>> graduated measuring spoons and 5 sets of graduated measuring cups, then
>> went to home depot and bought a piece of pegboard and some hooks, and
>> mounted same on the side of a cabinet. Now there are plenty of measuring
>> tools handily available.
>>
>> I also got tired of those short cords appliance manufacturers put on
>> their electrics to protect us from ourselves. So I mounted a small
>> outlet strip on the counter where I use my electrics so the outlets are
>> in much more convenient reach.
>>
>> Not rocket science by any means, but they do make life in the kitchen a
>> bit easier.
>>
>> As Andy would say, you?
>
> Did you trace around everything with a marker?
>
My dad did that in his lab.

On Sep 19, 10:06*am, sf <s...@geemail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:51:36 +0000 (UTC), spop...@speedymail.org
>
> (Steve Pope) wrote:
> > On 19-Sep-2012, Alan Holbrook <no.tha...@lets.not> wrote:
>
> > > What kinds of things do you good folks do to make kitchen chores like
> > > cooking and cleaning more convenient? *For example, I imagine most of us
> > > use prep cups, etc., and do recipe prep like our chopping and mincingand
> > > measuring in advance before we start cooking. *Any others like that?
>
> > What is a "prep cup"? *Sounds like something from a medical test lab.
>
> I think it's an unstuffy way of saying "mise en place".
>
> --
> Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

I use custard dishes, but I have seem little flexible bowls labeled as
prep bowls/cups...

On 9/19/2012 4:37 AM, Alan Holbrook wrote:
> What kinds of things do you good folks do to make kitchen chores like
> cooking and cleaning more convenient?

I love cooking so I never consider it a chore. As for cleaning up, I
clean as I cook. Finish with a bowl, wash it, dry it and put it away.
knives, pots...same thing.

After the meal, I hate cleaning up pots and serving dishes so I birthed
a couple of daughters. They did that work for me until they (and I)
were no longer at home, so I trained the spouse to do it.


--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.

>
On Sep 19, 1:16*pm, Janet Wilder <kelliepoo...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> I love cooking so I never consider it a chore. *As for cleaning up, I
> clean as I cook. Finish with a bowl, wash it, dry it and put it away.
> knives, pots...same thing.
>
>
> Janet Wilder
>
>
I clean up as I go, too, but whatever has been washed except for
exceptionally large pieces just stay in the dish drainer to air dry to
be put away later. The only thing that is washed, dried, and put away
immediately are knives such as chef and boning.

"Janet Wilder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:505a0c0c$0$1221$c3e8da3$[email protected] b.com...
> On 9/19/2012 4:37 AM, Alan Holbrook wrote:
>> What kinds of things do you good folks do to make kitchen chores like
>> cooking and cleaning more convenient?
>
> I love cooking so I never consider it a chore. As for cleaning up, I
> clean as I cook. Finish with a bowl, wash it, dry it and put it away.
> knives, pots...same thing.
>
> After the meal, I hate cleaning up pots and serving dishes so I birthed a
> couple of daughters. They did that work for me until they (and I) were no
> longer at home, so I trained the spouse to do it.

*applause* Since daughter is away, spouse does the final clean up ) When
I start to cook I have a big sink of hot soapy water and I also wash up as I
go along I love to cook too!
--
--

http://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/

On Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:06:38 -0700 (PDT), merryb <[email protected]>
wrote:

> On Sep 19, 10:06*am, sf <s...@geemail.com> wrote:
> > On Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:51:36 +0000 (UTC), spop...@speedymail.org
> >
> > (Steve Pope) wrote:
> > > On 19-Sep-2012, Alan Holbrook <no.tha...@lets.not> wrote:
> >
> > > > What kinds of things do you good folks do to make kitchen chores like
> > > > cooking and cleaning more convenient? *For example, I imagine most of us
> > > > use prep cups, etc., and do recipe prep like our chopping and mincing and
> > > > measuring in advance before we start cooking. *Any others like that?
> >
> > > What is a "prep cup"? *Sounds like something from a medical test lab.
> >
> > I think it's an unstuffy way of saying "mise en place".
> >
> > --
> > Food is an important part of a balanced diet.
>
> I use custard dishes, but I have seem little flexible bowls labeled as
> prep bowls/cups...

Me too - to both.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.