handy cooking tools
I’m on a crusade to get my kitchen counters and table cleared of books, papers, and magazines. I’m off work, so I hope to accomplish the deed today.
Cooking will be a lot easier when I have space to maneuver.
That got me thinking about the kitchen tools and appliances I find most helpful:
rice steamer–which makes cooking perfect rice extremely easy. Dump rice, water, and a little kosher salt into the pot, plug the thing in, and forget about it. When the rice is done, the steamer switches to "warming" mode and keeps the rice hot and moist until you need it.
All-Clad dutch oven–expensive but wonderful for preparing soup, stew, or chili or for sauteeing large amounts of vegetables
V-slicer–the poor man’s mandoline, which makes short work of slicing vegetables. I use it to slice onions very thin when making my favorite green salad (recipe to come one of these days).
Crockpot–handy for preparing soups, stews, and roasts when time is limited. Toss in the ingredients, plug in the slow cooker, and go off to work.
Bread machine–Loaves baked in the machine are somewhat ill-shaped, so I use it to prepare dough for bread, pizza, and rolls. Once the dough is ready, I remove it, shape it, let it rise under a dish towel, then bake it. Machines prepare excellent dough and save the cook both mess and time. They’re also great for people whose hand strength has diminished. Using my bread machine and a recipe from Cook’s Illustrated (absolutely the best cooking magazine for "foodies"), I can prepare pizza dough and sauce in about 90 minutes.
chef’s knife–Until I got one for Christmas several years ago, I had no idea how much difference a good chef’s knife makes. Now I can bash away rapidly, without fear of cutting myself.
On the fitness front: this afternoon I’ll work upper body at the gym, followed by a session on the elliptical trainer.
Also: I’m going to sign up for a "body pump" class at my gym, starting mid-month. I’ve never, repeat, never, taken an aerobics class of any kind, so this should be interesting. I’m strong and my cardiovascular fitness is good, but I tend to be a bit, well, uncoordinated. So we’ll see how I do.
I just thought adding something new to the mix might be a good thing and could perhaps help move me off the plateau I’ve been on for the past several months.
