October 2009 Archives

The absolute best place to buy fancy -- or any -- kitchen gadgetry is the second hand store. Consignment stores always have truckloads of never used or barely used kitchen items -- my theory is that people buy fancy kitchen gadgets believing that simply having them will magically make them want/like/have time to cook, but when that doesn't happen, and the gadget has been in the box unopened for a year, they drop them off at the thrift store -- which means you can have a gourmet kitchen on a college student's budget. Here are some of the standout items I have found at thrift stores:

1. Atlas Stainless Steel Pasta Machine, $7.00 (Retails new for around $90.00)
2. Le Crueset Enameled Cast Iron French Oven 9qt., $30.00 (Retail: $299.00)
3. Le Crueset Halo Enamel-on-Steel 1.5qt Tea Kettle , $3.00 (Retail: $55.00)
4. Cuisinart Stainless Steel Automatic Burr Mill Coffee Grinder, $4.99 (Retail: 50.00)
5. Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker, $12.00 (Retail: $50.00)
6. Williams-Sonoma Glass Cake Platter, $6.99 ($65.00)
7. Marble rolling pin, $2.99 (Retail: $80.00)

I could go on and on because pretty much my whole kitchen has come from the consignment store -- all my pots and pans; all my cake, bread and muffin pans; all my baking tools -- at a fraction of retail price.

Having said that, I'm a person who believes you don't need any fancy kitchen gadgets to be a good cook or to enjoy cooking. New York Times food columnist and cookbook author Mark Bittman makes all his meals and tests all the recipes for his cookbooks in his tiny Manhattan apartment. For all the great kitchen stuff I have picked up at the thrift store, I make almost every meal with a pot or skillet, a wooden spoon, and a sharp knife. That's it.

If you need some kitchen staples or gadgets, head to the consignment store, but don't let lack of equipment stop you from cooking! Pretty much all it takes to make dinner is the desire to do so!

This morning I was walking to the bus stop and I was halfway there when I realized I was wearing two different shoes: one with a heel and one without.

Yep, that's right, I walked a block didn't notice that each half of my body was at a different height. It was like when you drive somewhere and when you arrive at your destination you can't remember any part of the drive.

Numerous and varied studies have shown that we often don't pay quality attention to the things around us. Whenever I read one of those studies, my first thought is, "Sure, maybe that happens to other people, but not me! I always know what's going on around me!" I guess I have to revise my self-assessment.

I know this much: I better start paying attention when I'm getting dressed or tomorrow I might show up at work with my pants on backwards.

Okay, so it didn't exactly get stolen. I am selling my old house and I used the TV to stage it. Since we're a one TV family, that means we're going without in our new house.

I panicked at first. "How will I fill my nights?" I gasped. "What will I do?" The answer, it turns out, is a lot! It turns out I LOVE not having a TV. Here are some of the things I've rediscovered:

1. I'm learning to play the piano.

2. I'm cooking more. Without a show or a Netflix to plop down in front of, I think, "Gosh, maybe I'll make dinner." And then I do.

3. I'm reading again. Sure, I read regularly; I'm an editor. But back when we had our TV and I would get home from work, I'd tell myself, "Ugh, I've been editing all day. I'm sick of reading! I'll just watch TV." But it turns out that was just an easy excuse to watch TV. I have plenty of mental space left for books -- and now I have the time to read them!

4. My better half and I are spending more time doing actual interactive things. Several nights in a row last week we sat at the dining room table and played board games. We played chess. We got out the video camera and filmed our dogs doing tricks.

We've been having so much fun without the TV, we don't know if we want it back. We're thinking we might keep it in the basement when we get it back and drag it up only for the occasional movie.