Skip the Food Fight: Creating Culinary Calm in Your Kitchen

Well, if your kitchen is well equipped, well stocked and you understand what your ingredients do, cooking will be a pleasure. As presented at the Standard Examiner/Studio 5 Home & Garden Show, Studio 5 Contributor Kathleen Alder shares ways to help you skip the food fight and create some culinary calm in your kitchen.

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WELL-EQUIPPED KITCHEN

Pans (Heavy metal pans are best, food cooks more evenly)

• 1 quart saucepan plus cover

• 2 quart saucepan plus cover

• 5 quart saucepan plus cover

• 8 quart saucepan plus cover

• Stock pot and cover

• 6 or 8 inch covered skillet

• 12 inch covered skillet

• Large roasting pan

• Two 9″ round cake pans

• 9 x 13″ cake pan

• 8-10″ spring form pan

• 9″ pie pan

• 2 cookie sheets

• 2 rectangular cooling racks

Baking dishes

• 9 x 13″ glass baking dish

• 1 quart glass casserole dish

• 2 quart glass casserole dish

• 9 x 13″ glass baking dish

Kitchen tools

• Measuring tools

o 2 sets of measuring spoons

o 2 sets of measuring cups

o 1 c. glass measuring cup

o 4 c. glass measuring cup

o 8 c. glass or plastic measuring cup

• General Tools

o Slotted spoon

o 2-3 wooden spoons

o Sturdy metal mixing spoons

o Soup ladle

o 2-3 Rubber scraper spatulas

o Tongs

o 4 hot pads

o Straight metal and plastic spatulas for turning

o Angled metal and plastic spatulas

o 1 metal or plastic colander

o Several sizes of stainless steel sieves to use for straining and sifting

o 3 different sizes of wire whisks

o Vegetable peeler

o Grater with several sizes of grates

o Rolling pin

o Can opener

o Kitchen timer

o Ice pick

o Kitchen sheers

o Cutting mat

o Plastic storage containers w/covers

• Knives

o 2 paring knives

o Long serrated knife

o 8-10″ chef’s knife

o Pizza cutter

• Mixing /serving bowls

o 1 quart mixing bowl

o 2 quart mixing bowl

o 4 quart mixing bowl

o 10-12 quart mixing bowl with cover

• Small Appliances

o Hand held blender (Bamix)

o Large mixer (Bosch, Kitchenaid)

o George Forman or Pannini grill

o Food processor

o Toaster oven

o Crock pot

o Microwave

• Miscellaneous

o Plastic bags (large zippered, sandwich zippered, vegetable bags)

o Foil

o Plastic wrap

o Paper towels

BASIC MUST HAVE INGREDIENTS

Spices and Baking Supplies

• Bay leaves

• Beef bouillon

• Brown Sugar

• Celery seeds

• Chicken bouillon

• Chili powder

• Chocolate Chips

• Cornstarch

• Cream of tartar

• Dill

• Dried Garlic

• Dried Onions

• Dry mustard

• Flour

• Ground Cinnamon

• Ground Cloves

• Ground Nutmeg

• Light corn syrup

• Oregano

• Paprika

• Pepper

• Poultry Seasoning

• Powdered Ginger

• Powdered/Confectioners Sugar

• Salt

• Sweet Basil dried

• Tarragon

• Thyme

• Unsweetened cocoa powder

• Vanilla extract

• White Sugar

General Pantry Supplies

• Applesauce

• Balsamic vinegar

• Black and green olives

• Brown rice

• Canned beans

• Canned creamed soups

• Canned fruit cocktail

• Canned peaches

• Canned pears

• Canned crushed pineapple

• Canned tuna

• Canned/stewed tomatoes

• Chocolate syrup

• Cold cereal

• Dried beans

• Dried onion soup mix

• Evaporated milk

• Gelatin

• Graham crackers

• Honey

• Instant pudding

• Jelly/jam

• Maple syrup

• Non-stick cooking spray

• Olive oil

• Pasta—elbow, spaghetti, lasagna etc.

• Peanut butter

• Pickle relish

• Raisins

• Red wine vinegar

• Salsa

• Soda crackers

• Tomato paste

• Tomato sauce

• Vegetable oil

• Vegetable shortening

• White rice

• White wine vinegar

Refrigerator Storage

• Butter

• Carrots

• Catsup

• Celery

• Cheese

• Cottage cheese

• Cream cheese

• Eggs

• Lettuce

• Mayonnaise

• Milk

• Mustard

• Peppers

• Real Lemon juice

• Salad dressing

• Sour cream

• Worcestershire sauce

• Yogurt

Freezer Storage

• Chicken breasts

• Corn

• Frozen whipped topping

• Green beans

• Hamburger

• Ice cream

• Mixed vegetables

• Nuts

• Peas

• Spinach