Basic Kitchen Equipment

Lena B Katz said:

Doug Kanter said:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
"Doug Kanter" <[email hidden]> wrote:

> "OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
> news:[email hidden]...
>
>> In article <[email hidden]>,
>> "Doug Kanter" <[email hidden]> wrote:
>>
>>> Then, forget commenting about it. Every kitchen needs at least one
>>> spatula,
>>> preferably two or three in different shapes & sizes. You could flip
>>> pancakes
>>> with a spoon if you lost your spatula, but to plan on doing it that
>>> way
>>> is
>>> indicative of a sick mind.
>>
>>
>> You've obviously also never been poor and had to improvise.
>>
>> I put myself thru college on a salary of $600.00 per month.
>>
>> And that was paying tuition, books and efficiency apt. rent.
>
>
> Yes I have. I'd use the cardboard backing from a legal pad to flip
> pancakes
> before I'd use a spoon.
>
>

Ok, so what are you criticizing for?
The thread is aimed at the MINIMAL needs.
--
Peace, Om.

I don't see it that way. I interpreted it as how to equip a new cook
PROPERLY, not as if the person were going backpacking or living in
poverty.
The presence of the words "dollar store" in the original post do not
necessarily mean everything has to be cheap or pathetic.

Mind if we fork the thread, then? One for people who want to say "this
is what I consider necessary for a kitchen" -- one for the people who
want to say "this is the barest essentials". Oh, and let's do a
pricepoint on each!

just because I don't want a lot of clutter doesn't mean i'm not going to
get decent stuff.

Lena

Lena, I started the thread and the reason for doing so was the
conversation going on the food snob thread and poor people lacking the
necessary equipment. So in light of that, someone stretching their food
equipment dollars would be wise to check of dollar and secondhand stores
but a list of necessary equipment would be nice. If you want to take
the thread in another direction, I have no objections. Just I think it
would be valuable to get some type of a list together for those just
starting cooking and having to watch their dollars at the same time.
BTW, some of the stuff at the dollar stores is fairly good quality just
off brands so it sure doesn't hurt to look.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

"Lena B Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Doug Kanter said:

"Lena B Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

> No, I'm not saying that I don't cook pancakes. But i wouldn't miss them
> if I didn't have a skillet. I get better frozen pancakes anyway.

OK - that's it. Now we have absolute, indisputable proof that you are a
fool. There is no such thing as decent frozen pancakes. This discussion
is
over.

but.... but.... I like my minipan!

I'm no good at making pancakes. Maybe i'd enjoy them if they weren't such
a flop. Not what i'd get for a beginning cook -- as i haven't mastered it
myself!

Lena

My son is now 16. When he was 14, he began making pancakes. Within a week,
he was making them perfectly every single time, with no exceptions,
regardless of the recipe or mix he used. You are an idiot.

<shlap>

That's not nice.

<jerks on Doug's chain>
--
Peace, Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> In article <[email hidden]>,
> "Doug Kanter" <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
>> My son had better ideas about kitchen tools than you do when he was 6.
>
> And your son had a silver spoon in his mouth...

No, dear. Some people will always look at the job to be done and choose
the
wrong tool. And, some do things right. Doesn't matter, though. Lena
doesn't
really do the things she says she does. She's playing a game here.

So are you. ;-)

I'd choose a small toaster oven over a toaster any day as I can use it
for more things.

Yeah, and because they tempt you to use them for more foods, they get filthy
and they're impossible to clean, with all the stupid sharp edges inside.

<gag> You must own a cheap one.......

They are no harder to clean than a toaster if you get a decent one, and
a helluva lot faster and easier to clean than the oven!!!!!!!
--
Peace, Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

"cathyxyz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

~patches~ said:

I have a lot more than the following list but I thought a basic list of
kitchen equipment for new cooks might be helpful.

small saucepan
large saucepan with lid
frying pan
roasting pan - size based on household size
muffin tin
cookie sheet
spatulas - lg & small, preferrably silicone
sharp chef's knife
paring knife
manual can opener
toaster
strainer
lg spoon for stirring
measuring cups
measuring spoons
storage containers (recycled food jars with lids are free)

That should get most new cooks cooking and I know a lot of the things
listed are available at our local dollar store. Others could likely be
found at a second hand store so very little money would be needed. Am I
missing anything? Anyone else what to add to the list?

I would add a grater, otherwise not a bad list.... and maybe a kettle to
boil water for tea etc. - or is that not what you were thinking about?

Cheers
Cathy(xyz)

Kettle? Nah. You can boil water in a styrofoam cup.
-Lena Katz

Especially if you have a microwave!
--
Peace, Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

~patches~ said:

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

>In article <[email hidden]>,
>"Doug Kanter" <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
>
>>All normal people like toast. If you have an electric oven, it'll take
>>longer for the broiler to warm up than it would for the toaster to do its
>>job.
>
>Except that a toaster is only good for ONE thing!
>
>When I was in college, I did not own a toaster but did own a toaster
>oven... It was good for a much wider range of foods.
>
>And burned less power than the stove/oven.
>
>Versatility rulz when you are living on a shoestring.
>
>Hell, I even did my term papers on an old electric typewriter.

I had (and still have) a non-electric typewriter. So what?

You have a computer now...
Are you nuts enough to still use a typewriter??????

Why not, he's still sprouting a few archane ideals regarding cooking.

<giggles>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I still have the typewriter I used in college but only for sentimental
reasons. It lives out in the storage shed. ;-)

When I went back to school, I used an electric typewriter. I thought
that was good enough since I had been taught Pitman shorthand as well as
typing. The end of my first semester we bought our first computer. Boy
that typing has come in handy. It been upwardly mobile in terms of
technology since then.

I know what you mean... Mine was also an electric.

But the touch typing skills I learned are still in use.
I don't have to look at the computer keyboard as I type.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Want to buy it? It's a "Brother" and still works great.

I would love it!

Serious???????

It does not even have a correct ribbon!
--
Peace, Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

"Lena B Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Tue, 21 Mar 2006, Doug Kanter wrote:

> "Lena B Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
> news:[email hidden]...
>
>> No, I'm not saying that I don't cook pancakes. But i wouldn't miss
>> them
>> if I didn't have a skillet. I get better frozen pancakes anyway.
>
> OK - that's it. Now we have absolute, indisputable proof that you are
> a
> fool. There is no such thing as decent frozen pancakes. This
> discussion
> is
> over.

but.... but.... I like my minipan!

I'm no good at making pancakes. Maybe i'd enjoy them if they weren't
such
a flop. Not what i'd get for a beginning cook -- as i haven't mastered
it
myself!

Lena

My son is now 16. When he was 14, he began making pancakes. Within a
week,
he was making them perfectly every single time, with no exceptions,
regardless of the recipe or mix he used. You are an idiot.

<shlap>

That's not nice.

<jerks on Doug's chain>
--
Peace, Om.

Oh please....what adult can't make friggin pancakes? If you don't spot your
mistakes after the first three tries, and either fix them, or consult a book
and THEN fix them, you're an idiot.

"Lena B Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>>> Invisible garlic. Can't be done with scissors or a paring knife.

^________pointing! "can't be done with scissors or a paring knife"
certainly sounds like you meant both tools would be worthless for it.

OK - you're right on that one. Should've said "not with scissors, but with
paring knife". But of course, you knew that.

cathyxyz said:

~patches~ said:

I have a lot more than the following list but I thought a basic list
of kitchen equipment for new cooks might be helpful.

small saucepan
large saucepan with lid
frying pan
roasting pan - size based on household size
muffin tin
cookie sheet
spatulas - lg & small, preferrably silicone
sharp chef's knife
paring knife
manual can opener
toaster
strainer
lg spoon for stirring
measuring cups
measuring spoons
storage containers (recycled food jars with lids are free)

That should get most new cooks cooking and I know a lot of the things
listed are available at our local dollar store. Others could likely
be found at a second hand store so very little money would be needed.
Am I missing anything? Anyone else what to add to the list?

I would add a grater, otherwise not a bad list.... and maybe a kettle to
boil water for tea etc. - or is that not what you were thinking about?

Cheers
Cathy(xyz)

Exactly what I was thinking. Now and enterprizing person would use one
of the saucepans to boil water and you could always make camp coffe
using coffe grounds and one of the sauce pans. I forgot the grater.
That would be really useful.

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
"Doug Kanter" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If I need to bang out a one paragraph letter, I can do it in under
a minute. It takes longer than that for my computer to boot up and
be ready to rock.

Heh. I'm an internet junkie. My computer stays on unless the weather
is bad.

I pretty much leave mine on all the time, but that's just because I'm
firmly of the belief that it's better for the hardware not to be
constantly power-cycled.

Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

Quoted message said:

Ok, so what are you criticizing for?
The thread is aimed at the MINIMAL needs.
--
Peace, Om.

I don't see it that way. I interpreted it as how to equip a new cook
PROPERLY, not as if the person were going backpacking or living in
poverty.
The presence of the words "dollar store" in the original post do not
necessarily mean everything has to be cheap or pathetic.

The thread is an offshoot of the "food snob" thread.
It's aimed at trying to equip the minimalist cook.

I could be wrong, but that's the impression I got.

What is the very LEAST you could get by with and still achieve decent
meals with minimal effort?

If this was about all the toys I'd like to have, my list would be very
long. <G>
--
Peace, Om.

I might like a very fancy gas stove, 3 completely separate ovens, and to
keep the cooking zone free of interference, several trap doors through which
I could drop intruders into a pit of snakes. Other than that, I like the
tools I have. They include some stuff I got in 1971 while in college. I
agreed to paint window frames for a guy who owned a restaurant supply store,
because I had no money for cooking toys. It was a great arrangement.

"~patches~" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lena B Katz said:

Doug Kanter said:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

> In article <[email hidden]>,
> "Doug Kanter" <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
>> "OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>> news:[email hidden]...
>>
>>> In article <[email hidden]>,
>>> "Doug Kanter" <[email hidden]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Then, forget commenting about it. Every kitchen needs at least one
>>>> spatula,
>>>> preferably two or three in different shapes & sizes. You could flip
>>>> pancakes
>>>> with a spoon if you lost your spatula, but to plan on doing it that
>>>> way
>>>> is
>>>> indicative of a sick mind.
>>>
>>>
>>> You've obviously also never been poor and had to improvise.
>>>
>>> I put myself thru college on a salary of $600.00 per month.
>>>
>>> And that was paying tuition, books and efficiency apt. rent.
>>
>>
>> Yes I have. I'd use the cardboard backing from a legal pad to flip
>> pancakes
>> before I'd use a spoon.
>>
>>
>
> Ok, so what are you criticizing for?
> The thread is aimed at the MINIMAL needs.
> --
> Peace, Om.

I don't see it that way. I interpreted it as how to equip a new cook
PROPERLY, not as if the person were going backpacking or living in
poverty.
The presence of the words "dollar store" in the original post do not
necessarily mean everything has to be cheap or pathetic.

Mind if we fork the thread, then? One for people who want to say "this
is what I consider necessary for a kitchen" -- one for the people who
want to say "this is the barest essentials". Oh, and let's do a
pricepoint on each!

just because I don't want a lot of clutter doesn't mean i'm not going to
get decent stuff.

Lena

Lena, I started the thread and the reason for doing so was the
conversation going on the food snob thread and poor people lacking the
necessary equipment. So in light of that, someone stretching their food
equipment dollars would be wise to check of dollar and secondhand stores
but a list of necessary equipment would be nice. If you want to take the
thread in another direction, I have no objections. Just I think it would
be valuable to get some type of a list together for those just starting
cooking and having to watch their dollars at the same time. BTW, some of
the stuff at the dollar stores is fairly good quality just off brands so
it sure doesn't hurt to look.

Agreed. I don't have boutique equipment, and if I won a lottery tomorrow, I
*still* wouldn't own boutique equipment. Lena, on the other hand, would
probably be using a chain of paper clips to dangle toast over a candle.

Lefty said:

You forgot the 9mm Berretta to keep the moochers out of your canning :-)
Lefty

What is that but assuming not good? I'm rather generous with my canning
anyway in that I certainly do not hoard it. Want some pickles?

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
"Doug Kanter" <[email hidden]> wrote:

> "OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
> news:[email hidden]...
> > In article <[email hidden]>,
> > "Doug Kanter" <[email hidden]> wrote:
> >
> >> My son had better ideas about kitchen tools than you do when he was
> >> 6.
> >
> > And your son had a silver spoon in his mouth...
>
> No, dear. Some people will always look at the job to be done and
> choose
> the
> wrong tool. And, some do things right. Doesn't matter, though. Lena
> doesn't
> really do the things she says she does. She's playing a game here.
>
>

So are you. ;-)

I'd choose a small toaster oven over a toaster any day as I can use it
for more things.

Yeah, and because they tempt you to use them for more foods, they get
filthy
and they're impossible to clean, with all the stupid sharp edges inside.

<gag> You must own a cheap one.......

They are no harder to clean than a toaster if you get a decent one, and
a helluva lot faster and easier to clean than the oven!!!!!!!

Oven? I take out the racks. I set it on "Clean Yo Bad Self Now". I open a
beer. Elapsed time: under a minute. 3 hours later, it's done. I put a sticky
not on it saying "Needs a wipe", so I remember to do that before I use it
next. That takes 2 minutes.

"cathyxyz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

.... and maybe a kettle to

Quoted message said:

boil water for tea etc.

And it should be a kettle that you can get your whole hand and a sponge
into, for cleaning. No ceramic coating inside, either.

~patches~ said:

Lena B Katz said:

Doug Kanter said:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

> In article <[email hidden]>,
> "Doug Kanter" <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
>> "OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>> news:[email hidden]...
>>
>>> In article <[email hidden]>,
>>> "Doug Kanter" <[email hidden]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Then, forget commenting about it. Every kitchen needs at least
>>>> one
>>>> spatula,
>>>> preferably two or three in different shapes & sizes. You could
>>>> flip
>>>> pancakes
>>>> with a spoon if you lost your spatula, but to plan on doing it
>>>> that
>>>> way
>>>> is
>>>> indicative of a sick mind.
>>>
>>>
>>> You've obviously also never been poor and had to improvise.
>>>
>>> I put myself thru college on a salary of $600.00 per month.
>>>
>>> And that was paying tuition, books and efficiency apt. rent.
>>
>>
>> Yes I have. I'd use the cardboard backing from a legal pad to flip
>> pancakes
>> before I'd use a spoon.
>>
>>
>
> Ok, so what are you criticizing for?
> The thread is aimed at the MINIMAL needs.
> --
> Peace, Om.

I don't see it that way. I interpreted it as how to equip a new cook
PROPERLY, not as if the person were going backpacking or living in
poverty.
The presence of the words "dollar store" in the original post do not
necessarily mean everything has to be cheap or pathetic.

Mind if we fork the thread, then? One for people who want to say "this is
what I consider necessary for a kitchen" -- one for the people who want to
say "this is the barest essentials". Oh, and let's do a pricepoint on
each!

just because I don't want a lot of clutter doesn't mean i'm not going to
get decent stuff.

Lena

Lena, I started the thread and the reason for doing so was the conversation
going on the food snob thread and poor people lacking the necessary
equipment. So in light of that, someone stretching their food equipment
dollars would be wise to check of dollar and secondhand stores but a list of
necessary equipment would be nice.

Necessary equipment:
Canopener
Pot (saucepot or wok )
Spoon for stirring.

With this, I can make practically anything that's canned, and most things
that are boxed (lipton sidedishes, say).

But, I think that if the goal is to stretch your money _period_, you could
certainly do better.

Bare minimum, a serrated kitchen knife -- for hotdogs, and cutting up
meat.

Would there be a whole hell of a lot of things I couldn't cook, with just
this? Hell yeah.

Fact is, if you had an oven, you'd probably want at least a cookie sheet
and a cake pan.

And for the truly economical, i'd get a cauldron (can you say leftovers
for a _whole week_? ;-) ).

This would make a more interesting thread if everyone who said something
was "essential" had to talk about how much money said person would save
over the lifetime of the product (versus buying it from the store
premade). Estimated usage about what the poster does now (which is
probably underestimating. when i dind't have a cookiesheet, my pizza pan
got used a _lot_).

Quoted message said:

If you want to take the thread in another
direction, I have no objections. Just I think it would be valuable to get
some type of a list together for those just starting cooking and having to
watch their dollars at the same time. BTW, some of the stuff at the dollar
stores is fairly good quality just off brands so it sure doesn't hurt to
look.

I'd say try an IKEA for reasonably priced trash. (great value for the
money).

But id' serously consider investing in a good stirfry wok (like the
catastraphon i got). So versatile, so useful!

I remember going to college sophomore year witout a meal plan. I remember
what I used, when. And which things sat mouldering on a shelf.

Lena

Doug Kanter said:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

"Lena B Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
>
>
> On Tue, 21 Mar 2006, Doug Kanter wrote:
>
>> "Lena B Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>> news:[email hidden]...
>>
>>> No, I'm not saying that I don't cook pancakes. But i wouldn't miss
>>> them
>>> if I didn't have a skillet. I get better frozen pancakes anyway.
>>
>> OK - that's it. Now we have absolute, indisputable proof that you are
>> a
>> fool. There is no such thing as decent frozen pancakes. This
>> discussion
>> is
>> over.
>
> but.... but.... I like my minipan!
>
> I'm no good at making pancakes. Maybe i'd enjoy them if they weren't
> such
> a flop. Not what i'd get for a beginning cook -- as i haven't mastered
> it
> myself!
>
> Lena

My son is now 16. When he was 14, he began making pancakes. Within a
week,
he was making them perfectly every single time, with no exceptions,
regardless of the recipe or mix he used. You are an idiot.

<shlap>

That's not nice.

<jerks on Doug's chain>
--
Peace, Om.

Oh please....what adult can't make friggin pancakes? If you don't spot your
mistakes after the first three tries, and either fix them, or consult a book
and THEN fix them, you're an idiot.

.... you haven't heard me posting about my oven recently, have you? I
swear, that thing runs 50-100 degrees hotter than it says it is (we can't
be consistent, now can we?). To top it all off, my pizza pan wont' even
fit into the oven without being kinda tilty (not a problem for making
pizza etc.).

So, spare me the "any reasonable human" can make something. Spare me
until you've seen my kitchen. K?

Lena

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

"Lena B Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
>
>
> On Tue, 21 Mar 2006, Doug Kanter wrote:
>
>> "ewdotson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>> news:[email hidden]...
>>
>>
>>>>>> paring knife
>>>>>
>>>>> better to get kitchen skissors.
>>>>
>>>> Are you on drugs? Peel an apple or chop garlic with scissors?
>>>>
>>>
>>> Honestly, I think a vegetable peeler would probably be a better
>>> option
>>> here. Using a paring knife to peel veggies is more hassle than it's
>>> worth. As far as garlic goes, I've always used my chef's knife. I
>>> know the standard wisdom is that a chef's knife and a paring knife
>>> are
>>> the two knifes everyone needs to start off with, but for whatever
>>> reason, I really don't find myself using my paring knife all that
>>> often. YMMV, I suppose.
>>
>> At least your idea is within the realm of sanity. She's suggesting
>> scissors.
>> Right.
>
> What do you use your paring knife for?
> Lena

Invisible garlic. Can't be done with scissors or a paring knife. Back to
your room before the orderly notices you've gone missing.

Geez! What has gotten into you today?
You are wearing a Sheldon disguise?
--
Peace, Om.

Of course not! Sheldon hasn't this much staying power. :-)

<snork> Too true...
He usually only hangs in for 2 to 3 replies, tops. ;-D
--
Peace, Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

~patches~ said:

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

Quoted message said:

Invisible garlic. Can't be done with scissors or a paring knife. Back to
your room before the orderly notices you've gone missing.

Geez! What has gotten into you today?
You are wearing a Sheldon disguise?

He was getting on my nerves so I did that little click of a button thing
😉 My personal experience has been that the garlic press gets more
flavour followed by smashing the garlic head on the chopping block
followed by simply chopping the garlic. I think it depends on what you
are using the garlic for.

I agree.
It's one of the reasons I'm really beginning to prefer it.
Even using the electric food chopper has yielded dissapointing results.

Time is not as valuable as the flavor. ;-d
--
Peace, Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

Doug Kanter said:

"~patches~" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

>Invisible garlic. Can't be done with scissors or a paring knife. Back to
>your room before the orderly notices you've gone missing.
>

Geez! What has gotten into you today?
You are wearing a Sheldon disguise?

He was getting on my nerves so I did that little click of a button thing
😉 My personal experience has been that the garlic press gets more
flavour followed by smashing the garlic head on the chopping block
followed by simply chopping the garlic. I think it depends on what you
are using the garlic for.

Have you seen the movie "Goodfellas"? The guy using a razor blade to cut
garlic insanely thin? That's on its way to being invisible garlic.

It'd get everything all sticky...
--
Peace, Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

~patches~ said:

Quoted message said:

one good medium sized saucepan with lid
Two good knives. One cutting and one paring
Can opener
Veggie peeler
S

I'd eliminate the veggie peeler as a paring knife does the same thing.
You almost need 2 spatulas - lg & sm - since the larger ones won't fit
into small jars. CI kind of iffy for a new cook unless they have some
experience with. The strainer could possibly be eliminated if you use
the lid of the pot to drain things like boiled potatoes or pasta.

Quoted message said:

I'd rather have a peeler and scissors than a paring knife. Anything I
can't do with those two, I can do with a chef's knife. Also, for a
novice, the first two are safer and easier tools to use than
substituting a chef's knife or paring knife.