Homemade Cooking Tools

(Ruben Aguilar) said:

Just making a late Sunday morning breakfast and got out my homemade
square lid (just an old 8" baking pan with a wooden knob screwed into
the bottom) to use with my square skillet. Was wondering what things
you use because you couldn't buy or find them in stores. Just a long
time lurker, finally speaking up.

Don't have any that I made. Have a wooden spoon and a flour scoop
that a woodworking friend made. To expand the topic just a bit, I use
a few things that were not originally intended for the kitchen --
really long tongs meant for the outdoor grill are good for frying and
deep frying; needle nose pliers have several uses; a wooden mallet
works in conjunction with the heavy cleaver to cut through bones. -
aem

"news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

(Ruben Aguilar) said:

Just making a late Sunday morning breakfast and got out my homemade
square lid (just an old 8" baking pan with a wooden knob screwed into
the bottom) to use with my square skillet. Was wondering what things
you use because you couldn't buy or find them in stores. Just a long
time lurker, finally speaking up.

One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a foot
long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one day when the
children were tads and we were poor. The children are now pushing 50 and
I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening years.

Felice

Felice said:

"news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

(Ruben Aguilar) said:

Just making a late Sunday morning breakfast and got out my homemade
square lid (just an old 8" baking pan with a wooden knob screwed into
the bottom) to use with my square skillet. Was wondering what things
you use because you couldn't buy or find them in stores. Just a long
time lurker, finally speaking up.

One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a foot
long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one day when the
children were tads and we were poor. The children are now pushing 50 and
I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening years.

What kind of child's wooden building block is a foot long?

On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:17:42 -0500, "Felice" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a foot
long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one day when the
children were tads and we were poor. The children are now pushing 50 and
I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening years.

I used a plumbers mallet for that until my son grew up and stole it
from me to use on some handyman type job here at the house.

--
See return address to reply by email
remove the smiley face first

Oh pshaw, on Sun 11 Nov 2007 04:08:35p, meant to say...

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:17:42 -0500, "Felice" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a
foot long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one day
when the children were tads and we were poor. The children are now
pushing 50 and I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening years.

I used a plumbers mallet for that until my son grew up and stole it
from me to use on some handyman type job here at the house.

I bought a large-headed rubber mallet at the hardware store. Works great
for me.

--
Wayne Boatwright

(to e-mail me direct, replace cox dot net with gmail dot com)
______________________________________________________________

OK, I'm weird ! But I'm saving up to be eccentric.

On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:38:42 -0800, Mark Thorson <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Felice said:

"news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Nov 11, 12:13 pm, [email hidden] (Ruben Aguilar) wrote:
> Just making a late Sunday morning breakfast and got out my homemade
> square lid (just an old 8" baking pan with a wooden knob screwed into
> the bottom) to use with my square skillet. Was wondering what things
> you use because you couldn't buy or find them in stores. Just a long
> time lurker, finally speaking up.

One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a foot
long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one day when the
children were tads and we were poor. The children are now pushing 50 and
I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening years.

What kind of child's wooden building block is a foot long?

The long straight ones, you duffus. Younger kids tend to make them
into ramps for Hot Wheels to race down.
http://www.barclaywoods.com/Kits07/Wooden_Blocks_BaseA07.htm

--
See return address to reply by email
remove the smiley face first

sf said:

On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:17:42 -0500, "Felice" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a
foot long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one
day when the children were tads and we were poor. The children are now
pushing 50 and I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening
years.

I used a plumbers mallet for that until my son grew up and stole it
from me to use on some handyman type job here at the house.

I can remember my grandmother (who lived with us; we had a
three-generation home) and my mother using a tin can to chop
strawberries in a bowl. Both ends had been removed and one end still
had the rounded "bead" on the edge; the other end - the cutting end -
did not, so that it was sharp. This was a saved tool; it wasn't like
whenever they needed to chop something they used a new can; it was kept
a the drawer with other tools. I'm sure they used it for chopping other
stuff; it's just strawberries that I specifically remember. The nature
of product would've determined what was used for chopping; I can't
imagine using that can for something like onions that would've required
a real cutting edge. Cultural Timeline: They experienced the Great
Depression; my memories of this tool are from the 1950s and 1960s.

--
Blinky
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project - http://improve-usenet.org

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

Quoted message said:

Felice said:

"news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Nov 11, 12:13 pm, [email hidden] (Ruben Aguilar) wrote:
> Just making a late Sunday morning breakfast and got out my homemade
> square lid (just an old 8" baking pan with a wooden knob screwed into
> the bottom) to use with my square skillet. Was wondering what things
> you use because you couldn't buy or find them in stores. Just a long
> time lurker, finally speaking up.

One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a
foot
long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one day when
the
children were tads and we were poor. The children are now pushing 50 and
I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening years.

What kind of child's wooden building block is a foot long?

It was a looooong time ago, Mark, but my guess is that they were either
Playskool or (if we had been feeling flush) Creative Playthings. They were
unpainted modular building blocks in a selection of sizes and shapes
including arches, columns, triangles, etc. If you didn't have some, you had
a deprived childhood!

Felice

Oh pshaw, on Sun 11 Nov 2007 04:24:12p, Blinky the Shark meant to say...

Quoted message said:

sf said:

On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:17:42 -0500, "Felice" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a
foot long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one
day when the children were tads and we were poor. The children are now
pushing 50 and I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening
years.

I used a plumbers mallet for that until my son grew up and stole it
from me to use on some handyman type job here at the house.

I can remember my grandmother (who lived with us; we had a
three-generation home) and my mother using a tin can to chop
strawberries in a bowl. Both ends had been removed and one end still
had the rounded "bead" on the edge; the other end - the cutting end -
did not, so that it was sharp. This was a saved tool; it wasn't like
whenever they needed to chop something they used a new can; it was kept
a the drawer with other tools. I'm sure they used it for chopping other
stuff; it's just strawberries that I specifically remember. The nature
of product would've determined what was used for chopping; I can't
imagine using that can for something like onions that would've required
a real cutting edge. Cultural Timeline: They experienced the Great
Depression; my memories of this tool are from the 1950s and 1960s.

My mom used a can like that to cut out biscuits. I think it had been a
soup can, based on the diameter.

--
Wayne Boatwright

(to e-mail me direct, replace cox dot net with gmail dot com)
______________________________________________________________

OK, I'm weird ! But I'm saving up to be eccentric.

"Blinky the Shark" <[email hidden]> wrote in message from me to use on
some handyman type job here at the house.

Quoted message said:

I can remember my grandmother (who lived with us; we had a
three-generation home) and my mother using a tin can to chop
strawberries in a bowl. Both ends had been removed and one end still
had the rounded "bead" on the edge; the other end - the cutting end -
did not, so that it was sharp. This was a saved tool; it wasn't like
whenever they needed to chop something they used a new can; it was kept
a the drawer with other tools. I'm sure they used it for chopping other
stuff; it's just strawberries that I specifically remember. The nature
of product would've determined what was used for chopping; I can't
imagine using that can for something like onions that would've required
a real cutting edge. Cultural Timeline: They experienced the Great
Depression; my memories of this tool are from the 1950s and 1960s.

Ah! And we used (cleaned) tuna fish cans to make crumpets on the griddle. We
ate a whole lot of tuna fish before I collected the requisite dozen or so.

Felice

Oh pshaw, on Sun 11 Nov 2007 05:57:07p, Arri London meant to say...

Quoted message said:

Wayne Boatwright said:

Oh pshaw, on Sun 11 Nov 2007 04:24:12p, Blinky the Shark meant to say...

Quoted message said:

sf wrote:
> On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:17:42 -0500, "Felice" <[email hidden]>
> wrote:
>
>>One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>foot long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one
>>day when the children were tads and we were poor. The children are

now

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>pushing 50 and I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening
>>years.
>
> I used a plumbers mallet for that until my son grew up and stole it
> from me to use on some handyman type job here at the house.

I can remember my grandmother (who lived with us; we had a
three-generation home) and my mother using a tin can to chop
strawberries in a bowl. Both ends had been removed and one end still
had the rounded "bead" on the edge; the other end - the cutting end -
did not, so that it was sharp. This was a saved tool; it wasn't like
whenever they needed to chop something they used a new can; it was

kept

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a the drawer with other tools. I'm sure they used it for chopping

other

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stuff; it's just strawberries that I specifically remember. The

nature

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of product would've determined what was used for chopping; I can't
imagine using that can for something like onions that would've

required

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a real cutting edge. Cultural Timeline: They experienced the Great
Depression; my memories of this tool are from the 1950s and 1960s.

My mom used a can like that to cut out biscuits. I think it had been a
soup can, based on the diameter.

In the process of cutting up a few tins to use as crumpet/egg rings.
Some tins don't open up at the bottom as well as others LOL.

Yep, some of the new cans have no rim on the bottom and cannot really be
cut out with a can opener.

--
Wayne Boatwright

(to e-mail me direct, replace cox dot net with gmail dot com)
______________________________________________________________

OK, I'm weird ! But I'm saving up to be eccentric.

Mark Thorson said:

Felice said:

"news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Nov 11, 12:13 pm, [email hidden] (Ruben Aguilar) wrote:
> Just making a late Sunday morning breakfast and got out my homemade
> square lid (just an old 8" baking pan with a wooden knob screwed into
> the bottom) to use with my square skillet. Was wondering what things
> you use because you couldn't buy or find them in stores. Just a long
> time lurker, finally speaking up.

One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a foot
long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one day when the
children were tads and we were poor. The children are now pushing 50 and
I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening years.

What kind of child's wooden building block is a foot long?

They used to be common in primary schools. Harder for the kids to try to
swallow and in some ways easier for them to handle.

sf said:

On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:17:42 -0500, "Felice" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a foot
long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one day when the
children were tads and we were poor. The children are now pushing 50 and
I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening years.

I used a plumbers mallet for that until my son grew up and stole it
from me to use on some handyman type job here at the house.

The rubber mallet (covered in cling film) works well too!

Wayne Boatwright said:

Oh pshaw, on Sun 11 Nov 2007 04:24:12p, Blinky the Shark meant to say...

Quoted message said:

sf said:

On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:17:42 -0500, "Felice" <[email hidden]>
wrote:

>One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a
>foot long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one
>day when the children were tads and we were poor. The children are now
>pushing 50 and I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening
>years.

I used a plumbers mallet for that until my son grew up and stole it
from me to use on some handyman type job here at the house.

I can remember my grandmother (who lived with us; we had a
three-generation home) and my mother using a tin can to chop
strawberries in a bowl. Both ends had been removed and one end still
had the rounded "bead" on the edge; the other end - the cutting end -
did not, so that it was sharp. This was a saved tool; it wasn't like
whenever they needed to chop something they used a new can; it was kept
a the drawer with other tools. I'm sure they used it for chopping other
stuff; it's just strawberries that I specifically remember. The nature
of product would've determined what was used for chopping; I can't
imagine using that can for something like onions that would've required
a real cutting edge. Cultural Timeline: They experienced the Great
Depression; my memories of this tool are from the 1950s and 1960s.

My mom used a can like that to cut out biscuits. I think it had been a
soup can, based on the diameter.

In the process of cutting up a few tins to use as crumpet/egg rings.
Some tins don't open up at the bottom as well as others LOL.

Felice said:

"Blinky the Shark" <[email hidden]> wrote in message from me to use on
some handyman type job here at the house.

Quoted message said:

I can remember my grandmother (who lived with us; we had a
three-generation home) and my mother using a tin can to chop
strawberries in a bowl. Both ends had been removed and one end still
had the rounded "bead" on the edge; the other end - the cutting end -
did not, so that it was sharp. This was a saved tool; it wasn't like
whenever they needed to chop something they used a new can; it was kept
a the drawer with other tools. I'm sure they used it for chopping other
stuff; it's just strawberries that I specifically remember. The nature
of product would've determined what was used for chopping; I can't
imagine using that can for something like onions that would've required
a real cutting edge. Cultural Timeline: They experienced the Great
Depression; my memories of this tool are from the 1950s and 1960s.

Ah! And we used (cleaned) tuna fish cans to make crumpets on the griddle. We
ate a whole lot of tuna fish before I collected the requisite dozen or so.

Felice

LOL so far I have two. Did try to buy some but didn't find any nearby.

Oh pshaw, on Sun 11 Nov 2007 05:55:49p, Arri London meant to say...

Quoted message said:

sf said:

On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:17:42 -0500, "Felice" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a
foot long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one
day when the children were tads and we were poor. The children are now
pushing 50 and I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening
years.

I used a plumbers mallet for that until my son grew up and stole it
from me to use on some handyman type job here at the house.

The rubber mallet (covered in cling film) works well too!

When I pound out meat, I put it between sheets of cling film. I don't need
to cover the mallet itself.

--
Wayne Boatwright

(to e-mail me direct, replace cox dot net with gmail dot com)
______________________________________________________________

OK, I'm weird ! But I'm saving up to be eccentric.

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

Quoted message said:

Felice said:

"news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Nov 11, 12:13 pm, [email hidden] (Ruben Aguilar) wrote:
> Just making a late Sunday morning breakfast and got out my homemade
> square lid (just an old 8" baking pan with a wooden knob screwed into
> the bottom) to use with my square skillet. Was wondering what things
> you use because you couldn't buy or find them in stores. Just a long
> time lurker, finally speaking up.

One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a
foot
long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one day when
the
children were tads and we were poor. The children are now pushing 50 and
I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening years.

What kind of child's wooden building block is a foot long?

Not uncommon.

Talking about kids playthings reminded me that I use a toy rolling pin
when I am down to that last bit of cookie dough.

Arri London said:

Mark Thorson said:

Felice wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"news:[email hidden]...
> On Nov 11, 12:13 pm, [email hidden] (Ruben Aguilar) wrote:
>> Just making a late Sunday morning breakfast and got out my homemade
>> square lid (just an old 8" baking pan with a wooden knob screwed into
>> the bottom) to use with my square skillet. Was wondering what things
>> you use because you couldn't buy or find them in stores. Just a long
>> time lurker, finally speaking up.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

One of my kitchen standbys is a child's wooden building block, about a foot
long, that I use for pounding cutlets. I "requisitioned" it one day when the
children were tads and we were poor. The children are now pushing 50 and
I've flattened a lot of cutlets in the intervening years.

Quoted message said:

What kind of child's wooden building block is a foot long?

They used to be common in primary schools. Harder for the kids to try to
swallow and in some ways easier for them to handle.

Once very common... beautiful clear rock maple, sanded smooth as a
babe's bottom... made in the USA, no coating, just 100pct wood, and no
lead. I think you can still buy such building blocks, but they'll
cost, you'll need a mortgage.

http://www.oldfashionedblocks.com/405.html

Sheldon