Nancy Leson suggested, "Let's talk about our favorite kitchen tools." After a moment's reflection, I realized that one of mine is small, plastic, and cost 89 cents. I use it every day for anything from spreading mayo to filling dumplings – which I roll out with another favorite, the homemade pin I made from a section of broomstick.
You can see both in my right hand in the picture above. That shiny thing in my other hand is something from my drawer of forgotten gizmos. More on that later.
Among Nancy's favorites are her 1930s jadeite salt and pepper shakers, also pictured above. But wait, there's more – with pictures and everything!
Nance loves this Ziploc-related gadget pictured on the left. And speaking of Ziplocs, I use a section cut out of a used large Ziploc instead of plastic wrap for pounding meat. It's re-useable, more durable, and prevents cross contamination of the wrap box.
My favorite tool for flattening that meat is not an official meat pounder but a rubber body mallet I picked up at the auto supply.
Now about that metal thing in my other hand up above. It's the (fabulous) Noodle Nester. Spread boiled noodles into the larger basket, insert the smaller, deep fry, and extract a crispy noodle nest. Sounded so cool when I bought it but 20 years later it still has yet to taste the fury of the deep fat.
Also in my drawer of the forgotten: 18 steel nutpicks, a rusted steel crank sifter, and vertical chicken roaster. And then there's all those corks.
What about you? Tell us about your favorite kitchen tools and about the stuff you've still got in your own drawer of forgotten kitchen gizmos.
"I want to lead the Victorian life, surrounded by exquisite clutter." – Freddie Mercury
