I started buying a good set of knives. I decided upon the Classic Wüsthof design. I probably should have bought a “starter” set to begin with and then added other knives to it, but basically it was one or two at a time.

The best knife of these is probably the 7 inch Santoku. The blade is thinner (and sharper) than a standard Chef’s knife. This is the right size for chopping vegetables and then scooping them up on the blade and into the pot or pan. The smaller 5 inch Santoku seemed to be “too small” for most of what I would do. If I were to only have two knives, it would be the 7 in. Santoku and the 5″ tomato knife.  I changed from the 3.5 in. pairing knife.

But, when I first got the tomato knife I cut myself severely/deeply.  I don’t recall if it was the forked tip, or the serrated edge, but I was just mindlessly using it.  Since I have been much more careful and it works well for many things.

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NOTE:  I moved my portable kitchen island and have not used the magnetic knife holder (attached to it) for several years.  I do not have a place to put the holder on my kitchen wall.  Another one of the three best items was a magnetic knife holder for the wall. The knives stand there waiting for you to choose them. I have only had one knife, a boning knife whose shape and handle weight does not work well with the magnetic holder. It has a tendency to slip and has even fallen from the holder a couple of times.

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I upgraded my hand blender/chopper to the Braun MultiQuick 7 Smart-Speed Hand Blender.  I’m not sure of the size of the cup-chopper.  What I have appears to be larger than the one I see in their current ad that shows a 1.5 cup size.  But, I limped along for years with my MR430HC and its lack of power and small chopper cup.  When I was making alot of hummus at home, the less powerful motor and the small cup meant that I couldn’t quite blend a whole can of Garbanzo beans at one time.  The new larger chopper cup accommodates a whole can of beans, and it also works well when making salsa, with a whole can of diced tomatoes and the other ingredients.

NOTE [ 05/05/22 ]:  I hadn’t made any Curried Apple Soup in a very long time, although I only have two recipes on my refrigerator door, and that is one of them.  *The other recipe being for the Tarragon, Garden Pea & Leek soup, which I also made a couple of days ago.  I used the stick blender for both soups to blend in the cooking pot, while still very hot.

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NOTE:  What I had bought/used previously:  I bought a Braun MR430HC Multiquick Deluxe Hand Blender & Chopper (I think the one I purchased had slightly less horsepower) a stick blender that came with additional attachments which included a whisk and a chopper. I got it at a good price from Linens-n-Things (which is no more). The whisk fits easily in a large mouth jar and I can actually make my “curried mayo” in the jar without causing a mess. The stick blender works well on my “Curried Apple Soup” which allows me to blend the apple, carrot and onion chunks in the hot pot (carefully). And the chopper attachment works well when I want to make some Chipotle & Honey salsa or a garlic & Italian parsley paste for a steak.

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ADDENDUM: (05/04/12) Here is another kitchen item that I have been reasonably happy with… with the following exception:  I have a homemade pepper corn blend that includes black, white, green and pink peppercorns in varying amounts and my OXO pepper grinder does not grind these reasonably well.  I’m not sure if it is the difference in peppercorn sizes, but sometimes the grinder just doesn’t grind this mixture.  *Yes, I have tried the various grind settings from small to large and back again.  However, I have two other OXO grinders that I use for cumin and coriander and it does an excellent job on both of those seeds.  I do not use this grinder for salt.  [09/24/12]  I bought a slightly cheaper version of this OXO grinder (about $16 at WalMart or maybe it was K-Mart) and find it to be better at grinding than this version.

NOTE:  I still use the OXO pepper grinders (for both pepper and cumin) but they never grinded quite as nice as they looked.

— THE DORM KITCHEN

When it comes time to send a child away to school, I would give them a good plastic chopping board and an electric wok. Sit these on top of a mini-fridge and you’re in business to keep a growing boy (or girl) well fed.

Rubber spatulas for the non-stick surface of the wok.

Rubbermaid Easy Find Lid 24-piece Set at Walmart for $10

I purchased a couple, each of Pyrex mixing bowls (not as colorful lids – I think navy blue & red.) many years ago, and still have the bowls & a few of the plastic lids.  Quite useful through the years.