Tools of the Trade

How many times have you rummaged through your kitchen drawers looking for that gizmo that is supposed to do what it claims to do?   You finally find it under 79 other gizmos (some of which have been piling up there until you have no idea anymore WHAT it is THEY claim to do ) only to discover this wonder gizmo does a really crappy job.  You’ve wasted all this time with this gizmo and now the butter in the pan on the stove has not only browned…its black.  Into the trash it goes.  Next time just burn five dollars.  The house won’t stink of burned butter.

Such a waste.  Of precious time.  Of energy. Of your sanity.  Of very expensive butter.

There is a lot of truth to all the advice these days to organize, simplify, purge.  It makes sense and it saves us from enormous amounts of stress that seems to be rampant in our busy lives these days.  Some people thrive on busy. In fact business seems to be epidemic in our society.   I’m not one of those people who thrive on busy.

When I spend time in my kitchen, in my home, creating, I like the tools of my trade to be not only THE ONES that work the very best for ME  but they MUST be THE ONES that make me feel  we are the very BEST of FRIENDS.  Like I can’t survive without them.  They need to be comfortable, reliable, honest about what they claim to do and maybe even more at home in my kitchen than I am.   I in return am always taking them out and spending quality time with them.  They aren’t spending years in dark drawers or cabinets wondering when it will be their turn to travel the kitchen with me.  And when I open the drawer or cabinet there they are.  Right in front of me.

So here is today’s “recipe”.

Set aside a reasonable amount of time (hint…if you can’t open an upper cabinet without a major landslide you will need more time) to go through your kitchen looking for these friends, sorting them and replacing them in the spots where they will work best for you.  These will be the keepers.

Do not try to do this all in one day unless your kitchen is the size of a matchbox.

Prep a work area close by…counter top, table, floor even.  Have a large trash can, several empty cardboard boxes of various sizes,  your determination and a measure of ruthlessness handy.  You will need these.

Keep in mind as you go one drawer or cabinet at a time what it is you eat, how often you eat certain things and how and where in your kitchen you like to prepare your meals.  How far do you want to travel  (think down to the basement for the turkey roaster you use twice a year) for the salad spinner you use daily?  All of these details matter and can save a huge amount of time and energy.

Now…on your mark, get set GO.

As you begin, immediately set aside the things you use all the time and absolutely can’t live without.  You’ll go back to those later.    Then, one item at a time (but don’t take too much time here) look at what it is, what it does or doesn’t do and if within 30 seconds it doesn’t speak to you in a friendly keeper way, put it either in the trash (most certainly if its broken) or one of the boxes suited to its size.  Don’t waste ANY time on it if you’ve never used it or if you don’t want it.  Decide which vessel it goes into, box or trash and deliver it there instantly.

In the amount of time you have set aside for yourself to do this go through as many drawers and cabinets as you can.  If you are doing this in timed increments keep in mind that you might not be able to put an item where you eventually want it to be since those spots are still bulging at the seams until you get there.  Don’t panic.  Just go one item at a time.

Notice I am posting this on a Friday.  The weekend is coming.  Maybe you will have a bit more time.  Perhaps not.  Either way I guarantee as soon as you begin you will want to finish.  You will feel so much better.  As a bonus you can share all of the boxes of gizmos, gadgets and whatsits that you have filled by donating them all to a local shelter, the Veteran’s,   or someone you know who is just starting out on their own.  You have a lot of options to share but please keep in mind as you go…if its broken or so badly beat up its unrecognizable it really should go in the trash.  No one wants junk.

   

Pictured here are a few of my favorite tools in my kitchen.  You decide for yourself which of the items you have suit you best for your kitchen.  I’ve spent years trying all sorts of gadgets (I worked in a  Gourmet Kitchen shop for many years and got a lot of experience trying out a lot of whatsits) and I know what works best for me.  Its all down to individual preference.

Do not let anyone sway you on certain things.  Your knives for instance.  They need to fit your hand like a glove and be SHARP.  And I mean SHARP.  In order to be safe.  Ironic I know, but a dull knife is an accident waiting to happen and has the potential to ruin your day for many days until the stitches come out.

I’m straying…so…continue from cabinet to cabinet, drawer to drawer until you are satisfied that the items you have in your absolutely cannot live without pile are all there.  And that all the rest are either in the trash or a box to give away.  Even if this means (after you’ve run out of time for this round) that there is a bit of clutter lying around the kitchen.   Don’t despair.  You are so close to putting those absolutely cannot live without items in their place.

It may take a few days, it may take a month.  But do yourself a favor and don’t let too much time go by.  After all the boxes have been delivered and the trash has been put on the curb, put your kitchen in order as to how it will work best for YOU.  Then, sit back with your family, around the table, and marvel at how little time it took to create a scrumptious, palate pleasing, relaxing dinner.  Because you had everything you needed right where it needed to be at the moment you needed it most.

The butter didn’t burn.  The house smells like dinner is gonna be awesome.