alizrin's Profile

Most frequently used in my kitchen:

Appliances: coffee maker, toaster, mini-processor (so handy for whipping up a curry paste or salad dressing), and a probably unpopular choice: the panini grill. I've never had a toaster oven.

Cooking: 3qt pot (non-stick), small frying pan, large straight-sided sauce pan with lid

Baking: cookie sheets, 9x13 and (oddly) a 10" tart pan

Utensils: tongs, microplane, juicer (the kind with handles you press together), plastic cutting boards that can go in the dishwasher, and another odd choice: A nut grinder. It's a little bin with a crank, the nuts drop into the jar below. I would never in a million years have thought I would get so much use out of this.

Serving & such: a never ending supply of large bowls, both plastic & glass. I find plastic to be very useful for popcorn, tossing salads, etc, and easy to clean, easy to lift & store on high shelves without danger :-)

Stuff I wish I'd never cluttered my kitchen with: odd, single purpose appliances like donut makers, bread makers, fryers. (The panini maker gets a pass because it can be used to grill veggies, meats, make sandwiches, etc.). Also, why go complicated when simple will do, so fancy corkscrews or unwieldy serving dishes (chip & dip set, punch bowl, large glass cake dome) are out.