i admit it. i MIGHT have a problem. it's kitchen gadgets. utensils, mostly. whisks and spatulas, specifically. if you look closely at the picture at our kitchen at the top here, you'll see what i mean. it's not unusual for people to walk in here and say something like "holy shit!" i know exactly what they're talking about. and it's not good.
i purchased my first wire whisk in 1977. the fact that i know this in itself can't be good. since then, i've purchased 15 more, bringing the total number of whisks in my kitchen to 16. i've got whisks that are teflon-coated, flat metal, flat silicon-coated, round plastic, piano, french, balloon (do NOT tell me you don't know what a balloon whisk is. my kids tried that with me once. it wasn't good), various shapes, sizes, and wire gauges. one of my favorites is a small coil whisk that i had mark look for while he was in london (nigella lawson said on one of her shows that you could only find these in england. she lied). i found it in a ben franklin store in mt. vernon, ohio. i NEED it for whisking eggs.
there are reasons for each whisk. each is perfect for differing textures of batter or sauces. the only whisks i don't like or use are the two plastic whisks. one is a thick-gauged french whisk, the other is kind of like a flat-end ball whisk. i hate it. i hate how it moves, feels, and "cuts" through the batter or sauce. useless. anybody want it?
my favorites right now are the silicon coated flat whisk and the silicon-coated french whisk and my fine-gauge ball whisk. i could probably make do with those three if i were stranded on a desert island. only because i probably wouldn't have eggs to whisk.
spatulas. when we say "spatula" here in cleveland, we're talking about pancake turners. if we want a rubber spatula, we say "rubber spatula." if we say "spatula," we're talking about a pancake turner thingy.
my first spatula is my favorite. it was my mom's. for some reason, i wound up with it after my mom moved out after the divorce, and new step mom had no need for it. i love it for sentimental and utilitarian reasons equally. it's stainless steel, thin, flexible, slotted, with a wooden handle. not the original wooden handle. that crumbled and fell off a couple years ago. bill got tired of me whining that i couldn't use it sans handle about two years ago, grabbed it and took it down the basement where he cut off the end of a broom and shoved it on the beloved spatula. it looks ridiculous now, is unwieldy for cooking - but it makes me laugh. and think about it.
i've got many different "spatulas." huge, BROBDINGNAGIAN spatulas. spatulas that can lift entire cakes. plastic, hard silicone, teflon coated, open, and slotted. again - i need each one. don't argue with me. it could be worse.
next... infomercial "appliances"
Posted by Stacey at May 23, 2005 12:58 PMI have one plastic whisk, and I hate it. The whisk part isn't sturdy enough and it goes in different directions from the handle. Blech. I have one of those coil whisks, too- my mom has one that is probably as old as I am, and I hunted until I found one. I can't imagine beating eggs with anything else, unless it's the itsy, bitsy wire whisk I have that's only about 6 inches long, including the handle....perfect for stirring melting chocolate...
I like Le Creuset's rubber spatulas- although I understand some misinformed people call them "scrapers", they're rubber spatulas to me, too- and use them constantly.
What I HATE are wooden spoons. One of the boys' favorite stories is how I once held up a wooden spoon at them (I was cooking) and informed them that if they didn't do (whatever, I can't remember what they were doing that was annoying me, now) as they were told, I'd whack 'em all with the spoon. I hit the edge of the island with the spoon in demonstration, and the damned thing broke in half. This resulted in much hilarity on their parts and requests to try it again, try it again...
Okay, so I like gadgets too. Heh. Now, about those appliances....
Posted by: lucy at May 23, 2005 02:31 PMThis would have made sense to me if the title were: Whiskers and Spa Retreats.
And what is this thing called a 'kitchen' that you speak of? The only thing that made me say "HOLY SHIT" at your house was the yummy smell of OurBucks.
mmmmmmm...mocha...
Posted by: KathyHowe at May 23, 2005 03:56 PMWhat about tongs? I mostly lust after professional-style tongs. Those Giada uses are just so wonderful. I want those. Spatulas, not so much.
Posted by: VFH at May 23, 2005 05:01 PMI've got one old wooden whisk which is broken. I think I'll go out and buy a new one, you've inspired me. A lot of the wooden utensils disappeared when the kids went through their puppet making phase.
Posted by: Anji at May 24, 2005 01:32 AMwe're whisk-deficient. we had two and both rusted up on us. now the only one we have is the one that attaches to the electric blender. it's hilarious to watch me grabbing the very end of that thing to try to use like a regular whisk ... it has no handle!
as for spatulas, we've got plenty. but they're all too big. like, i would like ONE that is that big, but then some various sizes would be nice. time for a trip to "spatula city" to get some new ones.
Posted by: tj at May 24, 2005 06:13 AMAh yes, whisks. They are so varied and useful, I completely understand why you need 16 of them!
And spatulas! Different sizes and shapes are made for a reason! My current favorite is actually a silicon spoonula. That scrapes the batter out of a bowl like nobody's business. Williams-Sonoma keeps coming out with new colors, which is handy if you keep changing the color scheme of your kitchen.
Are we sick because we love our kitchen accessories so much? I want to come cook with you!
Posted by: moonandsun03 at May 24, 2005 11:41 AMI was just browsing for unusual whisks - I do NOT have a problem, it's a "collection" :D - and found your blog. I'm glad I can tell my husband I'm not the only one with whisk needs! I'm particularly fond of the tiny one-egg whisks, and the squid whisk that I got from Flax Art Supply (not the best whisk in the world but it's so much fun!).
Posted by: kara at May 24, 2005 10:13 PMSo your total is 16 and Bill's? How many gadgets does he own in your kitchen ;-)
:: runs away to see what a balloon whisk is::
Posted by: jen at June 1, 2005 09:27 AM*taps fingers, waiting patiently for the appliance discussion*
Posted by: moonandsun03 at June 1, 2005 01:37 PM