13 Essential Kitchen Items

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This is my first time to participate in the Thursday Thirteen activity! It’s good fun. Thursday Thirteen is a weekly meme. There is no given theme; you can write about any topic you want to cover, provided they’re not less than and not more than 13 items! Sounds simple enough right? And so I kick off my Thursday Thirteen with 13 kitchen items that I can’t do without.

can opener

1. Can Opener. Before I got married, a friend of mine advised me to put this item in my bridal registry. Plates and glasses are easy to remember, even more fun to shop for. The little items like this tend to be forgotten! So I dutifully listed it as part of the registry. On my wedding day, good friends did get this can opener for me. They even threw in a couple of canned sardines and corned beef. “For our first breakfast as husband and wife,” they said. Awww.

kitchen mitt

2. Kitchen mitts. Another friend told me that when he moved to his own place, he remembered to buy every kitchen item except a potholder. He was caught in the middle of broiling something when he realized he didn’t own one. While he did end up rolling up one of his T-shirts to hold the hot pans, a potholder, he said, would have saved him all that stress from freaking out.

non-stick frying pan

3. Non-stick frying pan. They require little oil when frying and are easy to clean. Great for cooking amateurs like me.

knife

4. A Good Knife. Ideally, you use a specific knife for paring, for peeling, for cutting meat, etc. You can do it all with ONE good knife. Just make sure to sharpen it if you use it often.

spatula

5. Spatula. Because you can’t prepare you eggs over-easy without it. And you can’t flip pancakes with a fork.

stock pot

6. Stock Pot. For preparing your Sinigang, for boiling pasta, for preparing those stews and casseroles.

stove

7. Stove. How are you going to use those pans and pots if you don’t have this? 😀 Whether it’s gas or electric, two-burner or one, get a stove! It doesn’t have to be fancy. Durability is key!

kettle

8. Kettle. Boiling water for your coffee, tea or even part of your bath won’t be a problem when you’ve got this. I can’t live without my kettle! Get one that whistles too.

chopping board

9. Chopping Boards. Ideally, separate boards for vegetables and meat. And chicken too.

plates

10. A Set of GOOD Plates. Why wait for a special occasion to eat off your really nice plates? Every meal feels extra special when you set out these beauties.

bowls

11. Bowls. They’re little homes for your soup, for ice cream, for chopped fruits, for delicious champorado and for beating eggs.

colander

12. Colander. While draining is possible without this, it just makes life so much easier. Just pour in cooked pasta, vegetables or fruits and let those excess liquids drain away.

kitchen towels

13. Kitchen Towels. For wiping up spills, drying plates, wiping the counter dry, wiping hands — have a set with you always. And in case you still forget to buy kitchen mitts, well, this will do for holding hot pans too. 😉

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Want to participate in Thursday Thirteen? Get the Thursday Thirteen code here. The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It

Hi! I'm Toni Tiu, and I've been blogging at at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.

0 comment on 13 Essential Kitchen Items

  1. ladycess
    November 15, 2007 at 6:40 pm (17 years ago)

    yes, i so agree with what you wrote about the can opener. we didnt get thisin our wedding. i was cooking our first corned beef meal, and tada, i realized we dont have this. we used a knife! ang hirap, delikado pa. so we postponed all meals in the can until we bought our first can opener 😀

    Yikes! What an experience. Let’s make it our mission to give can openers to brides everywhere. *L*

    Reply
  2. maggie
    November 15, 2007 at 6:59 pm (17 years ago)

    Welcome to TT. Glad you decided to join us.
    That was a great list.

    I’m glad I joined! Thanks for the visit.

    Reply
  3. Alasandra
    November 15, 2007 at 7:03 pm (17 years ago)

    I enjoyed your TT, the plates are really pretty. My TT is up http://alasandra2003.blogspot.com/

    Hi Alasandra! Your post on citrine was really interesting. :) Thanks for leaving a link to your entry!

    Reply
  4. jenn
    November 15, 2007 at 8:27 pm (17 years ago)

    What a great idea for tt. Welcome.
    happy TT!

    Thanks jenn!

    Reply
  5. Rach (Soulful Thoughts)
    November 15, 2007 at 9:06 pm (17 years ago)

    Hi Toni. It’s also my first time to join T13. It happens to be my 13th post on my new WP blog and decided it would be great to join T13. You may find mine here.

    This is a great list of kitchen essentials that I’m sure my hubby would agree with. We have several non-stick pans and my hubby has a collection of quality knives. I remember last Christmas when I asked him what he wanted for Christmas, he just said he would be happy to receive a new knife. :)

    Hi Rach! Maybe for Christmas you can get him a KitchenAid mixer! That is, if you don’t already have one!

    Reply
  6. Em Dy
    November 15, 2007 at 9:15 pm (17 years ago)

    Toni, you forgot something…

    A telephone book to list essential numbers, like 77777 for delivery.

    He he.

    *LMAO* Oh yes, oh yes!

    Reply
  7. vigilant20
    November 15, 2007 at 9:28 pm (17 years ago)

    Good list :) I did the not so essential kitchen gadgets this week.

    Hi v20! Will check it out. Thanks for the visit!

    Reply
  8. Deb
    November 15, 2007 at 9:52 pm (17 years ago)

    What a great idea for a post! HMMM maybe next week I’ll do my favorite pampered chef items!

    Looking forward to that, Deb!

    Reply
  9. Daisy the Curly Cat
    November 15, 2007 at 9:57 pm (17 years ago)

    Welcome to Thursday 13! That’s a good list. My favorite is the can opener. Because it opens the cans of Stinky Goodness (cat food).

    Hi Kitty Cat! Thanks for dropping by. :)

    Reply
  10. Journeywoman
    November 15, 2007 at 10:12 pm (17 years ago)

    I agree with these..but you forgot measuring cups and spoons (at least 2 sets). And, I know how spoiled this makes me sound but last year my MIL got me a Kitchen Aid Mixer and I just use the thing so much I don’t know how I got along without it.

    Thanks for stopping by and your sweet comments.

    I have a measuring cup! That’s right. I hardly use it though. Heehee. You can figure out what kind of cook I am by that statement. 😀

    Reply
  11. dhanggit
    November 15, 2007 at 10:20 pm (17 years ago)

    funny indeed coz the can opener was listed also on my wedding list. actually i requested my families and relatives to buy wedding gifts that are handy but useful in the kitchen..(we were moving out of the country it was the only thing to do or else i dont know how my extra luggages could have cost us) in the end i received: wine opener, measuring spoons, and some tons of useful stuffs but i have some friends that i think run out of idea.;offered me tons of refrigerator magnets :-), nice blog you’ve got here

    Hi Dhanggit! Thanks for stopping by. Refrigerator magnets! Those are the things that are “safe” to give friends. Haha! You can’t go wrong with them, that’s why. AND they come in really funky designs too! Some are even dual-purpose (one of mine holds up notes AND rubberbands.)

    Reply
  12. Greatfullivin
    November 15, 2007 at 10:26 pm (17 years ago)

    Welcome to Thursday Thirteen. It’s a blast and you meet so many nice people. Great list. Happy TT and thanks for stopping by my TT

    Thanks for the visit!

    Reply
  13. amypalko
    November 15, 2007 at 10:44 pm (17 years ago)

    I come from a long line of women who know the importance of a sharp knife in the kitchen. Whenever we go en masse to a self-catering cottage we all bring our own paring knives. You would have thought that we would have checked with each other before all bringing one each, wouldn’t you! Anyway, welcome to TT. This is my 9th week that I’ve joined in, and in that time I have so enjoyed getting to know the TT community. They’re a great bunch!

    Hahaha! At least you’re all well-armed. 😉

    Reply
  14. Michelle
    November 15, 2007 at 11:01 pm (17 years ago)

    Welcome to TT.
    My 13th TT is up, so please come visit if you have a chance…also a kitchen theme (sort of): 13 condiments.

    Great TT list! Couldn’t exist without my spatulas; I even have a special one for my wok!

    Hi Michelle! Thanks for visiting. I can’t do without my spatula too!!!

    Reply
  15. Raggedy
    November 15, 2007 at 11:42 pm (17 years ago)

    Terrific Thursday Thirteen!
    My TT is posted.
    Have a wonderful day!
    Happy TT’ing!
    *^_^
    (=’:’=)
    (“)_ (“)

    Reply
  16. Missy
    November 16, 2007 at 1:27 am (17 years ago)

    Great list! Each of those items are essential, but the one item I personally can’t live without is my garlic press. I love fresh garlic and the press makes it a snap to add to recipes.

    Ooh! That’s fun to use! You avoid the garlicy smell sticking to your fingers too.

    Reply
  17. ellen b
    November 16, 2007 at 2:44 am (17 years ago)

    What a fun idea for TT! Have a great Thanksgiving…

    Hi Ellen! Thanks for the visit.

    Reply
  18. Janet
    November 16, 2007 at 8:12 am (17 years ago)

    I love kitchen towels, and collect them! Thanks for visiting!

    There are lots of well-designed kitchen towels these days. Several even have recipes printed on them!

    Reply
  19. LifeAsIKnowIt
    November 16, 2007 at 9:31 am (17 years ago)

    Great list! I love kitchen things.
    I just switched over to stainless and cast iron pots and pans and love them.

    Just found your blog today…good stuff!

    Hi! Thanks for dropping by. I have never owned a cast iron pan/pot but have heard a lot of good things about it. Maybe when my kitchen’s a bit bigger and I can afford to bring in more stuff, I’d invest in a good pair then!

    Reply
  20. Nicholas
    November 16, 2007 at 3:18 pm (17 years ago)

    An electric kettle with auto shutoff is much better!

    I didn’t know there was one like that! Better be on the lookout then.

    Reply
  21. FruityOaty
    November 16, 2007 at 3:25 pm (17 years ago)

    I’ve never done that meme before… actually, I’ve never done a meme or meme tag on my blog yet, although I’ve been tagged lots of time in my 15 months of blogging life. I plan on doing them when on a rainy day, when I have nothing better to do.

    Kitchen items I can’t live without that’s already in your list: my espresso coffee machine maker (I need my fresh coffee), one very good knife, planer (super-fine grater), KitchenAid mixer, and my slow cooker (crockpot).

    I wanted to get a coffee maker once, but stopped myself from doing so. I know that once I started brewing my own coffee, there wouldn’t be any going back. I’d definitely turn into a coffeeholic. Avoid temptation!! :)

    Reply
  22. damozel
    November 16, 2007 at 3:27 pm (17 years ago)

    I am not a cook myself—-my husband does what little gets done here—-but I must admit that the beautiful tablewear caught my eye.

    I don’t cook much either, but beautiful tableware always catch my eye as well. If the food I cook doesn’t taste good, well, at least the plate it was served on looked good. Ha!

    Reply
  23. Rowena
    November 16, 2007 at 6:00 pm (17 years ago)

    Hi Toni, real nice choice of pics…I also couldn’t live without the can opener, but mine is always broken, he he. I lost count of the pieces I’ve bought. How I wished for an electric can opener…

    Hi Rowena! Oh no! You better go get yourself one. It’s so frustrating when you want to open that can of soup and feeling helpless about it!

    Reply
  24. kaoko
    November 17, 2007 at 12:52 am (17 years ago)

    Hey I like this meme! Methinks I should join up for next Thursday! 😀

    Yay! See you next round then! Maybe you can let your dolls do the meme too ;D

    Reply
  25. Meeya
    November 17, 2007 at 4:07 am (17 years ago)

    ako, i can’t live with a good knife. ewan ko ba, the first slice always sets the mood for me, hehe.

    Truly! Frustrating kung purol diba. Hehehe.

    Reply
  26. Meeya
    November 17, 2007 at 4:08 am (17 years ago)

    *without pala, sorry toni, hehe.

    Reply
  27. JO
    November 17, 2007 at 10:34 am (17 years ago)

    Hi Toni,

    welcome to TT! I’m sure you will enjoy coming up with your list week after week.

    happy weekend!

    I super enjoyed it and will definitely be back next week. 😉

    Reply
  28. bh
    November 18, 2007 at 6:52 pm (17 years ago)

    one bottle opener and
    2 six packs of Heineken
    make a perfect 13 for me

    Ha! Good point there.

    Reply

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