This week goes in the win category.

This week goes in the win category for me. That isn't saying that this week has not had its challenges, like Sunday night's mystery reaction. As always, almost everything I ate was homemade, but there were a few new ingredients. I was happily enjoying dinner and dessert, until an allergic reaction crashed the party. Sometime in the next few days, when Hubby is around (for safety and moral support), I will start testing the suspect ingredients to see what the culprit is. I am not looking forward to hives and trouble breathing, but I need to narrow down the list. It has been quite a while since I had such a severe reaction, and the severity of this attack was alarming.


So why is this week still a win? Because I was able to get my hands on a few new tools to make my life in the kitchen a bit easier. Recently my food processor decided to start chewing itself up along with whatever I was processing. Since I am not fond of plastic (especially as an ingredient), I decided that this was the last straw, and I started looking for a replacement (preferably a quieter and more effective one). I did tons of research, and I think I know what I want to get, but it is a bit out of reach. I decided to get a food mill for now, and with considerable savings, I was also able to get a heavy-duty stainless mandoline, a spice grater,  a stainless steel cookie sheet (sans Teflon), and a stoneware jellyroll pan (all for app. $157). I received the loot today, and I am as happy as a clam.


I have a level of enthusiasm for kitchen tools and ingredients that many women reserve for new shoes or clothes, and considering that I use my kitchen considerably more than I do my shoes, it makes total sense. The mandoline and food mill had been long-time ‘wants', so I can cross them off of an ever-growing list that still includes:
• meat grinder
• grain mill
• pasta maker
• rolling pin
• blender
• food processor
• ice cream maker
• gas stove top and electric convection oven
• etc. etc. etc. LOL
I know that is quite a list, but to be fair, I am making everything from scratch. I should also point out that this list has been around for a long time, and I am waiting to buy really good quality tools, and until then I can MacGyver my way through.