7 KITCHEN TOOLS TO LIVE WITH

This week's post is a list of kitchen tools that I can't do without. It's also about the first home-grown salad of the season and readiness.

First harvest of lettuce from my container garden drying on a flour sack towel

Container garden on my patio

From garden to bowl

I love showing off New Mexico when people come to visit. Last week, my brother was here. One day we drove an hour west from Albuquerque to Acoma Pueblo, which has been inhabited since 1200 AD. Situated atop a sandstone mesa 365 feet off the desert floor, Acoma is sometimes referred to as “Sky City”.

On their website, the Pueblo of Acoma states:

The world “Acoma” and related words which are equally correct and historically applicable- Akome, Acu, Acuo and Ako- denote “a place always prepared.”

While traditional Acoma oral history reflects on a time far beyond our imagination, a time of creation and emergence onto this world, the Acoma people have always known of a special place called “Haaku,” a spiritual homeland prepared for their eternal settlement…Acomas claim always to have lived on their mesa, hospitably receiving wandering tribes to share their valley which, at one time, had plenty of water and was excellent for farming.

Our guide pointing to Enchanted Mesa from atop Acoma Pueblo

The idea of preparedness got me thinking in a quite literal way about preparing food and how the act of food preparation is rooted in futurism. I’m not talking about futuristic dishes or food that prioritizes speed and technology over technique and tradition. What I mean is that preparing a meal, even a cup of coffee, is dependent on thinking ahead about what you want to eat given the tools and ingredients on hand.

Since I was busier this past week spending time with my brother, I didn’t do as much cooking or baking as usual. I don’t have a recipe to share. Instead, I’m sharing a few links for kitchen tools and a couple of random things that make kitchen prep, if not a breeze, at least a breath of fresh air.

This is Tovolo’s silicone jar scraper. It is genius at getting to the bottom of things. It’s also heat resistant so I end up using mine to scramble my morning eggs. Something about its’ weight and how it feels in my hand makes me want to reach for it over my larger silicone spatulas when it comes to scrambling eggs. It comes in 11 colors, is dishwasher safe, and is priced under $15.00.

Flour sack towels like these from Williams-Sonoma are absorbent and lint-free. Mine are over ten years old and still going strong. They absorb water from freshly washed lettuce, wipe up spills, and can also pinch hit as lens cleaners. The lettuce in the photo at the top of this post is drying in one of my ten year old flour sack towels.

This blue lid turns a glass jar into a serving piece. I’m not sure where I picked this up but here’s a link where you’re sure to find something similar plus many more jar toppers.

Here’s a small, angled whisk similar to the one in the picture above. It has the ability to caress every nook and cranny of the bowl or jar you’ve chosen to mix up your salad dressing or dip or sauce.

There is always a tube of this hand cream at my kitchen sink. The dry climate here at 5,000 feet combined with what seems like near constant hand washing dries out my skin and cuticles. You only need a minuscule amount of this rich, fragrance-free cream to moisturize your hands.

Lodge cast iron skillets are indispensable whether you’re roasting a chicken, or baking a cornbread or Dutch baby. Made in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, Lodge cookware has been around since 1896. It is at home on all cooktops, grills and campfires.

Last but certainly not least is this grow bag. It’s similar to one I have on my patio filled with three tomato plants. If you’re lucky enough to have even a sliver of a patio or balcony, consider growing a few herbs or tomatoes in one of these containers made of BPA-free, recycled gray felt. This one is lined and comes set-up with an irrigation strip to easily add tubing. Picking fresh vegetables, herbs, or flowers you’ve grown and cared for is simply divine.

Everything in this list is But First Breakfast approved. Until next time-