Sorry it’s been a while since my last post. I’ve been trying to take pictures of the stuff I prep, but the digital cam I have isn’t so hot. It pretty much looks like the shots I take with my phone. Crappy.
I know I said that to follow this stuff, all you’ll need is a knife and a pan, but there’s some other fun stuff out there that can’t hurt and can make your presentations pop. For example, a fine mesh strainer. Sure, it’s innocuous. It’s a strainer. What more can you want? Well, a good strainer can do several thinks. It can sift dry goods, meaning you don’t have to shell out $15 for a sifter at Macy’s or Bed, Bath & Beyond. It can strain liquids, which is awesome if you want to say…make your own blueberry syrup (2 cups water, 2 cups sugar, 1 package of blueberries, boil, puree, strain)? It can help you clear out all the sediment in homemade stocks or soups. A good strainer is a great friend to any chef, because of its versatility. Heck, you can even decorate with it. Throw in some confectioner’s sugar and tap. No need for those stainless steel dredges that tend to clog up or dump out too much.
The humble squeeze bottle. Sure, you can put ketchup or mustard in there, but wouldn’t you rather use it to mix up your favorite dressing and dispense as needed into your salad bowl? Or to hold that tasty blueberry syrup? You can’t go wrong with one of these, or a couple. They’re all of a buck at your friendly neighborhood restaurant supply store. $2 at Bed, Bath & Beyond.
A good wooden spoon. Dear god. Buy one. You need one. Forget metal spoons/spatulas. Get a good wooden one. The heavier, the better. It won’t snap. If the thing feels like it’s flimsy, it is. Don’t buy it. Find one you could go out and club a baby seal to death with.
