Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Essential? Probably Not.

Every once in a while I come across some type of kitchen utensil that I think would be neat to have. Neat, as in it would be a handy thing to have around once a year while the other 364 days a year I would be cussing at it because it is hogging cherished drawer space. It is rare that I purchase such as item because I know that I will loathe it or never use it. Such is the donut pan I had my mother purchase for me when she was in Vermont. I don't know why I originally wanted it, but obviously I didn't want it enough to pay shipping on it. I've had it for 2 years now and it has never seen the inside of my oven. Because really now, if you're going to eat a donut you might as well go for it and eat the real, fried-in-fat, version.

My zester, on the other hand, holds a very high position in my kitchen. His only other drawer mate is my melon baller. It was years ago when I discovered that a zester even existed. A friend had received one as a wedding shower gift and couldn't fathom why anyone would want such an item. With my jaw agape I was drooling as I spewed forth at least 101 reasons. That someone had invented such a tool was beyond most of my wildest dreams. I received one for my own wedding from that very same friend and only now have I thought to ponder if it was re-gifted.

Unfortunately, useless kitchen utensils aren't something you can buy for yourself. You kind of just have to hope that someone you know and that owes you a gift might think that you can use a flower shaped bread pan tube (?!). (Never been used and mine gets in the way every time I open the drawer to retrieve the cookie sheets.) Luckily, I have a husband that does not do well in the gift purchasing category and would never consider such a pan, so I usually shop for myself on gift giving occasions. I figure I deserve something and why not an item I really want as opposed to something that can be found at the local ACE Hardware. Not that I don't love the hardware store, but my Christmas gift is purchased there every year 10 minutes before they close on Christmas Eve. On second thought, I do have a very nice retractable clothes line that is the envy of every housewife on the block and a washboard to keep our clothes clean if the end of the world should come.

Today, as I was blog-hopping, I found an ice cream scooper that creates a scoop so appealing I can't even write about it. I don't think I would like the mound on a cone but somehow I can imagine that pushing my spoon into that perfectly shaped cylinder would create shivers down my spine. You can see the texture of the ice cream, I can almost feel it it is so real. And for someone with an almost summer birthday, where it is pretty much a guarantee to be warm on cake day, I think an ice cream stack maker would be delectable.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am in need of one of those bundt like, jello mold pans. I am hoping my Mom still has that greenish-blue plastic tupperware one she used to make some nasty fruited jello ring in! I need it for an experiment.
www.pepperpaints.com

Mechelle said...

My mom used to have one too! It had a whitish lid to cover the nasty fruited Jello ring. I've always wondered why Jello was invented, there is no nutritional value to it unless you add some canned fruit to it?!

Mom101 said...

You would have a field day with my guy, Mr. KitchenGadget. It seems every other day he shows up with a new zester or reamer or microplane or mortar and pestle. How I envy a drawer with only two gadgets in it.

Thanks for the blogroll mention mama; love your blog name!

Lisa Greenfelder said...

I have to apologize for the ACE related Christmas presents. If they were'nt so danged helpful people maybe V could resist the last minute shopping spree. I'll try to steer him twords the Hallmark store next time he comes in. he he

Mechelle said...

Thanks for visiting mom101! And I would love a spouse that brings home kitchen gadgets instead of motorized vehicles that need "a little repair". They don't fit in any drawer.


Hey Lisa,maybe if there wasn't post-holiday shopping beer in the back room there would be less incentive to shop at ACE. I just don't think Hallmark and Vinnie can have a date :)