I’ve been known for singing random songs about people and making up crazy words. More so now that I have a kid. Anyway, most of my made up words are actually just a shortening of a long word or a combination of two words, my most famous being stantials, which means “something substantial.” Here it is in a sentence for you contextual people: I’m starving! I need stantials to get me through the damn day.
Perhaps my predilection for inventing new words is due to me being from Southern California where we have a habit of abbreviating our speech, i.e. rad, fave, raunch, whatev, ridic. Yeah, whatev, I DGAF.
Anyway, my whole point of this post is to make a list of “some cooking essentials,” also known as scentials, for my cousin James. I’m pretty sure all that he has in his cupboard are his roommates’ cooking utensils and pans. Maybe he bought himself a pair of chopsticks and some shot glasses, but other than that I’m assuming he has nothing. He probably eats ramen out of a mug and everything else off of paper plates or paper towels.
Alright, so here is my list of scentials that my cousin needs to slowly start collecting to make cooking fun and easy. Without the scentials, you’re just scrambling to find something that will make do, and the only thing you really should be scrambling are eggs.
Things to cut with:
- Chef’s Knife or a Santoku Knife – You can buy the pricey kind, but to be honest you can get a damn good and reasonably priced knife at a restaurant supply store or at a Japanese market. Just make sure you watch a youtube video that shows you how to use it properly.
- Mandoline
- Kitchen shears – also known as scissors
- Pairing knife – please don’t shank anyone with it
- Serrated bread knife
- Vegetable peeler
- Ladle
- Tongs – ones that lock
- Metal spatula
- Rubber spatula
- Whisk
- Potato smasher
- Wooden spoons
- Large stock pot
- Small and large sauce pan
- Small and large saute pan
- Nonstick pan
- Dutch oven – definitely need to save up for one of these, but they are well worth it!
- Roasting pan – good for turkeys, chickens, potatoes, etc.
- Cookie sheet
- Colander
- Metal mixing bowls
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Can opener
- Corkscrew with a bottle opener
- Peppermill
- Salt box - I seem to use a variety of salts and like multiple boxes or a box that’s divided. Get whatever works for you.
- Plastic cutting board – for raw meats
- Bamboo cutting board – for everything else
- Wooden spoons
- Standing mixer – not really necessary unless you like to bake
- Food processor – makes life so much easier, because you spend less time in the kitchen!
