Recipes

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The Infamous Chili

Bizcochitos

(more recipes coming soon)

Cookware

Most people in my generation are afraid of their kitchens. When you look in their cabinets, you find out why -- either there's every single stupid device ever sold on an infomercial or they only have the cheap aluminum pot they bought in college to boil water for ramen. To get anything done in the kitchen, you have to have the right tools for the job, and that's where I come in.

If you have the money to deck out your kitchen with everything you'd ever want, I recommend picking up Gear For Your Kitchen by Alton Brown, which is really the authoritative work on the subject. However, if you don't have a lot of dough, this list will get you cooking in under two hundred bucks.

ALL YOU REALLY NEED
  • Cast iron skillet, 10"-12"  This is the ultimate pan. You can sear, saute, poach, pan-fry, roast, bake, broil, flambe, even throw it on open coals. The only thing you have to be really careful about is acidic stuff, but if you season the pan right and keep it cured, that's a minimal risk.
  • Pot, 3 quarts, with lid  An essential for soups and sauces, and it works for making pasta for one or two people. There's no need for nonstick here, unless you tend to burn things and need help with cleanup. Think about a saucier -- there are no corners for raw flour or condensed soup to get stuck in.
  • Glass baking dish, 9x13  The best all-purpose oven pan there is. This works for cakes, brownies, casseroles, and even roasted vegetables.
  • Half sheet pan with rack  If you intend to make cookies or roast large pieces of meat, you'll need this. I like to cook bacon in the oven, and this is the perfect tool for the job.
  • Chef knife, 8"  This should be the single most expensive item in your kitchen. Most of the time with knives, you get what you pay for. However, I got my favorite chef knife from a kitchenware party for about $50. Get it professionally sharpened, and any knife can be a great one.
  • Paring knife, 4"  This doesn't need to be as pricey; you're mainly going to use it for small tasks, like cutting fruit. A blister-pack paring knife is fine, but don't get the serrated kind -- cheap serrated knives just rip up your food.
  • Cutting board, poly  You can do the job with just one board, as long as you mark one side for use with raw meat only. Get the biggest one that will fit into your dishwasher.
  • Heatproof spatula  It's not just for scraping the bowl! Use it for eggs, and you'll be amazed how much more yield you get than with a wooden spoon.
  • Whisk  An essential tool for smooth sauces -- you just can't get there with a spoon. If you got the nonstick pot, you'll want a silicone or coated whisk so you don't scratch the pot.
  • Tongs  You could use a fork to turn a steak or a bratwurst, but you'd just make more holes for the juices to leak out.
  • Can opener  The most important thing here is balance -- it needs to open enough to clean it, but not enough to affect the fit of the can-grabbing gears. I have a one-handed squeeze model made by Chef'n, and it rocks.
  • Measuring cups/spoons  You'll need a set of each. Stainless steel is best, and level tops are vital so you can scrape off any excess and get accurate measurements.
  • Mixing bowl  One big glass bowl will do the trick. If you do a lot of baking, you'll need more, but for single batches you can measure dry goods onto parchment paper and then mix them in with the wet stuff.
  • Thermometer  An instant-read dial model is fine. If you want to get all fancy-schmancy, digital tends to be more accurate, and they make probe models (which I must admit I love) that stay in the food while you cook it.
  • Strainer  Not just for draining pasta or potatoes -- you can use it to sift flour for cakes and cookies too.
  • Parchment paper  It'll set you free, literally. Line the bottom of your cake pan with this silicone-impregnated lifesaver. You can also turn it into piping bags and wrap stuff for refrigeration (though it's not quite as effective at this as wax paper).
  • Side towels  You'll eventually have to wash your pot holder anyway, so why not use something that's made for wiping up spills in the first place?

MORE STUFF THAT'S ACTUALLY HELPFUL
  • Nonstick skillet, 8"-10"  Best for eggs.
  • Stock pot, 12 qt, with lid  If you entertain, you'll want this pot.
  • Casserole dish, 4-5 qt
  • Loaf pan, 9x5
  • Cake pans, 9" round  You'll need two. This is the best for cake presentation.
  • Muffin tin
  • Utility knife, 6"  Good for those jobs that are too much for a paring knife but not enough for a chef knife.
  • Serrated carving knife, 10"  When you serve up that turkey or prime rib, you'll want this. The electric ones are good, too.
  • Silicone turning spatula  A dedicated burger or pancake turner, and it works better than the heatproof jobby in the previous list.
  • Wooden spoon
  • Box grater  Don't get the flat kind -- this one supports itself, and your arms will thank you for that later.
  • Peeler
  • Masher
  • Rolling pin  It makes all kinds of things flat -- doughs, meat, cracker crumbs.
  • Stick blender  When you've got a chunky sauce that you want smooth, this is the tool to grab.
  • Pepper mill  It grinds other spices too.
  • Timer  A clock does the job, but it doesn't give you an alert.
  • Water purifier  The water coming out of your faucet is probably safe, but that doesn't mean it tastes good.

APPLIANCES TO MAKE LIFE EASIER
I'm not going to pretend I prep everything by hand. Sometimes you need a little more power to get the job done.
  • Food processor  You can use the knife, but this is so much faster. Plus you can make dips, crushed ice, and even bread dough in it.
  • Mixer  A hand mixer is more than adequate here. Sometimes, it's even better than the big stand models, because even though you're having to contribute your arm strength with a hand mixer, you can control where it goes within the mixing bowl, thus incorporating faster.
  • Microwave  Although this was probably a foregone conclusion, I'm including the microwave here since not every kitchen includes one. It's great for quick reheating and steaming or poaching.
  • Toaster oven  Sure, you could get the pop-up kind, but then you can't melt cheese on your toast or bake a side of trout in the summer without heating up the whole kitchen.
  • Grill  If you're allowed to have one where you live, this is another great way to avoid driving up the house temperature during the hot months.
  • Coffee/spice grinder  If you grind a lot of spices, get two of these, unless you don't mind your coffee tasting like coriander.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS
  • Garlic press  Not only does it completely destroy your garlic, but it's a total bitch to clean afterward.
  • Anything with a small preparation area  Cocktail cutting boards, mini-choppers, the Magic Bullet -- do yourself a favor and just say no. Give yourself enough room to work.
  • Bread machine  You might be tempted by it, but bread out of these things really doesn't taste that good. Besides, how often are you gonna make bread anyway?
  • Devices that can only make one thing that you aren't passionate about  Kitchen space is precious, and you don't need something you aren't going to use taking it up.