Kitchen 'essentials' and a new electric beater

Thanks to everyone who gave me feedback on commenting options. It sounds like Blogger is generally easier to use than Disqus, which was really helpful to discover. This means I'll be sticking with the standard Blogger commenting system for now. 


I had thought this would mean losing the option for people to be alerted when I reply to their comments (something Disqus allowed). However! It turns out this is actually now possible in Blogger. You just have to click "subscribe by email" under the comment box when you are commenting (this is different to the more general "subscribe by email" that will be at the very bottom of the page). You'll then be notified of replies to your original comment, but not of any other comments that aren't linked to yours. 

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It was also interesting to read about how others' taste preferences change across different temperatures. It's clearly an area with lots of individual variation! In my case, I suspect more and more things might be moving to the 'chilled' and 'frozen' categories this week. The current weather forecast is reminding me of why I don't like Australian summer:

Ick. The odd hot day I can cope with, but a string of them with hot nights thrown into the mix? Not my thing at all.

Moving on, though, today's post isn't actually about commenting or weather (focus Kari, focus!). Today is about this:

A new electric beater.

And more generally, the evolution of my kitchen utensils and equipment over time.

You see, this Thursday (Australia Day) is my 3 year house anniversary. The above electric beater represents the final stage of my transition from a kitchen with hardly anything in it to one that has everything I need and quite a few things I just want.

The new beater also generates a scenario where I actually have an 'old' product to get rid of.

My previous electric beater was a hand-me-down from a friend, and whilst it has seen me through 3 years, it is rather one-sided.

For the duration of its life with me, it has had just one beater.

This has made things a tad tricky at times (to the extent that I should probably have just beaten by hand on several occasions), and tracking down a replacement part never seemed to happen.

Given that replacing this mixer has left me in the surreal position of being entirely content with what my kitchen holds, I thought I would document the changes in my house furnishings (or non-furnishings) over time.

Here is what I came up with.

• December 2008. The lead up to my move. Between my birthday and Christmas, I manage to receive a saucepan set, an 8-piece cutlery set, a 4-piece dinner set, basic knives, chopping boards, a wok, and plastic storage containers as presents. Helpfully, this meant I had most of my kitchen essentials before I even got my own kitchen.
• January 2009. I invest in a fridge and washing machine. I'm also the grateful recipient of a microwave, DVD player, and cordless telephone that are redeemed via 'spare' (i.e., generously bequeathed) credit card award points from my parents.
• January 2009. I go from having one room of furniture and 'stuff' to a bedroom and study and living room and kitchen / dining room. I manage to fill a surprising amount of this space without trying. Proudly place kitchen-related presents in the kitchen and have white goods delivered and installed. Buy an Ikea dining room table.

The table is still going strong.

• January 2009. I receive a full quota of kitchen goods from a close friend, who received new sets of many house things when she got married. This included the above-mentioned electric beater, a toaster, more plates, a grater, herb containers, knives, and much more besides. I'm forever indebted to this friend - I still use her things today. I also received several unexpected second-hand (but still perfectly fine) presents from several people who I didn't even know very well. A gym acquaintance, some work colleagues of my Mum...I was blown away by how generous people were.
• March 2009. My parents take pity on my sofa-less living room and buy me a sofa as a house warming and PhD completion present. The living room suddenly has a possible use!
• May (ish) 2009. I buy a TV. The living room has further possible uses!
• September 2009. I start thinking that a courtyard garden might be nice. Look into costs. Decide a courtyard garden is far too expensive.
• September (ish) 2009. Use Fly Buys rewards points to buy a Breville blender.
• December 2009. My parents buy me a Chinese Tallow tree in the biggest pot I have seen, as a birthday present. Arrive home from work the day before my birthday to discover it sitting in the courtyard. Definitely one of the most impressive birthday presents I have ever received.

Picture this courtyard with only the middle pot and tree. With a ribbon around it.

• January 2010. Buy a frying pan / non-stick pan. Laugh at myself for going a full year without one.
• March (ish) 2010. Buy a better saucepan with a steamer attachment. Can finally reunite with my beloved steamed carrots.
• September 2010. One year on from the initial thoughts, I finally invest in some plants for the courtyard. Purchase the two large corrugated iron vegetable planters pictured above, and an assortment of vegetables and herbs. Become quite clucky over my plants.
• October 2010. Mr Bite moves in. Gain an assortment of additional items and furnishings. 
• November 2010. Jointly invest in a good-quality knife (vegetable chopping suddenly becomes fun!) and a Scanpan saute pan.
• February (I think...) 2011. We buy a second sofa, to match the first. We suddenly have living room seating for more than 1 visitor. 
• April 2011. I purchase a food processor and thereby make the biggest kitchen investment of my life.
• November 2011. Put up shelves in the kitchen. Also do more gardening.

• December 2011. Receive a Scanpan grill for my birthday. 
• January 2012. Spend $35 on a new, two-beater, electric mixer and thereby complete my range of kitchen requirements.

Of course, along the way there have been many other smaller changes and purchases. Additional bakeware and serving plates. Some new bowls and some extra cutlery. There have been many, many changes, and 3 years on I am feeling very lucky in the assortment of things I have gathered.

And the new beater?

I'm rather looking forward to using it.

How have your house belongings and kitchen utensils evolved over time? 
What do you would you count as "essential" if you were setting up from scratch all over again (or if you are!)?

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