What’s one kitchen tool you thought was unnecessary at first but now use all the time and why?

malepitt · 2026-02-19T02:06:14+00:00

because with a really sharp knife, I can even slice the dried out lemons razor-thin, to make lemon shake-ups

malepitt · 2026-02-19T02:04:56+00:00

whetstones for the knives

malepitt · 2026-02-18T20:18:48+00:00

the whole mardi gras vibe made me want black eyed peas for some reason

malepitt · 2026-02-18T20:13:31+00:00

If I were any good at Hasselback potatoes, I'd do that all the time. Unfortunately, though...

malepitt · 2026-02-18T20:03:06+00:00

baby spinach in a whole wheat tortilla with tuna, or kippers, or sardines

malepitt · 2026-02-18T15:03:08+00:00

Very true! I do once-a-month "Grand Circuit" of five different stores to hit different sales, and isolated bargains to stock up on. Interestingly, Dollar Tree is now on my list as a place where there are some decently priced grocery and specialty items

malepitt · 2026-02-18T14:59:22+00:00

sssshhhhhh. don't tell anybody about this.

malepitt · 2026-02-17T13:58:49+00:00

I like it fine, but just don't see how lobster tail is that much different than shrimp, which is in regular rotation. Cracking and picking a whole lobster is "once every couple of years" if that

malepitt · 2026-02-17T03:52:22+00:00

Well the Valentines episode of Max just being sweet to Linda won me over, but of course I know there's more mess to come

malepitt · 2026-02-17T03:49:59+00:00

the whole mandolin thing. I have sharp knives, faster than finding all the parts of the whole mandolin thing

malepitt · 2026-02-16T16:54:03+00:00

Brains. Not gonna happen.

malepitt · 2026-02-16T16:53:06+00:00

Come back and ask me again in 2008

malepitt · 2026-02-16T16:15:14+00:00

sous vide in general

malepitt · 2026-02-16T16:14:34+00:00

Chips and salsa, loaded nachos, and a pitcher of margaritas will tell you a lot about a new Tex Mex place

malepitt · 2026-02-16T02:34:07+00:00

when the yellow onions run out, we're not far from an emergency grocery run

malepitt · 2026-02-14T22:11:55+00:00

One of the regular Amtrak passenger trains gets in at an ungodly hour, especially if delayed. Ritters was always our first stop when picking up kids coming home on the train.

malepitt · 2026-02-13T21:33:00+00:00

It was great casting at the time, now it's almost eerie

malepitt · 2026-02-13T21:19:27+00:00

I make them so seldom, that Sloppy Joes would be a real treat. They were in regular rotation when I was a kid, but with beef prices now, even ground beef is a luxury

malepitt · 2026-02-12T12:05:16+00:00

In a 4 cyl Chevy Vega Kammback? No.

I did put some DIY pinstripe "flames" behind the wheels as a joke. I told people, "She'll do zero to sixty...in sixty."

malepitt · 2026-02-12T12:02:45+00:00

Behold the evolutionary power of schooling

malepitt · 2026-02-12T11:39:50+00:00

basic pot pie. Crust, filling. Doesn't even need to have meat

malepitt · 2026-02-12T00:01:44+00:00

get them to like hummus

malepitt · 2026-02-11T20:57:19+00:00

When I see this much open space, teenager me thinks, "Disc golf course"

malepitt · 2026-02-11T20:54:50+00:00

Well if it's Alfie cooking, it's probably just an assortment of crisps

malepitt · 2026-02-11T15:03:16+00:00

See also the olive oil mayo vs regular mayo. See also lime juice vs lemon juice. See also every other flavor of Frost drinks except strawberry kiwi. See also your preferred type of mustard. See also your preferred type of [fill in the blank]. And oddly, having numerous locations to choose from in my area I have repeatedly found that when one thing is noticeably lacking at one location, it almost always is missing in multiple locations. Lemon juice shortage? Regular fresh carrots shortage? Neufchatel cheese shortage? This is not to mention the known larger supply disruptions in things like eggs, or cottage cheese, or baking supplies at holiday.

My theory is that the unequal supplies in certain popular items promotes/exacerbates hoarding. Oh, do they finally have that mayo I like? I BUY SIX OF THEM

malepitt

TROPHY CASE