New gear

As one would expect, holidays bring new kitchen gear.

Shortly after a swearing-filled day when I mixed the fillings for almost 200 dumplings (actual count unknown because I am lazy) in small little 2 qt portions in our mini-combo processor, we went to Costco and invested in the 11 cup food processor. It's shiny and beautiful and is currently taking up too much of my counter.

Among the Christmas schwag, we also got an electric water kettle upgrade. We've had the old one for years. The attached top fell off years ago in a disastrous fall from the drying rack but a couple months ago, a bug got caught mysteriously in the water measuring area. I have no idea how it got there and it's impossible to get out. It seemed like a good time to buy a new one.

A new Oster blender also showed up since we will be throwing away the mini combo which had a very pitiful excuse for a blender, not that it was able to blend. It couldn't crush ice; it couldn't puree pesto. I'm looking forward to the new one.

So obviously, it seems like counter space is really in demand. The cast iron skillets are taking up a corner of the main cooking area so if I could move them out somewhere else, I could put the appliances there, given that I had some covers so they don't get completely covered with oil from the stove. I'm undecided on that part. I should probably go to target and/or the container store. We will see.