Needs and Wants

As the end of a cycle draws to a close (assumingly sometime this weekend) and a new one begins, I'm suddenly very happy that we decided to forego bothering with another IUI and just wait for the IVF in May.

This extra time on my hands means I get to direct my somewhat obsessive tendencies to the house... and in particular - the kitchen, and outfitting it. Michael and I eloped, so we didn't go the typical registry route when we got married. [He had FIVE coffee makers when we got married, so some things well, didn't need to be purchased]. The rest, we've managed to purchase here and there, or have been graciously gifted with over the years.

So, we've got the basics down. They're not all the most top of the line, or most expensive... but they're all items that do nicely for us.

Cookware - check. Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick (love this. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. We had a wonky stovetop that heated unevenly, and it miraculously cured it and made the food taste as if I was an expert chef. The stovetop to oven ability is also great.) I actually have the 12 piece set, which I think just this 10 piece set with an included steamer insert and a double boiler. I bought this little gem to go with it, and it is great for making pancakes.

Knives - check. Henckles Five Star. If you have small hands like me, you'll find that other brands, such as the Wustoff Classic (which I originally wanted) are too big to comfortably handle. I've bought a few more of the same line, but for some reason they're hard to find now.

Casual dishes - check. We've got I think 10 place settings of Fiestaware. I love the colors, and they're remarkably sturdy dishes. We have the peacock, plum, shamrock, cobalt, tangerine, sunflower, cinnabar, periwinkle, turquoise, scarlet and I can't remember if we have another set.

China - check. O.k. so this really belongs in "dining room" but whatever. Lenox Serpentine Platinum, 12 place settings and other assorted serving pieces. We're not overly formal people, so we don't have really formal china. I like the clean lines that don't take away from the food.

Crystal - working on slowly filling out 12 place settings of each of the Waterford Aurora. It's a bit large - and thus only fits on certain shelves of the china cabinet, but again, I like the clean lines. It's HEAVY too, a problem I found when I put too much of it onto a glass shelf in the cabinet and it collapsed under the weight.

We just got this blender for Christmas, and it ROCKS. I love it, although it's one heavy mo fo.

And of course, my most prized possession in the kitchen is just the plain, white Kitchen Aid mixer.

I love to cook... and am stoked that I now have the room to do more entertaining (although. sigh. my house does not have the warming oven that I covet so deeply right now). I also have an affinity for random kitchen gadgets (garlic crusher, little pans that make star shaped bread loaves, tartlet pans, vintage copper cookie cutters galore), etc. And these little custard cups? I use them so often that it amazes me. I also use a set of old cast iron skillets, and my great grandmother's dinged up biscuit cutter every time I make biscuits and gravy.

So share - what items do you have in your kitchen that you adore, and could not live without? I'm talking about everything from small appliances to the quirky little gadget that you find yourself reaching for time and time again...

And what are the items you wish you hadn't bothered to have spent the money on or been gifted with? Michael's mom bought us a quesadilla maker, and I think we've used it once. It's bulky and takes up a lot of room in the cabinet. And this griddle? Please. Unless you're feeding an army, it's a pain in the ass to use and store.

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updated to add -

Those of you looking for new knives - well, you could always use this little addition to the household.