Basic Kitchen Essentials

 Basic Kitchen Essentials:

(This is a basic suggestion list)

Who could use this List??? Well....just about everyone!
Newly Engaged couples could use this list to compile their gift/wedding registry. It's also great idea for college students & singles. Or.... just use to  replace missing items from your kitchen gallery. I take inventory about every 6 months to replace broken or needed items.

Basic Set of dishes, service for 6-8 minimum, (up to 12)

set should include: Dinner plate, bowl &/or salad plate,

Coffee cup with or without saucers

Serving Bowls/Dishes in several sizes

Casserole Dishes with Lids, several sizes

(*Colors should blend nicely with your dishes)

Pitchers for Drinks 
Gravy Boats, 1 or 2

Sugar and Creamer containers

Salt and Pepper shakers or mills

Silverware, service for 6, 8 or 12

Serving utensils, to match

such as spoons, forks, serving spatulas

Drinking Glasses 6-12, in two sizes

Wine Glasses, 12-24 

(*You may choose to use different sizes, white & red wine glasses) 

Various cocktail & beer glasses to suit your needs

Baking and Roasting pans:

12-15" open roasting pan 

9x13 baking pan, 1 or more; metal, glass, stoneware

5x9 bread pan, 2 in metal, glass or stoneware

2 - 8 or 9" round layer cake pans

2 - 8 or 9" square layer cake pans

1- 8 or 9" round cake pan

1 - 8 or 9" square cake pan

1 - 9 or 10" tube pan

Bundt Style pan, 1 02 more

Cookie sheets, 2 or more

8-10" Pie Plates, 2 or more

Muffin/Cupcake Pan, 1 or 2

Springform pan, 1 or 2

2 - Pizza Pans

Pots & Pans:

1, 2 and 3 quart pans with lids

2 or 3 quart with steamer basket and lid

(*Boiler insert would be great too!)

1 or more, 7-9" fry pan, lid 

1 or more, 10-12" fry pan, lid

6 quart dutch oven

Stock pots, heavy gauge with lids, 2 sizes

Appliances:

Coffee Maker

Mixer, Stand and/or Hand

Toaster

Toaster Oven

Crock Pot

Tea Kettle

Electric Skillet/griddle

Waffle Machine

Blender

Food processor/chopper

 Grill Press

Cooking and Kitchen Essentials

Heat resistant Spoons and Rubber Spatulas in various sizes

(*at least 2 of each)

Large Slotted spoon

Large Solid spoon

Cooking Spatulas, solid and slotted

Pizza Cutter

Pie Server

Desert Server 

Can and Bottle openers

Ice Pick

Wine openers

Corks for bottles

Cooking Bands

Gravy & Soup Ladles, various sizes

Vegetable peeler

Set of Knives, various sizes 

Steak Knife set

Funnels, various sizes

(narrow and wide mouth)

Measuring Spoons & Cups

Liquid & Dry measuring pitchers

Thermometers; cooking, meat, candy 

Graters of several sizes; 4 sided & flat

Tongs; for cooking and serving
Baking Timer

Shelf Liner: for cupboards, drawers...

Drink containers: 2 or more, various sizes

Long Handled Cooking Forks

Large and Small Strainers

Long Handle Strainer (spoon/dipper style)

Rolling pin

Pastry Blender

Pastry Brush

Cake/Cookie Racks (for cooling)

Potato Masher

Kitchen Shears

Knife Sharpener, Steel or Stone

Cutting Boards, various sizes

Whisks/Whips, various sizes & styles

Various sizes of containers/lids or jars/lids

Trivets for Hot Dishes, several

Pot Holders & Oven Mitts

1 dozen dish clothes

1 dozen dish towels

Dish Strainer: for hand washed items, traditional or cloth pad

Stylish and Prepared...

Pack'n Up Christmas

For years, before storing Christmas items, I covered my Christmas trees with a plastic paint drop cloth & an old sheet. This year I decided to shrink wrap the Trees...

This idea worked great! I left some of the larger ornaments, decorations and garland on the tree. I packed anything that was delicate or glass. I figured that next year, I could change or add as I set up & decorate. Here is what I used & how:

•  Plastic paint drop cloth; Cover the trees and tape in place. This will protect your items left on the tree. *Items won't stick to the plastic like they will with the shrink wrap. The plastic drop will preserve your items in mint condition.
• Shrink Wrap; Wrap the tree from top to bottom. I actually started in the middle of the tree and worked up and over the top of the tree. Then I wrapped back down the tree, continuing down to the bottom. Cut wrap if needed, where you need. What is awesome about the shrink wrap, is you can stretch it to tighten the wrap & secure without using additional tape. It sticks well to itself. I also went under the tree to in close the bottom boughs.
• Scissors & tape, use as needed
• Cover the tree with the wrap by overlapping the layers. This will make a stronger cover.
• Next year, simply cut the shrink wrap off and throw away. Straighten & rearrange your tree as  desired.

Just a note: Our trees were easier to move out the front door to the garage, due to the shrink wrap. The tree was tightly contained within the wrap. It was smaller in circumference, allowing it to fix through the front door with ease.  A Big Plus...My trees are 8 & 9 feet tall, one skinny, one fat!

Next year I can leave the same garland on the tree or change to a new look. In any case, I would rather redecorate next year than totally " un" decorate now!  

Simply Pack'n Up Christmas with Style...

Our New End Tables

I needed some end tables! I wanted some that weren't ordinary! I had seen some Roman Capitols in Restoration Hardware...not wanting to spend $$$ for them (each )....I had resigned myself to the fact that they would NOT grace my home! THEN...I walked into TJ Maxx...and there they were...for 1/4 of the price! Whoo-Hoo ....I was SO excited....I bought them and took them home. I have large furniture and the new tables were looking small. But I loved them! Then I spotted the suitcases my mother had just given me....YES! I plopped one on top the table and ....TaDah!!! My new end tables were born!
1. Old suitcase, 2. Roman Capitol, turned upside down for a wider floor base, 3. Put the two together, new end table! * I used a piece of rubbermade shelf material between the table & the suitcase...too make sure there was no slippage! Bonus: Extra storage in the suitcase for rarely used items, such as old photographs or souvenirs & such! Like & SHARE this stylish idea today!

*This post was taken from my Pine Creek Style Facebook page

Enjoy with Style,

Adam & Eve on a Raft-Gourmet Style

A Vintage Recipe with Upgrades....

This vintage diner recipe, Adam & Eve on a Raft, was so simple. 

It's just poached eggs on toast.

A little boring to ME! So, I added a gourmet effect!

You have to have STYLE, even if it is breakfast!

And it was GOOD!

Gourmet Adam & Eve on a Raft ~ Gourmet Style

by NeeCee

1. A "crowd" of Bacon (crowd=three of a kind)

Baked in an oven at 350 till crisp

2. 1 can (per 2 or 3 people) of potatoes (sliced, drained), fried with butter and seasoned with salt & garlic pepper.

3. Cowboy Toast, grilled sourdough whole wheat bread, buttered, garlic pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Grill on medium burner on plain side first. When toasted, flip and grill on buttered cheese side.

4. Two Cackle berries, (eggs) per person, poached or fried...soft yolks.

If you scramble the eggs, it becomes; Adam and Eve on a Rafted, WRECKED!

5.Hollandaise Sauce from a Knorr's package. Follow directions on the package, add a dash of red pepper to kick it up a notch. (Just a light dash, it's hot.)

Grilled Cowboy Toast...Ready to eat!

Assembly:

One piece of whole wheat grilled toast.

Two eggs over easy (or poached) served on top of toast.

Drizzle Hollandaise sauce across the top off eggs.

Place 3 pieces of bacon on one side and fried potatoes on the other side.

Drizzle more Hollandaise sauce across the potatoes.

For the finish...garnish eggs with grilled asparagus, optional.

(*After potatoes are done, throw on the asparagus, it grills quickly)

Ready to serve...

A quick breakfast, that looks like you're a culinary expert! 

Great for Brunch during holidays...even dinner!

Cooking and Serving it up with Vintage Style.....

Cheesy Cauliflower & Ham

Cheesy Cauliflower & Ham for dinner....

"Better than the Best Mac 'n Cheese you've ever had!"

"The aroma from this meal cooking was amazing. We could hardly wait to taste it"! 

The Holidays are past and we want to get back into our healthier way of eating. More veggies, fruits, lower carbs, low sugars and most of all portion control! We had taken off quite a bit of weight this past year and are excited to get back on track! ...Haven't met our goals yet!

Sooo...this was dinner last night! WOW...what a way to start! This was delicious! 

A perfect replacement for Potatoes or Pasta as a side dish or as a main meal!

"We served ours as a main meal with a side salad"! 

So Amazing....I'm ready for MORE!

The only problem is...There is only ONE serving left for Lunch!

  Mmmm...

Now, how can I finagle this dilemma?

Serving Veggies with Taste & Style...

A Vintage Recipe with Upgrades....

This vintage diner recipe, Adam & Eve on a Raft, was so simple. 

It's just poached eggs on toast.

A little boring to ME! So, I added a gourmet effect!

You have to have STYLE, even if it is breakfast!

And it was GOOD!

Gourmet Adam & Eve on a Raft ~ Gourmet Style

by NeeCee

1. A "crowd" of Bacon (crowd=three of a kind)

Baked in an oven at 350 till crisp

2. 1 can (per 2 or 3 people) of potatoes (sliced, drained), fried with butter and seasoned with salt & garlic pepper.

3. Cowboy Toast, grilled sourdough whole wheat bread, buttered, garlic pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Grill on medium burner on plain side first. When toasted, flip and grill on buttered cheese side.

4. Two Cackle berries, (eggs) per person, poached or fried...soft yolks.

If you scramble the eggs, it becomes; Adam and Eve on a Rafted, WRECKED!

5.Hollandaise Sauce from a Knorr's package. Follow directions on the package, add a dash of red pepper to kick it up a notch. (Just a light dash, it's hot.)

Grilled Cowboy Toast...Ready to eat!

Assembly:

One piece of whole wheat grilled toast.

Two eggs over easy (or poached) served on top of toast.

Drizzle Hollandaise sauce across the top off eggs.

Place 3 pieces of bacon on one side and fried potatoes on the other side.

Drizzle more Hollandaise sauce across the potatoes.

For the finish...garnish eggs with grilled asparagus, optional.

(*After potatoes are done, throw on the asparagus, it grills quickly)

Ready to serve...

A quick breakfast, that looks like you're a culinary expert! 

Great for Brunch during holidays...even dinner!

Cooking and Serving it up with Vintage Style.....

A Crazy Mixed Up Party...

This could be a very fun & silly party...Ohhh the possibilities! 

A lot of Grammar Schools celebrate something like..."Crazy Mixed Up Days"! The kids wear mismatched clothes,  silly hair or pajama's to school! So why not take it one more step, coordinate  something fun at home & celebrate at the same time!!!

It's a great way to use your leftover holiday & birthday paper plates, napkins, cups , cupcakes sleeves, etc., from every past occasion! 

So, while I was organizing my kitchen...I had a "bright idea"! An after thought really!
Some of the Grandkids had just celebrated Mixed-up Crazy Day at School. I was cleaning out the cupboard where I store all my leftover holiday & birthday plates, napkins, etc.
"Why not organize, divide & bag up a bundle of this stuff and spread the wealth? I had enough products to create 6 or 7 Mixed up Crazy Party bags!

I laid everything out on the dining room table according to each holiday.

Then I started dividing everything into piles. Stacking plates, napkins & more into mixed-up piles !

 This pile had Halloween, Valentines Day, Christmas, New Years, St. Patty's Day & Fourth of July all rolled into one!

Everything was divided & organized.

 I used some gift bags, ribbons & tissue paper I had on hand. And, bagged everything up!

Then I delivered them to the kids and my friends with kids or grandkids!
Everyone who received them...LOVED the idea!
Here is the note I slipped inside...

Make Life Fun & a Little CRAZY with Style...