As seen in the Dayton Daily News on August 30, 2014.
The other day at our family cookout, my brother walked up to me holding his plate of food and asked, “Where are your corn holders for the corn on the cob?” To which I replied, “I don’t have any.”
Even though we are well into adulthood, my brother and I like to tease one another, so I knew the conversation couldn’t just end there. He got a puzzled look on his face and said, “How am I supposed to eat my corn then.” Putting my hands on my hips, I whispered, “Real men use their fingers.”
Giving this some thought he said, “What if I burn my fingers?” I countered, “I have burn cream in my first-aid kit.”
As he walked away, I thought to myself, “I wonder if my kids even know what corn holders are.”
Many years ago, I went through my entire kitchen and began purging items that I rarely used and could live without. The corn holders fell victim to this purge.
Once completed, my drawers were no longer crammed with gadgets, and things were no longer toppling down from upper cabinets.
I purchased these extras, because I love to cook and thought they would make my life easier. However, getting back to the basics allowed me to find the items I use on a regular basis more quickly and with less hassle.
I rarely miss the items I let go off and manage just fine without them.
The other day my youngest daughter made Mickey Mouse pancakes using just a spoon. She doesn’t know I used to own a Mickey Mouse pancake mold.
I steam delicious rice using a standard pot with a lid instead of the rice steamer that took up space in my pantry.
I love when my kids marvel over someone else’s melon balls. Since I don’t own a melon baller, my kids have always eaten their melon sliced and served on the rind. With five kids, this momma doesn’t have time to fuss over a melon.
If you love your gadgets and use them regularly, keep them.
If you feel overwhelmed and cramped in your kitchen, then I suggest you go through each drawer, cabinet and pantry, and let go of the extras that keep you from using your kitchen efficiently.
Don’t worry about how much money you spent on the gadgets or who gave them to you. If you don’t use them, they are in your way.
I love kitchen gadgets, so I know firsthand how hard it can be to part with them. If you are unsure if you can live without something, place it in a box and store it away from your kitchen. Date the box with a future date that lets you know when it will be safe to donate the items inside.
If you find you miss something, pull it from the box and place it back in your kitchen. Those items deserve to be there.
Our next family dinner will be a Mexican theme. I’ll have to remember to call my brother and tell him to bring his taco stand. I will not have the patience to hold his taco while he fills it.