If you’ve been reading this blog then you know that six items or less is the goal – for most things in my life. I have already posted about progress simplifying my wardrobe.
Now what about our kitchen? Think about knives, utensils, glassware, pots and pans, baking dishes, etc. Do I really need more than six of anything????
When I was younger, I lived with a family in Paris. While their home was large, the kitchen was a typical, tiny French kitchen. Christine cooked delectable, many-course meals for family and guests from this tiny kitchen with one cabinet, 2 feet of counter space and a small European refrigerator. She had almost no gadgets, using two good knives and a whisk for just about everything. What did I learn? I learned French cooking and I learned that great meals are not about having a big kitchen or lots of gadgets.
Consider the components of the “kitchen-in-a-box” in the picture. Before first moving into this townhouse I had purchased a collection similar to this from Target. If I remember correctly it had about 50 pieces in total. It even had things like a paper towel holder, S&P shakers and plastic storage containers. Basically it had just what I needed – and nothing I didn’t. It worked really well.
So where did all this other stuff come from???
Looking around our kitchen we generally use the same three pans for most of our cooking: a small sauce pan, a 2 qt. soup pan, a 3 qt. pan for cooking pasta, a saute pan and a larger fry pan. I also use my blue & white soup pot. That’s it. Other pots and pans are rarely, if ever, used. So why not pass them along to someone who needs them? So we did.
Next we donated the toaster, food processor, mixer and other small electrics that we didn’t use or used rarely. We do have a hand blender, coffee grinder, coffee maker and hand mixer (which may be the next to go).
Knives & utensils are the same story. Too many that are never used. They are simply taking up space — which we don’t have. Others can use them. Three stainless cylinders on the counter by the stove hold utensils we use now. Still too many though. . .
Lastly, it would be nice to display beautiful items that we use everyday. Currently I do keep my white low bowls on my counter in an unused corner. Silverware too.
But what about awkward pots and pans? They suck cabinet space. My wish: store them in a way that is both space saving and attractive. Is it possible to achieve both??? Find out in my next post.
You may also like The Richness of Simplicity and Simplify, Simplify, Simplify.
