You can have only 2 kitchen utensils. Which do you choose?

I was cooking last night and it occurred to me (not sure why) that I use two particular utensils much, much more than others. This then had me thinking, in a general train of thought, if I was going to be washed up on a dessert island and could only have 2 utensils, which ones would they be?

The obvious one is the knife. Generally always needed and most utilised in the kitchen. One, well, cuts with it. Mince, dice, sliver, chops… a good knife does all these things. And I also use the side of the blade to crush, such as garlic.

I have a vintage Henkel steel knife that is my go to knife for everything cutting. It was Pumpjack’s birthday present to me a couple years ago, that has now started a birthday tradition. (And for those who subscribe to the concept that you should never give a knife as a gift, like Pumpjack, I did give him a penny for it just to be on the safe side as I did so want a knife.)

And why is it my go to, take to a dessert island, knife? It’s carbon steel, as opposed to stainless steel. It rusts, hence why knives these days are not made out of it, but it also is very very easy to sharpen. And a sharp knife is beauteous thing to work with in the kitchen.

So the easy choice is the knife, but what of the other choice? I’ve been thinking about this for awhile. Again, no idea why, as I have no intent to be marooned on a dessert island in the foreseeable future with two implements. I think it is more about minimalist living. I believe in homesteading, self sufficiency and old stuff. Combine these… and I come up with why I can only chose 2 utensils. (Well, the thought process worked for me.)

So, the other utensil I decided would be tongs. Yup, tongs. Not a spoon, I can use the tongs to stir. Not a fork, I can use the tongs to grab. Okay maybe whisk action would be pretty tricky, but I generally find myself using my tongs when the knife doesn’t, well, cut it. (Sorry, I just had to say it.)

What would your two be?

Our Stairs were designed to catch out advancing Knights with swords drawn

If you have ever visited a castle you may have heard the reasoning that a staircase curved upward clockwise to hinder an advancing enemy, who, normally right handed, would have his drawn sword consequently on the inner side of the stairwell as he climbed, whilst the defender would be free to advance down with his sword extended.

Why am I thinking about this? It’s our stairs. They are wonky. I mean really wonky. Our petite maison is very old, probably about 1600s. We think. And whoever built it, either didn’t have a clue about how to build stairs or was seriously out to put off advancing rogues.

Birthdays are meant to be celebrated

It’s been a busy week this past week, as my birthday was amongst it. And as I get older, the longer I like to celebrate my special day. After all, it is my own personal day, one where I can get away with more than normal.

This year I was lucky enough to do a special something each day of the week surrounding my day. It wasn’t possible for it to be a full day each day, but then I discovered, it made my activities all the more memorable and appreciated.

A little franglais goes a long way. Stereotypes and misconceptions of France.

We recently had people visit, visitors who hadn’t been to France in years, and when they had been it was always Paris. This was their first trip to the countryside of France. And they couldn’t get over the difference. The French were actually friendly, and helpful!

Parents ~ I blame everything on them

A blog is most successful (I gather) when written regularly. So today I join a select collection of bloggers who write their apologies for having been absent from writing for awhile. But I have a good excuse. Honest. It wasn’t just laziness or even being too busy. In fact, I can blame everything on my parents.

Point of Perspicacity – That waking at 4am frustration

Throughout my life I have had mornings, early mornings, when I found myself awake and tossing and turning at 4am (or thereabouts). I used to lie awake and get so frustrated because  I wanted to be asleep. It always seemed the more I wanted to be asleep, the more wide awake I would become, until finally as dawn would break I would fall asleep ~ only to be woken a short time later by an alarm clock, feeling groggy and all out of sorts for the rest of the day.

But no more.

Point of Perspicacity – wonderful words

Perspicacity [pur-spi-kas-i-tee]
noun
Keenness of mental perception and understanding; a penetrating discernment—a clarity of vision which provides insight.

I think I was 4 when I had my first point of perspicacity, and it all had to do with the word Mother.  It was the day I realised, and felt proud, that I was able to spell a ‘big’ word.

Point of Perspicacity – Itchy Soap

If you find you itch after a shower, particularly if you take a shower before going to bed, and particularly if its your shins that itch – change your soap.  I discovered that most soaps contain sodium in them (e.g. salt) of various forms; sodium palmate, sodium tallowate, sodium cocoate…  Next time you buy soap, look for a soap without ‘sodium x’.

Hint: if it is proving difficult to find a soap without sodium, even amongst the expensive, organic and ‘healthy’ soaps, search predominantly amongst goat’s milk. It’s about the only place I have found soaps without salt.

If you fancy having a go at making your own; Little House Living offers clear instructions on making your own soap.

Point of Perspicacity – In My Opinion

Opinions are dangerous things. They mean you aren’t willing to listen to others, they are very often formed as part of a bandwagon effect, and they can lead to amazing levels of anger and violence. ~ But then, that’s my opinion.

Point of Perspicacity – Mothers are Always Right

My Mum has always said, “The more sleep you get before midnight, the better rested one feels.” Mothers are always right.