Discussion Board

DH and I are moving across country in 12 short weeks. So, we are packing like fiends, getting rid of STUFF we don't need/want, etc., prepping the house for sale and making it look the way I always wanted to, lol.

We are making swift progress and only two rooms left to go: the utility room (easy), and the kitchen (GAH). I. have. so. much. stuff. I'm looking at this as a perfect opportunity to really simplify my food prep and cooking for the next 12 weeks.

So, I ask: what do you think would be the BARE MINIMUM to prepare fast meals that require little prep? I have my thoughts, but I'd like to see how you folks would do it.

I am packing all of my appliances, so no food processor, etc., will be available.

This is an exciting opportunity to also make a plethora of Jeff's simple meals (see his FB page).

Thanks for y'alls input!

Well for me it would have to be my steamer and my deep frying pan with lid, (but of course it do not 'fry' ie use oil). If I have these I would be fine.

Sue X

Nomikins,

You are not my daughter are you? She lives in NC and I would love for her to move to the west coast where I am. What a surprise that would be. Please please tell me you are her!

She does McDougall but I really don't think she is moving this way. Drat!

Linda (Mom lonesome for daughter's hugs)

I would need:
one-quart pot with lid,
2 2-quart pots with lid,
large flat non-stick-type "frying" pan with lid,
1- and 2-quart glass (corning/pyres) casseroles with covers (for microwaving and other stuff),
Pyrex measuring cups, 1- 2- 4 and 4-cup
measuring spoons,
Spatulas: one metal for metal pans, one non-stick, and the soft one for clearing out bowls,
Large spoon that would work for both stirring the pot and serving out,
Ladle,
4 to 6 good sharp knives of the sizes you use,
cutting board large enough for your needs,
microwave,
toaster.

I closed my eyes and pictured myself moving about the kitchen doing what I need to do each day, and that about encompasses everything I need. Of course, just like you, I have a TON of stuff that we will deal with whenever we move!!

I use my slow cooker and my rice cooker every day. I cook rice and other grains in the rice cooker, and I also steam up all my veggies in it. I could easily get along on just those two, and rarely use anything else to cook in. Then I'd supplement those two with a good knife, a cutting board, my tongs, my cup measure, and my silicon pot holders. I would also have to include the bowls and utensils I like to use to eat my home meals, and the no-leak hard plastic containers that I pack up my food for work in, and some mugs.

But for you, why don't you think about what you use all the time? Make a list of what you've used in the past two weeks. Think about what's in the sink to clean after you've finished your meal to make sure you're not overlooking something. If there's something on that list that you don't use most of the time, but just used to made a special meal once, then leave that out. Otherwise bring what's on that list.

Good luck with your move! It's the perfect time to downsize and let go of stuff that you hardly ever use - don't even bring it to your new home.

I have a lot of cooking stuff, but I could probably just get by with a big glass bowl, saran wrap, a small microwave, and a large spoon.

I buy bags of lots of types of frozen veggies, as well as rice, potatoes, and veggies. I pretty much just steam and cook in the microwave all those things. I have been using a large pot with a cover for cooking my rice, but that could be done in the micro too.

Good luck! My house is on the market, too, and i've packed everything I don't really need. It's amazing what is not necessities.

Pots & pans, cutting board, knife.
Measuring cups & spoons, can opener, scissors, spoon, ladle, spatula.
Smallest spice grinder & food processor possible, stick blender
Colander

Prep: cutting board, knives, vegetable peeler, "potato" brush, can opener, measuring spoons and cups, colander, grater. Optional, one empty Kirin Ichiban bottle for "beer bottle hummus".
Cooking: big ol' (lidded) soup pot (soup, stew, chili, SNAPs), medium sized (lidded) saucepan (oatmeal, rice, quinoa, couscous, bulgur and heating leftovers), stir-fry pan, wooden spoons, heat safe spatula, ladle, steamer basket insert.
Serving: 2 plates, 2 large, 2 small bowls, cutlery, 2 glasses.
Storage: containers suitable for storing and microwaving (assuming it's staying in place) leftovers so you don't have to cook daily.
Later: whatever you need to keep you where you want to be on moving/traveling day(s), such as a cooler for the car or whatever you take on the airplane.
Because: the address of your local Sweet Tomatoes for the times you just don't want to bother
A wish: that your house sells as easily as ours did.
Oh, yeah, and food.

Thanks for the input, everyone!

Cutting board, knives, utensils, can opener, measuring cups/spoons, spatula, ladle, tongs, vegetable peeler, colander, nonstick saute pan, three sizes of pots, salad spinner, storage containers (probably too many, need to pack up about half), plates, bowls, cups, mugs, a few pyrex glass cookware items. Oh, my rice cooker, which is also a steamer and slow cooker. Very handy. The toaster oven and microwave are still in action, too.

I got the kitchen pretty much cleared out yesterday. My spices, etc., are in baskets, put away in a hoosier type cabinet to help showcase the clean, storage ready cabinets. I have the big coffee/tea cupboard to go through in order to finish the job.

For a small kitchen, it took me ALL day, into the evening to get it cleared out. I still have to do the top of the cabinets with the decor items!