User-Friendly Kitchen Counters
25 April 2009 by Jean Johnson
This post is for one of the women at the last cooking class I did. I was talking about how much it streamlines cooking when you keep things you use a lot out handy. She wanted to know what was out on my counter.
Well, here it is–at least this is how it looked at one point not long ago by the looks of the unheaded cabbage from the garden that I was getting ready to flash cook.
Mainly there’s a bunch of vinegars and even a wedge of lime left from the last go round. Beyond that in the fun yellow dish is salt, red chile pepper in the green depression glass, a black pepper mill, cinnamon and a pretty spoon in the orange pot, soda in the tiny powder blue dish, and whole nutmeg in the white dish with the piano score. Oftentimes there are bouquets of fresh herbs too–big ones of parsley and cilantro when I get those herbs store bought and a small one of mixed herbs from my garden, the various sprigs of summer savory, mint, thyme, rosemary, and sage each clamoring to be chosen. There’s usually a bottle of good oil sitting there as well to complete what are essentially the components for making vegetables taste good–whether you’re dressing a cold salad or dolling up a soup or warm salad.
This is just my scene at the moment, though. You can count on it to change as I get on a roll with this and that. Sometimes the dry mustard will come out of the cupboard and take a handy place. Other times there might be a bottle of fish sauce lurking about–since after being in Thailand I discovered how fabulous a conservative squirt of this anchovy elixir makes so many dishes, Thai or not, taste. Then again, sometimes the spices aren’t around at all when I switch into a mode of working mainly with the classic quartet our grandmothers understood so very very well: oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.
Having things out handy. It doesn’t take much. You get to be an artist if you want and stash your bits and bobs in pretty vessels. Mostly, though, when it comes time to cook, things are at the ready and you’ll find yourself less inclined to grab bottles of prefab dressings and sauces. As my accordian-playing grandmother from Norway used to say, “Here’s hoping…”
10 Responses to “User-Friendly Kitchen Counters”
Here’s a comment Carola sent:
I love these photos of your kitchen counters. I love photos of almost any kitchen. They say so much….
We just returned from DC and one of my very favorite things was…. of course…. Julia Child’s kitchen at the Smithsonian.
By Jean Johnson on Apr 26, 2009
Same here, Carola. Kitchens are the best.
By Jean Johnson on Apr 26, 2009
And a note from Margy, a swimmer and felter:
As usual a fab blog…
By Jean Johnson on Apr 30, 2009
Jean, you are an inspiration“:)
~ you lift my spirits and it is a joy reading, viewing and listening to all you do.
Brenda
By Brenda Harmon on Jan 8, 2011
your comment makes for happy-happy here too, Brenda–have you looked at my books yet? –sounds as though you’d appreciate them–perhaps your public library or amazon or here on the books page if a signed copy sings to you
By Jean Johnson on Jan 10, 2011
Jean, you’re the tops!! Thanks for sharing so much of yourself, with the rest of us, so we can learn from you. Love ya~ Andrea xoxo
By Andrea on Mar 24, 2011
I love your user friendly kitchen, Jean. Gives me some great ideas for repurposing my own counters.
By Lindy Barnes on Mar 24, 2011
The inspiration I felt from the functional beauty of your kitchen is exactly the kind of thing that helped me get over “the hump” in transitioning my kitchen from a typical pile-heating-up pit stop to a scratch kitchen/art studio. Seems so simple, yet I never got it without your help. You’re right, makes all the difference in the world. Thanks, Jean.
By Jenny on Mar 25, 2011
Rock & roll, Jenny. It’s true: the cook counts too!
By Jean Johnson on Mar 26, 2011
And the cook gets to count in this scenario. She goes from being a mere technician following orders to someone who is empowered and directing the show.
By Jean Johnson on May 16, 2011