New Toys

 I had originally titled this Adult Toys, but then decided that could be terribly misconstrued.  Instead I am just going to say that what you like playing with as a kid is completely different from what sets you over the moon as an adult.

I purchased a few things in the last week or two that I never knew I needed (Thanks Amazon Prime Day) Now I am not sure why it took me so long to get them.

I have always been an ardent gas cooktop type of gal. I love the instant heat and the ability to do some really quick stovetop meals I would even guess that about 75%  of our meals are cooked that way.

I bought an induction cooktop to take to Independence Place when we do some of the cooking classes. I do have a portable butane stove I could use, but thought the induction cooktop with no open flame would be much safer.

Because I had never done induction cooking before, I decided I would set it on the countertop and give it a whirl before I used it with them. It is nicer to know how something works before teaching others how to use it. 

What can I say__I am hooked. I had no idea how fast and how cool (temperature-wise) cooking could be. Let's just say it has not been off the counter, and I have used it every single day.  All of my cast iron works with it, but I did have to buy a very inexpensive set of stainless steel. My existing pots and pans were stainless, with aluminum clad bottoms which will not work on the induction top. Evidently the rule is if a magnet sticks to the pan bottom it will work with induction cooking. I didn't know that.

Another gadget for kitchen clean up is a dish detergent dispenser. When we were in Palm Springs the house we were staying in had one and until then not only did I not know they existed.  I also did not know how badly I needed one. 

I am able to keep it by the sink so I have detergent available with just one tap. I also now have a designated place for my dish sponge to sit. (And yes I wash my sponge in the dishwasher every time I run it, but I am not afraid of living a little dangerously using a sponge for things I hand wash)

I liked it so much I bought an additional one and gave it to My Beloved Sister. Until she used it she did not know how badly she had needed it either.

Then there was a third item I bought to help me organize underneath the kitchen sink. It was not something I really needed but it surely has help me access the most often used cleaning supplies.

I bought mine through Amazon for much less than it is listed here and I will say there was no way I would pay this much for it. I bought it for less than half this price. Under sink storage shelves  were not a glamorous purchase, but it really did make a difference when I cleaned out beneath the sink last night.

If you have found something new to you that rocks your everyday life, tell me about it. Who knows what else is out there that I never realized I needed.