A new start

[Wahine]

I'm about to embark on an adventure at 38 years old that many of you went through at a much younger age. I will be living in my very own place!! Exciting and a bit intimidating at the same time. I was in a relationship for 17 years with a man who was 26 years my senior. So I never really went through the "establishing my own space" phase. I basically moved in with him, he had all the stuff you need and I never really had authority in the relationship to make decisions about house and home. That's not what this thread is about, I'm over it. What it is about is...

I would like to hear from you bright ladies of TE the things that you have in your life that you could not do without. That one item that is a functional pillar in your day to day life. I want to set my new place up minimally. The goal is to keep the clutter down. So I'm looking for advice on things like... would you get a toaster oven? My place has a stove, I don't use microwaves, so I was thinking I'd start searching garage sales for toaster ovens.

I have very little. A bed, a dresser and a bookshelf is the extent of the furniture. I have pots, pans, utensils, dishes, a little cookware, towels and a couple of floor lamps. That pretty much sums it up.

Thanks for your input!!

[Tri Girl]

The one thing that I can't live without is my single coffee cup brewer. I don't use it for coffee, but for hot tea and hot cocoa. It makes boiling water in about a minute or two. I use it almost every day. Of course, they DO make pots for boiling water, but that takes too long in the morning. ;)

I do love my toaster oven. I use it more than the real oven.

That's so exciting for you!! I hope you enjoy having your own space and all the freedom that comes with it. :)

[Blueberry]

I wouldn't want to do without:

My Convection Oven Toaster Oven (used for everything from toasting bread to roasting a whole chicken)

My fuzzy logic rice cooker (soup, oatmeal, quinoa, and of course, rice)

My water boiler - I actually like it better than the one cups. It's fast, and has multiple temperature settings. Nice for tea, oatmeal, french press coffee, adding more water to soups, etc., etc.

Congratulations!!

[surgtech1956]

My coffee maker, my rice cooker, my microwave, my electric skillet, slow cooker, electric blanket and heated throw. Enjoy your new surroundings and freedom.

[Tuckervill]

I wouldn't buy a toaster oven. A toaster oven is clutter when you have a perfectly good oven that does everything at toaster oven does. Living simply, I think, means making do with what you have. You have an oven. Make do. :)

I'm guessing you have been using a toaster oven at your last place, and that's why it even came up at all? If you want one, get one, but I wouldn't rush it. You might find that you don't need it.

I think whatever you end up missing after a few weeks on your own will be the things you want to buy.

I'm kinda jealous. But, I'm in that "almost done with childrearing" stage, and I've never ever lived on my own (without kids).

Karen

[lunacycles]

a good quality toaster/convection oven preheats much faster and saves a LOT of energy over a conventional oven. But, one should emphasize "good quality." There are a lot of really crappy toaster ovens out there that don't do anything well. If you go with a toaster oven, get a good one. I have an Avanti Elite (I can't remember but probably cost me like $150), and I use it 100 times as much as my conventional oven (which I rarely use...maybe for a turkey??).

an electric kettle (again, good quality is a must) is also essential, imo.

[Cataboo]

I have a toaster oven, but not a toaster.

Yes, it's kinda redundant when I have an oven, but... I use it for things that I don't want to heat up an entire oven for. Put pieces of bread in, bake a potato, bake a butternut squash, heat up stuff... I think it uses less energy/electricity because I'm heating up a smaller area, but I could be wrong.

I don't have a coffee maker, I do have a cappucino/expresso machine - because I can make single portions and I like cappucino better than coffee anyways. I do have one of those electric kettles to boil water for tea, or half the time just use it to boil water for couscous or whatever. Rice is a dietary staple, so I have a rice maker & that steams vegetables too.

I guess I could do all that on a stove... but...

[Zen]

Dogs, a desk, a good chair and lamp for reading.

I don't much care for kitchen gadgets except for a toaster.
On the rare occasion I make coffee at home it's ground coffee in a filter in a tea strainer then. hot water poured over

[Biciclista]

i've had a toaster oven for years, since you asked. The oven uses a lot of energy, the toaster oven doesn't. if you want to bake 1 potato, it seems silly to heat up the whole oven.

[Becky]

Definitely the toaster oven! It's great during the summer when I need to bake or broil something, but don't want to heat up the whole house. Also, a good coffee pot, and a cast iron grill pan/griddle.

[withm]

When you live alone, you are cooking small quantities - a toaster oven is a must have in my opinion. I have never owned a toaster. But as Alton Brown counsels, an appliance should have multiple uses.

I use my toaster oven almost every day for something or other. Roasted vegies. Nuke a potato, then 10 min in the toaster oven to dry it up a bit. Heat up leftovers. Microwave is good, but some things go better in the toaster oven. Bake 4 cookies (if you have cookie dough in the freezer, already formed into balls). Make a toasted sandwich. And of course it's good for plain old toast, including bagels. A toaster can only make toast and may not be able to handle bagels. A big oven takes a long time to heat up, and uses tons more elecltricity to do so. For me it's a no brainer.

[Tuckervill]

My experience with toaster ovens is the inexpensive kind. I think I could get into a convection toaster oven, though. Didn't even know they made those!

I can't do without my microwave. Well, I could, but it would change everything. But then, I haven't cooked a meal for only one person in 27 years!

Karen

[Lise]

Crock Pot. Cookbook: Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook. It will teach you all the basics of cooking with a crock, and has great recipes.

Seriously. You can put food in there and let it cook all day or all night. You can make a lot and freeze some in single portions, and come home to dinner all made for you. Uses very little energy, space, time, or even skill.

Tonight I'm making a Hot Fudge Spoon Cake in the crock pot, and that recipe alone is reason enough to buy both crock and cookbook. :D
................
A sofa of some sort. Don't skimp here. I went cheap with every sofa I ever bought. You want to be able to read on it, sit and laugh or cry with a friend, and offer it to a loved one who needs to spend the night. I got rid of my last cheap sofa when I moved in with my husband. We love/hate his sofa - it's ugly, but it has two recliner sections, which have been invaluable as I've had two foot surgeries since meeting him. Several family members have slept here while visiting us, and my stepdaughter's college friends have crashed here. A good, big sofa is worth it.

Congrats and welcome to your new adventure. All best wishes.

[AllezGirl]

Wustoff 7" Santoku knife. My bf bought me one for Christmas...probably because he was tired of using my crappy one :rolleyes:...I don't know how I managed before.

[Veronica]

Do you have the counter space for a toaster oven? We don't, so we don't have one. :D

Veronica

[MartianDestiny]

As far as household stuff there are two things that make me happy every time I use them:
1) a GOOD set of knifes (even just 2, a chef's and a paring). Something nice that can be resharpened, hold an edge, and get really sharp. Personally I have Wustoff (and get a new one every Christmas from my wonderful step-mom :D)

2) Salt and Pepper grinders. I can't believe how much better things taste with fresh salt and pepper, and if you can get them in bulk it's no more expensive than the pre-ground stuff.

If you aren't a microwave person, yes, a toaster oven would be a good investment for heating up leftovers (you'll have a lot of them as a single person if you cook. I cook 2-3 times a week and eat leftovers pretty much the rest of the time).

Other than that (and slightly, but not totally, irrelevant) my dog! Seriously, can't live without her, for many reasons. Not the least of which is that she makes me less edgy when I'm alone (I jump at every little noise at night when I'm alone, but not so much with her around).

[Wahine]

This is exactly the kind of feed back I was hoping for.

I don't use a microwave and that's why I was thinking toaster oven. I have plenty of counter space for it. My new kitchen is one of the only things about my new place that can be labeled as spacious. I have lots of cupboards too. I haven't had a toaster oven since I was a kid. But I remember it being pretty handy. I'm definitely going to look for a convection toaster oven. Great idea.

Good idea on the cast iron! I think I may even be able to get some cast iron cookware from a friend that is high quality but he doesn't use it anymore.

Good knives are essential and I hadn't thought of that.

Salt and pepper grinders - yes definitely.

Lise - I actually have that cookbook and the crock was one of the only things I took with me when I left.:D:D I couldn't live without mine. As for the sofa, that gets to be the decision of the new BF if and when he moves in. The living room is his turf. The kitchen is mine. I have a feeling that he'll get exactly the kind of sofa you're talking about though.:D:D

Good suggestions on kettles and coffee solutions. I don't usually make coffee for myself at home but I do often have guests and I should have a way to make it.

Rice cooker - I'll have to think about that one. It may not be essential for me.

Dog - I wish. The dog issue was actually one of the things that made me realize I had to leave my previous relationship. I can't have a dog right now, I don't have enough time for one... but I will one day.:)

[OakLeaf]

+1 on the toaster oven, if you have room for one. You don't want to heat up the whole oven for one bulb of garlic. I don't have a toaster oven here and consequently I hardly ever roast garlic. :(:(

Rice cooker... it's really, really nice to have, but honestly, I could do without it if I had to. I cooked rice on the stovetop and/or pressure cooker for decades... A cooker means you don't have to worry about your grain while you're cooking the rest of the meal. Or you could put porridge in overnight and have it done in the morning. But it uses space on either the counter or under-counter cabinet, it's expensive, and it's just one more thing.

Absolutely necessary: One good 6" or 8" chef's knife (your preference) and one good paring knife, and a steel. Sharpening gear and other knives are optional, although I highly recommend a jig if you plan to try to sharpen them at home.

I love my electric kettles, but I'm still searching for the one I really want. The only ones that incorporate a "thermos" all seem to boil the water first, then let it cool down to your desired temperature. Which takes forever, for one thing, and also, boiling the water at all defeats half the purpose. Right now I'm making do with a basic electric kettle plus separate thermal dispenser.

If you're a wine drinker, you won't regret a nice heavy self-centering corkscrew.

What about laundry accessories? Now that I'm flush with wool, I need another flat drying rack, but I haven't been able to find one... been looking for over a year! Expandable rail-racks are everywhere, flat racks I just can't find.

Pressure cooker, and one of Lorna Sass's great pressure cooker cookbooks.

[Wahine]

Oak - I have a really nice expandable rail rack with a mesh topper on it for the wool. I got it at Fred Meyers. It's still really only big enough for one large piece of wool like a jersey.

[Becky]

2) Salt and Pepper grinders. I can't believe how much better things taste with fresh salt and pepper, and if you can get them in bulk it's no more expensive than the pre-ground stuff.

Oh, most definitely! This one (http://www.coleandmason.com/products/detail2.asp?ID=175) is my favorite!

[smilingcat]

I like Zen's answer, desk, a chair ...

A small table or coffee table. A small table can do double duty as a desk...

Looking back when I started out: bed, coffee table, couch, small table in the kitchen area and a chair to go with. No toaster oven nor microwave at the time. Those came later. Hodge podge collection of plates bowls, mugs, cups and silverware. Oh and a radio.

[Flybye]

I love my Pampered Chef garlic press and my portable space heater and we are the same age, so that should be all that you need :p;)

[bmccasland]

Two complete sets of towels, two sets of sheets. You'll want to strip your bed and remake it, not have to wash the same sheets. Depending on where you live, some kind of vacuum, and get something with good suction.

A good saucepan with lid. I swear I use one size pot most of the time. Some of those "wedding gift" sets are actually pretty good on getting you a soup pot, skillet, and sauce pot. But if you have time, go looking in flea markets and antique shops for cast iron.

Ditto on the cumfy chair, side table, and lamp. My first place, post divorce wasn't much, or well furnished, but I did have exactly that set-up, and it looked nice. Slowly added to it.

I got folding book cases (3 or 4 shelf, hard wood) at Cost Plus World Market. Very useful. I'm not sure if they still have them, or other places (Pier One, Target).

Happy New Home!

[Wahine]

I love my Pampered Chef garlic press and my portable space heater and we are the same age, so that should be all that you need :p;)

I used to have a Pampered Chef garlic press. :(

[NbyNW]

Congrats and best wishes on moving into this new phase! Sounds like you're in a really positive state of mind about it.

Your toaster oven question reminded me of a funny thing my DH said once -- the first time we moved into an apartment that didn't have a built-in microwave over the stove: "Now we can get that toaster oven we always wanted!"

My recommendation: lots of single-portion tupperware (or whatever brand) -- then you can make a lasagna or big pot of stew and make single-size portions for lunch later in the week, or freeze them so that you're not eating the same thing all week.

Some basic tools are nice to have if you're a DIY'er. Hammer, drill, wrenches, etc.

It's great that you want to keep things simple. But another thing you might want to do is allow yourself one or two things that help the new place to feel like home. It's different for everyone. For me, I like to have plants around. I find myself compulsively buying new plants every time I move, even though it's a time to be getting rid of stuff.

Good luck!

[withm]

You don't say if you have house/condo/apt - or how big the space is.

Having just started outfitting a brand new house where all the previous possessions were lost in a fire (along with the house), it's amazing how much stuff you will want that you never thought about. We take so much for granted.

Comfortable furniture - place to read (chairs, couch), work (desk), watch TV, entertain friends - couch, chairs, tables, rugs, curtains/blinds. Bookshelves. Exercise equipment. Bed(s), bedding, blankets, quilts, towels, shower curtain, bath rugs. Dresser, chair for BR. Artwork? Pictures. Alarm clocks. TV, stereo,telephones. Mirrors, lamps for LR and BR. Kitchen and/or Dining tables, chairs, sideboard, china cabinet? Rugs. Kitchen equipment - dishes and serving dishes, salad bowl, pots and pans, skillets, baking equipment - cookie sheets, muffin pan, roasting pan, dish drainer. Whisks, knives, bowls, wooden spoons, can opener, wine opener, knife sharpener, chopsticks, measuring cups (dry and liquid), colanders. Appliances? Coffee maker, toaster oven, mixer, blender, food processor. Obviously this list can go on for a long time.

Basic hand tools - hammer, screwdriver, pliers for basic stuff, more as you need. I'd highly recommend a 2-step step stool or small step ladder.

Think about the things you like to cook, make a list of the implements needed to do so, and let the shopping begin. Somewhere I have a spreadsheet of the things we were buying for the new house - if you think it would be useful PM me and I'll try to find it for you.

[Wahine]

Thanks again.

Withm - The place I'm moving into is 1000 square feet. The kitchen is generous and that's what's most important to me. The rest I can collect as I need it. Mostly, i just want to start out with a kitchen that I can function well in since my life pretty much consists of work, training, eating and sleeping. Work... well work takes care of that, training... pretty much all set there, eating... working on it, sleeping I'm good except that I'll need a couple of more pillows.

I love your suggestion of making a list of the things that I need to make my favorite meals, that's a fantastic idea.

No need for a TV, haven't had one in years, don't miss it and don't want one. Eventually I will need a comfy chair and couch but those can wait. Meanwhile, I'll read in bed.

Thanks again to everyone for your suggestions. It does help.

[KnottedYet]

Kitchen: a Revere Ware saucepan with lid, a steamer basket (to fit in the Revere Ware), cast iron one serving skillet, cast iron griddle, Chicago Cutlery cleaver ($14, and i use it for everything!), paring knife, vege peeler, Zyliss garlic press, French Press coffee maker, stove top kettle, stock pot with lid, bamboo cutting board.

I don't have a microwave nor toaster, but I do have a toaster oven which I use quite a lot.

I don't have a TV either, but a radio/CD player with speakers to spread the sound is awfully nice to have.

Rocking chair... how would I manage without my rocking chair? I had the rocking chair before the couch.

Shredder.

S'Knot, the dog, and I live in a 900 sq ft apartment; and I find that having less stuff is better. Too much doesn't seem to make my life any richer, just more cluttered. It doesn't help that I'm terribly disorganized...

[tc1]

The dog, the guitar. For kitchen, a cast iron fry pan, a nonstick frying pan, and a big saucepan for doing pasta/rice/whatever. A good paring knife, and a good chef's knife. I have a toaster oven but never use it cause it is too much work to clear the bread, etc off the top.

And at least 4 stacking laundry baskets-every place I have lived, I always started out with one and bought more.

[colby]

This year, we bought an olive oil pourer and it's been nice to have. We can buy a jug of olive oil, put it in the dark where it wants to be, and use smaller quanties easier.

We also got some flexible cutting board mats - so you can chop and dump into a bowl/pan easier.

We use our Circulon Omelet pan for a lot more than just omelets, it's a nice shape and size. And, for everyday pans, we got some that have strainers built in to the lids - handy to not have to get out the colander all the time for pasta or other things that need to be drained/strained and returned to the pan.

A little toaster oven sounds like an awesome idea. We don't have one here, but my brother loves those little pizzas and I think we might invest in one to save energy.

Freezer space for leftovers, nice tupperware or other freezer storage. :)

[Bruno28]

I have recently found a ukulele to be indispensable.

[Wahine]

BRUNO!!! The new BF was just in Scotland for the Strathpuffer. Flew into Edinburgh and drove up to the race from there. Are you still in Scotland? Or Calgary? Or otherwise!! BTW a ukelele is a fabulous idea.

[OakLeaf]

Oh! Stick blender. The kind with the interchangeable business end, so you have a stick blender, shake mixer and mini chopper/spice grinder.

The only thing I ever use my full-sized food processor for is chickpeas - hummus and falafel. But I consider hummus to be indispensable.

[Zen]

I would love to learn how to play the ukulele. A drum or bongos would be good too.

[Catrin]

Music....music...instruments if you play...music. It is good for the soul, for sure.

While others like cast iron cookware, I swear by my stainless steel Belgique cookware. It isn't extremely expensive (though still over $100 for a set) as far as stainless steel goes, but I love it.

+1 on the comfy places to sit and read, listen to music... What about bike storage/place to clean/work on it? I am still working on this myself as my bike lives in the living room.

[Trek420]

Bruno! how're ya doin?

Misc essential: books, books, books, and a rocking chair to read them in.

pictures and framed art. Scrapbooks. file cabinet and lots of file folders.

Kitchen: I now loooove French press coffee makers. Wooden bowl/s with curved chopping knives (for nuts and stuff), along with nice knives you'll need a sharpening steel or two.

I think as long as there's books, art, counter space to chop and dice food .... I'm good. Oh, and laundry baskets.

Have fun. Do a shopping trip with friends, find a local consignment, antique store, go flea market shopping for cast iron.

I think we need a tradition of "break up showers" :o :rolleyes: These days when people marry/move in together it's later in life, many or most of us have the essentials and the process goes something like this: "Your Rubber Soul album is in better shape than my Rubber Soul album, I'll donate mine, my tupperware collection is better, we'll keep mine ..... what are we gonna do with two rocking chairs? ..."

[withm]

2-qt Le Crueset French Oven. I use mine 3-4 times a week. It's perfect for one person.

[tulip]

Wahine, I'm on the same journey. I live in my very own (!) 900 SF house. The kitchen things I have are few but essential.

one larger Le Creuset enamled cast iron pot with lid. I use this for baking bread, making soup, boiling water for pasta.One medium saucepan with lid. Mine's a hand-me-down, but it works fine. One small cast iron skillet. I would like to have a smaller saucepan with a lid--its on the list.

Appliances that I find really useful are: rice cooker (mine's smaller and was only $20 or so) because I do love rice. Toaster. Slow cooker (a smaller one)---I use this mainly for cooking lasagne that I then freeze in serving sizes and heat up.

Glasses--wine tastes better in decent wine glasses. It really does. Coffee cups that I LIKE, not a bunch of mugs that I find ugly! I have a teapot fetish, so I have alot of teapots. I drink tea, not coffee.

I also have 4 dinner plates, 4 small plates, 6 bowls. And I never have enough dishtowels, somehow. Two mixing bowls. I do not have an electric mixer--I get along fine with a hand mixer.

I have lots of cabinet space, and so put everything in cabinets, including the toaster, when I'm not using it. Keep the clutter off the counter!

I did buy myself a sofa that I like, so that I can read comfortably and take a nap. I do not have a TV. My stereo is my iphone run through an old boombox for speakers. Works great.

I've found that having fewer things frees up my space and makes me happier.

Best wishes to you.

[limewave]

What I couldn't live without when I had my own DIVINE apartment (I still miss that place):

1) A really good skillet. I made a lot of stir-fry and one pan meals out of convenience.

2) Single-serving tupperware (to divvy up the stir-fry)

3) 4-cup coffee maker.

4) Toaster Oven

5) Heavy bag & boxing gloves (There was no one to vent to about a bad day when I got home, so I'd hit the heavy bag) It was great therapy.

[mhami]

I'm going to second the electric blanket. :)

[arielmoon]

1) My electric steamer! I put spaghetti squash in it last night. NOM NOM!

2) Pyrex storage containers in various sizes and shapes. I dont use plastic for food.

[GLC1968]

I agree that a convection toaster oven is a must have. That, my blender (a good blender is awesome and will stand in for a mixer in many cases), my coffee maker (with thermal carafe), quality knives and my wine glasses are the essentials.

I do use the microwave a lot, but I could do without it. I also have a nice stainless kettle that boils water in no time flat, but again, it's a nice to have. Same for the slow cooker - I have one, use it occastionally...but most of my slow cooking items are easily made on the stove on the weekends.

I have never owned a rice cooker and I can't believe that others consider it an essential - very interesting!

Another item to consider - if you already have an ipod, get a docking station with speakers. It's wonderful to have music as background noise when cooking, cleaning or reading. :)

[Becky]

I will never buy another coffee pot without a thermal carafe! It is so nice to have hot, unburnt coffee for several hours, and to not have to worry about whether or not I left the coffee pot on.

I love my slow cooker too. Arriving home to a nearly-finished meal is so relaxing.

[ny biker]

I think we need a tradition of "break up showers" :o :rolleyes: These days when people marry/move in together it's later in life, many or most of us have the essentials and the process goes something like this: "Your Rubber Soul album is in better shape than my Rubber Soul album, I'll donate mine, my tupperware collection is better, we'll keep mine ..... what are we gonna do with two rocking chairs? ..."

Personally I've always thought there should be college graduation showers. That's when I established a home on my own. It took years for me to obtain decent glasses, dishes, silverware, towels, sheets, etc.

[Bruno28]

BRUNO!!! The new BF was just in Scotland for the Strathpuffer. Flew into Edinburgh and drove up to the race from there. Are you still in Scotland? Or Calgary? Or otherwise!! BTW a ukelele is a fabulous idea.

I am in Scotland and Calgary (but not simultaneously, obviously)

I hope the bf found Scotland to his liking.

Oh, and I forgot to suggest Drambuie - but I'm sure you have that covered already.

Zen The uke is a skoosh to learn. Lots of resources on the interweb.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Skoosh: Noun: (also scoosh, possibly even squouche, who knows?)
1. fizzy pop (see ginger), carbonated soft drink
2. something very easy, simple pimple.
Example: 1. Gies a slug ay yer skoosh, ya stingy aul bugger, ye!
2. At wis dead easy! A pure skoosh!

[Zen]

Skoosh: Noun: (also scoosh, possibly even squouche, who knows?)
1. fizzy pop (see ginger), carbonated soft drink
2. something very easy, simple pimple.
Example: 1. Gies a slug ay yer skoosh, ya stingy aul bugger, ye!
2. At wis dead easy! A pure skoosh!
Yer a pi*ser, you are.;)

[Crankin]

I couldn't live with a good set of pots and pans, knives, and stirring utensils. And, I do use my microwave a lot. But, all of my houses have come with a built in one, except the first one. I have a toaster oven, but I hardly use it. DH does use it a lot. We have an Odea automatic espresso machine that is perfect for single serving Americanos. I never use my regular coffee pot; it's put away. If I was single, I would get one of those single serving coffee makers.
Good glasses, a must. I got reasonably priced ones at Crate and Barrel. Buy more than you need, because they always break right before you are having guests.
I bought a slow cooker about 2 months ago, mostly because of all of you guys raving about it. I have yet to use it. It seems like all of the recipes I find are for huge servings of food that are really fattening. My friend is bringing me one of her cookbooks to look at, since she uses hers a lot.

[NbyNW]

I am in Scotland and Calgary (but not simultaneously, obviously)

BRUNO!!!!

Let me know when you are in Calgary. It will give me a good excuse to drive down and visit (I used to be jocelynlf)

[Wahine]

Yer a pi*ser, you are.;)

Yes, yes she is. :D:D

Bruno - I forgot about the Drambuie. Good thing you reminded me.

OK - back to the business at hand... I definitely need some good wine glasses and pint glasses. Got it. Knives etc.

Music - I'm going to have to figure out a solution for that. I have a docking station with speakers but I think it may have just died.:(

[owlice]

Sign up for one or more of your local Freecycle groups; people get rid of alllll kinds of things, and some of them you might find useful. Some of the things given away are brand new; I have an Ikea something I'll put together this evening that I got from a fellow Freecycler, still in its unopened package.

College students get rid of a LOT of stuff at the end of a school year...

I use my toaster oven and my microwave a lot; wouldn't want to be without them.

When I first moved into my own place (by myself), I bought a bed, sofa, bookcases, rugs, and lamps. Oh, some kitchen things, too; I still have one of my first mugs, 34 years later!

I think a place to read that isn't the bed is essential, whether sofa or chair.

Something to put flowers in, whether vase or glass pitcher or something else.

[owlice]

Tonight I'm making a Hot Fudge Spoon Cake in the crock pot, and that recipe alone is reason enough to buy both crock and cookbook.

Please post the recipe for this; thanks!!!

[KnottedYet]

BRUNO!!!! DARLING!!!! IT'S BEEN SO LONG!!!!!!

(I'm a little surprised how many of us don't have TVs. I thought TV had a larger hold on our culture. Hooray! It's not TV, it's bikes and toaster ovens!):D

[ny biker]

I have a TV. It's high on my must-have list along with my DVR and DVD player. I didn't bother to say anything because I think I'm too many standard deviations away from the mean on this topic. I use my microwave all the time, I like Eggo waffles, I've never used my coffee maker and I wouldn't know what to do with a crock pot if I had one.

[Tuckervill]

I bought myself a rice cooker for xmas. I gave it to my DIL after one use. Doesn't seem that critical.

I hardly ever use a paring knife, unless I'm eating an apple. But I do have an ulu knife that I use a lot, and a couple of Fury Santuko knives.

I've been playing ukulele for about 6 years now. Middle son is right now restringing one of my baritones for me. My original elcheapo soprano was autographed by Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies. I don't play it anymore. :) I think everyone needs a ukulele. Like Kate Micucci (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zJHMad1ZsM) NSFW!

Cast iron. Yes. Definitely. Get the old stuff.

I still don't get the appeal of the toaster oven. I'm going to to with the counter space counterargument. I get the appeal of the convection part, though.

ulu and uke are similar, strange words.

That is all.

Karen

[OakLeaf]

I don't often use a paring knife for paring, but it's just much easier to manipulate than a larger knife for jobs like de-ribbing large greens, trimming the eyes from potatoes and sweet potatoes, etc. For actual paring, you want a ceramic peeler. Oh yeah, you need a ceramic peeler. While we're on ceramic, make sure the burr of your pepper grinder is ceramic, too. ;)

As for pot and pans - besides the pressure cooker, I'd go with one cast iron skillet and one enameled cast iron pot ("oven"). I'd say you want the big pot to be at least 3 quarts and probably larger. I'm all about one-pot meals and making enough for a few days. (I like leftovers for lunch more than I do for subsequent dinners.) You want to be able to simmer pasta sauces, soups, stews, etc., that would just turn into a few quarts of rust if you did it in bare cast iron.

But you can always use the "pot" part of a stainless steel pressure cooker as a regular pot - lots of them come with a non-locking lid for that purpose.

And silicone. As a substance, that's totally indispensable in the kitchen. A couple of silicone potholders (make sure they're easy to manipulate, I have a few that I don't use because they're just too stiff and large). A couple of silicone scraper/stirrers - the large ones that are sort of half shaped like a spoon are my favorites. If you bake at all, a cookie sheet for support, plus baking pans in silicone in whatever sizes you use, and/or a Sil-Pat mat or two.

[Tuckervill]

I would like to have some silicone items, but it's not worth getting rid of the very fine other things I have collected which do the same things. So, I remain silicone free (in more ways than one!).

I shall check out the ceramic peeler.

Karen

[redrhodie]

When I moved into my first solo apartment, my mother and brother surprised me at my new place with their car stuffed with everything I needed, including pots and pans, dishes, and utensils. They also bought me a tv. My mom really thought of everything, including a tool kit with picture hanging accessories, and a sewing kit. Life is impossible without scissors.

[ny biker]

When I moved into my first solo apartment, my mother and brother surprised me at my new place with their car stuffed with everything I needed, including pots and pans, dishes, and utensils. They also bought me a tv. My mom really thought of everything, including a tool kit with picture hanging accessories, and a sewing kit. Life is impossible without scissors.

That's a good point -- I have a small tool kit with different kinds of screwdrivers, a few wrenches and plyer (needle nose and regular). Plus a hammer, a box of nails in various sizes, stuff like that.

I have a toaster oven but no toaster, so I'm not sacrificing any counter space.

[Wahine]

This whole discussion has been really helpful for me. I didn't think of things like sil-mats, which I should definitely have, and scissors!!! Of course, who can live without scissors. And a sewing kit...

Oak - thanks a lot for the tip on ceramic parts. Maybe I need some ceramic parts for my bike too.

[OakLeaf]

Maybe I need some ceramic parts for my bike too.

My Ultegra RD has a ceramic bushing in one jockey wheel (not both, for some reason). ;)

[hammertime]

I didn't read through all the replies...but number one for me has always been...

a really really good comfy bed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D:D:D When I bought my condo 8yrs ago, I told myself I'm going to get myself a really good bed... I always wanted a high bed... with two huge matresses... and that's exactly what I got... double stuffed pillow queen size bed.... it's lovely. I can live without alot of things, but I could never live without my bed:D

enjoy!, your time with you... :) I'm 47yo, lived alone for the last 27 years... only until recently did/do I have a roommate... my boyfriend, shame on me!!...but I wouldn't trade back my single days for anything. They were awesome... I loved living alone... I love living with my boyfriend. People used to say "how do you live alone, aren't you lonely?"... please... I was my own best friend... never had a lonely day in all my life:D