please empty your brain below
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Today's category: something for the kitchen
Could be a gadget, could be food, could be drink.
Forty-quid-ish suggestions below please.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 6:20 a.m. | #
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1.) A steel whisk. Not a dishwasher-safe piece of equipment, but indispensable when making *the perfect* bechamel sauce.
2.) Larney imported chocolate - lots of it.
g | 08.02.05 - 6:56 a.m. | #
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A recipe book.
I'm sure someone will know just the one (any I'd have will be a bit too advanced for you  )
Blue Witch | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 6:59 a.m. | #
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Taking Witchy's hint, might I suggest "Easy Peasy Sweetie Pie" a book of "Truly scrumptious treats for kids who love to bake...". Shouldn't be too complicated
NiC | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 7:25 a.m. | #
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266 tins of Tesco Value baked beans, leaving you 10p change for a box of matches.
Scaryduck | 08.02.05 - 7:36 a.m. | #
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Something from Top Man 
Elsie | 08.02.05 - 7:38 a.m. | #
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Actually, you can get a whole month's blogging out of the effect of your all-bean diet, and perhaps a book deal in the lucrative health publishing niche.
God, I'm a genius.
Scaryduck | 08.02.05 - 7:38 a.m. | #
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A pasta-making machine. The ultimate consumer society item. You use it once and then go back to buying the pre-packed stuff.
Great Aunt Annie | 08.02.05 - 7:49 a.m. | #
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A really good carving knife.
Suitable for slicing up roast dinners or the occasional burglar.
Dave | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 8:02 a.m. | #
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I end up with a lot of useless kitchen gadgets; some of which I know are useless, some of which surprise me with their uselessness. The bread machine, however, surprised me by being more useful than I thought it would be. Possibly because it never occurred to me that they'd think to put a timer in it, so you can plop the stuff in Friday night and wake up to fresh bread in the morning.
I have no idea what they cost, mind you.
Woolworth's had a great deal on a proper, pump-driven espresso machine recently (£35); but I know you prefer your tea, DG. Pity there are no fancy tea-making gadgets. (Or if there are, they're utterly useless)
Lastly, how are your knives? One good chef's knife can easily run you £40. Or you can get a couple of Forschner knives that are 97\\% as good as the stuff that's twice the price. (ie: Henkel, Global, et.al.)
Chz | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 8:10 a.m. | #
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Well I recently spent about £40 on ebay on a little mp3 player, not much larger than a stamp, and you can spend another £40 buying a 1GB MMC card to go in it ... or how about a nice pair of shoes? Or go to Selfridges where you can easily spend £40 on Leonidas chocolates? OK I know that nominations for categories havent started yet ... and you could always bulk buy loo rolls I guess in case of a Homer Simpson-like attack of violent diarrhoea.
Debster | 08.02.05 - 8:10 a.m. | #
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OK I take that back, I didnt read the first comment ... well if you want to spend money on food and drink go to Fortnums. Caviare anybody? Sandwich toasters are always useful but I think they are cheaper - you could get his and hers ones ...
Debster | 08.02.05 - 8:12 a.m. | #
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and for some reason your comments times are wrong, by about 50 mins
Debster | 08.02.05 - 8:13 a.m. | #
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I think you should go to the Clinique counter at Selfridges (or wherever) and discuss, for 40 minutes, your skincare routine and then purchase £40 worth of products.
Elsie | 08.02.05 - 9:17 a.m. | #
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*rolls about the floor laughing but only DG will ever know why*
Blue Witch | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 9:18 a.m. | #
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Not for the kitchen - but you could deal with this spending problem very quickly by sending £40 to your 40 best readers.
Is that a good idea? Hmm.
Vaughan | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 9:19 a.m. | #
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A really big and sharp meat cleaver. Looks good embedded in the wall, good to show off with and great to slice meat to pieces.
dx* | 08.02.05 - 9:20 a.m. | #
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A smoothie maker (all those healthy fruit-drinks. Got to keep your vitamins up now you're getting *cough* old)
or (as someone else said) a breadmaker. They're ace.
Alternatively, if you're a lousy cook, get a smoke detector and fire-extinguisher. As the sign once said "if you can't smell burning, it must be salad"
Lyle | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 9:26 a.m. | #
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Food processor?
Lyle got there before me in mentioning a smoothie maker.
My Fiancé and I would like a smoothie maker, but we can't decide if a food processor would be better. There are some great looking smoothie makers out there, but they have that little spout thing which isn't always practical. And we've also found that food processors, which are essentially the same as smoothie makers are much cheaper - one smoothie maker comes in at £100.
Imagine, all that mashed food
Laura-Ann | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 9:34 a.m. | #
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I second the breadmaker. I've got one that cost around £50 a couple of years ago, so should be in the £40 bracket now.
It sounds like a ridiculous thing to have when you can pop down to the supermarket. And on the other hand sounds horribly like trying to make the 'real' stuff the lazy way. Which is true. But sod it, it's been good value and the bread's better too. And the smell. Oh the smell...
Katherine | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 10:17 a.m. | #
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Buy one really good pillow for your bed.
Elsie | 08.02.05 - 10:17 a.m. | #
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*realisation dawns* Oh, it's food today. A yoghurt maker.
Elsie | 08.02.05 - 10:21 a.m. | #
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Suggest you get a goat from Oxfam. No good to you in E1 of course, but a family somewhere else in the world gets to have some food in the kitchen.
Rick | 08.02.05 - 10:32 a.m. | #
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a whore for thirty minutes (based on an eighty quid sesh for an hour). this answer works for whatever room in your flat you might choose next.
and yes, i know eighty quid is the cheaper end of the range but sometimes those are the best.
*hastily adds* so i'm told.
dave | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 10:34 a.m. | #
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a rice steamer. i love mine.
zed | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 10:53 a.m. | #
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A really good single malt whisky and four proper heavy bottomed whisky glasses.
Football Watch | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 11:44 a.m. | #
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How about a really good knife? The Henckels Four Star Utility Knife is a great all-rounder (it's used daily in our house), and will last you a lifetime.
mike | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 2:27 p.m. | #
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I'll third a breadmaker.... truly the most used kitchen gadget I've ever bought... the bread tastes great and the smell, as already mentioned, is simply divine to wake or come home to.
NiC | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 4:08 p.m. | #
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Ahh, if only you lot could see the contents of the shopping bags I've just lugged home from Tesco, you'd know why some of the above are way wide of the mark.
But do keep suggesting, because I'm learning loads about why I'm such a feeble shopper.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 4:59 p.m. | #
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Some herbs.
Not dried herbs, but herbs in a pot, that you can keep alive, watered and cherished somewhere. Perhaps on the kitchen windowsill.
If you have fresh herbs, then your daily meal will always have one bit of 'home grownness' in it.
You may get some change from your £40.
JonnyB | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 5:12 p.m. | #
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A Georgie Foreman.
Matt | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 6:53 p.m. | #
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Your readers' emphasis on knives is a bit of a worry.
Great Aunt Annie | 08.02.05 - 7:18 p.m. | #
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One of those fancy see-thru kettles.
Or, as already been suggested, a smoothie maker.
I think you can probably get a bread maker for under £40 now. Please let me know if it is any good? Ta!
Essexgirl | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 7:58 p.m. | #
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A mouliware steel grater if you are clumsy - no more grated knuckles (under £10) or if you prefer to go for the flashier version and like to live dangerously (and don't mind a red tint to your cheese) the microplane version (I think about £25-£30 if you get the one with more than one blade).
A Good Grips Swivel peeler (I got mine for £1 in one of those everything cheap places but it can't be more than £5 full price).
A good sharp plastic citrus juicer with a large cup underneath (under £5).
And last but not least a strawberry huller, because everybody needs to have a useless piece of equipment in their kitchen drawers (I thing around £2 the last time I looked in John Lewis).
If there is change... kids pick and mix in woolies.
stroppycow | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 8:36 p.m. | #
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I'd second (or third or whatever) the George Foreman grill thing.
I got one four years ago and it's absolutely ace.
Failing that, get this Phillipe Stark designed citrus juicer because it's shiny and looks like a tripod.
pixeldiva | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 9:50 p.m. | #
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It looks more like a Martian spaceship ... I have one but its crap for actually doing juice, just looks the part.
Debster | 08.02.05 - 9:56 p.m. | #
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and the comments are still 50 mins slow ...
dg writes: not my fault, Debster. Haloscan are 'up to something'.
Debster | 08.02.05 - 9:57 p.m. | #
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A creme egg dispenser.
Blue Witch | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 9:57 p.m. | #
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What about an ultimate toaster by Dualit? They must be about £40 for an entry level model?
A breadmaker is indeed below £40 nowadays. I thought no-one used them anymore.
Or what about a fancy basic DAB radio for the kitchen? Sainsbury's do one for £50 so you can listen to crystal clear radio and not some cab office or pirate DJ giving 'a big shout out' while using your George Foreman or whatever!
Shellers | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 10:06 p.m. | #
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I think the Dualit toaster is an iconic piece of kitchenware that would be used constantly. Every one eats toast, don't they?
BTW a creme egg dispenser is a made-up thingy isn't it, please tell me it is, please........
Jamboesque | 08.02.05 - 11:08 p.m. | #
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Can I just second that note of caution re. the Philippe Starck lemon squeezer? Looks beautiful. Absolutely crap for squeezing lemons.
mike | Homepage | 08.02.05 - 11:14 p.m. | #
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This must be the most comments on one entry that you have had for a while. Interesting how every one is so keen to spend your money!
Rick | 09.02.05 - 8:35 a.m. | #
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I can't recommend smothies for nutrition (in my old age) highly enough!
Smoothie Maker
Smoothie 'Cook' book
Chris | Homepage | 09.02.05 - 1:57 p.m. | #
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A toaster that shouts "the toast is fucking ready" at 110db when the toast is ready.
Surely you must be able to buy one of them somewhere.
Kevin | Homepage | 09.02.05 - 3:48 p.m. | #
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What about a juicer? Personally I'd buy a superb cheese toastie maker - ideal for so many occasions...
Alan | 09.02.05 - 4:37 p.m. | #
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I'll second the juicer (thought, I'd be original, then Alan gets in with it). You can get your 5 fruit and veg portions in one glass and eat crap the rest of the time. Might be a bit over your price bracket but you can shop around for a bargain (on the other hand, perhaps I should do that for you...)
DOLnet | Homepage | 09.02.05 - 9:55 p.m. | #
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Similar to the George Forman grill, a sandwich press type thing - you know, for paninis etc. Better than a sandwhich toaster in my opinion.
Maddie | 10.02.05 - 12:10 a.m. | #
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A good chef's knife (with a blade between 6 and 8 inches) is the *only* thing you need in a kitchen. Well, apart from pots and pans. Spend £40 on one and then you never need to buy another knife - ever. See, I'm forcing you to spend money but saving you from future shopping. Double Bubble.
I've got a nice Victorinox one from Nisbets (http://www.nisbets.co.uk/ which come to think of it only cost about £18. Maybe you could augment it with a vegetable knife (2 inch blade, about nine quid) and a decent steel to sharpen them (about £15).
Andy Todd | Homepage | 10.02.05 - 4:39 a.m. | #
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Nominations closed
diamond geezer | Homepage | 10.02.05 - 6:12 a.m. | #
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