Every day is a new day and with that, a new opportunity.
EVERYONE is welcome and please join us each morning at 7:30 AM PACIFIC
to tell us what you're working on, share your show & tell, vent, whatever you want...
...this is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.
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What's your favorite kitchen tool, gadget or cooking utensil?
Do you have a food dehydrator, food processor, a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet or other implement that's been handed down?
In what I think is the first New Day Collaboration, mimi2three and I giggled over worked on this diary together. She got clean kitchen drawers* out of it and I got some of her cool photography to share.
In paradise50's recent diary about using up summer produce the other day, side pocket told us about his most useful kitchen gadget, a tomato strainer and sauce maker. Peeling and seeding tons of tomatoes is a major hassle; the last time I got a batch of tomatoes ready for home-made spaghetti sauce it took many messy hours. I didn't even know this handy thing existed.
For someone who grows as many delicious tomatoes as side pocket, it makes sense to have something like this to quickly create tomato sauces and chili bases. The same machine also easily makes applesauce and seed-free jellies.
My favorite kitchen tool after my BlendTec blender is this inexpensive Alaska Ulu Knife and Chopping Bowl Set. It doesn't take up much of our limited counter space, it's great for quickly chopping up garlic, onions, vegetables and herbs, and with its curved bowl the food can't get away from you. Well, maybe not from you; no matter what cutting board I use bits and pieces seem to end up all over the counter tops, floors, and even the walls!
photo by smileycreek
mimi2three recommends her julienne shredder you can find for under $10. She brilliantly used up excess zucchini (is there any other kind?) to create zucchini noodles which she then sauteed and dolloped with fresh garden pesto.
When a neighbor handed her two big bags of fresh garden beets and carrots she used the julienne slicer along with her antique counter-top hand-cranked food processor, which you might be able to find in a second-hand store.
Her very simple recipe: Fresh raw carrots and beets, part shredded and part julienned, light vinaigrette with lime, and fresh parsley and basil from the garden!
photos by mimi2three
While some gadgets are clearly useful, others are just space-wasting gimmicks. You make the call:
Gadget or Gimmick?
photos by mimi2three
Note from mimi2three:
There's all kinds of silly gadgets (even electric ones) to get juice out of a lemon or a lime, as if you can't just twist your wrist! The juicer on the left, a 3-piece gift set has languished unused in my kitchen drawer for far too long. The Tupperware juicer on the right fits on any Pyrex measuring cup, is at least 30 years old and gets used all the time. This has been a fun exercise in cleaning out my junk drawers! All the gimmicks are outta here!
Our kitchen gadget Wish List:
I want this one:
mimi2three wants this one:
Sooo much better than a stinky old campfire marshmallow chocolatey mess.
pNut wants this one, 'cuz he's a high-tech kinda guy:
That's right-- it's a robot pancake flipper.
What gadget do YOU want?
BTW, sneck-lovers, mimi2three has create a special sneck100 award just for this topic. Let the competition begin!
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Below the New Day sunrise cloud
:: COMMUNITY BUILDING UPDATES ::
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Let's build communities!
Every region needs a meatspace community like SFKossacks.
We take care of each other in real life.
I urge YOU to take the lead and organize one in your region.
Please tell us about it if you do and we're here for advice.
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THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
>>>Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
NEW GROUPS IN THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING:
Send a Kosmail to the organizers and ask for an invitation to the group.
• Northern Indiana Area: Kosmail Tim Delaney
• Long Island: Kosmail grannycarol
• Northern Michigan: Kosmail JillS
• Nebraska: Kosmail Nebraska68847Dem
• Westburbia Chicago Kossacks: Kosmail Majordomo
• New York Hudson Valley Kossacks: Kosmail boran2
• North Carolina Triangle Kossacks: Kosmail highacidity
• Caprock Kossacks (Panhandle/Caprock/Lubbock/Amarillo area) : Kosmail shesaid
• West Texas Kossacks (including Big Bend Region and El Paso) : Kosmail Yo Bubba
Note to the above new leaders: Feel free to leave a comment any day reminding readers about your new group. Also, tell us about your progress in gathering members. Kosmail me when you've chosen a good name for your group and have created a the group. Then I'll move you to the NEW GROUPS LIST. When you've planned a date for your first event I'll make a banner for you to highlight your event in our diaries and your diaries.
These are the groups that have started since * NEW DAY * began. Please Kosmail navajo if you have started a group before that.
NEW GROUPS LIST:
• California Central Valley Kossacks - Formed: Jul 29, 2012, Organizer: tgypsy
• New England Kossacks - Formed: Aug 6, 2012, Organizers:
Clytemnestra for Lower New England (Conneticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island)
nhox42 for Upper New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont)
• Houston Area Kossacks - Formed: Aug 7, 2012, Organizer: Chrislove
• Kossacks in India - Formed: Aug 14, 2012, Organizer: chandu
• CenTex Kossacks - Formed: Sep 9, 2012, Organizer: papa monzano
• Central Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Sep 26, 2012, Organizer: VetGrl
• Kansas City Kossacks - Formed Oct 15, 2012, Organizer: [Founder stepped down]
• Phoenix Kossacks - Formed Oct 16, 2012, Organizer: arizonablue
• Chicago Kossacks - Formed: Oct 31, 2012, Organizer: figbash
• Koscadia the Pacific Northwest coast from Northern California to Alaska
- Formed Oct 17, 2012, Oganizer: Horace Boothroyd III based in Portland, OR
• Boston Kossacks - Formed: Nov 7, 2012, Organizer: GreyHawk
• Motor City Kossacks South East Michigan (Detroit) Area - Formed: Nov 10, 2012, Organizer: peregrine kate
• Pittsburgh Area Kossacks - Formed: Nov 12, 2012, Organizer: dweb8231
• Salt Lake City Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: War on Error
• Twin Cities Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: imonlylurking
• Dallas Kossacks North Texas - Formed: Nov 21, 2012, Admins: Catte Nappe and dalfireplug. Please contact them to join the group. An Event Organizer needed.
• The Southern California Inland Empire Kossacks - Formed: Dec 3, 2012, Organizer: SoCaliana
• Los Angeles Kossacks - Formed: Dec 17, 2012, Organizer: Dave in Northridge
• Northeast Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Jan 16, 2013, Organizer: GenXangster
• Kansas & Missouri Kossacks - Formed: Jan 17, 2013, Organizer: tmservo433
• I-77 Carolina Kossacks who live from Columbia, SC to north of Winston-Salem, NC. - Formed: Jan 30, 2013, Organizers: gulfgal98 and eeff
• Indianapolis Kossacks - Formed: Feb 6, 2013, Organizer: CityLightsLover
• Southwest Ohio Kossacks - Formed: May 10, 2013, Organizer: Dr Erich Bloodaxe RN
• Northern Arizona Kossacks - Formed: Jul 5, 2013, Organizer: Sam Sara
ESTABLISHED GROUPS LIST: (List will grow as we discover them)
• SFKossacks Founded by navajo, Formed: May 2, 2005
• Maryland Kos Founded by timmyc, Formed: Feb 23, 2011. Contact: JamieG from Md for a group invite.
• New York City Founded by Eddie C - Contact the group organizer for meet-up events: sidnora
• Baja Arizona Kossacks, Event Organizer: Azazello
• Three Star Kossacks Tennessee, Founded by maryKK, Formed: Apr 8, 2011
• Nashville KosKats, Founded by ZenTrainer Formed: Jan 30, 2012
• Virginia Kos Founded by JamieG from Md, Formed: May 3, 2011
• Kos Georgia Founded by pat208, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• Colorado COmmunity Founded by Leftcandid, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• New Mexico Kossaks Founded by claude
• Philly Kos Founded by mconvente Formed: Aug 29, 2011
• DKos Florida Founded by ThirstyGator, Formed: Feb 14, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail Vetwife to be included in next event.
• Oklahoma Roundup Founded by BigOkie, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail peacearena to be included.
• DKos Asheville Founded by davehouck, Formed: Feb 13, 2011 - Organizing Assist by: randallt
:: Events Currently on the Books for ALL Kossacks ::
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Sunday, July 28th
New Mexico Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Kelly's Brew Pub
3222 Central SE • Albuquerque
ORGANIZER: Send claude a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. claude
2. Dallasdoc
3. Land of Enchantment
4. jnhobbs
5. emobile
6. fbihop
7. divineorder
8. Jakkalbessie
9. native
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Maybees:
Wendy's Wink
jan4insight
congenitalefty
native's BIL
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Latest diary: New Mexico Kossaks meet-up!
Sunday, August 4th
SFKossacks Meet BeadLady and the Okiciyap Quilt!
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Saul's Restaurant & Delicatessen
1475 Shattuck Ave (at Vine) • Berkeley
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. BeadLady
2. navajo
3. Catilinus
4. dharmasyd
5. norm
6. Lorikeet
7. side pocket
8. Pam from Calif
9. Pam from Calif's Mom
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Maybees: |
Sunday, August 4th
NYC Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (Ludlow) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send Sidnora a kosmail to RSVP.
RSVPs:
1. joanbrooker
2. mconvente
3. belinda ridgewood
4. Yasuragi
5. sidnora
6. Its the Supreme Court Stupid
7. blue jersey mom
8. kathny
9. ask
10. rubyr
11. plf515
12. thankgodforairamerica
13. No Exit
14. gchaucer2
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15. MBNYC
16. andgarden
Maybees:
Ollie Garkey
Ian Reifowitz
wader
nyceve
aoeu
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Latest diary: NYC Meetup 8/4: Beat the Dog Days!
Saturday, November 2nd
SFKossacks BBQ in the Wine Country
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Andrew McGuire's home in the Wine Country
Address to be given privately to RSVPs • Windsor
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
Andrew McGuire is Executive Director of California One Care
RSVPs:
1. Andrew McGuire
2. navajo
3. Shockwave
4. Hunter
5. elfing
6. Hunter/elfling offspring
7. smileycreek
8. paradise50
9. dharmasyd
10. maggiejean
11. norm
12. Lusty
13. dksbook
14. Mr. dksbook
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15. kimoconnor
16. jpmassar
17. side pocket
18. Mrs. side pocket
Maybees:
Glen The Plumber
remembrance
TLO™
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Send navajo a kosmail if you post a diary about an event so we can update our round-up.
Okay. Floor's open.
Tell us what you are doing on this NEW DAY?