[dogsballs]

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I'm moving into a nice big new apartment by myself at the beginning of December. I've been living with roommates so I've been using shared stuff and stuff that isn't mine. I am taking with me a cast iron pan, a big saute pan, a bunch of forks, and an ice cream maker.

I'm gonna go to a kitchen supply store in a few days. What do I need to buy, and how much should I be looking to spend?

I want to be as good as you guys at cooking and plating.

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Get one good knife - you'll end up using it for just about everything. The other 14 in my block get used about once a month (except the steak knives... [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]). One good un is enuf. Plus one small paring knife if you really want.

I use 3 chopping boards:
1 plastic - for raw meat/fish etc. Make sure it has that little moat round the edge to collect juices that drain out...unless you wanna keep cleaning your counter.
1 wood for stinky vegetables like onions/garlic.
1 wood for clean/fresh/sweet stuff, eg fruit/tomatoes/lettuce/stuff that you dont want tainted by stinky onions etc.

I'd suggest one good big pasta pot. One with the strainer thingy thats part of it, so you just whip it out and the pasta drains straight away. Also doubles for stews etc, of course.

One small nonstick frying pan - for eggs/omelettes/fish type things.

Couple saucepans with tight fitting lids. Prolly never need more than 2.

Other things I think are good to have:

One of those things that look like a satellite dish that you use to steam veggies instead of boiling them in water. I cant eat broccoli thats been totally dunked any more.

A knife sharpener + sharpening steel. Obv reason.