11 November, 2009

To cut an onion.

We often talk about simplifying our lives. Ads will tell us that if we purchase their product, our life will be easier. Others say that eliminating the unnecessary stuff we have will make our life simpler. I thought about this the other day when I went to chop an onion.



Cutting an onion is something I may do two or three times per week. I will grab my chef's knife and a cutting board and chop the onion. I have other options in my kitchen for doing this job. However, even if I choose to use another implement, I still must cut the ends off and take the outer papery skin off.






The Vadalia chopper is my mother-in-law's favorite. She said how much she liked it, so I went out and purchased one, too. I had a very hard time pushing the top down through the onion, so much so that I had to step on the top. That's not my idea of how to use a kitchen utensil. Perhaps it will work better with another type of food. I'll keep it for a little while longer and give it another chance. Again it's taking up room and it's not the easiest thing to clean.







I like a mandolin when I need a lot of nice thin slices. This is a keeper, but I don't use it that much.






The hand chopper is used when I need a lot chopped.



I do not have a food processor. I found it took up too much space and was more work to clean than it was worth, so I got rid of it.


Do you like gadgets or have a lot of utensils? What do you use?

15 comments:

Kathy said...

I use my V Slicer which is also a mandolin slicer. It's great for slicing tomatoes thin enough for sandwiches or burgers. But if I don't feel like taking it out I just use a knife too.

Old Time Cindy said...

Cutting board and a knife for onions. It's the easiest and quickest. It makes clean up easier too...less to wash!
Living it up at Lakewood,
Cindy

Becky K. said...

I love to browse kitchen stores and dream of having a kitchen with room for everything. Then I walk out with either nothing or a new spatula or knife because they take up the least space.

I do have a food processor but it lives in a cupboard in the garage and is only brought out for big jobs.

Becky K.

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

I have way too much stuff - and it's mostly never used -- I usually use a knife and cutting board as well -- whatever works!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I'm laughing about you having to stand on the slicer! Nope, that doesn't sound like an easy gadget to use. I use a knife for my onions. It just seems like less trouble and less clean up than other gadgets. laurie

Tootsie said...

I had a lot of the same gadgets...and I still used the regular knife too. They are never as easy to use as they sound are they?

The Quintessential Magpie said...

I use a plain old sharp knife and a PLATE to cut onions.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Karen...

Just wanted to stop by to say thank you for coming by and taking a peek at my finished faux fireplace project...I really enjoyed your sweet note, my friend!!!

You know...I guess I'm from the "old school"...I just use a cutting board and knife to cut my onions. It's just a fast for me and the clean up is so much easier! I'm always for quick and easy! However, I guess if I had alot of onion to chop...then a processer would really help! I'm just not much on kitchen gadgets...I hate the clean up! Hehe!

Have a marvelous Monday, my friend!
Chari @Happy To Design

Moore Minutes said...

This is a VERY GOOD post! You really got me thinking. Simplifying life is tricky.

My all time favorite MUST HAVE kitchen gadget is my Pampered Chef apple slicer! So simple and easy!

susan said...

I find that I can chop an onion much faster than I can get out and then wash any gadget. I do have a mini food processor that is easy and sometimes I get it out, but not often. I cook a lot, but I don't use many gadgets. One trick I did learn--I chop my eggs with a pastry cutter--works like a charm! ps-we have a french fry cutter that requires brute strength also!

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

I don't have any of those, just use a knife and cutting board. But I've always wanted a mandolin slicer!

Manuela

Southern Lady said...

Nice post, Karen. I chop onions the old fashioned way ... with a knife and, usually, on a paper plate. If I have other chopping to do, too, I use our chopping block.

I love kitchen utensils and have a nice collection of old ones from my grandmothers and mother-in-law. My most precious one is a set of Christmas cookie cutters that belonged to my grandmother and my mother passed down to me when my children were little. I use them with our granddaughter Avery Grace now.

SmilingSally said...

LOL I just use a big knife and cry if the onion is a strong one.

I'd rather have Palms in my Florida yard. I really don't like shade trees; they make the home so dark. I like light and bright.

Nancy McCarroll said...

clever idea; it made me smile! I am following you on Google, thanks to Ashley at Too Jazzed to Sleep...

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