Corkscrew

Ten? Give me a microwave, and I'm a happy camper.

Well, OK, two, I need the plastic cover to put on top of the stuff to keep it from splashing all over the place.

Well, OK, three, I need a bowl.

But that's where I draw the line. No need for wimpy stuff like forks or spoons...

1. Good, sharp paring knife
2. Cutting board
3. Pepper mill
4. Frying pan
5. Roasting pan
6. Pot for boiling pasta
7. Wire whisk
8. Large mixing bowl
9. Large serving spoon
10. Kitchen tongs

My DH cooking, and whatever other 9 things he says he needs.

A better question is who would have thought a b story would have 100 words.

Hmpstd's list is a good start, but 10 isn't nearly enough things for a kitchen.

I stayed in Grenada for a while with a 3rd world kitchen, so this is easy....

Assuming there is a fridge and an oven (although the oven's not necessary-the one in Grenada was out of gas for a week)....

1. Magic Bullet (the chopping/blending machine)

2. mortar and pestle (absolutely necessary for mojitos; I've tried chopping the mint, pressing it in a bowl with a spoon, etc doesn't work)

3. corkscrew

4. one decent knife

5. one of each eating utensil

6. bowl

7. plate

8. cup

9. pot for cooking

10. basic spices: salt, pepper, cayenne/crushed red pepper, garlic powder

Hal -- I agree that there are too many good kitchen toys that have to be omitted when the list is limited to 10 items (for example, I'd want to include a coffee grinder and a coffee maker), but when we're in the Sandbox, we have to play by EL's rules.

I'd have to eliminate one of hmpstd's things and add a digital meat thermometer. I, myself, would probably lose the peppermill.

Well, with a shotgun and enough ammo, ANYTHING can be yours!

Heh... just kidding. Should I be the first to reference The Jerk? "...and this ashtray."

I have found, though, that the only knife I really need is my Henckels santoku. All the others mostly just sit around, looking pretty. Anthony Bourdain has similar thoughts on the number of knives a kitchen needs (basically, one good chef's knife - he feels a good cook should be able to do just about anything with that).

We'', something tells me if your kitchen is being used to feed Michael Phelps, you might need a lot more than 100 things in there.

Did anyone happen to catch the New York Post's story this morning on Phelps' typical meal while in training.

I know many of us are keenly aware of how big his meals are, and that while in town, he eats it all at pete's Grill in Waverly.

But I saw the NY Post story this morning, and the amount this kid eats is amazing.

Here's the story (although no mention of Pete's--darn New Yorkers): http://www.nypost.com/seven/08132008/news/nationalnews/phelps_pig_secret__hes_boy_gorge_124248.htm

How about ONE large box containing all my current kitchen utensils, flatware, and pots.

seriously, hmpstd's list is a good start. Carey's list includes more than 10 items (see nos. 5 and 10), but does have the essentials.

Just give me a coconut and a screw driver and I'll make you a radio. Just don't ask me to fix your boat.

I'm not playing! This is like asking me what my favorite wine is. I'm pretty sure I couldn't come up with a top 100 let alone a top ten.

Single item kitchen:
Cell phone

"Hello, this is Ding How ..."

Totally off topic: They are remaking Hawaii Five-O as a TV Series. Who should play Steve McGarrett?

Sure, hmpstd's list is pretty good...but I actually thought jl's list was a pretty great start.

Who needs fancy food, anyway, when you can spend your food budget on fancy wine?

They are remaking "Rocky Horror Picture Show", too. Can they find anyone innocent to play Brad and Janet?

The article about Michael Phelps was actually a video piece. Unfortunately, it was shot in Michigan so they showed the eateries that he favors up there. No pictures in Baltimore, so no Pete's Grill.

1. Cleaver. Can be used for cutting EVERYTHING, though my bread will be a bit squished.

2. stainless steel mixing bowl

3. Wok (can be used for boiling AND frying)

4. 1-cup measure (can eyeball all those in between)

5. 1-tablespoon measure (can eyeball all in between)

6. cookie sheet

7. Roasting pan

8. Can opener

9. fork

10. Spoon

Any combination of these things can create a full cooking and eating set, if you wanna get primitive.

Lissa asked: "Can they find anyone innocent to play Brad and Janet?"

That's why they call it acting.

I like Ryan Gosling for Brad. He made a sex doll seem innocent.

Matt, wasn't that a great movie? We loved how the whole town got into making his loved one part of the community. If you watch it on DVD, the extra bit about "wrangling" the sex doll is worth watching.

In order of importance.1. Bacon 2.Viking 8-burner commercial range with griddle 3. 12" All-Clad copper lined skillet 4. A loaf of Italian bread from Zizi's bakery in Florham Park, NJ (formerly in Orange 5. A perfect tomato 6. Just picked lettuce 7. Sea salt from the unblemished beach off Amalfi 8.Ben Jerry's Chunky Monkey Ice Cream 9. More bacon 10. A 10"chef's knife to keep everyone away

Zevonista - your post makes me smile everytime I re-read it. It reminds me of that old Steve Martin movie where he makes millions and then loses it all, sniffling and picking up junk on his way out of the house saying "all I need is this chair, and this robe, etc."

BTW - been wanting to ask, Zevon as in Warren?

1. (previously mentioned) corkscrew.
2. 12" saute pan
3. Swiss Army knife (deluxe edition with knife, spoon, fork, GPS, etc.)

Following are luxury items:
4. Euro Cave
5. 6- or 8-quart stock pot
6. Food processor
7. Towel
8. I can't think of anything for #8
9. Bread or pizza stone
10. Back-up corkscrew?

Great list, mdlrvrmuncher! I like the way you think.

In a perfect world, OMG would play McGarrett -- they'd have to let him write most of his own dialog; that would spice things up. House has a drug-addict doc. Why not a multi-personality leader of an elite crime-fighting unit? Paul Giamatti would make a darker, less obsequious and thus more engaging Danno. Jay C could play the infamous Wo Fat.

dcdiva: you can replace the fork and spoon with a spork, thus allowing one more item on your list.
My list:
1. 4-qt. saucepan
2. Bamboo spoon w/pancake turner style edge
3. Can opener
4. One good quality knife
5. One spork
6 One bowl
7. Cutting board
8. One two-cup measuring cup
9. Metal mixing bowl
10. Multi-blend spice container (container holds 4 or 6 different spices)

I am glad someone mentioned cookie sheet. I'd much rather bake any day than cook. So for baking, which is a bit more precise than cooking, I think I'd also need a set of measuring cups and a set of measuring spoons (I'm counting set as 1 item). This leaves me 7 more things:

-set of nestling glass bowls (or one big one, if "set" didn't count as 1)
-good quality knife
-wooden mixing spoon
-saucepan
-9 x 11 glass dish
-12 count muffin tin
-pie pan

Of course this list assumes that food items did not have to be counted - otherwise, what would one do with the ten items listed?

re: Michelle's comment:

That's another great idea for a topic: cooking vs baking. I despise baking. I hate measuring and I don't ever do it when I cook. My mom has a fit when we make cookies together because I refuse to measure anything. When people ask for my recipes, they all start with "all measurements are approximate". Come to think of it, the only time I use the measuring cup is for the dog's food and that just because it's easy to scoop with lol.

The key to the challenge is to pick items that can easily multi-task, eliminating the need for plates,bowls, etc.

1. Sharp knife
2. 12" Saute pan
3. 4qt stock pot w/ lid
4. 1cup measure
5. Wire whisk
6. Box grater
7. Large mixing bowl
8. Large serving spoon
9. Spork (wonderful idea!)
10. Can opener

They are remaking "Rocky Horror Picture Show", too. Can they find anyone innocent to play Brad and Janet?

Forget that! Whose going to play Frank-N-Furter?

1. chef's knife
2. electric kettle (I just don't like my tea water heated in the microwave - and Alton Brown even made oatmeal in one...)
3. hot plate
4. microwave
5. 4-6 quart stock pot
6. 10-12 inch skillet
7. large bowl
8. large spoon
9. whisk
10. spork (great idea)

As an homage to Zevonista I would say the only thing you need on a deserted island is lawyers, guns and money.

Rosebud, how about RuPaul?

Tim Curry is still around, but I doubt he'd want to do it again.

I am biased since I sell Pampered Chef.
1.ultimate mandoline
2. 7" santoku
3. large stone with handles
4. 12" stainless skillet
5. mix n scraper
6. 12 qt executive stockpot
7. easy read measuring cup
8. oven mitt
9. classic batter bowl
10. smooth edge can opener

Y'know, I've read these lists several times, and for the life of me, I can't decide on only ten tools. That's what I get for being a gadget freak...I LOVE my toys!

Tim Curry is still around, but I doubt he'd want to do it again.
I doubt we'd want to see him in that costume again...

Toaster oven. How could I forget a toaster oven? They are the gods' gift to single people, especially in hot weather. Bake chicken, roast veggies, toast bread, heat frozen stuff, it does well all the things that microwaves don't do well.