I'm the Kitchen Gadget Queen

Sorting through belongings can sometimes be eye-opening. You discover an item and wonder "what was I thinking when I bought that?" Such has been the case recently while cleaning out various drawers and cabinets in my kitchen. For instance, take a look at this assortment of  molds and cookie cutters. Did I think I was starting up a catering business? Tiny molds and cups in the shape of flowers, diamonds, seashells; Christmas tree molds, star cookie cutters, gingerbread men; tiny spade, club, heart and diamond cookie/bread cutters (in the box).

I bought some of these in 1970s and have used the individual molds for party mouses, mini-cheesecakes and gelatin salads. For some reason, I'm very attached to these and will keep all of them.

Traditional Christmas cookie molds. These were the forms mother used for her cookies long ago. This is not her set; I think most of her's are long lost, but I found this set several years ago and purchased it for sentimental reasons.

Make your own cream from a stick of butter. Ah, why didn't I just go buy a carton of whipping cream?

Instructions for creating cream from butter. Who knew?

Why did I think it so important to own a potato ricer? Perfectly wonderful mashed potatoes may be created with a good old-fashioned potato masher, or a portable mixer. Williams Sonoma loves me. 

Now I admit that Creme Caramel is one of my favorite sweets, but browning/caramelizing the sugar top can be easily performed under the oven broiler. But no, I thought having a butane torch was the way to go. Live and learn!

This little number allows you to keep your butter spreadable but fresh on the countertop. The key is the butter staying in contact with water, which must be changed every 2-3 days. I've used it once or twice, but would keep forgetting to change the water.

Perhaps this is the most unused gadget of all! I suppose it has a proper name, but all I can remember is it's called a potato nest-maker. The larger basked is lined with shredded potatoes, the smaller basket goes inside to hold them in place and the entire thing is lowered into a pot of hot oil for deep-fat frying. The nests come out crispy brown and delicious and are used as a nest for vegetables such as peas and carrots . I had that dish in a restaurant once and just had to try my hand at it. That was maybe 25 years ago. I believe I have used it once and it's definitely on my recycle list.

This would have to be classified as my most recent mistake: A Soda Stream, which makes soda water (or flavored soda, if one chooses). Normal tap water, a cartridge and viola! soda water. It's not that much trouble, but it's so big, and where does one store it? Mineral water is so available. I believe this one is destined for a secondhand store. 

A German measuring tool, brought to our marriage by my husband. His mother, being the good German cook/baker that she was, presented him with his very own Messbecher many years ago. I actually do use this when making up one of her recipes because of the metric measurements. This is certainly not an item that will be discarded, but I'm only including it here because it's not an item usually found in American kitchens and I thought you might like to see one.

Neither time nor space allow me to include all gadgets to be found in my kitchen. Some are going, some are staying. I use many of them since I love "messing around" in the kitchen. 

What's in your kitchen that other's might find unusual? Do you love gadgets or find them just something to waste money on and occupy space?