Basic Utensils

What do I really need in my kitchen? Good question! Stores, food blogs, and food TV shows are rife with all sorts of tools and gadgets. While tools and gadgets can be fun and handy to use, you can prepare tasty and nourishing meals without them. Here is a list of what you really need, with photos to come:

skillet with lid
soup pot with lid
metal spatula
whisk
wooden spoon
tongs
13x9 baking pan
mixing bowl
chef knife
paring knife
peeler
cutting board
liquid measuring cup
colander
meat thermometer

You may already have many of these things, but if you don't, the first step is to ask friends and family members--kitchen items tend accumulate over the years and they may have extras. Next, go thrift store and garage sale shopping. Goodwill often has loads of kitchen items for pennies or dollars. Finally, check out the stores. Don't go to high-end department stores or kitchen specialty stores. Rather, check out Target or Farm & Fleet.

Welcome!

Welcome to Bare Bones Cooking! My name is Marissa, and I learned to cook at my grandmother's side. She cooked simple, nourishing food with only a few basic utensils. The premise of Bare Bones Cooking is teaching people how to make simple, inexpensive food without expensive ingredients or kitchen equipment.

If you are looking for basic cooking skills, this blog is for you. If you are, for example, a college student with a bare bones budget and a tiny kitchen, this blog is for you. So many people depend upon convenience food or takeout because they don't know how to cook at home. This results in either stretching themselves too thin in other categories, or literally running out of food.

You won't find "foodie" meals here, nor will you find expensive equipment such as food processors or stand mixers. This is all about basic cooking, and getting enough to eat when you're struggling financially. Thank you for joining me!