TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

RE: Fixing Dinner

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

It's Victoria and Beale Forbidden Fruit. It got discontinued back in 1999.

FNW · Guru

About 13 years ago I traded in my colored dishes for white, because I changed my home decor. Wal-Mart had a full set, service for 8, which included butter dish, mugs, cups and saucers, dessert bowls, dessert plates, bread plates, salt/pepper shakers, sugar bowl, dinner plates, etc. for $19.00. I got rid of the mugs and cups/saucers, but still use the other stuff for every day. I have 5 sets of formal china. One I use for Thanksgiving, one for Christmas, and one I use for other occasions. Two I rarely use, but inherited so I haven't been able to part with them.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I also have 2 sets of formal china and a set of Christmas china. DD11 has a set of china in storage that her Godmother gave her.

jlbear71 · Guru

When we got married, it was insisted that we have a registry. It was also insisted that we have china put on there. We were living with the ILs at the time with no timeline of us moving out. I picked a very basic, white set that was very inexpensive. Each piece was sold individually and a "set" was less than $20. I received enough for 12 settings.

We use it about half the time. It's just two of us and we vary between that and disposable, biodegradable paper plates. Yes, we are aware of our "footprint" on the environment. We do recycle and reuse as much as we can. As it is, the trash men think we never have trash as we rarely put out our own cans. We usually have half or less of a kitchen bag of trash per week and use one of the neighbors three cans (for two adults and one toddler). Recycles are another story. We put out a half full can every two weeks.

Ohfour · Hooker

I rarely cook. G get home before me and is a much better cook, so he does most of it. I clean up afterwards.

I DO however make a large Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner by myself. I have a certain way of doing things, and I just like to do that. The kids clean up afterwards.

For normal dinners, we either eat in the dining room or on the deck. Lately it's been in the living room though because the kitchen is in disrepair and the dining room is full of all the stuff from the kitchen. We can spend hours after dinner just sitting around talking.

When the kids are over, we eat in the dining room and then they usually clean up and then we play a game. Even grown, they still love to play...Depending on what we are eating, we will either place it all on the table and pass the food, or when it's something like pasta and sauce, we will serve from the stovetop.

I have everyday china and special occasion china. My special occasion is white with a silver ring. Very plain, but that's how I like it. My everyday is pictured. And it JUST DAWNED on me that my china matches my new kitchen! Totally unplanned!!!!!

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

OH, good grief. Now I need a steak.

FNW · Guru

Now I'm thirsty.

Ohfour · Hooker

It about the china people!!! Look at the china!!! LOL!!!!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I like Dishwasher friendly.

FNW · Guru

I have a china setting on my dishwasher. It was a must for me. I don't trust it with my Waterford, however.

Ohfour · Hooker

I wash mine in the dishwasher...

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

My everyday is dishwasher safe. The only ones I don't put in the dishwasher are the ones with the painted silver or gold rims.

huskerbb · Guru

I would almost always cook and usually do the dishes. We usually didn't set the table.

TrudyML · Guru

What would you cook? :P

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

My everyday china is similar in color to Oh4's. The plates are all over colored sort of amber/gold with swishes of darker browns. It is called something like gold dust sienna. It is china but heavier more like a cross with earthen ware. I got it for Christmas 9 years ago when I remodeled my kitchen. I love it.

huskerbb · Guru

TrudyML wrote:
What would you cook? :P

me? Lots of stuff. Im a great cook.

FNW · Guru

My Thanksgiving dishes. I got them when I was 18. My tastes have changed quite a bit, but I still use them at Thanksgiving.

My Christmas dishes:

My all-occasion:

One set I use for every day, unless I need to use microwave (Not the Wal-Mart set-those are stoneware I believe). I inherited them from my grandfather before he passed away. We used them at their cabin in Big Bear and I have such fond childhood memories using them. Purely sentimental value:

I inherited a large collection of these dishes my grandmother got when she was in England which I never use, except for display, as many are chipping and fragile, although I do have some HUGE platters in this pattern that I will use:

My mother wants to give me another set but I drew the line....

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

These are my China sets:

Kent Wildflower

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I've also started collecting pieces of Lenox Butterfly Meadow. I have the tea set, so I'm trying to stay good and only get as many pieces as needed for coffee and desert. And I have 6 mugs. It's just so PRETTY.

FNW · Guru

Pretty! The latter one is very similar to a set my mother wants to give me. I should probably sell the red ones to make room!

Ohfour · Hooker

The white and silver all occasion china looks very similar to mine. It my be the same. I will have to check the stamp when I get home. They were given to my by a great aunt. So, they are at least 60 years old...

FNW · Guru

Mine are newer, Lenox Federal Platinum. I believe the pattern has been around since 1991 I think. The white and gold ones are Royalton Golden Elegance and are quite old.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

I have Lenox & Waterford that I inherited from my grandmother. I have never used them. I doubt I ever will. The Waterford does look very pretty in the china cabinet.

chef · Guru

This summer hasn't been kind to me so DH has been the majority of the cooking and cleaning. I do what I can, when I can. I love cooking.

DH is the dishwasher wench. Even though I was the one who taught him how to load the dishwasher, he has his way of doing it and he feels his way is superior. Since he feels the need to whine and complain when the dishwasher *gasp* misses a spot, he is in sole control of the dishwasher. I've never had a problem with the dishwasher missing a spot when I load it but his way is superior. *shrug*

I'm the laundry wench. DH doesn't know how and doesn't want to do laundry. I don't mind so it's my designated chore. DS is my little helper. He gets mad if he's not allowed to throw the clothes into the washer. He also likes to start the washer and dryer.

DS likes to wipe up spills and he will have a tantrum if you don't get him something to wipe it up immediately. As such, a towel or two tends to live on the floor.

chef · Guru

We don't use china. I've never seen the point in having china but I'm also not the decorative sort of person. DH doesn't care about it either.

Our plates, bowls, and cups come either from Walmart or the 99cents store and are mismatched (and we don't care either). I do have a couple of Corelle plates my parents gave me when I got my apartment. I also have some of their brown plates (light brown plate with dark brown checkerboard pattern in the middle and dark brown edge) that they gave me. As stuff breaks, it gets replaced with stuff from the 99cents store. I think their plates are ceramic but not sure. They're dishwasher safe and get the job done so win-win.

We recently got 4 sets of plastic bowls from Walmart that were in the clearance aisle. 50 cents per pack of 4. Plastic but no one in this house cares. One set had an extra bowl that we noticed when we got home so bonus!

FNW · Guru

*faints*

j/k

chef · Guru

FNW wrote:
*faints*

j/k

lol!

I've long been a person who strives for efficiency in my life. I prefer not having a whole lot of stuff that isn't both useful and durable. If I have to be careful with it, I don't want it. I don't have many knick knacks and don't want many. Unnecessary clutter bugs me and it's just not my thing. China, for me, has always been something I never saw the point in. I don't want to have to cringe every time a plate is dropped.

My Pyrex is my china. DH knows darn well he'll be in trouble if he breaks my Pyrex. Those are my babies.

I do have a collection of blown glass that I love but it's been in storage for 8 years now. I don't even know if the pieces are still intact. They were wrapped and packed carefully but seeing as how they're stored in an outside storage and summers here regularly hit 115, I wouldn't be surprised if I opened the container and saw a melted ball of glass.

FNW · Guru

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I would think someone with the name "chef" would be particular about presentation! I am surprised, but I do understand your thinking. There have been many times when I wished I had less "stuff".

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I would not trust 50 cent plastic bowls from the dollar store not to leech BPA into my food.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Lawyerlady wrote:
I would not trust 50 cent plastic bowls from the dollar store not to leech BPA into my food.

They're great for popcorn and chip bowls though.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

You are talking to a former Tupperware consultant. There is no substitute.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I wish I could find some real Tupperware.

FNW · Guru

Gladware?

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

We use Gladware to store stuff in. Or to give to DN to take home. Sometimes SS wants to take stuff home too.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

FNW wrote:
Gladware?

I use the Christmas patterned Gladware and Ziploc for Christmas goodie giveaways.

FNW · Guru

I buy a bunch before I cook Thanksgiving so I can send leftovers home with others.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

The thing with cheap plastic is that it is not supposed to be microwaved, so if you use gladware - you need to switch it to another dish to reheat. And washing it in the dishwasher is too hot. Heat makes the plastic start to break down - and that gets in your food.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

FNW wrote:
I buy a bunch before I cook Thanksgiving so I can send leftovers home with others.

I believe that is its best and only real purpose.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

I save the plastic containers that lunchmeat comes in. I have dozens. I do have some of the smaller ziplock & gladware bowls too. I also have some real Tupperware & some Rubbermade. That cabinet is actually a cluster f*ck nightmare.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

When we moved, I kept my nice Tupperware and got rid of everything else. I actually mostly like to use glass pyrex like chef. Bonus is that you can SEE what is in the container and not forget out it and create science experiments.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

Lawyerlady wrote:
When we moved, I kept my nice Tupperware and got rid of everything else. I actually mostly like to use glass pyrex like chef. Bonus is that you can SEE what is in the container and not forget out it and create science experiments.

My Mom uses the pyrex with the lids for everything. She also has them perfectly neatly organized & bought these little racks to store the lids all neatly.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I do the same thing Lexxy. And I save the containers from Chinese take out. Those bowls are the perfect size and shape, resealable and microwavable. Caitlyn uses them to take her lunch to work.

You know, if we were to not use everything that could do this or that, the only thing anyone would use would be glass or ceramic.

And I never liked Tupperware. It would warp in the microwave and dishwasher. And it was either hard to close or hard to open.

A good zip lock bag is really great for storing things. Especially in the freezer.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Lexxy wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
When we moved, I kept my nice Tupperware and got rid of everything else. I actually mostly like to use glass pyrex like chef. Bonus is that you can SEE what is in the container and not forget out it and create science experiments.
My Mom uses the pyrex with the lids for everything. She also has them perfectly neatly organized & bought these little racks to store the lids all neatly.

Your mom and I have the same kitchen Lexxy. I have the cutest little Tupperware set. It's six bowls with matching lids. The middle bowl is orange and round. It's for dip or something similar. Then there are five "leaf" shaped bowls that go around it. You put chips or veggies or whatever in them. They don't snap together. You just set them together on the table and it looks like a flower with the dip in the middle. Really cute.

chef · Guru

FNW wrote:
Please don't take this the wrong way, but I would think someone with the name "chef" would be particular about presentation! I am surprised, but I do understand your thinking. There have been many times when I wished I had less "stuff".

You'd think so!

I care about taste, not presentation. I can make food look very nice on the plate. I don't care to take the time to do so on a daily basis. Sometimes, our friend G will put together a Chopped challenge (modeled after the show) and I make the food look pretty. Sometimes, I do take some time to make it look pretty just for kicks.

I guess you could say I'm a lazy chef wink

The big exception is that if I'm making something for a party, "formal" dinner (as in Christmas dinner), or a special meal, I do my best to make things look pretty. I will go the extra mile on those occasions. I like the "look" of a finished table for such occasions. For my Uncle's birthday, for example, I took great care in the design on the cheesecake I made him. I wanted it to look nice. I got a lot of compliments on it and the birthday cake I made my son for his first birthday.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

lilyofcourse wrote:
I do the same thing Lexxy. And I save the containers from Chinese take out. Those bowls are the perfect size and shape, resealable and microwavable. Caitlyn uses them to take her lunch to work.

You know, if we were to not use everything that could do this or that, the only thing anyone would use would be glass or ceramic.

And I never liked Tupperware. It would warp in the microwave and dishwasher. And it was either hard to close or hard to open.

A good zip lock bag is really great for storing things. Especially in the freezer.

Not all Tupperware is meant to be microwaved, and when you use plastic in the microwave, you should always use half power for a longer time - your food will cook better, too. And when your Tupperware comes out of the dishwasher, put the lid on while still warm and it will conform perfectly - but don't store the Tupperware with the lid on. Tupperware lids that are difficult to put on are because they are airtight - which is what you want when storing food. Gladware is not airtight.

chef · Guru

Re plastic storage containers ...

I've never gave a second thought to microwaving or dishwashering them. I stopped using the heated dry on the dishwasher years ago. It melted a jug I used for iced tea and pissed me off.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Heating plastic is REALLY bad for your food and you.

www.scientificamerican.com/article/plastic-not-fantastic-with-bisphenol-a/

If you are going to do it - you need to make sure it is microwave safe and BPA free.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I just eat the plastic and take out the middle man.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
I just eat the plastic and take out the middle man.

You like margarine, do you?