Oh, so many things!

~ Cuisinart toaster oven

~ silicon pans, spatulas, etc.

~ chile lemon pistachios

~ cotton table linens from Spain!

~ curry paste and many other seasonings!

Oh lordy, that would be a very long list. (Especially when we had the store because I considered the CF my pulse-check on purchasing kitchen gadgets.)

Just a few off the top of my head that I bought for myself -- Soy Vay Chinese Chicken Salad dressing (still love that stuff), microplanes, silicone spatulas, a flour wand, wasabi powder (rather than paste), furikake, Rao's pasta and sauces, better olive oils, sea salt, half of anything I've ever bought at TJs, and, most recently, a Cuisinart toaster oven. (I was going to buy one anyway, but the folks here steered me toward one I'm very happy with.)

Oh, and in a peripheral way, Scotch Guard. Bexause Lars' tip to Scotch Guard placemats was pure genius!

Lots of things! But three of the best are:

my foodsaver as a gift from mom and dad for Christmas, but I wouldn't have asked for it if not for the forum!

a set of le creuset, thanks to the link to an Amazon amazing Secret Friday sale!

I also got a steamer. Not really cause of the forum, but using it to steam eggs is because of the forum! (now I just need Jessy's square egg molds...)

About the only think I didn't know if before coming here was the microplane graters....and now i have one in every size and degree of fineness!
Don't have a flour wand a whisk works just fine...been using Scotch guard on placemats since ceasar was a pup...but now I hear you can't buy scotch guard any longer. That so?

Well here's my hint for today.....click on the link below and order some of that tangering balsamic vinegar....and as long as you are ordering, try the pomegranet vinegar and the lemon olive oil!
Linda C

Here is a link that might be useful: Olive tap

Hunky Bill's Big Pierogi Maker! I just love that thing! Khandi reccomended it and it makes pierogi making a breeze.

Joanne

ROFLMAO!!! That's a good one Vaccumfreak !!! I would be here all day, but I can tell you my Favorite thing is my "Staub" pots...

Oh mercy, I'm another one that has a list a mile long!

Trader Joe's Roasted Red Pepper/Eggplant spread plus a lot of other things from Trader Joe's, LOL.

Fresh figs for preserves

Cuisinart ice cream maker (well, my girls bought it as a gift, but I asked for it because of reviews here)

Cardamom
Penzey's Vietnamese Cinnamon
Penzey's smoked paprika
Schiabicca's olive oil
silicon spoonulas, brushes and trivets (no bakeware!)
sushi

I wouldn't have even stopped at that Whole Foods in Ann Arbor if I hadn't heard of it here and I'd have never had any reason to use Photobucket!! (grin)

Annie

Interesting lists. Annie, I agree about the bakeware. I was going to comment that if I'd read this forum before I got my silicone bakeware that would have been one gimmick I wouldn't have fallen for! I would never tell anyone to use it! Now, the silicone basting brushes are another story... I love mine!

I'll just name my most recent purchase. We sent my mother-in-law a Meyer Lemon tree for Mother's Day. She has never heard of Meyer Lemons before (I hadn't either until this forum, but I tried them and love them). She lives in a small town in Mississippi and we knew she'd never find Meyer lemons there, so now she can grow her own. She can't wait for the thing to start producing so she can try them. She says it has lots of buds on it already.

I think I bought my first microplane grater because of the recommendations from here.

I didn't feel I needed a stick blender, then Jessy gave me one that I use all the time now. I had had one many years ago...the new ones are sooooo much better.

I knew about Penzey's, even was on their mailing list, then Teresa sent me some of their goodies in a swap and made me a believer...now I have many of their jars.

Cardamon... now I love it.

I bought the book, 'Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day' because of this forum..

I'm sure there is more...

Nancy

Well, I bought a microplane grater to use on my feet. THE best foot item I have ever owned. Now I see that a "ped (as in pedicure) egg" is available. Same thing- microplane gussied up for feet.

I did find my desire for enameled cast iron had increased, though.

Oh gosh..well...
Bobby, I have the same cardamom problem, for the same reason..however I do use pinches of it in alot of things I add cinnamon too.

Caphalon is my biggest priced items.

I just purchased 2 sets of English Muffin/Crumpet rings today that I had the kitchen store lady order for me.

There's lots more, but I don't have the time.

Penzey's spices and Muir Glen tomatoes, never heard of either one, but I order both online now. Panko is another thing I didn't know about but I now buy italian seasoned bread crumbs and think they are Panko or I guess they are.

Probably a few other things, that I can't think of!

Bumblebeeze, How funny! I just bought a Ped Egg today! I got it for my best friend... she is always looking for something to smooth out the skin on her feet... she looked at my pumice stone one day and I told her that was for the toilet! I know they make ones for the body, but mine isn't!

I digress.........

I purchased these items after reading about their usefulness here on the forum.....(pictures speak more than words):

Bosch food & meat grinder; Siemens food processor and blender combo; Santoku knife and sharpening stone; Microplane grater....(I now have three); Peugeot pepper grinder:

I guess that's about all that I was inspired to buy. Of course here we don't have the same shops and products that are so often mentioned on the forum, but I do bring or send back from my Canadian holidays anything that I really feel I need.

I certainly do appreciate all the advice, tips and recipes that I've collected from here over the years and have passed much of it on to my sister and daughters! :-)

SharonCb

kframe once posted on the Amazon Friday sales an 8 quart Calphalon saucier. I bought one for me and for some lucky future swap partner. I used it first for AnnT's salisbury steaks.

Microplanes. Notice the plural.

DH and I are Surfas addicts thanks to Lars.

BWB Canning toys (our pressure canner that DH bought, predates my days on the forum, still sits in the garage)

Many times I like a swap item so much I'll buy a second one

Oh Yah.......All the "colors" match my Staubs !!! LOL Diana55

Things I've bought since reading about them on this forum........

Cuisinart Food Processor
Microplane
Peel
Meat Grinder for Kitchen Aide Mixer
Britta Water Pitcher

I'm sure there's more but I can't remember right now....
On my list to buy: that 5 minute Artisan bread book

Lots of stuff......way too much stuff! LOL Now remember, I have been here more than 7 years.

Microplanes.....plural here too
Panko
Halibut
Green Bags
Foodsaver
Cardamon
Penzey's ..... but never again unless they open in Canada!
Short Ribs.....for my DH
Kale.....not doin' that again
Yeast
Really, really, good EVOO
Really, really, good Balsamic
Buttermilk

Probably more but not so much on the "hardware" side. DH has always tended to buy me gizmo's and fancy cooking vessels. He's a "techy" and just love me to have all the right "tools".

Too much to list everything. But the most useful item has to be the Cuisinart food processor. I bought it because Linda C & Ann T said it could be used for making bread. And, by golly, they were right. I use it regularly now for bread, scones, etc. Mainly baking.

I've also purchased plenty of Penzey's spices, Evert green bags, a new pressure cooker, and a Cuisinart convection toaster oven thanks to the forum.

Like everyone else, I bought a microplane grater on Ann_T's recommendation. Actually, she sent me a small one as a prize in a contest, and I promptly bought another one so that I would have one to use on my feet. This was also before they made the foot versions. Ann also sent me a tea strainer that fits in a mug, and I used it until it died and have since bought several more for others and myself.

I'm surprised anyone didn't know about Cardamom. It's used extensively in Scandinavian cooking, besides Indian cuisine. I've loved it since I was a child, although I only had it in sweets back then. I recently bought my first Pumpernickel flour, and I didn't know about that until someone (I think Tricia or grainlady) told me about it. It makes great bread, and I have some more dough already started.

I've also bought Evert green bags but have since stopped using them, since I have to order them on line. There are stores here that carry them, but I seldom go to those stores.

I've received several things in swaps that I would not have bought but that I use frequently now, including a collapsible colander that hangs on one of the racks on my kitchen wall.

Once I received a swap package from Andy_in_Japan, and she sent me a lot of stuff that I was unfamiliar with, but fortunately my local Japanese market carries most of it - or at least some version of it. The best thing she sent was the sembei crackers. I can get those here, but not as good as the ones she sent. Here are some pictures of what she sent. I really liked the koya-dofu she sent and have been buying that since. I have had a bit of trouble finding dried bonito flakes, however, which is a necessary ingredient for Japanese soup stock. I've had to buy a substitute that comes in a jar and is not dried. I think I might not have tried as many Japanese products if I had not received that package. It's very difficult to tell what things are at my local Japanese market - sometimes (although it is illegal) no English appears on a package at all, and most of the time it is only a list of ingredients, some of which I am sure have been translated incorrectly. I've gotten bolder about buying things that I have no clue about what they are and have been pleasantly surprised more than once.

There are more things, but I'll have to think of them later.

Lars

Lars I just picked up some dried bonito flakes. I can get more and hang on to them for next time we get together - or next time you swing by Marukai etc.

Japanese soup stock - dashi? Are you also thinking of kombu?

La Vera smoked Spanish paprika. Never heard of it before here, now I'm addicted.

Also, I've bought more enameled cast iron.

A Nesco Roaster and a microplane!

KA stand mixer
KA food processor
KA stick blender
kitchen shears
silpat
Staub pots
microplane grater
kitchen scales
baking thermometer
pizza stone
King Arthur flours: rice, whole wheat, bread, cake, white, rye, pumpernickel, et. al.
Penzey's anything
TJ's chili lime pistachios
TJ's pecans
arborio rice for risotto
TJ's eggplant spread
olive oils
balsamic vinegars
Soy Vay teriyaki sauce
Panko
Boyajian citrus oils
And about a million more things that I can't even think of.

I always loved to cook. However, until I joined here, I didn't know the reward of cooking primarily from scratch instead of buying processed quick foods in boxes.

Now, I also have a huge complement of things that somebody bought me since I joined here. One of those favorites is the set of Henckel knives. I never, ever had a good knife before that gift, but I didn't know it until I DID have a good one. (Thanks you Canny Campers for that most well-loved and used gift). Lots of other kitchen gadgets are well loved and used as well.
I guess you could say that this forum has changed my kitchen adventures a lot: for the better, DH and I both agree.

Jessy, the recipe for dashi that I have uses dried bonito flakes, and so I guess I'll have to go to Marukai to get them. I go to the South Bay to visit Jimmy and Maartje and pass by Marukai, and so it's not out of my way. I should have looked for it there. I have no trouble finding kombu.

I've bought a few Spanish items as a result of going to the Spanish market near Jessy's house - especially the "duro" Manchego cheese, as well as Spanish paprika (Carmencita brand, picante).

Lars

Here's what I purchased TODAY because of this forum: a microplane for 20% off a Linens and Things! Can't wait to zest some lime or lemon now. I wanted one of those ped-eggs too, but they didn't have them.

I would also add to the list:

Bird's custard power
Penzey's smoked paprika
Panko
Cuisinart toaster oven
mandolin
Penzeys Raspberry Enlightenment
Soy Vey marinade

I had never heard of Muir Glen tomatoes.I looked at my grocery store and could not find them. One day found them at Dollar General and bought several cans. Now my local store does carry them.

Also read reference to the artisan bread book. I had Barnes and Noble order it. It's as good as I had been led to believe.

DH already had a immersion blender, but I hadn't ever used it until inspired to do so here.

Parchment paper!

I also replaced some long-lost rubber grips for opening jars. I had them long ago, they were lost or something, and I decided to replace them and buy some for my nephew and his newlywed wife.

Plain yogurt (for baking with).

DonnaR/CA

I Found the Garden Web when we started remodeling this house. All I can say is I have the most fabulous kitchen ever thanks to Kitchen forum. In the 2 years it took to do the kitchen I have lurked over here in cooking and not only found a great group of people but found I could be a much better cook because of all of you. In that 2 years I have replaced almost every cooking item with thing I found out about on this forum. I gave 11 boxes of kitchen stuff to my DD to give to a lady who lost everything in one of the Ca. fires near her home last year.

I now order things on the internet that I would not have know about if not for this forum. KA, PenzeyÂs spices and the most recent Bennington Pottery, thank you Tricia, I love the muffin pans. I bought the book, 'Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day' but havenÂt had time to even look at it yet. The only thing I ever ordered before was PlochmanÂs mustard for DH because I couldnÂt get it locally. I am now on a first name basis with the UPS guy Mike.

A big Thank You to all of you,
Claudia

Oh-- lots & lots:
microplane
cardamon
too many cookbooks-- & Small Batch Preserving
Silicone pastry brushes & spatulas
Good balsalmic vinegars
Bok choy
avacodos
citrus oils
pizza stone
popover pan
stove top "grill" pan
chipoles in adobe sauce
capers
panko

Bobby, maybe try some on a burger patty while it is cooking?

I bought a bunch of pizza stones and gave them all away as gifts. Keep meaning to get one for myself.

Basalmic Vinegars both sour and sweet.

Perhaps subconcious I bought fish sauce.... mmmm good!

Penzey's for sure. No new spices yet but a nice source of some.

Probably a Joss Stone CD. I've passed on purchasing so far but became a youtube fan of hers from this forum.

I learned what wasabi was here and that aided my purchase of wasabi peas. They have become popular with my beer drinking buddies.

Still on the list to purchase is a tortilla press.

: )
lyra

My immersion blender -- which I love even more for the mini-food processor attachment. I like it so much, I got them for my mom and my son, too.

Thanks, Jessyf!

I purchased an olive wood spoon from Marshall's. I had never heard of them before and had only shortly before that bought bamboo spoons.

I also have the Cardamon ($1 from the salvage store!).

I will probably try the Green Bags.

Canning gear.
Penzeys spices -- they just happened to open one nearby - lucky me!!!

Life insurance.

Too many good, but bad for you, recipes....

Not many purchases, yet, but many plans.
Microplanes are definitely on the list. A Food Saver will be purchased next week.
I don't have access to Penzey's, TJ or Whole Foods, but I have learned a lot about spices here and buy many that I would never have tried before. I would dearly love to get ahold of some good vanilla beans to make my own vanilla extract. Still searching.
I am still trying to decide which kitchen machine (mixer) I will go with. I have narrowed it down to Kenwood or Bosch. I am also leaning to buying a food processor. Not sure, yet, though.
Lisa