Preparing a cooking kitchen

Most of ya'll know I don't cook~but I have decided that 2008 is my year to start.
I have been combing the cooking magazines and such for great recipes.....
Now I have another <probably silly to most> question....
If you were setting up a kitchen from scratch what would you buy for it?
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Now I have the basics, and a bunch of dishes and glasses (see prior post) but I am talking mixing bowls, small appliances, utinsils and such.
Help! have money just no clue as to what I really need!
mgf~:surrender:

Need is subjective in a kitchen. I don't need a mixer as long as I have a spoon, but I sure am glad I have one! My nephew was all impressed with my fancy Pampered Chef pie slicer and server, and I assured him it made my pie better than the one's his mother served with a knife and fork...
I will say spend the money on quality products. There really is a difference between the dollar store wisk and the kitchen store wisk.
Respect what you buy. If you buy teflon (not my favorite) put away all your metal utensils and scrub pads so noone accidently scrapes it. I like stainless steel. A product like Bar Tenders Friend is a non abrasive cleaner that keeps it good.
Think multi task. You can make one hamburger in a 5 quart dutch oven, but you can't make a pot of chili in a 4 inch skillet.
Read your recipes, that will help you know what you need to finish a project. Hate to get in the middle of creme brule only to find out you need a blow torch!
I work in a kitchen and my daughter is a 4H cooking grand champion. Here's our most used list:
15" skillet; 5 qt crock pot; 3 qt pot; cookie sheets; pie pan; 9"X 13" cake pan; roasting pan; and parchment paper (makes cleaning up so easy)...oh, and our omlette pan.
Happy cooking!

I love my crockpot, my electric griddle and my food processor. I recently went back to work after six years of staying home with the kids. I only work 3 hours a day but sometimes have to substitute at our afterschool program. If I know that is going to happen, I throw something together in the crockpot in the morning and dinner is ready when I get home at 5:30. Both of my crockpots came with recipes included. The electric griddle comes in handy for breakfast. I can make a bunch of pancakes or french toast at one time. The food processor is great for grating cheese and potatoes. Saves me a little time. Other than that, I love my wooden spoons and wire whisk. Good quality pots are a must. They do last longer. Another must is my Taste of Home magazine. I love their recipes!
If you need some recipes, get up with me. I collect recipes and recipe books. I have many books from the 1800's. I love to cook usually. Some days I wish I lived closer to the city and could have something delivered!!

I love my crockpot. I have a 5 qt and a 3 qt one. Measuring cups and spoons are a must.
I also love my chef's pan which is a deep skillet. I agree good quality pans are a must. They distribute heat more evenly.

I also collect cookbooks and have many from church groups and so on.
I too like Taste of Home.

HELLO ! MGF:) ITS FOR SURE A GOOD MIXER IS A MUST! I HAVE A TABLE TOP/KITCHEN~AID AND LOVE IT! I ALSO HAVE A HAND ONE TOO! BUT BOTH ARE A MUST IN COOKING AND BAKING (IT SURE TAKES A TOLE OFF THE HAND BEATING AN BODY ACHES :0 OUCH!!! AND BYING A GOOD ONE THE FIRST TIME ALSO KEEPS YOU FROM GETTING IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECIPE AND YOU HAVE TO RUN OUT FOR YOUR 5th or 6th mixer...... IVE HAD MIND FOR YEARS AND USE IT VFOR EVERY THING AND IT RUNS LIKE NEW:) AND ANOTHER IS GOOD SPATULAS S,m,L AND~~ now they have ones that take heat! :)

I also use my square cake pan a lot.

A 1qt measuring cup is a big help. More useful than a 1 cup one.

A set of small, med & large mixing bowls are a must. If you by a kitchen aid mixer, you get a small and large bowl with it. This is a good appliance since you can also use it as a blender, meat grinder, and it has an attachement for slicing carrots and so on.

Casserole Dishes...I have several different size ones and use them all the time
Check out Kraft Canada for recipes that you can print out for yourself...

Thanks for all of the helpful info girls!!!
A friend of mine has already convinced me to buy a Kitchen-Aid stand mixer....the only problem I'm having is selecting a color! Why do they have to make those things come in colors I love.....pink, red, green blue......good golly choices! I am for sure going to get one of these!
I have been going thru my cabinets and getting rid of the stuff tha I don't need. I have way too many pots and pans and cookie sheets. I plan on free cycling some of those to someone in need.
I also need to go thru the utinsle drawer.....downsize that mess.
Keep those hints coming~
mgf~ :high5:

:exercise::wave: HELLO THERE; MGF! DONT FRET OVER COLOR ;WHITE IS THE BEST CHOICE CAUSE IT GOES WITH EVERYTHING ! {if u want it setting out to use} Other wise I myself love cobalt blue and red and yellow lol ...........BUT; Unless your plans to have a solid color theme in kitchen COLORS are not the way to go..... I..(HAVE WHITE) And Iam glad I chose for thoes reasons........ any way also I go on RACHAEL RAYS SITE! AN CLICK ON YUM--O! CAUSE SHE HAS A BASIC PANTRY NEEDS AND WHAT U NEED IN KITCHEN ECT....TO BE PREPARED THATS WHAT I DO ! Hope That Helps You Too

OOOOO FORGOT COOKIE SHEETS I HAVE 2 WILTONS (there great!) 17by 14 give a 1/2 more for lip and there the flat no stcking an clean up is a wiizzzz of course :)I do use a lot of parchment paper too! :)