Checklists for Life

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Stocking Up

It’s the little things in life that matter—especially when you don’t have them when you need them. The catch is that the only way to have what you need when you need it is to buy what you need before you need it. How do you deal with that dilemma? These lists will help you anticipate those little things in life you’re going to need.

Kitchen Equipment: What to Have on Hand

If you haven’t cooked much, or at all, or haven’t been near the kitchen for a very long time, there’s no reason you can’t start now. Take this checklist to the kitchenware section of your favorite store and you’ll come home with the basic tools to stock your kitchen and whip up a few simple and delicious meals.

 BACHELOR’S BASICS

1.	Knives. One small (4–6-inch) paring knife; one 8–12-inch all-purpose knife (sometimes called a chef’s knife); one 13–16-inch serrated (saw-tooth) knife for slicing bread. Don’t waste your time or money buying cheap knives. They are much harder—and more dangerous—to use because they aren’t always sturdy enough for the job (the blade can snap off), and they dull very easily, which increases the risk of slicing something you weren’t aiming at (like your finger). By the time you replace a few cheap knives, you might as well have enjoyed the use of a good one to begin with. If you only buy one, make it a large paring knife.
2.	Vegetable peeler. Even if you buy your carrots bagged and precleaned and like to mash your potatoes with the skins on, you’ll need a vegetable peeler sooner or later for something. If you are left-handed, buy one designed for lefties.
3.	Cutting boards. At least a small one for mincing garlic, cutting a single piece of fruit, or doing any small job; consider an additional, larger board for bigger jobs and slicing loaves of bread. Buy washable plastic (polyethylene) that you can clean at the sink or put in the dishwasher. Figure on replacing the boards (for health reasons) a couple of times a year, or whenever they’ve accumulated a number of slash marks.
4.	Saucepans. A 1-quart pan for heating up a can of soup, making oatmeal for two, or boiling an egg; a 2–4-quart pan for steaming rice or vegetables, boiling potatoes, and so on.
5.	Kettle or Dutch oven. Buy a heavy pot that distributes heat well (cast iron with enamel finish or heavy gauge anodized aluminum are two possible choices). Make sure it has a tight fitting lid (check it for wobble). You’ll use this pot for everything from creating homemade soups to boiling pasta or cooking corn on the cob for a crowd.
6.	Skillets. An 8-inch nonstick for frying up a couple of eggs and a second 12–14-inch pan for stir-frying and sautéing. When you’re skillet shopping, look for sturdy pans that will distribute heat well and resist warping. You’re usually safe with heavy nonstick aluminum or enameled cast iron; but iron pans are heavy. Heft a few (with one arm) to make sure you’ll be comfortable using them.
7.	Toaster or toaster oven. A toaster oven is more versatile, but if all you want are some crispy slices to go with your morning coffee, a wide-slot toaster will do the job quickly and with less attention needed from the cook.
8.	Baking pans. Look for metal pans or glass baking dishes. A 9×9 square and a 9×13 oblong will give you a good start on baking anything from cornbread to chicken to lasagna. You may want to consider the nonstick option if you go with metal. If you prefer glass, buy the oven-to-freezer-to-microwave type for maximum versatility. You can buy casserole dishes with covers, if you like; or you can just wrap foil tightly over the top of anything you’re baking that needs to be covered (unless it’s going in the microwave!).
9.	Mixing bowls. You may find it convenient to own a nesting set of several bowls. But buy at least two so you’ll be prepared for scrambling one egg or tossing salad for a group.
10.	Colander. A must-have if you’re going to be cooking pasta. Metal or plastic is fine; just remember that metal will be hot after you’ve poured boiling water through and plastic will melt if you put it near a stove burner.
11.	Grater. You’ll use this for preparing the cheese for your Mexican pizza or for shredding carrots for a salad.
12.	Cookie sheet. If you like to bake large batches of cookies, having more than one cookie sheet will make the job go faster. If your baking is minimal, you will still want at least one cookie sheet for baking pizzas or putting under things that may drip. Buy heavy-gauge, nonstick cookie sheets. They’ll last longer, be easier to clean, and burn many fewer cookies than their flimsy counterparts.
13.	Can opener. A hand-held opener with a comfortable grip will do nicely. But if you love gizmos or plan to eat an exclusively canned diet, go ahead and get an electric opener. If you do go electric, have a backup in case the power goes out and you need to make tuna sandwiches for dinner.
14.	Pepper mill. There are times when nothing but freshly ground pepper will do. You don’t need to buy an expensive or fancy one; just make sure it’s convenient to fill.
15.	Dry and liquid measuring cups. All measuring cups are not equal. Cups for dry ingredients usually come in 4-cup plastic sets (1⁄4, 1⁄3, 1⁄2, 1 cup) which make it easy to level off the top with a knife for an exact measurement. Liquid measurers are most often glass, with a pouring spout and a little extra room to prevent spills. A Pyrex 2-cup measure is most convenient.
16.	Measuring spoons. Get a set of metal spoons linked together; they are sturdy and can go in the dishwasher.
17.	Utensils. Wooden spoons, soup ladle, pasta tongs, pancake turner, rubber spatula.
18.	Oven thermometer. You would be amazed at the temperature variations in standard ovens. It’s not uncommon for a household oven to be off by as much as 50 degrees or more. Use the thermometer to get a rough idea of how your oven’s temperature corresponds to its dial setting. That way you can decide whether to have your oven recalibrated or just to compensate for the difference when you set the dial. Keep a thermometer in the oven to continue monitoring its accuracy.
19.	Tea kettle. Choose one that whistles and won’t rust inside. You can always boil water in a saucepan, but it’s tacky, takes longer, and wastes energy. Plus, you can leave a tea kettle sitting on the stove and it looks cozy.
20.	Plastic containers. You’ll be more likely to save those delicious leftovers if you can just toss the extra mashed potatoes into a plastic bowl with a matching lid. Putting the entire pot in the refrigerator only works until you run out of pots or room in the fridge. Buy a set of plastic bowls with snap-on lids at the grocery or kitchen supply store or wash and save margarine and take-out containers.
21.	Potholders. Buy a couple of flat ones and an oven mitt or two. Don’t try to use dishtowels: they don’t provide adequate insulation and a pan’s heat will quickly penetrate a damp towel, creating steam, which can give you an especially nasty burn.

When you’re buying cookware, it makes sense to spend the money for good quality. Cheaply made pots and pans wear out much faster than good ones. Even worse, they’re more likely to warp, leaving you with pans that wobble on the stove. Cheap pans also burn food more easily because they don’t conduct heat well. All around, inferior pots and pans make cooking considerably more difficult and frequently less successful.

 NICE, BUT NOT ESSENTIAL

1.	Coffee grinder.
2.	Coffee maker.
3.	Large salad bowl.
4.	Meat thermometer. Using a meat thermometer is the only sure way to tell if your roast beef, pork, or turkey is properly cooked. An instant read thermometer is very convenient—and can also be used to check the doneness of burgers or other meats that you’re cooking on the grill or stovetop.
5.	Potato masher.
6.	Large slotted spoon.
7.	Salad spinner.
8.	Sharpening steel. This is a long, straight piece of metal used to sharpen knives. You grasp the wooden handle and run the knife along the steel. It’s worth the extra two minutes it takes to sharpen a knife before you use it—or at least right before you carve a roast, slice a tomato, or embark on any job that requires a good sharp edge.
9.	Wooden toaster tongs.
10.	Whisk. One large and one small in stainless steel would be ideal. It’s great to grab a small one to whisk a couple of eggs together in a small bowl or measuring cup; and a large whisk will help you quickly blend a bowl of pancake or other batter. But if the idea of owning even one whisk makes you nervous, you can get buy on the smaller jobs with a fork.
11.	Garlic press. This can be a good shortcut for chopping or mincing garlic.
12.	Hand-held electric mixer.
13.	Blender.
14.	Fine mesh strainer.
15.	Vegetable steamer.

Dinner from Thin Air: A Kitchen Pantry Checklist

With the right ingredients in your pantry, fridge, and freezer you can always have the makings of a quick, easy, and delicious dinner, even on a busy weeknight. Take this checklist to the grocery store and you’ll be surprising family and friends with your ability to pull dinner from thin air.

 IN YOUR CABINET

1.	Extra-virgin olive oil.
2.	Vegetable oil.
3.	Balsamic and red wine vinegar.
4.	Dijon mustard.
5.	Fresh garlic.
6.	Soy sauce.
7.	Dried oregano, basil leaves, thyme, rosemary, cayenne pepper. Keep in mind that there are literally dozens of herbs and spices out there—these are some of the most versatile.
8.	Cinnamon. You’ll be amazed what a great combo chicken and cinnamon make. (See “Weeknight No Brainers.”) Plus, cinnamon toast is comfort food.
9.	Salt and pepper (fresh ground and canned pepper).
10.	Canned beans. Refried, garbanzo (also called chickpeas), black, or any favorites can be added to rice or pasta to make a complete protein and a satisfying as well as nourishing dish. Also add beans to tossed salads, tuna, or other main dish salads.
11.	Pasta. Stock at least one long and one short pasta for variety. Remember, the thinner the pasta, the quicker it cooks.
12.	Couscous. Check the gourmet or international area of your store for flavored couscous (garlic and olive oil, lentils and tomatoes, etc.). Many can be prepared in under ten minutes with virtually no effort and the result is a tasty one-dish meal.
13.	Rice. Stocking different kinds, like basmati or long-grain white rice, along with a couple of pilaf mixes will give you more options for main and side dishes. Steer clear of Minute Rice. Real rice only takes about fourteen minutes longer, and when it’s cooked, it tastes like rice—not the box it came in. Spend those extra fourteen minutes opening the mail or playing with your cat.
14.	Bottled pasta sauce.
15.	Bottled salsa.
16.	Canned tomatoes. Chopped or crushed, in their own juice. Add to pasta or rice for a no-cook sauce, or use as a base for a more complicated red sauce.
17.	Raisins. Add these to salads, fruit salads, couscous.
18.	Bottled marinated artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, mushrooms. Lay these out on a plate with some oil-packed tuna for a quick antipasto dinner. Or add any of these things to hot pasta with sauce or to any dish that seems to need a little jazzing up.
19.	Canned tuna and salmon. Use for salads, pastas, and, yes, even sandwiches.
20.	Canned chicken or vegetable broth. Stock a few 14 1⁄2-ounce cans and use for soup base or instead of water for more flavorful rice. Using low-sodium broth will allow you more control over the flavor and salt content of what you’re cooking.
21.	Boboli or other commercially made pizza shells. Try the “no brainer” Mexican pizza on page 53 or let your kids construct a weeknight pizza of their own invention.

 IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR

1.	Eggs. Never underestimate the simple elegance of an herb (cheese? vegetable? onion?) omelet for dinner.
2.	Butter or margarine. (or both) butter can be kept frozen.
3.	Plain nonfat yogurt. Mix a cup of yogurt with 1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil, one large clove of garlic (pressed), salt and pepper. Use as sauce on chicken, fish, or rice. Sprinkle in thyme or dill if the mood strikes you.
4.	Parmesan cheese. A tightly wrapped wedge will keep for weeks. Stay away from the dust-flavored “cheese” sold in round cans in the grocery section.
5.	Cheddar and/or jack cheeses. They don’t keep as long as parmesan (which is much drier), but wrap them tightly and cut off any visible mold before using. Toss cubes into salads, grate into Mexican dishes, or slice for snacks.
6.	Pecans and pine nuts. Toast either in a small skillet and add to salads, pastas, rice dishes.
7.	Bagged whole baby carrots. Sauté or steam them for a side dish, slice them for a salad, or just snack on them while you’re cooking dinner.
8.	Onions.
9.	Potatoes. Bake a big one (sweet or russet) as the centerpiece of the meal and top with salsa, yogurt, grated cheese, black beans, diced onion, or any combination that appeals to you.

 IN YOUR FREEZER

1.	Pesto sauce. Thaw this in the microwave and add to pasta or use as a topping on pizza shells or lightly toasted French bread.
2.	Bread and rolls. Crusty rolls, baguettes, sourdough bread—keep as much as you can fit in the freezer and heat gently in a 300-degree oven. Never use the microwave to thaw or heat frozen bread or you’ll need a hacksaw to slice it.
3.	Sausages. Better groceries sell fully cooked, frozen chicken sausages flavored with delicious additions such as apple, sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan or cilantro. You can defrost these and pop them into a skillet—they’ll be ready as soon as they’re heated through.
4.	Frozen vegetables. Let your preference be your guide, of course, but here are some possibilities: Peas thawed quickly under cold running water are a tasty addition to salads and pasta. Frozen spinach sautéed with garlic, olive oil, and rosemary is an excellent side dish for pasta. In a pinch, you can stir-fry good-quality frozen green beans, broccoli florets, and snow peas with any other vegetables as a side or vegetarian main dish.
5.	Chicken breasts. The skinless/boneless variety can be thawed in the microwave.

WEEKNIGHT NO-BRAINERS FIVE DINNERS SO SIMPLE YOU HARDLY NEED A RECIPE

Any of these quick and easy one-dish dinners can be good enough for company. Round out the meal with salad, bread, and dessert and serve the feast with speed and pride.

Mexican Pizza: Layer refried beans, salsa, and grated jack or cheddar cheese on pizza shells. Bake in moderate oven until heated through.

Speedy Salad: Add canned tuna or salmon to a bed of fresh greens, sliced sweet onion, carrots, blanched and chilled frozen green beans, toasted pine nuts (and anything else that sounds good to you). Toss the whole thing with bottled dressing or a vinaigrette.

Darmody Chicken: Put boneless chicken breasts in a shallow baking pan and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon; add several bagged baby carrots and sprinkle them with dill; next put in a few quartered potatoes and onions; place a few cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced, on and near potatoes and chicken. Sprinkle thyme, salt, and pepper over everything and drizzle with a small amount of olive oil. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees until chicken is done and potatoes, carrots, and onions are tender (about 40 minutes).

Pasta and Sauce: Toss cooked penne, angel hair, or any other favorite pasta with bottled pasta sauce that you’ve heated in the microwave. Add garbanzo beans to make a complete protein and add peas too if you like them. Grate fresh parmesan over top.

Couscous and sausage: Use your favorite flavored couscous; before you boil the water, put in a dash of cayenne pepper and a couple tablespoons of raisins. Toast pine nuts or pecans while the couscous is steaming. Toss the cooked grains with garbanzo beans and nuts. Serve this with sautéed or microwaved chicken sausages.

Stocking a Linen Closet

Whether you view sheets and towels as essential elements of household décor or think of them in strictly utilitarian terms, stocking your linen closet with attractive, good-quality sheets and towels is both practical and satisfying. Here’s what you should have on hand.

 BED LINENS

Considering that a third of our lifetime is spent in bed, sheets and pillowcases that feel good next to the skin also make a big difference on a daily basis. Industry expert Liz Hough of Cotton Incorporated says sheets with a higher thread count (the number of threads in a square inch of fabric) last longer, and “the more you wash them, the softer they become.” If you have sensitive skin, or just enjoy the feel of soft sheets, you’ll be happier with a minimum 200-thread count. Not surprisingly, the price of the sheet goes up with the thread count, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to get good ones. Watch for sales, especially department store “white sales” in January and July.

1.	Sheets. Two sets per bed will allow you to have one in the wash and one on the bed. A third (or even fourth) set is fun if you enjoy giving your bedroom a new look by changing the sheets. Make sure you have at least one set of sheets for every bed in the house, including sofa beds for those times when everyone comes to stay at once.
2.	Pillowcases. Keep the same number of pillowcases per pillow as you have sets of sheets for the bed. Extra cases are nice if you like changing to a fresh one in the middle of a sweltering summer night.
3.	Mattress pad. One per bed is the minimum for comfort and to protect your mattresses from wear and tear. If you stock an extra pad in the linen closet, you’ll be able to strip and remake your bed from the mattress up without rushing to do the laundry first.
4.	Blankets. Keep at least one warm winter blanket per bed and one lighter or thermal blanket for the summer. If you don’t own a comforter or heavy quilt, stock a couple of extra blankets per bed.
5.	Duvet. Duvets are also known as down comforters. They’re optional, but wonderful on cool or cold nights because they are very light, yet extremely warm. They don’t have to be made of down: lightweight silk or hypoallergenic synthetics are another option. They also come in light, medium, and winter weights. Choose yours based on the climate you live in and your preference for using it year-round, or only on cold nights. If you do invest in a comforter, buy a duvet cover to protect it.

 FOR THE BATH

Since you use them every single day, large and absorbent bath towels can make a significant contribution to your quality of life. Thicker towels will also be around long after skimpy and skinny bargain towels go threadbare.

1.	Bath towels. You need a minimum of two per person in the household.
2.	Washcloths. Buy washcloths to match the towels you purchase, even if not everyone in your household uses them. When you have to put out towels for house guests, you’ll have more complete sets to choose from.
3.	Hand towels. Follow the same principle as with towels and washcloths.
4.	Fingertip or hand towels for guests. Stock at least three or four smaller towels for guests’ use so you can rotate clean towels in. You can get by with decorative paper hand towels in a powder room, but cotton or linen is a nice touch. Fresh hand towels are essential when guests use the family bathroom.
5.	Bath mat. Keep two bath mats per bathroom so they can be changed at least once a week.
6.	Bathroom rug. Keep two per bathroom so one can be laundered while the other is in use.

Stack complete sets of linens together, rather than storing separate stacks of pillow cases and sheets. Label your closet shelves with bed sizes to save the trouble of pulling out and opening the wrong sized sheet set.

 A Sewing Kit for Basic Repairs

If you wouldn’t know a bobbin from a bobby pin, and you visit your tailor more often than your mother across town, this list is for you. When a winter coat suddenly pops a button, or the heel of a shoe yanks out the hem of a skirt, where do you turn? You just open up that old cookie tin you prudently stocked with the following:

1.	Package of needles in assorted sizes.
2.	Thread in basic colors like white, black, beige, red, yellow, navy. You might want to add a spool of any other color you keep in your wardrobe (light blue, pink, purple, etc.).
3.	Thimble. These are little metal helmets for your ring finger—the one that does battle with the needle you push through the fabric you’re sewing. They help a lot.
4.	Needle threader. If your eyesight isn’t what it used to be, your hands are less than steady, or if you must thread an impossibly small needle, you’ll be glad you have a needle threader. This flexible steel wire has a diamond-shaped opening that’s easy to thread, and collapses when you push it through the needle’s eye.
5.	Sharp scissors for cutting thread. A single-edged razor blade can do the job, too, but it’s a little more dangerous to have floating around in the kit.
6.	Extra buttons. All those buttons that come with new clothes belong in here. You may even want to keep them in a separate container within or near the sewing box so the right button will be easier to find when you need it.
7.	Safety pins. Think of safety pins as the duct tape of the sewing world. Use them for temporary repairs when you suddenly discover a drooping hem or a missing button on your skirt. Keep a few mid-sized pins and several of the tiny gold safety pins for these and other quick fixes.
8.	Mending and hemming tape. This iron-on adhesive is a godsend for needle-and-thread phobics who must occasionally apply a patch, mend a tear, or fasten a hem. With this tape you can make a quick fix with nothing more than a hot iron.

 A Reference Library

Few things are as frustrating as needing the answer to a fairly straightforward question—Who directed Shane? Where is Mozambique? Who said “a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds?”—and not being able to find the answer quickly without calling the public library or firing up your computer. When you’ve got the right books on your reference shelf, the answers you need are at your fingertips. Here are the standard reference books you’ll reach for again and again:

1.	Dictionary. Take a look at the copyright date of the dictionary on your shelf. If you’d be suspicious of any can in your pantry with this date, it’s time for a new edition. An older dictionary may be serviceable, but it won’t include the most contemporary words and meanings, up-to-date biographical and geographical entries, or current acceptable usage, leaving you more open to making mistakes. See the box below for what to look for in your new dictionary.
2.	Thesaurus. It’s best not to depend exclusively on the thesaurus in your word processing system. Whether you’re reaching for the best word to capture your meaning, or just want to limber up your vocabulary, an actual (as opposed to virtual) thesaurus will give you more words and more nuances of meaning to choose from. Look for a thesaurus that lists words alphabetically, so they’re easier to find, and that groups synonyms according to similar meanings, so you choose the best word for the context.
3.	Book of quotations. Look for a thorough collection of quotes—the bigger the book, the more likely it is to include that quote you’re trying to track down. The books that are easiest to use are arranged by subject, rather than author or chronology; subject listings allow easier browsing for just the right quote to use in a speech, and all good quote books include author indexes in case you know who said the quote you want. Look for a keyword index as well, so you can look up a quote you know even if you don’t know the speaker or how it would be classified by subject.
4.	Atlas. An up-to-date atlas—including the latest changes in country names, for example—is an invaluable tool. Large-format books make map reading easier, but come with high price tags; depending on how you’ll use your atlas, a smaller, less pricey book may work for you.
5.	Video/movie guide. Look for the most recent book with the largest number of movies and with cross-referencing of major producers, directors, and actors.
6.	Almanac. Most almanacs are annuals, meant to be replaced every year. Look at a few different brands to find the book that displays information the way you prefer, and one with a complete index rather than a “concise” or “mini” index that does not cover the whole book.
7.	Classic all-purpose cookbook. If your cookbook library is limited, choose a book with some basic kitchen how-to, such as how many minutes to cook an artichoke or how to carve a chicken, rather than one with recipes only.
8.	Household maintenance and repair handbook. Unless you’re a dedicated do-it-yourselfer, a general book will assist you with almost any home repair.
9.	Encyclopedia. Select an encyclopedia based on the way you plan to use it. For most family reference fact-checking, a good one-volume encyclopedia is enough. Multivolume encyclopedias take up shelf space and cost a bundle; a one-volume book is easier on the budget and can be replaced more often to keep your library up-to-date.
10.	Family medical encyclopedia. Choose a book that allows you to look up symptoms, to help you avoid unnecessary trips to your physician.
11.	Etiquette book. This may seem quaint or unnecessary, but next time you need to RSVP for a formal event or write a condolence note, you’ll be glad you have an authoritative guide.
12.	Gardening book. Be sure to choose one geared to your climate zone.

CHOOSING A DICTIONARY

Dictionaries, like people, have different personalities. Keep this in mind when you’re in search of the right one for your reference shelf. Think about the way you plan to use your dictionary to help you decide which features are important to you. Here are some things to consider:

Copyright date. Get the latest date available.

Number of definitions. This can vary by more than fifty thousand words.

New words. Look for terms like road rage and intranet if staying current with contemporary words is important to you.

Clear definitions. Some dictionaries list the most common meanings first, so the word you want is easier to find; others list meanings in historical order, so you may need to wade through some obsolete (but interesting!) meanings to find what you had in mind. Make sure definitions are clearly written and easy to understand. Compare by looking up the same word in each dictionary you are considering.

Extras. A good dictionary will be several books in one, including charts and tables, maps, grammar and usage tips, and other ready references. What extras would be most helpful to you?

Specific terms. Check to see if a dictionary is up-to-date on terms in technology, law, business, or other fields important to you.

Language usage. Look for a dictionary with clear notes on usage of commonly misused words. You may also want a book that clearly labels sensitive terms to help you avoid language that can be considered offensive. If you don’t want your family to use a dictionary with sensitive language, look for a smaller book or one designed for family use that does not include these terms.