Kitchen Gadget: A cook’s best friend
If you love to cook or just like to dabble in the kitchen, then you probably love kitchen gadgets. Most of us have a drawer full of these gadgets that help us feel like cooking is fun and not a chore.
New or new and improved gadgets are invented every year but nothing beats our old, beloved gadgets.
The apple peeler has saved many cook’s fingers. Before 1864, apples were peeled using a knife. The new and improved apple peeler clamps down on the counter and a hand crank peels and cores the apples as it spins.
The pastry blender creates the nice uniform layered crumbs needed to make a flakey pie crust. Invented in the early
1900s, the pastry blender makes it easy to cut shortening or butter into the flour.
Made of stone, lava rock, marble, wood, or other sturdy materials, the mortar and pestle is the first food processor used by cooks for thousands of years all over the world. The bowl holds the ingredients and the mortar mashes them up, releasing the essential oils and flavors. Nothing can beat a mortar and pestle when grinding herbs, spices and condiments.
Invented in 1918 or earlier, the potato ricer was another early food processor used to mash potatoes and other vegetables into a fine puree. It’s also good for making homemade baby food. Potato mashers, another vintage gadget, are also good for mashing potatoes but will not make a smooth puree like the ricer.
Wire whisks were mentioned in English cookbooks as early as 1765 but have been around in various shapes and sizes in American kitchens since the mid-19th century. Whisks can be made of plastic, nylon, birch wood, or stainless steel, but nothing can replace the coiled metal wine whisk with a painted wooden handle that our grandmothers used to make angel food cakes.
Mechanical graters do a good job of grating cheese and vegetables, but aren’t always the quickest tool for the job. Handheld metal box graters were invented in France in the 1540s to grate hard cheeses and they are still easy and efficient to use.
While you might not see these kitchen gadgets at the 45th annual Oldfashioned Day on Oct. 12, there will be live music, arts and crafts, food trucks, local dance studio performances, youth inflatable area and much more.
This year, the Arkansas Coffin Races and Zombie Walk will be held that afternoon. Spots are filling up fast so if you haven’t reserved your spot and need electricity, please contact Cheryl Farmer at 501-590-6192 or cjanefarmer@gmail.com. This is Benton’s oldest festival and the major fundraiser for the Center and promises to be a great day of family fun.
Please remember that there will be no genealogy or computer classes in the month of August.
The Yard Sale fundraiser was a huge success last week. A big thank you to all who donated items and to all who came to shop for bargains and treasures. And thank you to all the volunteers who helped set up items for sale and those who worked the sale.
None of this would have been possible without you.
Monday – The Country Ramblers Band will play at 9 a.m. for your listening pleasure and a little boot scootin’ if you are so inclined.
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibily) will be held at 5 p.m.
Tuesday – AARP
Driving Class sign up will be held from 8 a.m. to noon.
BBB Wildcats will travel to Sherwood at 9 am.
9:30 PEPPI/MWB. Most exercises can be done sitting down.
At 9:30 a.m., PEPPI Exercise and Move with Balance will be held.
Gospel singing will begin at 10 a.m. and everyone is welcome to share a song or just sing along.
Volleyball practice is set to begin at 12:30 p.m.
A sign language class is offered at 12:30 p.m.
At 7 p.m. each Tuesday, a different band will play for your listening and dancing pleasure.
The band for this week is Straight Country.
Tickets are $5. PLEASE REMEMBER THE RULES FOR THE DANCE.
Wednesday – At 9 a.m. Harmonicas for Health will be held. Harmonicas and music are provided.
All you have to do is show up. Not only are you learning something new, it is a great way to help your breathing.
Bingo starts at 10 a.m. Great way to spend a morning and you can practice for bingo at Chickfil-a on Thursday.
Volleyball practice will begin at 12:30 p.m.
Thursday – PEPPI Exercise and Move with Balance will begin at 9 a.m.
The monthly birthday party will be held at 10 a.m.
Friday – Bus will leave for yard sales at 8:15 a.m.
Old Country will entertain us from 9 to 11 a.m. If you dance by the camera you just might find yourself on TV showing off your dancing skills. Sort of like a senior version of American Bandstand or Steve’s Show.
Devotion will begin at 10 a.m.
Cornerstone Pharmacy health checks with Ben Ramsey will be held at 10 a.m.
Each day, a delicious, hearty meal is served. For ages 60 plus, a $3 donation is requested. For those 59 and younger, there is a charge of $8. If you want a take-out plate the charge will be $8 as well.
Monday – Kielbasa, fried potatoes, cabbage, cornbread, tropical fruit and milk.
Tuesday – Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, whole wheat bread, pineapple upside down cake and milk.
Wednesday – Barbecue chicken, corn on cob, potato salad, whole wheat bread, banana pudding and milk.
Thursday – Breaded fish, oven fries, coleslaw, whole wheat bread, chocolate cake and milk.
Friday – Chili dog with bun, sweet potato tots, fresh fruit cup, cookie and milk.
The Benton Senior Wellness and Activity Center is open each day from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Come join in a game of dominos, working a puzzle, a rowdy game of bean bag ball, a game of pool, volleyball or maybe researching something on our computers.