Things That Last

As I have mentioned before, I am happy to note that one way to be more green is to stop buying CRAP! This is an excellent excuse to buy nice things, especially nice things for your kitchen.

Many things don't last. Glasses get broken, bread knives dull, dishtowels wear out. As much as one likes them, they will have to be replaced at some point.

Recently, while at my mother's house, I had a chance to stroll through her kitchen and see what really does stand the test of time. I was looking for things she received as wedding gifts that were still in everyday use today. This is what I came up with.

• A good colander, metal. (Why would anyone buy a plastic colander anyhow?)
• Cast iron anything (she has some nice old Le Crueset, but other brands have held up as well)
• Casserole dishes. These seem hard to break and easy to clean. They are definitely in it for the long haul.
• A good cake/pie server. This doesn't get as much use as the rest of the silverware, and thus often survives long beyond the rest of the set.
• Ditto for salad serving items.
• Trivets (cast iron, glass, tile, pewter, whatever.)
  

To this list, I would add nice knives that can be sharpened, and a good pepper grinder. My mother didn't go this route, but I am hoping to justify things like $200 knife purchases by amortizing that expense over the next 20 years.