Tasks you like to do the hard way

Don’t cry for me Argentina! Sorry I love that one.

At first I read brown rice. :joy:

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One kitchen activity that I enjoy doing the old-fashioned way is grinding my own coffee beans by hand, savoring the aroma and the process of preparing a fresh cup of coffee.

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+1 I have the old type of grinder with the little drawer and lever on top. Love that thing.

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Pestle and mortar for spices

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I don’t have the hand strength to use a garlic press, I either slice or chop garlic by hand. Seldom use our food processors since we only cook for two so everything is chopped by hand. We also use a mortar and pestle to grind fresh, dried and toasted spices - depending on the recipe. I prefer to make our own rice/orzo/couscous pilafs instead of box mixes. We also never buy pre-shredded cheese or sliced mushrooms (ugh the dirt stuck on them). Have to admit to buying cole slaw mix, though…

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have you tried a microplane? i use mine for garlic, ginger, and lemon zest.

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Same, plus parmesan. It works amazingly well.

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how could i have forgotten about parm!

I don’t know, but I need to report you.

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I use the microplane for lemon zest and parm (although DH does the parm). The lemon is safe for me - I have some neuropathy/numbness on my finger tips and garlic is too small to be safe. I have a pottery ginger grater that I love with rough nubs when I want juicy ginger but I still use a knife to dice ginger most of the time. I love chopping and prepping by hand. It’s always been a zen thing, even before I got old and retired. A way to relax, and I love the colors and fragrance of vegetables and herbs. Especially when I grow them. They make me happy…

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I find ironing strangely satisfying, like cooking, because when it’s done, you have tangible results you can see, and admire, and feel a sense of accomplishment. That being said, I haven’t ironed since the pandemic. I do have countless sets of ironed bed linens, stored with lavender in dust-proof bags. So my linen closet is kind of like a chest freezer for sheets, I guess.

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Wow. I don’t iron my sheets because they wouldn’t impress me that much over straight from the dryer ones. I knew a couple once (they didn’t own a car here in SF) and the young lady insisted on changing their sheets and pillowcases every day

So, that was quite a haul to the laundromat without a car.

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Collagen.

I like to get it eating these

As opposed to scooping it from one of these

Sometimes the journey is better than the destination …

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Beating egg whites for soufflés by hand in a copper bowl, with a whisk; found I have better control that way. Unfortunately I can no longer do that; got sick.

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not to mention the carbon imprint and its impact on the environment.

Yikes. There’s always the luxury of sending them out to the laundry. I’ve done that a couple of times when I’ve been overwhelmed — but it’s way too expensive! I thought only the Queen had her sheets changed every day - and the folded over top sheet got touch-up ironed on the bed, to boot.

I’m snoozing on folded straight from the dryer percale even as we speak. Just laundered. Because The Cat Threw Up On The Bed.

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Oh, how I love them monkey paws!

Damn those hairballs…

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