Joseph x 2 and a 'dead hamster' tale (sorry bit longwinded)

You can't beat wooden utensils. If you leave them too near the heat they char, but they don't melt (well, they might go on fire if you leave them long enough). Didn't they find out recently that wood has a natural antiseptic in it, so wood is actually much more hygienic that scratched plastic? After all that ceremonial burning of grandma's heirloom wooden spoons, too!

I inherited a load of wooden spoons of varying sizes from my mother. I keep them in a brightly coloured Provencal utensil jar along with several silicone spoons and a J&J colander/ladle thingy. I don't mind having unmatched utensils - in fact, they reflect my history. Breadboard and pastry board were both bought 48 years ago in Nairobi.

You are too kind by far Grannyknot .. I bet you scored low on the psychopath test (on another thread). Talking as one who scored high on that scale I'd call a halt now by saying something subtle like "I hope you're not planning on getting me any more of that J&J rubbish that I've just taken to the charity shop'. That should focus his mind.

Aka You are a woman after my own heart!

Grannyknot sorry, but laughing here!

They look like utensils that have been designed by a man who never cooks to be sold to a man who never cooks to give to someone who's too nice to say she can't cook with them.

This may sound totally ridiculous, but one of the things that I actually insisted on having when I left exdh, was a very cheap wooden spatula, that over the years (and many of them!) seemed to have curved due to the way it was used.

I have got it now, probably half the width that it was to begin with, but the way it fits into my left handed grip and feels so right.... I gauge the consistency of sauces by "feel"

Not having a clue about what Joseph Joseph stuff was I have just googled it. After nearly choking on my porridge at the price I do realise why your DH keeps getting it for you grannyknot. The more he buys the more points he gets and we all know that points mean prizes so you could end up with even more !!!!!

Just 'fess up and tell him you don't like fancy designer kitchen gear for presents. IMO you are being a bit silly - this is your DH you are talking about not some touchy aged relative who is about to disinherit you and change his/her will in favour of the cats home.

Take the stuff you don't want to a charity shop, or bin it, and tell him you're content with what you have. He may sulk for a bit. Shrug. Did he ask if you wanted new stuff?

Yes, I've been there. e.g. a silver cutlery 'canteen' (is that the right word?). All very posh and unsuitable and they bloody well need polishing! They are in their beautiful wooden box on top of one of the kitchen cupboards and I continue to use my old and well-loved actually useful stuff. I might get round to using the knives when the old bone handles on the current ones eventually fall off. might !

aka I scored sort of medium-ish (30 if I remember) on the psychopath test and it told me how wonderful and empathic I am. Funnily enough, husband who is a much tougher character than I am, and gave completely different answers (I was watching over his shoulder) scored much the same. So we're two all loved up non-psychopaths.

tiggy I better investigate the points. I also think they're high-priced items with a touch of 'style over substance'.

bags I didn't get asked, and jess it was presented with a "see-what-a-wonderful-gift-I-found-for-you" excited smile, so that's why I'm finding it a bit difficult to be apparently shitty about it.

phoenix not ridiculous, I carried a lone spatula here all the way from SA - and we arrived with only 2 suitcases each having given everything else away. (Now that was liberating!)

I have to deal with it so my wooden spoons can take their rightful place again, alongside the plastic timer in the shape of a hen ...

... and anno that would be me too. I had my motley collection of utensils in a granite sleeve, which I also love by the way. That's in the bottom of a cupboard somewhere, gonna dig it out this minute.

If he's so blooming tough then he should be able to cope with the truth! Tell him before xmas you'd like something else and not more kitchen stuff. (am feeling very grumpy this morning. Will go away now.)

Grannyknot You stick with the wooden spatulas and spoons.
I have three decorative jars on my kitchen window ledge with such utensils in. They are right to hand when you need them and not stuck in a drawer.

I have the same issue about other designer utensils. I have had a number of Garlic presses which looked good but broke easily. The one I have now is an odd looking metal and it goes manky if it gets in the dishwasher but it works better than any of the others did.

The same with vegetable peelers. The best one is a little all metal swivel blade one with a rusty stem on which the blade pivots but it it's sharper than the two stainless steel versions.

A cook really needs their favourite gadgets around, I really struggle at my daughter's as the "thing" I need is never at hand.

anno, I gave DD1 a hand-made, solid sycamore bread board from Arran for her twenty-fifth birthday (she had asked for a good wooden board), along with a note that said "You'll still have this when you're seventy-five and you can look at it and say to yourself that you've had this board for fifty years."

"Holy S***" I have just looked at Joseph and Joseph prices.

This is why I don't do "designer stuff" where an item's functionality is most important.
There are some really good Pyrex bowls in Home bargains.

I still use a cooks fork which I bought some 30 years ago (its a bit like a fondue fork with smaller prongs). Its now starting to get a bit tatty and I have been looking for a replacement but can't find one anywhere

One of the many wooden spoons in my collection is a small one which is very worn on one side, indicating many years of right-handed stirring by my mother and me. History in a spoon. I shall leave it to GD1.

It is a very brave man who gives his wife domestic appliances or kitchen equipment unless he is very, very sure that it is what she wants. DFiL once gave DMiL a new iron for Christmas. She didn't speak to him for a month. DH learned the lesson and would only give me kitchen equipment, no matter how up market, if I had specifically asked for it.

only a month?

DH used to buy me items he thought I should have in the kitchen, my comment was "oh you shouldn't have" followed by "you really shouldn't have". The next year I told him in no uncertain terms "no presents at all" We now do not exchange presents and the kitchen cupboards are uncluttered.

This thread had me laughing out loud LOL! Do you remember The Fast Show? There was a sketch featuring a couple [the man was the actor who now plays Father Brown] He comes in [pokes head round kitchen door] and the woman asks him ' did you buy the bread, cat food, loo rolls [or whatever] and he always answers 'Even better than that dear! I bought a jumbo box of pencils, a stuffed parrot, and a slightly scuffed print of Idi Amin ' it varied, but was always dotty and entirely unwanted and useless.
I think that men, go out shopping and just see things they think you may need, my DH went out recently to buy general shopping plus I needed a new pyrex jug, he came back with the right food shopping, no pyrex jug, but a frying pan and a block of varying size scissors.

LOLLLLLLL. That's the sort of thing my husband does.