Beautiful Day

THE NOTEBOOK, PAGE 29

The Registry, Part I: The Kitchen

I know you well enough to realize that you might skip over any section of this notebook titled “Registry,” because material things mean little to you, and if you got married tomorrow, you would ask everyone to donate to Greenpeace or Amnesty International instead of bringing a gift. However, here is another place where you must trust me!

You and I know that Margot doesn’t cook, she has a hard time with anything more elaborate than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and she’s too busy with work to entertain-which is a pity because that apartment is begging for a dinner party. But you, my darling, are a magnificent cook. You have been whipping up healthy things like steel-cut oats with bananas, and that chicken stew. I was only able to eat a few bites, but it was delicious. The fresh dill made it.

This established, a list of items for your kitchen follows. Remember, Jenna, people are going to bring you gifts no matter what you say. Better they give you something you can use.

Crock-Pot/slow cooker

10" and 12" nonstick frying pans (All-Clad is best).

3 qt. sauté pan with lid

large cutting board, preferably Boos

knives: Do not register for a “set.” Knives are too important. You want a 10" chef’s knife, a serrated bread knife, a hollow-edge Santoku, a sandwich knife, and two good paring knives.

8 qt. stock pot

immersion blender

KitchenAid stand mixer (I’ve had mine 35 years, never a problem.)

good coffeemaker

11-cup Cuisinart food processor

tall wooden pepper mill

1 qt., 2 qt., 3 qt. saucepans with lids

colander

Le Creuset Dutch oven

large wooden salad bowl (Check at Simon Pearce.)