The Weekly Wrap: October 10, 2021

When I cook dinner, 9 times out of 10, I use the same old, slotted wooden spoon. It has a thicker than usual handle with a rounder than usual head. I have no idea how or when I acquired this spoon. But, if you dare to take it from me, be prepared to be whacked on the wrist.

The thickness of the handle makes it easier to hold. The shape of the head is great for scraping sides of pans. And, since it's wood, I don't have to worry about it scratching my non-stick pans.  The slots make it great for stirring and taste testing all manner of food - be it in a skillet or a pasta boiling away. The larger shape means I can cover a whole jar or can and drain liquids away without needing to breakout a colander.

I love this spoon. 

Sadly, I need to replace this spoon.

I have a tendency to whack it on the side of my pans and the handle is starting to chip. We're not in breakage territory yet, but there is a definite dent in the handle. 

When I'm in a store that sells kitchen supplies, I always look at their wooden spoon selection. There has never been a replacement that meets my standards. The handles are all too thin or, weirdly, to long. The heads of the spoons are narrow or too flat. The one time I found the perfect shaped head but it wasn't slotted. So, my replacement quest continues. 

What is the favorite thing in your kitchen?

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• How to get around article paywalls. [Lifehacker]
• Overdraft fees hit those who are already hurting the most. [WaPo - ​gift link]
• Busy culture is one of my least favorite things. [On Being]
• How old is old? Because, I'm 37 and I definitely do a few of these "old" sounding things at work. [Lifehacker]
• Would you fall for a conspiracy theory? [WaPo - ​gift link]
• Gotta love movie magic. [Buzzfeed]
• 9 anti-skills you don't want to bring to the office. [Career Contessa]

• When you could order a house in the mail. [99% Invisible]
• We don't need the 5-day work week anymore. [Life Kit]
• The evolution of the Karen. [The Real Question]
• Your brain is wired to remember music. [Short Wave]
• The most fascinating (and hilarious) sexual health podcast I have ever heard. [Science Vs]

• We watched the final two episodes of Get Organized with The Home Edit. Now I want to reorganize our pantry. [Netflix]
• These cakes are too pretty to eat. [Craft Factory]

• We have pounds and pounds of salmon to eat from our Sitka Salmon Share, so we're still finding new recipes to try. This week, I made orange maple glazed salmon and served it with roasted sweet potato and salad. This glaze is our new favorite preparation. [Dishing Out Health]
• During the week, I try to make quick dishes to get on the table before our kiddo's hangry takes over. There's nothing faster than shrimp with corn and black bean salad. It's a regular in our rotation. Good on its own or as a taco. [Cooking Light]

• I went to pub trivia this week for the first time in YEARS. I forgot how enjoyable it was to dig into that trove of random facts we all know. Plus, there was the nice bonus of getting out of the house on a weeknight.