In a recent exchange about “Who is Worth Knowing” I was challenged by the question “If you were a Kitchen Utensil, what would you be?” Yes, sharp conversationalist. I loved it.
“Why a whisk, I stir things up (insert laughter), increase volume (head nods) and leave places bigger and lighter than where I found them (Drop the mic, Boom!).”
My response entertained the entire crowd, particularly those who know me well. I am loud. My humor does stir the pot. Most of my stories end on a positive note but make you think.
This quick interchange lingered with me. Over the last few weeks, I have mentally unpacked it.
Most of the whisking I do in the kitchen is electronic – what isn’t these days. I love my Kitchen Aid mixer – it changed my cooking life. When I was a child, the "IT” kitchen widget was a handheld mixer. This was what I used (and still use) to make 7 minute frosting that is essential to “Daddy’s Little Girl”. I still use it today for just this cake as it’s hard to create a double boiler with a Kitchen Aid mixer (need to learn to draw because that visualization would be funny).
The whisk is a metaphor for my mom, grandma and me. The manual whisk makes me think fondly of my maternal grandma. Whipped cream is delicious, but back in the day it was an art and act of love. Just once, I dare you to manually whisk cream into “Whipped Cream”. Now try it with your non-dominate hand. Who needed specialized exercises to tone the arms with the sheer act of topping a dessert burning more calories than the dessert itself?
My mother, a career woman before her time, delighted in the time gained by automating whisking with the hand mixer as well as the food science of Cool Whip.
I fell in love with the Kitchen Aid Mixer because it made it hands free, and I would argue risk and mess free to boot. Bring on the inherent ADHD of my kitchen. I wonder what my daughter will embrace.
The Whisk is a metaphor for more than just automation, it’s one for investing in quality and diversity. This picture is of the whisks I have acquired and keep in my kitchen. Notice the diversity. Small things like small people are so valuable to me. A small whisk is perfect for impromptu salad dressings and egg washes. A large whisk on the other hand is essential when creating big volume batches that the Kitchen Aid can’t handle like fan favorites “My Favorite Niece”, “THAT Guy” and “Pinterest”. Multiple whisks of key sizes are also important as whisks are a pain to clean well and quickly. A sturdy expensive whisk is invaluable for certain recipes like “No Sharpie Required” and “Fat Pants” while the cheap often colorful ones are a great price point for most jobs. Varying the shape and materials help depending on the construct of the vessel you are whisking in. All that said, I bet my grandma had one whisk for everything and did just fine. A lesson to pass on to my daughter and future generations.
So, if your love language is “Gift Giving” and you are looking for something for the epicurean in your life that has everything – give her a whisk and a note that says what this whisk means to you.
I hope you never look at a whisk in the same way again.
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