Hand wash or Dishwash? That is the Question. (AND GIVEAWAY!)

If you want to get serious about cooking, you got to get serious about what gadgets you have in your kitchen. I am still adding things to my repertoire! So with the upcoming holiday anddddd my birthday around the corner, I am thinking about what new things need to occupy my counter top and drawers.

I want to talk about a recent upgrade we made to our kitchen: a dishwasher!!!! Our house would be perfect if we had two things--a dishwasher AND a garbage disposal. Don't get me wrong, our kitchen is lovely. It is spacious and a total upgrade from the apartments we have leased. But no dishwasher? No garbage disposal? Say whaaaat?!!!!

Eric used to make a joke when guests came over. I would always asks guests to scan the kitchen and ask, "what is missing in this room?" Surprisingly, no one ever noticed that it lacked a dishwasher. Eric, full of sarcasm, always would reply, "But you're looking at it right now!" (Meaning ME....that I'm the dishwasher...Oh ha, ha.)

Washing dishes sure was getting old. With the amount of cooking I take on and the responsibility of a full time job, dishes were the last priority. One day, I came home from work and Eric told me he bought a portable dishwasher. Get this. My reaction: I was mad!! For some weird reason, I was beginning to enjoy washing dishes by hand. Strange, I know. But I'm the person who loves doing laundry. So I guess it isn't very strange if you know me well. Anyhow, I was upset! When the dishwasher arrived, I never even used it. Not because I was rebelling over the fact that he had spent a few hundred dollars on it, but because washing dishes by hand became a habit over time!

Now who in their right mind would prefer to wash dishes by hand instead of loading up a dishwasher?! Long story short, I use it from time to time now, but I often find myself still washing them by hand. Those dishwashers, I tell ya, we take them for granted. But truthfully, it isn't so bad!

So, would you rather use this:

What I started out using instead of the dishwasher...and it is the best of
the best of all dish racks...BIG and Stainless steel!!

or  would you rather use this?

As you can see, this is a mini size dishwasher. It sits on top of our counter top.

I do believe that a dishwasher is necessary in households because we live in such a fast-paced society. We value our time and dishwashers save a lot of time! However, do they save your dishes?

Keep in mind that hand washing the following preserves the life span and quality of each:

• Knives (Washing your sharp knives in the dishwasher is a no-no!!!)
• Pots
• Pans
• Fancy dishware

Other items in my kitchen that are a necessity:

• KitchenAid mixer
• KitchenAid food processor
• Electric can opener
• Blender
• immersion blender
• Garlic press
• Cheese grater (freshly shredded parmigiano reggiano cheese----no KRAFT nasty in this house allowed)

Giveaway: This is my first giveaway. I am starting with a small but highly useful prize!!!  One winner chosen at random will receive a microplane grater!!!  Leave a comment and answer one of the following questions:

• Would you rather use a dishwasher or hand wash? Why?
• What kitchen items are on your holiday wish lists?
• What kitchen items are mandatory in your kitchen? What do you get the most use out of?

GOOD LUCK!!! Winners will be announced on Wednesday, Nov 9!