In my grandmother’s kitchen there was a gadget for everything. Can’t retrieve the pickle from the bottom of the jar? Use the pickle poker. From lemon squeezers to cherry pitters to olive forks and corn handles, there was a specific use for everything and the appropriate sized baking dish to accompany it.
My kitchen bears an eerie resemblance. It’s well stocked and there’s one of most everything. I have what I want, more than I need and frankly, at this point, there is not room for another. Yet, when my friend dished up a tantalizing photo of her fresh spiralized zucchini noodles this week, I had to ask about the device.
I own a spiralizer but in this age of culinary equipment specialization, it’s best suited for curly fries and won’t offer the long spindly noodles that I desire. And so, I inquired about the brand and my sister in-law, seeing the post, invited me to try hers out. She even delivered. Perfectly twisted long narrow zucchini curls delivered with a hand crank – I like this device as there are no cords to mess with and nothing to plug in.
But in a larger context, isn’t this the way that things should work? Rather than running out to own yet another kitchen countertop thief, shouldn’t I just see what I can borrow and conversely, let others know what I can share?
Might this be an opportunity to take a neighborhood kitchen inventory and to post it on a private site to be borrowed by others? And there would need to be an operating agreement that read something like, when you use it, you’ll double the recipe to provide a meal or a side dish or a loaf of bread for the owner. Does it make any sense for all of us to own the same assets any longer?
Malaysian Squash Noodles
modified from this recipe by the raw chef, Russell James
Yields 4 cups
Ingredients for the Noodles:
- 1 medium zucchini
- 1 medium yellow summer squash
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 ½ ozs shiitake mushrooms
- few pinches of pink Himalayan salt
Ingredients for the Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons coconut manna/butter
- 1 cup water
- ½ oz ginger, peeled
- ⅓ oz minced lemongrass stalk
- 1 red chili
- ½ clove garlic
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon fennel seed
- Pinch clove
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon tamari or soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
For garnish:
- Crushed cashews or almonds
- Dulse or any dry sea vegetable flakes
- Hemp seed hearts
- Fresh cilantro Coriander (cilantro)
Directions:
Spiralize the zucchini and the squash into noodles and transfer to a bowl with a few pinches of salt and the cold pressed oil. Slice the shiitake mushrooms into strips and marinate in a splash of apple cider vinegar and tamari. Blend all ingredients in a highspeed blender until smooth. Place the noodles and shiitakes in a serving bowl. Add the sauce to bowl and top with crushed cashews, dulse, hemp and cilantro.
Share!
What else might you be able to share with friends or neighbors?
Agrigirl's Blog 
Carolyn Niethammer
/ June 26, 2016Sounds fabulous. Wish I had a spiralizer.
Tammy
/ June 27, 2016I’ll bet that someone you know has one :}
Tandy | Lavender and Lime
/ June 26, 2016I really like that idea of sharing kitchen equipment. I use a peeler when we make vegetable noodles as there is less waste than when using a spirillizer 😀
Tammy
/ June 27, 2016A peeler with my peeling skills would give a thin flat noodle. I may have to try that.
nrhatch
/ June 27, 2016Borrowing makes sense, Tami . . . especially for seldom used items that are expensive to buy and space hogs to store (e.g., Ladders, Pressure Washers, Party Chairs & Tents, Carpet Steamers, Kayaks, Canoes, Sewing Machines, Bikes, etc.).
When we moved to FL, we asked to borrow a neighbor’s ladder to check our dryer vents on the roof. . . and, to save him a trip up the ladder, we checked his vents before we put it away. And when I say “we” . . . I mean BFF.
You might be interested in this blurb. Sadly the site “Share Some Sugar” is MIA.
http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife/2010/08/when-keara-schwartz-moved-into-her-new-apartment-she-needed-tools-and-gardening-equipment-but-she-would-have-used-many-of-t.html
Tammy
/ July 25, 2016Thanks Nancy. I do think there is a place in our lives for a sharing shed!
herbanlifestyle
/ June 27, 2016Fun recipe! I will see if I can borrow a spiralizer. It makes good sense to share things like that. Perhaps an infrequently-used-kitchen-appliance exchange could work amongst groups of friends/neighbors…
Tammy
/ July 25, 2016Seems like it would work if there are ground rules and if one didn’t have to travel to far to get it..
Lisa H
/ June 27, 2016So glad you enjoyed the spiralizer! The dish you prepared looks lovely–I will have to give it a try.
Tammy
/ July 25, 2016Yes, loved it – thanks so much.
Shawna Batcha
/ June 27, 2016This looks amazing! xo
Tammy
/ June 29, 2016Everyone ate it! And it’s so easy.
Letty Flatt
/ June 27, 2016I lusted over a spiralizer for years and finally I have one. I’ve loaned it to friends twice!
Tammy
/ July 25, 2016I think I need to make a list of things in my kitchen that are not frequently used; rice cooker, pressure cooker, etc..
Estrella Azul
/ June 28, 2016Love the pics to this simple recipe. Now, do I know anyone around me who owns a spiralizer thingy?
Tammy
/ July 25, 2016Put out the request! Tandy says she uses a peeler. That would work if you don’t find one.
hotlyspiced
/ June 28, 2016I love the sound of your grandmother’s kitchen. I have never seen or heard of a pickle poker! My daughter bought a spiralizer saying it was our next absolute ‘must-have’ and I am yet to use it. Must get it out of its box xx
Tammy
/ June 29, 2016Or list it on a neighborhood website as ready to use!
Sophie33
/ July 4, 2016My mom has also a spiralizer & uses it nearly every day. Your dish is a wonderful one. It looks smashing & oh so inviting too. yesterday, I replied to your question about Good-King-Henry leaves.
Tammy
/ July 25, 2016How does she use it everyday? What does she make?
Sophie33
/ July 26, 2016She spiralizes zucchini, cucumbers, fruit sometimes. Then she either eats it raw or fries it a bit in a fruity extra virgin olive oil with a simple topped tomato sauce, not the cucumbers though! And these yummy recipes. In the 1st recipe, that is also my mom’s spiralizer that is used. http://www.theroastedroot.net/raw-carrot-pasta-ginger-lime-peanut-sauce/
Sophie33
/ July 26, 2016Also this yummy recipe with 2 beets from our garden: http://eatdrinkpaleo.com.au/raw-beetroot-salad-with-walnut-dressing-goats-cheese/
I Wilkerson
/ July 5, 2016I love the neighborhood kitchen inventory idea! I have longed to try spiralizing but been hesitant to make (yet) another purchase. Perhaps I’ll ask to borrow my sister’s…
Tammy
/ July 7, 2016I can’t store another device! I am all for sharing!
Agness of Run Agness Run
/ September 1, 2017Yummy! These noodles seem so mouth-watering, Tammy! Is this a typical Malaysian dish?
Tammy
/ September 14, 2017Oh gosh, I don’t think so but this is really very good and you should try it.
Auburn Meadow Farm
/ January 14, 2018I am gadget averse, lol. Zoodles are a great idea though, and can be made pappardelle style with a vegetable peeler, lol. I would be a poor and disappointing co-owner of gadgets though. I tend to be absent minded and forget to return things.