If you like to buy organic meat at the farmer’s market, as I do, it’s a lot easier to justify spending $5 a pound for the roasts, then to spend $12 a pound for steaks.

And yes, of course, beans. tuscan beans with sage and garlic. Black bean soup. Red beans with tomatoes and guajillo chile paste. Navy beans with pork shoulder.

Also, I love the energy-efficiency of the pressure cooker, and the fact that I can make a stew or beans in summer without heating up my kitchen by having something simmering on the stove for hours.

I’ve considered a pressure cooker. But in my mind the only thing I’d use it for is cooking beans. You know, using dried beans and getting them done quick. Otherwise… I don’t know what I’d do with it. I mean, I’m sure I could find things to do with it, but if I don’t already have the need…

My slow cooker doesn’t get a lot of use. Occasionally I make a turkey breast in it. And it’s good for pot lucks and get-togethers when you need to serve hot food out of someone else’s kitchen.

The thing about using towels for potholders is, sometimes you might grab a slightly damp towel from off the counter to pull your dish out of the oven. And if you do, you could end up with a burn, or even a shattered pyrex dish. That’s the beauty of potholders–they sit hanging by my oven, not lying on the counter soaking up moisture.

Aside from that, I mainly agree with your selections, but I would substitute a bit here or there: I’ve ditched my slow-cooker in favor of my pressure cooker. I use my blender more than I use my food processer.

I would also agree that the “complete sets” of pots and pans that are on most newlywed’s gift registries include far too many pots and pans, and usually they don’t include the essential cast-iron skllet.