<p>Fresh grated cheese is always more fun than shredded. I’d invest in a cheese grater and some large plastic spoons for stirring pasta and sauces. I’m also bringing a fondue pot for some fun fondue nights occasionally. Easy food with a festive flare :)</p>
<p>Pyrex is great, but don’t ever put a glass Pyrex dish on a hot stove top burner…Pyrex can break and explode into tiny projectiles if used on a hot burner…only use Pyrex in an oven. I once placed a Pyrex casserole dish on top of a burner I thought was off just to store it for a while and accidently turned the wrong stove burner on to high…bam…the Pyrex dish exploded into a thousand pieces. It sounded like a gunshot exploding…luckily no one was in kitchen when it shattered. Only use Pyrex inside oven…not on top burner.</p>
<p>My D. and her friends came up with the list and then they divided it. When they moved out, each took whatever belonged to them. If something got lost/broken, then it is lost/broken, nobody’s fault, this is a “must” rule.</p>
<p>Organizers to make use of limited cabinet space, ie dividers, lazy Susan. Brita water filter. Kitchen trash can. Salad spinner doubles as a colander and a serving bowl. A few containers for leftovers. Sink strainer.</p>
<p>My D thought of a dish drainer. We don’t want to invest in a kitchen trash can or anything that has to fit in a cabinet until we get there and have a sense of sizes. New York City water–none better anywhere, so no Brita necessary! Sometimes ice cube trays come with the freezer, so we’ll wait on that. D is really not into cooking, so she won’t be doing anything that requires an array of spices or any kind of recipe that starts on the stovetop and goes into the oven. If the roommates are more ambitious, they can work out buying additional items among themselves. Foodstuffs in general can be bought as and when needed. There’s a great supermarket within walking distance that can satisfy pretty much every food need.</p>
<p>Updated list:</p>
<p>table settings, # as needed–microwave safe plates and bowls, flatware, plastic glasses, microwave-safe coffee mugs
medium lidded saucepan
medium lidded non-stick skillet
lidded pasta pot
mini-blender
colander
tongs, non-scratch spatula, wooden spoons
cutting board
knives–paring, chef’s, serrated
set of measuring cups (for dry measure)
4-cup Pyrex measuring cup (for liquids)
set of measuring spoons
set of microwave-safe, multi-sized plastic bowls usable for mixing and food storage
2 potholders
2 dish towels
standard can opener, church key opener, corkscrew
dish drainer</p>
<p>I really like the microfiber dish mats. They absorb tons of liquid, and work very well for anything that you hand wash. They can be folded up and transported so easily.</p>
<p>Never heard of them, roshke. WHat are they used for?</p>
<p>You can find this one at Bed Bath:</p>
<p>[The</a> Original XL Dual Dish Drying Mat - Bed Bath & Beyond](<a href=“http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=204386&COL=235&RN=976&]The”>http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=204386&COL=235&RN=976&)</p>
<p>Thanks, roshke! I think I’ll buy one. :)</p>
<p>BUY NEW
A large package of sponges (some with a scrubby side) - toss the used ones frequently enough so they don’t smell.
Dish soap
Sponge holder (the suction cup type that you stick inside the sink)
Some sort of cleaning/disinfecting/grease-cutting spray to clean the counters, etc.</p>
<p>BUY USED
Drinking glasses
Wine glasses
Mugs
“Set” of cooking utensils - spatula, spoon, slotted spoon
Knife sharpener
Steak knives
Bread knife (for bagels!)</p>
<p>Oh, and a few fridge magnets</p>
<p>And a timer if there’s not one on the stove or microwave.</p>
<p>Rather than buy a dozen spices, I got son some mixed small jars, Like “fish spices”& “chicken”.</p>
<p>Also got a set of colorful clips to close bags (At Big Lots)</p>
<p>^^^ or instead of the colorful clips, put a handful of clothespins in a ziplock bag - perfect for “chip clips”, cereal bag clips, etc.</p>
<p>Do not buy a lot!!! Most places have relatively limited space. If you ever lived in studio, you know exactly what I mean. I would not buy any mugs, they tend to accumulate into some sort of collection.</p>
<p>Do you have a Christmas Tree Shop in your area? Great deals on household items. They sell the kitchen drying mats for $3.99. I bought a number of these and brought them to my neighbors in Florida and to my daughters dorm. The sell $1.00 spices, plastic and glass items etc. I miss this shop when I stay in Florida.</p>
<p>Binder clips are my substitution for those large, sometimes unwieldy chip clips. I use them on everything from opened cereal to chips to bread. Two of the larger ones will secure almost anything. I keep them on my boat bag in the summer for use at picnics.</p>
<p>Side note: what part of the country are these “Christmas Tree Shops” in??? I see it mentioned here on CC a lot and clearly we don’t have them. And honestly, does it have anything to do with a Christmas tree??!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There’s one in Dayton:</p>
<p>South Towne Center
2264 Miamisburg Centerville Road
Dayton, Ohio 45459
(937) 428-0523</p>
<p>The Christmas Tree Shops are owned by the same company as TJMaxx and Home Goods, I believe. They have nothing to do with trees OR Christmas at this point, if they ever did. 
I’ve shopped at one in Maine and one in Connecticut, but I don’t know where else they might be.</p>
<p>They have great prices on all kinds of things. Sort of an odd lots store, but with more consistent offerings.</p>