My cooking has dramatically improved with practice and I’ve learned a lot over the years from family, friends, Food Network stars, podcasts, and blogs. I’ve found that having the right tools in my kitchen really does make things easier. The items below are things I use all the time. They are simple and most don’t cost much, but make a huge impact in your kitchen.
When Brent and I first moved from California to Oklahoma we lived with my parents for several months. During that time we helped them update a two-story building that my family had owned for many years. It was a former bank building, First National in Seminole, Oklahoma. The bottom floor is used as commercial leasing space, read all about it here. The second floor was previously used as offices for lawyers and oil companies as professional office space.
Drawing of 210 E. Broadway Seminole, OK. (artist: Judy Phelps)
The “Bank Building” as we like to call it is located on the corner of Main Street and Broadway in Seminole, Oklahoma. A small town by many standards but great in heart, high school football and Oklahoma spirit.
The building was originally built to be a bank, First National, years later it held art council events. It has since housed a bakery, flower shop, hair salon, clothing boutique, and various other retail shops and offices. The upstairs held law offices and most recently an apartment style living space.
This building has been in my family for many years. We acquired it after it was no longer a working bank. I was a child at the time and I remember going upstairs with my siblings to the “offices” shortly after it was purchased and playing with the old bank paperwork pretending to be a teller.