We were invited to dinner this Sunday by two different couples- How nice. The unfortunate thing is that I have no idea what the couple that caught us first is going to be making. I know the second couple is planning on making a thanksgiving dinner. Oh YUM! I love Thanksgiving dinner- it’s right up there with split pea soup, bean and cheese burritos w/red chili sauce (homemade), and winter squash on my list of favorites. I’m sad I’ll be missing that, but I’m glad we have friends.

We’ve been inviting several couples over frequently enough to dinner, and have had yet to receive any return invitations- not that I expect them, because I LOVE to entertain, but it’s nice to know that these people think we’re pretty neat too, or else why would they be feeding us?

Well as I was thinking about this idea of entertaining, it got me to thinking about my future kitchen. Aside from the master bedroom in my future home, this is one of the main things I ponder as I look forward to that “someday” when we are homeowners. Having lived in a few apartments and been around to others homes, I’ve got a good idea of what I want and what I don’t want- so that when that someday comes, I think I will have touched on perfection- at least as far as the kitchen is concerned. :)

Where to begin…well, let’s work from the ground up. I want tile on the floors. Having had both linoleum and hardwood floors, this tile thing is rustic, stylish and easy to clean.

Lots of oak colored cabinets and drawers of various sizes- that’s not too hard to imagine. I found the perfect solution for spice storage while visiting a friends house. She has a cabinet dedicated to spices- it lays just ONE spice bottle deep, flat against the wall-so you can alphabetize and find the exact spice you want INSTANTLY. I fell in love with this as soon as I saw it. I think EVERY kitchen should have one- if it’s not in the main kitchen area- then the ideal spot would be in the…ATTACHED PANTRY! WOOHOO

My pantry is AWESOME! It’s big enough for all our food storage so that we don’t have to go to the basement when we run out of pigs feet There will also be room for a stand up deep freezer. That’s a freezer that looks like a fridge, but it’s all freezer space- and couldn’t we all use a LOT more freezer space. I haven’t figured out everything about my pantry, but I know that there will be space behind the shelves, and shelves, and shelves of food that is big enough for one person to walk behind so that rotating food becomes easier than ever!!! And then when halloween comes around we can build an awesome haunted pantry in the one person crawl space. Thus making use of the “wasted space”. I am not one to waste space, but I think in the dreaded event of having to rotate food storage this would be an exception. Of course this is only in my little brain, I’m sure my husband could come up with a more efficient method, but that’s what I’m seeing so far.

As far as garbage disposals are concerned- is it possible to get a double garbage disposal- meaning a disposal in each side of the sink, that way you won’t have to worry about food falling down and staying down the side without the disposal.

Some of my other fantasies are a trash compactor, a “bay window shaped island” with a bar,plenty of space, and lots of natural lighting. Hubby and I like to cook and bake, and we’re always running into each other in our apartment- which is a given, but not necessarily a bad thing either ;)

There is still so much to decide, but it’s so fun to be growing into this future. One day I will have this fantasy kitchen and I’ll be able to have everything I “need”, but until then I’m content with what I have.

It sure doesn’t hurt to dream though ;)