Kitchen OCD

I never realized how many neuroses I had regarding my cooking and my kitchen until my Mom moved in with us. I can't believe I'm going to admit to such bizarre behavior. Please don't send me for psychiatic help ! :P Here it goes:

I absolutely panic if I don't have a categorized shopping list and menu every week when I go shopping. To leave what i'm cooking every day up to fate makes me slightly uneasy.

I LOVE going grocery shopping... This is going to sound geeky, but it's one of my favorite things I do in my weekly routine. I love to take my time and examine all the products to make sure I'm getting the best for my money.

I am VERY picky about certain items I MUST have in my kitchen. If I happen to run out of one of these items I just can't cook. I have must have the following (this is just the basics): Sea Salt (course and fine), pepper grinder with fresh peppercorns (preferably the mixed colored peppercorns), and extra virgin olive oil (preferably all Italian). Again, this is just the basics...
I also prefer to have fresh herbs on hand at all times, but it's very hard in the winter. From March to about December I keep an herb garden going, it gets hard to keep it going during the winter though.

I am also becoming a kitchen equipment snob. I HATE cheap pots and pans. I have invested in a mid quality set of stainless steel cookware. I also have a love for Le Cruset (shhh don't tell my hubby how expensive it is). It's cast iron with porcelin over the top. It's heavy and it's very versitile. My one dutch oven should last me forever.

The final thing (which is where the OCD comes in) is I absolutely freak when the majority of people watch me cook. I have a few people I will ALLOW in my kitchen when i'm in there. Those people are very few and far between...

Again, please don't judge! Cooking is my favorite thing on earth, it makes me happy. So I feel I'm entitled to a bit of fun :)

Have a good Wednesday evening!

Julie