Scissor Cut

Scissors haven't changed much since they were invented by the Mesopotamians a few thousand years ago. They were cleverly crafted then, too. One long piece of metal with two ends sharpened in opposite ways, were bent in the middle so that each of the ends met sharply and closely:  snippety snip. The Chinese still produce them from the same company when they began their scissor-making some time later. One particularly cute pair of scissors done in ancient times was decorated in the Egyptian manner, with one blade, a dog and the other a cat. Appropriate. My most used tool in the kitchen, is a pair of scissors and I don't mean the ones that kitchen suppliers sell. Nope. Mine are sewing scissors. Why? When I want to cut something up, I want sharp, not bone cutters but scissors so sharp, not pointed, but dangerously sharp of blade so that when I want carrots thinly sliced the long way, a knife won't do it. Also knives are scary in the kitchen. Scissors are more accurate for some jobs while a knife might take part of you away if you slip up. But they are more safely sharp. I trim beans and peas with them. I trim my lettuce bits that are somewhat worn but only just before serving. I cut lemon and lime peel just the way I like it. I  zest peel using them.  So far I have not had to buy a new pair of scissors because I rinse them off and wait for them to dry thoroughly before putting them back in their drawer. Getting your green onion and herb bits sliced just the size you want, is  best done with scissors, and not the kind for herbs. Your own variety.  Sewing scissors are easy to use and easy on  old fingers as well. Snipping the dough of your bread products just the way you want the slits to work, pays off with scissors. The other day, I used them to get into the stew and cut up the cooked meat just the way I like it. Snip, and there was the perfect chunk. Trimming fat, snipping off fowl skin to even it and so many other ways of using scissors rather than knives, is worth a try if you haven't done it previously.  But don't tell anyone who thinks he or she is a chef. Shhh. Snip.