You know the song Auld Lang Syne? We've all sung it but for the life of me, I couldn't tell you what it meant. After a quick Google search, I learned it comes from the Scottish poem by Robert Burns. Translated into English, it's "days gone by."

Days gone by. That got me thinking about the things I use from day to day. We have so many more gadgets and gizmos at our fingertips today that our mothers and grandmothers never dreamed of yet so many men and women of my generation have no idea how to bake a cake from scratch or how serve a roasted chicken that didn't come from the deli section of the grocery store.

If you were to open Grandmama's cabinets and drawers, you wouldn't find shiny, new electronics, you'd find her pots that have cooked a thousand pounds of butter peas, the ancient sifter that kept her cakes consistent, the glass casseroles that carried the world's most delicious macaroni and cheese and the pans that have held hundreds of birthday cakes and loaves of banana bread. Maybe if my cabinets looked a little more like hers, my kitchen would produce that comforting home-cooked food our mothers and grandmothers are so famous for.

Recently, I've started working on my pots and pans collection. Perhaps the most timeless and versatile ones are those by Le Creuset. The cast iron, porcelain enamel coated cookware can be transferred from your stove to your oven and is pretty enough to serve from at the table. Each piece is certainly an investment, one that will render dividends meal after delicious meal.

Although manufacturers no longer produce the crank sifters of yesteryear, Norpro sells a Battery-operated flour sifter that works just as well. The stainless steel mesh screen is settled into a durable plastic body with a snap on lid and detachable handle for easy cleaning. Sift up to four cups of flour or powdered sugar at once by the press of a button.

A large casserole dish is indispensible to the basic kitchen. One year for Christmas, I got several glass Pyrex casseroles complete with canvas carrying case to make covered dishes easy. Whether I put a lasagna in the freezer for emergencies or bring chicken and rice to a church supper, I am constantly turning to my casserole dishes. The smaller, square dishes are perfect for making meals for one or two people while the oblong dishes are more suited to sharing with friends. The round dishes are my favorites, they remind me the most of the ones Grandmama served her mouthwatering green beans from.

I must admit that I am not the world's best cake baker. Maybe that has a little something to do with the fact that I have one 9 inch cake pan and a three-dollar Bundt pan. If I had my choice of any cake pans, I'd choose the Calphalon Classic Nonstick Round Cake Pans. They come highly recommended by the experts for their versatility and the dark coating that promotes better browning for a more attractive cake.

For a beautiful Bundt cake, I'd love to be the proud owner of the Nordic Ware Platinum Series 12-cup. It also comes highly recommended by the experts and the clean shape makes for a breathtaking presentation. Its thick, durable cast aluminum body promotes even browning and ensures that this pan is one that will last for decades with proper care.

In college, I tried on a number of occasions to recreate my great-grandmother's banana bread recipe. I failed miserably every time. Without a loaf pan, it was difficult to judge how I should adjust baking times and temperatures. Perhaps if I'd owned the Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch Nonstick Loaf Pan, my banana bread would have mimicked the moist and homey taste of Mama Bertha's instead of giving its best banana brick impression. Designed specifically for quick breads, the pan boasts two layers of technologically advanced Swiss-made "Goldtouch" nonstick coating. This coating is a ceramic-reinforced nonstick surface that is not only scratch resistant but is guaranteed not to chip or peel. The best part? It's dishwasher safe.

Maybe by looking to the past and taking cues from the fantastic cooks in my family, I can step up my cooking and baking by building my kitchen artillery one timeless piece at a time.