Finally, this weekend, my problem was solved. Browsing the extremely random and interesting shelves at Cost Plus World Market, I found a little thingie—a metal clip coated in places with heat-resistant silicone (I assume). It attaches to the side of the pot or pan, and allows your spoon to just chill, levitating above your soup or white sauce, until you need it again. No mess, no cleanup! And it is rated for some astronomical temperature that I’ll probably never be using on the stovetop.

So GO BUY ONE! There are an assortment of exciting colors as well as a formal dark gray. They are probably at all kinds of stores, come to think of it. But it is SO much more interesting to go to World Market than Target. :)