|
|
Cast Iron Cookware
Setting/Cleaning Up Your Kitchen
Having your kitchen organized can save you time and money when shopping, and at every meal as you prepare them for your family. Here are a few tips from the professionals to help you accomplish this task:
*Items should be stored near the place they will be used, for instance pots and pans should be stored near the stove.
*When storing foods in your cupboard, put like items next to each other.
*Spices are easier to find when you alphabetize them in your spice rack.
*The front and door of your refrigerator should be used for the items you use the most.
*Having several sets of measuring cups and spoons eliminates the need to stop and wash them while cooking.
*Organize your shopping list the same way the isles in the market are set up.
*Keep a list of shopping needs, as you use something up, put it on the list.
*Only shop once a week, rather than making several trips to the store throughout the week, it is actually less expensive, and a real time saver.
Re-organizing and cleaning up your kitchen after each meal is just as important as the initial set up was, a well organized, clean kitchen is one that is a pleasure to cook in.
For clean up after each meal her are a few tips to follow:
*Keep a sink of hot soapy water for soaking dishes as you use them, if you have a few minutes while cooking you can even wash a few items.
*Casseroles and roasts, that dont contain tomato products, can be baked in a disposable, foil pan.
*Line your broiler pan with foil to take away the need to wash it later.
*Cleaning a grater can be a real mess, coating it with non-stick cooking spray can make the chore a lot easier.
*Marinating foods in reseal able plastic bags creates less dirty dishes for you to do later. They also work great for coating foods in flour, not as much mess on the counter.
These are all simple tips that make your cooking time more enjoyable and gives you more time to spend with your family.
See Also:
Stocking Your Pantry
Stir Frying
Thanksgiving Day Feasts
Halloween is the start of the holiday seasons for many, but Thanksgiving is the beginning of the marathon cooking binges that many of us go on during the year.
This time can be one of two things, either an enjoyable family time, or a nightmare for one, you decide!
Thanksgiving and Christmas usually mean family get togethers, and lots of food, call a family conference in advance, include all of the cooks (men and women) that will be attending and decide on your menu.
After the menu is decided on, each family member chooses what they would like to bring. This allows each family to provide what they can afford without feeling like they must go into debt!
Of course, you can always bring more than you choose, a favorite pie (if it hasnt already been included in the menu), but this method guarantees that all of the basics are there.
Without any one person being responsible for everything, and without having 6 different green bean casseroles!
Different families have different basics for their holiday meals; some have turkey, while others prefer ham, some large families like both!
Many families have traditions that they follow year after year, these are important to continue generation to generation.
However some of the basics for a Thanksgiving feast are:
*Turkey and stuffing
*Honey glazed ham
*Green bean casserole
*Pies, pumpkin pie (remember the jack-o-lantern), mince meat, apple, pecan, the varieties are endless
*Mashed potatoes and gravy
*Corn on the cob
*Salads
*Cranberry sauce or whole cranberries
*Jell-O molds
*Fruit cake, (they arent all used as doorstops)
*Drinks, sodas, spiced drinks, milk, tea, again, the choices are endless
*Rolls and breads
*Cakes
There are as many different foods at a Thanksgiving dinner as there are types of people, enjoy and keep the traditions alive, maybe create a few new ones this year! |
|
More articles:
www.firstglimpsemag.com
Setting Up Cleaning Routines
Happy Valentine's Day, lady_caetlyn!
Amazon.com: "Organizing Your Pantry": Key Phrase page
There's History In Your Frying Pan, Hearth to Hearth Article, JOA&C January 2001 Issue
Outdoor Cooking
Quick Healthy Snacks
Vegetables and fruits are some of the better know quick healthy snacks available today. Keep fresh vegetables, cut up and cleaned in the refrigerator with dip for the kids to snack on after school, they wont miss the candies and cookies if they never get used to them.
It doesnt hurt to have those once in a while as long as they do not constitute your main form of snacking.
Keeping fresh fruit in a bowl on the counter is another good way to provide healthy snacks for your family.
Whatever is in season at the time will work; fresh apples and peanut butter are a great snack with a lot of protein in them.
Fresh fruit and cottage cheese are also high in protein and allows family members to deal with their sweet tooth in a more healthy way. However there are other snacks available that are equally enjoyable.
Whole grain snack crackers (there are an unlimited variety of snack crackers) with an assortment of cheeses are one form or snacking.
There are many kinds of cheese out there for you to keep on hand; you can even buy them already cubed if you dont have time to cut them up yourself!
Celery and cheese spread are tasty and easy to put together after school, at during lunch at work or school or as an evening snack while watching your favorite movie.
Dehydrated fruits are available including raisins, dates or many other kinds of fruits, trail mixes are very popular.
Trail mix is another snack food that has a wide range of tastes, from tropical to nut blends, something for every finicky eater in your family.
They are also easy to customize for your particular tastes. Just buy your favorite fruits and nuts, cereals, and even candies and mix your own.
Be creative with snacks and you will notice a difference in what your family eats.
Related Topics: Cast Iron Cookware,
Fundraising Cookbooks, Thanksgiving Day Feasts
|