February 16, 2010
From My Kitchen to Yours
There are just some random things I’ve been thinking about in regards to my kitchen, and so I figured I’d put together this mish-mash of my thoughts!
Firstly, I’m not an expert cook, nor do I claim to be. However, I do have a few tips that I can share with you that I use in my own kitchen and have found helpful!
1. Use minced garlic to cook your ground beef or other meat, instead of oil. The meats will produce their own oil, and the garlic will flavour it.
2. Pour a tbsp. of oil into your water when it’s boiling so your pasta won’t stick together.
3. Using a French Coffee Press can help to strain things like quinoa that are small and hard to strain.
4. Peeling the entire carrot into strips makes it easier to saute, lighter to eat, and looks pretty.
5. I read this on someone’s blog the other day, but if you crack an egg and a shell falls into your batter, take a bigger piece of shell and the little ones will be drawn to it like a magnet! Genius!
On another note, I’ve been greatly simplifying my kitchen. I’ve been getting rid of all kinds of items that are unsafe (plastics, etc.) and also downsizing. I’m minimizing how many I have of each thing because I really don’t need that much! I’ve also "upgraded" and gotten a few new purchases I want to share with you!
1. Salt and Pepper Grinders. So simple, but SO needed!
2. A set of 3 glass bowls with lids. Perfect for mixing, storing, taking with me, etc.!
3. My stoneware baking sheet from Pampered Chef. I’m in love!
4. 4 small creme brulee styled dishes…fabulous for making my baked fudge with a twist!
5. My new glass loaf pan.
This isn’t a purchase, but I’ve also cleaned out my fridge lately (in terms of junk but also physically washed it!) and I re-organized my pantry to incorporate glass jars as storage. Here are the pics of that:
So there you have it! Just some random thoughts and excitement from my kitchen to yours! It works for me!
Posted in Kitchen Tips
Stacey says; February 17, 2010 @ 1:28 am
Woohoo excellent tips there Alison, thanks! I’ve been thinking about going through the freezers here at my house and figuring out which stuff belongs to who, so I can start eating mine to get rid of it before having to move in the spring! But I haven’t yet found the energy - or desire
- to do it yet…
Emily says; February 17, 2010 @ 7:18 am
I’ve been on a simplifying kick, too. Actually I have a post in the works on simplifying kitchen appliances! But thanks for the pics of your fridge and pantry. I know it may sound weird, but I love looking at the food other people have lol!
Melissa says; February 17, 2010 @ 9:57 am
Great tips! Thanks!
Administrator - Alison says; February 17, 2010 @ 10:27 am
Thanks for your comments everyone! Emily, I like to see in other people’s fridges/cupboards too! My fridge was pretty bare because we had yet to go shopping, but that felt nice. And I often find our pantry awkward because it’s so deep!
Lori @ My Kinda Rain says; February 17, 2010 @ 11:16 am
Love the glass jar idea!
Administrator - Alison says; February 17, 2010 @ 2:21 pm
Thanks Lori! It’s so much easier to see, and they don’t retain any smells.
Emily N. says; February 18, 2010 @ 12:57 am
I love the glass jars. I have several in my pantry drawers as well. Love your glass loaf pan. I’m on the hunt for one at a good price. Thanks for your great tips!!!
~ Emily N. from “too Blessed to Stress”
Administrator - Alison says; February 18, 2010 @ 10:36 am
Thanks, Emily! I really like how my glass loaf pan works. It cleans out so easily and works well.
Rachel@Coconut Crumbs says; February 18, 2010 @ 3:45 pm
Hi! Thanks for the eggshell tip, so useful. I do that all the time. And I could use some of those handy bowls with lids. New to your blog, but it looks great!
Administrator - Alison says; February 18, 2010 @ 5:47 pm
Thanks for the comment, Rachel! I’m glad you stopped by. Yah, I drop eggshells into my batter frequently! I confess I haven’t had the opportunity to try this particular tip yet, but the blogger who mentioned it (don’t remember who!) said it worked like a charm.
I got my bowls at Zellers (Canadian store), but they’re made by Pyrex so you could find them anywhere.