I don't know if it is the Nesting Instinct kicking in already or if I had finally had my fill with my house being a perpetual disaster, but we spent our long Memorial Day Weekend on Operation Organization as I like to call it.
Over the next few posts, I am going to show you some of the projects and messes we tackled. I am embarrassed by the Before shots but I hope we can continue to be friends. :)
Maybe these posts will encourage you to do the same - or at the very least, allow you to scoff in horror at another household's mess!
My first room to tackle was da-da-daaaaaa - The Kitchen
Showing posts with label kitchen tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kitchen tips. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Friday, July 29, 2011
Plastic Bag Storage
*Disclaimer* I want to say upfront that this is not my original idea. I don't remember which blog I saw it on but I think it is genius. With that being said, shall we proceed?
We try to shop with re-usable shopping bags as much as possible, but it does not always work that way and sometimes we come home with a collection of plastic bags. I usually shove them all together and hide them in a closet until I get fed up with them. I always intend to recycle them, but unfortunately it just doesn't always work out that way. Those little fabric sleeves are nice but I think the bags tend to get stuck in them and occasionally cause fits of stomping on them in the floor (hypothetically of course).
So...I saw a brilliant post on a link party one week where a blogger was folding her plastic bags like a flag (or a paper football) and storing them in a glass jar on her counter to be re-used as needed. I think it is such a neat and orderly option to reigning in these plastic hooligans.
Once they are folded, they are also the perfect size to store one in your purse for an emergency and a couple in the glove box of your car.
If you don't know how to fold a flag or paper football, I will try to explain it below:
1. Fold the bag in half - length ways
2. Fold the bag in half (length ways) again.
3. Starting at one corner, fold the corner over to meet the edge so it makes a triangle.
4. Continue folding the triangle up until you have folded all of the bag.
6. If these directions are as thoroughly confusing to you as they seem to be to me, Google flag folding and I'm sure someone else will be able to better explain the technique.
File this under "Why Didn't I Think of That?"
We try to shop with re-usable shopping bags as much as possible, but it does not always work that way and sometimes we come home with a collection of plastic bags. I usually shove them all together and hide them in a closet until I get fed up with them. I always intend to recycle them, but unfortunately it just doesn't always work out that way. Those little fabric sleeves are nice but I think the bags tend to get stuck in them and occasionally cause fits of stomping on them in the floor (hypothetically of course).
So...I saw a brilliant post on a link party one week where a blogger was folding her plastic bags like a flag (or a paper football) and storing them in a glass jar on her counter to be re-used as needed. I think it is such a neat and orderly option to reigning in these plastic hooligans.
Once they are folded, they are also the perfect size to store one in your purse for an emergency and a couple in the glove box of your car.
If you don't know how to fold a flag or paper football, I will try to explain it below:
1. Fold the bag in half - length ways
2. Fold the bag in half (length ways) again.
3. Starting at one corner, fold the corner over to meet the edge so it makes a triangle.
4. Continue folding the triangle up until you have folded all of the bag.
5. Tuck the loose edge into the pocket of your triangle.
File this under "Why Didn't I Think of That?"
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Soaking Beans
Dried beans are an economical choice for a meal (and a meatless meal at that) and don't we all need something economical these days!?!
I'm not much with a pressure cooker so my only option for cooking dried beans while I am at work is in the slow cooker. This requires me to soak them overnight.
Well I have found a new use for my salad spinner - it is perfect for soaking beans. My salad spinner has a lid, an outside solid plastic bowl and an inside basket with holes in it.
I just sort the beans, place them in the basket, place the basket in the bowl, fill with water and put the lid on. Easy, peasy!
Once the beans have soaked overnight I just remove the basket and pour them into the slow cooker. It's nice to have the bowl and strainer all in one gadget.
Granted, draining your beans in a colander is not a huge burden and doesn't take a lot of time, I think it's good to find other uses for your kitchen gadgets.
I'm not much with a pressure cooker so my only option for cooking dried beans while I am at work is in the slow cooker. This requires me to soak them overnight.
Well I have found a new use for my salad spinner - it is perfect for soaking beans. My salad spinner has a lid, an outside solid plastic bowl and an inside basket with holes in it.
Once the beans have soaked overnight I just remove the basket and pour them into the slow cooker. It's nice to have the bowl and strainer all in one gadget.
Granted, draining your beans in a colander is not a huge burden and doesn't take a lot of time, I think it's good to find other uses for your kitchen gadgets.
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