18 Daily Habits That Make Life in the Kitchen Better

If you spend hours a week preparing your tasty meals in the kitchen, these habits could help you. Check out "18 Daily Habits That Make Life in the Kitchen Better"!

18 Daily Habits That Make Life in the Kitchen Better

SARA KATE

• I wash as I go which means less clean-up and a more relaxing space to work in.
• I incorporate leftovers into new meals. For example if there's a leftover piece of chicken from last night, I put it into a salad the next day for lunch, or one slice of pie gets chopped up as an ice cream topping.
• I have someone over for dinner at least once a week; it keeps my cooking fresh and my house clean!

FAITH

• I clean out the sink after the dishes are done; this is a refreshing reset for an often-gunky part of the kitchen.
• I fill a big bowl with hot, soapy water and slip silverware and cooking utensils into it throughout the day.
• I keep a running list on a whiteboard in the kitchen of ingredients and leftovers in the fridge. This is so helpful for me and my husband to see what’s still there, and it helps keep the fridge cleaner too.

EMMA

• I clean my knife immediately after using it. It's so much easier to get it clean before sticky stuff dries to it, plus I use it constantly, so it's nice to have it always ready to go again.
• I freeze bread. It's just me and my husband in my house, but I always make at least 2 loaves of bread with every batch. I cut each loaf in half, use one immediately, and freeze the rest.
• I make a meal plan. I used to waste a lot of food — particularly produce — because I just bought food spontaneously and it would go bad before I found a way to use it. I finally made a rule for myself that I HAD to have a specific recipe in mind before I could buy anything! It was a complete drag at first (not gonna lie), but now it feels second nature.

CAMBRIA

• I use a garbage bowl, usually just one of my mixing bowls, which helps keeps my cutting board clean and saves me from frequent trips to the trash.
• I try to always keep a clean towel over my shoulder or within easy reach when I cook. Bar mop towels are great for this. I'll use it as a potholder, or to quickly pat dry vegetables or wipe up a small spill.
• I set up a clean area for myself before I start cooking. Even if the rest of the kitchen is messy, I try to clear off the island completely, or the countertop space next to the stove, so I can have some breathing room for chopping and prepping.

ANJALI

• I capture all the online recipes I want to try in one place — and actually look at them. Like Emma, I make a meal plan every week and I use Paprika to keep track of the recipes I want to try for dinner.
• I transfer bagged food into mason jars. I was already storing beans, grains and other bulk goods in inexpensive canning jars, but this year I started doing the same with trail mix, dried fruit and other food that comes packaged in bags. It keeps my small pantry cupboard neater and more organized.
• I keep a big stockpile of rags near the kitchen. I've been weaning my household off of paper towels for awhile, but I had the biggest breakthrough when I finally sat down one afternoon and sliced up a big pile of old towels and cotton t-shirts into kitchen rags that I now use to clean up even the scummiest messes. Now I never run out between laundry days.

ARIEL

• I keep a roll of tape and a sharpie on top of my fridge. Makes it easy to quickly label things I made or purchased.
• I lay out mise en place. This one is super important to me. I like prepping and measuring everything I need before I start cooking so I don't panic when I can't find something.
• I wash dishes and countertops as I go. Makes cleaning after eating so much less of a pain.

...and 6 Kitchen Habits We Want to Adopt

SARA KATE: I'd like to get better at planning a whole week of meals ahead; as nice as it is to have the skills to cook spontaneously, with children, it helps come dinnertime to actually have a plan.

FAITH: Prep vegetables at the beginning of the week so I snack on healthier foods.

EMMA: Unload the dishwasher as soon as it's clean and start loading dirty dishes into it right away. All too often, I end up with a dishwasher and dish drainer full of clean dishes and a counter so packed with dirty dishes that I don't have room to cook! It's ridiculous! I just need to get in the habit of putting those clean dishes away.

CAMBRIA: Clean the kitchen every single night before I go to bed. I'll admit it — I do not often end the day with a clean kitchen, and it's always super stressful for me the next day. This year I really want to get into the habit of cleaning up entirely before I go to sleep. I know I'll be so much more motivated to cook the next day if I wake up to a neat, sparkling kitchen.

ANJALI: Make big batches of roasted vegetables and hearty salads to snack on throughout the week. I'm trying to get my husband to eat more vegetables for lunch, which he is happy to do, but only if they are as easy to grab as a handful of chips.

ARIEL: I want to entertain more — because cooking + friends is always a good idea. Always.

(Image credits: Rachel Joy Photos; Chris Perez; Gabriela Herman)



Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/18-daily-habits-that-make-life-in-the-kitchen-better-199173

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4 Childhood Favorites From a Box: And How To Make Them from Scratch

We all have dishes we fondly remember from our childhood. Well stop thinking about it and make it! Check out these "4 Childhood Favorites From a Box: And How To Make Them from Scratch"!

Here are four of my favorite childhood foods that just happened to come out of a box, and how to make them from scratch now that we're all grown-ups.

I'm not sure it doesn't actually take longer to heat water, then empty the hot chocolate packet into a mug, and add the marshmallows of your choice at the end. My mother didn't skimp on the fluffy, sweet addition essential to any cup of hot chocolate. Yes, some of the packets come with marshmallows, but some of us preferred one large one, while others were only happy with several smaller marshmallows. My parents were all about respecting our individuality.

→ Make It Yourself: Snuggle In: 10 Hot Chocolate Recipes

We ate a lot of (lower sodium!) canned soup, even though my mother demonstrated on a regular basis how easy it was to throw together a vegetable soup, with leftover vegetables from the fridge, a little chicken stock and some crushed tomatoes. I only use canned soup occasionally, when nothing else will do.

→ Make It Yourself: 10 Delicious Ways to Make Chicken Soup

I also enjoyed an awful lot of frozen pizzas, something I can't remember buying for my children, because it's so easy for them to put them together themselves.

In our family, when we eat frozen food, it's usually something we've made ourselves and saved for a later date. I do wonder if I'm depriving my children — just a little — because I'm failing to introduce them to the great pleasure of a crisp freezer pizza, the kind with the mildly spicy, tiny square pieces of pepperoni, "fresh" from the oven.

→ Make It Yourself: How to Make Frozen Pizzas at Home

And the aforementioned pot pies? How I used to love them. We each had our choice of chicken or vegetable. When my mother turned my pie onto my plate, and steam rose from the piping hot filling, my stomach growled in happy anticipation. In truth, I never make chicken pot pie, even though I love it, because it's a lot of trouble for me. Maybe I should reconsider the freezer section at the grocery store next time I'm there.

→ Make It Yourself: How to Make (and Freeze!) Individual Chicken Pot Pies

Are there any packaged foods you enjoy, simply because they're too labor intensive to make? And do you remember those pizzas with the tiny square pepperoni? Yum.

(Image credits: Megan Gordon)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/letting-go-if-the-mixes-from-my-childhood-because-making-it-from-scratch-is-just-as-easy-199766

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Recipe: Vegan Coconut Almond Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Here's a sweet treat with no meat! In fact, it's vegan! Check out this delicious "Recipe: Vegan Coconut Almond Chocolate Chip Ice Cream" and chow down!

Vegan Coconut Almond Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Serves 4

2 (15-ounce) cans full-fat coconut milk
1/2 cup honey or agave nectar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 ounces (85 grams) raw almonds (about 1/2 cup), coarsely chopped
3 ounces dark chocolate chunks or chips (about 3/4 cup)

Shake the cans of coconut milk thoroughly before opening. Scoop out 1/2 cup of coconut milk and set it aside. Combine the remaining coconut milk, agave or honey and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat until the sweetener thins and is easily mixed into the coconut milk, about 2 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk remaining 1/2 cup coconut milk with the cornstarch until well combined. Stir into the warm coconut milk base and cook until over medium heat until the mixture begins to thicken — enough so that it coats the back of a spoon, 6 to 8 minutes. Do not to allow the mixture to boil. Whisk in the vanilla extract.

Remove from the heat and pour the coconut base into a separate bowl. Allow to cool on the counter for 30 minutes, then cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 hours — you need the base to be very cold before you process it in the ice cream machine.

Churn the mixture in your ice cream machine following the manufacturer’s instructions. Add the chopped almonds and chocolate chunks at the very end. When thickened to an soft-serve ice cream consistency, spread into a large loaf pan (or pie pan) and freeze for a few more hours (or overnight) until the ice cream has firmed up completely.

Recipe Notes

• Remember to freeze your ice cream bowl overnight!
• Coconut milk separates into a fatty layer and a thin watery layer in the can. Before using it, recombine these layers by shaking the cans thoroughly before opening. You can also chill the coconut milk in the fridge for a few hours.
• You really do need to chill your base for a good 4 to 5 hours to cool it down completely before pouring it into your ice cream machine — so plan accordingly.

(Image credits: Megan Gordon)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-dairyfree-coconut-almond-chocolate-chip-ice-cream-recipes-from-the-kitchn-199112

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Breakfast Recipe: Savory Muffins with Prosciutto & Chives

Wake up with a delicious breakfast and get your day started right! Check out this "Breakfast Recipe: Savory Muffins with Prosciutto & Chives"!

Savory Muffins with Prosciutto & Chives

Makes 12 muffins. Adapted from Heidi Swanson at 101 Cookbooks.

1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 large eggs
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup almond meal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 ounces prosciutto, roughly chopped
1/4 cup chives, finely chopped (from about 1/2 a 2/3 ounce package)

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a muffin pan with paper baking cups and spray them lightly with baking spray.

Whisk the cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, and water together in a large bowl. Add the flour, almond meal, baking powder, smoked paprika, and salt, and whisk until no lumps remain. Fold in the prosciutto and chives, whisking one more time if necessary to break up clumps of prosciutto.

Divide the batter between the muffin cups and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until puffed and golden brown.

Store leftovers in the fridge; they're best warmed slightly before serving.

(Image credits: Faith Durand)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/breakfast-recipe-savory-muffins-with-prosciutto-chives-recipes-from-the-kitchn-199319

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Keeping Your Bathroom "Company Clean" In 5 Minutes A Day

How clean is your bathroom? Not clean? Kind of clean? Well, it could be "Company Clean". Check out "Keeping Your Bathroom "Company Clean" In 5 Minutes A Day" and keep your bathroom sparkling and sanitary!

Bathroom cleaning is always extra sucky because of all the products, lotions, potions— and even stubborn toothpaste spittle— that seems to never end. There's toilets to clean, nooks and crannies to get to, and soap scum— ugh, don't get us started. Forget all your worries, because these tips will have your bathroom clean in just 5 minutes or five 60 second intervals throughout your day. Fabulous!

The idea of dragging in a mop and bucket and spending 30 minutes on your hands and knees scrubbing tile is appealing to almost no one. Instead, take care of one of the most well-used rooms in the house in small intervals throughout your day.

If you happen to have children old enough to help, give them a single task to do to help out and make it all that much quicker! Check out the tips below and see if you can't put them to use in your own home today.

1. Do Something While You Brush Your Teeth: It only takes one hand to brush your teeth, so tidy and straighten as you brush those pearly whites. Grab dirty clothes and toss them in the hamper, straighten makeup that was left out, or simply note what surfaces need to be wiped down.

2. Nothing Should Take More Than 60 Seconds: It doesn't matter what size bathroom you have, how many people use it, or how dirty it is. When the basics of bathroom cleaning are done every single day, they can be done in a single minute of time.

3. Make Cleaning Easy: You might use commercial cleaners or homemade, but no matter what, you shouldn't have to fight with them. If single use cleaning wipes allow you to get the job done in record time, use them. Is your broom frayed and not quite getting all the dirt from under the counter? Replace it! The bathroom is a small enough space that, if you can house all your cleansers right there, you're more likely to take 60 seconds and wipe something down than if you have to remember to trudge into the kitchen to get a spray bottle and towel. Doing small things like spraying your shower down with vinegar can put off scrubbing of walls until much later.

4. Clear The Clutter: The key to keeping any home, big or small, clean in record time is keeping the clutter trimmed down. Yes that little collection of glass bottles is pretty, but they collect dust like crazy. If you can eliminate it, do. It's one less thing to move to clean counters and wipe clear of toothpaste.

5. Clean Something Every Time You Go Potty: (because potty is a funny word) 60 seconds isn't long, but you can put it off if you don't work it into the times you're already in the bathroom. Use the seconds after you've washed your hands to tackle an item and be on your merry way, then you don't even have to program yourself to come back in.

These tips, in conjunction with the basics of bathroom cleaning (wiping down toilet, wiping down sink and counters, wiping down mirror, sweeping floor, shower maintenance), can all be tackled with lightning speed. Just tell yourself you can do it instead of saying it won't work for you. You'll be amazed at how much things sparkle a week or two down the line.

Original Article Here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/5-tips-on-keeping-your-bathroom-company-clean-in-5-minutes-a-day-164686

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15 Healthy Work Lunches That Don't Need to Be Reheated

Reheated food just isn't quite as good as the fresh stuff. Well these dishes don't need to be reheated, so forget the microwave at work and check out "15 Healthy Work Lunches That Don't Need to Be Reheated"!

Hearty Salad Recipes

My favorite hearty lunch salads always include either grains, beans, pasta, or nuts.

1. Tortellini Salad with Figs, Walnuts, Prosciutto & Greens
2. Warm Chickpea Salad with Cumin & Garlic
3. Golden Beet and Barley Salad with Rainbow Chard
4. Wheat Berry Salad with Blood Oranges, Feta & Red Onion Vinaigrette
5. Roasted Garlic, Olive & Tomato Pasta Salad

Roasted Sweet Potato, Goat Cheese & Arugula Sandwiches

Non-Boring Sandwiches

Use good bread, lots of spreads, and a bunch of quality ingredients.

6. Roasted Sweet Potato, Goat Cheese & Arugula Sandwiches
7. Boiled Egg, Seared Asparagus & Pickled Onion 
8. Mozzacado Sandwich
9. Farmer's Lunch Sandwich 
10. Curried Tofu Salad Sandwich

Other Totally Awesome Cold Lunch Ideas

For when you desperately need to break away from the sandwich/salad thing.

11. Whole Wheat Pita with Kale & Asiago
12. Butternut Squash, Sage, and Parmesan Pasties
13. Spiced Lentil, Sweet Potato & Kale Whole Wheat Pockets
14. Kalamata Olive and Parsley Potato Salad
15. Spicy Lentil Wraps with Tahini Sauce

More Cold Lunch Ideas:

• Skip the Microwave: Lunches That Don't Need Reheating
• What Are Good Lunches That Don't Need To Be Reheated?
• Reader Intelligence: No-Refrigerate, No-Reheat Lunches?

(Image credits: Emma Christensen; Faith Durand)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/15-office-lunches-that-dont-need-reheating-198836

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Cleaning Your Electronics

Did you know that dust can hurt or damage all of your electronics?  The blog below has some great tips on how to keep your electronics dust free and running smoothly.  You can learn more about technology tricks by visiting apartment therapy.

Desktop Computer: Many towers have fans on the back and vents on the sides. At least once per year, perhaps more in dust ridden regions, use compressed air, then wipe down with an anti-static microfiber cloth. Start with the fan, then move to the vents to release any dust build up. You may be surprised what resides inside your computer's internal regions.

TVs: Wiping down the screen is pretty standard, but like computers, many large TVs also have a fan in the back helping to prevent the television from overheating. A little compressed air will help here too. 

Keyboards: Keyboards won't overheat, but low profile keyboards will get "soft keys" (sticky) if there's too much built up gunk under a key. Unplug the keyboard and blow on it gently every once in a while, using that handy can of compressed air for bigger jobs, and a dollop of hand disinfectant on a paper towel to remove grime on top. 



Mouse with Rolling Balls on Top or Bottom: My old Mac had a mouse with a small rolling ball on the top. It was great for web browsing, but on a nearly monthly basis the ball would get stuck and would roll sporadically. Even small amounts of dust will cause a mouse with delicate parts to operate poorly. A little compressed air on a regular basis will go a long way, with an alcohol based cleaner to wipe the top and bottom from smoother scrolling.

Add an Air Purifier: protect your home electronics further by installing an air filtration system nearby to keep dust, pet fur, and other debris out of digital devices and appliances in the first place. 

Check out our How to Shop for an Air Purifier shopping guide, alongside Consumer Reports, Good Housekeeping, and Consumer Search for recommendations.

(Photo Credits: Edward Goodwin via Flickr's Creative Commons, Tech Nibble and Apple)

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