Lately, I've had a lot of people ask me to take their pictures; whether it's graduation announcements, engagements, or just be the fly on the wall with their kids. Taking photos has always been a hobby of mine on a small scale, but I never thought anyone else would enjoy looking a what I do for fun. The result = Curly Southpaw Photography. You can see the link to where I'll post photos above in "CSP Photos"
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
As You Go Then You Don't Have To
I learned this while watching my parents. My mom can and does cook absolutely everything on the planet...and my dad would go along and clean up behind her. Often, it would drive her nuts that he'd put the flour away right after she'd turned her back to stir in sugar. BUT, the kitchen was always clean by the time we got to eat. My dad would always say "clean as you go then you don't have to clean."
To me, there is nothing more frustrating than cooking and seeing the pile of dishes getting bigger and bigger. It's like a monster that just keeps growing.
Here are a few tips I use while cooking in order to keep things under control.
Keeping a Clean Kitchen While Cooking.
1. Start Clean. It's hard to start cooking when there is already a sink full of dirty dishes. When the sink is full it make is so you can't wash a rinse any bowls or utensil while you're going. It also just creates a difficult atmosphere to cook in. Try to make sure you start with a clean workspace, it's going to make it easier to end up with one.
2. Get out everything you need at the beginning. Take a minute to plan out what you're making and the order you would like to do it. Get out all your ingredients, utensils, bowls and pots and pans. This way you have a plan and are not just "winging" it.
3. Garbage Bag. This is a perfect way to keep your trash off the kitchen counter or just to keep you from running to the garbage can. As you peel and slice, just toss the scraps in the bag then, when you're finished, just toss the whole bag. My roommates tease me about this, but I'll never change.
4. Clean up as you go. The mess can pile up fast if you move onto cooking or baking a second item before you get your first one put away. Lots of ingredients, bowls and utensils on the counter also make it hard to find what you need and you may end up using 4 spoons and extra mixing bowls.
5. Wash off your bowls and cooking utensils as you go. If you are cooking 2-3 things, no need to grab a new bowl. Do a quick rinse with hot water and soap and you should be good to go for your next recipe in a flash.
6. Make more 1 dish meals. One dish meals on the stove top like stir-fry and soup are a great way to keep the pans under control. Ans some of you may not like this idea but I will often mix casseroles in the same dish I bake them in, why dirty up a big bowl just to pour into the baking dish? You have to use your judgement, but personally I have found very little sticking issues.
7. Grate cheese onto a paper towel. Not the biggest "green" tip. But I don't mind occasionally using paper products when it will save me on a bit of clean up.
8. Double your recipe and freeze for another night. This one is kind of a bonus tip because it won't keep your kitchen cleaner the 1st time around, but it will the next time when you don't have to cook!
How do you keep the kitchen clean while you are cooking? What are your best tips?
To me, there is nothing more frustrating than cooking and seeing the pile of dishes getting bigger and bigger. It's like a monster that just keeps growing.
Here are a few tips I use while cooking in order to keep things under control.
Keeping a Clean Kitchen While Cooking.
1. Start Clean. It's hard to start cooking when there is already a sink full of dirty dishes. When the sink is full it make is so you can't wash a rinse any bowls or utensil while you're going. It also just creates a difficult atmosphere to cook in. Try to make sure you start with a clean workspace, it's going to make it easier to end up with one.
2. Get out everything you need at the beginning. Take a minute to plan out what you're making and the order you would like to do it. Get out all your ingredients, utensils, bowls and pots and pans. This way you have a plan and are not just "winging" it.
3. Garbage Bag. This is a perfect way to keep your trash off the kitchen counter or just to keep you from running to the garbage can. As you peel and slice, just toss the scraps in the bag then, when you're finished, just toss the whole bag. My roommates tease me about this, but I'll never change.
4. Clean up as you go. The mess can pile up fast if you move onto cooking or baking a second item before you get your first one put away. Lots of ingredients, bowls and utensils on the counter also make it hard to find what you need and you may end up using 4 spoons and extra mixing bowls.
5. Wash off your bowls and cooking utensils as you go. If you are cooking 2-3 things, no need to grab a new bowl. Do a quick rinse with hot water and soap and you should be good to go for your next recipe in a flash.
6. Make more 1 dish meals. One dish meals on the stove top like stir-fry and soup are a great way to keep the pans under control. Ans some of you may not like this idea but I will often mix casseroles in the same dish I bake them in, why dirty up a big bowl just to pour into the baking dish? You have to use your judgement, but personally I have found very little sticking issues.
7. Grate cheese onto a paper towel. Not the biggest "green" tip. But I don't mind occasionally using paper products when it will save me on a bit of clean up.
8. Double your recipe and freeze for another night. This one is kind of a bonus tip because it won't keep your kitchen cleaner the 1st time around, but it will the next time when you don't have to cook!
How do you keep the kitchen clean while you are cooking? What are your best tips?
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