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?

I'm Not a “Plan B” Kind of Girl

I deserve better than someone who is afraid to commit to me. It may seem like enough for now. I'm just taking things slow. Oh, how I know those little phrases of “one day” and“we just need time."  I believe them. I’ve ALWAYS believed them.

But I'm NOT a plan B kind of girl.

I need to know that I'm not the invisible one standing in the back who gets chosen last.  I'm the girl who the team captain will be frantically hoping doesn’t get picked by someone else before he gets a turn. I'm a first-pick kind of girl. And no one worth having sits back and lets those girls wait around.  ‘Cause every good man knows that the good ones get gone fast.  

He should be jumping out of his skin in anticipation to call out my name and say “I pick you.”

“But he’s scared” “…and I’ve got commitment issues” “…and we don’t like labels.”

And. And. And.

Like a fool, I’ve stood there picking at the fabric of my sweater and spinning excuses. I’ve heard them all. I’ve used them all. “He’s been hurt.” “He’s busy.” “He’s in school.” “He doesn’t have a good car.” “He has Momma issues.” “His Dad left.” “His Great Aunt’s second cousin’s puppy just died.”

I'm not the kind of girl who needs to make excuses for him.  Good girls don’t have to finish last.

I must be at the wrong game and with the wrong players. Because I'm not a substitute, average, or second string.  I'm a catch. I am beautiful and funny and fabulous. Rooms light up when I walk in. Heads turn when I giggle and the earth itself adores the kiss of my feet.  I am worthy to be chosen, pursued, adored, loved, respected and informed. This whole “Do we really have to define this thing?” is almost always a delicate way of asking “Will you fill this lonely spot until I decide nothing better is coming along?”  

Stop being afraid that I am not worthy enough to be claimed. Stop thinking “I’ll take what I can get. Maybe I will be enough for him one day. Maybe he will be enough for me.”  Don’t even consider the lie that says; “I can’t set my standards too high, because if I do, I might end up alone.”  Better to be alone than taken for granted. Better to be alone than to be a placeholder.

The one that loves you isn’t afraid to say it. If he loves you, he won’t even blink because the idea of giving another man the chance to swoop in is just unacceptable.He’ll fight and use labels or poems or the Goodyear blimp to show you that you’re just the right fit for that open place in his heart. That no other piece will do.  

You should be nobody’s second choice. And if you are, then they are just that; NOBODY.

He’ll lose his pride to tell me that I make him nervous and he’ll spend his heart to find what makes me laugh. He’ll tell me that I'm worth words and flowers and promises.  And I'll believe him, because I'll see it in the way he watches me across a room. I won’t have to question it by analyzing a text message or deciphering the tone of an e-mail. Because he’ll drive over just because and I'll see it in his face and hear it in the way he asks about my day.  My answer will lie in the memories of nervous beginnings and awkward introductions. I'll know because the questions didn't take long to fade. Because he said what he meant and meant what he said. And even when he messed up; he made up.

I'm not his back pocket plan, fill-in girl, or multiple choice answer. I am fierce and a force to be reckoned with and the kind of girl whose beauty calls for hand-written notes, words like “wow” and car rides to the ocean. Take nothing else and be nothing less.

Note to self:  Be the kind of girl who deserves him and treats him with kindness. Who laughs at his jokes and thanks him when he opens your door. Leave the head games behind you. Encourage him and wear the kinds of dresses that make him respect you. Be the kind of girl who gasps at his surprises and hugs him for his compliments. Be worthy of the kind of man that you deserve and & the man that he was born to be.
Stop waiting for the guy who isn't sure you’re enough and respect yourself enough to wait for the one that knows you are.

Crazy Cuisine

Just a little insight to my current culinary-creations!

Mint Chocolate Chip with Mint Oreo Cookies (and my St. Patty nails)

Cinnamon rolls

Wontons

Crockpot Carribean Jerk Ribs

Rolls

Christmas Sugar Cookies

Butterscotch rolls

Nailed it -- Fun

Since I got home from my mission, I've had this weird fascination with "fun-painting" my nails.  I love to decorate for the holidays, but nails are my newest canvas-obsession.  I'm not a big fan of painting the ring finger differently, but I do like making my thumb different.  I like having the four fingers match, and then BOOM...a cute little thumb design.  Here's my escapades as of yet:

Valentine's Day kiss

Hearts and Kisses

St. Patrick's Day buckle

St. Patrick's Day gold coins

Ready to Cinna-OH-YEAH

Tried my hand at making homemade cinnamon rolls...sans raisins (yucky).  Verdict - - - FAN-TAB-U-LOUS!!

I don't have any mixing pictures, but here's when the magic started.  After rolling out a tablet of dough, I brushed a little butter on and covered with sugar and cinnamon...and more sugar and cinnamon...and more butter.  After the tablet, I rolled it into a log, took some floss and cut it into discs (I felt a little like a ninja with the floss...that stuff is awesome).

Rolled out and read to roll up and cut

Rolled up and ready to rise

Risen and ready to bake

Baked and ready to glaze

Glazed and ready to devour

CINNA-OH-YEAH

If I lived in the past

Here's a little look into what I'd look like, if I lived in the Seventies.

70s glasses