For
gals who hope to one day hold the title homemaker, it is never too early to
begin gleaning knowledge from those with more experience. By no means do I
claim to be an expert in the field of homemaking, but I do have some tips and
lessons that I am able to share. Some is from my own experience, but much of my
knowledge comes the wisdom of those older and wiser. So get your notebooks out,
today I’m sharing 9 tips and habits that make life in the kitchen better.
Whether
the first time you move out of your parents home is with a college roommate, on
your own, or as a newlywed, it will be up to you to fix something to eat which
equals time in the kitchen. Lots of time in the kitchen. If you marry a man who
likes to eat and then you have children, just go ahead and accept the fact that
the kitchen will be the room you spend the most time in. So with that said, tip
#1…
1.
Make it a place you enjoy being. Decorate with your
favorite colors. If you love new modern style, decorate with bright, bold
colors. If you’re a vintage lover, create your own by framing handwritten
recipes from your mother and grandmother. If you need music to help motivate
you, find a designated spot for a radio/iPod dock/cd player. Be creative and
use resources such as Pinterest for decorating ideas. Make your kitchen your
space and you will enjoy spending time in it. (For those
2.
Wash as you go. You are not going to want to do
this, but trust me on this one. If you wait until you completely finish, you
are going to hate that you didn’t heed this advice. Washing as you go means
less clean-up and a more relaxing space to work in.
3.
Clean out the sink after the dishes are done. I
hear you-this is a gross job, but the jobs we dread most are the ones we need
to go ahead with and get out of the way. Don’t put this one off, you’ll be
sorry.
4.
Label the leftovers. You will not remember if you
made that hamburger casserole last Wednesday or Tuesday. When this happens you
either take your chances eating spoiled food or you follow the old rule: “When
in doubt, throw it out.” Label what it is and the date it was prepared. You can
even keep a roll of tape and a sharpie on top of the fridge to make this super
easy.
5.
If it can be frozen, freeze it. The list of foods
that can be frozen for later use is practically endless. Do your research and
make the most of your freezer.
6.
Make a meal plan. Have a list of go-to meals and do
your best to keep most of the ingredients in your pantry. It’s also a good idea
to keep a list of foods to take to families who have lost loved ones or have
new additions to the family. This makes last minute meal prep a breeze.
7.
Stick to your grocery list. Make your weekly meal
plan and base your list on ingredients you’re missing. This will cut down on
spontaneous purchases, which often leads to wasted food (and money).
8.
Transfer bagged food into mason jars. I store
beans, grains, dried fruit, trail mix and so on in inexpensive canning jars.
It’s a great way to keep my pantry and cabinets neat and organized.
9.
Prep vegetables and fruits at the beginning of the
week so that you snack on healthier foods. If you’re like me you will eat
healthy snacks, but only if they’re as easy to grab as a handful of potato
chips.
(P.S. – For those of you still living with mom & dad,
I doubt they’d object much if you want to put a few of these into practice.
Give them a break sometimes and get some much need experience for yourself!)
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