Summer is my favorite time of year. Even though it is still spring and the weather hasn't yet reached muy caliente, I have been putting my grill to good use. Here are a few of my favorite items used when cooking on the open flame. Of course they can be used in any kitchen throughout the year, but the summer months put them into overdrive.
Gelled Fire Starter: Great for my charcoal grill, and it doesn't add odor or flavor to food. I also use this on my outdoor fire pit when I grow impatient with the kindling.
Black Truffle Sea Salt: Ah-Maze-ing. They probably need a 12 step program for this stuff. Rub a small amount on a nice filet and you can skip the marinade. Also great on grilled corn and veggies.
Bamboo Skewers: Great for veggies, fruit or good ole fashioned s'mores. I also find use for them in the winter months when I am in the mood for a little fondue.
Silicone Basting Brush: Forget bristles for basting. Those are incredibly hard to clean, especially if you are using oil or butter. With the silicone, you don't have to worry about losing bristles on your beef when the brush gets worn. It being dishwasher safe means more patio sitting and less utensil cleaning.
Pizza Grilling Pan: My grill is like a brick oven, since it literally is made of bricks. So naturally it makes sense for me to own a pan used to cook pizzas on a grill. I love a good crispy crust, and this guy does the trick.
Herb Mill: Fresh herbs make me happy, but chopping them can take forever. It really makes no prepping herbs when a better solution exists. Looking forward to making some honey marinated grilled peaches with fresh basil. Maybe I'll even add some fresh oregano the next time I have a pizza on the grilling pan. Um, can you tell I'm hungry?
Pot Holder: This pot holder not only holds the pot, but holds your hand. Genius!
Does your summer involve lots of grilling or cook outs? What are your favorite products?
Of all the appliances in the home, the refrigerator is probably the hardest working. We stock it full, ignore expired items and leave smelly spills until they become one with the fridge (and not in a zen-like fashion). Not only does a clean refrigerator keep food fresher, it extends the life of the appliance.
Your best friend in this cleaning process will be baking soda. It is best to avoid using scented dish soaps and sprays, as they can leave behind a scent that the food will adsorb. The mix is created using 2 tablespoons of baking soda for every 1 quart of hot water.
At this point, you can unplug the fridge if you have short nerves and your fridge beeps what seems to be obscenities every time it is kept open longer than 30 seconds. Then remove all food, jars of condiments, drinks, etc. Place anything likely to leak, such as defrosting meat or cartons of berries, on a rimmed plate.
As you remove, throw out expired items or food past its prime. If there is no expiration date, then my rule of thumb is to throw out anything you feel the need to smell for freshness prior to eating.
Once everything has been cleared, remove all shelves and drawers for cleaning. Using a sponge or cloth, wipe them clean using the baking soda mix. For stubborn messes cover them with a warm wet cloth for a few minutes then use a nonabrasive scrubber or gently go over with a razor blade. For crevices and cracks, try using a toothbrush with the same baking soda mixture used to get things clean. Dry thoroughly with a cloth or paper towels before returning to refrigerator.
Make sure
everything that goes into the fridge is immaculate; wipe off rims of jam
jars, salad dressing bottles, and ketchup containers before storing
them. To keep things free of funk, try keeping an open jar of baking soda inside the fridge. You can also place a small bowl with coffee grinds, activated charcoal or unscented chlorophyll cat litter inside until things are fresh and clean.
Before you are done, be sure to wipe the outside surfaces. Windex and most household cleaners work for non stainless steel refrigerators, but I use a special mix for stainless steel varieties. Just fill a spray bottle with diluted white vinegar. The acetic acid in the vinegar cuts through the oil left behind by
fingertips, rather than smearing it around like a lot of other cleaners.
Being someone who likes to cook, I realize that it is essential that the organization of the kitchen also translates to easily accessible. Right now I am currently working on two kitchens for separate clients, that couldn't be any more different. However, there are several go-to products that I would recommend for almost any kitchen.
Take Out Menu Organizer: I have had a take out menu organizer for as long as I can remember. Mine is a discontinued fabric covered binder from William Sonoma that separates the menus alphabetically using divider tabs and sheet protectors. If I was to recommend one that is still available for purchase, this version via The Spoon Sisters is the best I've found out on the market. Of course, if you are in a DIY mood you can always make your own. Simply buy a large 3-ring binder, sheet protectors or binder folders to store menus, and dividers to separate menus as you see fit (by alpha or food category).
3-Tier Acrylic Cabinet Organizer: The clear acrylic makes this spice rack my favorite. Why makes things look more cluttered by using white rubber or metal? The tier makes it easier to grab what you need when you are channeling or challenging Julia Childs.
Chalkboard Labels: Etsy is amazing, and so are the massive amounts of chalkboard labels people sell. Not only do they give my label maker a much needed rest, but who would have thought writing "Brown Sugar" and "Flour" could be so much fun.
Extra Fine White Chalk Ink Marker: Ok. So writing kitchen ingredients in regular chalk isn't that much fun, but it is when using a chalk ink marker. The result is a more precise writing that won't smear, plus you no longer have to hope your chalk doesn't break and get all over the bottom of the junk drawer. Basically you need this if you have anything chalkboard related. If you don't own a chalkboard or chalkboard labels, then go get them so you have an excuse to use this pen.
Bronnley Lemon Soap on a Rope: Wow. This is the most awesome smelling soap, and the packaging it so pretty I was kind of sad to remove it from the box. However, this stuff leaves your hands feeling so clean with a very light lemon scent. I shortened my rope a tad and hung it from the sink faucet. Bonus points for finding it on sale at the local West Elm store, and scoring an additional 15% off for Presidents Day. Side Note: Bronnley made this soap so it could be used on the entire body, so I bought an extra to use in the shower during the summer months.
Glass Jars with Aluminum Lids: These are perfect for flour, sugar, rice, etc. You can find these same ones at Target, and can save 5% if you use the Target Red debit or credit card. Not into having everything too matchy? Try mixing things up by adding a few Mason or Ball jars. Just make sure whatever you use is something with a screw on lid, to ensure the product inside is kept fresh and free from moisture and bugs.
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