Category: Misc.

Posted in Misc., ramblings, Recipes

My Kitchen Reorganization

Posted on by traci

As I mentioned in my June 3 – Monday Menu Monday post, my aunt came into town.  While she was here, she helped me reorganize my kitchen.

I did not take photos of my kitchen before she organized my pantry / kitchen.  So, these are only after shots.

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Previously, there were two plastic 3 tier shelf.  We reduced it to one 3 tier metal shelf.  The other 3 tier shelf was located where the Sprites are located.  It made the pantry space be very tight.  The pantry is also our laundry room, so it was hard for us to get clothes in and out of the washer and dryer.

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When we moved in, Hubby installed these shelves.  We made one the grains and broth shelf.  Another one is the pasta and other convenience shelf.  A third is the Thanksgiving/ holiday shelf.  The items on that shelf are only used during the holidays or for big family dinners.  Finally, one of shelves is for some of the bigger items and my bread machine.

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On the left-hand side of the photo, you see a wooden piece.  That is our set of cabinets for all plastic ware and cleaning supplies.

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This corner cabinet holds all my baking supplies and some of my smaller appliances.

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We had a white cabinet located in this spot.  My mom decided to get us a new cabinet.  This is our breakfast/ snacky foods pantry.  The boys can quickly get them food when they are hungry.  Teenagers are ALWAYS hungry.

 

We also cleaned out the fridge, freezer, and chest freezer.  The baking pan area was cleared out.

I reorganized the coffee and tea cabinet, the former spice cabinet that is now the sauce cabinet, and the miscellaneous cabinet.

The dish cabinet was freshened up.  Around Thanksgiving, I reorganized the dish cabinet.  It has pretty much stayed the same except for a few stray dishes.

Above our cabinets is an area where we can store some of our memorabilia.  We pulled all the memorabilia down, washed them and the area, and decided which items we wanted to go back up above the cabinet.

I must go through the cabinet with all the cups and mugs, decide what to do with our plastic ware, and get a 4-tier wire shelf for our bigger appliances that we use on a daily/ weekly basis.  We are also going to repaint the kitchen.

Once all of that is done, we’ll be done reorganizing the kitchen.

Have a magical day!
Traci

 

Posted in DIY, Misc., Pumpkin

Pumpkin Puree

Posted on by traci

This is another fall technique/recipe I’ve been trying to make for the past few years. This is the first time I’ve made it correctly, and I’m so proud! I usually try to make it without a recipe, and it’s been one big flop. This year I found a recipe, followed it, and was successful.

The key to making pumpkin puree is to use smaller sugar pumpkins. They are usually not the ones you use to make jack-o’lanterns with. Last week, I got mine from a local dairy farm – Young’s Dairy- so I could make pumpkin puree. The Imaginative One reminded me they were sitting outside, and I needed to do something with them. So last night, I took one of the two pumpkins I bought and made the puree.

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This morning I used some of the purees in my pumpkin spice latte. Oh my goodness – DELICIOUSNESS!

Pumpkin Puree

Once a Month Mom

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1 sugar pumpkin

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Cut the pumpkin in half. Trim off the stem.
  3. Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and guts. (Save the seeds to make roasted pumpkin seeds – YUMMY!)
  4. Prick the flesh with a fork and place it on a cookie sheet, flesh down.
  5. Roast for 45 minutes to an hour until the flesh is fork tender. (Mine took 40ish minutes.)
  6. Allow to cool, and then peel off the skin. Discard the skin.
  7. Puree in a food processor.
  8. Use in your favorite pumpkin recipe or freeze in freezer bags/containers until you are ready to use the puree.

Printable Recipe

Posted in Main Dish, Misc.

Creepy Crawly Sandwiches

Posted on by traci

Last week, I watched the Crockpot Girls’ Crockpot Monday video.  They gave different recipes for Halloween recipes.  One particular recipe caught my eye, and that was the one for the Creepy Crawly Sandwiches.  It was then decided I would make that for our Halloween dinner.

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1 can of Manwich
  • 1 package of hot dogs cut lengthwise and then cut lengthwise again
  • 1 med onion chopped up
  • hamburger buns (I’m going to be making homemade hamburger buns that I’m going to dye orange in honor of Halloween.)

Steps:

  1. Cut up hot dogs.  Place in the crock pot.
  2. Put cut-up onions on top of hot dogs.
  3. Open Manwich and dump it on top of onions and hot dogs.
  4. Cook on low for 2 to 3 hours and then switch to keep warm.
  5. Serve on hamburger buns.
  6. Enjoy your creepy crawly sandwiches!

Other Halloween treats, Sweet and Salty Halloween treats and dirt pudding.

Printable Recipe

Posted in Misc.

Seasoning without salt

Posted on by traci

MJ, one of my family members, got this interesting sheet that lists different ways to season food without using salt.  As we are becoming more diligent with making sure things are low sodium for my father-in-law, I thought it was appropriate to post this list.

For the beef:  bay leaf, dry mustard, green pepper, marjoram, fresh mushrooms, nutmeg, onion, pepper, sage, thyme

Chicken:  green pepper, lemon juice, lemon zest, marjoram, fresh mushrooms, paprika, parsley, poultry seasoning, sage, thyme

Fish:  bay leaf, curry powder, dry mustard, green pepper, lemon juice, paprika

Lamb:  curry powder, garlic, mint, mint jelly, pineapple, rosemary

Pork:  apple, applesauce, garlic, onion, sage

Veal:  apricot, cinnamon, cloves, ginger

Bread:  cinnamon, cloves, dills, poppy seed

Pasta:  basil (my fav), caraway seed, garlic, oregano, poppy seed, lemon juice, and zest

Rice:  chives, green pepper, saffron, onion

Asparagus:  garlic, lemon juice, onion, vinegar

Broccoli:  lemon juice, garlic

Cucumbers:  chives, dill, garlic, onion, vinegar

Green beans:  dill, lemon juice, nutmeg, marjoram

Greens:  onion, pepper, vinegar

Peas:  green pepper, mint, parsley, onion, fresh mushrooms

Potatoes:  green pepper, mace, onion, paprika, parsley

Squash:  cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, ginger

Tomatoes:  basil, marjoram, onion, oregano

From www.gndpg.org