Sure am enjoying having a real kitchen with more than four dishes, baking equipment, an oven, a stand mixer instead of a $10. hand mixer, serving dishes, a drawer full of silverware, a spacious refrigerator, and a counter to work on.  I feel wealthy.  I don’t take all this for granted as I remember my friends in the jungle who cook on a fire in a hut.

Wanted to share something super simple, but if you hadn’t thought of it before, this tip could make baking a smoother process for you.  Many years ago, a dear friend paid the cost of a class on organization for me.  I wanted to be organized, but with three little ones, I needed help.  The ideas from that class have stuck with me and have made my life better ever since.  (Thanks, Sharon!)  Having a baking center in my kitchen is one idea I have used since learning the concept in that class.

 

I was blessed in that I got to lay out my kitchen cabinets as I wanted them.  I know not everyone has that option.  I was able to choose an appliance garage so I could keep my mixer out of sight.  Perhaps because I have a 1972 KitchenAid that looks worse for the wear!  On shelves above my mixer are baking spices and items such as baking powder, baking soda, salt, etc.  In drawers beneath my mixer are flours, sugars, measuring cups and spoons, spatulas, etc.  BTW, I’m a big fan of kitchen drawers.  In fact, the only lower cupboards I have are under the sink and one beside the stove to store baking sheets, cutting boards, etc in a vertical position.  All other under-counter storage are drawers.  The baking pans and cookie sheets are directly behind me as I stand at the baking center as is the stove/oven.  I have everything I need to bake in one place.  Another advantage of an appliance garage is that I can store often used small appliances plugged in and handy, but out of sight.  I keep my Ninja blender at the ready as well as my electric tea pot, and a food vacuum packer on a higher shelf.

 

What could you do to put all your baking supplies in one place to increase your efficiency?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I was writing this, it occurred to me that I could be more efficient if I put the ingredients for my daily hot cocoa in the garage with the electric teapot which I use to heat water for my cocoa.  I even tucked my cup in behind the teapot.  Teas are right above the teapot, too.  I also finagled a spot for a large jar of natural peanut butter for making milkshakes with the blender.  Now all our beverage makings are in the same spot with the tools needed to make them.  Then I realized that our snack drawer could use some organizing.  Now the peanuts, bittersweet chocolate chips, bread, and tortilla chips are together in a handy place.  How could you make a beverage center and an easily accessible snack center?

 

Switching gears, did you receive flowers for Mother’s Day?  Here’s a little tip for enjoying your cut flowers even more.  Spread the love by sneaking a few blooms out of your bouquet and putting each one in a tiny container.  Then group three blooms together on your kitchen counter, or place one at each place setting for added beauty at dinner.

 

 

 

Remember that you can pull off outer ragged rose petals to make them look fresher.  Cutting the stems a little shorter can often give them a new lease on life by helping them take up water.  If you have a mixed bouquet, take out spent blooms and put the remaining blooms in a smaller vase or divide them into several small vases.

 

Here’s a tip for maximizing your potted plant.  Putting your plant on a tray will give the plant more impact.  It’s kind of like framing a picture.  It gives it more visual space and adds another layer of interest.  If you have a couple of small plants, group them together on a tray or platter.  If the plants are quite different in height, place the shorter one on something to make it appear taller.  Husband cut me a tree round when he was cutting firewood last year.  He sanded it, then rubbed it with olive oil.  I like the organic, rustic feel it adds to my table.