Kitchen Organization {glass containers}

One way to be able to bake on a whim is to get your kitchen organized. You might be shocked at all of the extra things you have stored in your cabinets and pantry that you really do not need or that may have gone bad.

It doesn't take too much time to get organized in your kitchen, so that you actually enjoy cooking and baking. If you hate cooking and baking, it should make it more tolerable for you.

I suggest blocking out one hour of time. That is it. And tackle one part of your kitchen that is driving you BATTY. It may be the fridge, the pantry, the cabinets, the spice cabinet...whatever. Take everything out, clean it out and only put things back that are needed and not out-of-date. Be sure to set your timer, so it doesn't become an overwhelming project. You might want to enlist the help of a friend for a "fun" evening EVENT after the kiddies are in bed for the night. If you have older childen, have them help you.

If you buy in bulk, make sure to have labeled containers for your goods. This eliminates open bags and clutter. Again, this does not have to be spendy, you can recycle glass condiment containers, jam jars, or find great deals at garage sales and thrift stores.

It may take a few weeks to get your kitchen organized if you do it in chunks of time, but it will be so much more enjoyable to cook in a de-cluttered kitchen.

Glass storage jars seem to keep food from going bad for a longer period of time with the added benefit of no chemicals seeping into your food. Since they are clear, you can see when you might be running low. Just be sure to wash out the containers before replacing with the next batch, instead of topping off the old with the new! This will ensure that what you are using is always as fresh as possible.

Happy organizing!

Shared with: a bowl full of lemons, organization made fun

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Chocolate Celebration Cake {aka Poppi's favorite cake!}

...made with pumpkin, almond vanilla milk and Nancy's yogurt...a new healthy makeover for an old fashioned favorite! Recipe coming soon!

Everybody needs a go-to cake that can be whipped up in no time. I used to be such a cake snob! I had never bought a cake mix. Honest! I was selling Demarle products and the last thing the hostess was wanting to do was to spend the day slaving on a from scratch cake, I started buying cake mixes! I about died! I remember stocking my grocery cart with lots of cake mixes...when they were on sale. I was so humiliated. I totally hid the boxes under my bulk bags of Bob's Red Mill grains, Wild Salmon and big heads of cabbage and cauliflower! I even avoided my favorite checkers, because they KNEW I made everything from scratch. Talking about PRIDE! Shame on me.

Anyway, since I can't leave anything alone {control issues?!} I finally substituted and added good ingredients to justify the fact that cake mixes can actually be okay and semi healthy!

So if you are running short on time and want to make the very best cake from a mix, here is one that might just become your new favorite CELEBRATION CAKE!


Chocolate Celebration Cake


1 package Duncan Hines Devil’s Food cake mix {I prefer Trader Joe's Chocolate Cake Mix}
1 small box vanilla pudding
4 eggs
1 cup Nancy’s yogurt
½ cup almond vanilla milk
1 15oz. can pumpkin
1 tsp. pure almond extract

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Place all ingredients in mixer bowl, except for the chocolate chips. Beat on low for 2 minutes. Add chocolate chips. Bake for 45 minutes or until done. {Follow cooking directions on the back of the box.}
Cool for 20 minutes!

I made three small cakes. Two were made into a small celebration cake {we got our daughter registered for her college classes!} The other one is wrapped in the freezer for a last minute grab-n-go!

ENJOY and CELEBRATE!

Freeze until ready to frost.
Top with your favorite buttercream frosting.

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Taste and See

Shared with: Scripture and a snapshot

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Southern Refrigerator Pickles

To me, a Saturday isn't quite a Saturday without a trip to the local Farmer's Market. The smell of the fresh fruit, veggies and kettle corn is so enticing! In your summer entertaining, whether it is simple or gourmet, the farmer's market is a great place to stock up on fresh produce, blooming flowers, and freshly-made breads you will want to incorporate into your weekly menu!

If you haven't tried fresh garlic, you will have to promise me you will at least try it. It is the best!

If you shop the farmer's market, do you have a special find? If not, what do you do on Saturdays? Laundry doesn't count! :)

Happy Friday!



Southern Refrigerator Pickles
Adapted from Art Smith

2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 tsp. Hain Sea Salt {non-iodide}
½ tsp. whole coriander seeds
½ tsp. black peppercorns
2 Kirby cucumbers, scrubbed and cut into rounds
1 small onion, cut into thin half-rounds
12 cherry tomatoes
8 fresh garlic cloves, peeled and cut into half…lengthwise
¼ cup fresh dill sprigs

Directions:
Bring vinegar, salt, coriander and peppercorns to full boil.
Sterilize two pint jars.
Jars should be hot when adding veggies


Layer into each jar:

1 cucumber
½ onion
6 cherry tomatoes
4 garlic cloves
1 cup vinegar mix

Screw lid on and chill for at least 3 days…no cheating! May be stored for up to 1 month.

Enjoy!


Today I am linking up with Beneath My Heart click on the button below to check out her salad party!

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Downcycling

I am always making up words. Who knows, maybe this is a word. I think upcycle is. Anyway...

Since I am a stay-at-home mom, I always feel like before I get anything new, it really needs to be justified. Not because my hubby has put me on a strict budget, but because I want to be respectful of how hard he works in order for me to be able to stay home. I want him to know that when he is at work providing for our family, I am not spending our income as quickly as he is earning it. I want him to know I am being as resourceful as possible in helping him be wise in what God has blessed us with.

One way of doing this is by DOWNCYCLING. Passing things from one area in our home to the next, before it is gotten rid of.

TOWELS. One of my biggest pet-peeves. Really! I know, by now you are sure I have issues, which I do, but towels is a major one! I know my mom still has towels given to her as wedding presents {45 years ago!} that they use! I am pretty sure it has something to do with the quality way back when, do you think so, too? Well, I refuse to pay a mortgage payment on good towels, because I would rather replace them every so often.

WHITE TOWELS. It took me the first several years of marriage to switch from the beautiful designer colors to plain.old.white. The fact that the colors faded and the bleach stains that made them look semi tie-dyed finally convinced me to to the switcheroo.

SOOO. This is how I justify nice towels in our home. The white bath towels are downcycled {passed down/recycled} to swim towels/gym towels/hot tub towels. Hand towels become floor towels/car towels/garage towels. Kitchen dish towels are downcycled to picnic/car/dinners-to-go. Dish cloths become rags. It takes quite a while to get to the point of actually getting rid of them which makes me feel like I have totally gotten our money's worth. It is also teaching our children to not just "pitch" things, too. Teaching them to respect the fact that their Daddy is working HARD to provide for our family in the big things and the little things like towels! Maybe that is why my son used a bungie cord for a belt? I didn't say a word. Didn't have to, because his big sister did!

How do you downcycle in your home?

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mini sno cones {a healthy snack}

We are at the height of berry-pickin' season and I can't think of a better snack to reward {bribe!} your little helpers with.

Directions:


Crush ice in a blender unless you are fortunate enough to have THE.SNOOPY.SNO.CONE.MAKER.

Take extra fruit and add a bit of lemon juice and a tiny bit of sugar and let it sit. Mash berries and strain for juice.

I put mine into a squeeze bottle with a little nozzle.

Use ice cream cone scooper to form crushed ice into dish.
Top with fruit syrup.
Another idea for quick and fast syrup without the HFCS: MONIN or TORANI syrup.

Your little berry pickers will be eager little beavers to help pick berries again...GUARANTEED!

shared with: at the picket fence, this chick cooks

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Molasses Cookies

Contrary to popular opinion, molasses cookies can be and should be enjoyed all year long...don't you think? I know they are kinda gingerbready, but we make them year-round. I love making them for summer picnics because they are a nice, sturdy cookie. Perfect for toting on bike rides, on hikes and to summer concerts. A few years ago, I started putting bread flour into my cookies. They are a bit more dense and chewier. I have no scientific proof of why...but you will have to try it and let me know what you think.

Do you enjoy molasses cookies all year...or are they only baked at Christmas?

{Christmas in July!}


MOLASSES COOKIES


Cream Together:
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup organic sugar

Add:
¼ cup Brer Rabbit Molasses {unsulphured, mild flavor}
1 egg
Stir together and add to molasses mix:
3 cups flour{{or 2 cups flour + 1 cup bread flour}}
2 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. sea salt salt
1 tsp. each of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves
Mix well.
Roll into balls{about the size of a golf ball
Roll balls in organic sugar
Place on SILPAT
Bake for 10 minutes @ 375. Let sit for a few minutes.
Makes about 16 cookies.
Enjoy!

Usually organic sugar is optional, but in this recipe it makes them oh.so.good!

**The cookie bag is from Cash and Carry...may used for sandwiches, snacks, gift cards and envelopes.

Shared with: our simple country life

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