Kathryn Weber's Cleaning Articles

Welcome to My Kitchen

The 8 Ways I Make

My Kitchen Really Cook

I love to cook and like to think I’m

good at it, too. Dinner’s on the

table every night at six o’clock

and no one walks away from the

table hungry. But, what helps me

most is not the years I’ve spent

refining my culinary skills, it’s the

tips and tools that I’ve built into

the kitchen that makes me the

most efficient and able to turn

out great-tasting food quickly.

See if these tips don’t help

you, too.

1. Large sink. The problem

with double sinks is that almost

no one does the double-bowl

wash and rinse method anymore.

Today, a large one bowl sink makes the most sense. In my kitchen, I have one extra large bowl with a small disposal bowl and built-in drain board because I got tired of wet dishtowels on the counter.

2. Spice storage. Instead of putting the seasonings I use daily into a cabinet, I attached a wall hanger next to the stove and put my cooking spray, favorite seasonings, salt and pepper here. I even keep a bottle of olive oil in a slender bottle here so it’s at the ready.

3. More refrigeration. When people complain about the refrigerator, it’s usually because there’s not enough of it. An often overlooked option for the kitchen is the single door “all refrigerator” and “all freezer.” Instead of the combination of refrigerator and freezer, I have an individual refrigerator and freezer in my kitchen. With these two units, I have a whopping 35 square feet of space instead of the usual 25 or so square feet of space available in a combination refrigerator/freezer. Best of all, I got a high-end amount of storage with a regular refrigerator price tag. Each unit cost about $600 or $1200 for both.

4. Go big. Recently I needed a utensil holder but the ones I found at the home center only held about six items. So, I took a spatula to my garden center to size up a new utensil holder. I bought a beautiful ceramic pot to hold all my utensils. Think about size in your kitchen. You need items large enough to suit your needs. If you don’t find what you need off the rack, improvise or have something custom made for you. I had a giant platter custom made for me by the Hairy Potters (www.thehairypotters) in Yorktown because I couldn’t find a platter large enough to hold a whole pound of cooked pasta. So, I had one made. Don’t think custom is out of your reach.

5. Kitchen garden. Nothing makes your good cooking sing like fresh herbs and vegetables. I have a kitchen garden that I couldn’t live without. Take the time to take your kitchen outdoors and plant some herbs and lettuces. My kitchen garden consists of mesclun lettuce, radishes, dill, basil, thyme, shallots, mint, and oregano.

6. Towel bar. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for a dishtowel to handle a hot pan or to place a wet dish on. Instead of hooks in a cabinet door, install a small towel bar or rail around your island or on a length of cabinet.

7. Quality cookware. If you’re tired of scorching your foods, try cast iron. Funny, but this old stand-by is now being favored by cooks like Emeril Lagasse. Yes, it’s extremely heavy and that’s what I don’t like about it, but it goes from stovetop to oven and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Even simple cornbread can be transformed from yellow blandness to gustatory heights with the crunchy-golden crust cast iron makes.

8. Organization. Kitchen organization makes everything go easier. Whether it’s a cabinet over the dishwasher where dishes can be unloaded without walking or a well-organized pantry, organization will make you work less and be more efficient in the kitchen. Create systems starting with a grocery list arranged like the aisles where you shop. Even unsightly trashcans can be put under the sink with a pull-out trash can. Pull out organizers and baskets are extremely useful and easy to retrofit into most cabinets.

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Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Everydayclean.com Cleaning Calender, that calender that puts you in control of your home by ending the power struggle. For more information log on to http://tinyurl.com/d9rh5.

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