Archive for the 'Kitchen' Category

January 5, 2008 | Kitchen, Cleaning tips

Does your freezer ever get to smelling like a science project gone wrong? There’s a simple solution! Dab some pure vanilla extract on a cotton pad (you know, like you get in the supermarket make-up aisle) and wipe down the walls and base of your freezer. Of course, it helps to remove any food that might be contributing to the odor, and clean any leftover spills first. But vanilla does the trick! Quick and easy.

For your fridge, white vinegar works best, and of course we all know the benefits of an open container of baking soda to keep odors at bay.

December 10, 2007 | Food & drink, Kitchen

I have not purchased new kitchenware in years. In fact, most of what we have now was given to us for our wedding 4 ½ years ago or passed down from other family. That is a lot of meals my pots, pans, bakeware and utensils have been through. I have decided that it is time to replace a good amount of it. I am the cook in the family so I get to choose the new stuff. Since I do a lot of baking and it is what I enjoy the most I decided to start with researching different types of bakeware. What cought my eye is the silicone bakeware that is very popular right now. My first thought is “Can that really be safe?”. It prompted me to do some research…

Silicones are made by combining silicon (from common sand) and oxygen. While these are both naturally occurring substances the combination does not occur in nature. Other synthetics are added to make different types of silicones. This is a completely manmade product but it is said that it will not transfer to foods which is currently a big concern with non-stick coatings. Silicone bakeware is coating free, easily stored and also flexible, claiming to make it easy to remove your baked goods. It also comes in plenty of different, eye catching colors. Here is the catch: It’s potential health effects are unknown. Silicone can have other additives that do not have to be disclosed on labels, therefore consumers never know what exactly the bakeware contains. There is also the potential for melting and fumes since silicone products can melt at temperatures as low as 428 degrees F. Most ovens can be set to 500 degrees F. and many recipes call for a temperature of 450 degrees F. While Silicone is long lasting, non-stick finish free and eliminates the need for parchment paper and aluminum foil, the lack of health information leads me to think that bakers might want to err on the side of caution and opt for some of the proven safe pans including glass, cast iron, stainless steel, aluminum and ceramic (purchasing a branded ceramic is recommended).

November 27, 2007 | Kitchen, Vinegar, Cleaning tips, Cleaning products

How to clean them? The word on the street is that Pledge does an awesome job. And in fact, I’ve used it. It’s true. Shiny, easy to use, no need to rinse. What’s not to love? Well, for starters the petroleum. Mmmm… Just want I want covering the surface of my fridge. And then there’s butane and methane too. More lovely additives to my kitchen. Neurotoxins. Respiratory disruptors. Ok. So maybe that’s not what I want in my kitchen.

The good news? Vinegar does the job just as well, and again - no need to rinse. Make sure if it’s satin finished stainless you clean with the grain of the finish, to preserve the life of the finish. If you’re one of the ones who can’t stand the vinegar smell - even for the 3 minutes it takes to dissipate - add a few drops of a potent essential oil. Tea tree oil will do the trick nicely, and give you the added benefit of inhibiting the growth of mold, bacteria, and viruses.

November 25, 2007 | Kitchen, Cleaning tips

If you’re like me, you have a little problem with polishing your fine silver with harsh chemicals that burn your nose. Something doesn’t seem right about slathering on something I have to wear gloves to handle, and then eating with it.

But there is a better way! I can’t take credit for this one. It comes from Clean & Green by Berthold-Bond - a great book if you’re looking to clean your home with non-toxics and general household products.

Cleaning your silver has never been easier.  Fill a pan or pot with enough water to cover the silver you’re polishing. Put the silver in with a tablespoon each of salt and baking soda. Then - here’s the kicker - submerse a couple sheets of aluminum foil, and wait an hour. That’s right - go do your nails, take a hot bath, or if you’re the industrious type go churn some home made butter. While you wait, the tarnish will magically be pulled off the silver and land itself securely on the aluminum foil. At that point, rinse your silver with hot water and polish dry with a cloth.

If what you’re polishing isn’t submersible, make a paste of baking soda and water. Use a damp sponge and polish away. Rinse with hot water and dry with a gentle cloth. Cheap white toothpaste will take off any stubborn spots - but don’t use the kind that turns into a gel or has fancy additives (stripes, mint crystals, etc.).

October 3, 2007 | Kitchen, Kids clean, Vinegar, Essential oils, Cleaning tips, Cleaning products

Shannon asked for this one. Now first of all, I can do this because my cleaners are 100% non-toxic, safe. If yours aren’t (like, if you use, say Formula 409) then I’d certainly recommend keeping them in their own ugly containers, locked in a cabinet that the kids can’t get to.

But, if you use safe household cleaners, like diluted vinegar with essential oils or Barefoot Home Essentials, most kitchen supply stores sell oil misters. I like to put some olive oil infused with fresh herbs in mine since my Calphalon cookware doesn’t like aerosol cooking sprays. But, you can also use one for your all-purpose cleaner (that is, if it’s non-toxic). The reason I caution you from putting anything toxic in it is simple. Your mother-in-law comes to visit and is cooking in your kitchen and !whoops!, or your kids are playing with what they found on the counter and —EEK— Call poison control!

The one pictured to the right is from Williams-Sonoma, but I’ve seen them in ceramic and all sorts of other pretty appearances in kitchen stores and even grocery stores.  If you use something toxic as an all-purpose, by all means keep it locked up tight. But if you use all-naturals, or if you’re willing to try it, put some diluted vinegar in there. Add some orange zest and a cinnamon stick, and you’ve got a pretty, sweet-smelling cure for most germs and grime.

That’s what works for me. Head over to Shannon’s place for more ideas.

September 18, 2007 | Kitchen, Cleaning tips

What day is your garbage picked up? Mine goes out to the curb Wednesday night. So my task every Wednesday afternoon (when the kids are napping of course) is to clean out my fridge and freezer.

Clean it out the day you take your trash out, so you don’t have food rotting in your trash can and critters free-loading out of your can. Do it once a week and you’ll never have science projects growing in there.

A glass and mirror cleaner will clean most of the spills you have, but Simple Green will take care of anything goopy or greasy. If you have really tough spills they’ll come off easier if you remove the shelves/drawers and let them come to room temp before you clean them.

And do I really need to tell you that an open box of baking soda will eat odors? It’s true. If you don’t want to keep a whole box of it in your fridge pour a few spoonfuls into a small container, like an emptied, clean 2-oz jar pimentos or a tiny Tupperware.  Either way, food is always more appetizing when you fridge doesn’t smell like last year’s taco dinner.

September 7, 2007 | Bathroom, Kitchen, Vinegar, Cleaning tips

Q: I was wondering what you use on satin finished faucets, etc./ fixtures in kitchen/ bath. I don’t want to ruin the finish (as some other not so natural cleaners have in the past!).

A: Apple cider vinegar will clean and disinfect. But if you have stubborn buildup or something that the vinegar isn’t removing, you’ll want to purchase some Bon Ami. It’s gentle enough for your stainless (and your Calphalon pots too), but it’ll remove any stuck-on ickies. What’s important is that you scrub with the grain of the satin rather than across it, to preserve the life of the finish.

Happy cleaning!

August 8, 2007 | Kitchen, Cleaning tips

Tried and true. A little citrus peel in the garbage disposal does wonders. Pick your scent - lemon, orange, lime, and grapefruit all work well, though the grapefruit peel is usually a bit thinner, so you’ll need to use a little more of it.

The citric acid actually cleans the blades and innards of the pipes and what-not, and it leaves a wonderful scent (to replace that stale food odor that no one likes).

That’s what works for me. Head over to Rocks in My Dryer for more Works for Me Wednesday tips.

July 30, 2007 | Kitchen, Cleaning tips

Cornmeal. It’s one of my favorite things in the kitchen. Being married to a Moldovan, we eat mamaliga (polenta-esque) pretty frequently (though I have to admit - I just can’t get it right!). And I use it on my pizza pan to keep the crust from sticking as it bakes.

But it has a great cleaning use too! It absorbs grease. If you’ve got a grease stain on upholstered furniture, carpet, or a seat cushion, put a teaspoon or so of cornmeal on it (more for a bigger stain), let it sit for 15-20 minutes, and vacuum up. The cornmeal will absorb the grease and leave your upholstery grease-free.

For clothes I wouldn’t recommend cornmeal though. It’s easier to launder correctly. Apply some liquid laundry detergent (or your favorite multi-purpose stain remover), let it sit for a few minutes, then wash it in the hottest water the fabric will tolerate. Knowing that a few years ago would have saved me oodles of shirts.  But, 20/20 hindsight, right? At least I can rescue your laundry!

July 21, 2007 | Kitchen, Cleaning products

My poor house. It’s become the staging ground for Broom Huggers, and the testing site for cleaning products. It comes easily to us, what with 2 toddlers. But today, for the sake of science, I smeared fresh cherries all over my white laminate counter tops. And then (start ominous music) let it dry. (As an aside: I’ve always wanted to change out my laminate counters for hard surface… ah, the thought of granite… but the laminate has proven quite useful when it comes to testing products. So much for kitchen upgrades.)

Anyhow, wanna know what my experiment found? Natural cleaning products work just as well as their chemical-laden counterparts! There will be more details to come this week, naming names and what not. But I just have to tell you. I tried 3 different chemical-free cleaners - and all of them wiped up dried cherry juice without any scrubbing. So to the nay-sayers out there who claim that natural cleaners require loads of elbow grease, I say don’t knock it ’till you’ve tried it!

Mom, if you’re reading, no countertops were harmed in the performing of this experiment.