Lemon Slush

Recipe courtesy Heidi @ 101 Cookbooks. Anise seeds were added. I'm a fan; Steve, not so much. Anise is "licorice-esque" for those of you who haven't used it yet. Enjoy.

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (10. The Makings of a Well-Loved, Stock-piled Kitchen)

I know there won't be any judgement on this "project" that I've been working on...At least I hope that no one will point fingers! I know this may not be a craft, but it is certainly an art form. 

How does one create a well-loved, stock-piled, joyful kitchen? 

When I began to write this blog entry, it started as a rant and rave of our instant-gratification, fast-food society. I've nixed the ranting and I'll just get straight to the heart of it - I want to live simply. So cooking should be an extension of that. It shouldn't be complicated. It shouldn't be muddled with additives and it should be an experience. A food journey.

So my kitchen should be a tool that enables me to live simply. It shouldn't hinder my life. It shouldn't stress me out. That was the biggie for me. Here are some of my gathered thoughts:

1. I might have to put more "work" into something initially, but the end result will pay off in the end. An example would be stock-piling the freezer. Making sure I blanch the vegetables and freeze them almost as soon as I go grocery shopping instead of putting it off. It means thinking about prepping a garden or making the weeks' meal plans ahead of time instead of wandering the grocery store. Hungry. And tired.

2. It means eliminating waste. I'm already pretty good at not having to throw out "bad" food because I can usually find a purpose for it. But I mean REALLY eliminating waste: no plastic produce bags, starting a compost bin, recycling until I'm blue in the face.

3. It means finding classics. Finding great recipes and sharing my knowledge.


And with that said...

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins: A Classic

The beginnings of Texas-Style Chili

Dehydrating Bananas: It was a success!

The Banana Muffins are finished and I even had time to use up some

apples to make a gorgeous little apple pie.

So, this week, carrots, red peppers and asparagus have been blanched and frozen. Italian sausage - frozen. Dehydrating apples - already devoured them (need to make sure to slice them thicker next time!), dehydrated bananas - they were interesting and kind of pointy hard to chew but I mixed them with some peanuts and a small handful of dark chocolate for a trail mix snack. Perfecto. 

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More inspiration to come!

Favorite Things: In the Kitchen

Since moving to Colorado, Steve and I have really come to learn how to part with things we don't need. We moved across three states in an 8 x 10 x 4 ft high trailer and a poor little Toyota Corolla packed with gear. We have found little "systems" that work for us, that make our lives simpler, easier, and more efficient. The kitchen, admittedly, is my domain. My cooking skills have exploded tenfold since marrying a strong and hungry man!

Here are just a few of my favorite things in the kitchen - may it inspire you to culinary creations! 

The Teapot 

This was purchased at Happy Lucky's Teahouse in Old Town Fort Collins, CO. We received a gift card from our friends Jon and Elizabeth - what better way to remember our sweet little time with them (as they lived with us for about two weeks) - it was a crazy-fun two weeks. We all love tea and this little pot stood out amongst all the rest. It's a teapot and the steeping basket is the little teapot on top. It's fired clay so it ages and is only recommended for oolongs, whites, and greens. Perfect!

The Misto - Natural Olive Oil Mister 

We realized that because we make most things from scratch, we were spending a lot of money on butter that ended up getting smothered all over a pan (particularly since almost all my pans are my mother's or grandmother's, so they aren't exactly smooth and shiny anymore!). We "wasted" a ton on just buttering pans. $9.95 friends at Bed Bath and Beyond. My friend, Jen, had one of these and I saw it being put to use. We've cut down on the amount of butter and the Misto is smooth and sleek with easy clean-up. A definite (and newest!) staple en mi cocina.

Silly S&P Shakers: Meet Poncho and Marguerite

Every kitchen has a personality. I bought these Salt and Pepper shakers when I was about 18 years old visiting my Aunt Marlene in the little town of Two Rivers - I'm sorry - T'wivers, as the locals call it. 50 cents. It was the best little investment I could've made. These two have been everywhere and have their own little personalities; I cannot imagine what I'll do when (if) I have to part with these two. I'm not entirely sure how they got their names either. But Poncho looks as though he's been pricked (he usually has a pin in his head to keep him from clogging!) and Marguerite, because of the amount of moving I've done, has developed some, erm..."facial hair" scuffs. My bad. Lo siento!

The Rice Cooker

I never thought I'd want one of these or want to highlight all of my "gadgetry"...but the more I examine my cupboards, the more I realize that I'm in the minority. We don't own a microwave, I didn't register for a Kitchen Aid mixer, I don't have a cabinet devoted to As Seen on TV widgets and doo-dads. This rice cooker, which I cannot believe is made by the same guys that make your chain saw, was a gift from my mom years ago. It's stuck around and will continue to travel with us. Yes, I know how to make rice in a kettle, but (as you'll find out below) we don't own a lot of pots and pans. It's easy cleanup and the rice always comes out perfect. C'est magnifique!

The Cast Iron Skillet

If I had to pick just ONE thing that every kitchen should have - I would say a good cast iron skillet. This guy is big and was a wedding gift. We have since replaced our two Caphalon skillets with just this one skillet. It's unbeatable and completely natural. My recommendation - make sure you take the time to oil the pan to keep it in tip-top shape and don't be afraid to season it with all sorts of yummy things! They even make lid accessories (which is something we'd like in the future) and it can be put safely in the oven to make a delicious homemade cornbread. Yum.