Christine Schaub blog

Just spooning

11/30/2023

6 ways to clean wooden spoons

Have you taken stock of your wooden spoons lately? I mean, other than their legendary status as a spanking spoon—or just the threat of a bopping—they’re considered symbols of hospitality, and have remained kitchen staples since Ancient Egypt wasn’t exactly ancient yet.

Unlike metal spoons, the wooden utensil won’t scratch pans or bowls, won’t conduct heat and burn your hand or alter your cooking temps, are non-reactive with acidic foods, and won’t crack glass if you’re stirring a bit aggressively. On the flip side, wooden spoons can retain flavors—so that garlic pasta sauce you stirred last night might not go well with the cookie dough you’re mixing today.

Now, if you’re being hospitable and using your wooden utensils properly and regularly, are you cleaning them appropriately? Let’s find out by exploring how your spoons want to survive your kitchen.

Use soap and warm water. Remember that flavor-retention factor? Bleach is not your spoon’s friend here. A bit of mild detergent on the scrubbing side of a sponge works well after every use.
Create a mixture of baking soda and distilled white vinegar. This old-fashioned remedy works beautifully to deep-clean wooden spoons. Use equal parts soda and vinegar, then combine with boiling water. The solution will foam—science experiment!—and that’s when you dunk in your spoons for a 15-minute soak. Rinse and air-dry.
Squeeze a lemon over baking soda. Just a sprinkle of soda and a firm lemon scrubbing will clean and freshen your spoons. This works particularly well with melted cheese clinging to your utensils. Rinse with warm, soapy water and air-dry.
Boil them. If you’re super-hygienic, about 20 minutes in boiling water should kill off any lingering flavors, bacteria, debris or grime. That level of soaking will require more air-drying time, though, so let them sit in an open-air drainer for awhile.
Rub with oil. Yes—even spoons appreciate a little pampering after some hard use. Either olive or coconut oil will rub in nicely with a soft cloth. Air-dry overnight, wipe down, and store as usual.
Avoid the dishwasher. Unless you’re okay with a warped, cracked, swollen spoon, you want to hand-wash any utensils with wood in them—including spatulas, turners, and whisks. The prolonged heat, rinsing and drying cycles are too severe, as well as the detergents. Hand-wash for longevity.

Wooden utensils are more than just kitchen essentials—they’re pretty, versatile, and are often passed down through generations of home chefs. Treat them well, and they’ll reward you with their can-do spirit.

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Gobbling up those leftovers

11/24/2023

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Congratulations! Thanksgiving was an enormous success, and all you have to do the next few days is… Find something to do with alllllllll those leftovers. Sure, sure, you can whip up the traditional turkey sandwich and chili, but consider some new options, like:

Turkey enchiladas/casserole. Whether you wrap or layer the turkey, the enchilada sauce and cheese make for a smooth, spicy change. Bonus: One-dish oven meal! Double bonus: You can assemble and freeze a second one for later.
Potato patties. Sometimes called “fried potato cakes” or “potato fritters,” these are wonderful for—wait for it—BREAKFAST! Yes! Those houseguests who’ve worked up quite the appetite will appreciate a hearty farm-style kickoff to their second day of lounging around. Bonus: Easy, easy ingredients, and ready in about four minutes.
Squash puppies. Skip right to the deep-frying for this take on the traditional hush puppy. Your squash is already cooked, so you only need to add your favorite ingredients to either spice it up or keep it kid-friendly. Bonus: Also works with leftover mashed potatoes!
Fried corn. Why simply warm up leftover corn when you can FRY IT IN BUTTER? Corn almost caramelizes with this buttery method. Add a generous shake of pepper and you have a spicy, crunchy side dish to die for. Bonus: Works even better with fresh corn you never got around to cutting off the cob.
Jam shortbread/bars. You’ll probably never finish that giant jar of blackberry jam you bought for finicky kid-eaters. So why not slather it between buttery crusts and offer it as an afternoon treat? Bonus: Also doubles as a desert.

So fear not, over-preparers! All those leftovers need not go to waste, nor do they have to be heated up as Thanksgiving II. Just raid your pantry and whip up fresh meals, sides and treats to please everybody. You’re welcome.

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5 Things Every Guest Bathroom Needs

11/2/2023

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When was the last time you shaved, put on makeup or generally got ready for a day/night out in your guest bathroom? Did you have everything you needed? Was the lighting good? Did the shower drain? Or…was the toilet paper missing, lightbulbs burned out, and water standing in the tub? These are basic issues you need to check and resolve before any guest steps through your front door.

But if you want to be a SUPER host, you have a little more guest work to do to attain that title. Have your guest bathroom stocked with these items:

Jewelry holder. You don’t want to be the host who’s disassembling the sink drain mid-party to retrieve an heirloom diamond ring. Solve that slip-down-the-drain issue by placing a pretty plate or small bowl on the counter a fair distance from the sink.
Nightlight. Help your guests avoid the middle-of-the-night glare from overhead lights—or worse, a loud exhaust fan—by installing an inexpensive nightlight. Bonus points if the light is motion-activated.
Air freshener. No guest wants to utter the words, “You don’t want to go in there…” after using the toilet. Help them avoid that topic by placing a can of Febreeze or Oust right next to the potty. Be very proactive by supplying Just A Drop odor eliminator. It works in the water before a “deposit” is made!
Tissues. Sure—toilet paper works fine for nose blowing, but tissues are a more elegant way to solve that issue. Score major points if you provide a tissue option with lotion.
Touch-up toiletries. You will forever impress a guest who may have had a pre-party disaster or luggage delay by supplying travel-sized contact cases and solution, hairspray, lotion, nail files, toothbrush/toothpaste combos, and deodorant. Just collect these items in a basket and place them on the back of the toilet.

With just a little bit of pre-planning and stocking, you can help any guest prepare for a fun evening or weekend—your treat! And then you’ll wear that Super-Host hat proudly…right after you re-stock the toilet paper.

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Just spooning

6 ways to clean wooden spoons

Gobbling up those leftovers

5 Things Every Guest Bathroom Needs

Christine Schaub

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