Christine Schaub blog

Maximizing Space: Creative Solutions for Small Kitchen Organization

3/18/2024

So, you found the ideal home in a great neighborhood but…ohhhh…the kitchen is really small. And you have excellent culinary skills. And lots of cooking gear. What do you do now? You make it work with a lot of organization and some helpful products, like:

Pantry/cupboard baskets. Whether you have a designated pantry or must use your limited cabinets to store food, baskets are the answer for dividing up and seeing what you have on hand. Modern, clear plastic/acrylic baskets help you see everything from any angle; traditional woven baskets are sturdier for canned goods and—bonus!—prettier. Pro Tip: Buy baskets with cutout handles for easier carrying/moving.
Expandable bamboo drawer dividers. You can store and find silverware, utensils, straws and even spices better with these pre-set organizers. Since not all drawer dimensions are universal—especially in older homes—the expandable option is ideal for any space. Bonus: Bamboo screams “style!”
Drawer organizer sets. Take charge of that junk drawer with interchangeable, see-through containers you can move around to fit your needs. Every item—rubber bands, pens, paper clips, chapsticks, lens wipes—has a home, so you avoid pawing through random items for—aha!—a twist tie. Bonus: They’re stackable!
Large utensil holder. One pasta server, potato masher or whisk will do its best to jam the utensil drawer every time you try to open it. Win that battle by moving oversized, awkward utensils to a large, cylindrical caddy right where you’ll need them: by the stove. Pro Tip: Buy one that rotates!
Large appliance cabinet. Small kitchens = small counter space. So why clutter what space you have with appliances? Instead, buy a cabinet shallow enough—16” works for mixers, air fryers, slow cookers—to fit against a wall and tall enough to maximize storage options. Pro Tip: Make sure the door opens INTO the kitchen.
Pullout shelves/organizers. Under-cabinet shelves are often very tall and deep, wasting valuable storage space for pans, lids, food storage containers, and cleaning supplies. Maximize and organize those spaces with sturdy two-tier, pullout shelves…and fill them to the top! Pro Tip: Most—but not all—must be mounted into the cabinet for sturdiness.

A small work space doesn’t have to kill your culinary dreams. Make the limited area work during move-in and you’ll be the master of your kitchen in no time!

Help your pantry staples live a good life

2/8/2024

Tips for keeping pantry food fresh longer

Remember that time you pulled out your trusty box of Bisquick to whip up dinner biscuits…and they didn’t rise? And company was on their way? I do. Turns out the yeast had expired in my mix—which had also expired. I thought that mix would last forever but—surprise!—it doesn’t. Its shelf life is decent, but the leavening and oil ingredients can, and did, deteriorate.

Which begs the question: What other pantry staples have shorter shelf lives than you think? And how do you extend the usage time? Consider these:

Coffee. Once you open that pricey bag of ground java you bought for your weekend guests, you have about two weeks to use it up. Your best bet is to buy whole coffee beans, store them in the freezer—for 2-3 years!—and grind them when someone needs a high-end caffeine fix. Pro Tip: Buy the resealable bags.
Bread. That fluffy bakery loaf was soooo good…for 3 days. And then the microclimate inside your pantry turned it bad. Moldy, stinky bad. You could’ve extended its yumminess for a week or longer in the fridge, or up to 3 months in the freezer. Pro Tip: Buy a half-loaf!
Baking mixes. You cracked open that pancake mix and whipped up a beautiful, dense stack of silver dollars for a pajama party. And now you’re on a 2-month deadline to finish it up before pests move in and the baking powder or soda loses its pizzazz. Or…you could dump the mix into a sealed plastic freezer bag and extend its life dramatically. Just let it reach room temp before using. Pro Tip: Tape or write the mixing instructions on the bag.
Flours. If you bake only occasionally, the freezer is your friend. Flours are rancid- and pest-prone in your pantry—especially in their paper packaging. (We’re looking at you, weevils.) Whole wheat flour can go bad in a month! Move flours to freezer bags, label, store, and use them at will for big and small recipes. Bonus: Freezing flour cuts down on clouds of dust when you pour.
Sugars. Once opened, sweeteners are prone to clumping (white), drying (brown) and pests (powdered) in a few short months. Storing them in airtight containers keeps them shelf-stable for years! Pro Tip: Add a big ‘ol marshmallow to your brown sugar to keep it extra-soft.
Nuts. If you’ve bitten into a rancid nut, you know it instantly. The natural nut oils spoil within a few months, unless you freeze them. And then they’re good for up to two years! Pro Tip: Buy small packages of nuts during close-out sales, then freeze immediately.

So, the next time you think, I should probably clean out the pantry… Do it! Check for expiration dates, bugs and damaged packaging, then purge, restock and repackage. Your biscuits will thank you with a nice, yeasty rise.

Kick up the cozy!

1/27/2024

5 ways to make your home more cozy and inviting

Sweater weather, fuzzy slippers, and snuggly blankets. Ahhh…. So delightfully…cozy. But how do you bring the “cozy” into your home? Try these tips:

Dim the lights. Whether you’re sipping hot cocoa, watching a Hallmark romance, readying a page-turner, or entertaining your favorite friends, soft lighting sets the cozy mood. If you’ve been waiting to install dimmers on every light switch, this is your moment. Bonus: Everyone looks younger!
Start a fire. Nothing beats the snap, crackle and pop of a wood fire. But many gas, electric, water vapor and gel fuel options still rock the ambience and even provide supplemental heat. Light it up!
Burn some candles. Whether those flames are wicked, electrified or a combination, dancing candlelight is enchanting. Change up the sizes with (dripless) pillar, taper, tea, and even fairy lights! Pro Tip: Choose just one fragrance—perhaps fir or pumpkin—and keep all other candle options scent-free.
Throw out some throws. Soft blankets in baskets, casually thrown over chairs, and spilling out of drawers signal: It’s about to get cozy in here! Both heavy and lightweight options meet any temperature need. Pro Tip: Fringed blanket hems really kick up the design!
Offer guest slippers. If your floors are wood, vinyl or tile, they take on the chill of winter. The only way to “heat up” cold feet are…slippers! Have some options (mule, bootie, slide, clog) in average sizes placed strategically in baskets near entertainment areas. Guests will be delighted with your thoughtfulness!

A cozy home is a welcoming home. With just a few touches, you can usher in warmth and comfort for family and friends whilst kicking up your hospitality game. And that’s a win-win!

Walking in a Winter Wonder-garden

12/12/2023

Do's and Don't's of creating a winter garden

With frosty nights killing off fall blooms, it’s time to consider your winter garden. Winter…what? Yes! You can enjoy an amazing garden in winter, as long as you focus on these five elements:

Evergreens. Whether planted in the ground or glazed pots, perennials with vibrant green needles or leaves have their moments in a stark winter landscape. Consider conifers for statement hedges, and dwarf shrubs—like a mugo pine—for decks or patios. And…you can decorate them for the holidays!
Winter berries. Thrill to pops of color with trees—think hollies—and shrubs with persistent fruit in reds, oranges, purples, and pinks. Consider winterberry, beautyberry, checkerberry/boxberry, euonymus, viburnum, laurels, firethorn—the list is long! Bonus: The birds will thank you for the seasonal treats.
Winter-blooming perennials. Just when you think you’ll never survive another trek through frozen slush, out pop the delightful blooms of camellias, hellebores, and Persian violets. Your heart lifts! And if you’ve never seen a snowdrop or winter iris push its way through sleet, you need to!
Iron sculptures. Ice- or snow-covered metal takes on dramatic flair in winter. Consider powder-coated obelisks, cloches, and rustic flowers strategically placed to reflect both the sun and moon.
Statues. Made of durable concrete or stone, Romanesque figures steal the show when the foliage drops. Whether dusted with snow or ice, statues look regal and old-world…and completely unbothered by the weather.

While you’re planning winter garden beauty, avoid overdoing some things, including:

Too much cutting back. You can leave ornamental grasses, dried hydrangea blooms, rose hips, and sedums for winter interest—especially for dustings of snow and ice. When you cut back EVERYTHING, your landscape looks barren and severe. We’re aiming for interesting and dramatic.
Ornamentation. Too many twirling, swirling, colorful metal pieces can look ostentatious—even cartoonish—in the barren winter landscape. Store those away until summer leaves help them blend into your garden’s foliage.
Cardboard under mulch. While corrugated pulp/container board seems an easy winter solution to blocking weeds and killing grass—no digging or scraping!—it’s never a good idea for soil life. It blocks moisture and oxygen…and nutrients. The natural pine mulch you pile on top of it is wasted conditioning, and will probably slide off or bunch up. Just put in the sweat equity—hand clear the area, scatter a pre-emergent, and mulch.

A stunning winter garden takes time—sometimes years—to develop. But with a few changes each season, you’ll enjoy a show-stopping view, in your slippers and sweaters, outside any window.

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.

Gobbling up those leftovers

11/24/2023

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.

5 Things Every Guest Bathroom Needs

11/2/2023

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.

5 ways to reheat pasta leftovers

10/17/2023

All day, you’ve been looking forward to those pasta leftovers from last night’s glorious meal. But when you open the storage lid…hmm…that delectable dinner looks dry and unappetizing. How can you reheat it and get back to that dreamy feast? Try this:

Avoid the microwave. It’s soooo tempting—especially when you’re famished—to quick-zap that pasta, but don’t do it! You’ll get rubbery, sticky, and even drier results. And that’s no one’s leftovers goal.
Add a liquid. Pasta will absorb moisture from any sauce you used, so you must add a little water or chicken stock, a drizzle of olive oil, or more pasta sauce to get those juices flowing again. More sauce is your best bet, but alternative liquid is better than none.
Add grated cheese. Cheese has between 30-40% water already in it, so it’s a great way to add moisture and flavor. Top with Parmesan or a blend with Reggiano—and fresh-grate it for ideal results.
Use a lidded stock pan. Yes—dump it right back into the pan you used last night, add the lid for a “steam” effect, then get a slow warm-up going.
Use a covered casserole dish. If you baked and stored it right in the same dish, just cover it with foil and put it back into a 350° oven for 15-20 minutes.

So, don’t let those pasta leftovers dry out and languish in your fridge. Heat them up the right way and you’ll be yumming it up all over again.

You bet your glass!

10/3/2023

5 tips on storing and maintaining glassware

When you’re invited to a home-cooked meal, would you rather sip that icy water from a glass or plastic cup? You said “glass,” right? Of course you did. Because no one sits down to dinner, takes a sip, and says, “Man…I wish I had a plastic cup.”

Glassware is the easiest, most economical way to dress up any table for any occasion. You can spend very little on a collection from discount stores, estate sales and antique malls. Or…you can go wild with pricey options in crystal. Best time to do that? Your wedding.

Here are some guidelines for building, storing and maintaining your glassware collection:

Collect sets of eight in tall, medium and petite sizes. Why eight? Most dining tables seat eight, so you can be assured you’ll have the maximum amount of glassware on hand, no matter how many guests join you for supper. Bonus: Medium sizes are great for lunch; petite sizes are perfect for breakfast juices.
Consider specialty glassware. If you love to serve iced tea, there’s a tall, skinny glass for that! How about martinis? You’ll definitely want to have the right vessel to showcase that concoction. Wine, beer and cocktails all feel more special in their appropriate glassware. Tip: Stemmed glassware is more challenging to store, so consider shelving or cabinets with a hanging rack to suspend them above other items.
Store sets together. Who wants to sort through cabinets for that sixth glass when company’s on their way? Not you! That’s why keeping your sets together maintains your hosting sanity. Tip: For vase-shaped glassware, store every other glass with the widest point up, then down, then varying. Avoid stacking glasses, as this can cause them to stick and shatter when prying them apart.
Eliminate mismatched pieces. Unless a particular glass holds childhood or family meaning, hand it off to Goodwill. You don’t really need it…but someone else might! You’ll love the symmetry of matching glasses all lined up and ready to serve you.
Wash under the right settings. A crystal glass has much more clarity than normal glass, and that clarity lasts longer by hand washing. Yes—it’s a pain to do that. Which is why you should rinse them, but wait to complete the washing until the next morning, when you’re rested. Some dishwashers have a “crystal” setting. Try it out! Just be sure glassware doesn’t touch other items, and use detergents without lemon in them. Tip: If you have hard water with high mineral content, your glassware will likely cloud up. Look into a brand with a water softener built into it.

If you’re young and putting your first real kitchen together, opt for affordable glass. Accidents happen during pizza night. If you’re ready to up your entertainment game, consider crystal. It shines beautifully in candlelight. But whatever you choose, start now. Your guests will silently thank you as they sip.

A gardener for all seasons

9/26/2023

As summer winds down, gardeners start itching to do something other than water, water, water. And, maybe, water. There’s a need to tidy up, move things around, plant something new. But hold on, anxious gardeners. You might just be on the verge of making a big garden mistake. For instance:

It could be way too early to…

Plant spring bulbs. Yes—bulbs are in stores, calling your name, enticing you with their pictures of cheerful pastel blooms. But the ground is still too warm right now in most garden zones. Plant too early and they will sprout before the first freeze. Think: mid-to-late October for zones 4/5, November for zones 6-8.
Trim back trees and shrubs. While you can cut away broken, dead or diseased branches at any time, major pruning is a terrible idea right now. Why? Pruning stimulates new growth, and that beautiful growth will shrivel up and die in a snap freeze or even dramatic temperature drops. The best time to seriously prune is late-winter/early-spring.
Move blooming perennials. While early-fall is usually a great time to divide and/or transplant your perennials, you can sap energy and do serious damage to blooming—especially ever-blooming—shrubs. Instead, wait several weeks past their last blooms, or even until they’ve gone dormant.

Do some research before you…

Buy trees and shrubs for the wrong garden zones. Hardiness zones are essential for growing plants in your geographic area. Your climate may be too cold or even too warm for something you see in a magazine, so go local. A nearby garden center will probably carry perennials for your zone, but an online grower has plants that will prefer Michigan weather to Louisiana. Know exactly what zone you live in by typing in your ZIP code on the US Department of Agriculture website.
Plant perennials in the wrong sun/shade areas. Trees die and grow, buildings come down or go up, and the sun shifts in the sky throughout the seasons. All of those situations change the amount of sun or shade your new perennials will need to survive and flourish. Think two seasons ahead to determine if those hostas or hydrangeas will fry in full sun, or young roses will peter out in deep shade.

So just gather some important details before you attack that fall garden to-do list. Your plants will reward you for it next spring and summer.