 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:
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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:
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:
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.  I blame my Aunt Beverly for my vast dish collections. She’s in Heaven now and can’t refute this, so you’ll just have to roll with my recollection.
When I settled into my first long-term apartment after college, Aunt Bev looked around my kitchen and said, “If I lived alone, I’d have a different set of dishes for every season.” BAM! I liked that idea. I looooooooved that idea. I embraced that idea. I embraced that idea so firmly, I’m now able to loan out my entire collection of glass luncheon plates (52) and never miss them. Traditionally, I use my full set (12) of heavy Pier 1 “crackle” dishes December-February, my set (12) of yellow HomeTrend dishes March-May, my Johnson Bros. blue-and-white transferware set (8) June-August, then return to the yellow for Fall. I just sold the transferware, so now I’m in the market for a trendy set of white plates. But why stop at plates? I mean, we need serving bowls and platters, don’t we? Yes. Yes, we do. And maybe a cake stand. Possibly a footed trifle bowl. Pudding cups are awesome. You see how this Aunt Bev idea quickly grew into an obsession? And—bonus!—these dish patterns are retired. (Or as I like to call it, “out of print.”) So resale sites like eBay and replacements.com are both my enabler and my nemesis. You can find me late at night by following the soft glow of my computer screen as I scroll, scroll, scroll through page after page after page of retired dinnerware. I console myself by recognizing there are far worse obsessions than dishes. Like, glassware. See, it all started with a set of gold-rimmed crystal I found in Austria… |
Christine SchaubA Michigan farm girl transplanted to the South offering hospitality hacks. Categories
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