No Tackle It Tuesday/Kitchen Tip Tuesday

I guess this mother has a favorite!!!!!

No tackle today, after spending most of the week sick, I am considering it a tackle just to get my shower and dressed...which I did today. I am spending today with a dear friend quilting and exchanging Christmas gifts. I can't wait as she is on her way now. I have been close friends with Sue for 25 years!! I really miss her since I moved back to our hometown. She was the first friend I met when I moved away from here 25 years ago. We lived within a few miles of each other for all but the last 7 of those years. Now, she tries to make the 1 1/2 hour drive once every few months. I have not seen her since July, though we talk often.

I do have a quick kitchen tip. I got this for my birthday and really love it. The bags are very inexpensive, which surprised me. Until I can get a bigger better vacuum lock food storage system, this one is great for the $9.99! Visit Tammy's Recipes for more kitchen tips!

Tackle It Tuesday and Kitchen Tip Tuesday

How many of you used your stove top to the extreme over the last week? I did. With Thanksgiving and all the other cooking I have been doing, my stove top got a huge work out. My tackle to share today was my stove top. I took the entire thing apart and scrubbed it down. I often throw the drip pans in the dishwasher, but every once in a while they need a good scrubbing. Here is a before (slick with grease and burned):Here is the after:
For more Tackle It Tuesday posts, visit 5 Minutes For Mom.

For my kitchen tip this week, I will share with you "how" I get my stove so clean and shiny. Like your kitchen sink, a clean or dirty stove will really make or break your kitchen appeal. Have you ever seen a kitchen with a really dirty stove? I will say nothing more...

So, I have a little story to share. First I will say, I receive NOTHING from the following endorsement except a huge dose of humility.

Several years ago, maybe 5, a young woman came to my door with a spray bottle and a script. I would not let her in my house to "clean anything you want", so she proceeded to clean my door knob. She sprayed her "magic cleaner" on the door knob and took a little green pad and rubbed very gently. The door knob SHINED like the sun in the spot she rubbed. I thought it was antique brass, but come to find out it was dirty, shiny brass. Ok, maybe we can try it on something else...she came in and we used her magic cleaner on my most difficult jobs! Everyone of them was a success. Areas that were thought to be ruined...like my stove drip pans, and the edge of a drain. The stain on the counter and the spot on the frig door. I had tried EVERYTHING on these areas and nothing worked. So for a mere 199.99 I could get 2 quarts of her magic cleaner, which was highly concentrated, PLUS she would throw in 2 spray bottles and a little bundle of green pads which were a perfect 2x4 inch rectangle. SOLD! (Ooooh, if you are reading this Sweet Hubby, I DID learn my lesson!)

You know that saying "There is a sucker born everyday"?...I am the one on Nov. 8th, 1960. To make a long story short, the cleaner was NOT magic.....but the little green pad WAS!! Come to find out the cleaner (I think it was Pine Sol in a different bottle) was no more effective than my own cleaner, but the green miricle pad was just as effective with plain old water! These little pads had the words "scotch" lightly printed on them. You can get them at ANY grocery store for $1.29 for 3 large pads. You just need to cut your own little ones for a total of 9 pads. She only gave me 6!!! So here is my kitchen tip: I do not use these on surfaces that are easily scratched, but they are really great on stainless steel cookware (and of course the kitchen sink). Another GREAT tip when cleaning your stove is to use this cleaner: It cuts grease better than anything I have ever used, plus it is earth friendly and non toxic! It was developed so kids could help clean, yet it is amazingly effective in grease cutting. I use the pink. You can get it at many retail stores and it is less expensive than regular cleaners. Again, I am getting no rewards for saying this, except the reward of sharing my wonderful tools to get a beautifully clean stove top! For more Kitchen Tips, visit Tammy's Recipes.

Tackle It Tuesday/ Kitchen Tip Tuesday

That's what I have to do today...PLENTY! Lot's of Thanksgiving prep! I need to:

Clean out the frig

make the Thanksgiving Menu

Grocery Shop (YUK)

Laundry

Bake

Wash the hard wood flooring

Wash the floor rugs

And I am sure there is more...to see other Tackle's visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

I have the tutorial all ready to go, but decided to wait til after Thanksgiving, so I will put part one up on Friday or Saturday...just think Light/Dark, or two color combinations you really like together. Vision....that is what everything we do starts with.

I decided to join in this fun Tuesday game...glad it is on Tuesday so I can combine it. I am giggling at myself because I can give lots of tips on how to open a box or package just right, but since I started scratch cooking, I am learning as I go. Most of my tips may seem old hat to some of you, but you never know what "processed food preparer" may be lurking out there and be inspired by a "tip" to actually cook!

Here are my first Kitchen Tips:

#1 Wear An Apron!! Not only does it keep your clothing clean, having it on is inspiring to actually do something involving the idea of cooking!! If you do not have one, you can buy one or make one very easily. Make it fit your personality. I like the full aprons, but there are times I put it on quickly at my waist leaving the top part tucked behind. Fabric is important. I have one that is neutral enough to go with most of my clothing, but my favorite is one that clashes with alot, so when I can actually wear it, it is a treat! I plan to make several more after the holidays. #2 Create a Baking Center! This was the best thing I ever did! Pick a cupboard or cabinet, or even a drawer and put all your baking supplies in one spot. What a difference it has made. As always, Copper's Wife has some great tips on creating a baking center here.

To see more Kitchen Tips go to Tammy's Recipes.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!!