5+ Super Easy, Super Helpful Organization Tips for Your Kitchen

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2020-02-03

Any kitchen can be a place of chaos if you aren’t prepared for it. Whether it’s for your kitchen at home or at a restaurant, it’s essential that you’re organized, so the time-sensitive work is efficient.

Super Helpful Organization Tips for Your Kitchen — Taken by E. Castrejon via unsplash.com. [Public Domain].

Here are some helpful organization tips for your kitchen, so cooking doesn’t become too stressful.

Label Shelves

The best thing you can do for yourself is to label as much as you can in a kitchen. This doesn’t mean having tacky labels on cabinets, but you might want to consider labeling shelves with the items that are supposed to be on there. This allows people who are not as familiar with your kitchen to place items in the correct spot. Labeling shelves is a common inventory technique for many restaurants that will also help you easily go figure out what items you need.

Create Designated Spots for Items

In addition to organizing shelves, you should also have a designated spot for all your kitchen tools and utensils. This means having a specific spot for spices, machinery, cups, utensils, plates, containers, pots, and pans. This will make your work in the kitchen far more efficient when you know where the items that you need are. Try to ensure that the space you place these items in is appropriate, too. For instance, reserve the bigger cabinets for machinery and containers.

Use Drawer Organizers

Another great method you can use is a drawer organizer. This is essential for keeping all your utensils in place instead of simply piling them in a drawer. A drawer organizer can also be used for the various cutting knives you own. Never underestimate how useful a drawer organizer is for your kitchen’s sense of order.

Clean Out Your Refrigerator and Freezer

The best way to stay on top of your own personal inventory and avoid any spoiled food is to regularly go through and clean out your refrigerator and freezer. This is also an effective method for reorganizing the shelves in your kitchen and placing items where they should go.

Utilize Containers

Many containers tend to take up ample space when they’re stored. They can often be awkward and bulky. This is why you should take advantage of food storage containers. This way, you can stack containers if you do need more space instead of dividing up where items are stored.

Use Hooks

For frequently used items, consider using hooks. Not only does this make items like a spatula easily accessible, it also means fewer items you have to stuff in drawers. Use your kitchen’s walls to your advantage by putting up hooks for utensils. It’s one of the best ways to utilize your limited space.

Have Cleaning Supplies Easily Accessible

Our last helpful organization tip for your kitchen also has to do with keeping items easily accessible, more specifically with your cleaning supplies. Keeping a kitchen clean is one of the highest priorities you should have a rack for clean towels, paper towels, a spot for soap, and more.

The Best Women-Owned Restaurants in New York City

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Brynne Boyke

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2020-01-19

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New York City is a hub of creativity, culture, and cuisine, and finding the time to experience it all can be tricky. Luckily, plenty of wonderful restaurants in NYC combine all three elements to provide a unique dining experience you won’t soon forget.

Manhattan has some of the best women-owned restaurants in New York City — Taken by M. Catanese via unsplash.com. [Public Domain].

Below are some of the best women-owned restaurants in New York City to add some flavor to your next trip to the Big Apple.

west~bourne

137 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012 • Website • Google Maps

west~bourne takes its name from owner and founder Camilla Marcus, a Los Angeles native who’s bringing West Coast cuisine and community to the Big Apple. west~bourne places a big emphasis on community and neighborhood hospitality, two elements Marcus strives to impart through her vegetarian menu.

west~bourne’s menu focuses on wholesome dishes that cater to your wildest cravings. Featuring a wide selection of dishes, from a vegetarian Reuben sandwich to a sweet and scrumptious Malibu waffle, the menu offers something for everyone. Marcus proudly promotes community through all aspects of her restaurant, donating a portion of all restaurants sales to a local nonprofit organization that provides hospitality training for young adults in the area.

west~bourne periodically hires participants from this program, further cementing a stable and caring connection with the community as a whole.

Dirt Candy

86 Allen St, New York, NY 10002 • Website • Google Maps

Don’t let the name dissuade you. Dirt Candy is absolutely one of the best women-owned restaurants in New York City. Chef, owner, and James Beard Award nominee Amanda Cohen established Dirt Candy as one of the first restaurants in New York featuring a vegetable-forward menu. Unlike some other restaurants, however, Dirt Candy features no à la carte dining options. Instead, this restaurant presents two different tasting menus, each offering several courses of vegetable-forward fare.

The menus change depending on which items are currently in season, so you can always rest assured that you’ll get a fresh and delicious meal. Though Cohen is constantly creating new dishes, a few fan favorites have become staples at the restaurant. Past notable dishes have included brussels sprout tacos, pumpkin pad thai, and a savory, mouth-watering tomato cake.

mŏkbar

75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011 • Website • Google Maps

Chef and owner Esther Choi brings traditional Korean cuisine to the Big Apple through her restaurant mŏkbar. With locations in Brooklyn and Chelsea, mŏkbar seeks to provide healthy, high-quality dishes with a traditional Korean flair. The menu at mŏkbar constantly changes to accommodate the freshest seasonal produce.

Ingredients are purchased from Korean markets in Flushing or the Union Square Greenmarket and transported immediately to the restaurant to be made into a variety of delicious dishes. mŏkbar utilizes traditional Korean cooking techniques to produce their fare, such as a “mother broth,” which is used as a base for the majority of the ramen dishes. A team of powerful women, each with Korean roots and a long history of culinary experience, operates mŏkbar.

Choi, along with her sister and managing partner Jennifer, strive to “broaden New Yorkers’ understanding and appreciation of Korean culture through [their] food.” They have certainly achieved this feat, not only through their mouth watering dishes, but also through the reverence for Korean culture they’ve created in their restaurant.

By the way, have you ever wondered why is New York City called the Big Apple? Check out that link from our sister site Dauntless Jaunter to find out!

4 Tips for How to Grow Your Own Food for Fresh, Sustainable Produce

By

Grace Brewer

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2020-01-18

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Growing food in your own backyard has many benefits. When you grow your own food, your produce is fresher, you know exactly where it came from and how it was grown, and you can even sell or give away the excess harvest.

Growing produce is also easier than a lot of people think. You don’t need a massive amount of space or an experienced green thumb to provide yourself with your own homegrown ingredients.

If you’re interested in giving it a try, check out these tips for growing your own food.

Make Use of Limited Space

There are plenty of ways to grow fruits and vegetables with limited space. If you don’t have yard space, you can grow certain fruits and vegetables in containers on a porch or balcony. Plenty of plants can thrive indoors as well. For example, an herb garden can sit near the window, taking up minimal space. You can also get clever with your garden layout. Use hanging baskets to grow strawberries, peas, or cherry tomatoes. A plant shelf and other vertical gardening methods are also efficient ways to grow a lot in a little space.

Plant Seasonally

Everyone knows spring and summer are prime gardening seasons, but that doesn’t mean you can’t plant any other time of the year. Do some research on foods that grow in the fall, winter, or early spring as well as what you need to take care of them. When spring and summer do come along, pace yourself throughout the season so that you’re always planting your seeds at the right time. Planting seasonally also means you’ll eat seasonally. Fruits and vegetables will be ready in their prime seasons, and you’ll reap the benefits of a natural, balanced diet.

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

Growing your own food should be as rewarding as it is sustainable. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Once you’re comfortable with what you have, try your hand at larger or pickier plants. If you have the space, a fruit tree is an investment that can completely transform your garden. If your old setup just isn’t working for you anymore, then it may be time to rearrange the backyard to accommodate some new ideas. You can also branch out to other food sources such as eggs, milk, or butter. While you can’t technically “grow” them, chickens are popular backyard pets, and their eggs are far more nutritious and delicious than their store-bought counterparts.

Get the Family Involved

When it comes to putting homegrown food on the table, everyone should have the chance to get involved. This is why one of the best tips for growing your own food is to not do it alone. Your family members don’t need perfect green thumbs to help you cultivate a successful garden. Start them out with baby steps such as watering plants or feeding animals. If they show an interest, welcome them to learn and help more. This is also a great way to spend quality time as a family or teach your kids something new.

How to Take Your Baking to the Next Level in 3 Easy Ways

By

Kelly Kass

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2020-01-09

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Baking is so much fun.

Not only do you end up with tasty treats at the end of the process, but it’s also an excellent way to express your personality. As fun as baking is, however, it can get a little dull after some time.

Follow this resourceful guide on how to take your baking to the next level to spice things up if you find yourself making the same vanilla cupcake over and over again. You’ll impress people with your skills, and they’ll eagerly anticipate what you do next.

muffins baking in oven to take baking to the next level — Taken by T. Grote via unsplash.com. [Public Domain].

Try Out New Recipes

If you’re wondering how to take your baking to the next level, start by trying out new recipes. Don’t make the same basic chocolate cake every time you get in a baking mood. Research inventive baking recipes online, or join different baking groups on social media sites to get fellow baking-enthusiasts’ opinions.

Also, don’t get discouraged if your new recipes turn out poorly the first few attempts. Never be too hard on yourself, and try to remember that not every baker started off as a pro in the kitchen. Be patient and take every botched cookie as a learning opportunity. Soon enough, you’ll find the perfect imaginative recipe that people just can’t get enough of.

Enhance Your Decorations

Anyone looking to step up their baking skills should consider enhancing their decorations. Decorating is half of the fun of baking after all. Moreover, the better your desserts look, the more people will want to eat them. Don’t just slap chocolate frosting on a cupcake and call it a day. Instead, get as creative as you can when it comes to decorations.

Pipe cute little flowers on your cupcake for an added touch of beauty. It’d also be interesting to experiment with fondant and see what you can make. Finally, your taste testers will love it if you decorate using edible gold or silver. Edible metals enhance the look of any treat, and they can make confections look so much more sophisticated.

Add Inventive Ingredients

You can elevate your baking skills by adding inventive ingredients to simple recipes. Although it’s smart to try new recipes, that doesn’t mean you need to scrap the basics entirely. You can do so many simple things to enhance even the most basic desserts. For example, add a splash of bourbon into your German chocolate cake.

This will provide a nice kick, and it’s the perfect addition to a classic favorite. Try some unusual pairings as well. Adding chips to a soft dessert is a good idea because the crunch provides an excellent contrast to delicate desserts. Bacon is another ingredient that can improve the flavor of your favorite treats. Don’t be afraid to experiment—you may end up creating a masterpiece.

Follow these steps if you’re wondering how to take your baking to the next level. You get easily bored if you make the same sweets repeatedly. Mix things up and try out some new recipes. People will be dying to see what you make every time you’re in the kitchen. After all, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward.

6 Most Healthy Seeds to Add to Your Smoothie

By

Rebecca Sippel

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2019-12-29

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Thanks to their dominant fruity flavors, smoothies are great options for picky eaters. You can blend a variety of healthy ingredients into them without significantly altering their taste.

In addition to sneaking some leafy greens into your morning smoothie, consider adding seeds as well. Seeds are loaded with many different vitamins, fibers, antioxidants, and minerals that are necessary for a plant to grow as well as incredibly beneficial for humans. If you’re interested in packing your smoothie with even more nutrients, consider some of these healthy seeds to add to your smoothie.

smoothie with healthy seeds inside — Taken by K15photos via unsplash.com. [Public Domain].

Hemp seeds

Shelled hemp seeds, also known as hemp hearts, have a subtle, nutty taste. Packed with nutrients, hemp seeds are composed of plant proteins, fiber, potassium, a variety of essential fatty acids, and all nine essential amino acids. As a result of their incredibly nutritious makeup, consuming hemp seeds has a variety of health benefits, including improved heart and brain health, enhanced digestion, and reduced inflammation.

Flaxseed

It may not be very tasty on its own, but you’ll barely notice the slightly oily taste of ground flaxseed when you blend it into your smoothie—especially if you include berries, which will help mask the taste. Flaxseed is a great source of antioxidants, fiber, lignans, and healthy fat. Consuming this nutritious seed has been linked to decreased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Chia seeds

Perhaps the most popular seed that people currently add to their smoothies is the chia seed. Don’t be fooled by their small size; these little seeds can have a huge positive impact on one’s health. Loaded with fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and calcium, chia seeds are known to prevent heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Cashews

Most people think that cashews are nuts, but they’re actually seeds. Cashews are low in fat and high in copper, fiber, potassium, folic acid, vitamins E and B, and protein. Adding cashews to your smoothie can improve your heart, blood, and eye health as well as boost your immune system.

Pumpkin seeds

If you buy them raw and unsalted, pumpkin seeds make great additions to post-workout smoothies. Pumpkin seeds contain high levels of iron, vitamin E, and magnesium, which help maintain muscle and restore nutrients lost during exercise. In addition, they’re high in antioxidants, which help reduce muscle soreness after exercise. Even if you didn’t just hit the gym, pumpkin seeds have numerous health benefits, such as reducing the risk of certain cancers, improving bone and heart health, and protecting against Type 2 Diabetes.

Almonds

Many people enjoy snacking on almonds on their own, but they’re also delicious when you add them into smoothies. Almonds are plentiful sources of protein, fiber, vitamin E, calcium, and potassium. Their health benefits include lowered blood sugar and cholesterol levels as well as reduced blood pressure. Almonds are especially delicious when you blend them with bananas, strawberries, and a nut milk as a liquid base. To avoid the crunchy texture that almonds can add to your smoothie, consider soaking them before blending them in.

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