Grocery Shopping – A Cool Story

The other day, I had gone Grocery Shopping in the meat produce section of the store and all of a sudden I was just talking to myself on cooking and finding new ways to cook chicken with different spices and herbs and sauces, and all of a sudden there were about 3 or 4 people who are women around me wondering what I was saying and they heard me talk to myself, then they started asking me questions, what do you do to cook chicken? What spices do you use? I said I use different spices and mix them together, then make my own sauce with the ingredients I buy. I said I usually cook chicken with a sweet and sour twist to it, and I make sure that I bathe my chicken in a lot of sauce, marinate it and all that. They said oh wow, that is great. They told me you must be an expert cook and you must do all the cooking in the house. I said, yes I do. I love to cook for my family and I enjoy creating new types of recipes and experimenting with flavours, spices, sauces, herbs, and more. We became instant friends and we took each others contact information and now we are in touch and share with each other our recipes, and soon we will be getting together for coffee to discuss our food preparations and more.

It is so amazing how people cross your path and especially from a grocery store, so Thank goodness I was talking to myself. I thought it was strange talking to myself while grocery shopping, but it was really cool to get my thoughts rolling and enjoying my time shopping. I love grocery shopping and I always look at prices and sales from the flyer.  They are very nice ladies and 2 of them were together shopping, the other one was just alone shopping, and we ended up having a 15-20 minute conversation by the meats about food, and everything. They love watching the food channel and they are avid cookers and love baking too. I am so happy to have found them as we share the same interests. You meet people where you least expect it, and its an ideal place to meet in a grocery store. A lot of people have asked me questions at the grocery store, but this one struck out the most. I wasn’t going to go shopping that day, but then I ended up doing so anyway, so I was glad I did.

So excited to get together with them. probably this coming week. lets see. Has it ever happened to you where you meet people in a grocery store or where you least expect it? Did you make friends with them? Do you enjoy meeting new people all the time? I was really happy with meeting them.

Talin’s Helpful Tips In The Kitchen And Organization

Hello All! Today, I am going to talk to you about tips on how to keep your kitchen organized and clean at all times. I know that is easier said than done right? I know its one of the most busiest places in your home with all the cooking, and preparing food daily, entertaining guests, and the whole thing can be a hassle. Well, I am here to help you make your kitchen hassle free, clear of mess, and efficient ways to cook, clean, and organize your kitchen in simple easy steps as well as what to refrigerate and what not to. Well, lets start shall we?

How to Organize Your Fridge:

Now, this is a huge problem in most households probably, and this took me many months to figure out what to do with my fridge and what I can do to keep it organized and visible with everything. I do not like to get so much of everything from the grocery store. I am one of those people who don’t over shop for things. I like to finish what I see in my fridge before I go out and buy again. Unless there are people coming over, or if you have a large to a small family. It depends on how much you can store in your fridge, but once something finishes, I go back to the grocery store which is not even 5 minutes away and I get out and leave. I save so much money that way and my life will be a lot easier with organization.

Here is what to refrigerate after opening. It is important to put soya sauce, any types of barbecue sauce, gourmet sauces, ketchup, peanut butter, jams, cheese whiz, jello pudding, pudding, we get from the grocery store to preserve its freshness. Never put these things in your pantry after opening. Its a no no. Although same don’t have a refrigerate after opening, but you have to so that it won’t go stale and it does if you do not put it in there.Always look at expiration dates, always clean your fridge once a week.

I like to make separate bins of fruits, vegetables, citrus fruits, keep them in separate bins, then keep the eggs in the egg carton. Don’t transfer the eggs to other places. Keep a section for your toast breads, keep a section for yogurts, milks, and other dairy products like cheese, then another section put all your jams, peanut butter and other condiments. Then in one section put other foods that you have, but always organize and create space so that it won’t overlap everything and get on top of each other. Always get a run through of what you have in your freezer and fridge and do an inventory of what you have, and whatever you don’t go to your local grocery store and stock up on the items your missing. this way you will see what you have and don’t have and so that you don’t buy too much of something that you don’t need. When things are on sale people go and jump at it like no tomorrow, it doesn’t mean you need to get a whole bunch of it, because if you do and don’t use it and it sits for months or a few weeks, it won’t be good anymore and it will go bad. Its money down the drain. even when its on special.

How to Keep your Kitchen Clean at All times — Especially when cooking and after cooking

The kitchen is one of my favorite places to be and cleanliness is number one to me. I am so picky and a clean freak. During when I cook, I am so cautious of food getting on the counter tops and cook space, so I wash my fruits and veggies thoroughly, then I like to use a nice cutting board and  I chop everything preventing any of it to get on the counter and i clean off the cutting board and put every bit of it in the dish I am cooking up. After I am done using something, I automatically wash what I am not using anymore. So in the end you won’t have mountains of dishes to wash. Its a great idea to wash everything, and then you can focus on just cooking the food after all the preparations are complete. saves a whole lot of time too. then all you need to do after, is just wash some plates and the pots and your good to go. Dish cloths, hand towels and oven mitts should be washed regularly, and folded away neatly in a drawer.

Cleaning your kitchen counters with warm water and vinegar is so important. do that at least once a week. sometimes more. depending if your dealing with meats, but its always a good idea. do not use other chemicals on your surfaces. Not good. Vinegar and water and its also good for mopping the floors.

How to Keep your Pantry Organized

Now one of the things in the pantry I cannot stand are bags. I like to take out pasta, bulgur, sugar, peanuts and other nuts and seeds, and go get containers and storage containers with first washing them before using and putting them all in different containers. I like to keep my Pantry Organized too. you put your oils, and vinegars in one spot, then you put grains in one spot, breakfast cereals, pancake mix, oatmeal, cake mixes, jello packets, and other things stored properly. Like I said if you have something, do not buy until its finished with.

How to Have an Organized Kitchen All around

Some kitchens are small, and some kitchens are big, but it all depends on you and how you want to organize your kitchen, but everything has its place. Its important to have pots in one spots, pans, pyrex and other pans in one spot. All utensils, cooking utensils, in one spot, your machines, gadgets should be in a cabinet stored in your lower cabinets. plates, cups, glasses, in one side. It is important to keep organized and you will see a difference.

When you maintain your kitchen and when you have everything organized. your life will be much easier, and when you know people are coming over, prepare everything in advanced so that you won’t spend hours in the kitchen when you can be with your guests in your home a lot longer and have good conversations, instead of running to the kitchen every few minutes. Lay out everything in front of them so that you prevent several trips to the kitchen. Preparation is key to organization in the kitchen. always think ahead.

Well, there you have it. my tips and tricks to keeping your kitchen tidy, organized and clean… Cleanliness is very important. Enjoy your kitchen.