What's In Your Fridge? | The Kitchen Prep

You know the show "MTV Cribs?"

{Is it still running? I can't remember the last time I turned the station to MTV on purpose.}

I remember watching it when it first became popular. I used to love the part when they'd get to the kitchen and show you what's in the celeb's refrigerator -- though, honestly, it was usually a bit of a disappointment.

A few bottles of Perrier, half finished bottles of neon-colored Gatorade, old boxes of Chinese takeout and some frozen pizzas... really? You get paid millions of dollars per movie/game/gig and that's all you've got to show for it??

Regardless, it was always fun to see what "they" eat; a true thrill for the budding culinary voyeur in me.

For some reason that popped into my head while I was in my own kitchen recently and I started thinking about refrigerators. {Leave it to me.}

I think you can learn a lot about a person by seeing what's on/in their fridge.

Think about it; the outside of a person's refrigerator can be filled with tons of clues about their life, personality, and inner psyche. {I may have gone too far with that last one, but you know what I mean.}

Don't believe me?

Let's take a peek at my own fridge.

Pardon all the randomness on top of the fridge. That pile of toys are Farley's "only with supervision"
toys that he basically rips apart and eats if we don't watch him carefully.

Well, here she is. Pretty uninspiring, right? Upon closer inspection...

I like organization, so that means I tend to keep the front of my fridge pretty uncluttered if I can. Most of the time, cards from friends and family, and reminders are the only things that make it up there.

Currently, I have several thank you's and invites to baby showers and kiddie birthday parties. It's a phenomenon that happens when you reach your late 20's/early 30's. Your group of friends begins to multiply exponentially! Most of these have been up there for a while... I've just been too busy to switch them out! {See that precious baby girl on the top? She is now 8 months old!}

That silly card with a yellow lab looks a lot like our Farley. I think it's time to get some of those Instagram magnets made with his real picture. :) {P.S. I'm totally in love with the tiny Mighty Magnets I use. They were a gift from my friends at The Container Store!}

Since my birthday just passed, I have a few coupons that were sent to me from some of my fave stores. I thought this Anthropologie postcard was cute enough to get some fridge-space... and it's a way to make sure I don't misplace it!

I also have a random assortment of other things up there: A snarky magnet from one of my sisters. A shout out to my Gators. An old Valentine from my other sister. And some fun photo booth pics from events we've attended. {That weird little thing behind the Gator magnet is actually a sticker that was used on the space shuttle... we have a friend who is a rocket scientist! No, really!}

Now... let's look inside. I didn't even do too much cleaning up {except for a questionable bunch of broccoli rabe that was looking a little scary} so you could really see what's in there.

Yikes.

Since it's the end of the week, we don't have too much left in there. But, you can tell that we try to be healthy eaters. We also believe in {and love!} leftovers in this house. We try to recycle old {gelato} containers. And there's always some sort of blog-related food experiment lurking in there, too.

See that brown paper bag? There's a bunch of stuff in there from my visit with Chef Lindsay from Sundy House... I can't wait to tell you about it {soon}! I just noticed that I totally misspelled her name up there. You know what I meant. Ugh.

Further inspection will show that: We have a condiment problem. We could probably host an ice cream party for about 20 people at the drop of a hat. {I have to admit, those have been sitting there untouched for a VERY long time... ew.} And I think we may need a fridge with more storage space...

Well, that was slightly painful. Why do I have the sudden urge to clean out my fridge and start from scratch??

Now that you know everything that there is to know about me {stop judging, I see that look on your face}, I'm thinking it's time to get to know some other bloggers out there. What do you think of that??

Fashion bloggers show you their "outfit of the day", lifestyle bloggers sometimes give us a glimpse at what they carry in their purse... I think it's only fitting to see what's in a food blogger's refrigerator!

So... I have a request: If you're a food blogger and you have the guts to show us what's on/in your fridge, email me! I'd love to feature you and share your favorite product discoveries, exciting news, or any other deep,dark, juicy secrets stuff that you'd like to share with the world!

If you're not a food blogger, but you're a fan of any particular blog, please comment below with the name of the blog and I'll touch base with that blogger and see if they're interested in giving us a peek into their world via their refrigerator!

If you think this idea is really dumb, then disregard all of the above. Haha! Just thought I'd mix it up a little around here and spread the food blog love!

What does your fridge say about you??

Organizing Your Kitchen: A Visit to The Container Store

I have never had a ton of space to work with as far as living arrangements go.

As a kid, I shared a small bedroom with my little sister. My next stop was a college apartment, which I shared with three other {fabulous} girls.

When I moved back to my hometown after I graduated to start my teaching career, I rented an itty-bitty apartment above someone's garage. It was steps from the ocean {so cool!}, but it didn't even have a kitchen {not so cool.} I literally had to wash my dishes in the bathtub.

I moved out of that space into a similar one... this one had a {tiny} kitchen. When I say tiny, I mean I could touch both sides of the kitchen at the same time by extending my arms out to my sides. But at least I had a sink for washing dirty dishes.

After that, my {now} husband and I moved in together. Since then, we've lived in three different apartments. Rentals = small kitchens & minimal storage.

My point is... I've had to learn a lot about organization. It's sort of a survival skill when you live in places with limited space.

With a little trial and error and a lot of organizational tools, I've gotten our cabinets, pantry, and closets down to a science. Or so I thought.

I was recently invited to preview a brand new The Container Store in Boca Raton. And let me tell you, I was giddy. I heart containers -- baskets, boxes, bins... if it hides a mess and looks pretty, it's for me.

Um. I think I fell in love at The Container Store.

Over.

Polka dots!

And Over.

A rainbow of storage containers.

And over again.

Chic desk organization!

Pure obsessive-compulsive love.

Color coordinated hanger bliss.

I could have set up shop right there in the middle of the canning jar aisle. Brought in a cot. Called the hubby and told him to bring the dog because I just found our next home.

It's a canning jar wonderland!

But that might have been kinda weird. And maybe made the customers a little uneasy.

Instead, I just took a lot of pictures.

So cute.

I oooohed and ahhhhhed over stuff like Elfa and Urbio and other really awesome and useful products. I marveled at the knowledge of our wonderful "tour guide". I made mental notes of must-haves.

Oh, hi. I need this garage. Thanks.

And then I remembered that the whole point of my visit was to bring back things to share with you!

So, I decided to gather some tips for you straight from the expert.

The expert, with a true look of organizational excitement on her face.

I asked, "What are the top 3 products or tips you'd give to someone trying to organize their kitchen?"  And here's what she said:

1. Line your shelves.

These shelves aren't lined, but how cool are these containers?

I have a confession: I've never lined my shelves. Shelf paper makes me think of my grandma. Quite frankly, I just never understood the whole shelf lining thing.

Well... grandma knows best. Shelf lining is the foundation of a well-organized cabinet or pantry. It protects your actual shelves from damage and warping, and keeps plates and other items safe, too. {Plus, it creates a nice layer between questionable shelving and the things you eat off of, renters.} Non-slip liners can also keep things from shifting and prevent cabinet landslides. It's also easy to clean in case of spills. {Have you ever spilled honey?? ugh.}

2. Be your own designer.

What are the odds your kitchen has drawers that fit everything you own perfectly? Slim to none, I'd say. Unstructured drawers are often the catalyst for out of control "junk drawers".

There's no gamble when you get to customize your own drawers to suit your specific needs. Enter: Lifestyle Systems Drawer Dividers.

Easy to customize. Relatively inexpensive. Removable if the need arises. Perfection.

3. Make every last inch of space work for you.

The Container Store is all about visibility and accessibility. Because when you can see and access all of your stuff, you're way more likely to use it! {Smart, aren't they?}

How many of you have nearly lost a limb pulling pots, pans, trays, etc. out of your overstuffed cabinets? It's like a game of Jenga that nobody wins.

Luckily, you can easily create custom solutions to fit your space so that your kitchen wares come to you instead of you digging for them. They've got tons of cool cabinet and pantry organizing tools that keep your kitchen stuff within easy reach, which in turn, keeps you from throwing in the towel and hightailing it to the nearest restaurant.

Chrome Roll-Out Cabinet Drawers.

And best of all, they try to keep their genius solutions{like these Chrome Roll-Out Cabinet Drawers or these Elfa Pantry solutions} easy to install. And for those of us who don't have one handy bone in our body... they offer installation services. Score.

I could go on and on about how wonderful The Container Store is, but it's really one of those things you have to see for yourself. Warning: You will be overcome by the need to organize every room in your house.

Fear not! It'll all fall into place... one piece at a time. :)

A huge thanks to my friends at The Container Store Boca Raton for the fantastic tour!

Disclosure: I was invited to attend a blogger preview for this The Container Store location and was provided with a complimentary lunch and free organizational items for personal use. As always, the opinions you see here are all my own!

Cheddar-Jalapeño Beer Bread

You know what I simultaneously love and dislike about cooking? It's a never ending learning process. There is no finite end, and even if there were, someone would come along and invent a new technique or recipe and you'd be back at square one.

In some ways, it levels the playing field for all of us - whether classically trained or self taught.

One of the world's most renowned chefs, Julia Child, {who would have recently celebrated her 100th birthday}, was well-known for her fearlessness and candor about delving into the world of food. She was a pretty spunky broad who wasn't afraid to "get good and loaded and whack the hell out of a chicken." {How could you not love her?}

As I was reading a list of famous Julia quotes last week, I couldn't help but chuckle {and nod enthusiastically} at her advice and counsel. I could completely relate to many of the pitfalls and blunders she addressed in her witty way.

Some days you'd think I have never stepped foot in a kitchen. I make silly mistakes and I have to laugh at myself or else I'd cry... especially when said mistake ends in wasted ingredients, a wrecked kitchen, or an inedible product. And believe me, there have been countless occasions where this has been the case.

Inspired to list of some of the "oopsies" that I tend to make every week from time to time, I've compiled some important tips in hopes that they will both entertain you, and keep you from your own kitchen disasters.

Things I've Learned in the Kitchen {Through Trial & Error} :

1. For heaven's sake... use a big enough pot. Or bowl. Or pan. Because somehow I am constantly spilling things everywhere due to insufficient space in whatever vessel I'm using. I must've missed the day we discussed volume in school.

2. As delicious as whatever you are cooking looks or smells, give it a second to cool down before your put it in you mouth. It's a wonder I have any skin left on the roof of my mouth.

3. Make sure you have all the ingredients you need before you begin a recipe. There's nothing worse than getting to the "Add 2 eggs" step and finding that you do not, in fact, have any eggs in the fridge. {Especially when your husband left an empty egg carton to throw you off.}

4. On a similar note, read recipes all the way through before you begin them. It can be a little embarrassing to discover that Step 5 directs you to marinate the pork tenderloin... for 24 hours... and your company will be arriving in 3. Attention to detail, folks.

5. If a recipe tells you that you need non-stick cooking spray... or that you need to stir constantly... or that there will be violent boiling and the possibility of bubbling over - believe it. Odds are it will not be any different in your kitchen.

6. Powdered sugar, cornstarch, and dry quinoa are notorious "jumpers" in my kitchen. {Meaning, they like to jump out of whatever I am attempting to contain them in and onto my clothing or floor.} Proceed with caution.

7. Drinking wine {or any alcoholic beverage, for that matter} while cooking: Double edged sword. ;)

8. Put contacts in, do your eye makeup, or any activity that requires your hands being near your eyes BEFORE you come in contact with jalapenos. You might think sufficient washing will remove the residue... It will not.

9. Measuring when baking = not a suggestion. Unless your hands have unit markings & your arms are a kitchen scale.

10. Have fun in the kitchen. No recipe is worth a meltdown; no lopsided cake worthy of your tears. Cooking is an adventure, there will be mistakes. {Even when you are pretty good at it!} But if you can't help it and your deflated souffle or burnt caramel or lumpy gravy simply breaks your heart... wine or chocolate {or both!} will usually do the trick of soothing your culinary ego. :)

This recipe for Cheddar-Jalapeño Beer Bread that I borrowed from She Makes & Bakes is easy enough for the kitchen novice, but certainly doesn't taste that way. The result is a tender, flavorful bread with a crunchy golden crust and a little burst of jalapeño taste throughout. {NOTE: I was sorely mistaken for not heeding tip #8 after making this... even after washing my hands 5 times. Holy fire in your eyeball, Batman. Be careful.}

In short, friends, cook at your own risk...but definitely, cook!

Cheddar-Jalapeno Beer Bread
Adapted from She Makes & Bakes 

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 jalapeño, seeded, deveined, and diced small
1 {12 oz} bottle of beer {I used Red Stripe Light because that's what we had in the fridge}
Approximately 6 tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Add cheese and jalapeño, and stir until combined.

Add beer and about 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Mix until just incorporated. {Do not overmix. Batter will be thick.}

Pour 2 tablespoon of melted butter into the bottom of the loaf pan, and brush all around pan to coat {Don't forget the sides}. Spoon bread batter into pan and distribute evenly. Brush the top with 1 tablespoon of butter.

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a skewer or knife inserted in the center comes out mostly clean {there may be some cheese on it, but we're looking for no raw batter}, and the top is golden brown.

Brush the top of the loaf with remaining tablespoon of butter, and bake for another 5 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for about 10-15 minutes before removing from loaf pan and slicing. 

Serve warm or toast up slices to reheat.

Kitchen Couture

So, today I was browsing the web... you know, doing some "Windows" shopping, (HA. I crack myself up.) when I came across these incredibly adorable finds that I decided I MUST share with you:



From etsy shop hickitypickity



From etsy shop lwhelan. So Mommy & Minnie can cook in style. :)



From etsy shop shasta2001

 

From etsy shop ALittleLollipopTree - Um, yeah, obsessed with her entire shop.


 Oh, my. So cute. So preppy. So refreshingly Lilly! Now, from what I can tell, these Etsy sellers created these items entirely independently and are not affiliated with the Princess of Pink, but I doubt that even Lilly herself would be able to turn up her nose at such charming kitchen accessories. I, for one, am smitten. ;)

Time to add some items to my wishlist!


  

An Appetite for Design

This morning, I was pleasantly surprised to see this idea for no-sew Roman shades in an email from Better Homes & Gardens. Isn't this a cheerful little kitchen?

Source

Loving the "Eat" detail on the shade, especially because it coordinates with my blog background. ;) It makes me want to do some decorating in my kitchen... dangerous!

Since I don't plan on spending any time wielding a credit card today, I'll settle for decorating with the beautiful tulips I received as an early Valentine's present from my sweetheart. Aren't they pretty?

Tulips are my fave! I've trained him well. ;)

Wishing you a day filled with beautiful surroundings! 

These Are a Few of My Favorite... Kitchen Tools?

I'm going to let you in on a dirty little secret: I am a self proclaimed kitchen gadget/appliance/tool junkie. No, really. It's a problem.

I can spend hours roaming the mecca that is Sur la Table. HOURS. (And our Sur la Table is not that big.) I try not to, especially because the sales people tend not to like it when customers caress the spatulas and such.

The only problem is... well... this:

That tiny little detail called a tiny little kitchen.

The "Grand" Tour & a Monday Meal

Happy Monday! (Ok, ok... don't throw anything at me, just trying to be positive!)

So, I thought I'd give you a little glimpse at my kitchen so you'll see that you don't have to have the plush surroundings of the Barefoot Contessa to whip up some tasty treats. You should feel honored... I cleaned up just for you. ;)

Ta-Da!

source

Oops! Must've accidentally uploaded from the "In My Dreams" file. Hehe... Here's my REAL kitchen:

Where the magic happens.

 

Oven & such... and yes, that's a mirror on the wall behind. Don't ask.

 

Can you guess which is my favorite appliance?? (Hint: It rhymes with schmitchenaid..)

As you can see, there's nothing too "grand" about the grand tour. It's a little apartment kitchen... but it's OUR little apartment kitchen, and I will treat it with all the love and pampering it deserves until the day we get to upgrade. :)

So, now that the proper introductions have been made, and you've seen what I have to work with... let's get cooking!

Recipe for a Blog

Is it just me, or have the world's collective tastebuds suddenly awakened? From food related television networks, to movies based on the lives of famous chefs, to tv shows that revolve solely around cupcakes, it seems to me that people are ready to add some deliciousness to their lives.

I've been wanting to start a blog of my own for quite some time, but couldn't put my finger on what I'd center it around. Starting with food made a lot of sense since it seems that a large portion of my days are spent {obsessively} browsing recipes, [annoyingly] uploading pics of my finished food products on Facebook, and discovering more and more about my current obsession: the kitchen. Making a decision to blog about food opened up a Pandora's box of possibilities: Should I blog about baking? Ponder the complexities of kitchen appliances? Tackle the topic of healthy cuisine? Where to begin?!?!

So... I decided NOT to decide. I decided to do something that is pretty difficult for me to do: Go with the flow. Because after all, what do I love about cooking? Um...Everything! The techniques, the histories, the presentations, the taste, the tools. Every single delectable part of it.

I would go into detail about myself, but I feel like writing Kitchen Prep will do a much better job of showing exactly who I am (and I have a feeling that most of my readers will be people who already know me pretty well.) ;) 


I hope you're hungry!