Martha Mondays

Today’s recipe,  Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Greens, was chosen by Ashley at Elizabeth March Design and can be found in January Living. I was apprehensive about this soup. It sounded really, really bland and really really veggie. I thought it wasn’t too bad, and the fact that I threw in a rind from some Parmesan cheese probably helped it. I had some trouble getting it completely blended – there were some strings in it. No one but me would eat it. Mr. MarthaAndMe took one taste and said no thanks. I only made half a batch, so I didn’t have too much left. I am planning to doctor it up and have it for lunch some day this week. I don’t think I would ever make it again, however. What did everyone else think?

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The Martha Stewart Show Cancelled

Hallmark will no longer carry The Martha Stewart show after the show ends this year (new shows run through the spring and reruns will continue this summer).  I admit I haven’t watched it a lot lately. My DVR still records new shows and I usually fast forward through them just to see who she has on and what they’re doing, but I almost never slow down and actually watch segments.

From the press releases it sounds like Martha will continue to work with Hallmark and I’ll bet we’ll see specials from her on Hallmark. In related news, Home Depot will no longer be carrying Martha’s paint.

What are your thoughts? Are you sad to see the show go? Do you watch it regularly? Is it time for it to go?

Kitchen Organizing

My book, The Organized Kitchen has just been released and as it happens, January is National Get Organized Month. Here are a few tips to help get your kitchen organized for the new year!

• Tackle one drawer, cupboard or shelf a day to make progress. Completely reorganizing your entire kitchen is an overwhelming task, but if you can find 5 minutes a day (while your pasta is cooking or your broccoli is steaming), you can get a lot done over a week.
• Think about the activities that are happening in your kitchen. Most people use the kitchen as a multi-purpose room and homework, laundry, crafts, bill-paying, and more all take place in this one space. If you can shift some of these activities to other areas of the home, it will free up storage space (keep your scrapbooking supplies in a hall closet and move your household files to a box under your bed, for example) and make the kitchen feel less cluttered and over-used.
• Too often when we organize we forget about comfort. The kitchen needs to be a room that is welcoming and warm, so although you are clearing your counters and shelves of clutter, don’t forget to keep some touches that express your personality and make the room comfortable.
• Transfer pantry items like flour, pasta, cereal, rice, beans, etc. into square glass or plastic storage containers. Square containers stack and fit together on shelves much easier and actually save space (eliminating those gaps between round containers).
• Create zones. Store all baking equipment in the baking zone. All items for drinks such a blender and glassware should be together in one area. Cookware and cooking tools should be positioned near the stove. This way everything has a place it belongs which also makes it more convenient to use and reach for.
• Find extra space by using metal standing shelves to add an additional layer inside cabinets. Bring in an unfinished book case and paint it to match your cabinets and give it the same pulls–it will look like additional built in cabinetry.  Use the insides of cabinet doors for storage for spices, pot lids, a message board, plastic bags and more.
• Look up for more storage. Install a shelf over the doorways of the room. Hang a three-tier basket from the ceiling. Put shelving around your soffits for tons more storage. If you have a separate pantry with a door, install storage above the door on the inside.
• Get rid of your junk drawer. This is additional storage space you are losing out on. Everything in that drawer belongs somewhere else. Move it to where it belongs and suddenly you have an additional drawer.

With a little thought you can make your kitchen a place you love to cook in!

Martha Mondays: 1/9

Ashley has chosen Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Greens from page 116 of January Living. If you need the recipe, let me know. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and that your new year is off to a great start!