Home Maid Simple

Tag: kitchen

  • A Look at our Kitchen

    A Look at our Kitchen

    Isn’t it pretty?  I cleaned it especially for you guys today. Yes we bought another house wish a hallway kitchen.  It does have more room and potential than our last kitchen though, and infinitely more counter space than our rental.

    This year we plan on remodeling the bathrooms, but I believe the Kitchen is on our to do for next year. In the meantime I may do a little touching up here and there. I love the pull down shade in the window, but it’s pretty dirty. I’m hoping my sewing skills are up to the task of redoing it with some fun fabric. Although I’m more worried about my mechanical skills to make sure it still works once I’m done. Of course the wallpaper also has to go, and a back splash behind the oven is needed.

    I obviously need more chalkboard stickers on my canisters as well. I usually have to open 2 or more to find what I’m looking for. Of course there’s my stack of cooking magazines as well. Always handy for quick menu planning.

    Eventually it will all come together.

    I’m linking up this week with Mama Kat’s Writing Prompts

    Mama’s Losin’ It

  • Menu Planning with Kids

    Yesterday I cooked up some Chicken Cordon Bleu for dinner. Sunday is always my favorite night to cook, since I have the time, and Mark home to help with the kids.
    Normally I will let the girls help me cook, unless I’m handling raw meat and sharp knifes.  That was the case last night.  Princess C really wanted to help though. Since I hadn’t made our menu plan for the week yet, I told her she could help by picking a dinner. I handed her a couple of my Taste of Home magazines, and stopped cooking to look at her selections.  Princess V later joined us as well.
    I really enjoy having my kids in the kitchen with me, and I think they enjoy it too.

    Monday – chicken curry
    Tuesday – three cheese ravioli
    Wednesday – chicken and egg hash
    Thursday – crockpot beef tacos
    Friday – gumbo in bread bowls
    Saturday – leftovers
    Sunday – roast and potatoes


  • Steak and Potatoes {Foodie Friday}

    Steak and Potatoes {Foodie Friday}

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    Steak and Potatoes

    A couple weeks ago, we sat down to a nice light pasta and veggie dish.  Mark turns to me and tells me “This is girl dish”.  I kind of look at him weird, as if to say “Did you seriously just say that?”
    It’s not really that it’s a girl dish per se (especially since at one point he asked for more pasta nights), but more that we hadn’t had a good Man’s dish in awhile.
    To make up for that, I made this simple Steak and Potatoes. A true manly mans dish.
    (it would appear I deleted the photo, so sorry)
     
    Ingredients
    2 small steaks, your choice of cut
    Wildtree’s Basil Pesto Grapeseed Oil
    Wildtree’s Rancher Rub
    4 medium potatoes
    Garlic Pepper Seasoning
     
    Directions
    Preheat oven to 400 F.
    Rub about 1-2tsp Rancher Steak Rub into each steak. Making sure to cover both sides. Set aside.
    Chop potatoes into bite sized pieces. In a large bowl, toss with 1/4 cup Grapeseed Oil and Garlic Pepper Seasoning to taste.  Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Cook for 10-20 minutes until potatoes are soft and starting to brown around edges.
    Heat 1TBS Grapeseed Oil in  a large skillet over medium heat. Once oil is hot, add steaks.  Cook on both sides, until your desired “done”ness.  We went medium well – just a slight bit of pink on the inside.
    Add some green beans, peas or corn to the side, and enjoy your manly man’s dish.
     
    ~Features~
    
    


    Crispy Thai Chicken Wraps
    from Half Baked Harvest
    These both look and sound so yummy!


    Mini Fritata’s with Aspargus Hollandaise
    from Healthy Mommy, Healthy Baby
    Words have left me. I want this, and I want this now. This would make a great Christmas morning breakfast.


    Holly Topped Cupcakes
    from That Skinny Chick can Bake
    These would be perfect for setting the fetive mood at any holiday party.

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  • Flirty Aprons One Day Sale 12/10

    Flirty Aprons One Day Sale 12/10

    It’s Green Monday and Flirty Aprons wants to give you a great deal!
     
    TODAY, Monday 12/10 ONLY
     
     
    Use Code GREENFLIRTY
     
    www.FlirtyAprons.com
  • Flirty Aprons Flash Sale {50% OFF}

    Flirty Aprons Flash Sale {50% OFF}

    Just in this morning, Flirty Aprons is having a Flash Sale! 

    Use Coupon Code
    holiday50
    This code is only good today (12/5), and only while supplies last!
    Flirty Aprons would make a great gift for the cook in your life, or just add a little style to your own kitchen attire.
    Looking for a different apron, not holiday themed? Through the end of the year you can get 15% Off any purchase.
    Use code 
    www.FlirtyAprons.com
  • Flirty Aprons 40% Off and Free Shipping {Cyber Monday}

    Flirty Aprons 40% Off and Free Shipping {Cyber Monday}

    Today ONLY
    Get your Flirty Aprons for 40% Off and FREE Shipping.
     
    Use code CyberFlirty at checkout
     
     
    When it comes to online shopping, the shipping costs always get me down. In fact I tend to not shop online very much for the very reason of shipping costs. So to me, this deal is GOOD!

    For more Cyber Monday Deals, check the right sidebar —>

     
    
    www.FlirtyAprons.com
     
    *This post contains affiliate links.
  • Flirty Aprons – 40% OFF {Black Friday}

    Flirty Aprons – 40% OFF {Black Friday}

    Are you all back from Black Friday shopping yet?  I hope so, because now it’s time to check out this deal online!
    Today ONLY you can get 40% OFF any purchase at Flirty Aprons
    This is a Black Friday deal only! So go get those Aprons….Mark…

    *This post contains affiliate links.
  • Flirty Apron Sale – 15% Off total purchase

    Flirty Apron Sale – 15% Off total purchase

    Who doesn’t love aprons?  I absolutely love hanging out in the kitchen with the kids, and aprons always add to the experience. Earlier today I mentioned how cute neighbor gifts would be if you gave a baking mix tied up with an apron. And I even told you about a deal on Muffin Mixes.
    
     
    Well! Now I’m going to tell you about a deal on Aprons – Flirty Aprons that is!

     
    (And keep an eye out, because I hear some great sales are coming for Black Friday and Cyber Monday!)
     
     
    www.FlirtyAprons.com
     
    *This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing through the links on this page helps Home Maid Simple grow. Thank you!
  • Canned Apple Pie Filling {Foodie Friday}

    Canned Apple Pie Filling {Foodie Friday}

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     Canned Apple Pie Filling
    makes 5qts

     

    8-9 cups peeled and chopped Apples (Or you can slice them. However you like them in a pie).
    5 cups water
    1/2 cup corn starch
    1 cup +1TBS vanilla sugar
    1 cup brown sugar
    6 whole cloves, crushed (I just pinch them between my fingers. Or about 1/2tsp crushed cloves)
    2 1/2 TBS Apple Pie Spice – you can always add more or less for your own taste
     
    In a large pot, boil the apples and water until the apples are slightly tender.  Add the rest of the ingredients.  Keep on medium heat until pie filling is thickened.
     
    While the filling is thickening, sanitize your jars, rings and lids. Once the jars are ready and the filling is where you want it, fill the jars. I filled to the bottom of the first ring, where the jars begin to taper. Wipe the rims and place the lids on. Screw on the rings and you are ready to process them.
     
    Process in a water bath or steam canner* for 25-30 minutes.  Remove the jar and let cool. I just use a pot holder, but they do sell jar lifters.  Check to make sure they have sealed, and store in your pantry. If they didn’t seal, store in your fridge, and use within 2-3 days. 
    *I used a steam canner, but they are not recommended by the USDA. 
     
    ~This weeks Features~
     
    Home Made Alfredo Sauce
     
    “Twice-Baked” Faux-tatoes
     
    Berry Dutch Baby
    

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  • Trapping Fruit Flies An Accidental Discovery

    Fruit Flies – noun small annoying bugs, that infiltrate your kitchen when fresh fruit abounds.
    source

    

     
    About a month ago we had a pretty severe fruit fly problem. It was most likely because I was in the throes of canning.  Peaches, peach honey, tomatoes, applesauce and most recently apple pie filling. I came across a tip for trapping fruit flies on facebook. Just in time, I thought! So I put it to work.
     
    Vinegar
    jar
    saran wrap
    You are supposed to pour some vinegar into the jar, and then cover it with plastic wrap. Poke a small hole in the saran wrap and then place near the fruit flies. The flies will find their way in, but not out…supposedly. And eventually die in the vinegar.
     
    I tried it. It worked, but it also seemed to bring even more fruit flies. It wasn’t until I dumped the concotion of vinegar and dead flies, that the swarm calmed down.
     
    This brings us to yesterday. Thanks to a mouse problem, I had to dump all our cereal. I hadn’t made it grocery shopping yet (still haven’t), so we opened a jar of peaches for breakfast. Between the 3 girls and myself, we can polish off one jar.  Normally I will either drink the peach juice left in the jar, or dump it down the sink. I don’t know why, but yesterday, I left the jar of sugary peach juice sitting on the counter. When I later saw it, guess what I found?
    

     

     yep! The fruit flies were obviously atracted to the peach juice/syrup. I went ahead and left it out the rest of the day and overnight.
    The result? No live fruit flies in my kitchen this morning.
    And that is how you accidentally discover something SIMPLE.