18 Kitchen Tips and Hacks

Hi, Sweet Friends,

I'm always so excited to learn new kitchen tips and hacks. I have a few of my favorites in video here for you to see. Many of these I already do, you may too, but there are many I really like too! I've linked up the items I use, though some of them have had a bit of an upgrade since I purchased my tools!

Cutting Grapes & Cherry Tomatoes

I really enjoy my morning yogurt with fresh fruit and granola. Here is a tip I found that works great when slicing grapes in half.

Instead of slicing each one by one, place a handful of washed grapes on a plate.

Place a second, identical, plate over top.

With a large sharp knife,
slice through the center of the two plates,

slicing through the grapes to the other side of the plates.

I like the vanilla or plain yogurt.

Add almonds or another type of nuts, granola, or seeds to change it up.

Frozen Meals

This is a great tip for making your own Frozen Meals.

My daughter in love makes extra meals for freezing for later. On one of my doggy sitting visits, I had the chance to try one out for myself.

This meal is Kicken Chicken, Brown Rice, Green Beans, and Sweet Potatoes. Warmed up in the microwave, this meal is truly delicious!

It was easy to plate up and enjoy! Try this one the next time you have a few leftovers. It is a great way to save food leftovers, keep food for later, and save on the grocery bill. And Enjoy!

The next tip is a great one for saving on the amount of soap you use in handwashing dishes. Yes, I am one of those who loves to handwash dishes.

Dish Soap Dispenser
I use a large rectangle bottle and an alcohol dispenser (see photo)

dispenser pour spouts

Place dish soap into a glass bottle and attach a pour spout.

Simply wash off the dispenser after each bout of dishes!

Clean Simply

When you clean as you go, as you are cooking, the clean up is simple. If you are baking, use the large bowl to clean all the small gadgets used. Wipe down work surface as the mess happens, it keeps the work area clean an safe.
Chocolate Shaving Tips

Purchase Solid Chocolate Shapes for use later in baking or decorating.

Use a Vegetable Peeler to make Chocolate Shavings.

Shave the flattest sides first. Break into pieces easy to handle.

Use a spoon to pick up the Chocolate Shavings. The chocolate will melt in your fingers and hands.The peeler to the left is the updated version of my peeler.

White Iced Cake with Chocolate Shavings

Enlist Others To Help

Fresh Herbs for Tea

Fresh Mint is great in cold Iced Tea & hot Teas! I grow Chocolate Mint just to flavor drinks. Hot Cocoa and Coffee get a punch of flavor with a sprig of Chocolate Mint tucked in it!

Designated Cutting Boards

Small cutting boards in different colors work great keeping vegetables, breads, and meats separate.

Banana Fertilizer

Sprouter Lid for Mason Jar

Mason Jar with "Sprouter Lid"

Place Bana Peels (2) into the Mason Jar.
Fill jar with water.

Cover and let set Three (3) days. No more than 4 days, the mixture gets thick.

I pour this mix into my water can 1x per month. I use the day of my Birthday, say 12th, for each watering per month. It is easy to remember and just prepare 3 days before. I have used the mix straight, it draws flies. So mix with water before using.

Juicing Citrus

First, roll the fruit with your palm over a hard surface.
Then cut off the ends.

A tiny whisk works great with this lemon, but with an orange, a medium whisk works fine.

After twisting the whisk around inside the fruit, squeeze the juice from the fruit.

Now you are ready for the recipe part, "the juice of one lime".

Quick Pot Cover

Can't find the pot lid? Use a plate to cover the pot. Be sure to use a pot holder as it will be hot!

Measurements

Use a Measure Cup for measuring Dry Ingredients.

Use a Glass Measure Cup for measuring Wet Ingredients.

Pizza Cutter?

A perfect way to cut your homemade candies and fruit roll up! A pizza cutter!!

A Table knife?


The perfect way to press the tabs on the back of a picture frame! A kitchen Knife!

Tooth Paste Sink Brightener

Yep! That's right! A bit of toothpaste on the faucet, work a sponge over it in small circles and it comes out shiny and no water stains.

Just a dab will do it. This Colgate Toothpaste works best on the crome in the Kitchen & Bathroom.

I use the scrubby part of the Scotch Brite Sponge and then rinse with the soft sponge side.

This works great and really makes the kitchen look nicer.

Rubber Band Opener

Two rubberbands work better than just one thin one. The large thick rubberbands work best!

It gives a good grip when the lid is stuck. These Zucchini Pickles are sometimes tough to open due to the sugar and spices in the brine.

Regrow your veggies!

Regrow Green onion whites, lettuce cores, and herbs on your window sill. Pick off the veggies as you go or plant them in your garden!

Canning Must-Haves

These three things are the best tools for canning. The Jar Funnel works great by keeping drips off the jar edges. The Magnet Jar lid wand is great for picking out the jar lids and seals from the hot water. The tongs lift the jars from the boiling water.