Embracing Him

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Galatians 6:9)

Let me begin by saying that I have no business sitting in front of my laptop. Really I don’t. It’s the day before Thanksgiving and I have a To Do list as long as my arm! In spite of this fact, I continue to sit here and type. Some people never learn.

My kitchen looks like a war zone. Grocery bags line the countertops and floor, spices jars are everywhere, and dishes have already filled the sink. Though it’s the eve of Thanksgiving and I seriously need to have my act together, because I have so much to prepare, I’m finding it next to impossible to be a neat and organized cook.

This is why celebrity television chefs are the objects of my envy. How I wish my kitchen could be that pristine as I prepare meals! JT is quick to remind me that each of those chefs has a staff working behind the scenes to premeasure ingredients and keep things looking great. I fully recognize this, but still I want to be that neat cook.

Recently, I took my kitchen concerns to a forum I frequent. The ladies there gave me some great tips for keeping the kitchen in order while cooking. Perhaps these tips already obvious to you. Perhaps these tips are just common sense. For me, these tips were a much needed reminder about how to cook the right way.

• Maximize your time. Make sure you have all the ingredients you need before you begin to cook. Running around searching for ingredients wastes valuable time and frustrates the cook.
• Put things away as you go. As you finish up with spices put them away. This will keep the countertops clean and ensure you have plenty of workspace.
• Start with a clean kitchen. Make a fresh pan of dishwater and an empty the dishwasher. Place larger dishes in the dishwasher as you go along and wash smaller dishes and utensils by hand.
• Keep the trash can and recycling bin close by. Toss out the garbage and recyclables regularly as you cook to keep countertops free of clutter.
• Measure meticulously. Measure dry ingredients out ahead of time and reuse measuring spoons when possible.
• Measure dry ingredients over a towel on the countertop or table. When it’s time to clean up, simply roll up the towel.
• Wipe down countertops and tables regularly. To prevent having to clean up a big mess, spray and clean off the countertops and tables as you go along.