5 uncommon kitchen untensils that help me cook healthier

Well hello there.  I'm back!  There are so many reasons why I left the blogging world but more importantly, there are reasons that I am back.  Let's just focus on those reasons, ok?  I've missed expressing myself through writing and I've missed the fact of maybe I just might be helping people here.  With that being said, I've had many ideas floating around in my head and I'm ready to jump back in.  Feet first!

Here are the 5 uncommon utensils that I use pretty much use on a daily basis to help me stay on track with healthy eating.

1. Small hand strainer ~  I use this for rinsing my quinoa, rice and canned beans.  The holes are tiny so the food doesn't fall through like a regular colander.

2.  Set of cutting boards ~  We use about 4 on a daily basis and I encourage you to have this many.  Who wants to cut up veggies or fruit when the one cutting board you own is dirty? That alone would make me grab for something else.  Also, I prefer these non-flexible ones because they are easier to clean in the sink.  I run them through the dishwasher every other day or so.  

3.  Julienne peeler ~ This is perfect for making zuchinni "noodles".  I'll share the recipe soon!

4.  Ulu knife ~ This little knife makes cutting up garlic and herbs so fast and easy.  It's fun to use too.

5.  Immersion blender ~  Since it's kind of beginning to feel like Fall here in Texas, soup is on my mind.  I've come across so many soup recipes that call for you to cook all of the ingredients and then add it to a food processor.  I've burned myself too many times and finally picked up one of these at my local grocery store for cheap.  Just blend up those ingredients while they are still in that pot.  (And you don't have to clean a food processor!) I don't use mine too often so I'm not sure how it would hold up with more frequent use.

  What about you?  What would you add to the list?

A quick project

I had been staring at these ugly unused outlets for years.  After seeing Kimba's and Nester's creative ideas to disguise,  I decided something must be done to hide them. 

I used a $ $4 2-pack canvas from Michael's and covered them with linen I had on hand.  I was inspired by Pottery Barn's ribbon board but didn't have enough ribbon so I used my trusty rope/twine. 

Now I need to think about changing out that yellow light switch.  But that would mean changing them all out and that will come when we do a full-out kitchen update.  See the orangey oak cabinets?  Hopefully they will be gone sometime when the summer is over!

I'm going to be pinning like crazy soon.  

(And please ignore the ice chest in the pic!  We just had a birthday party for J-man.  I promise it's not that we don't want to walk the 10 feet to the fridge to get an ice cold beverage.)  

kitchen 'mis'treatments

Here is my kitchen before my new mistreatments.  The grass shade was here when we moved in and we kept it because it was custom and surely expensive.  I did my time- I lived with them for 3 years.  The kids art area was getting out of control.  They are both now in school and it rarely gets used.  My kitchen was stressing me out and Lord knows I already stress enough in the kitchen.  I wanted a big change.

Once I decided on it, those babies came down and out in a heartbeat.  And then I realized that I put up bulletin boards to hide the many MAJOR holes in the walls from the previous owners.  We will be repainting and sprucing up the kitchen at a later time so the holes will have to wait.   

My mom was coming in town for a short visit and we like to work on projects.  This one would be an easy one right?  Find some fabric and hang it up on a new shiny rod.  As always, not that easy. 

In all my cheapness, I bought a skinny curtain rod and rings on sale. I put that thing up so high and wide like I have been taught that it drooped on either side and wouldn't hold one shower curtain. If I brought it in any it wouldn't hide the holes.  (I only used one support because i wanted to be able to close them all the way)

Enter the Nester, surely you have heard of her famous mistreatments. After realizing that a thicker rod wouldn't hide the holes either, I decided to try her ring on the nail head tactic so I could go all the way to the end of the wall..  And I LOVE them! 

Oh and I have to say that this fabric was definitely made for me.  I was going to go with some sort of red toile but couldn't find anything.  I've been eyeing Nester's buffalo check curtain for years and recently Carrie's too.  I found this at a fabric store that I didn't even know existed in my town in the clearance corner marked down to $8 a yard!  Also, the check fabric made cutting the fabric on a straight line SO EASY.  I didn't even hem them because when we do work on the kitchen I want to be able to have them made into curtains. 

I hung the iron thing in the middle to hide more holes!

{And now I know that my kitchen is the hardest room in the house to photograph, geez.}

I'm off to go work out so I can have more energy to work on more projects.  Mainly, art supply organization in a different location. (-: