Kitchen News

Keeping a Kitchen Journal by Rachel Paxton

I know, I know, you\'re thinking a journal for the kitchen? It seems like the busier we get the more forgetful we are. And getting older has something to do with it, right? Whatever the reason, a kitchen journal can be a useful tool for keeping your home and family running smoothly on a day-to-day basis.

Did I mention journaling is fun? It is! Find a notebook to start your journal. You can decorate it yourself with stickers or cut-out pictures. Make it into something you look forward to writing in. A kitchen journal is for making notes to yourself when you\'re meal planning, cooking, or when a creative thought pops into your head while you\'re doing something else. One thing I use my kitchen journal for is recording my family\'s food likes and dislikes. I\'ve been married for almost eight years and you would think by now I know what kind of cereal my husband likes. It\'s not so much the ones he likes, as the one he dislikes! Then when you add in our teenage daughter and my teenage step-daughter who doesn\'t live with us and comes and stays with us from time to time, I\'m finding it almost impossible to keep track of who likes what. This is also useful for family members who visit and eat at your home. They will be impressed that you remember what they like/dislike and that you plan your meals around their tastes and/or food allergies. Use your journal for recording new ideas for and keeping track of your kids\' school lunch menus. Create a list of which fruits and vegetables are in season, and when prices are lowest so you can watch for good deals and prepare your meals around the seasons. Kitchen journals are also great for when you\'re experimenting with a recipe. When you change the proportions of a recipe or make an emergency ingredient substitution, make a note of it in your journal. You can also use your journal to write down new recipes you want to try or make a note of where you saw a recipe you want to come back to later. When you have guests or are entertaining friends or family make notes of things you tried that went well or things that didn\'t go well that you want to remember not to try again (like the salad that didn\'t set long enough in the refrigerator before you were ready to serve it). In addition to keeping track of favorite foods, make a note of your family\'s favorite recipes. When your children grow up and go to college and/or get married, you can compile their favorite recipes into a keepsake cookbook or recipe card box for them to take with them as they start their own families. Try incorporating a kitchen journal into your daily routine and see for yourself if it helps keep you more organized. Once you get started you\'ll discover many ideas of your own to record in your new journal. Copyright 2003. Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What\'s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, gardening, organizing tips, home decorating, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

Kitchen News

How Family Cooking Traditions Survive

This morning as I was making breakfast for my family I had a conversation with my husband as to how cooking traditions survive. My experience has been very diverse, and rich in that I was raised with my maternal grandmother.

Fresh grilled marinated salmon and scallop skewers

Fresh grilled marinated salmon and scallop skewers (see video) See more irresistible headlines

Bush to Filipino president: Filipinos make great kitchen staff

PRESIDENT BUSH: Madam President, it is a pleasure to welcome you back to the Oval Office. We have just had a very constructive dialogue. First, I want to tell you how proud I am to be the President of a nation that -- in which there's a lot of Philippine-Americans.

10 foods that should never enter your microwave

The microwave is a blessing and a curse. Yes, it's the speediest way to enjoy last night's leftovers but it can also be the fastest way to ruin an H&H bagel.

ERRORIST « Pundit Kitchen: Funny Political Pictures and Commentary

We all have heared of terrorist , but did you hear about the errorist ??? well check it out

Main Menu

Articles

More Resources

Kitchen Confidential Updated Ed: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (P.S.)
by Anthony Bourdain
Our Price: $10.17
Used from: $6.80

Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006
by Irma S. Rombauer Marion Rombauer Becker Ethan Becker
Our Price: $23.10
Used from: $18.45

On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen
by Harold McGee
Our Price: $26.40
Used from: $17.99

The New Best Recipe: All-New Edition with 1,000 Recipes
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Our Price: $23.10
Used from: $16.00

The Sneaky Chef: How to Cheat on Your Man (In the Kitchen!): Hiding Healthy Foods in Hearty Meals Any Guy Will Love
by Missy Chase Lapine
Our Price: $11.97
Used from: $11.56