Asides

Kitchen Organization Hack: Oxo Peeler

Oxo peeler

I love my Oxo peeler; in fact, it’s one of my favorite kitchen gadgets.

However, it’s black. The trouble with that is that most of the other gadgets are also black (and much taller than the peeler).

To make things worse, my gadget holder is black, or at least mostly black. It’s also quite deep, in order to accommodate tongs and spatulas and other long tools. But, the peeler is relatively short.

I have the other gadgets and tools sorted, and can easily find them, but every time I put the peeler back in the gadget holder it would get swallowed up. When I wanted to use it again, I had a hard time finding it. Not good when you have a small kitchen, not much counter space, and kitchen organization is critical!

After a bit of thought, I figured out the perfect “kitchen organization hack”: nail polish!

I dabbed some red nail polish on the bottom of the peeler. Now, when I put it back in the holder, (bottom-side up) the red is easy to spot in the midst of all those black gadgets.

When the polish wears off, I simply reapply it. Voilà!

More Kitchen Organization Hacks and Cooking Tips

Small Kitchen Storage Ideas: How to Store Everything You Need to Cook in a Tiny Kitchen

open tight jarHow to Easily Open a Tight Jar

Struggling with tight jars? Here’s an easy hack to open them. And you probably don’t have to buy anything to do it.

 

cuisinart stick blender
Top Kitchen GadgetsMy favorite tools for making cooking faster and easier.

 

 

Premium Garlic PeelerEasily Break Apart a Head of Garlic

If you struggle to break a head of garlic, learn this easy way to fix that. Plus a tool for peeling it once you’re done.

 

soaking beansQuick Soak Beans in an Hour

You don’t have to wait all day to get beans ready to cook. Use this tip to get it done in a fraction of the time.

Quick Soak Beans in an Hour

Waiting for dried beans to soak overnight can be a real pain (especially if you’re hungry).  You can, of course, buy them in cans, but the canned beans often have extra salt and/or preservatives in them.  Luckily, there is a way to speed up the process and quick soak the beans in an hour, rather than waiting overnight. Much better!

Here’s all you have to do.  Just measure out the amount of beans you need.  Put them in a large saucepan and cover them with water (about an inch or two over the top of the beans).  Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil. Let the beans boil for two minutes.

Turn off the heat, and allow them to rest for an hour.

They’re now ready to cook. These are cranberry (or Roman) beans, by the way. Sadly, they lose most of their color when you cook them. They are rather pretty though. And, I find they are firmer and tastier than kidney beans.

Recipes with Quick-Soak Beans

pasta e fagioli soupPasta e Fagioli Soup (Small Batch)

A classic Italian pasta and bean soup in a rich tomato broth. Downsized so it’s perfect for one person.

 

black beans and rice recipe one personBlack Beans and Rice Recipe for One Person

Pantry-friendly, and made with an ingredient you might not expect. Plus, it’s two recipes in one (cook it more you have beans, less and it’s soup).

 

spicy stovetop chiliSmall Batch Spicy Stovetop Chili Recipe

Ground beef, chili powder, garlic, and sriracha! Plus a bit of cinnamon to add warm spice and balance out the heat.

Easily Break Apart a Head of Garlic

Tip: How to Easily Break Apart a Head of Garlic

separate a head of garlic
How to separate a head of garlic

Need to break apart a head of garlic?  It may seem daunting, but there’s a secret trick that makes it simple and easy.

Here’s all you have to do. Just place the bulb on a cutting board, with the larger, wider side down, and the individual cloves pointing up (see photo on right).

Then take a sharp knife and push it straight down through the center of the head of garlic.  Essentially, pretend that you’re stabbing it! Then twist the knife back and forth.  The cloves will come apart easily.




Garlic Recipes

crispy garlic basil potato bitesCrispy Garlic Basil Potato Bites

Tiny crispy bites of potato nirvana, with fluffy interiors and a crispy outside. A lot easier (and faster) than fries.

 

garlic ginger turmeric riceGarlic Ginger Turmeric Rice

Packed with garlic, ginger, green cardamon pods, and a pinch of turmeric for that beautiful yellow color.  The cardamom adds a minty, citrus flavor. As is, it’s a side dish. Add a few more ingredients, and it’s dinner.

 

linguine with garlic and olive oilLinguine with Garlic and Olive Oil

Simple? Yes. But delicious.  And you can essentially make it from your cupboard.  No shopping required.

 

sauteed garlic parmesan spinachSauteed Garlic Parmesan Spinach

Just a few basic ingredients turn ordinary spinach into something special. Ready in minutes too.

 

Handy Garlic Tool

Premium Garlic Peeler
Premium Garlic Peeler – BPA Free

Once you’ve broken the head of garlic apart, here’s an easy tool for peeling the cloves. This is silly simple. All you have to do is put the garlic clove inside the tube. Then roll it around on your counter. The papery outside will come right off and your garlic clove is now peeled.