Here are some uses for your timer from realsimple.com:

* Use the timer in the bathroom to teach children how long they should be brushing their teeth (at least 2 minutes).
* Replace the sand timer in a board game. (Sand doesn’t ding to let you know that time is up.)

How to use a lemon to clean your kitchen.

* Time exercises. Who can look at a watch while holding a yoga pose?
* Set it when you first call the family to dinner. When the timer rings, they must stop checking e-mail and come to the table, pronto!

How to clean your microwave

1) Store your spices in groups that are commonly used together, such as keeping garlic, basil, and oregano close to each other. Use the same logic with your other food staples.

2) Make sure your utensils are within reach. Do this by placing them in a drawer next to the stove or place in a container on your counter top.

How to organize small kitchen appliances

3) Small appliances. Many small appliances can now be mounted under your cabinets. This frees up counter space, yet leaves them handy to get to. If you can spare the counter space, put them out.

GET THE REST HERE

How to make a small kitchen look bigger

Here are some tips on how to free up your counter space from ehow.com:

1) Get rid of appliances you never use or that aren’t working properly. Be honest, you’ll never get that old blender fixed, so you might as well toss it. Donate working items to charity.

2) Designate a space just for small kitchen appliances. There are several different places you can choose. Store small appliances in lower cabinets. These cabinets usually have more clearance for larger items and can take the weight of heavier appliances. Leave the upper cabinets for food and dishes that are used more frequently than appliances.

How to make a small kitchen look bigger

3) Organize small kitchen appliances in cabinets according to how frequently they are used. Some items, like slow cookers, waffle makers, sandwich presses and juicers, are not used that often and can go in the back of the cabinet.

GET MORE HERE

How to entertain on the fly

Add Storage

1. Hang a pot rack or pegboard. Take storage into your own hands. Hanging a pot rack or pegboard is usually well within the scope of renters’ rights, and they can open up much more storage in the kitchen.

2. Hang a shelf or wall storage. Again, like the pot rack, shelves and other wall storage systems are removable and hung easily. You don’t have to do major surgery to your kitchen in order to hang shelves like Dana’s or a storage system like Kyle’s. Get some help, and patch any screw holes when you move out. The work and small expense is worth the extra storage for kitchen tools and accessories. If you paint the shelves you can also have a major color accent in the kitchen.

3. Bring in new furniture. Some kitchens are big enough, but bare. There was very little counter space in my old eat-in kitchen, so I brought in a small kitchen cart for the microwave, cookbooks, and other extras. This kitchen island is inexpensive and useful in an open kitchen. Also consider a tall storage unit like the one in this bright orange kitchen. Also consider more unusual furniture, like a dresser for baking trays and table linens or a card catalog for wine and silverware!

For more ideas go here.

How To Store Your Pots & Pans

Update your kitchen with color

Here are some inexpensive bright and cheery accessories to update your kitchen this summer:

5 Yellow Summer Accessories For Your Home

Clean Your Clutter In Just 5 Minutes

Here are 6 easy steps:

Step 1

Remove the cabinet doors, hinges and all. Unscrew them from their hinges and write down between the holes on each hinge where exactly each particular door goes. This will save you considerable trouble later on.

Step 2

Use an all purpose cleaner and a rag to clean all the dirt, dust, and food residue from all of your cabinet doors.

Step 3

Sand the surface down. Use a fine sandpaper and go over the entire surface of the doors, including the edges. This will create texture for the primer to hold on to so it clings properly to the wood.

How to control kitchen clutter

Step 4

Prime your cabinet doors. Make sure that the primer is designed for the type of paint you’ll be using. Once the primer is dry, sand it down a bit using a fine sandpaper. This will smooth out any irregularities or bumps in the surface, and will help the paint adhere better without chipping later on.

Step 5

Apply the paint. Make sure you use a good quality paint brush. Apply the paint in a thin, even layer. Two to three thin layers should do it for most cabinets.

Step 6

Re-attach the doors. Attach the hinges to the cabinet doors first, then remount them inside the cabinets. This is where labeling their proper positioning ahead of time really pays off, as you will not have to spend any time figuring out what goes where.

5 easy steps to a healthy kitchen

5 Ways To Stay In The Gym

Cabinets

* Set jars of liquid or jelly on coasters, or line shelves with nonadhesive cork liner. When drips occur, just replace the coasters or the lining.

Countertops

* To repel stains on countertops, twice a year apply grout sealer (available at hardware stores) to tile, and stone sealer (also at hardware stores) to stone countertops. Follow the package instructions.
* Instead of using wood cutting boards, switch to plastic. Since wood shouldn’t be sanitized in the dishwasher (wood can warp when wet), it can harbor bacteria, which gets on knives and can invade your food-prep area. Pop plastic boards into the dishwasher after every use to kill germs.
* To make cleanup faster when you cook, cover countertops with sheets of wax paper, parchment paper, or butcher paper before preparing food. Juices from meats, chicken, and fish never hit the counters, so there’s no need to disinfect. When finished, crumple up the paper and toss.

Freezer and Refrigerator

* Place a box of baking soda in the freezer and another in the refrigerator to absorb and neutralize smells; replace them every three months. Alternatives: a mound of charcoal; coffee beans in a bowl; or a cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract and kept in the refrigerator until dry.
* Every month or so, dump ice cubes from the trays and make a new batch. Stale ice traps odors, like those from frozen fish or meat.

READ MORE HERE

Click here to see our 5 simple solutions for kitchen storage.

Click here to find out how update your kitchen with color.

Here are the foods to put on your grocery list—and keep there—for a healthy diet from shape.com:

Yogurt

Keep your “good” digestive bacteria at a healthy level with yogurts containing live, active cultures. Warning: Some varieties are packed with sugar, so stick with plain or check the labels before tossing it in your grocery cart. Yogurt is one of several super diet foods thanks to the fact that it’s both filling and loaded with calcium, potassium and vitamin B.

Wild Salmon

Unlike some other types of fish, studies have shown that mercury levels are relatively low in salmon. This is good news, considering the fish offers optimum nutrition and protein for few calories. It also contains omega-3′s, which help maintain heart health. Why go wild? Farm-raised salmon can be more prone to disease and may have been exposed to or treated with antibiotics.

How to eat right on the job

Egg Whites

Even with yolks, eggs have just 70 to 80 calories each—but that yellow center is high in cholesterol. Buy fresh eggs and then take out the yolks for a quick boost of protein in your breakfast. Mix them up with fresh vegetables to add flavor.

Leafy Greens

Healthy greens like broccoli, cabbage and kale have optimum nutrition and are loaded with a plant chemical that may help lower your risk of cancer. Low on vitamins? Add some spinach to your salad. Like other dark, leafy greens, it’s loaded with iron and vitamin K, the ladder of which may prevent osteoporosis, diabetes and arthritis.

GET MORE HERE

5 Ways To Stay In The Gym

ORGANIZE

Take everything out of all your cabinets and drawers and put them on your kitchen or dining room table. Sort your items according to use and then place them back in the closets in a spot most convenient to their purpose. Stop by Lowe’s or Target and pick up some organizers to help you fit more items in your cabinets. The more efficient you can make your cabinet space the more things you can keep in your kitchen.

EMPTY COUNTER TOPS

Your counter tops should be empty. I know you think that’s impossible, and it is a challenge, but you will feel your kitchen grow by leaps and bounds if you avoid cluttering your counter tops. Even your toaster and coffee pot can go in an easy to get to space in your cabinets. You can invest in a slide out drawer to place them on to make them easier to get in and out. If you can’t imagine doing this, invest in small duplicates for everyday use. Store your large coffee maker in a cupboard for when you have company and buy one that’s just big enough for your every day needs.

GET THE REST HERE

How to entertain on the fly

How to paint your kitchen cabinets

Take a look at some of our favorite kitchens:

The kitchen in most people’s house is the heart of the home and, if big enough, where much of the communal activity takes place. The state of the kitchen is very indicative of the well being of the individuals living there. So, this week I wanted to give you 5 quick and easy tips to help you improve the health of your kitchen.

Tip 1. Clear the Decks: As in all my articles about the home, I can’t resist doing my usual and telling you to clear out all the kitchen cupboards and get rid of anything that you haven’t used in the last 12 months. If you have blunt knives, then sharpen them. If you need more plates or glasses, then get them. If the walls look tired, then give them a lick of paint. Clean out the drawers and do whatever you need to make the kitchen sparkling clean. Then keep it that way, at all times. Imagine Gordon Ramsey is inspecting the state of your kitchen. What would he say about it? If you are cooking food it needs to be in an extremely hygienic environment and clearing out and cleaning is the first step to giving your kitchen a new lease of life.

Top 10 Healthiest Breakfast Cereals

Tip 2. Under The Sink: If you were to take all the cleaning products that you have under your sink and poured the liquid from every one of them in to a bucket, (i.e. surface cleaners, floor cleaners, wood cleaners, window cleaners, silver cleaners, bathroom and kitchen cleaners,) you will find that a huge amount of poisonous chemicals would be collected in to that one container. (i.e. ammonia, formaldehyde, xylene, bleach etc) Many of these products are extremely toxic, they are dangerous to inhale or get on your skin, never mind poisonous to swallow. There are so many ecological products on the market that surely it makes much more sense to replace the toxic ones with ones that are much safer to have in your house. They might vary in price slightly, but it is definitely worth limiting the amount of poison that you keep under your sink and, if you want to keep it cheap, you can always use products like baking soda, Borax, white vinegar and cornstarch.

5 Foods You Didn’t Know You Could Grill

To read the last 3 tips, click here.

If you live in a NYC apartment, you know most kitchens are really really small, and if you enjoy cooking you know how frustrating it can be when you’re short on space.

Here are some tips on how to expand a small kitchen:

1. Figure out what will you really use in regard to cooking equipment.

2. If you want the George Foreman grill and the rice cooker, can they be stored elsewhere in the apartment if there is no room in the immediate kitchen area? Consider alternative storage places…like under the bed or in a closet if you need to.

3. Counter space rules in a small kitchen. Put as much away or on shelves as possible to keep your counter tops clear.

Decorate Your Kitchen For Summer With These Bright Accessories

4. If possible, put the paper towel holder on the sink cabinet door as well as a basket for the liquid soap and sponge. A pull out towel rack can be fitted in a very small space in the sink cabinet as well.

5. Have a nearby closet? Use the inside door as a spice rack, hanging spot for pots on a wire grid, flat pans, or other tools for easy access.

6. Use base cabinets to keep trash cans out of sight.  I installed a pull-out and roll-out cabinet organizer to store my trash can.

5 Yellow Summer Accessories For Your Home

Do your pots and pans often end up in an awkward towering heap in your cabinets? Here are some tips that will keep them from being damaged.

1.  Pull out all your pot and pans (including woks, roasting pans and steamers), along with their lids. Throw out anything that’s gouged, nicked or burned beyond repair, including nonstick pans if the coating is peeling.

2. Scan your kitchen: Does it make sense to return the pans to their drawer or cabinet, or do you need the space for other appliances? Free up space by installing a wall- or ceiling-mounted pot rack or a Peg-Board outfitted with hooks.

3. Make cabinets that house pots and pans more efficient by installing a deep, slide-out drawer. Nest pots and pans as much as possible. Start with the roasting pan on the bottom, then stack pots followed by frying pan.

4. Target a shallow drawer for the lids. Or, organize them in a lid rack (available at organizational and hardware stores) or a long, thin plastic basket that will fit in your drawer or cabinet.

Do you store your pots in your oven? Tell us where you store your pots and pans.

Click here for storage tips for a small kitchen.

Click here to find out how to update your kitchen with color.

Most of the world have heard about Tiger and his sexcapades, but the latest issue of Vanity Fair which hits the stands today is offering some lurid details of Tiger’s relationship with waitress Mindy Lawton:

Mindy Lawton, said she met Tiger when she she served meals to him and his wife at her workplace. Lawton says the first time she and Woods had sex, it was at his house on his kitchen floor!

“One of them would read the paper, just very cold,” she said.

“I didn’t see any signs of affection . . . I figured he was in a loveless relationship with his wife.”

Then one morning, “I could feel his eyes on me,” Lawton said.

Soon after he left, she got a call at the eatery.

“Hi, this is Ti,” the caller said.

“Who?” she asked.

“Tiger. A couple of friends and I are going out tonight to the Blue Martini, and I was wondering if you wanted to join us?”

They met up that night and ended up having sex at his house.

She said he purred, “You have a perfect body.”

Lawton said she grabbed his ****. “Wow,” she said. “It was the biggest I’ve ever seen.”

She said the superstar golfer was nonstop with his sexual demands.

One time, they didn’t even make it into his house, she said. As they were entering through the garage, he made a grab for her near one of his golf carts, and they had sex on the spot, she said.

Another time, he insisted on meeting her right before a big golf tourney in 2007.

“He wanted that last piece of booty before he could go to his tournament. To make him shoot better,” she said.

They met in a parking lot. She said she told him she was having her period and asked if they could avoid intercourse.

But Tiger would not be denied, Lawton said. She said they started going at it next to the golfer’s Cadillac SUV.

“He told me to pull my underwear down and pull out my tampon, and we went at it with me pressed up against his Escalade,” she said. “He did it from the back.”

One family friend tries to pin the blame on on Tiger’s bad boy friends Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, who sometimes competed for the attention of Tiger’s call girls.

I told him, ‘Stay away from that son of a bitch [Jordan], because he doesn’t have anything to offer to the f- – -ing world in which he lives except playing basketball, which he did yesterday,’ ” lawyer John Merchant told the latest edition of Vanity Fair magazine, which hits newsstands today.

I just don’t know how Elin stays with this disgusting man!!!!

READ MORE OF THIS STORY HERE

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The kitchen is a familiar, comforting place where a family can gather to talk and reminisce which is why you want your kitchen to be cheerful and inviting. There are a variety of inexpensive ways to make your kitchen more welcoming to friends and family.

Here’s how to create a cheerful kitchen the whole family can enjoy.

1. Create a cheerful kitchen: Let in the light.

Nothing makes a room more pleasing than the infusion of natural sunlight. Open up the curtains and blinds in your kitchen and let the light come shining in. The whole room will instantly take on a more pleasing mood.

2. Add a braided rug or other soft, cozy floor covering.

A braided rug will give your kitchen a cheery, old fashioned feel, but any soft rug will add a warm, comfortable touch to your kitchen. It’ll also make your feet feel good when you sneak downstairs in the middle of the night for a snack.

Pressed for time? Speed clean your kitchen.

3. Bring nature inside.

Place bowls of greenery and beautiful flowers with cheerful colors on the shelves in your kitchen. Not only do plants add a note of cheer they also have the added benefit of purifying the air. You can even plant a small herb garden to add visual appeal to your cooking area as well as provide you with delicious, fresh herbs for recipes.

Click here for more tips.

Easy ways to keep your kitchen clean.

When it comes to kitchen storage space we could all use more! Being organized in the kitchen saves you precious time and money which allows you more time to do “other” things.

1- Install a wire wall grid to keep kitchen tools handy. Turn a bare section of wall into a hook-and-hang center. For more storage, add accessories, such as spice racks and cookbook holders.

2-Shift dry goods into airtight, stackable containers. Often, packaged food products can be stored more compactly when transferred from their packaging into containers.

3-Store spice bottles one deep, on their sides with labels visible, in shallow drawers, instead of stacking them. The best location for spice storage is below a cooktop or to the side of your range. The flavor of spices stored above a cooking surface may be adversely affected by the heat.

4-Choose full-extension pullouts. Drawers and trays that extend fully allow the use of back corners without having to reach deep into cabinets to retrieve a pot or small appliance. You may prefer drawers because they save having to first open a set of doors.

5-Attach racks to the inside of cabinet doors to boost storage options. Be sure to allow enough clearance within your cabinets for racks that tidily stow paper products.

5 kitchen tasks we tend to forget

How to create a cheerful kitchen

Here are the five kitchen tasks we never think about doing, but which nevertheless eventually must be done:

1. Wipe off the tops of your cabinet doors and drawers. It may sound like makework, but those surfaces-exposed to some degree, and yet not likely to be noticed during a regular cleaning-accumulate a lot of dust and (blech) grease. Wiping them down with a microfiber towel and a good (green!) all-purpose cleaner should only take a few minutes. If the grease is especially stubborn, let the cleaner sit for a minute or two to soak in.

2. Wash items stored on high shelves (in cabinets or out). Items stored high up in a kitchen, in cabinets or otherwise, are bound to gather some sticky dust. Give them a good wash and wipe down the shelves themselves as well.

3. If you’ve got a dishwasher, clean inside it. Pay special attention to areas where dirt can build up, like the rubber seal around the door and the top edge of the door as well.

4. Clean the light fixtures, including under-cabinet lighting. Under-cabinet lights are especially vulnerable to splashing sauces and oils, but we don’t look at them directly all the time, so they’re often overlooked. Go at your pendant lights and ceiling fixtures as well; once again, since they’re high up, they’re likely to gather grease.

5. Wash the filter for your range hood (and the inside rim of the hood). Ideally, if you’ve got a ventilation hood, the filter should be washed every few months. We hardly ever think of doing it, but it does make a difference in how well the hood functions.

How To Store Your Pots And Pans

How to create a cheerful kitchen.

More Tips On How To Simplify Your Life

Designing your kitchen table for the holidays can be a lot of fun. You should make your kitchen table colorful and festive for the holiday season. Here are some easy and inexpensive ways that you can get your kitchen into the holiday spirit:

1) Use a table runner or individual place mats.

2) Napkins and napkin ring holders look festive on your holiday table. They can dress up your table and make your kitchen table look welcoming and inviting.

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3) Candles are great for any time of the year and look good on your kitchen table on the holidays. They add decoration and design to your table area. And when lit they can create a warm glow. Candles also add fragrances to your home for the holidays. Candles and candle holders make wonderful center piece settings for your table on the holidays.

How to travel cheap for the Christmas holiday

Many of today’s homes have an open floor plan which puts the kitchen in complete view of the living room. Decorating the kitchen will keep the Christmas theme flowing as the eyes travel across the room. Here are some ideas on how to decorate your kitchen for Christmas:

1 Hang a Christmas theme ceramic above the kitchen sink. If you enjoy ceramics, then have fun choosing and painting a stocking, bells, or a tree, etc. When purchasing the ceramic, make sure that it already has the metal loop on the back that slips on the hook for hanging on the wall. It should have been inserted while the plaster was still drying.

How to decorate for Christmas on a budget

2.Place a decorated basket filled with pine scented potpourri on the bar that separates the kitchen from the living room. Decorate the basket with a red velvet ribbon and bow. If desired, spray paint the basket before decorating it with the velvet ribbon.

3. Fill a glass bowl or vase with ornaments.

How to decorate with white lights

Take a look at the hottest celeb pics on the net

For most families, the kitchen is the busiest area of the house. The kitchen is often the hub where life happens, like meal preparation and cooking, washing dishes, cleaning appliances, doing homework, reading mail, unloading groceries, entertaining friends, feeding pets and many other similar activities. No wonder the kitchen can be the most clutter-prone room of all. How to control the mess?

Here are some helpful tips:

1) Decide what tasks can be done in the kitchen. Trying to do too many things (other than food prep and cooking) in a kitchen with limited space leads to the inevitable clutter. Tending to pets and plants, doing homework and school projects and performing other housekeeping tasks do not have to be done in the kitchen.

2) Define the workspace. Designate specific areas in the kitchen for the tasks you do there. Define counter space for food preparation and keep that area clear of appliances and utensils. When you’re contemplating acquiring a new kitchen appliance or gadget, remember that you can’t put it on that designated area for food preparation. Control clutter by enforcing what you can call “area restrictions.”

5 easy steps to a healthy kitchen

3) Create storage solutions. Clutter happens when things are not in their proper places. Cabinets, drawers, baskets, bins, jars, caddies and assorted containers help control clutter by bringing together and organizing similar or related items. Further organize tools and utensils by creating dividers and small containers inside large cabinets and drawers.

4) Schedule kitchen cleanup time. Include a chunk of time in your daily routine to take care of the kitchen cleanup. Put away the clean dishes and utensils; return the boxes of cereal to their proper places; tidy up the condiments and spice rack; park the small appliances in their designated areas and wipe up the counters and stovetops.

5) Don’t let clutter come into the kitchen. Use recyclable shopping bags instead of paper and plastic, which only add to kitchen clutter. Before buying another kitchen gadget or utensil, ask yourself if you really need it and do you have the space for it?

5 foods you didn’t know you could grill

Take a look at the hottest celebs pics on the net!

Whether it’s a part of a sit-down dinner party or a big buffet spread, a good centerpiece can make an appetizing meal look positively mouth-watering while enhancing the celebratory atmosphere. But for those hosts seeking a centerpiece more interesting than the standard flower vases, finding the right centerpiece is bit more challenging. With a little creativity, a centerpiece can become not only the most interesting aspects of the table layout, but one of the most interesting features of the whole night’s hosting.

Take a look at some not so “typical” centerpieces below:

How to prevent illness by cleaning your kitchen

Use your kitchen time to…

Apartment Therapy Re-Nest has put together a list of simple uses for spaghetti jars that would have otherwise been thrown in the recycling bin:

1) Water for the dog at the dog park: our dog gets exhausted from all the play, and if BPAs aren’t good for humans, they’re probably not good for her either.

2. A drink shaker or cold drink storage: add some lime juice, fresh ginger, basil or some cucumber to a jar of water, put the lid on and give it a little shake. Then stash in the fridge until you need some refreshment, or use one to make your cold-brew coffee!

How to prevent illness by cleaning your kitchen

3. Breakfast to go: add oatmeal, dried fruit and a little flaxseed to a jar and toss in your pack. Once you’re at work, at some hot water, mix well and enjoy.

4. Leftovers: instant non-plastic, non-leaching, non-staining, BPA-free container for food. Great for soups.

5. Storage of bulk foods: re-use what you’ve got for storing sugar, flour, grains, rice, etc. from your local grocer’s bulk food section.

Click here for more tips

Pantry Staples Every Kitchen Should Have

Did you know that more than 200 known diseases are transmitted through food. In the United States alone, an estimated 6 million to 81 million illnesses and up 9,000 deaths are caused by food borne diseases each year.

Keeping the kitchen clean is a simple, yet effective way, of preventing several cases of food borne illness. Here are some easy steps you can take to make your kitchen a safe and happy area of your home from ehow.com:

1) It is easier to clean a kitchen when you do not have to fight your way through it. Toss out or give away any gadgets and appliances you no longer use. Store small appliances in cupboards and cabinets. Display only a few decorations on your countertops. Keeping the extra surfaces to a minimum will provide less breeding ground for bacteria.

2) Clean out your refrigerator on a regular basis. The easiest time to do this is before you do your weekly grocery shopping. Discard any food that shows signs of spoilage. Wipe down the shelves and door using warm, soapy water or cleaning spray. It is safe to use dish detergent in your water when cleaning your refrigerator, but avoid using a variety that has a strong fragrance.

Pantry staples every kitchen should have

3) Clean up any spills on your stovetop each time you cook. Use warm, soapy water or a kitchen cleaner. If you have used the oven, wipe the surfaces and racks after the interior has cooled. It is easier to remove drips and grease from the oven as they happen. Remember to wipe down your stove hood and filter to remove grease and splatters after each use, as well.

4) Wipe out your microwave after each use. Use a damp dishcloth that has been soaked in hot, soapy water. Use a little bit of baking soda to remove stubborn food sticking to the sides. If there are strong odors lingering in your microwave, put a couple slices of lemon or some vinegar in a bowl of water and heat it on high for 2-3 minutes to freshen the interior, and then wipe out it out once more.

5) The work surfaces are the most dangerous areas in the kitchen. Food, utensils and hands come directly in contact with these surfaces several times per day. Wipe down the work areas of your countertops before and after using them. Use hot, soapy water or a kitchen cleaning spray. Clean your countertops. Remove everything from the countertops and wash the entire surface once per week. An effective sanitizing solution for thoroughly cleaning the kitchen counters is to mix one capful of bleach into a quart of warm water. Allow the counters to air dry. Wipe the surfaces of any appliances kept on the countertop as you put them back into place.

6) Wash dishes as you use them. Do not let dirty dishes sit out on the counter. Bacteria and mold grows quickly on dirty dishes, especially in warm temperatures. Dirty dishes attract flies and other insects, as well as rodents. Wash dishes by hand or put them in the dishwasher each time you eat or prepare food.

7) Change your dishtowel and sponge daily. Bacteria can survive for weeks in a wet dishcloth or sponge. It is therefore important to change your dishcloth, dishtowels and sponges on a daily basis. Use one dishcloth or sponge for cleaning the counters and another for washing the dishes. Use disposable paper towels when cleaning up spilled fluids from raw meat. If you plan to use a single dishcloth throughout the day, let it soak in a little water that has had a couple drops of bleach added to it between uses.

How to clean your microwave

Every cook needs a well-stocked kitchen. With these few essential ingredients on hand, you’ll always be able to whip up a meal quickly.

Here’s our checklist of what you should always have in your kitchen cabinet:
Olive oil

Vegetable oil

Balsamic vinegar

Red wine vinegar

Salt and pepper

Spices

Canned tuna

Canned beans

Chicken broth

Tomato paste

Jarred marinara sauce

Red and white wine

Rice

Pasta

All-purpose flour

Sugar

Potatoes

Garlic and onions

Click here to find out how to clean your microwave.

Use a lemon to clean your kitchen.

Sure, ice cream, frozen veggies, and TV dinners belong in the freezer. But you can store almost any fresh food there too – from sale items you stock up on to perishables you’d rather not throw out before your family goes on vacation.

Three tips:
1. To avoid freezer burn, leave as little extra air in the bag or container as possible.

5 healthiest ways to cook.

2. If you take a defrosting shortcut, like zapping edibles in the microwave instead of thawing them in the fridge, fully cook the food before refreezing.

3.Alternatively, if you change your mind/plans and want to refreeze raw food, you can do so if it’s only partially thawed, still firm in the center, and contains ice crystals. Use it as soon as possible to minimize loss of quality.

Fruits
What to Save: Juice
In Fridge: Opened, 7 to 10 days; unopened, 3 weeks
In Freezer: 8 to 12 months
How to Store in Freezer: Pour some off to leave room for expansion; reseal with masking tape. Shake after thawing

(from sheknows.com)

Click here for more.

Top 5 cholesterol myths

Germs-the catchall name for bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms-are everywhere: at home, in the office, even in your car. Freaked out? Well, about 99% of them can’t harm us, but the other 1% can be annoying, uncomfortable, or downright scary: Most of these nasty critters are either viral or bacterial and can cause everything from a runny nose to a potentially life-threatening infection.

Here are a few surprising spots where germs like to lurk-and easy ways to get rid of ‘em:

The Kitchen Faucet

That metal aeration screen at the end of your kitchen faucet reduces water flow, which is good for the environment, but not so much for your health: Running water keeps the screen moist, an ideal condition for bacteria growth. Because tap water is far from sterile, if you accidentally touch the screen with dirty fingers or food, bacteria can grow on the faucet. Over time, bacteria build up and form a wall of pathogens called biofilm that sticks to the screen. Eventually, that biofilm may even be big enough to break off and get onto your food or dishes.

KEEP IT CLEAN: Once a week, remove the screen and soak it in a diluted bleach solution-follow the directions on the label. Replace the screen, and let the water run a few minutes before using.

5 kitchen task we tend to forget.

Your Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuums-including the brushes and bags-are like a banquet for bacteria: You suck in all this bacteria and food, creating an atmosphere for growth. A recent study found that 13% of all vacuum cleaner brushes tested positive for E. coli, which means you could spread it around the house each time you use the appliance.

KEEP IT CLEAN: Change your vacuum bag frequently, and do so outdoors to avoid the cloud of bacteria that filters into the air. (Vacuum bags that feature antibacterial linings are best and are available for many major brands.) Clean the cavity of a bagless vacuum with diluted bleach and let it air-dry.

Click here for more.

How to speed clean your kitchen.

Chances are, when you and your guy are about to get it on, you make a beeline for the bed. Now we’re not knocking between-the-sheets sex, but you can make your intimate encounters even more intoxicating by moving them beyond the boudoir.

With the benefits of novel nooky in mind, we’ve mapped out some daring and innovative sex positions to try in every nook and cranny of your home. Let the room christening begin.

Kitchen Encounter

Sit on the edge of the counter, pull your knees up to your chest, and place your feet flat on the counter. Have your guy stand facing you between your legs, then scoot your bum far enough forward (it may have to hang over the edge or even hover a few inches above the surface) so he can enter you. If you’re too high up for him to reach you comfortably, he can stand on a phone book or sturdy crate.

Hold on to his shoulders for support, and have him grab your butt to help propel you back and forth. “This is a twist on an ancient position in the Kama Sutra where both thighs are raised in the air, which allows for very deep penetration.

4 ways to improve your sex life.

Erotic extras: The kitchen offers you easy access to homemade passion props. “You can tease him with the sink sprayer or even use it on yourself as you sit in the sink,” points out Joan Elizabeth Lloyd, author of Naughtier Bedtime Stories. “You’re also right by the fridge, so you can find creative uses for ice, fruit, whipped cream, and other fun lickables.”

Doorway Play

Standing-up sex can be a challenge, unless there’s some solid structure for support…like a door frame. For this pose, have your guy squat with his back against one side of a doorway. His thighs should be parallel to the floor, and he can put his hands behind his lower back for cushioning. Stand facing away from him, spread your legs so they’re on either side of his, and then back up onto his member.

Once you’re positioned, bend forward and push against the opposite door frame with your palms. This helps you balance and allows you to control your gyrations and vary the speed and depth of penetration. You’re in the driver’s seat, so mix up your moves – swivel your hips back and forth in a circular pattern or figure eights – and experiment to see what feels best. Every time you switch direction, you’ll both experience new pleasurable sensations.

Erotic extra: Leave on a pair of sexy stiletto heels…and nothing else. The shoes’ shape will help keep you pitched forward on your toes for maximum maneuverability, and the mere sight of them will drive him wild.

Find out more here.

(From cosmopolitan.com)

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Now that the holidays are over and we’re in the gray days of winter, you’re probably spending more time indoors… and subsequently in the kitchen. Want to banish those winter blues? Then perk up your kitchen with a splash of color.

The folks over at apartmenttherapy.com has a roundup of kitchens splashed with the color of a favorite winter fruit — clementines. Take a look here.

For the holidays, consider giving cookware, small appliances, and kitchen tools to the home cooks and foodies in your life. Here’s our Top 5 gifts that will stand out on countertops this holiday season.

G-Broil Grill

Steve Harvey teams up with George Foreman for this knockout new G-Broil grill.

$49.99 at steveharveygrill.com

Chambrer Wine Refrigerator

This compact Chambrer 4-bottle wine refrigerator fits neatly on your countertop for proper wine chilling. $159.95 at wineenthusiast.com

Breville Die-Cast 4-SliceToaster

Use the browning dial to precisely adjust your desired shade from light to dark, then watch the electronic countdown timer to see when your toast will be ready. $159.95 at williams-sonoma.com

Countertop Beer Cooler And Tap

Why waste money at the bars, when you have all the beer you need right at home? This cooler holds a 5-liter keg and has an integrated tap that allows you to draw tavern-style draught beer with a creamy head from a kitchen countertop or home bar. $299.95 at hammacher.com

Cuisinart 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker

This programmable coffeemaker lets you set a brewing cycle up to 24 hours in advance. $59.95 at williams-sonoma.com

With the holidays upon us, it’s time to start thinking about holiday gifts for those who love all things kitchen. Here are some suggestions from HB.

Orka Fruit Juicer/Press

Handy citrus juicer doubles as a press for berries, melons, grapes and more. Dishwasher safe plastic. $9.95 at surlatable.com

Colored Glass Cocktail Shakers

Colorful glass shakers features a stainless steel top has a built-in strainer. $13 at potterybarn.com

Trio Cheese Set

This cheese trio serving set works just as beautifully on hard or soft cheeses. Reasonably priced,and already boxed, it makes a great host gift. $15 at aplusrstore.com

Emerson Electric Wine Bottle Opener

This electric wine bottle opener opens all traditional wine bottles and comes with a built-in foil cutter and adapter. $14.99 at target.com

Gem Martini Glasses

These martini trumpet flares scream party!! Availbale in pink, blue or green. $4.95 each at cb2.com