My two new favorite cleaning supplies!

Sometimes your new must have products are already in your home, just being used for different purposes.  My two new favorite cleaning supplies are not found in the "cleaning supply" aisle, but in the baking aisle!

Baking Soda:  I know that this has been used for a long time for many different functions, but I think it is absolutely the best value scouring product you can use.  It not only takes the crusty stuff off of pots and pans, but it works wonders on those brown stains on your glass baking ware.  Best part is, is that you use it to cook with, so it is a cleaning product without all of the toxic chemicals.  Mix with just a bit of water to make a paste and scrub away.  

Olive Oil/Vegetable Oil:  It is counter intuitive, but it completely works...the only way to really cut oil based products is to use...more oil!  So when you have that greasy grime on the tops of your cupboards, or on the edges of your stove, start by rubbing some oil on it.  It loosens the caked on stuff enough to then wash it away in a hurry.  Same goes for getting oil based paint on your hands.  Use a little olive oil, and it comes off with much less elbow grease!

Happy Cleaning (total oxymoron...but worth a shot!)  :)

Baking Bacon...

From day one, we have loved this tip for baking bacon.  The trick is to have a jelly roll pan, a cooling rack that fits inside of the jelly roll pan, and some aluminum foil.  Line the jelly roll pan with some aluminum foil and stack the cooling rack on top.  The beauty of this for bacon is that you can cook almost a whole pound at one time, you don't have the horrifying grease splatter all over your stove top and forearms, and there isn't the day long bacon aroma imprinted into your home.  (Bake at 425F for 20 minutes or until crisp!)

Below is a set that is just what we are talking about.

Chicago Metallic Two Nonstick Jelly Roll Pans with Cooling Grid - $30.95

Besides the bacon uses, these are the most used pans in my home.  I cover the jelly roll pans with parchment paper to bake everything from cookies to french fries.  The cooling grid is a stand alone lifesaver for not only cooling cookies but also providing extra layers in your cooler or refrigerator.  Last but not least, the baking bacon method can also be used to keep meatballs out of the little ectoplasm puddles that they create as the grease is rendered.    Enjoy!

Kitchen Tool Favorites

Obviously we love a stocked pantry, fridge, and freezer!  What we also love though is having the right kitchen tools on hand to make our "Stocked" recipes.  When I've been out at cooking demos, every once in awhile I am asked about a kitchen tool I am using, so I though I would list a few that I can't live without.

Crate and Barrel Citrus Reamer

This is such an effective way to get juice out of citrus fruits.  It is easy to store and very easy to clean!  Best of all, at $3.95, it is super affordable.

Fine Mesh Strainer

Fine mesh strainers like this one are so amazingly useful in the kitchen.  I use mine for everything from sifting together dry baking ingredients to rinsing and draining beans.  I really like the ones that have a larger lip on the opposite end of the handle so that it can sit on top of a bowl.  Also, I prefer plastic over wooden, because it is cheaper and dishwasher safe.  This is a OXO brand, which has proved to me to be a reasonably priced quality brand.  This strainer runs $16.79 at Target.com.

Microplane Classic Series Premium Zester/Grater

This is a great tool to have in your toolbox.  The Microplane is perfect for zesting citrus, grating whole nutmeg and chocolate, and mincing garlic and onions.  It is one of those tools that you didn't know you needed it until you have it, but with its reasonable price, it is worth the purchase.  This Mircroplane runs $14.95.

Loving These Cupcakes!

Every once in awhile you stumble across a product that is just remarkable, and you want to tell all of your friends.  Many fans of The Stocked Kitchen have told us that they have "told everyone they know" about our cookbook, and we would like to "pay it forward" when we find something that we find amazing.  I fell in love with this book awhile back, when my sister-in-law gave it to me as a birthday gift.  My girls have actually chosen themes for their birthday parties based on the cupcakes in this book!  Karen Tack and Alan Richardson are the creators of this lovely book.  We had the pleasure of meeting them in Chicago awhile back, and their creativity is just amazing.  It isn't exactly "Stocked" but "Hello, Cupcake!" (and their other books) are some of our favorite things!  

Alan, Sarah, Karen, and Stacey at WGN Chicago!

The original.
To find out more, click here!

Sarah's attempt at the Flamingos.  Sarah's daughter participated in Girls on the Run and the team name was The Dancing Flamingos!  

I served these at the 5K celebration, and the girls loved them.  They didn't look exactly like the picture, but they were adorable anyway and delicious too!

Enjoy!