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Creating an Efficient Kitchen

Creating an Efficient Kitchen

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On February 16, 2011, TheMotherhood hosted its fourth Cooking Connections class, focused on Creating an Efficient Kitchen.  The session was hosted by the amazing Tricia Callahan (Once A Month Mom), Sommer Collier (A Spicy Perspective) and Jodi Grundig (Mom’s Favorite Stuff.)

 

http://youtu.be/0DPsdUmh8eY

 

The tips and suggestions flew fast – but organized – during the hour-long class.  We’ve gathered the best ideas in this summary, but if you want to catch absolutely everything, be sure to click here and read the whole conversation!

 

Setting your kitchen up for success

 

Tricia offered up some of her own tips for organizing a kitchen:

 

– Clear off counters and workspace. Cluttered space = cluttered cooking.
– Remove all toys, etc., from underfoot.
– If it is a long cooking time, wear comfortable shoes and an apron.
– When you can, chop ahead of time.
– Get out all the ingredients you are going to need to cook so it is conveniently at hand.

 

To completely overhaul the kitchen workspace, Sommer had this suggestion:

 

Go through ALL your cabinets, getting rid of random gadgets you’ve never used.  As you place things back into the cabinets, put the items you will use the very most in the spaces around the stove and sink. All other appliances and tools that are only pulled out few times a year should go in those hard to reach cabinets.

 

Co-hosts and participants also shared advice:

 

Keep plastic containers in check: I stack my [plastic] containers & then I have a Rubbermaid tub where I stick all the lids- it’s much neater than if I tried to place them together! (Not Quite Susie)

 

Organize spices: I had several square or rectangular containers that I divided my spices into (leave off the lid). I could pull the containers out to find what I needed. Organize them by spices you use the most, spices used in baking, Indian spices, etc. (Priscilla Willis, She’s Cookin’)

 

Clear the counter: One tip I found really useful was taking a hard look at which appliances deserve real estate. So, on the counter, we have a counter microwave, a toaster oven, a coffee maker, and the drainboard. The George Foreman, waffle maker went to the basement, the Kitchenaid is in a high cabinet, etc. (Christina)

 

Pick and choose: It’s so much easier to be organized when you keep only the things you love. Kitchen gadgets are fun, but often unnecessary. (Diane Campagna, Main Street Mommy)

 

Cooking efficiently

 

Work ahead: I try to chop onions, carrots, and celery every Sunday so that it’s handy for weekday cooking. (Melanie Feehan, The Coupon Goddess)

 

Take stock: Getting everything out before you start is also a good way of making sure you actually HAVE everything you need. (magpie)

 

Consolidate: Something that works for me is having a medium size container on my counter where I throw my trash, and at the end I just toss it all into the garbage can! (Silvia Martinez, Mama Latina Tips)

 

Clean as you go: I clean the counter as I go, but the dishes wait till the end, unless I need to wash & reuse something. (Jenn Fowler, Frugal Upstate)

 

If your kitchen is tiny

 

Prep big batches: Chop/ prep items ahead of time and freeze them.  For example, make up a hamburger mixture and make a meat loaf, meatballs, taco meat, etc., at the same time and freeze it. When you are making something, make it count by preparing several different versions. (1Chef)

 

Expand: Set up a workspace at the kitchen or dining room table. (Sylvie Shirazi, Gourmande in the Kitchen)

 

Create some space: Cover your sink with a board while doing prep. (Heather)

 

And more space: Try using a rolling cart that you can bring in just when working, and move back to dining room when you are done. (Brandie)

 

Meal planning and grocery shopping

 

Sommer provided these tips for efficient shopping trips:

 

– Organization is the KEY to make cooking less stressful. If you have a well-stocked kitchen and pre-selected recipes, you are less likely to make excuses not to cook.

 

– Consider using of your weekly grocery ads as you outline your menu. Planning your meals around what’s on sale can really help keep you on budget!

 

– Write down your weekly “menu” including where you found the recipe and the page number. Then post it somewhere (on the fridge or inside a cabinet door.)

 

– Use the recipes you selected to make your grocery list, checking your cabinets to make sure you have everything you need. This also helps to not buy things you already have!

 

– At the grocery store, get everything on your list. If you can’t find something, make a substitution or stop at another store on the way home. You’re more likely to cook your meals if you don’t have to go back to the store later!

 

– Wash all your produce before they go in the fridge. Let them air dry for a few minutes. Then wrap them in a paper [or cloth] towel to absorb excess moisture and put them in a plastic zip bag. This keeps your produce fresh and reduces prep time throughout the week.

 

– ALWAYS keep a “running” grocery list available in your kitchen. Every time you use up a common ingredient (olive oil, butter, flour, spices) IMMEDIATELY write it on your grocery list. That way, you won’t forget about it later!

 

– This is the time to invest in some good-quality stackable containers. Pouring your flours, sugars, baking soda, nuts and dried fruit in CLEAR, stackable containers not only gives them a longer shelf-life, but makes them easier to find! –
http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/foodStorage/leftoversPlastic

 

Jodi went grocery shopping with Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert, a ConAgra spokesperson, and he gave her some great tips:

 

Phil Lempert gives Jodi family grocery shopping tips.

 

Phil Lempert tells Jodi how to improve grocery shopping strategy.

 

Co-hosts and participants threw in their suggestions, too:

 

There’s an app for that: I use Grocery Zen on my iTouch and Grocery IQ on my Droid phone. (DiaperDiaries)

 

Organize your list and bring your own bags: A list is a must, AND I usually break it into sections: produce, dairy, etc. That way it’s easier to look through and see if I’ve missed something. I also bring cloth bags. You can fit way more items in reusable bags than you can in those cheap, plastic things. Less bags = less time spent carrying groceries in. (Diane Campagna, Main Street Mommy)

 

Organizing recipes

 

Create your own cookbook: I know a lot of folks who really like using a 3 ring binder with those plastic page protectors – so you can take a sheet out & have it right there w/out worrying about spills. (Jenn Fowler, Frugal Upstate)

 

Take notes: I have a composition notebook that I jot down recipes, notes, etc. in as well as paste in clippings from magazines, or recipes I print off the computer. (Angie Knutson, My Four Monkeys)

 

Money-saving tips – Stockpiling

 

Sommer provided these tips for stockpiling:

 

– Before you stock your pantry, take it ALL out!

 

– Check the expiration dates as you sort. It’s amazing how many items can sneak to the back and stay there permanently.

 

– Sort your canned and boxed goods into categories such as: baking, grains and beans, canned veggies, snacks, etc. Place each category on its own shelf or in neat pullout baskets.

 

– If you want to get serious about sorting and storing, you can invest in a label maker. Label each container and date the top so you know exactly how long you’ve had each item! Here is a good-quality, low cost label maker:
http://www.staples.com/Brother-PT70BM-Handheld-Label-Maker/product_723501?cmArea=SEARCH

 

Jodi added:

 

– Also know what you use regularly – staples like chicken, beef, vegetable broth, beans, pasta, rice, grains, spices.

 

– Follow the sales – when these items are on sale, buy them in bulk, noting expiration dates.

 

Money-saving tips – Shopping and Cooking

 

Jodi had these suggestions:

 

– Use beans (I like cannellini beans the best) as protein in meals instead of more expensive meats. Here’s a recipe from ReadySetEat that I like. http://www.readyseteat.com/recipes-TwoBean-Vegetable-Chili-5427.html

 

– Get tons of use from the meats you do buy. For example, I like to boil a chicken with veggies to make homemade stock, then I use the cooked chicken in a chicken salad.

 

– Spices can be relatively inexpensive in the dry form (especially since they usually last a while). Consider growing spices in the summer, and then freeze them in small batches for use throughout the year!

 

Co-hosts and participants had more tips:

 

Bulk up: I buy meat in bulk when is a very good deal, I take one day to cook it all, making different dishes. I use one that day for dinner, I freeze the other ones. I save money and I have dinner for a few days, a win-win! (Silvia Martinez, Mama Latina Tips)

 

Make it from scratch: I also find making things from scratch saves a ton. While I am in this chat I am making granola bars with all natural ingredients that will factor out to about $3 for 20 bars. That kills any deal at the store even with coupons. (DiaperDiaries)

 

Saving spices: If you want to dry [your fresh herbs and spices] – spread them on a cookie sheet and place in car sitting in the sun. They will dry very, very quickly that way! (Brandie)

 

Inventory: I love using Google Docs to inventory the freezer and pantry. That way even if I run to the store after work I can check what is on hand, my husband can too. Big help to avoid buying things we don’t need. (Jacky)

 

Freezing and food storage

 

Sommer gave a tutorial on freezing meals:

 

http://youtu.be/uFaqAdpX4co

 

– Cooking in bulk and freezing saves a lot of time and money. Think about it, if you’re taking the time to make homemade marinara and meatballs, why not make a GIANT pot of marinara and a quadruple batch of meatballs? It would only take you a few more minutes of prep time and save hours of cook time on other nights!

 

– When freezing wet items like soup, homemade stock, chili, and sauces, allow them to cool, poor them in GOOD-QUALITY freezer bags. Zip tightly and label. I try to place them in the freezer flat so they freeze in a nice shape and can be stacked. Sometimes I use airtight plastic containers, but have found the thick freezer bags work just fine.

 

– When freezing individual items like muffins, mini-meatloaves, stuffed chicken breasts, unbaked cookies, etc. I use a technique called Flash Freezing.

 

1) First, lay the individual items out a baking sheet that will fit flat in your freezer.

 

2) Next place the sheet in the freezer UNCOVERED for at least 30 minutes, so that the exterior of each item is frozen hard. Then place all the items in a freezer bag together. The frozen exterior will protect the items so they don’t get ugly!

 

3) Flash freezing also works well with garlic bread loaves and whole cakes. The key with larger items (that won’t fit in a freezer bag) is to wrap them well in plastic after they’ve been flash-frozen, then wrap them again in foil. The extra lining guards against freezer burn!

 

Additional suggestions from co-hosts and participants:

 

Stay fresh: I’ve found that an inner lining of plastic wrap, and then tin foil, really helps keep things fresh. You just need to remember to take off the plastic wrap before reheating! (Carolyn Ketchum, All Day I Dream About Food)

 

Prep and cook on a day off: Prepare things like soup, beans, cut veggies, salad dressing, dips and spreads, steamed and roasted vegetables and store them for the week. (Sylvie Shirazi, Gourmande in the Kitchen)

 

Getting creative with leftovers

 

While some eat leftovers for days “as is,” a number of participants admitted that they can’t stomach leftovers, and the extra food often ends up in the trash.

 

Jodi had suggestions for turning leftovers into a whole new meal:

 

– For everyone who tosses leftovers, remember that if you make something totally different, and you’ll feel like it’s a new meal (and you’ll eat it).

 

– Leftover fish can become fish tacos. Leftover sausage can be used in pasta.

 

– You can also freeze leftovers and eat them at another time. I try to remember to do this so that when my husband is traveling I don’t have to cook for myself.

 

Co-hosts and participants added their suggestions:

 

Toppings and mix-ins: Sometimes I use the meat in salads, on top of baked potato, etc.  (1Chef)

 

Part of a complete dinner: Meats are easily made into another dish for next day’s dinner. Such as fried rice, stir fry, added to pasta and veggies. (Priscilla Willis, She’s Cookin’)

 

Efficient clean-up

 

Parchment paper: I’d love to hear people’s ideas for efficient clean up. Things like parchment paper (my best friend!), which I reuse over and over. It helps not to have to clean up the pan after cooking or baking. (Carolyn Ketchum, All Day I Dream About Food)

 

Silicone liners: I live by the silicone liners on baking sheets and such. They work fabulously and there is very little cleanup! (Angie Knutson, My Four Monkeys)

 

Soak as you go: Keep a sink full of hot sudsy water and put the dishes in while you cook so that food doesn’t have a chance to get stuck on. (Sylvie Shirazi, Gourmande in the Kitchen)

 

Links to Useful Resources

 

Stocking a healthy pantry: http://shescookin.com/2011/01/20/the-healthy-pantry/

 

Setting your kitchen (and yourself) up for an efficient once-a-month cooking day: http://onceamonthmom.com/preparing-for-a-successful-oam-big-day/

 

Why Jenn Fowler plans a weekly menu: http://www.frugalupstate.com/frugal-living/why-should-i-plan-a-weekly-menu/

 

Sommer’s pantry list: http://aspicyperspective.com/cooking-101

 

Organizing a spice cabinet, printable spice chart: http://www.goodlifeeats.com/2010/11/kitchen-tip-a-well-stocked-spice-cabinet.html

 

Organizing recipes into binders: http://www.howto-simplify.com/2010/07/tips-tricks-organizing-food-magazine.html

 

Pantry lists: http://www.workitmom.com/checklists/detail/6526/what-is-in-the-well-stocked-pantry
http://summertomato.com/how-to-get-started-eating-healthy-stock-your-pantry/

 

Stretch a chicken for four days: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6tox8xNvVY

 

Chicken salad recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/chicken-salad-with-fennel-spice-recipe/index.html

 

Containers for freezing: http://onceamonthmom.com/works-for-me-wednesday-freezing-containers/

 

Freezer-friendly recipes: http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/recipe-roundup/from-the-files-recipes-that-freeze-well-067269

What freezes well: http://www.suite101.com/content/freezing-foods-foods-that-freeze-well-or-not-so-well-a324045

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/dth_freezerfoods.html

 

Preventing freezer burn: http://onceamonthmom.com/preventing-freezer-burn-works-for-me-wednesday/

 

A few recipes from ConAgra’s Ready Set Eat website that Tricia has cooked and frozen:
http://www.readyseteat.com/recipes-Chicken-with-Balsamic-Tomatoes-5254.html?tool=true

http://www.readyseteat.com/recipes-Tilapia-with-Corn-and-Tomatoes-4210.html

 

Thanks SO MUCH to our amazing, organized, efficient hosts:

 

Jodi Grundig, Mom’s Favorite Stuff

Sommer Collier, A Spicy Perspective

Tricia Callahan, Once A Month Mom

 

And our fabulous co-hosts:

 

Diane Campagna, Main Street Mommy

Silvia Martinez, Mama Latina Tips

Melanie Feehan, The Coupon Goddess

Jenn Fowler, Frugal Upstate

Kate Miller, Stolen Moments Cooking

Carolyn Ketchum, All Day I Dream About Food

Priscilla Willis, She’s Cookin’

Angie Knutson, My Four Monkeys

Sylvie Shirazi, Gourmande in the Kitchen

Devaki Das, Weave A Thousand Flavors

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62133

Mindful Mothering: Parenting in the Here and Now

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Women striving for mindfulness gathered in TheMotherhood to talk about the best ways to be present in the moment, live more fully day-to-day and focus attention on their kids.

 

Led by hosts Karen Maezen Miller, Katrina Kension and Tracy Mayor, the group offered up plenty of great advice.  Read the highlights below, or click here to see the entire conversation.

 

What is “mindfulness,” exactly?

 

“It is a state of open-minded awareness, or attention, with no distracting inner dialogue. So it actually means ‘mindlessness’,” explained host Karen Maezen Miller.

 

“For me,” added participant Holland, “It is more about being fully present and not just knee jerk reacting to the next moment whether good or bad.”

 

It’s not always easy being mindful

 

Said co-host M Resnick, “I feel like I am being tested daily with mindful mothering because of life situations (namely my son’s disability and my dad’s cancer) and there is a part of me that wants to yell at the universe and say, ‘I get it…. I need to work on mindfulness and staying present, but isn’t there another way to teach me this? A slightly easier path?’  I guess not!”

 

Being present with your kids

 

Celina Wyss, one of the Talk participants, admitted that she sometimes had trouble engaging with her six-year-old daughter. “I have never been great at playing make believe games or with toys. What is a way I can be more present with her and still do something I enjoy too?”

 

“I totally feel this way too,” responded co-host Lindsey Mead. “I just don’t love crafts, for example. So we read, which I love to do, or we go for walks, which I enjoy, and talk about the sky, what we see, etc.”

 

Participant Brandie suggested doing “a mix of things you like and she likes. Also, tell her in advance [that] mom will play for 15 minutes. And set a timer if you must. So she gets time with you, but there’s a limit, so you won’t have to worry about losing it in the middle of the game!”

 

“I take a very relaxed stance to playing,” added co-host Stacy Lewis. “I am available to being included but I don’t lead the play or ‘act like a kid.’ But I do dedicate a time during the day that I am available to play in this way (my kids call it cuddle time)… It fills their cup. And mine too.”

 

Let go of worry, stress, anger

 

“I think of worry as the very useless energy I send toward things I have absolutely no control over,” said host Katrina Kenison. “I think we can give up worry and remain engaged; it’s more a question of turning our attention to things that we can actually do, and letting go of that energy we expend on things we’re helpless to control.”

 

And when you’re in an argument with your kids – empathy is the key to staying calm.

 

“EMPATHY in high doses allows the parent to maintain love and calmness and keeps the heart and mind of your children open to talking with you,” commented CoachCarl2011. “EMPATHY first and if you cannot manage your stress, just say ‘I love you too much too argue with you, we’ll talk later.’”

 

“This is a great point,” said host Tracy Mayor. “You are immediately calmer and more focused when you’re being empathetic, because you’re out of yourself and in the other person. If you’re lucky, your kids will notice this and become empathetic themselves.”

 

But even when you are in the midst of chaos, be present in the moment, because as Karen Maezen Miller noted, “Mindfulness is not always calm.”

 

It’s okay to say “no”

 

When we are pulled in a million different directions – volunteering with groups our kids participate in, parenting our own families, indulging our own interests – it can be hard to enjoy the moment.

 

“Seems like the more I am involved in my kids activities (school, cub scouts, etc) the less time I have for my own family. I am beginning to resent what I once enjoyed….” said participant Shannon K.

 

“It’s always OK to say no, without resentment or guilt,” said Karen Maezen Miller. “No by itself is pure wisdom. The guilt, remorse and anger are not.”

 

Holland advised saying, “‘it’s not a priority for me’ as opposed to ‘I don’t have time,’ and then I have to NOT worry about being judged by the person.”

 

Kim the Sleep Lady has a similar line she uses to turn down volunteer positions when her schedule is full.  “This is my favorite line when asked and sometimes pressured in to volunteering: ‘I am practicing saying NO more often so I although this opportunity or cause sounds great, I will have to decline.’ I have YET to have anyone have a single good comeback!”

 

Remember to recharge

 

“Finding small moments to carve out for yourself to ‘refill the well’ is vital,” said co-host Elizabeth Thomas. “My best friend has three small children, and she writes songs after they go to bed. Not because she wants to be a songwriter, but because it revives her spirit.”

 

“I think it’s a gift that I give my children when I get away,” commented participant Christine. “When I was growing up my step-mother never did, but she had a lot of resentment. I think it shows our kids that we have lives, and that we think it’s important to take care of ourselves too.”

 

“What recharges us changes, too,” Katrina Kenison reminded the group. “There are times when what we need more than anything is to laugh with friends over a glass of wine. Other times when I know to take myself to the woods alone for a good long hike, till my muscles ache and my spirit is soaring.”

 

Don’t try so hard

 

“Even a few moments of pure mindfulness (unadulterated attention to your child) are a gift,” said Katrina Kenison. “Just offer 15 minutes and feel good about that!”

 

Co-host Sarah B added, “I so often notice that my ‘best’ parenting moments are when I’m not trying.”

 

“Being calm and happy tends to radiate to everything, doesn’t it?” agreed co-host denise. “I remind myself of that often!”

 

Links

 

NYT – Frazzled Moms Push Back on Volunteering http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/garden/02parents.html

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62138

 

Valentine’s Day and Quality Time

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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and it has us all thinking about our loved ones – kids, spouses and significant others!

 

We were joined in The Motherhood by Ulli Kammler, brand manager at Dr. Oetker USA, to talk about spending quality time with these VIPs in our lives, as well as discuss some romantic tips for planning an evening at home with that special someone.

 

Dr. Oetker is headquartered in Germany and its Ristorante pizza is Italy’s #1 frozen pizza brand. This thin-crust pizza is available in the U.S. in six unique varieties! Popping a Dr. Oetker Ristorante pizza in the oven for a candlelit evening at home is one way to prepare a quick, romantic, restaurant-quality meal without the restaurant prices.

 

 

What have you done for Valentine’s Day in the past?

 

Many participants shared their memories from Valentine’s Days gone by.

 

Sarahviz had a sweet story to tell: “My fave Valentines Day: (cheesy but true) … My (future) hubby and I drove from NC to Myrtle Beach for Valentines Day weekend in 1998. Sitting on a swing, on the beach, in the middle of winter, was when I realized I was in love with him…”

 

Magpie added, “The first year that iPods came out, my husband got me one because he KNEW I would love it. The phone rang at 2:00 in the morning on the 14th because my sister had just had a baby – so he gave me the present then – he was so excited. As was I. Nine years ago. I still have that iPod, though I don’t use it.”

 

How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day with your kids?

 

JustPrecious shares the love with her kids, who “always come downstairs for breakfast and find their cards and little gifts waiting for them.”

 

Added Shannon Ott, “We have 2 girls, and my husband always gets valentines for his “little valentines” too…. it is so sweet that he goes and picks out cards and treats for them all by himself!”

 

“This year we made mailboxes for all three children, so I think we will all just make valentines for each other. It will be nice to get away from gifts and candy,” said Karen of 3G2S.

 

For a more interactive Valentine’s Day with younger kids, Julie Bouf shared a cute idea: “On Valentine’s Day last year – [my husband] played Candyland with my daughter with real pieces of candy to grab up if you landed on one of the candy spots.”

 

And for those with older kids, ThisFullHouse suggests that you “let them plan and cook the meal for the night! My kids LOVE doing this and, well, some of the menus they come up with are epic!”

 

Are you planning a special meal or romantic night at home this year?

 

“My husband loves my meatloaf,” said mommycosm. “I don’t make it often b/c the kids don’t love it and the leftovers usually go to waste. Maybe I can make him a mini-one … [but] we have pizza once a week. I would love to find a frozen pizza we all enjoy.”

 

Jen Parsons “loved the idea of ‘no distractions’ night; no TV, no phones, etc.” – so you can keep the focus on each other.

 

Stacy Uncorked said that she and her husband “usually snuggle on the couch and watch a movie together.”

 

LZ also keeps it low-key, with “early bedtime for the kids, dinner together *at the table*, fire, movie” – while ThisFullHouse approaches romance with a “no jeans, no sweatshirt policy.”

 

Emily suggested mixing things up by using “a different room in the house for dinner – so setting up a picnic on the coffee table with candlelight, or even just turning off all the kitchen lights and eating only by candlelight.”

 

 

And thinking outside the box, Shannon Ott said, “We like to play travel games in bed… like Yahtzee, etc…. it’s a lot of fun.”

 

How to maintain a romantic mood if you can’t go out or get the kids out of the house for the evening?  MomConfessional suggested, “Put the kids to bed early or occupy them with a movie to get some alone time.”

 

Any Valentine’s traditions to share?

 

Dagmar and her husband avoid the day (and crowds at the restaurants) altogether – “it’s just too busy. We try to get out a night or so after that.”

 

On the other hand, Melanie Feehan and her family indulge themselves a little: “We always have chocolate pancakes on Valentine’s morning. It’s the one time of year that we go a little overboard on the sweet stuff.”

 

“I love making everything into hearts,” added Charlene. “Making the bread of sandwiches into hearts, mustard in the shape of a heart on a sandwich, heart pancakes for breakfast, cutting strawberries into little hearts.”

 

For Joey Fortman, it’s less about the food and more about how the food is served!  She said, “A few years back I bought these cute plates from Target, and ever since then I put them away, but bring them out on Valentine’s Day.”

 

JodiG noted that the fun isn’t always just at home – her daycare “has an all-red food party – strawberries, jello, cranberry juice, etc. So fun!”

 

And Melissa brought it home with romance, saying, “We always drink champagne out of the toasting glasses from our wedding!”

 

Tips for a romantic evening at home from Dr. Oetker

 

– Don’t just heat up the kitchen—start a fire or light candles to set the mood

 

– Find the perfect wine pairing for your Dr. Oetker Ristorante pizza

 

– Turn off all unnecessary distractions, which means no TV or texting at the table

 

– Break out the fine china and a tablecloth to create a fine dining atmosphere

 

– Dress up just like you would for a fancy restaurant

 

– Set the stage for romance with a soundtrack for the evening

 

– Adjust lighting to help create a relaxing and romantic mood

 

– Dust off your dancing shoes and make your living room a dance floor

 

– End the night with a decadent Italian dessert, preferably one you can share

 

– Let the night unfold and enjoy the special occasion

 

More about Dr. Oetker

 

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Dr. Oetker, it is a fifth-generation family-run business headquartered in Germany.

 

On finding out that the Dr. Oetker pizza in the U.S. will be made with the same ingredients that it is made with in Germany, co-host Dagmar (who grew up in Germany), said, “That is so great to know and makes them the No. 1 choice for me then. That’s one thing about German products I can get here that I love — I can always count on the best ingredients in them because things in Germany are just in general made more healthy/nutritional.”

 

Dr. Oetker Ristorante pizza is Italy’s #1 frozen pizza and sells in more than 30 countries.

 

Ristorante pizza is available in 6 varieties throughout much of the Northeastern U.S. and features fresh, high-quality ingredients on a thin crispy crust. Priced from $4.99 to $5.99, Ristorante provides Italian restaurant style pizza taste without restaurant style prices.

 

Dr. Oetker Ristorante pizza is available at Roche Bros., Shaws, Giant, Weis, Shur Fine, Stop and Shop, ShopRite, Big Y, Foodtown, King Kullen and Market Basket.  You can look up locations here: http://www.oetker.us/en/faq/wheretobuy

 

For more information, visit www.oetker.us

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62152

 

 

Cooking with Loved Ones

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On February 9, 2011, TheMotherhood hosted its third Cooking Connections virtual class, covering Cooking with Loved Ones Across the Country.

 

Led by Vera Sweeney of Lady and the Blog and her husband, Bill, and sponsored by ConAgra Foods, the class created a great deal of excitement and buzz as women got sociable on the topic of social media and cooking.

 

Sharing your cooking online

 

“Have you ever taken a picture of the food you cooked and then tweeted or emailed out to friends / family?” Vera asked the group, kicking off the discussion of virtual cooking. “I LOVE to do this! I try to post a recipe a week on my blog.”

 

Most participants agreed that they also enjoy sharing photos of their cooking.

 

“I blog about food A LOT (4 times per week), so there aren’t too many meals that go back without taking a picture,” said participant Cookin Canuck. “Downside – sometimes the meals aren’t as hot as they should be!”

 

Co-host Zareen, Cooking with Z, agreed, “I do this all the time for my blog.  I just got a new camera so my pics are so much better already. Now I just need a class to learn to use it better and a little lighting studio.”

 

For tips on taking great pictures of food, check out the link that Vera shared from her interview with a food photographer: http://www.ladyandtheblog.com/2010/12/07/food-styling-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-your-food/

 

And what about Skype?

 

Sharing photos is a fun way to display the end results of your cooking, but if you’re in a jam and need to ask someone for help – say, your mother who lives 200 miles away – Skype seems like the perfect way to get a visual demonstration.

 

“I have a friend who taught me how to bake my first cake on Skype,” said participant Nivedita.

 

Added TidyMom, “I have several foodie friends on Skype … so I often run to Skype when I have a recipe ‘issue’ in the middle of cooking.”

 

And Kayla S has used Skype “with my Grammy.  She’s my idol when it comes to cooking, so I did it once when I knew she was on and we chatted while I cooked.”

 

For most of the other participants, using Skype for cooking was a new idea – but “I would TOTALLY do it for cooking help!” commented participant htothe3. “Why not?”

 

Google or Cookbooks? Tradition struggles with technology

 

Although most participants admitted they often turn to the Internet for recipes and inspiration, many of them still own and buy traditional cookbooks.

 

“I need a cookbook intervention!” said participant Cookin’ Canuck. “I have a big bookcase for them and it’s packed.”

 

“I love cookbooks of authentic cuisine,” said co-host Kate, Kate in the Kitchen. “I don’t buy popular cookbooks, or flash in the pan offerings. I like classic ones, books that will stand the test of time and still be relevant.”

 

Co-host Whitney, Mommies with Style, agreed that she loves using cookbooks, “but have to admit I do most of my recipe searching online … I also tear out recipes from magazines and put them into a 3-ring binder I have for recipes.”

 

On the other hand, “Everything is online,” said co-host Victoria, 24/7 Victoria, “Or there is an APP for it, so I tend to lean that way.”

 

Cooking with the ones you love

 

It’s always a lot of fun to cook and share the fruits of your labor with loved ones online through photos and video – but what about the loved ones who live nearby?  They get to enjoy the real thing, and if you’re lucky, they’ll help you prep.

 

Co-host Sarah, Sarah’s Cucina Bella, cooked with her daughter the afternoon of the class. “I asked her if she wanted to help with a recipe I was working on and she was in the kitchen right away.”

 

“My kids” helped me cook last week, said co-host Nancy, The Product Mama.  “We made whole wheat pizzas.”

 

Along with their kids, members of the group had cooked with their husbands or mothers most recently.

 

Others found creative ways to share their cooking. “Love to call up friends and invite them to bring their leftovers to our house,” said co-host Jennifer, Savor the Thyme. “They can eat our leftover, we eat theirs but fresh to each family. It is like a lazy potluck!”

 

Eating with the ones you love

 

Beyond cooking, a number of people shared traditions from their family tables.

 

“We go around the table and say one good thing that happened that day,” said co-host Audrey, Mom Generations.

 

Participant Kelly added, “When the boys were little we held hands, said grace, then squeezed hands around the table.”

 

Vera’s family “always toast and say ‘cheers’ before we eat! Kids love it.”

 

Recipes

 

Vera shared some great recipes, including this one for mini huevos rancheros, which includes Hunt’s tomatoes: http://imusausa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=108&Itemid=21

 

From Ready Set Eat, the ConAgra recipe resource site, a great recipe for an easy slow cooker pot roast: http://www.readyseteat.com/recipes-Easy-Slow-Cooker-Pot-Roast-5242.html

 

For more slow cooker recipes: http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

 

Also from Ready Set Eat, a Chicken Rotini Toss: http://www.readyseteat.com/recipes-Chicken-Rotini-Toss-2289.html

 

The food section of Vera’s blog, Lady and the Blog:  http://www.ladyandtheblog.com/category/eat/inside-the-kitchen/

 

 

A BIG thanks to our fabulous host, Vera Sweeney, Lady and Blog, and these amazing co-hosts:

 

Audrey, Mom Generations

Whitney, Mommies with Style

Colleen, Classy Mommy

Melissa, Married My Sugar Daddy

Victoria, 24/7 Victoria

Nancy, The Product Mama

Jennifer, Savoring the Thyme

Zareen, Cooking with Z

Kate, Kate in the Kitchen

Sarah, Sarah’s Cucina Bella

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62132

The Nine Rooms of Happiness: Loving Yourself, Finding Your Purpose, and Getting Over Life’s Little Imperfections

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Why is it that no matter how great things might be going in our lives, we will focus on the one thing that isn’t?
When issues nag at us (I’m too heavy; my friend didn’t call back; my daughter isn’t focusing in school; etc.), the discontent can affect our whole lives.
Lucy Danziger, editor-in-chief of Self magazine, and women’s health psychiatrist Catherine Birndorf, M.D. led a conversation in The Motherhood to get at this phenomenon and talk about ways of overcoming it and becoming happier.
Lucy and Catherine’s book, The Nine Rooms of Happiness: Loving Yourself, Finding Your Purpose, and Getting Over Life’s Little Imperfections looks at happiness in terms of nine rooms in a house – love and intimacy (the bedroom), friends (the living room), body image and health (the bathroom), etc.
Following are the highlights of the conversation.

 

What makes you happy?

 

Said co-host Jennifer James, “Chocolate frosted mini wheats. I can’t keep my hand out of the box. Help!”

 

And participant Brandie added, “The piano tuner just left. Before he left he played for us. Absolutely beautiful. And unexpected. Loved it!”

 

“It is ALL about the simple pleasures,” co-host Christine Koh concluded. “On my personal blog, I’ve started reflecting weekly on gratitude… all the little things, plus the big ones too.”

 

What makes you unhappy?

 

On the flip side, Lucy asked everyone to share what was making them unhappy, when everything should be going well.  Comments flooded in: cold weather, sick kids, unfinished projects, feeling overscheduled…

 

“Work!” said participant Glennia. “My job is in utter chaos … The chaos spills over into other aspects of my life too often.”

 

In dealing with stress at work, Lucy told the group first to think about the good things, and then “think about what you want to change.  We say in TNROH that ‘Not to decide is to decide,’ which essentially means if you’re STAYING with a job there is a reason … But we also say: Go or GROW … meaning go along with the status quo or take a leap of faith and a risk and grow into the next thing.”

 

But there are other common stressors.  Co-host Nicole Feliciano, Momtrends, struck a chord with everyone when she said, “An overpacked schedule makes me unhappy.  Is this the price of being a mom and a business owner?”

 

Responded Lucy, “You ARE busy and you wish you had more time for you. When you can, try to schedule in an hour JUST FOR YOU! … You’ll feel centered and more equipped to cope.”

 

As a general rule, she added, “I know it’s easy to let the exterior things get you down. We can find the happiest part of what is going right, and make THAT the thing that brings everything else UP.”

 

Going back to the house, said Catherine, “Once you identify your main problems, you can organize them into rooms … like if it’s an issue feeling intimate with your husband, you’re in the bedroom. Or if it’s the fear of how you are going to balance your work now that you have a newborn, it’s the office. The rooms of the house help keep it in perspective … at least organizationally, so you don’t get overwhelmed.”

 

Learning to say “no” and shake off anxiety

 

Living an overscheduled life undoubtedly can be a factor in generating stress and making us feel more anxious.

 

To deal with overscheduling, Lucy advised, “what we all have to be better at is learning to say YES to what we love in life, and what we need to say NO to that is depleting and destructive to our health and happiness.”

 

For existing anxiety, the Talk participants all had their own ways of coping.

 

Co-host Momtrends springs into action. “What are the things I can work on? … Getting organized always makes me feel less anxious.”

 

Others preferred methods of calming themselves.  JamieMKE turns to “Prayer. Slow breathing. Reminding myself that everything will be okay.”

 

Deborah strikes a balance: “I walk it out. And talk to my husband. I’m really beginning to believe that meditation works. I paint and journal a lot.”

 

Catherine advised, “Anxiety can be a normal part of daily life, but it can also be too much at times, making us feel nutty. I agree that getting organized can really help. Also identifying people or resources that can help you. And if you still find that you just can’t relax and this anxiety is infiltrating your life, think about talking to a good friend or confidant about it. It’s often a great first step in trying to see what’s at the core. If you can’t or want to keep it more private, consider seeing a professional. No shame in seeking therapy!”

 

The 10th room: recharge your batteries

 

And in Lucy and Catherine’s metaphorical nine-room house of happiness, there is a secret: a 10th room for that essential “me time.”

 

Or, as participant Glennia called it, “a mom cave.”

 

Catherine noted that we all need “a place or space where you can sanction your ‘down time’ … the place (metaphysically speaking) you can go to think, be, recharge.”

 

And don’t let it make you feel guilty.  “The rest of the world will still be waiting for you when you emerge,” Lucy pointed out. “But YOU will feel so much stronger and happier.”

 

“I love to start my day with prayer, a great workout, a delicious breakfast, and some hot coffee!” said participant JamieMKE. “These things help me feel invigorated!”

 

“The days where I start out with something just for me (e.g., yoga), I am more focused and energized and happy through the rest of the day,” agreed co-host Christine.

 

 

Letting go of perfection

 

One root of anxiety many participants struggled with was the idea of being “perfect,” and how to let go of that desire for perfection.

 

“It’s not easy for any of us!” said Catherine. “That’s for sure. But not all 9 rooms in the house need to be neat and tidy emotionally to find pleasure in what IS going right in your life.”

 

Lucy pointed out, “The real goal is to be happier, or content, or feel gratitude, even when the little messes exist around you. Not to let those rob your overall emotional well being. That there are messes is just reality, a part of life. Being happy despite the messes is the point.”

 

Christine, a former scientist, suggested “collecting data. As in, you experiment with things not being perfect and you see that it works out OK in the end. That has helped me a lot in my letting go journey.”

 

To learn more and buy the book to help you on your own journey toward happiness, visit The Nine Rooms of Happiness website, http://www.ninerooms.com.

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62125

Cinderella Ate My Daughter

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When it comes to marketing to young girls going through a “princess phase,” there is only one color that matters anymore: pink.  In her new book, “Cinderella Ate My Daughter,” Peggy Orenstein argues that this commercialized princess stage is unnatural and asks if all of the pink is really necessary.

 

Peggy joined us in TheMotherhood to talk about her book and the effects princess culture can have on raising our daughters.  You can read the entire fascinating and insightful conversation here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62126

 

“What disturbed me most was that girls were being encouraged at an increasingly younger age to define themselves through appearance and play-sexiness, that the marketing had just gotten very, very intense towards 3-5 year olds,” Peggy commented.  “I’m not saying that if you wave a magic wand at 2 you’re going to be sexting at 13, but parents really need to understand the arc of what’s being marketed to girls.”

 

From Snow White to Snooki

 

Going beyond fairy-tale princesses, participant Morra wondered how real-life “princesses” on reality TV shows such as “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and the “Real Housewives” might affect girlie-girl culture.

 

“I don’t want any of those reality TV stars to ever be role models for my girls,” replied Brandie. “I want them to understand that even reality TV isn’t reality. It worries me.”

 

Added Peggy, “What you’re talking about is the performance culture that we live in, how everything is externalized, everything is about what you have and how you look rather than about character and deed.  And ultimately there IS a link there, it IS a concern, even if they aren’t watching Snooki.”

 

Co-host Vera concluded, “I think this conversation just emphasizes the point that parents need to be more involved. Television has spiraled out of control, and families need to start having the right conversations again. Maybe 15 years ago that wasn’t the case…. but we were watching Family Ties and not the Kardashians back then.”

 

Getting parents out of princess mode

 

Participant Mimi pointed out that “society throws it out there and so many families gobble it up, it becomes the norm. We become the strange ones who want our girls to be little girls and not mini 20-somethings. It’s hard to stop a speeding train!”

 

So how to slow down that train?  “It really needs to be a community education effort,” said Peggy. “Because otherwise you continue to have this pressure that all the ‘other girls are doing it.’ And you start to feel your child is going to be excluded, and that doesn’t feel good, so there is a lot of pressure, expectations, etc., that come into play.”

 

Agreed co-host MommyWords, “I think there is pressure even in pre-school [for kids] to assert their gender. It causes a lot of stress to little boys and girls who are not ‘feeling’ the pink or blue or dress up or cars thing.”

 

And that’s where support from Mom and Dad is invaluable to children.

 

Putting the emphasis on inner beauty

 

Parents and experts have long analyzed Barbie’s distorted proportions and the doll’s effect on little girls’ body image.  Less discussion has centered on Disney princesses’ measurements.

 

Participant Brandie observed that if you take a ruler to a Disney princess’s cartoon waist and neck, often you will find that they are the same width.  To illustrate her point, she posted this photo of a toddler t-shirt and said, “Notice, the waist is about the size of the neck opening.”

 

 

It falls to parents to combat the influence of society and princesses on children’s perception of beauty.  “When I put my daughter to sleep each night, I tell her – ‘You’re smart. You’re funny. You’re pretty. And you’re mine,’” said Vera. “She absolutely loves it. It’s my little goodnight and I wanted to be sure to show her that it’s not all about beauty. Intelligence and sense of self is also something that should be cherished.”

 

When strangers complimented participant Thienkim’s young daughter on her beauty, Thienkim turned it into a learning experience: “Ever since DD was born, people would stop to tell us how pretty she is. As DD was able to talk, I taught her to respond to these strangers with, ‘I’m smart too!’ It was fun to watch them backpedal after that. Now that she’s 5, we talk about how beauty is in the heart, not how you look. She totally gets it.”

 

Participants also discussed the way their own parents’ negative comments about their appearance had influenced their own self-esteem and made them determined to give their kids positive reinforcement.

 

Peggy said, “It does make you realize the impact our comments have. And I ALWAYS tell moms, Do. NOT. Comment. On. Your. Own. Weight. Period. It’s hard. I know I have to bite it back. But I do NOT comment on my weight in front of my daughter. Or hers. Or anyone’s. If she says something about someone being fat – and they will – I just say people come in different shapes and sizes and we emphasize HEALTH, not appearance.”

 

How princesses affect girls’ perception of love

 

Given the pervasive marketing of princess culture to young girls, co-host Nicole Perrino asked for opinions about what effect it might have on their relationships as they grew older: “Does she feel the need to always have a ‘prince charming’ rather than focus on her own goals and ambitions?”

 

Responded participant Deborah, “I think it gets tied in with romance and all that jazz. Girls that need saving and bad boys that can be changed by love.”

 

Brandie tells her girls, “true love is not someone riding in on a white horse to carry you off. True love is a partner who will help you do laundry, who will sit with you when you are sick, who will ask what you want and not just say for you. True love comes out in little acts every single day, and if you are waiting for that big white horse to carry you off scene, you might just miss it.”

 

Peggy noted that we’ve gotten carried away with the notion of fairy-tale romances. “You can now get Disney Princess wedding dresses. For grown ups. I mean you can get married in a ‘Cinderella’ wedding dress or whatever. I am personally waiting for the rollout of the Snow White coffin so you can be a princess from womb to tomb!”

 

What to take away

 

Peggy said, “Part of why I wrote this book was exactly to start the conversation” – like the one we’ve had in TheMotherhood, but on a nationwide scale. “I was thinking about the ways that Fast Food Nation and Omnivore’s Dilemma started conversations about what we feed our kids. Fifteen years ago, who knew about trans fats? Now we avoid them and made snack makers remove them from our kids’ food. This is about nutrition too, what we feed our kids’ heads and hearts, so I really believe that by bringing it out, talking about it, even disagreeing about it, we can make some change.”

 

Interesting Links

 

On NPR: Some researchers are saying that girly-girl culture may even be causing our daughters to be sick: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/02/03/133371076/how-keeping-little-girls-squeaky-clean-could-make-them-sick?print=1

 

About a new film, Miss Representation, which “explores women’s under-representation in positions of power by challenging the limited and often disparaging portrayal of women in the media”: http://www.missrepresentation.org/about.html

 

Peggy and “Cinderella Ate My Daughter” in Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/26/disney-princesses-and-the-battle-for-your-daughter-s-soul.html

 

Peggy on The Diane Rehm Show: http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-01-27/peggy-orenstein-cinderella-ate-my-daughter

 

NY Times book review of “Cinderella Ate My Daughter”: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/post/show/id/484184

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62126