Three Ways to Add Light to a Rental Kitchen

 As a renter, I don't want to invest in upgrades or harm any surface that will upset the landlord.  But... and that is a big BUT the counter lighting sucks!  

I actually dreaded working in the kitchen which is sad because I like to cook, and the kitchen is the hub of many activities!

I went searching and found 3 awesome ways to light up the areas without investing a lot of money, wireless, (no plugging in) and they can actually come with you if you move.

1.  LED MOTION SENSER STRIP LIGHT

You can actually use these anywhere, such as closets, pantry, stairwells.  They come on automatically and turn off 15 seconds after you walk away.  But I seriously found them awesome for counter lighting.  If you have upper cabinets in your rental kitchen, you simply attach it to underneath and this will light up your work area.  For 35 bucks you get two of them!  Plus they are slim so you can't see them!

Aipolloo LED Motion Sensor Under Cabinet Lighting 2 Pack - 67 LEDs Magnet Closet Lights - Wireless Battery Operated 2500mAh Rechargeable Lighting - Magnetic Kitchen Counter Light - Black- HW40 

 

2. PUCK LIGHTS

These are super cool too.  Especially if you have many areas to light as you get a 6pack.  I personally found the strip lights lit up a larger area, but these would work too and you can spread them around.

LEASTYLE Under Counter Lights for Kitchen，Wireless LED Puck Lights with Remote Control 6 Pack, Under Cabinet Lighting Battery Operated,Steps Lights Indoor, Stick-up Lights Wireless 

 3. CLAMP ON BATTERY LIGHT

 If you have a small area you need to light up, or the table is maybe where you do your prep, then this battery operated clamp on light is a quick fix.  It is also rechargeable!

Desk Lamp Battery Operated Rechargeable Clip On Reading Light 3000mA Light up to 100 hrs Flexible Gooseneck Cordless Dimmable Lamp for Desk Bed Headboard Piano (Black) 

 I was so amazed at how many options there are on the market for lighting that doesn't cost and arm and a leg.

You can get super creative with lighting.  I have all kinds of ideas now!  I personally found the strip lighting will light up a larger area.  It comes with ways to stick them to under the cabinet, but I went with the 3M removable stickers so as not to cause damage if I remove them.  

Although... I am sure your landlord would love for you to leave them behind!  Many kitchens, especially tiny ones, lack enough electrical outlets to cater to more lighting.  I love the place and am happy here, but I realized I will have to get creative if I want to cook anything without slicing my fingers off in a dark corner of the countertop. 

Most wireless options tend to be rechargeable too, so that you don't need to stock piles of batteries, which is awesome from an environmental point of view.

CHANGE THE LOOK OF THE KITCHEN WITH LIGHTING

It is amazing just how you can turn that dark counter in your kitchen into a warm and welcoming area.  Just because we rent doesn't mean we can't personalize these spaces just a little more to make them home!

I hope I have inspired you to get creative!  If you plan on staying in your rental for a while, or even just a few months, make it feel like home.  Lighting is everything especially in the depths of winter.  It creates a warm and welcoming environment.

How to Make the Best Scrambled Eggs

 I love eggs, but was getting bored of using the same ingredients, when I came across this different way to make scrambled eggs, I was hooked!!

Normally you whisk eggs with some milk/cream and seasonings right?

Check this out, give it a try next time to add some awesome flavor and fluffiness!

What you will Need:

• Eggs
• seasonings
• bit of butter (for pan)
• full fat sour cream (approx 1 small dollop for each egg or equal to milk you usually use)

Method:

Step 1 - Whisk the eggs in a bowl (however many you want for your meal)

Step 2 - Whisk in seasonings

Step 3 - Whisk in a small dollop of sour cream for each egg

Step 4 - Melt the butter in the pan

Step 5 - Scramble your eggs as per usual.

The sour cream, especially the full fat sour cream adds a nice tangy creamy taste to the eggs and also seems to make them fluffier.

Yes, I know it the New Year and all kinds of diets are at the top of the list, but let yourself have this treat!  The sour cream along with the protein in the eggs will keep you full for a lot longer, and you will seriously enjoy the taste.

I love eggs but was getting bored of my usual recipes, so I came across this swapping of the milk for the sour cream and thought ... why not give it a go?  

Just thought I would share!

Enjoy!

DIY Mashed Potatoes in the Microwave

 Maybe I have been hiding under a rock, but it never seriously occurred to me to make mashed potatoes in the microwave, or that there are tools available other than the old handy potato masher which requires almost an aerobic workout to mash?

I just tried this way of doing potatoes in the microwave and was seriously impressed.  They are ready within 15 minutes!

You can do these in a bowl with a cover but the best way I have seen yet for uniform cooking is using a resealable bag such as a freezer bag in a single layer.

Check this Out:

3 potatoes, any kind peeled and quartered

1/2 cup of milk or cream (more if you prefer creamier)

Butter (amounts up to you but I used 1/8th of a cup)

Method:

Step 1 - Place your peeled washed and quartered potatoes into the bag in a single layer

don't seal it, leave it open to let steam escape.

Step 2 - Microwave on high for between 9 and 12 minutes (if this is your first time, check on their tenderness half way through and adjust based on your microwave).

Step 3 - At this point you can simply mash with the typical masher or fork or you can use a Potato Ricer (which I didn't even know existed!)  You can check them out below.

If you have a ricer, then you start feeding the potatoes into it and follow instructions, or you can simply use a manual masher.

Step 4 - Add cream/milk and butter

Step 5 - Mash

Step 6 - ENJOY!!

Not sure how well this will tie in with everyone's New Year's Resolutions on dieting etc... but it is nice to know when you are short on time for dinner, there is an option to the oven fries!

NOTE:  I found the bag such as a freezer bag will microwave the potatoes sooner as with a bowl there is the tendency to need stirring part way through to get all the potatoes cooked.  The single layer approach makes a big difference.

Wet Cell Phone - Don't Use Rice - Do This Instead!

 It is hard not to take it personally, when your cell phone takes a nose dive into the only puddle in the parking lot!

But when it does, it is amazing how fast we move to rescue it!  After all, most of our life is now carried on our cell phones, at least mine is anyways!

So what do you do?  

I heard you put it into a bowl of dry rice, but I have been told differently by an expert on just how you should dry out your phone and rice is the LAST resort, due to the dust that gets into the phone to cause other problems.

SILICA GEL PACKS

You know those little packs you get in those new shoe boxes, vitamins and other products that could get damp?  Save them.  Have a jar or baggie just for those silica gel packs, they can save your phone's life.

Steps to Take 

Step 1 - After rescue from water, TURN OFF YOUR PHONE!!.. try to resist poking around to see how it is.

Step 2 - Dry off as much water as you can with clean cloth, paper towel, or whatever you have handy at the moment, until you get home.

Step 3 - Take it out of it's case if you have one, and open the phone and take the sim card out, and lay everything out on a clean absorbent surface when you get home or back to the office.

Step 4 - Place silica gel packs into a bowl and then place your phone gently in the packs so they can get to work absorbing moisture which is exactly what they are designed for.

Step 5 - Leave you sim card to air dry.

Step 6 - Leave your phone for at least 24 hours, try to resist poking at it.

Step 7 - After 24 hours and frantically using a friend's cell phone to call your frequent contacts and family so they no you are not dead and are safe since you didn't answer them... put your phone back together.

Step 8 - Turn it on with fingers crossed.

So far so good!

Someone needs to invent waterproof cell phones, they would make a fortune!!

How to Keep Necklaces and Bracelets Untangled

 My husband over the years has purchased nice necklaces and bracelets for me, and I swear in the middle of the night they decide to party and get tangled.

I still can't quite figure it out, but there you have it.  I was researching affordable ways to store and keep separate my necklaces, as they seem to tangle the most.  I have found a few easy ways that have helped me.

1.  Cling Plastic Wrap

I kid you not!  Cling Saran wrap has saved the day for me many a time.  I usually hang my necklaces on a jewelry tree but they would always get tangled, especially the fine longer chains.

How to use it?

Simply tear off a piece of plastic wrap, lay it flat on the table and then lay your closed necklace on the wrap with part of it out at the top.  Fold up the bottom half of the wrap over your necklace or chain, and it seals easily!  Then hang the chain back up, the wrap stays in place.  

2.  Plastic Straws

Cut the straw to size.  Then unclasp your necklace or chain and slide one half through the straw and then do up the clasp and store.  This works well too.

3.  Tie Rack

I got this from the dollar store.  I attached it to the wall with picture hooks, and then I use the hooks to hang my larger bobbles and chains.  This works like a charm and leaves your jewelry box for your finer stuff.

4.  Small Cute China Tea Cups

Perfect to line on top of your dresser for bracelets.  Use each one for a bracelet or drape the bracelets over the edges.  A kids tea set works well too, check out the local thrift shops for cute china tea cups!

5.  Hanging Jewelry Organizer

If space is at a premium and you don't want to get rid of any pieces, then you can store many pieces in these hanging organizers!  Check out these ones online.

6. Stand Alone Mirror Storage

If you want to invest in something for your necklaces and bracelets as you have many, this is another option you could maybe add to your Christmas List! As i was researching it became quite clear that this could be an issue! I had to move last year and I thought I could simply plop my chains and jewelry into a bag and then into a box and it would get there is one piece!  

Apparently not!  I spent an afternoon with my daughter's help trying to untangle many a chain.  I love having a space for everything.  Tie Rack for the larger bulkier pieces, plastic wrap on the finer pieces in my jewelry box, and bracelets in tea cups!

Have a wonderful day :)

How to Clean a Black Glass Stove Top

 My landlord decided it was time to replace the old stove in the kitchen, and last week a brand new black glass stove top stove showed up and was installed.  Awesome!!  

So what do I instantly do???  

Spill tomato soup onto the top and it bakes in from the heat.  I know you CAN'T use glass cleaner or anything abrasive, but the dish cloth simply was not enough.

I researched ways to do this with homemade cleaner and also researched commercial cleaners and I found the best solution for me.  It all depends on what type of crusty stain you have on your glass stove top, this decides the best way to clean it.

Homemade version:

Equal parts warm water and white vinegar.

Spray on cold stove top and then wipe clean with soft cloth.

This works on smudges and other lightweight staining, but it didn't work on my tomato soup crusty spill.

I tried the expensive cream cleaner that came as a sample with the stove and guess what??  

It didn't work ether and they are expensive!!.

FOR THE NASTY CRUSTY SPILLS...

After much experimenting, researching and a few bucks less in my pocket, I found the perfect product.  

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Original Cleaning Pads with Durafoam, White, 6 Count 

  

Unbelievable!!! and no scratching

It is affordable and can be reused over and over again.

Took it off right away, and no scratches.  I had never used this product before, so I purchased the basic one (you can get them for specific jobs such as bathrooms etc)  I purchased the general one.

You simply rinse it under some warm water and squeeze out the excess and it rubbed off the tomato soup crusty stain like it was nothing!

I was seriously impressed.

I know I try to lean towards homemade cleaners and ideas on this blog, but in this case my messy cooking practices beat the homemade cleaners.

The Homemade Recipe Cleaner is perfect for day to day, but if you need to get out the "big guns"  like I did, then this is one of the most affordable cleaners to keep in your house.

I think it is the type of material that actually takes the stain off, but however it works, this is now my "go to" for glass top spills.

How to Make Poached Eggs

 I love poached eggs, always have, but when I make them, they look like a sloppy mess as the egg whites go everywhere in the water. 

I have tried all kinds of ways, some people like to have the water moving and others not.  But I am here to say that I finally found what works for me and they actually look restaurant worthy!!

Step 1:  Use a non stick pot  (the best advice)

Step 2:  Fill with a couple of inches of water and add a tiny slosh of white vinegar (helps hold things together)

Step 3:  Heat the water without boiling it. (that might be the trickiest part getting to know the stove) You don't want any movement in the water.

Step 4:  Gently crack the eggs and just at the surface let them quietly slip into the water.  Don't drop them from a distance or they will go everywhere!

Step 5:  Let them stay settled in the bottom of the pot for at least 3 minutes (or more depending on the hardness of yolk you like)

Step 6:  With a non stick slotted spoon gently scoop up the egg and drain on the spoon.

 That is it!!!

I was seriously amazed at how well this worked, and how much of the egg I actually got to see!

You can also invest in egg poachers if you prefer or don't have a non stick pot.  

If you love your eggs, and have stayed away from poached because they are finicky ... give this way a try. For some reason I thought the water had to be moving, but for this process, the stiller the better!

Invest in a Decent Egg Timer

I hope you all try this healthier way to eat eggs. 

 Change up those boiled ones and give poached a try and put them on top of whole grain toast and you have a complete meal! You can also grate a little cheese on top for added flavor.  ENJOY!