How-To

Maximize Your Family Time

Now as much as ever, close family ties can make a significant impact on young lives. Constantly emerging technology sometimes limits personal interaction, while many school-age children experience unprecedented stress levels. Building strong connections with trusted adults can give kids a sense of security and a better foundation for achieving their potential. Make spending time together a priority with these engaging activity ideas that allow the whole family to get in on the fun. Plan a Movie or Game Night Kids thrive on routines and clear expectations, so a regular special event like a movie or game night can give them something to anticipate each week. Watching TV at home may not be a novelty, but you can make it an occasion to celebrate by adding special touches like dimming the lights to mimic a theater, pulling out cozy blankets and preparing popcorn or other treats. If you opt for game night instead, keep the enthusiasm strong week after week by creating long-range tournaments or allowing kids to rotate game selection privileges. Read Together Sharing books together not only creates an opportunity for bonding, it’s a way to give your child an academic boost outside the classroom. Studies show that daily reading promotes literacy, helps kids build their vocabulary and improves overall academic achievement. Also, the benefits don’t end with elementary-age children. Parents can connect with older kids through books that carry important lessons about life and relationships. Reading books individually then coming together to discuss them, similar to a book club, can provide the chance for thoughtful talks about difficult topics.  Cook Meals Together Eating together is a goal for many families, but preparing meals together takes those benefits even further. Engaging kids in meal preparation creates a sense of cooperation and instills pride for a successful project. It’s also a chance to share family traditions and pass on recipes that have traveled through generations. Enjoy a Craft Day Kids need the chance to let their imaginations soar, and arts and crafts projects can provide the perfect outlet for creative expression. An art session may be as simple as enlisting everyone’s help to make decorations for an upcoming event. Another thoughtful way to channel all that creative energy: have little artists make cards to deliver to a local senior or retirement community. For more life hacks, ideas and inspiration follow our Facebook page  For product information website

Spring Cleaning 101: 5 Steps to Deep Clean Your Oven

From bubbled over sauces to burnt cheese, your oven is the canvas for all kinds of spills and splatters. Ovens seem to present the most anxiety when it comes to cleaning kitchen appliance. With the right knowledge and basic tools, oven cleaning doesn’t have to be an overwhelming chore.  So, what is the best way to clean an oven? In the spirit of spring cleaning we have a two safe, natural, and effective methods to get the job done.  How to Clean the Oven: What You Need: Baking soda Water Rubber gloves Magic Eraser Damp dish cloth Spray bottle White vinegar Essential Oil (Optional) STEP ONE: Empty the oven, remove your oven racks, pizza stone, oven thermometer, and anything else you have inside the oven. Set aside. STEP TWO: Start by vacuuming out the dirt, dust, crumbs, and debris. You can use the vacuum hose, or if that feels too powerful, try the crevice attachment. How to clean with Baking Soda  Make a baking soda paste. This is a timelessly classic way to clean your oven. With a little elbow grease your oven will sparkle like new again. In a small bowl, mix a 1/2 cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of water. If you’re adding any essential oils, 2-3 drops will be sufficient, but add more if desired. Adjust the ratio of both baking soda and water as needed until you have a spreadable paste. Distribute the mixture throughout the interior of the oven, except for the heating elements.   Let mixture sit overnight in the oven for at least 12 hours. The following day, spread vinegar over the surface and allow it to react with the paste, which will make the debris much easier to scrub off.   How to DIY Steam Clean with Water and Vinegar Place a large oven-proof dish, filled with a solution of water and White Vinegar on your bottom rack, then heat your oven to 350°. Bring this solution to a boil.  Turn off the oven and let it cool.  Open the doors and spray the inside with a solution made of water and vinegar and allow this mixture to sit for 30 minutes. Once the oven has completely cooled down, wipe away all food residue. STEP FOUR: Soak racks in dishwashing liquid for a few hours, scrub with a scouring pad, and then rinse well and dry.  If racks need heavy-duty cleaning, apply the paste. Note* Only use stainless steel racks; baking soda can discolor aluminum.  STEP FIVE: Use a magic eraser to easily wipe away grease on your oven glass.  Are you due for a brand new oven?  If your oven is on it’s last legs and cleaning it just won’t do the trick- Cosmo Appliances has a premium selection of wall ovens that are easy to clean and maintain with self cleaning feature.   Making Your Home Appliances Brand New Again With the right cleaning method you can have your oven appliance sparkle like new again. Just remember to always consult the instruction manual with each of your appliances. Although vinegar and other mild detergents are generally safe on appliances, there are always some exceptions to the rule. For more recipes, ideas and inspiration follow our Facebook page. For product information visit our website.

Stuck-at-Home Easy Meal Hacks

Not sure what’s for dinner tonight? You’re not alone.  After weeks on lockdown and exhausting your favorite go-to meals you’re probably working extra hard to be creative in the kitchen. Even if you’re stuck at home your meals don’t have to be boring, with a little meal planning your family can enjoy healthy, flavorful meals during the coronavirus quarantine. More cooking can also mean more time spent preparing meals so innovation and technology can make meal prep easier, and kitchen hacks like turning to ready-to-heat meals that take just minutes can enhance your productivity. Consider these simple ways to rethink your dinner routine in an effort to create more moments with loved ones: Look for recipes with as few ingredients as possible. Dishes that include longer ingredient lists typically require more legwork in the kitchen, which usually involves additional prep steps and sometimes longer cook times. Plus, you’re more likely to already have the necessities on-hand for recipes that call for 5-10 ingredients rather than lengthy lists.   Buy pre-cut vegetables to trim time spent on prep work. One of the processes that can surprisingly consume more time than you realize is cutting, chopping and dicing veggies prior to even really diving into a recipe’s instructions. If you’d still prefer prepping your own fresh produce, try completing your work the night before when it doesn’t interfere with quality time spent with family.   Meal kits certainly save time in the store, but be careful to avoid options that still include a lot of prep and cleanup. Focus on frozen kits that contain pre-chopped and measured ingredients that are ready to go.   Stock your pantry with the basics to make cooking quicker and easier. From condiments and canned goods to seasonings and spices, keeping the essentials on-hand means less time scrambling for a quick run to the store and more moments spent at home.   For one of the ultimate comfort foods that’s simple to make, try thischeesy baked potato casserole. Stock Up on Pantry Essentials Running to the store every other day isn’t an option when you’re on lock down, so try to keep your pantry stocked with non-perishables that are often necessary in a variety of meals. Seasonings and spices (salt, pepper, dried herbs, cumin, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, etc.) Canned goods (tomatoes, beans, corn, broth, cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, etc.) Grains (flour, pastas, breadcrumbs, rolled oats, instant rice, etc.) Condiments and oils (olive oil, canola oil, ketchup, mustard, vinegars, barbecue sauce, butter, cooking wines, etc.)

6 Things You Didn’t Know You Can Clean in Your Dishwasher

Despite being one of the best kitchen inventions ever! the dishwasher has long been an underrated kitchen appliance. There’re more things you can wash in it than just cereal bowls, coffee mugs and forks.  The dishwasher with all its capabilities will wash just about anything, like magic! Obviously, there are some things you should never put in the dishwasher, but there are a lot of items you probably never thought of washing in it either. The dishwasher is so handy, especially when spring cleaning. You can really save time while giving your household items a thorough clean. Things you can clean in a dishwasher: Art Supplies  You can wash your art brushes, paint bowls, watercolor palettes, placemats, and other art supplies right in the dishwasher. Make sure you scrape any old paint and rinse them before tossing in the dishwasher. Home Decor  Vases, decorative pottery, light fixtures, candles and oil lamps can easily be cleaned in the dishwasher. Use the top rack for most things except the heavier items. Avoid chipping delicate figurines and anything with gold or silver gilt.  Bathroom Accessories Save yourself some time from scrubbing and sanitizing bathroom accessories caked with soap scum and hard water stains. Put items like soap dishes and toothbrush holders on the top rack for an easy clean. Kitchen Tools  Most kitchen exhaust fans have a washable filter to capture grease and cooking odors and keep the air clean. Put the filter and any removable covers in the dishwasher for degreasing. Remove food residue and bacteria from silicone oven mitts, microwave turntables, and refrigerator shelving and bins. Each time you run a load of dishes add your kitchen sponges and scrubbing brushes.  Kids Toys  Your kids toys have probably been everywhere, dragged across the floor and left outside before finding their way into your kid’s mouth so throw those plastic toys and building blocks in the dishwasher. Small pieces should be placed in a mesh bag or box on the top rack for easy cleaning.  Tools and Car Accessories   Place tools in utensil holder, but avoid those that are electrical, battery operated or with wooden handles.  Run your ca or house keys throw a cycle if they get grimy. You will be amazed how clean hubcaps get after a hot water cycle. 

Spring Cleaning 101: 5 Tips for Quick Pantry Organization

Circumstances may have you feeling overwhelmed with a lot of cans and dry goods you wouldn’t normally be dealing with all at once. Conquer your clutter with these five easy tips from Cosmo Appliances to help organize your pantry. Utilize the Door The backs of your pantry doors may all be dead space. If you’ve got a gap between door and shelving, consider hanging a wire rack with smaller items that otherwise get easily lost or shuffled to the back. Stack Food Containers If you can never find the matching lids to your Tupperware, this one’s for you! Take five minutes to organize your storage containers by size on the shelf, then make a vertical rack to store the matching lids.  (Have a lid for a container that’s MIA? you have our permission to repurpose it or get rid of it. We won’t tell anyone.) Sort by Category Keeping shelves to a theme can help you find things faster. Group your granola bars, and stash your salty snacks together so they’re easy to find when you have a craving Cycle your shelves As you’re buying new boxed goods, take the extra second as you’re putting away groceries to pull the oldest boxes forward, and put the new box behind them. That way you’re not left with expired food. Hang it up If you have wire shelving in your pantry, you can use hooks and chip clips to hang up small items and lightweight bagged goods, freeing up shelf space, and, as a bonus, keeping you from accidentally crushing your chips. We hope these tips help you keep your pantry feeling fresh!  For more recipes, tips and ideas, visit us at cosmoappliances.com, and like our Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/cosmokitchenproducts

An Hour a Day for Your Sanity

Tips for Self-Care During Difficult Times There are things you can do right now for your well-being if you’re isolating at home. It’s easy to get lost in all the noise from what is going on, whether you’re over-consuming on the news or scrolling through social media a little too much. Remember  it’s important that you preserve some sense of normalcy. Getting up and doing what you usually do will positively affect your mental health. But, more than just that self- care should be at the top of your list of priorities. Why self-care? because long-periods of isolation have been linked to serious mental health issues. So this is a time to get creative about self-care while you’re forced to be at home. Just one hour a day for self-care can make a big impact on your mental, emotional and overall health. Let’s talk about the power of an hour! In 60 minutes or less  you can improve your well-being. Divide your self-care routine by devoting : 20 minutes to your mind. 20 minutes to your body. 20 minutes to your soul. Start by choosing three activities from the list below, or  add your own activities that you love and find enjoyable. Time yourself  and do each activity for 20 minutes. LIST OF ACTIVITIES MIND Meditation Read a book Learn a language Journal your thoughts or emotions Create a vision board Draw or paint a picture Take a power nap BODY YouTube yoga  or workout Dance Sit in the Sun At-home spa Eat something sweet (sugar triggers those ” happy” hormones) Breath-work exercise Walk in nature Eat a healthy snack Drink a green smoothie SOUL Listen to an inspirational podcast Talk to someone you love Watch a TED talk Start a DIY or passion project Recite positive self-affirmations Practice gratitude Spend time in nature Sing You deserve to take a little “me” time especially in this moment of uncertainty and all the challenges that come with being in quarantine. Make the most of your power-hour.  Remember to take a break from watching the news and get support from your community. We are in this together! Be well and stay safe. Leave a comment and let us know what you are doing to stay sane.

Spring Cleaning 101: 6 Easy Steps to Clean Your Refrigerator

Spring cleaning your refrigerator is about more than tossing old stuff and restocking it with fresh food. There’s more involved than just that, you’ll need to deodorize and disinfect, then take steps to ensure your refrigerator runs well and use less energy. Follow these 6 simple steps to clear it out, clean it up and restock the fridge. Gather your Supplies: Here’s what you’ll need Old towel for floor Bucket  Baking soda   Paper towels or rags  Sponges, dishcloths or rags Toothbrush  Multi-purpose surface spray Cooler Trash bags Vacuum Turn Off the Refrigerator To conserve energy it’s a good idea to turn your refrigerator off unless you have removable shelves and you’re good about keeping the door shut, then it’s okay to keep it plugged in. It’s safer to have the fridge unplugged when dusting the coils and cleaning the drip pan. If you can’t easily move the fridge or access the plug, turn off the circuit breaker that serves the refrigerator.  Empty the Refrigerator  The refrigerator completely of all items. Put any perishables like milk and meat in a cooler and leave other items on the counter. Do not leave food out for more than an hour. Go through the contents of your refrigerator and remove all expired or spoiled food. Compost old produce and recycle containers when possible. Clean the Removable Refrigerator Parts Take out all the removable shelves, drawers and door inserts; you can clean them more thoroughly when they’re outside the fridge, and this gives you better access to clean the inside of the refrigerator. Mix fragrance-free dish soap with warm water in the sink. Wash the items with a dish soap sponge, as you would hand-wash dishes. Once the removable parts are washed make sure they are completely dry before putting them back in place. Clean the Inside The good news is there’s a variety of cleaning solutions you can use to clean the interior of the fridge. While the choices for what you can clean with are flexible, we recommend making your solution instead of a harsh cleaning spray. You can use baking soda and water mix (1 tablespoon of baking powder per cup of water) or a mild soap and water mix to wash the counters and bins. Thoroughly wash the built-in fixtures, the bottom of the fridge, and be sure you get in the cracks. An old toothbrush is handy for the nooks and crannies. Wipe the inside of the freezer just as you did in the fridge. Wash ice cube trays and replace the ice with fresh water. Thin rags are great for cleaning the rubber seal around the door- one of the grimiest areas of the fridge where crumbs and debris end up. Clean the Outside The exterior of your fridge use microfiber cloths to clean, they’re great at eliminating the streaks and fingerprints on stainless steel. Carefully pull the fridge out from the wall, then vacuum the coils to remove dust that’s collected. Keeping your coils dirt-free can help your fridge run better. If your fridge has a drip tray, remove it and clean it like you did the shelves and place it back. Refrigerator Cleaning Hacks To absorb odors, keep a box of open baking soda in the fridge — don’t forget to replace it every one to three months. Wipe stainless steel in the direction of the grain. Clean your fridge right before a big grocery shop.Clean shelves and drawers in the dishwasher. Tell us: Do you do spring cleaning?

Four Irish Recipes to Celebrate St. Patty’s Day

From hearty stews to minty pies, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are all about enjoying the flavors of the holiday. Whether you’re cooking up a feast or simply serving appetizers, this Irish Potato Bread is a simple, tasty snack to feed your guests. Irish Potato Bread INGREDIENTS 2 medium or large russet potatoes 1 egg 1 egg white 1/3 cup canola oil 3/4 cup milk 2 tablespoons green onion, minced 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for dusting and kneading 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt DIRECTIONS Heat oven to 375° F. Peel potatoes. Slice one potato and boil in saucepan 15 minutes, or until tender. Remove potato from saucepan into large bowl. Mash potato then set aside. Grate second potato onto cloth. Wring potato in cloth to remove excess water. Add grated potato to mashed potato in large bowl. Add egg, egg white, oil, milk, onion, caraway seeds, 3 1/4 cups flour, baking powder and salt. Stir with wooden spoon until mixture is soft and sticky. Turn dough onto floured surface. Adding flour as needed, knead dough to form 8-inch round shape with slight dome. Place dough onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cut large “X” on top of dough about 1/2 inch deep. Bake 55 minutes until golden brown. Cool on wire rack 1 hour before serving.   Irish Beef Stew As most stews go, this is a humble and forgiving recipe. Add your favorite root vegetables and serve with mashed potatoes. Serves 6. INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 3 pounds beef chuck, excess fat trimmed, cut in 1 1/2 inch pieces Salt Freshly ground black pepper 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1/3 cup tomato paste 2 cups beef stock 1 1/2 cups stout beer 2 teaspoons dried thyme 2 bay leaves 3 large carrots, sliced 1/4-inch thick 1 large yellow onion, cut in 1-inch pieces 1 large rutabaga, cut in 3/4-inch pieces 1 large parsnip, cut in 3/4-inch pieces DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 325 F. (170 C.) Heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat in an oven-proof pot or Dutch oven. Season the beef all over with salt and pepper. Add beef in batches to pot in one layer, without overcrowding. Brown on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining beef. Return beef to pot and add the garlic. Sauté 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook stirring, one minute. Add stock, beer, thyme, bay leaves, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. The meat should be just covered with liquid. If not, add additional stock or beer to cover. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Transfer pot to oven. Bake until meat is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. While the meat is cooking heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a deep skillet or large pot over medium heat. Add vegetables and lightly sprinkle with salt. Sauté the vegetables until they brighten in color and begin to take on a golden hue, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove beef from oven. Skim any fat on the surface of the liquid with a spoon. Add vegetables to the beef, stirring to combine. Return beef to the oven, uncovered. Bake one hour, stirring once or twice, until the sauce is slightly reduced, the vegetables are tender and the meat is fork-tender. Remove and taste for seasoning. Serve hot with mashed potatoes. Source:http://gardenandtable.net Irish Pub Nachos If there’s one thing the Irish, it’s how to celebrate with good food. These potato based nachos feature some of your favorite toppings, making them perfect for sharing at any get together. INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 lbs russet potatoes, scrubbed and sliced into quarter inch coins 2 tbsp olive oil 1/2 tsp dried rosemary leaves scant 1/2 tsp ground thyme salt and pepper, to taste 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 5 slices thick cut bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled sour cream, or Greek yogurt, to taste pico de gallo, to taste 2 green onions, thinly sliced optional 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro leaves DIRECTIONS Make sure you’ve washed and scrubbed your potatoes. Use a clean dish towel to dry up any of the excess moisture. Use a sharp knife to slice them into 1/4 inch thick coins. Add the potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle them with olive oil. Add in the seasonings–rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Use a spatula to toss them to coat, gently but until all the spices and oil are evenly covering all the potatoes. On a large, rimmed baking sheet place the potatoes out in an even, single layer. Drizzle any remnants from the bowl evenly out over top. Bake the potatoes at 450 degrees for 20 minutes, flip the potatoes oven, and then return them to the oven to bake for a final 20 minutes. Let the potatoes cool just enough to safely handle. Transfer them to a flat cast iron pan, with the edges slightly overlapping in a spiral pattern. Spread the cheese and bacon out evenly over top. Bake another 4 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Remove the skillet from the oven and let the potatoes rest for a minute. Serve these nachos with a scoop of sour cream in the center, a dollop of pico, and with green onions or cilantro sprinkled over top. Source : https://bit.ly/2V4lSv1 Luck o’ the Irish Mint Pie Even if you’re not Irish, a green treat like this Luck o’ the Irish Mint Pie can get you and your guests into the festive spirit. With enough seasonal flavor to go around, this recipe makes two pies, so be sure to cut every leprechaun a generous portion. Watch this video to see how to make this yummy recipe! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWHRRApG2qw&feature=emb_title Makes: 2 pies (9 inches each) INGREDIENTS  3 3/4 cups heavy whipped cream, divided 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 1/4 cups, plus 2 tablespoons, powdered sugar, divided 5 drops green food coloring 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided 1/4 teaspoon mint extract 1 bag mint chocolate candies, chopped, divided 2  chocolate cookie crusts (9 inches each) 1 bag mint

The Ultimate Kitchen Spring Cleaning To-Do List

Spring is here! Warmer weather, longer days, and thanks to that extra dose of Vitamin-D we’re feeling more energetic. It’s the perfect time for some spring cleaning and we’re ready to make our homes sparkle and shine! The kitchen is one room in the house that gets messy fast, and since it’s our favorite room, that’s where we’ll start our spring refresh.  Here’s a simple deep cleaning step-by-step routine for the kitchen.  Having an order in which to clean your kitchen makes getting the job done much simpler and faster. Everything seems easier when you have a plan. PRE-CLEAN: Wash, dry and put dirty dishes  away any. Quickly clear counter tops and wipe clean. Clear any clutter that does not belong in the kitchen. Determine if you need new kitchen supplies. Clean under the sink and eliminate the unnecessary. Clean and organize plastic ware and storage containers.  GATHER KITCHEN CLEANING MATERIALS Get all of your kitchen cleaning materials so you have everything on hand. Running around looking for cleaning supplies e.g. cloths, sponges etc. wastes time. Here’s a list of suggested items you might need:  Sponges.  Cleaning cloths.  Gloves.  Toothbrush.  All-purpose, non-abrasive cleaner.  Stainless steel cleaner, if you have stainless steel appliances.  Glass cleaner.  Lysol wipes.  Caddy or basket for cleaning supplies.  Telescoping duster.  Steam mop or conventional mop and bucket.  Vacuum or broom and dustpan  Empty basket or box. PANTRY When you’re getting things organized in the kitchen the pantry is one area that needs some special attention. To begin, check labels and toss expired, stale and empty items also, go through and top up old herbs and spices. Consider donating unopened items that you won’t use before they expire.  Wipe down all shelves with soapy water or kitchen cleaner. After wiping down the shelves, create a separate area for open items, arrange like items together with the oldest items in front; newest in back.  MICROWAVE  Simply, place a bowl filled with water and slices of lemon into the microwave and heat for 5 minutes. The lemon water boils like a sauna, loosening up all the caked on bits. The inside of your microwave gets dirty with splatters and splashes but cleaning it is “easy peasy lemon squeezy” with this cleaning hack. THE FRIDGE Like the Pantry, the refrigerator gets filled up quickly so first thing to do is go through the contents of your refrigerator and remove all expired or spoiled food. Wipe down the shelves with a soft rag and a non-abrasive all-purpose cleaning agent. Work from top to bottom. Place the crisper drawer in the sink to soak, if you need to. If not, just wipe it out and replace it. For a deep clean, unplug the fridge, pull it out, sweep and mop.   Finish with a new box of baking soda stuffed in the back.  STOVETOP No kitchen spring clean is complete if you don’t tackle the stovetop.  Using a dry cloth, brush loose crumbs to the ground. Remove the grates, if your stove has them, and wipe the stovetop with a non-abrasive cleaning agent. OTHER APPLIANCES Clean and/or polish exterior of dishwasher.   For the interior of your oven follow the manufacturer’s instructions to run self-cleaning cycle, if you don’t have this feature Baking soda and vinegar will do the trick. Then clean and polish the exterior of oven. Don’t forget to clean your small countertop appliances, e.g. coffee maker, toaster and toaster oven. CLEAN SINK, COUNTERTOP & CABINETS Free counter space is hard real estate to come by, especially in a smaller kitchen, so get rid of all the clutter from countertops first; try to get them as clear as possible, including countertop appliances. Only keep items out that you  use regularly.  Spray countertops with kitchen cleaner and wipe them clean. Tip! to make granite shine you can use glass cleaner. Wipe down cabinet exteriors and polish wood cabinet doors with furniture polish. Remember to clean inside cabinets and drawers, they tend to gather dust and crumbs. FLOORS Start by removing any movable furniture, then sweep the entire floor. Spot clean sticky or dirty areas with stains. Mop the floor with a heavy duty floor cleaner or use a solution of equal parts vinegar and hot water. The vinegar acts as a natural disinfectant and odor remover. THE WALLS Wipe down the walls, determine if the walls need spot washing in dirty spots don’t forget to clean air vents, doorknobs, doors, and switch plates. DUST Use a telescoping duster and dust the entire kitchen, starting up high and working your way down. Don’t forget light fixtures, the top of cabinets and the fridge. LINENS You may regularly launder your dish towels, but things like runners, oven mitts, and aprons get overlooked, so this is a good opportunity to throw them in the washing machine. GARBAGE DISPOSAL This spot is generally full of germs and can emit all sorts of odors! Give it a thorough flush with hot water, ice cubes, and lemon peels. THE SINK  Fill your sink with hot soapy water and pour in 1 cup bleach. Let stand for about an hour, then empty and scrub clean using a paste made from water and baking soda. Rinse well. EMPTY TRASH Finally, wipe down the outside of the bin and lid. Lysol wipes are excellent for this purpose. Place a fresh garbage bag in the bin. FINAL TOUCHES  You’re all done! Your kitchen is spotless and boy, does it sparkle!  Now add pretty touches with these quick and easy fresh Spring decor ideas. Because kitchen countertops are already at a premium to make the most of your décor, use a tray or cake stand to display smaller decorative items.  Remember to include soft spring colors and fruit & flowers of the season are perfect counter pieces.  We like fresh flowers and greenery because they look amazing on a kitchen counter. Other decorative pieces we like are wooden cutting boards,  you can lean them against your backsplash or stack them under decorative pieces.

Put Your Convection Oven to the Test with These Delicious Recipes

If you’re trying to figure out how best to cook with your convection oven, we’ve got some helpful advice and delicious recipes to get you started. Cooking Tips: Cooking simple dishes (like cookies) or shorter cooking times, lower the expected temperature by 10-15 percent. Cooking complex dishes (like roasts) that require a lot of time, lower the temperature by as much as 30 percent. Convection is good for: Roasting ham, turkey, roast-ready beef cuts, and similar meats Roasting vegetables and potatoes for an extra crisp Cookies and muffins—especially when you have a big batch to bake at once.  Pies and pastry Casseroles—when covered they won’t lose much moisture. Toasting breads or buns   Maple Balsamic Roasted Vegetables Vegetables roasted with rosemary and olive oil, then finished with a drizzle of maple balsamic reduction. These vegetables are a must for your next dinner party. Prep Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes Recipe by foodnessgracious Ingredients 1 1/2 pounds whole thin rainbow carrots 1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes peeled chopped into 1 inch cubes 2 small red onions cut into thick chunks 1/2 pound rutabagas peeled and diced 1 1/2 pounds parsnips peeled and sliced thinly 1/3 cup olive oil 2 tsp sea salt 2 tsp black pepper 1 tsp fresh chopped rosemary 1 1/2 tbsp dry herb de provence 1 cup maple syrup 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar Instructions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl combine all of the vegetables. Add the oil, salt, pepper, herbs and rosemary and toss to coat well. Place the vegetables on a large roasting pan or two baking sheets, making sure they are all level and not on top of one another. Place in the oven and cook for about 45 minutes, checking that the point of a sharp knife spears the vegetables easily. When the vegetables are cooking in the oven, place the maple syrup and balsamic vinegar in a pan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer slowly until it has reduced by about half and is nice and thick. Once the vegetables are ready, lightly drizzle some of the syrup over them and return to the oven for 5 more minutes. Serve warm or store in the refrigerator until ready to use. HOMEMADE ROTISSERIE CHICKEN  Who loves Rotisserie Chicken? just about everyone. Rotisserie Chicken is so tasty, juicy, convenient, and it’s just the recipe you need to keep in your arsenal.Chicken rotisserie marinade 4+ pound Whole chicken .5 bottle lemon juice .25 cup white wine .25 cup extra virgin olive oil Chicken rotisserie rub 1 tablespoon Honey 3 tbsp unsalted butter 1/4 cup brown sugar 4 tsp garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 1/4 teaspoon dried basil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Marinade instructions Clean cavity of whole chicken, wash and pat dry. Combine all marinade ingredients and mix. Pour into a large freezer bag and add the whole chicken. Refrigerate for 4-6 hours. Rub instructions Remove chicken from the marinade. Melt the butter and honey in the microwave and mix. Evenly brush the butter and honey mixture on and inside the chicken. Mix all of the dry ingredients and apply it to the entire chicken. Tuck wings underneath chicken and truss the legs together with twine. Run rotisserie rod through the cavity of chicken and insert the rotisserie forks into the skin of the chicken. At 350 degrees F, a whole chicken takes about 20 to 30 minutes per pound to cook. Therefore, a 4-pound chicken should take 1:20 – 2 hours to cook. Use a meat thermometer to test the internal temperature. When chicken reaches 175 to 180 degree F, it is done. Old Meatloaf  Perfect the preparation of a meatloaf by combining  conventional and convection oven performance for the perfect meatloaf dish.  Prep Time: 45 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes Recipe by Scott Basye  Ingredients 1 cup fresh bread crumbs(soft white bread) 1/3 cup milk 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck (85/15) 1/2 pound ground pork (not lean) 2 tablespoons butter 1 large onion, diced 2 celery stalks, diced 1 medium carrot, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 cup creme fraiche 2 eggs, beaten 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder 1 teaspoon paprika 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 6 slices bacon 1 cup ketchup 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg Instructions Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small bowl place bread crumbs and drizzle the milk over the top. Set aside. Melt the butter in a large skillet, add the onion, celery and carrot. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables are soft, but not browned. Add garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat, scrape into a small bowl and allow to cool to room temperature (about ten minutes). In another bowl, whisk together the beaten eggs, creme fraiche and Worcestershire sauce. In a large bowl place the beef and pork, add the breadcrumb mixture, vegetables, egg mixture and the rest of the ingredients except the bacon, ketchup, brown sugar and mustard. Use your hands to thoroughly combine the meatloaf ingredients and then place into an large ovenproof baking dish. Lay five strips of bacon lengthwise over meatloaf; cut the remaining bacon strip in half and place at each end of loaf. Place in oven and set timer for 45 minutes. Meanwhile combine Ketchup, Brown Sugar, Mustard and Nutmeg and set aside. At the end of 45 minutes, set oven to convection and cook meatloaf for another 15 minutes. When completed, remove meatloaf from oven and pour or brush glaze all over the surface of the bacon (it’s ok if some drizzles down into the pan). Place back in over and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the glaze is bubbling. Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Serve! Huevos Rancheros Bake This is a flavorful dish that checks all the boxes for a  yummy weekend brunch, or a breakfast-for-dinner moment.  Prep Time: 35 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes Recipe by Tablespoon Kitchens Ingredients