Today dawned dark, gloomy and rainy. I decided to make a batch of our favourite banana chocolate chip muffins, but only had 2 over-ripe bananas in my freezer instead of the necessary 3... So I found a can of pumpkin in my cupboard that I bought back in the fall when I was inspired to make all things pumpkin-y (but never followed through), googled a muffin recipe that called for canned pumpkin and we were in business.
I was nervous about opening this can of pumpkin after my run-in with an evil can of tomatoes last week. My (inferior) can opener has a hard time opening these larger cans - leaving me to pry them open with a knife. Ugh. My stomach is turning just remembering how my hand slipped and blood was everywhere... blah.
I debated going to a clinic. They may not have given me stitches, but at the very least, some of that fancy glue stuff they use these days. But I decided to just brave it out at home.
I feel like such a baby, but this little cut has totally affected my quality of life.
Thankfully, I opened the pumpkin without incident.
Silas was being his usual, helpful self.
Keziah did the mixing.
Meanwhile, I stared into my spice cupboard and wondered if there was any way to make it more organized so I don't have to take every single thing out when I'm trying to find the nutmeg.
Waiting for the muffin-y goodness.
Mmmm. Pumpkin muffins for a rainy day.
But, then there's the aftermath.
From the muffin-making, and from dinner with company last night that I didn't feel like cleaning up at 9 pm...
If you're like me, you procrastinate cleaning your kitchen. Also, if you're like me, a dirty kitchen makes you irritable and impatient (a.k.a cranky mommy), unable to focus on small tasks because of the disaster looming on the countertops.
And if you're like me, a clean kitchen makes you feel like you can do... anything! You feel like you can conquer any other cleaning task in the entire house, or like you actually want to do crafts and games and puzzles with the kids on that nice big expanse of free tabletop.
A clean kitchen is... empowering.
Now, if I could only figure out a way to make it stay that way.
12 comments:
Great entry. I totally feel the same way about the kitchen being clean! Glad you had fun this morning!
Andrea
I too feel empowered by a clean kitchen... :)
I love the way you said that Jamie--that's exactly how a clean kitchen makes me feel but I've never been able to articulate it quite like that! Empowered...I like it!
i'm a kitchen-cleaning procrastinator. honestly, i'm just a straight-up procrastinator. those muffins look delicious!
I hear ya about the clean kitchen. And the spices too. Ryan just installed a mini lazy susan in a corner cupboard for the spices I use most often. I love it. The rest are in a box (like your grey ones in the picture).
Yes, I would say "empowered" is exactly what a clean kitchen makes me feel! No better feeling.
If you figure out the secret to having it stay that way forever... please send me the memo! ;)
cute post. I was hoping you managed to come up with a recipe for banana pumpkin muffins! Oh, and for the spice organizing ... you're off to a great start with that Taco Seasoning!
Amen. I completly relate. It's nice to know I am not the only one whose emotions can so easily revolve around the state of my kitchen!
And I can also relate to your unfortunate can-opening episode. Out here, most of the cans have that tab on top where you flip it and then try to pull the top off, and a couple months ago my hand slipped and I sliced my pinkie. I also chose the "brave-it-out" route, but I still can't open a can without wincing - bleck!
I also love a clean kitchen and pumpkin muffins! And I, too, procrastinate with doing the dishes after hosting company :)
I reiterate the above :) I got these awesome little wire stacking shelves from wal mart, if you don't do epicure, if you know someone with the jars, you can soak them in hot, soapy water and the labels fall off. I then fill them up with my "bag" spices and re-label them with nice, white labels. I know its anal, but I love being able to see all my spices :)
That's a great idea Joc - if only I had saved all my baby food jars all these years...
Oh Jamie. I feel along with you!!!! I have so much to say about this post and the posts before it! I haven't been to your blog in weeks and coming here makes me remember our fun visit in summer. And it makes me MISS YOU!! xoxo
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