10 Reader-Favourite Meals & Kitchen Hacks

1. Chop and freeze onions

Chop onions within the meals processor or mini chopper, press flat in luggage, and freeze. Then, when a recipe requires chopped onion, you’ve received it. Generally I batch-chop a number of onions without delay.

Frozen onion can go straight from the freezer bag right into a sizzling pan, saving a lot time throughout dinner prep. You may simply break off a piece in case you solely want a bit of bit.

Bonus tip: When my youngsters had been little, they didn’t like massive items of onion, so I chopped them very finely (right here’s the mini chopper I exploit and love).

“That is such an important tip I received from you awhile in the past and have been doing it ever since! Such a time saver!” –Jennifer E.

2. Corral ALLLLLL your water bottles

You realize all these water bottles rattling round in your cabinets or drawers? Get a shoe caddy for the again of a door in your kitchen and cargo it up with your loved ones’s water bottles, drink containers, and thermoses. Now they’re all simple to seek out and set up–and also you’ve freed up severe kitchen cupboard actual property. Right here’s the shoe caddy we use.

“After I noticed you submit this concept, I stole it and it’s life altering!!! Thanks!!”–Barbara L.

3. Set out fruits and veggies

Fruits and veggies in grab-and-eat bowls is a successful technique with my household. Simply put fruits and veggies in little dishes and containers, set them out in a heavy-traffic space, and watch them get eaten! It additionally cleans out the fridge, decreasing wasted meals and cash.

“Because of your suggestion we do that. I used to be skeptical, but when I set it out, it simply disappears!”–Carolyn S.

4. Soak sliced apples in OJ

Right here’s of 1 my youngsters’ favourite lunch field or snack hacks: Thinly slice an apple, then pour both orange juice or the juice of half a lemon + half an orange over it, and toss to coat. The slices gained’t get brown, and the juices infuse the apple with a candy & zingy taste.

These are so good! I introduced some to high school (I’m a instructor) and received my highschool college students hooked!”–Sarah S.

5. Nab a Lil’ Chizler to make use of in all places

This little $2 doo-dad is one among my most-used instruments within the kitchen for scraping dishes and forged iron pans, getting gunk off the counter tops, cleansing the crevice between the range and the counter, and a lot extra. It’s so helpful I’ve gifted it to quite a few associates (sure these are the type of sensible items you get as my buddy). Get your individual Lil’ Chizler.

“I purchased these some time again in your advice and I exploit them for every part! Cooked on eggs from the skillet this weekend, flour that creates that sludge within the sink, the ominous crack beside the range you point out, the buildup across the base of taps, stickers on assorted every part…..The listing is rarely ending. GREAT BUY!”–Beth D.

6. Reduce watermelon into sticks

When you do that, there’s no going again to wedges! Watermelon sticks are easy to chop and simple for little fingers to seize and eat. Bonus tip: Put your watermelon on a reducing board inside a rimmed baking tray to catch all of the juices as you slice it.

“That is the one means we minimize watermelon now!”–Kelly E.

7. “Go halfsies” to chop sugar

Right here’s a straightforward and painless option to minimize sugar: Combine half low-sugar cereal (like plain o’s) + half sweetened cereal (like honey nut o’s). Each chunk remains to be candy, however you’ll considerably cut back added sugar. You too can do that with plain/sweetened yogurt, white/chocolate milk, and extra. See all my halfsies concepts (and the sugar financial savings!) right here.

“Sure!! Because of your advice, we do it for yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, cereal…every part, day-after-day!”–Katie L.

8. Serve a Snack Platter

The Snack Platter has lengthy been my secret weapon at snack time. It’s actually simply common meals. On a plate. But once I announce, “I made a snack platter!” my youngsters are psyched. It additionally makes new or much less acquainted meals extra interesting after they’re alongside previous favorites. Right here’s my snack platter method and why this straightforward plate is so highly effective.

“OMG I attempted this for my 13 yr previous choosy eater for lunch right now. He’s <1% on the burden charts so we have to get him to eat extra. He thought it was ‘cute’ and earlier than I knew it, he’d eaten every part! That by no means occurs.”–Charlene T.

9. Use these bowl covers as a substitute of plastic wrap

I exploit these cute bowl covers ALL. THE. TIME. instead of plastic wrap for proofing bread and pizza dough, storing leftovers, and topping containers with misplaced lids. Once they get soiled, simply hand-wash or machine-wash, dry, and use once more. Get your individual set of bowl covers in a cute print.

“Purchased these due to your advice & love them!”–Amy N.

10. Begin a “Chore Stick” system

All these kitchen and family chores? Share the work by enlisting your youngsters! I began a easy chore stick system a number of years in the past, and it’s been going robust ever since. I select about 4 chores for every child to do based mostly on what’s wanted round the home and set out the sticks on the counter. It’s easy however works higher than some other system I’ve tried. Get the main points on this straightforward chore stick system.

I attempted this over the summer time and it labored fantastically.”–Nicole M.