Matchy, Matchy

I love watching You Tube videos, as mentioned in previous blogs. Whether it be useful or questionable information, it’s entertaining at the very least. One type of video that’s prevalent addresses organizing the home. The number of videos on this topic is only outnumbered by the scores of organizational bins, boxes, bags and what-have-you, color-coded to the contents of the holder with matching tags dangling from a piece of jute. You breathe easily while gazing at the row of baskets lined up on the shelves and close the cupboard door with a gentle sigh, knowing everything is in its place.

There has been quite an evolution in storing our things. Not so long ago we used to take an unused box and write on it with a marker. As the contents changed, the title would be scratched out and a new one written underneath. A real go-getter would wrap the boxes in pretty wrapping paper. With the proliferation of home delivery services, our homes are flooded with cartons of all sizes that could be put into use at a significant cost savings over buying containers. Plus, they’re all the same warm brown, if monochromatic schemes are desired. Landfills would be slightly less mountainous.

Regardless of the type of container used to store things, is it necessary to have row upon row of them in our cupboards, refrigerator, garage, and basement? Is there no room for simply placing something neatly on the shelf in it’s original, non-matching box? I’m not anti-organization or containers and have a secret love for boxes of all stripes. It’s only with great effort my cart, physical or online, isn’t filled with the cutest, most useful storage bins available. Boxes that come to the doorstep are carefully evaluated for their next possible purpose before being recycled. But. Do containers have to match and march across the shelf? Is there something wrong with free-range cereals and crackers?

It’s so interesting to see food products transferred (the current term is decanted, which is a word I thought was reserved for wine storage) from a clearly labeled box and put into a container. In case you don’t recognize the contents, the bin is labeled. Same for a variety of cookies or crackers. I don’t know, they seem to stack easily in the cupboard in their original cartons and the nutrition label is readily available for handy reference.

One blogger uses uniform jars to store herbs and spices. They fit into a drawer next to the stove, which is really useful. Contents are clearly marked and it looks like she never has something like olive oil on her fingers when she grabs the oregano for a quick shake. She also has a bin in the cupboard with the original bottles and herbs that wouldn’t fit into the smaller bottle. So now, she’s using up twice the real estate. That wouldn’t work in a kitchen where space is at a premium.

The explosion of storage bins, tags, and decorative container covers (the front of the bin has a pretty piece of paper hiding what’s inside so you see a homogeneous image with labels in matching fonts) has spawned a thriving business for crafters large and small, as well as the general marketplace. Some of you may have wandered the aisles of houseware stores imagining how your cupboards would look if you employed a few containers. The cost of a cupboard renovation could be prohibitive, but you can economize by spending $1.25 per item at the Dollar Tree on baskets of all shapes and sizes.

Admittedly, there is something satisfying about having drawers and cupboards organized. Calming, even. You’re not scrabbling through detritus trying to find that binder clip or sock that escaped its mate. The time saved in such pursuits adds up by the end of the week. Also, when you take time to sort through a disorganized drawer, you find there are a surprising number of items you don’t need, forgot you had, or maybe there are duplicates. Those are probably things that could be sold/gifted online or simply dumpstered if there’s no life left to them.

Personally, my drawers/closets/cupboards have always been pretty well organized but I’ve benefitted from watching a variety of videos. My containers and dividers are an eclectic mix of boxes, handmade dividers, inexpensive bins (many from my days as a teacher and still colorfully decorated with errant marker swipes or smelling of Crayolas), and ready-made separators. Corralling things has been my focus versus aiming for a uniform presentation when the cupboard door is opened.

Whatever your approach to organization, there’s no lack of ideas or bins to make quick work of finding those running socks or curry for tonight’s dinner. Free-range or otherwise, you’re covered and containered!

Recipe of the Week: A tip, versus a recipe. If you don’t already have an Instant Pot, you might want to consider getting one. I have three, by accident (too long a story to tell right now), and have found myself using all three when hosting a crowd. Two 6 quart pots are only for vegetables/vegetarian purposes. The 8 quart pot is for meats. The time saved when cooking vegetables, is crazy. There’s no watching for boiling water, stirring while cooking, or worrying whether or not the item is done. If you don’t know how long to cook something, just Google it. I recently typed in “beets in ip” and found 18 minutes worked like a charm. Yes, it takes a few minutes for the pot to come to pressure and that time is added to the cook time, but who cares? I’m working on another food item while that’s happening. I have to say, the vegetables really taste so much better than being steamed or boiled on the stove. While I often roast veggies, a rival to what comes out of the pot, I don’t always have space in the oven for that. There’s a 3 quart pot as well, I believe, if the 6 quart seems too large for you. Here are some cook times/”recipes” for a few favs: Green beans – 2 min. on high pressure and then quick release. Basmati rice – 1 C rice and 1 C water, 6 min. on high pressure and then 10 min. natural release. Broccoli – 2 min. on high pressure and then quick release (so sweet tasting cooked this way).

Tip of the Week: Get yourself some chalkboard vinyl and write yourself handy reminders (shameless plug: I do make/sell them along with the chalk marker. Contact me if you’d like a few; three is usually enough). They’re removeable and useful as messages can be wiped off and modified as needed. I stick them to the inside of cupboards here and there.

Onward and upwards into Fall!