I know its hard to admit that your not no Martha and no Rachael. Neither am I. I am more like that contestant on Hell's Kitchen that keeps getting yelled at. I am no Martha because I don't do cute,I rarely match anything and I am about as crafty as a snake. (you know since they don't have hands) Yea so metaphors is not my thing either. Anyway point being since being a mom I have found a few things to make life easier. I have lots. These are just a few and more simple ones.
I'm also going to share 5 meals that I almost always have on hand. Cheap,fast yet good!
1. Chicken Alfredo or Kielbasa.
You can go either way.
Cut your meat up into bite size pieces,the kielbasa I usually just cut into half's. Saute, With the chicken I season it. Usually some garlic powder,salt,pepper and minced onion. At the same time have your water on for your pasta. Salt your pasta and if your using fettuccine use olive oil to keep them apart better. And because we are not Rachael Ray you will use jar Alfredo sauce. When pasta is done drain and stir in sauce,then add meat. Ta da. Serve with green beans or some other veggie and you have a meal.
2.Crock pot Chicken
Chicken breasts cut in half if they are thick. 4-6 pieces. Baby carrots,and cut up potato's. Not peeled. Put your veggies in,put some seasonings on, I do celery salt,minced onion,parsley and salt. Top with Chicken gravy then add chicken and season if want then add chicken gravy. Cook for 6-8 hrs on lo. Remember you can mix and match veggies or use a different meat.
3. Beef Pasta (Credit for this goes to my friend Becky)
Ground beef.
Beef Gravy
Egg Noodles
Cook your pasta,brown your beef. I put seasonings in my beef. Drain pasta,add beef and 2 jars of gravy.
4. Cube steak Dinner
Cook your cube steak in crock pot with Ajur gravy and beef gravy on lo for 2-4 hrs. You can cut up if you want, I leave pieces whole. I sometimes add baby carrots. When done serve on top of mashed potatoes,home made or boxed. I always serve with green beans,sometimes I put them on top of cube steak.
5.Veggie pizza!
Pillsbury thin crust,pizza sauce,shredded cheese and veggies of your choice. You know how to make pizza. Only thing I do a little different is I put veggies on before cheese. My kids can't see them well and usually digs in before noticing and by then they like the taste so they continue eating!
Now as you can see these are not fancy! If you want to fancy them up or change something go a head.
6 items I always have on hand:
1-Spaghetti sauce.
2-Pasta
3-Shredded cheese
4-Potato's
5- Cheese
6-Different gravy's
Of course I stay stocked up on veggies,meats and bread. I know money is tight. Thats why I do things pretty simple. I know how to make my own cheese sauce,white sauce etc but its cheaper when I buy a jar.
I also make big things of macaroni salad and potato salad during summer. A fast snack or meal for the kids. Or my whole family.
Now my 4 tips for cleaning and frankly I am not sure your going to like them.
1. I never get behind on laundry and if I do,I do it up. And by that I mean I wash,dry,fold and put away. I have never in the years I have lived on my own folded laundry and had it sit on a couch,table etc while it waited to be put away. If they fall and people step on it,you have made more work for you.
2.Wash your dishes after a meal. Or put the dish washer on. =) Do you sit down for dinner? Then why must you go sit down after dinner? Do your dishes right after,no stuck on food and when your done,your done. You will wake up and not see a huge mess.
3. Wash your walls at-least once a month. Base boards,behind your stove,behind your table,etc. Food splatters. Muddy paws splatter etc. You can wash it down and see the difference for yourself! I am wild about cleaning so I wash my walls down once a week. And I am talking more like in your main living space and kitchen then any other room. Mud room might be a good place too.
4.Keep your fridge clean and leftovers right up front and cleaned out. You tend to eat more if you can see them and know your not going to open one that is moldy. Now even I have opened some and realized YUCK but for the most part my fridge is cleaned out and always clean.
I am a vacuum almost every day,mop 3 times a week maybe more kind of chick. I live on a schedule so I am never behind. And I do thinks quickly. It does not take me a whole weekend to even clean my whole house. I am not behind on anything besides a paint job. I get to have fun because I am not behind. It takes me 30 mins a day to finish my chores,sometimes more if there is a sickness going around or animal cage cleaning days.
Tip of the month from a reader:
"Don't over furniture your rooms. That can make a space smaller and seem too busy which looks messy."
?Raven? Send me your tips! =)
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