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 were given it. From time to time I batch-chop a number of onions directly.

Frozen onion can pass immediately from the freezer bag right into a scorching pan, saving such a lot time right through dinner prep. You’ll simply damage off a bit in the event you simplest want a bit of bit.

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

“That is this kind of nice tip I were given from you awhile in the past and feature been doing it ever since! One of these time saver!” –Jennifer E.

2. Corral ALLLLLL your water bottles

You understand all the ones water bottles damn round for your cabinets or drawers? Get a shoe caddy for the again of a door for your kitchen and cargo it up along with your circle of relatives’s water bottles, drink boxes, and thermoses. Now they’re all simple to seek out and arrange–and also you’ve freed up severe kitchen cupboard actual property. Right here’s the shoe caddy we use.

“Once I noticed you submit this concept, I stole it and it’s existence converting!!! Thanks!!”–Barbara L.

3. Set out culmination and veggies

End result and veggies in grab-and-eat bowls is a profitable technique with my circle of relatives. Simply put culmination and veggies in little dishes and boxes, set them out in a high traffic space, and watch them get eaten! It additionally cleans out the refrigerator, lowering wasted meals and cash.

“Thank you for your recommendation 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 children’ favourite lunch field or snack hacks: Thinly slice an apple, then pour both orange juice or the juice of part a lemon + part an orange over it, and toss to coat. The slices received’t get brown, and the juices infuse the apple with a candy & zingy taste.

Those are so just right! I introduced some to college (I’m a trainer) and were given my highschool scholars hooked!”–Sarah S.

5. Nab a Lil’ Chizler to make use of in every single place

This little $2 doo-dad is one among my most-used equipment within the kitchen for scraping dishes and cast-iron pans, getting gunk off the counter tops, cleansing the crevice between the range and the counter, and so a lot more. It’s so helpful I’ve talented it to a lot of buddies (sure the ones are the type of sensible presents you get as my buddy). Get your personal Lil’ Chizler.

“I purchased those some time again in your advice and I take advantage of them for the whole thing! 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 accumulation across the base of taps, stickers on diversified the whole thing…..The listing isn’t finishing. GREAT BUY!”–Beth D.

6. Lower watermelon into sticks

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

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

7. “Move halfsies” to chop sugar

Right here’s a very simple and painless strategy to minimize sugar: Combine part low-sugar cereal (like simple o’s) + part sweetened cereal (like honey nut o’s). Each and every chew continues to be candy, however you’ll considerably cut back added sugar. You’ll additionally do that with simple/sweetened yogurt, white/chocolate milk, and extra. See all my halfsies concepts (and the sugar financial savings!) right here.

“Sure!! Thank you for your advice, we do it for yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, cereal…the whole thing, on a daily basis!”–Katie L.

8. Serve a Snack Platter

The Snack Platter has lengthy been my secret weapon at snack time. It’s in point of fact simply common meals. On a plate. But once I announce, “I made a snack platter!” my children are psyched. It additionally makes new or much less acquainted meals extra interesting after they’re along outdated favorites. Right here’s my snack platter formulation and why this straightforward plate is so tough.

“OMG I attempted this for my 13 yr outdated choosy eater for lunch lately. He’s <1% at the weight charts so we want to get him to consume extra. He idea it used to be ‘adorable’ and ahead of I knew it, he’d eaten the whole thing! That by no means occurs.”–Charlene T.

9. Use those bowl covers as an alternative of plastic wrap

I take advantage of those adorable bowl covers ALL. THE. TIME. instead of plastic wrap for proofing bread and pizza dough, storing leftovers, and topping boxes with misplaced lids. After they get grimy, simply hand-wash or machine-wash, dry, and use once more. Get your personal set of bowl covers in a adorable print.

“Purchased those thank you for your advice & love them!”–Amy N.

10. Get started a “Chore Stick” machine

All the ones kitchen and family chores? Percentage the paintings through enlisting your children! I began a easy chore stick machine a couple of years in the past, and it’s been going sturdy ever since. I make a choice about 4 chores for every child to do in keeping with what’s wanted round the home and set out the sticks at the counter. It’s easy however works higher than another machine I’ve attempted. Get the main points in this easy chore stick machine.

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