Back to the Basics

Even though our home is without a television, the internet, specifically www.hulu.com has enabled my reality television guilty pleasure to continue. I am fascinated by The Biggest Loser and have always loved design and makeover shows. Even as a young child, Trading Spaces, an old TLC show captivated me during breakfast after Swim Team in the summers. There are not as many shows available since it is summer and with a one year old, there is not exactly time to watch marathons of FOX. But, Henry was sick a few weeks back and all he wanted to do was sleep on me while I sat on the couch. To pass the time, I searched Hulu for a show to watch. "Hell's Kitchen" showed up as a "show I might like," as the website helps introduce you to new shows based on what you have previously watched. At first, the cheesy intro and the cursing of the host, Gordon Ramsay, turned me off from the show. But, it was about cooking and that I loved. With not much else to watch and a very sick baby, I gave in and watched three seasons in one week. Gordon Ramsay is an extraordinary chef with many successful restuarants. In a new show, called "Master Chef," he allows amateur home chefs to compete for $250,000 and their own cookbook. There were many stay at home moms but also construction workers, lawyers, doctors, and college students competing. I thought to myself for a minute...maybe I could do that. I have catered events, cooked for my family, and I love reading recipes. I am adventurous in the kitchen and have a basic knowlege of food, I told myself. Then their second challenge threw me for a loop. It was basic - chop onions. Make one bowl of sliced onions and one bowl of chopped. Simple? Yes. Terrifying? Yes. I know I chop onions incorrectly because I cry every time. I realized that learning some basic technique would be good for me, probably good for all of us. Here is Chef Ramsay's youtube video on "How to Chop an Onion" if you want to learn.

Happy Chopping!

Keeping House

A friend, who I deeply admire, asked me for advice on “keeping a home.” She has run a successful business, is married, and now raising two beautiful children. There are so many things that I admire about her – her food philosophy, her kindness and patience with her children, her passion for sharing everything she learns – so I was honored when she asked me for advice. I do, though, enjoy a clean home. Growing up in the south, we still had hired help to assist my mother in keeping our home given its size and her busy schedule. My brother and I always had to pick up before Esther came to clean. I did not understand that until I was married and cared for my own home. There is a certain level of “pick up” that must happen before any deep cleaning can take place. I think the “pick up” phase of cleaning is what my friend admires about my home. I will admit, I am not that great of a deep cleaner. I loathe cleaning bathrooms and have only made it around the baseboards twice this year. But, neatness and order are high values of mine when managing a home. Managing is the key word here and what I shared with my friend. It is a daily commitment to keep your home refreshing for you and available for anyone who might enter. Now, this does not mean I am cleaning and picking up every room all the time just for remote idea that someone will walk through the door and judge my home management skills. It is for me, for my family, and for my desire to always have a welcoming home. When my son is done playing and it is time for a nap, we clean up together. When dinner is over and it is finally time to relax, well, I wash the dishes and tidy the kitchen, mostly because for me, it is so refreshing to walk into a clean kitchen come the morning. It is the exact moment that you don’t feel like making the bed, putting the dishes away, or picking up toys that I suggest that you do it.