IN MY KITCHEN - August 2024

Welcome to the August edition of In My Kitchen hosted by Sherry at Sherry's Pickings. I'm happy to invite you into my kitchen once again to see some what has found its way out of my kitchen. That's right!!! This past month, I've been doing some de-cluttering in my kitchen. 

I have an Alexa with a screen in my kitchen, so I'm able to watch Youtube (and Netflix) while I'm working in My Kitchen. 

I watch a de-cluttering Youtube video while I de-clutter and organize and it's like having a personal coach working alongside of me and coaching me. 

 Listening to their (Youtube video's) advice, I have removed and given away many items. I could have had a yard sale, but I decided it was too much work for too little profit-so I donated everything to charity (my adult kids don't want it).

For example : The video suggest: 

• If it was a gift but you never liked it or used it, don't feel obligated to keep it. 

 I had a pitcher that I got for a shower gift (53 years ago). It was very pretty, but very heavy so consequently I hardly ever used it. I finally decided after 53 years of not using it, to GET RID OF IT or Give it Away !! Actually, when I took the picture, I noticed it is very tarnished and pitted and won't come off.. 

• They suggest : If you haven't used it in 5 years, toss it or donate it or sell it.  
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  I have pyrex and Corning Ware for baking casseroles.  I tend to gravitate to the pyrex and truthfully haven't used the Corning Ware in way over 5 years. It felt great to get rid of it by donating it to a local charity shop.. 

• If you have doubles or triples of something, just keep one .  

I had 5 potato peelers (why?), 3 wine bottle openers, 3 hand graters, 4 melon ballers (why??) and a really overly stuffed drawer. I decided to donate to charity 3 of the potato peelers, 1 wine bottle opener, 1 grater, and 2 melon ballers. (the pizza cutters will have to go too) Whew! so much more room in my kitchen drawer. 

Have not used cookie cutters in many years!
This I only a few, I had lots more. All bagged to donate! 

A pile of these lovely melamine outdoor serving platters are going too. I just don't entertain the way I used to, and this summer the heat has been prohibitive to even sit outside. 

Their (the de-clutter mavens on Youtube's) motto: 

The more you have, the more you must keep organized and more work for you!! 

One of the concepts talked about on many of the videos was the idea the more you have, the more you have to take care of and the more you have to keep organized and stress over. 

I just don't use 5 potato peelers!! I kept one extra in case one breaks. Same with the wine bottle openers, the graters, and the melon ballers.  Just cleaning out those 4 items opened up a lot of space in my drawer. 

I ended de-cluttering many other items as well, and ended up with 3 large bags + a box and some loose items that I still need to bag before donating from my kitchen to charity. The items are things I will not miss. 

I feel so much better starting to de-clutter!!

 plant-based soups cookbook (affiliate link to Amazon)

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My Cookbook contains over 80 healthy soup recipes and 80 inspirational quotes and time saving cooking tips to help encourage, guide, and inspire readers to reach a greater level of wellness. plant-based soups cookbook (affiliate link) on Amazon with a "look inside" option to see all the recipe titles and introduction.