Fitting and Cleaning the Kitchen plus a Hearty Meal

Whether we admit it or not, we are all influenced by our work environment. A good working environment is even considered as motivational criteria by some employers. The same thing applies to us homemakers who work on providing a good home and nutritious meal for the family. And so if you ask me, does the kitchen have an effect on how one, particularly the homemaker, performs in it? Then my answer is – I believe yes, it does.

A clean and well organized kitchen can make preparing meals a pleasant experience for moms or any member of the family who attempts to cook. Just like an artist, a cook needs good ambience to inspire the creation of a culinary masterpiece. Fitting your kitchen with the right equipment and furnishings can help you create an inspiring atmosphere for cooking.

The most prominent furniture that you can find in the kitchen is the cabinet. Thus, some careful thought is required in purchasing and fitting these cabinets in your kitchen. You don’t need to blow your budget to get the look you want for your kitchen. There are plenty of cheap kitchen cabinets that are stylish and well designed.

If you are new to this endeavor, then I suggest you consult a designer or do some research on the kitchen styles and layout that you want for your kitchen. Kitchen Cabinet Kings for example, an expert online resource for new kitchen installation and redecorating purposes. If you are simply looking to install or replace your existing cabinets then look for style options that can fit your kitchen, your needs and the ambience you want.

You might opt for wooden cabinets in classic designs combined with modern steel appliances that create a mix of homey traditional feel and cool efficiency of modern times. This type of design allows one to keep a spic and span kitchen that motivates me to do a lot of cooking and baking at home. You should also try to find a kitchen cabinet style that can motivate you to whip up gourmet treats for your loved ones. This way you can create hearty meals for the family that truly comes from your heart. Our kitchen was planned by hubby and customized to fit. I truly love it!

Cleaning the kitchen is another story. I can’t move around well when there’s clutter and when pans and plates are all on top of the countertops. :/ It is much easier to move around when everything is squeaky clean. I try my best to do so and whenever I do I always come up with something good on the plate.

With that and summer vacation fast approaching, it seems to be shaping up as days of a lot of cooking. One of those hearty meal that I enjoy preparing not just for being easy but for being yummy as well is Shrimp and Dried Tomatoes on Pasta.

Here’s my take:

Ingredients

Half a kilo of Spaghetti or Angel hair pasta
Half a kilo of cocktail shrimps or regular shrimps, peeled and deveined and wash thoroughly, dry with kitchen towels
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsps olive oil
5-7 pieces of dried tomatoes, chopped
1/8 cup of dried basil
Seasalt
Parsley, chopped

Procedure

1. Cook pasta al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. In a pan, heat olive oil and saute garlic followed by shrimps. Cook until pink and firm.

3. Add dried tomatoes and dried basil, lower heat. Toss spaghetti in and remove from heat.  Season with seasalt to taste.

4. Top with chopped parsley and serve with buttered baguette.