Doing a little today ...

... to make tomorrow a little easier!

We're just so off this week, between sick kids, tired parents and off-track schedules. But I still want to do some fun things for the feast day tomorrow, so when I had a quiet moment this afternoon, I grabbed the materials for our Martinmas Lantern ...

... and I set out the ingredients for our traditional St. Martin's Day "horseshoe" cookies.

Having these few simple steps done ahead, really help me make things happen. When I think about how I fit in those little seasonal things we do (the nature celebrations and the faith-at-home fun), so much of it happens thanks to a little thinking - and sometimes doing - ahead.

I learned this habit from my grandmother, actually, who was, among many things, a wonderful homemaker. She was also one of the most organized people I've ever known. Every morning, once her kitchen was clean and before she got on with her day, she'd set out the materials she needed for preparing the evening meal - including a recipe card set squarely in the baking dish or mixing bowl. As a child I loved to see the counter all set up in this way  - it made me feel happy and secure. :)

I find I often do something like that myself now. Usually around lunchtime when I'm working in the kitchen - getting the boys their lunch and neatening the sink - I'll think about supper and what might make the "making" a little easier. Once my counters are clear, I'll set out the (non-perishable) ingredients and any tools I might need. I'll also hang up the recipe if I'm using one ...

(Much to Bill's chagrin, I use a piece of tape - not great for the wood, and not very fancy, but it keeps it off the counter and right at eye-level.)

I find this all helpful in the practical sense - if I'm pressed for time tomorrow, I'm that much ahead of the game - but also, psychologically. Seeing those items all ready to go give me a sense of satisfaction as well as a little nudge of encouragement.

 So "doing ahead" is a great way to get a head start on any project - whether we're baking cookies, making crafts, or just cooking supper! It's not rocket science, of course, but I think I'll thank myself tomorrow - and I'd like to think my family will too.

:)

Have a great night, my friends ... I'll see you again very soon!

Comments

[Mary]

Hi Dawn,

I also wanted to share that I usually post my favorite recipes on the inside of my kitchen cabinet doors This way, they are always there when I need them. I just open the cabinet and take a peek to refresh my memory.

Also, when I make something new, I post the recipe (yes, using tape...Ack! But love the cork idea!!) inside the cabinet door and then take it down when I'm done and put it in my kitchen journal (if it was a hit! :-) )

Much love,

Mary

[Dawn]

Thank you for your comment, Theresa! It's nice to "meet" you. So glad you enjoy your time here! :)

Blessings,
~ Dawn

[Theresa Korte]

Sometimes it is the little ideas like this that make such a big difference in our lives. I have been rethinking our nightly routines and I can see the benefit of taking a minute in the evening to lay some things out for the next day. Thank you for sharing :)I have never had a chance to tell you how much I enjoy your blog and how inspired I am by it.

[Dawn]

Cork is brilliant, Chrissy! Thanks so much for the tip!

Blessings,
~ Dawn

[Chrissy]

Another great idea I saw was to put cork board inside your cabinet for recipes. I was thinking of doing that myself.

[Dawn]

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions, ladies! And for the very kind thoughts and fond memories, too. :D

Blessings to you all,
~ Dawn

p.s. Margaret - so nice to "see" you here! I hope all is well with your lovely family! :D

[Mary]

Oh Dawn! I just loved this post. This may sound corny...but it made me cry because you brought back memories of my Mom doing the same thing as your grandmother. Yes - it gave me such a sense of hominess and security.

When I first got married, my Mom (who I am blessed to have live about 10 minutes away and is 86!), would call me every morning at 10am and ask me what I was preparing for the "evening meal". I was newly pregnant with morning sickness and the last thing I was thinking about was food. She would say, "Don't worry - I'll be right over!"

She would drive over in her little station wagon (she's only five feet and everything she has seems to be little and cute), come into my kitchen with a handful of groceries, put on an apron, and get to work. She would pop a cassette of Italian music into my "boom box" - dance, cook (she's Northern Italian), and "teach" me about how important it was to take good care of our wonderful husbands by feeding them good home-cooked food. It was so cute and she was so instrumental in helping to get me into a routine. I love her with all my heart.

Also - I wanted to mention - I am a few posts behind as it has been very hectic here the last week but I have loved all your recent posts about shopping and meal planning. I also chuckled - that even though we are probably a good 2000 miles apart - I too, clean out my fridge on Wed. since garbage day is Thurs.! Now when I am cleaning I will think of my sweet friend back East as we clean in solidarity! :-)

As always, thanks so much for all the wonderful information you share. I just love you! And hugs and kisses to EB. Hope he's well soon. He couldn't ask for a better Mom!

Love,

Mary

[Kristie]

This is a habit that I need to work on! I find it hard to muster up the energy to do things once the kids are in bed! What a wonderful gift the role model your gran was for you! And now you are that example for us. =)
For your recipes, I have a standing clip that I use for my recipes. I got it at Kohls a while ago and it is just a stand with a clip on the top that sits on my counter. You have lots of great ideas here, but I wanted to add that on command makes a clip that you could put on the cabinet without maring it. I use them in the pantry for sauce packs.

[Mary]

Dawn, posts like this make me wish you would write a book. Actually, ALL your posts make me wish you would write a book! You are so filled with such helpful, homey advice, and your writer's "voice" is always such a positive and happy one. This blog never ceases to make my day. God bless you, Dawn!

[Jenna]

Loved this post! I also do a lot of prep ahead when I can. I grocery shop on Fri (we have so much sports and stuff on weekends) and then when I get home I either pre cook and freeze meat like hamburger, I will take some and season it with taco seasoning, or even just cook it up with mild seasonings like salt and pepper and then freeze it to throw in soups later in the week, or I wll put steaks, chops, and chicken in a marinade and freeze it that way. :) I also will make up stuff for lunches for hubby that day and freeze the sandwiches etc. so I can just put together his lunches easily. I do a lot with freezer meals,and my crockpot. haha. I had not thought of setting out the stuff on the counter for dinner though. Great idea! Thanks so much for the tips.

[Laura]

I noticed that you have handles on your cabinet like I do, so get a clothespin and pin your recipe to the handle on your cabinet. It does the same thing as the tape without the drawback! I know, my husband feels the same way about it as yours does.

Great advice, too. Thanks!

[Kelli]

I also set everything out in the middle of the day after lunch. Usually I am full then, so I'm not craving some delicious fast-food or eating out item. By laying everything out, its "ready to go" so when my husband gets home we have a harder time rationalizing our craving to eat out, haha.

[Margaret in Minnesota]

If only Google Reader still had a "Share" button...!

This is a lovely post, Dawn--lovely & helpful. I am so thankful for all your little tips along the way because it's the little things that add up to the big ones, isn't it?

Have a blessed feast. :)

[Arlene @At Home with the Grimms]

Hoping your colds are getting better...we have had that pesky visitor here at our house this week too. My hubs and I are just now feeling better...due to Mucinex! (Well my hubs had a McRib and he claims that cured his cold!):) I usually tape things on the inside of my cabinet door. That way I can see the recipe but it does not mess up the outside of the cabinet door. I see that some of the other ladies do that as well. Great minds think alike! Have a good weekend.

[Teresa]

Dawn,
I hang my recipe like you do! But, I have it in a plastic sleeve(page protector) and I use the teacher putty/poster putty to hang it. It doesn't leave grease marks and doesn't take the paint off the cabinet like tape did.
Thank you for sharing about your grandma it made me think of my own. such sweet memories.
Teresa in Ohio

[RuskinDownunder]

Yep, I'm all about 'making the making easier'!

I sometimes put my recipes in a plastic pocket (is that what you call them in the US? I mean this:
http://www.skout.com.au/imgsize.php?h=300&w=500&constrain=1&img=img/products/MBGSHTPRO0001.JPG

They can be hung from the doorknob by a piece of string stuck to the pocket. This also protects your recipe from getting splattered!

[Elizabeth Quigley]

Hi Dawn,
I set my food out on the counter too. That way I can make sure everything gets used up. I brought some Greenroom Note Books at Target tonight. I love the feel of the paper. It is so smooth to write on. I am paper and pen nerd too.
Have a wonderful week end.
Elizabeth

[Tracy]

Hi. Just a thought. Why don't you tape your recipes to the inside of that cabinet door. When it's time to use it, just open the door. Maybe you can save your cabinet. Or, you can do what I do. I use a ponytail holder to hang on the cabinet doorknob , then clip my recipe to the ponytail holder with one of those little clips like you use in your planners. Hard to explain, but I hope it helps!