I’m often asked about favorite kitchen and cooking products, equipment, tools, tips and techniques. Because I adore sharing what I’ve learned and discovered over the years, I’ve decided to post every month about my kitchen favorites. Some months it will be products, tools or equipment and some months I’ll post a video of a specific cooking technique – like pan searing salmon. My sister has begged me to post this one for years.
I’d love for you to join me! If you have a pressing question about a kitchen or cooking product, equipment, tool, cooking technique and the like, I’d love to hear from you. Just leave a comment below and I’ll answer it the next Karista’s Kitchen tips post.
Environmentally friendly cleaning products are a must for me. I’m not keen on the overly scented and heavily colored dish soaps, but I do want a product that actually cleans well. Because you know, I create a little disaster in my kitchen daily. There are several natural brands of dish soap that I like, but Meyer’s dish soap in Lavender is my absolute favorite. It’s delicately scented but cleans the heck out of a skillet. Leaving my hands soft and lightly scented, and my kitchen smelling clean and fresh like a blooming lavender bush in summer.
Several years ago my dear friend Heidi, gave me a beautiful little juice glass filled with a set of measuring spoons to keep on the countertop for quick and easy access. I loved the idea and I’ve used it ever since. Although, I managed to knock the beautiful little glass off the counter to its demise. Now I keep them in one of my handy glass jam jars.
Speaking of glass jars… this is my favorite way to store dried herbs and spices. It makes buying in bulk easy, cost-effective and keeps the herbs and spices fresh. Be sure to rotate your herbs and spices every six months. Which is why buying in bulk is so cost-effective. You can buy as much or as little as you need.
I also store my fresh herbs in these lovely little jars. It feels like a little herbal flower garden on my counter. This works especially well if you are growing your own herbs and end up with an abundance of fresh herbs. I fill my jam or food jars with cold water and then place the fresh herbs in the jar of water. I set them on my counter, on my window sill – or in the frig if it’s super hot outside. This keeps them fresh for a longer period of time. Once they start looking sad and wilted, I place them in a single layer on a lined baking sheet and set them out for a few days to dry. Then pull the dried leaves off the stems and store them in one of those handy glass containers.
There are lots of natural produce cleaners on the market these days. I just happen to have always used Biokleen. It cleans well, leaves no residue and it’s made from grapefruit extract. I can find it in most markets and keep several extra bottles on hand for all that fabulous summer produce.
Delicious Wishes and Loads of Love!
Karista
*This is not a sponsored post. Just a few of my favorite things 🙂
I am loving the sound of that delicious lavender scented dish wash, especially if you can use it in a skillet too! I’m a big fan of white vinegar & bicarb as a multi purpose cleaner, for just about anything! I don’t think my chef’s whites could’ve have survived without a bicarb soak!
Thanks for sharing your favourite things with us 🙂
Oh I so understand the bicarb soak! I do the same with all my kitchen whites. I do love the scent of lavender in most everything. From sweets to braised meat to my laundry and dishes. 🙂 I used to have it growing all over my yard in Seattle. I might be a little obsessive. Lol!