From Kitchen Cure-taker jkdmb03, via our Kitchen Cure Flickr pool:
"I wanted something fresh and colorful and food related for the kitchen." Hello, Cure-takers! After a flood of emails and photos in the first few weeks, things have been a little quiet. Nary a peep from you in a few days, so we're sending up a hallo and a flare to see how things are going for you. (Maybe you're so busy scrubbing your kitchens and sharpening your knives you haven't had a moment to check in!) Where are you at in the Cure, and are you feeling good about your progress so far? There are 831 of you signed up — we'd love to hear from you all right here!
Another shot of jkdmb03's new picture: We usually hang seasonal stuff in this spot over the table but this is a good year-round picture that really brightens the space nicely. It's pretty much the first thing you see now when you walk in the door too. Thank you so much to everyone who has sent photos and stories from their Kitchen Cure so far. Your sharing really makes this an inspirational event! Please continue to send us reports and photos as the Cure progresses; we are looking forward to sharing them here.
And if you are struggling to follow along, no worries! The Kitchen Cure is to help YOU get YOUR kitchen in a more pleasant state. We all have dark corners and challenges in our kitchens, and these six weeks are designed to help you get some of those cleared away and also to give you inspiration to start fresh in your cooking for spring. Take what you need and leave the rest. But we'd love to hear from you and see how it's going!
• Send us photos!
• Current Kitchen Cure Assignment: Kitchen Cure Week #4: Cooking Basics and One New Technique
Kitchen Cure 2009 Process
• The week's assignment is posted on Monday - You have a week and a full weekend to get it done before moving onto the next thing.
• Check-in and update is posted on Friday - We'll do a check-in like this one every Friday, so you can see how it's going for everyone and get some inspiration to push you through the weekend.
• Assignment-related posts every day! - Every day we'll post one or two tips, good ideas, or resources to help you complete this week's assignment.
• Flickr Group: 2009 Kitchen Cure - For sharing photos
• Submit your photos and updates directly to The Kitchn - You can also send your photos and updates directly to us. This is the first place we'll look when putting together these check-in posts.
• Kitchen Cure Homepage - You can always access all assignments, check-ins, submission form, tip posts, and the discussion board right here on the Kitchen Cure homepage.
(Image: Flickr member jkdmb03 in the Kitchen Cure Flickr pool)
I’m pretty happy with my progress so far. I’m still working on cleaning and organizing, so I am a week behind, but I feel good about skipping this week’s actual assignment to keep up with the “getting my ducks in a row”. I consider myself pretty proficient in the kitchen. And while that’s not to say that I couldn’t learn something new, challenging myself with new techniques is the norm for me, as is trying to perfect and simplify my kitchen skills and habits. The thing that does hinder me in the kitchen is the clutter and lack of organization. So thanks to the Cure, that has become my #1 priority! (unfortunately, that means the rest of my house is suffering a bit, so I’ll be needing a bedroom cure next, followed by a living room cure and then a bathroom cure…ha!)
view WoodNymph's profile
One new technique I’d REALLY like to learn though is how to fillet a fish! So in another few weeks 9once my kitchen is spotless and organized), I plan on attempting that. Any good, non-intimidating instructional links for that?
view WoodNymph's profile
Nice picture. Looks a bit high... could be the angle tho.
view ChzPlz's profile
The biggest problem I'm facing is keeping my kitchen clean. We use it every day - for meals, to make baby foods, treats and more, so it gets grubby quickly. Time to break out the cleaning vinegar again!
PS Attempted a second stir fry last night and preparing everything precisely ahead of time made a big difference.
:-)
view phillippa's profile
The polls don't seem to be working. I cannot display the results on my computer the last couple of weeks (but I could previously)
view MrsSparkles's profile
phillippa - i'm afraid that the upkeep will ALWAYS be a problem for me! I’m hoping that once everything has a home and we start fresh, it will be easier.
view WoodNymph's profile
im having trouble keeping mine organized too, i think half the problem is im doing the home cure at the same time, and the kicthen counters have become a workbench for tools and odds and ends that dont have a home yet.
The organizing is going slow, I'll try different things out for a few days and see how it feels when cooking so its a slow process for me.
I did take time to install a new hand towel bar next to the sink yesterday when I had the drill out, which was suppose to be my kitchen improvement from last week but never got around to actually putting it up. No more kitchen towels floating around on counters or oven door handles. I also bought under the counter lights but they are too bright and harsh, i need to find a dimmer before I can install them.
hopefully now that the home cure is wrapping up i can focus on the kitchen one!
view adamwa's profile
I have cleaned, purged and beautified but am behind on my cooking projects for this week. With a toddler at my beck and call, it is all I can do to get a thoughtfully prepared home cooked meal on the table every day. But, I do plan on working on my to-do list this weekend. I planned on the braising technique but with temperatures in the mid 80's expected for both SAturday and Sunday, not sure if it is exactly braising weather.
view rosebud's profile
I'm still here, but like others said, it is the upkeep.
And behind.......haven't fully worked on decluttering stuff that needs to go.
But I'm checking in....for inspiration.
And when I find the digital camera, I will try and post some pictures.
With two kids, three meals a day plus snacks, and the garden getting in full swing it is going to take more than six weeks, I'm afraid.
Oh, I also ended up reading Chocolat last week. Came across it in the giveaway bin at the library.
Now that is the kind of dinner party I'd like to attend!
Lisa
view LGT's profile
Sadly this has been a crazy week at work and at home. I've had no time to work on the cure and almost no time to cook. Hope to get back on track this weekend. I'd love to learn to cook vietnamese or indian food although I'd just as soon go out for Indian as I can get decent Indian near by but the Vietnamese not so much. Perhaps I'll venture over to the library and check out a cook book. Lemon grass, cilantro, mint, basil and lime yummmy
view fmktjod's profile
I got caught up in painting the cabinets. I'll see this through but it's going to take a little longer.
view kjb's profile
P.S. The surveys don't work for me either unless I open the post and then reload the page.
view kjb's profile