Winter may be messy, but summer has its own set of #cleaning and tidiness challenges. Some of the most difficult stains to handle result from the grease and oils that spatter from favorite cookout foods such as burgers, steaks and potato salad, says Blueland. Blot stains immediately with a rag or paper towel whenever possible. Then, presoak garments in a 1:1 water and vinegar solution for half an hour. Scrub the area with a soft brush such as an old toothbrush. Use an oxygen bleach laundry product and wash in cold water before hanging to dry — and repeat if necessary. #SummerMesses
Tag: cookout
Embracing Summer’s Bounty
#Summertime offers an embarrassment of riches — warm weather, #holidays to celebrate and cookouts galore. If you don’t like the heat, there are air-conditioned #summer blockbusters, pool parties and water sports to help keep cool.
Summer delivers bounty in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables, too. Whether you grow your own favorites in a backyard #garden or visit the local farmer’s market, there’s no match for fresh, flavorful produce harvested in season.
Here at The Organizing Blog, we enjoy growing heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, hot peppers, chard and herbs — and with the recent heat wave, are looking forward to a bumper crop. In less than a month, we’ll be running out of ways to use it all!
We’ll grill sweet corn and summer squash. We’ll bake zucchini bread and tomato-and-chard tarts. We’ll blend up potato-leek soup, basil pesto and fresh salsa. And we’ll make a host of other dishes that celebrate summer.
There are ways to keep enjoying that bounty year-round, say the chefs at The Chopping Block. Some vegetables can be blanched and frozen, and even more can be pickled and canned. And to enjoy a summery entrée later in the year, cook an extra and freeze it for a wintry day.
Even as you discover creative new ways to eat your way through the season, consider for a second whether your material bounty — your stockpile of owned, nonperishable things — is getting out of hand.
Summer is a great time to cull through those possessions and #organize. Cold weather won’t get in the way of #decluttering, and you can always stage a #garage sale to make a little money off the things you no longer want or need.
You can also #donate lightly used #clothing and household goods to ClothingDonations.org year-round with a #free #donation #pickup. Resale of those goods helps fund valuable #veterans programs.
However you choose to embrace summer’s bounty, remember that it won’t be around for long. Now’s your chance to enjoy everything that summer has to offer! #SummerBounty
Shop for Cookout Tools at the Thrift
Missing some essential #grilling tools for your upcoming #Memorial Day #cookout? Look no further than the local #thrift and #secondhand shops supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org. Thrifts are a great source for the dishes, bakeware, tools and small appliances that make #cooking a breeze — and a great source of festive holiday decorations, too. You never know what you’ll find at the thrift, and the proceeds from your purchases go toward essential #veterans programs. What better way to observe Memoiral Day? #MemorialDayHacks
Dress up Store-Bought Sides for Your Cookout
If you’re hosting a #Memorial Day #cookout but don’t have a lot of time, Today suggests following chef J.J. Johnson’s last-minute, labor-saving hacks to make people think you spent hours in the kitchen. You can “dress up” store-bought potato salad with your own own hard-boiled eggs, sweet relish and salt and pepper, or doctor ready-made macaroni salad with Old Bay seasoning. Add unexpected fun to burgers by supplying a crunchy topping such as chips, and make “batched” drinks. And for dessert, get a store-bought pound cake and add your own whipped cream and berries. Put on a festive playlist and get the party started! #MemorialDayHacks
How to Grill the Perfect Burger
To make perfect burgers for #Memorial Day, start with a clean, hot #grill, Litehouse recommends. Baste your burgers with a pat of salted butter. Use a blend of beef and pork for flavor, or go with one of the cheaper cuts of beef, which have a higher fat content. Indent the center of patties with a thumb before cooking to keep them from puffing up, avoid pressing down during cooking to keep them juicy, and try to flip them just once before serving. And while it may be tempting to offer every topping under the sun, keep things simple by offering just two condiments and three toppings. #MemorialDayHacks