Speedy Kitchen Tips for Busy Moms
by Brandie Valenzuela

Description: Have a busy schedule? Try these easy kitchen organizing tips for busy moms.

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With so much to do, how do you do it all? I know that I can't answer that question completely, but I do have a few tips that help me get in, and get out -- of the kitchen that is!

1. Make use of kitchen appliances such as crockpots, microwaves, and breadmakers. Plan your meals around the use of these and other time-saving appliances.

2. Plan one night per week to be your "YOYO" night, which means "you on your own". On this night, each member of your family can decide for themselves what they would like to have for dinner. In my home, the kids heat up leftovers, frozen burritos, have cereal -- you name it.

3. Plan one night per week to be a take out night. In our family, we love to have pizza delivered on Friday nights.

4. Each weekend, jot down what the family will eat that week for dinner. Post it on the refrigerator so everyone will know what to expect. This helps to keep you focused on what meal is on what day.

5. Give each child in your home a specified amount of money to spend on dinner. You can allow them to go wild, or set rules such as no candy or dessert type items.

6. Have your children pick one of the meals for the family each week. This helps to make meal planning easier while also making sure everyone has a say in what is served.

7. Make use of prepared items in your store -- your children aren't going to love you more if you make homemade waffles, rather than the frozen ones.

8. Think simple! Save elaborate meals for special occasions. I know that my children often prefer to have hotdogs and french fries over a meal that might take me an hour to prepare.

9. Bring your children into the kitchen and put them to work. Depending on age and skill level, many children can grate cheese, shred lettuce, mix batter, and more.

10. Once your children start to reach age 8 or so, they should be learning to prepare simple foods. Practice makes perfect and before you know it, they will be able to make a complete meal all by themselves!

11. Try once-a-month cooking, or similiar methods.

12. Always make double of time-consuming meals. When you make lasagna, make sure you have enough sauce, cheese, and noodles on hand to make a second pan. Freeze the extra and you have a meal for another night.

13. One night per week, plan a "one dish recipe". Usually these meals have the protein, grains or legumes, and vegetables in one dish. One dish means you aren't cooking each item seperately and you have less to clean up.

14. Always start cooking in a clean kitchen and keep a sink half filled with hot soapy water while you are preparing the meal. As you finish using an item, place it in the water. Even if you use a dishwasher, this will help make your dishes even cleaner.

15. Always make sure your dishwasher or sink is empty, so that after dinner each person can rinse their own dish and place it in the dishwasher or sink.

16. Make and use master mixes. Not only are they economical, they make meals a snap.

17. Always clean as you go -- everything is easier to tackle in small amounts.

Reprinted with permission.

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