Sunday, October 24, 2010

Nurturing my inner... life cycle of a meal

Cooking is fun!  Yea!  This is not news.  We all know it.  Clean up however, well... doesn't really rate as highly on the party barometer.  But I believe that keeping a clean kitchen is an important part of the entire cooking experience and one to be respected.  It is the final piece in the creating, consuming and restoring puzzle.  The fact that anyone who is able to read this blog about cooking owns a pc, also leads me to believe that just like me, they have more dishes, bowls, glasses and silverware than they can use at any one time.  Knowing that many people of the world live in areas where they may own a (singular) cup and a (singular) bowl, which they don't always have clean water or food to put in, makes me continually grateful for the blessings I have.  I don't complain about having to wash dishes by hand.  In fact, I'm darn lucky I have this privilege.  So today will actually not be about cooking at all!  (Wait, come back!  Gimme a chance.  I have a product to share below.)

Clean up should be a satisfactory part of the end of a grand cooking adventure.  A utilitarian bit of manual labor that allows us to feel accomplished.  Like when we add a period to the end of a particularly well-crafted sentence.  With the invention of paper plates, plastic ware and dishwashers, we've learned to get off way too easy.  Enjoying all the fun and walking away from the not so fun.  I rarely use disposable wear because it creates a lot of unnecessary trash.  And though I adore my dishwasher, there are some items that either can't go in it because the finishes aren't safe, the glasses are too delicate or the items are too large.  I choose not to think of this soaking and scrubbing as drudgery.  It can be a time to reflect upon what a wonderful evening I had with friends after a dinner party or if I made something just for me, it has often been a moment to unwind and appreciate my day.  Unlike millions of people in the world, I do not know what it's like to go hungry and not eat for days.  I want to make sure I acknowledge to others that I do not take that for granted every time I make a meal.  So cleaning up a bunch of dirty plates after I have a full tummy isn't a punishment, it's a precious gift.  And there lies my heart.  Okay, on to the product mention I promised you.

When a product comes along that makes manually washing dishes a little nicer, I like to share it.  I present to you: the Dish Drying Mat.  Which you can get at either small kitchen stores like the outlets have, The Container Store or any Bed, Bath and Beyond type of location for about $4.99.  I've seen it in ecru with brown trim (below) and also light grey with dark grey trim.  So you've got options.


Unassuming? Perhaps. A good little kitchen
helper? Heck yeah!

This mat is a simple, microfiber pad that is super absorbent and fast drying.  Two key things needed for quick kitchen clean up.  Plus, it can go into the washing machine, which I equally love!  It even folds up nicely for easy storage. 


Various plates, pans and bowls drying off.


Balance.  That's what healthy living is about.  When we have too much fun and not enough to ground us, we definitely start to wobble and eventually spin off in the wrong direction.  It's best to make sure that after all the grand adventures we indulge in, we take the time to reflect.  Something as simple as washing a few dishes by hand can provide captivating quiet moments to do just that.

A grateful heart isn't given to us at birth.  It's cultivated over time.

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