Hearty Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash & Quinoa

I stumbled upon this recipe on Cookin Canuck and I had to try it.  To make it even more healthy I substituted the chicken thighs with organic skinless chicken breasts. Of course, it wouldn't be a Kooki Klosets post with out a tip:  Make a big batch of your favorite stew or soup. Then store individual servings in plastic containers. Freeze and reheat for a quick lunch or dinner.

HEARTY CHICKEN STEW WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH & QUINOA

Yield: Serves 6

Ingredients

•   1 1/2 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded & chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
•   3 1/2 cups chicken broth
•   1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
•   1 tbsp. olive oil
•   1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
•   1/2 tsp. kosher salt
•   4 cloves garlic, minced
•   1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
•   1 can (14 oz.) petite diced tomatoes
•   2/3 cup uncooked quinoa
•   3/4 cup pitted and quartered kalamata olives
•   Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
•   1/4 cup minced fresh flat leaf parsley

Instructions

1. Steam the butternut squash until barely tender, about 10 minutes. Remove half of the squash pieces and set aside.
2. Steam the remaining squash until very tender, an additional 4-5 minutes. Mash the squash with the back of a fork. Set aside.
3. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, set over medium high heat, bring the chicken broth to a simmer.
4. Add chicken, cover and cook until chicken is cooked through. About 15 minutes.
5. Transfer the chicken to a plate and allow to cool. Pour broth into a medium sized bowl.
6. Return the saucepan to the stovetop and lower heat to medium. Add olive oil.
7. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is starting to turn brown, 8 - 10 minutes.
8. Add minced garlic and oregano. Cook, stirring, for an additional 1 minute.
9. Add tomatoes, butternut squash pieces, mashed butternut squash and salt. Stir to combine.
10. Stir in reserved chicken broth and quinoa. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the quinoa turns translucent, about 15 minutes.
11. Shred the chicken with your fingers or a fork.
12. Stir in the chicken, olives and pepper into the stew and simmer, uncovered, to heat, about 5 minutes.
13. Stir in parsley and serve.

Bon apetite!
 

A Time for Giving

Here's yet more motivation to get decluttered! At the Giving Effect, you can browse over 1000 charities and find out what items they need the most. Organizations include Habitat for Humanity to the American Cancer Society. You can arrange pick-ups and drop-offs but simply filling out a form. Please take a look at this wonderful site and share with your friends. Look, I'm even conveniently sharing the link...

The Giving Effect

Milk It

Milk doesn't just do a body good. Here are five useful uses for milk:

1.  Stain Pretreater. Don't cry over spilled milk, however, wine is another thing. Submerge the wine soiled shirt or dress (the soiled part only) in whole milk. Then squeeze out and immediately launder as usual. Leave dry cleaning items to the professionals.

2.  Bath Soak.  Add 1 cup of whole milk to a tub of warm water. The lactic acid in milk softens skin.

3.  Shoe Shine.  Patent leather shoes gotten dull? Moisten a cloth with whole milk and buff away.

4.  Burn Soother.  Cover minor burns with a whole milk soaked washcloth. The fat in the milk will calm inflammation.

5.  Plant Rescue.  Mix 1 part whole milk with 9 parts water and spray on plants. Repeat weekly and you'll keep the leaves fungus-free.

To freeze or not to freeze?

A great post on what foods are freezable and what are not. Simply stated.

Freezable Foods - yup, you can freeze all of this!

Extraordinarily Ordinary

Extraordinary Uses for 16 Ordinary Household Items

TOOTHPASTE

1.  Remove crayon marks.  Squirt a small dab of non-gel toothpaste on the wall where the mark is. Rub gently with a soft cloth, then rinse with warm water.

2.  Deodorize hands.  Can't get garlic or onion odor off your hands? Wash them with a blob of toothpaste.

3.  Whiten sneakers.  Clean rubber soles by rubbing scuff marks with an old toothbrush and non-gel toothpaste.

4.  Buff a DVD.  Get rid of light scratches by squeezing a little non-gel toothpaste onto a cotton ball. Wipe over the DVD from the center out to the edge. Rinse with water and dry with a non-abrasive, lint-free cloth - all gone.

5.  Defog goggles.  Coat the inside of swimming goggles with toothpaste, then wipe off. They'll be crystal clear.

RUBBER BANDS

1.  Identify a bottle.  Wrap a rubber band around a shampoo bottle and you'll be able to tell it's not a conditioner, even if your eyes are filled with suds.

2.  Neaten thread.  Keep spools of thread from unraveling by wrapping them with a rubber band.

3.  Hold a lid.  Prevent a potluck disaster - secure the lid of the dish by stretching a band over the top.

4.  Grip a tool.  Wrap a rubber band around the handle of a hammer or screwdriver for a firmer grip.

5.  Extend your pants.  Hook a rubber band through the button hole and secure the other side to the button for an extra half-inch of breathing room.

NAIL POLISH

1.  Secure a screw.  Tighten loose screws on cabinets or pot handles by brushing some clear nail polish on screw threads. Insert the screw and let dry before using again. (Bonus - polish also keeps them from rusting.)

2. Stop tarnish. Keep costume jewelry from turning black with a coat of clear polish.

3.  Seal an envelope.  Worried about whether the glue will hold? Brush polish on the underside of the flap.

4.  Mend a screen.  Stop a small hole (no bigger than 1/3 inch in diameter) from getting any bigger by brushing a little clear nail polish over the spot.

5. Smooth a hanger.  If there are rough edges on wooden or plastic hangers that could snag clothes, don't throw the hangers out. Just brush polish over the imperfections.

TAPE

1. Protect your wall.  Put a small piece on the spot where you're going to hammer in a nail. This keeps paint from chipping.

2. Tame scratchy clothes.  Annoyed by a shirt label rubbing the back of your neck? Tape down the label so it lies flat.

3. Save a button.  If threads are becoming loose, put a small piece over them to hold the button in place.

4.  Unstick plastic wrap.  Can't find the end of the roll? Lift it up with a piece touched to the edge.

5. Steady a candle.  Fit it snugly in the holder by wrapping a few layers around the bottom to secure it.

DRYER SHEETS

1.  Deodorize shoes.  Tuck a dryer sheet into smelly sneakers or shoes (gum bags and suitcases too!) over night to eliminate odors.

2. Clean stuck-on gunk.  Put a fresh sheet in a pan with baked-on food and fill with water. Let sit for a few hours and the food will easily wipe away.

3.  Freshen up the shower.  Rub shower doors and walls with a wet sheet to remove minderal deposits and soap scum.

4.  Ease sewing.  Run a threaded needle through a sheet before sewing; it helps keep thread from tangling.

5.  Tame hair.  Calm static electricity and flyaways by quickly running a dryer sheet over unruly hair.

HAIR DRYER

1.  Remove crayon marks or wax spills.  Blow-dry the stain on high heat until the was melts, then wipe it up with a sponge.

2. "Iron" out plastic tablecloth or shower curtain.  Hot air on plastic relaxes pesky wrinkles. Be sure the hold drying 12" away.

3. Set frosting or icing. Want your cake or cookies to look perfect? Cool air helps harden icing; hot air brightens a dull glaze.

4. Unstick a photo.  Blow warm air on the back of the photo album page while working the photo on the other side free.

5.  Dust hard-to-reach places.  Point a dryer set on cool at those shelves and corners, and blow the dust right off.

HAND LOTION

1.  Get rid of winter clothing static.  Put a small amount on your hands and rub them over your clothing or pantyhose.

2. Polish shoes.  In a pinch, a little bit of lotion buffed with a cloth salves the leather and makes shoes shine.

3.  Moisturize under your gloves.  Store a tube of it near your gloves, and smooth some onto your hands every time you pull them on.

4. Get rid of frizz.  Spread a little over fingertips (not directly on hair) and scrunch your fingers through the frizz.

5.  Shave.  Grab a bottle of lotion as a stand-in to shaving cream. Bonus: Your legs stay moisturized afterward.

CORNSTARCH

1. Slide rubber gloves on and off.  Sprinkle inside gloves before you put them on so they won't stick.

2. Freshen you feet.  Shake a bit into socks to absorb moisture and help prevent blisters.

3. Get cooking grease off a wall.  Put on a cloth and rub the spot until the mark is gone.

4. Squelch a squeaky floor.  Sprinkle a little between the boards to quiet it down.

5. Detangle a knot.  Rub some into stubborn knots in shoelaces, string, chain necklaces, etc. Works like magic.

PETROLEUM JELLY

1. Protect your pet. If your cat's or dog's paw pads are cracked and dry, rub a little petroleum jelly on them to soothe the discomfort.

2. Wipe away water marks.  Dab with petroleum jelly and let sit for 24 hours. Wipe off the excess and polish furniture as usual.

3. Loosen up outdoor lightbulbs. Dirt and dust can cause outdoor bulbs to stick. Rub a little petroleum jelly on the threads of the bulb before you screw it in and it won't stick in the future.

4. Sideline a squirrel.  Coat the pole of a bird feeder and squirrels won't be able to get at the food.

5. Neaten your nail job.  Dab it on the skin around nails before polishing. If you make a mistake, the polish will easily wipe away.

COFFEE FILTERS

1. Clean mirrors, windows and wine glasses.  Put your hand inside like a mitt and wipe. Filters are lint-free and leave no streaks.

2. Catch drips and crumbles.  Have kids use for cookies and other messy foods. Pop ice cream sticks through a hole in the bottom.

3. Line flowerpots.  Put a filter inside the pot to stop soil from leaking through the drainage holes on the bottom.

4. Protect your china.  Keep your best dishes chip and scratch free by putting a filter between each piece when stacking.

5. Save the wine after you've broken the cork.  If you pour the wine through a filter, you'll catch the lost pieces of cork.

SALT

1. Veggie wash.  Remove dirt from greens like spinach, arugula and kale by swirling them around in a bowl of salt water.

2. Keep windows frost-free.  Rub the inside of windows with a sponge dipped in salt water and frost won't collect.

3. Banish bubbles.  Get rid of excess suds when handwashing garments in the sink or doing the dishes by sprinkling them with a pinch of salt.

4. Clean a greasy pan.  Shaking a little salt on the pan before washing absorbs most of the grease.

5. Fix a sticky iron.  To remove gunk spots, sprinkle a little salt on a piece of brown paper and run the hot iron over it. Repeat if necessary.

6. Remove water marks from wood surfaces.  Make water marks disappear by making a paste of salt and cooking oil. Gently rub the paste onto the ring with a sponge; let sit for a few minutes. Wipe with a soft cloth and polish as usual.

DISPOSABLE CUPS

1. Raise your centerpiece.  Turn four small cups upside down to elevate the centerpiece (push them together to hide them).

2. Make a string of lanterns.  Have kids decorate plastic cups. Then take a strand of lights and pop each light through the bottom of a cup.

3. Save yourself dishwashing. Put out a permanent marker and have guests write their name on their cup to keep track of it.

4. Set Jell-O fast.  Follow the speed-set instructions on the box; pour into small paper cups and refrigerate. It'll be ready in 20 minutes.

5. Make a sifter.  Poke holes in a cup bottom to sprinkle powered sugar on desserts. Just toss it when you're done.

VINEGAR

1. Clean a coffeemaker. Get rid of stains and mineral deposits by filling the reservoir with 1 part white vinegar, 2 parts water and brewing. Repeat every three weeks.

2. Prevent colors from running.  To keep new clothes or towels from losing color, soak them in 1 part vinegar, 1 part cold water for 15 minutes before washing.

3. Kill grass and weeds.  Pour vinegar on upshots between bricks and flagstones. The acidic component kills young weeds in one dousing.

4. Freshen wilted vegetables.  Perk up soggy leafy veggies by soaking them in 2 cups cold water mixed with 1 Tbsp. vinegar for 10 minutes. Rinse, dry and serve.

5. Avoid moldy cheese.  Soak a cloth in vinegar, wrap it around hard cheese and seal in a airtight container or ziplock bag. The vinegar prevents mold spores.

WAX PAPER

1. Protect pans.  Put a sheet between cast-iron pans when stacking them. The thin coat of wax prevents rust.

2. Store candles.  Roll colored candles in sheets of wax paper and twist ends to seal. They won't get nicked up or scuffed when they're placed in drawers.

3. Shine a faucet.  Rub chrome fixtures after cleaning to prevent water spots and finger smudges.

4. Clean a handheld can opener.  Run a piece of wax paper through the gears. It loosens dirt and coats them so they run smoothly.

5. Unstick pages. Insert paper between wet pages of a book. When they dry, they'll be good as new.

ZIPLOCK BAGS

1. Make a changing mat.  Tear open the side seams of a gallon-size bag and lay flat for an emergency diaper changing area.

2. Pack accessories.  Organize by category (jewelry, scarves, hosiery) so they're easier to find in  your suitcase.

3. Knead dough.  Use two quart-sized bags as gloves to avoid getting your hands sticky. You can also use a bag to store extra dough.

4. Create a temporary funnel. Improvise a funnel for anything from shampoo to children's beads and glitter.

5. Clean a showerhead.  Pour a little white vinegar in a bag, rubberband it to the showerhead and soak for a half hour.

CHALK

1. Remove stains.  Mark ring-around-the collar stains heavily with chalk before washing. The dust helps absorb the oils, making the stain easier to clean.

2. Stop varnish.  Wrap chalk in cheesecloth and store with silverware. It absorbs moisture and helps prevent tarnishing.

3. Steady a screwdriver.  Rub chalk over the handle of a screwdriver to prevent slipping.

4. Keep ants out.  If ants are trotting into your house, draw chalk lines around their entry points. Many chalks contain calcium carbonate, which ants don't like.

5. Hide cracks.  Cover hairline cracks in walls until you're ready to paint by rubbing over them with a matching color.

Accordion to Kooki

I'm officially in full wedding planning mode! I've rummaged through all my brochures, flyers and bridal magazines. Now to organize all my wedding inspirations from the seating chart guide. I found the best tool is an accordion type file system. It keeps even the smallest of pages neatly packed. But this idea is not limited to wedding planning. Use it for household projects, homework assignments or vacation planning.

Here I have a basic accordion tabbed file folder. I've labeled all my tabs with relevant subjects. Then simply organized all my paperwork in the slots provided.

Get Aquainted with Old Friends

I'm all about new home and fashion trends, but we all need to stretch a dollar these days. Chances are, if you rummage through your drawers, garage or basement, you may bump into  some old friends. It's time to get reaquainted! Here are some clever ways to repurpose some common houseshold items:

1.  Tote it
What to do with all those free totes you've collected? Hang a few on pegs on a wall in an entry, mudroom or laundry room.  You can use them to store hats and scarves, laundry supplies, gardening, dog walking or beach supplies. Pull out what you need or take the whole tote.

2. Open Drawer Policy
Who said a dresser is only for the bedroom?  Dresser or bureaus have great uses in a family room. Use it instead of a console or end table. Store board games, video games, puzzles and blankets.   

3.  Cubism
Who uses ice cube trays these days?  You can!  Put them in a drawer and organize your jewelry and office supplies, giving each item a compartment.  They are stackable so bonus points for you.

4.  Looking Glass
Need containers for craft, scrapbooking and art supplies?  Use jam, salsa and marinara jars.  They are a perfect size for all those beads, stickers, paintbrushes... the list goes on. They are see through so you will know exactly what is in them and hey look great arranged on a shelf or workbench. But if you need more surface area, superglue lids to the underside of a shelf, then screw the jars into the lids.

5.  Round it Up
Gather all that sports equipment, place it in a mesh laundry bag and hang it from its drawstring in the basement or garage.  Simple and out of the way.

There are so many products out there designed specifically for all your organizational dilemmas.  I bet if you look around your own home, you can find common household items that can do the same job. And you get to save a few dollars while you use your imagination. I would love to hear your inventive strategies at home.

Finding Balance

Here is a great blog post from a great friend and a gifted pharmacist turned holistic health counselor. You might like what she has to say...

Wealth of Health Rx: Finding Balance: The Rock Theory: "I tend to take on a lot. Anyone who knows me knows I love making new friends, starting new projects, learning new skills and discovering new..."

Bust that Clutter

Real Simple magazine had a great article on seven strategies for getting rid of all the things  you don't want, need or even like.  I have taken what I thought was relevant and kookized it.  Here is my list of six strategies for getting rid of "stuff":

Fake a Move

Basically picture yourself as if you are moving.  Envision your home as a prospective buyer or renter might. Categorize all your items. What to throw away, what to donate and what you'd love to keep. Chances are, you're holding onto many things that really have no use even in your current home.

Rooms with a Purpose

Now you can break out that nifty clip board that you knew would come in handy one day! Walk through the rooms in your house or apartment.  And write down what activities take place in each room and/or what activities you would like to take place.  Then start building the room based on your proposed purpose.  Remove any items that have nothing to do with your room activities but keep the whole house in mind. You may be able to re-purpose items for other rooms.

Be a Donate Diva

It's true, it is much easier to toss items when you picture them benefiting someone else.  Pick an organization that you really want to help and check their websites on what kind of donations they are in need of.  I like to get the kids involved especially with this one, so that they can see what it's like to give.

Room "Editing"

As if you are reading from a book, start in the upper left hand corner and move from left to right, from top to bottom. "The room is a book, a dresser is a chapter, each drawer is a paragraph, the boxes or trays or Ziploc bags in the drawers are the sentences, and the things in the containers are the words," says Alice Winner, an organizational consultant from Pennsylvania.  The key is to get rid of all the "words"  that make your life more complicated. Just try to resist the urge to skip chapters.

Closet Shopping

Go through your closet and grab an arms worth of clothes. Try them on.  If you would buy them a second time, hang them back up and donate the rest.  Keep in mind the keepers should fit, be in style and not need any alterations.  This method works for those who don't want to spend hours on purging through their closets at one time.  Set a schedule, like every time you put laundry away and try this method.

Theme it Up

This is great tool to use in the kitchen or bedroom.  Group like items in your drawers together. Forks, knives and spoons all have their own slots in a drawer and wooden and slotted spoons in another.  Every shelf and drawer in your home should have a specific theme.  When you group all like things together, you may realize you have duplicates.  Keep the newer or better item and toss the other.

Thinking backwards...

Even if you install the latest and greatest closet organization system you'll find that your wardrobe will still be a cluttered mess. Purging is the best way to get rid of all those pieces that you no longer wear. But you may ask, how can I keep track of what clothes I do wear? Here is a simple strategy.

Hang all your clothes backwards, with the hanger opening facing you. Every time you wear an article of clothing, hang it back forwards, with the hanger opening facing the wall. At the time of your purge, you will know what clothing you should consider donating.

I like doing this every 6 months when I switch out my wardrobes for the seasons. But you can do it as frequently as every 3 months if you like. The key is after purging, not to go on a spending spree. Only add pieces of clothing that you absolutely love and have longevity. Think of it this way, for every two items you purge, only purchase one. You'll find that your closet will be much more manageable.

True Story!

According to research from Indiana University, the more tidy your home, the more likely you are to be physically active.  The reason? Cleaning burns calories!  Also, for most, a messy space can make it difficult to think clearly and be focused, which means you're more likely to find yourself mindlessly snacking in front of the television, says Stacey Platt, author of What's a Disorganized Person to Do?