50 Healthy & Natural Hacks You Should Be Using in the Kitchen

I'm loving all of the natural and healthy hacks that are popping up all over the internet. It seems as though we buy every new product on the market these days because we think it is quicker and cheaper to use. Most of the time that isn't the case. If you are trying to save some money, try adding in natural cleaning ideas for the sake of your budget and the environment. In honor of Earth Day I wanted to share this post with you. If you have some natural hacks to share, leave them in the comments!

50+ Healthy Natural Hacks You Should Be Using In The Kitchen

Most people spend a great deal of their time at home in the kitchen. This important room is used to prepare meals, for informal eating, and as a casual gathering place for family and friends. So why not start here when it comes to some helpful tips for a healthy kitchen that can stretch your dollar and are also safe for the environment. These little tips and tricks are known as kitchen hacks now a day’s but some of them have been passed down by grandma’s from every nationality for years and years. The below list of healthy kitchen hacks we’ve created only use natural ingredients and will help you with anything from cleaning and sanitation to reducing your tears when cutting an onion.

Cleaning & Sanitation

Some common household cleaning products may contain hazardous ingredients. Many Americans have turned back to natural household cleaning solutions for safety and more eco-friendly reasons. Rather than taking harsh detergents to your cast iron pots and pans, scrub them clean with a dry paper towel and coarse salt. A pinch of salt and a paper towel will create a salty solution that can works wonders.

1. To clean an electric kettle with calcium buildup on the heating element, boil a mixture of half white vinegar and half water – Empty it out and your kettle should be sparkling clean.
2. Cut one lemon into two halves, sprinkling baking soda on the first half. – Use the lemon alone to scrub dishes, sinks, and countertops.
3. Baking soda and is a great all purpose cleaner. – Use it to deodorize drains, clean stovetops and stainless steel sinks.
4. If aluminum pans look dull and cloudy, just boil some apple peels in them. – This will shine up the aluminum and make your house smell good at the same time.
5. To clean your coffee pot, fill it up with a cup of vinegar added to the pot of hot water then run it through the normal cycle. -Run a few cycles after of plain water to have your coffee pot look brand new.
6. Loosen up the caked up food on your pots and pans. – Soak your pots and pans with some tea bags overnight. This will make it much easier to clean in the morning.
7. To unclog drains, pour some baking soda down the drain and then add ½ cup of vinegar. – Then rinse with very hot water. This should get rid of any blockage.
8. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to hot soapy dish water. – This will cut down on grease and any odor left from food on the dishes.
9. Olive oil is great for stainless-steel surfaces. – For extra sparkle, pour olive oil onto a dry cloth and buff the surface.
10. Remove tarnish from copper and brass cookware. – Squeeze ketchup onto a cloth and rub it on pots and pans. Within just a minute or two, they should be back to the coppery color. Rinse with warm water of course.

Odors & Stains

Here are some great ways to get rid of those pesky stains and odors in the kitchen.

11. Sprinkle a dash of salt in an empty airtight Rubbermaid container before you store it, you’ll keep the odors away. – It will definitely make a difference with your containers that have had one too many pieces of lasagna in them.

12. For cleaning smelly hands after chopping garlic or onions, rub them on a stainless steel spoon. – The steel is somehow supposed to absorb the odor.
13. Remove tea or coffee stains from your fine china by mixing up a paste consisting lemon juice, cream of tartar, and baking soda,. – Rub it over the stains and they’ll come off with ease.
14. After using a lemon, drop both lemon halves down the garbage disposal . -This is a clean scent that will freshen the smelliest of kitchens.
15. Run an empty dishwasher load with vinegar. – Toss a cup of white vinegar into the bottom of an empty dishwasher and run the normal cycle. It cleans out old food particles to keep your dishwasher smelling great.
16. When you are preparing raw fish, that smell on your fingers can hang around for days. Rub your hands with lemon juice which will neutralize the odor.
17. Lemon can deodorize cutting boards. – Yucky smelling cutting boards can be scrubbed down with a lemon . Don’t rinse the board for about an hour. Then wash with soapy hot water.
18. To clean fruit stains off of your fingers, rub them with a fresh, peeled potato. – White vinegar will also have the same affect.
19. Vanilla can get rid of nasty odors in your freezer. – Wipe down your freezer with a cotton pad that is lightly soaked with pure vanilla extract.

Fruits & Vegetables

Use these hacks to keep your produce fresh, clean it well, and even make spices.

20. Separating bananas from the bunch will keep them fresh for a longer time. – Bananas release gases which cause fruits to ripen rapidly. Keep your bananas in separate areas away from each other.
21. Keep tomatoes and citrus fruits like lemons away from the refrigerator. – This will keep them juicy and they will even have a better fragrance.
22. To keep potatoes from budding in the bag, put an apple in with them. – This enhances the taste and will make them last and extend their shelf life.
23. Keep iceberg lettuce fresh in the fridge by wrapping it in a clean, dry paper towel. – Store the lettuce and paper towel in a sealed baggie and put in the fridge.
24. Sprinkle wet fruit and veggies with baking soda to remove dirt and pesticides. Then – Then scrub and rinse them carefully so you don’t bruise them. . This cleaning method safely removes
common residues off produce.
25. Instead of cutting off the leafy tops of celery and tossing away, make your own celery flakes. – Wash and dry the leaves and bake them in the oven at 180° F until they get crispy. Store the flakes in an airtight container and use for soups or whatever else you’d like.
26. Freshen vegetables with vinegar. – If your vegetables are wilted and seem like they might be on the way out, soak them in 2 cups of water and one tablespoon of vinegar.
27. Use this concoction to keep the fruit flies away from the arrangement on your table. – A small dish of wine, a splash of water, and a drop of dish soap will do the trick.
28. Use a drinking straw to core a strawberry while still leaving most of the fruit. – Push the straw through the bottom of the berry and out through the top.
29. Put a lemon in the microwave for about 20 seconds to get the most juice. – Let the lemon sit for a minute and then roll it around back and forth on the counter a couple times.
30. Cauliflower will remain white and give off no odor if you cook it in an equal parts milk and water mixture – You can even use the left over liquid for a soup or cream sauce.

Cooking Mishaps

We’ve all goofed up when it comes to cooking. Here are some simple tips that will help you in a pinch.

31. If you’ve burned your gravy, pour it into a new pan and sprinkle a dash of sugar in it. – The sugar will counteract the bitterness from the burned gravy, but won’t leave it with a sweet taste.
32. Did you add too much salt? Throw in a peeled potato. – Throw in a peeled potato while your dish is still cooking.
33. When boiling eggs, add a pinch of salt to keep the shells from cracking. – This is great right around Easter time. No one wants cracked Easter eggs.
34. Is your rice a bit brown on the bottom of the pot? – Place a piece of white bread on top of the rice for approximately 5-10 minutes. This will take away that burnt flavor. Remember to take off the burnt part when you serve it!
35. When your casseroles or other dishes end up to greasy, add a piece of ice. – The ice cube will attract the fat, which you can then spoon out.
36. No need to buy expensive mixing bowls with rubber bottoms. – Set you’re bowl on top of a damp cloth. You’ll never have to worry about it sliding around while you’re mixing something.
37. Burnt food smells can removed from the air by placing a shallow bowl about ¾ of the way full with white or apple cider vinegar . – The odor should disappear in less than a day or if it’s a really strong odor it might take 1 to 2 days.
38. Soak stove burner grates in 1 gallon warm water and 1/2 cup baking soda. – them Leave them in there for 30 minutes. Rinse and dry them and they will be looking shiny and new.
39. To get rid of those stuck on food splatters in the microwave, place a water-soaked sponge inside and cook in on high for two minutes. – Leave the microwave door closed for another five minutes to let the sponge cool off. The steam will loosen up the food and you can easily wipe it all off without the use of chemical cleaners.
40. Spills in the oven – If that dish your cooking starts to cook over, take it out of the oven and pour salt on the spill. This will soak it right up. When the oven is cool, wipe with down with a damp sponge.

Burns, Tears, and Cuts

Here are some natural remedy hacks for common injuries that occur in the kitchen

41. If you’ve nicked yourself in the kitchen, clean and disinfect the cut, let dry, and coat the wound with clear nail polish. – This is an easy and quick waterproof bandage that stays on for days and is much more sanitary than a wet band aid.

42. Soak an onion in water before cutting it. – The water will dilute the sulphuric compounds .
43. Or else you can freeze the onion before cutting it for about 10 minutes. – The sulphuric compound that leads to tears will not react as quickly when it’s cold. However, don’t freeze it for too long because it can affect taste.
44. Did you burn your finger taking that pain out of the oven? – Immediately rub the area with spicy mustard to draw out the pain.
45. Did you catch one of those invisible hair-like splinters that that you can’t see but hurts really bad? -Simply press a strip of tape gently to your skin. This works far better than scraping away at your skin with fingernails or tweezers.
46. Just in case you don’t have spice mustard. – Vinegar, honey and even whole milk can be used to soothe any kitchen burn .

Other helpful hacks

This is a list of some other tips we found that could not be put in the categories above but are just as valuable.

47. When it’s time to thaw out that frozen roast, be sure to pour some vinegar over it. – Not only does it make the meat defrost faster, it also works as an awesome tenderizer.
48. After boiling pasta or potatoes, cool the water and use it to water your plants. – The water is filled with nutrients that your plants adore.
49. If your loaf of bread is starting to go stale, just put a piece of fresh celery in the bag and close it back up. – For some reason, this restores a fresh taste and texture to the bread.
50. To reuse cooking oil without tasting whatever was cooked in it, just add a 1/4″ piece of ginger to it. – It will remove any reminisce of any flavors and odors.
51. Water that has been boiled and allowed to cool will freeze faster than water from the tap. – This is a savior when you’re having a party and need ice in a hurry.
52. If glasses become stuck together after stacking them in your cabinets, it is possible to get them unstuck. – Just put ice in the inner glass and dunk the outer glass in some lukewarm water. The warm glass will expand and the cold glass will contract, making the glasses separate easily.
53. Pulling your refrigerator 1 inch from the wall can reduce the enter used by almost 40%. – You’ll barely notice the difference in your floor usage. Extra inches help, but the one is actually quite suitable.
54. Grab a bowl filled with cold water and let a few eggs soak in the bowl for two minutes. – The freshest eggs will stay at the bottom, and any expired eggs will rise to the surface. Eggs should stay fresh for up to three weeks when properly stored.
55. A standard tip for freezing ground foods or thick sauces in small portions is to first put the food into a large freezer bag. – press it out as flat as possible to get rid of the air pockets. Use a longchopstick or ruler to create divisions within the food, forming individual portions. This way when you freeze the entire bag, you’ll be able to quickly break off just as
much as you want to use.
56. To double the amount of your butter used for spreading, simply whip it with a small amount of warm water. – it’s great for spreading on your bread or corn-on-the-cob. Just keep it in the refrigerator to keep it fluffy.

It’s surprising just how much we can do with ingredients from our own homes. We hope that you found these hacks to be useful for you and your family in the kitchen. Hope you enjoyed this guest article. 

More Recycled Ideas

Egg Carton Craft and other fun recycled crafts for kids
Reuse, Recycle and Upcycle at Home, School and Work
Eco friendly {reuse, recycle, repurpose} crafts & home decor projects

Uncle Sam 8' Inflatable Memorial Day Giveaway

Do you like to decorate your home for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July? Today we have a giveaway perfect for all patriotic fans. Enter below for your chance to win this inflatable Uncle Sam which would be perfect for ANY American celebration! 

Hosted By:

Holiday Contest and Sweeps

&
Co-Hosted By:

Deliciously Savvy

Proudly Brings You The

Standard Concession Supply

Inflatable Uncle Sam Memorial Day

Giveaway

1- Lucky Winner Win this 8' Inflatable

Holiday Contest and Sweeps has the pleasure to bring you a great

 Memorial Day Giveaway from Standard Concession Supply. This

  Uncle Sam inflatable will make your yard stand out with  Patriotism 

 this Memorial Day.

This decorative Uncle Sam stands 8 feet tall and will grab the

attention of everyone not only during the day but at night as well

with it's internal lighting that will create a glowing nighttime effect.

This inflatable comes with it's own fan, light , stakes, and ropes

to hold it down. It is easily assembled for indoor or outdoor use.

Standard Concession Supply is your complete fun food

 equipment and concession supply resource for commercial 

endeavors, festivals, church fairs, fundraising, gift-giving, family

  fun, home  entertainment, birthday parties, and a whole lot more. And

we feature one of the largest online selections of Holiday Inflatables. The

pricing on their products will help you save money and will help you do

 more  within your budget.

The fine folks at Standard Concession Supply have a great assortment of

inflatables for Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving,Hanukkah and

Valentines along with Baby Teddy Bear and Mother's Day and Graduation

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Along with inflatables, Stand Concession Supply carries a large assortment of 

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This giveaway will be valid in the Continental United States only. The

entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway will come 

to a end at 12:00 AM (EST) 5/15/14

Holiday Contest and Sweeps did not receive any compensation

for this giveaway. Standard Concession Supply will be responsible for

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Top Hoppin' Easter Bunny Crafts and Projects {Holiday Fun}

I'm such a seasonal nut. I love all the fun colors, foods, decorations that are associated with all of our American and Christian Holidays. This weekend is all about Easter.  How about you? Do you celebrate all the fun holidays? You can go through my National Food HoliDays post for more fun ideas. Here are some of my favorite Easter Bunny ideas. Enjoy!

I'd love for you to share your ideas in the comments below!! Thanks and Hoppy Easter! 

Easter Candy Project

Easter Bunny Candy Bouquet (my project featured on the Bowdabra Blog)

Easter Bunny Egg Pops

Easter Bunny in a Jar Food Craft & Gift Idea

Easter Bunny Bow Ears Craft for Kids

Easter Bunny Egg Cups - Cute and easy project!

-Cut out white and pink ears and pink nose with felt.

-Cut a pipe cleaner in half or in thirds.

-Hot glue or tacky glue ears together and glue to back of small plastic dixie cup. Then do eyes. Fold pipe cleaners in half and glue on cup. Finally glue on nose.

Use this to add in an Easter egg for the kids. You can have their name on the egg. This would be cute for party favors or instead of place cards at the dinner table. You could even add candy into the cup. Use any size cup. I got this fun idea from the daycare where I work!

Rainbow Bread - Last but not least... let the kids brighten up bread with a little bit of fun colors! I got this project from my friend's daycare. 

To Do:

1-With paint brushes, let the kids paint on a mixture of whole milk and food coloring. The mixture is 1/3 cup whole milk and desired amount of food coloring. 

Don't let them go too crazy with the mixture or the bread will turn to mush.

2-Bake the bread on parchment paper in a preheated 375 degree oven for 5 minutes. You can use the paper to write their names on.

3-  Then let them eat the rainbow!

So fun and perfect for so many occasions! Thanks for sharing, Jane! 

More fun Easter ideas

• National FoodHolidays Board
• Recipes for the Holidays
• Easter Treats & Crafts

Easy Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes

We love sweet potatoes! Ever since my teens were babies I've been making them sweet potato fries. I have several sweet potato recipes that I enjoy making and below you will find a new one. Do you have any favorite sweet potato recipes? IF so please share in the below comments. I'm always looking for new and tasty sweet potato recipes to make my family. These are great because they are made in the crockpot!

Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

4-6 Medium sweet potatoes sliced (They can be sliced and cooked with the skins on to keep the nutritional content found in the skins and to help hold the potato together during cooking or you may peel them too.)

1/4 Cup sugar (Some may like it sweeter and more sugar may be added; however, please try it first with minimal sugar –still so good and healthier!)

1 Teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 Teaspoon salt

1-2 Tablespoons butter

Directions:

- Grease slow cooker/crock pot (butter or spray)

- Add sliced sweet potatoes (approx. 3/8 inch) (wash and scrub very well before slicing)

- Sprinkle with salt

- Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over sweet potatoes

- Dot with butter

- Cook on low for 3-4  hours; (cooking times will vary)

Serves: Four

Guest recipe provided by Lid Pocket. I actually need one of these for all of my crockpots. Last fall while at a cookout, someone dropped my crockpot lid and it shattered everywhere. It was from my best crockpot, too! So sad. Anyhow I'm thrilled to know of this product and plan on stocking up!

About the Lid Pocket

The Lid Pocket attaches easily right to the side of most slow cookers and holds the lid in place so your hands are free to stir, season or plate the food.  The Lid Pocket is also designed with a reservoir that catches the condensation so it won't drip in your food or on the counter top. 

The Lid Pocket is designed for use with nearly all slow cookers.  It fits the three-quart slow cookers all the way up to the large round and oval slow cookers.  The Lid Pocket is BPA-free, dishwasher safe and stores conveniently inside the slow cooker.

The Lid Pocket makes a great hostess gift, bridal shower/wedding gift, or a gift for teachers or for anyone who owns a slow cooker.  It can be included in a gift basket with soup kits; cider seasonings and a ladle; or a gadget-themed basket.  The possibilities are endless.

Be sure to "Like" the Lid Pocket on Facebook for more of Vicky Braun's favorite slow cooker recipes. Visit www.lidpocket.com to order a Lid Pocket for $9.99, plus S+H.

More Sweet Potato Recipes

• Crockpot Sweet Potatoes 
• Pineapple Sweet Potato Casserole
• Praline Sweet Potato Casserole- family favorite
• Sweet Potato Egg Breakfast Bites
• 12 Sweet Potato Recipes for the Holidays
• Praline Sweet Potatoes
• Beer Battered Tempura

Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

Not everyone likes ham for Easter! If this is your home, consider making a turkey breast. This yummy turkey breast recipe is easy to make. I love using crockpot recipes so anytime I can use it to save a little time, I do it! This recipe can be cooking in the slow cooker and not use up valuable space in the oven. Easy family dinner ideas like this one is worth cooking over and over! Do you have any favorites? Feel free to share them in the comments below!

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

Ingredients:

1 (6 pound) turkey breast (Jennie – O); thawed (I removed plastic wrap)

1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix

Do This:

1- Spray slow cooker

2 - Place the turkey breast in the slow cooker

3 - Rub the onion soup mix all over the turkey.

4 - Cover and cook on LOW and cook for approximately 6-7 hours.

5 - Use meat thermometer  — turkey needs to get to 170 degrees

PREP: 5 mins!

Kitchen Tip:

Want gravy? Jennie-O includes a gravy packet.  Add water. Stir. Voila.

I hope you enjoyed this guest recipe! Here are more Easter Dinner or Family Dinner ideas.

Easy Family Dinner Ideas

Honey Lime Fruit Salad 
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Mom's Cheesy Hash Browns
Flower Power Artist Veggies

Skinny FunFetti Cupcakes

Scrambled Egg Margarita Pizza

Super Yummy Cinnamon Rolls

Aunt Salad
Ham & Swiss Cheese Sliders

Easter Leftover Ham and Potato Soup

Healthy Whole Grains Meal Ideas and Roman Meal Giveaway #mc

I've been on a healthier lifestyle journey for 2 years now. Over this time I've learned what to eat, how much to eat, what not to eat or drink, and the list continues to grow as I live each day ready to learn something new. One of the best things that I have learned is to eat whole grains daily. How about you? Are you eating healthier? Do you eat whole grains daily? I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Roman Meal. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Along this journey I have found some really tasty products which I have added into our family's pantry. One of those products is Roman Meal Bread. Roman Meal is made from whole grain which two slices give 2/3 of the daily amount of whole grains recommended in the dietary guidelines. It is also a good source of calcium, vitamin D and fiber. Whole grains help with digestion and weight management and studies have shown that an intake of whole grain may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Aside from those benefits the bread taste great! The bread is baked fresh in regional bakeries across the United States to get the bread to you quicker. I love the fact that the company uses regional baking sites to get the freshest bread out to the stores. 

No matter what we were eating, if bread was needed we used the Roman Meal Bread. A few of my favorite ways:

1. Hard Boiled Eggs- Smashed up with a dab of butter. Toast Roman Meal and eat it with the eggs. 
2. Sandwich- Hard Salami, Swiss Cheese and 1 serving of Mayonnaise. 
3. Scrambled Eggs - Serve on top of the Roman Meal Bread.
4. Tuna Fish Sandwich - Mix 1 can tuna fish in water, 3/4 cup pickle relish, 1/4 cup Mayonnaise, 1/4 cup diced onions. Add on top of the bread and top with Sriracha Sauce. 

Their website is full of educational information about their products as well as tasty recipes. Here are a few I plan to make for my family. 

Rustic Italian Flat Bread Pizza

Prep Time: 8 Minutes   Cook Time: 2 Minutes   Ready In: 10 Minutes   Servings: 4    

Ingredients:
4	slices	Roman Meal Rustic Italian 100% Whole Grain Bread
16		Cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
3		Whole canned artichoke hearts, cut in quarters
¼	cup	Thinly sliced red onion
½	cup	Grated mozzarella cheese
½	cup	Prepared pasta sauce
16		Fresh basil leaves
4	slices	Prosciutto ham (optional)

Directions:
1.	Preheat broiler to 400 F. Foil-line one baking sheet.
2.	Place bread on baking sheet. Broil about 1 minute on one side, until lightly toasted. Remove from oven.
3.	Turn bread over and top untoasted side with tomatoes, artichokes, onion and cheese, dividing evenly between slices of bread. Return to oven for about 1 minute, until cheese is melted. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
4.	Top bread with pasta sauce, prosciutto and fresh basil, dividing evenly between slices of bread.

Whole Grain French Toast and Tropical Fruit Kabobs

Prep Time: 5 Minutes   Cook Time: 11 Minutes   Ready In: 16 Minutes   Servings: 6    

Ingredients:
2	large	Eggs, beaten
¼	cup	Milk
1	tsp	Vanilla extract, divided
6	slices	Roman Meal bread
		Nonstick cooking spray
1	tbsp	Granulated sugar
2	tsp	Fresh lemon zest
18		1-inch cubes Fresh fruit (kiwi, pineapple, mango)
6		6-inch bamboo skewers
		Yogurt and honey (optional)

Directions:
1.	Combine eggs, milk and vanilla extract in shallow bowl; mix well. Combine sugar and lemon zest in small bowl; set aside.
2.	Trim crusts and cut each piece of bread into quarters for a total of 24 pieces.
3.	Spray large skillet with nonstick cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Dip bread pieces in egg mixture, coating both sides. Place in skillet and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. Cook on second side for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown.
4.	Assemble 4 pieces French toast and 3 pieces fruit on each skewer for a total of 6 skewers. Sprinkle with lemon sugar. Serve with yogurt and honey if desired. Roman Meal has a sweepstakes going on right now. Hop over to their Facebook Sweepstakes this month where one grand prizewinner will receive $2,500. Other prizes include free bread coupons. This sweepstakes ends April 30th. Connect with Roman Meal on their Website, Facebook, Twitter and their Newsletter. You can also enter to win Roman Meal bread coupon vouchers right here on my blog. This giveaway ends April 20th, USA resident and 18 years of age or older. TO ENTER-  Leave a comment below and tell me if you have ever tried Roman Meal bread If so what did you like about it. If you haven't tried it why do you want to try it now? Enter the above sweepstakes and come back here and leave a comment telling me which name you used to enter the sweepstakes.