Making Eggs and Cleaning the Stove Top

I'm still not back on a schedule in the mornings...since every night is a new adventure with the baby:) This morning as I was making eggs for the 2 and 6 year olds I happened to get a good look at the burners...

BEFORE Look closer...

I have really been out of it to not have noticed them before now. They haven't been cleaned since I "nested" way back in January!

THE PROCEDURE
I pulled out the burners, stirred the eggs, removed the tin foil, stirred the eggs, wiped down the stove, salted and peppered the eggs...you get the idea.


THE TOOL

AFTER

I don't know about you but I feel much better!
And now it's on to making Project 7 happy :)

D asks the question Do you have a blind spot?

We all do! Look carefully. Here are a few typical ones.

*A messy kitchen desk in an otherwise orderly kitchen

*A porch or outside entryway into the home covered with garden soil, leaves, sand or Christmas tree needles

*Bathroom mirrors that are spotted

*Wastebaskets that are overflowing

*Interior of family car that is littered and soiled

*Dust on lamps and shades

*Fingerprints and dust on TV monitors and computer screens

*Cobwebs in corners of rooms and porches

Ugh--not only do we have Christmas tree needles in the basement entryway, but there are also some in the man room sink :( Lovely

Under the Stove

BEFORE...

And we thought under the washer and dryer was bad...

Poor poor Polly

A sock? Under the stove?


There's no getting around this...


or this!



THE TOOLS


Miss Polly cleaned up real nice!


THE PROCEDURE

I pretty much did the same thing as when I cleaned under the washer and dryer. That Quick Job worked its magic and after spraying everything down and letting it sit for a few minutes the grime and sticky stuff wiped right off. The wall and the back of the stove were pretty dusty so I shop vac'd, then wiped it all down.


AFTER...

This concludes the Stove/Oven Project!!!

Some of you may be asking, "But what about the drawer at the bottom of the stove?"

Well, I sent these...

...sorry excuses for pots and pans to the DI 2 weeks ago

because I got this...

...most amazing set of cookware from the husband's parents for Christmas! So when I changed out the old for the new I cleaned the drawer.

I SO LOVE these pots and pans...check out the little measuring marks inside the pan...in the past I've never bothered to measure what 2 or 4 quarts of water equals...I would just fill the pan and hope I was close.

And check out the built in strainer...it's the greatest thing ever!

I'll leave you today with an interesting story from D...

One evening a housewife was so tired that she decided to let the dinner dishes go until the next morning. A little later friends called and invited her and her husband to go square dancing that evening. She responded eagerly to the invitation and had a delightful time whirling around the floor. She wasn't tired of activity; she was just tired of doing the dishes. She needed a change. She needed some interesting activity to look forward to and to help her get through the dishes.

The rest of my day is a busy one...I need some interesting activity to look forward to, to help me get through the carpooling, laundry, grocery shopping and errands...maybe I could get the husband to take me square dancing.

The Oven

My problem with the oven is the only time I think to clean it is when I'm busy baking. Which is why in the 4+ years I've owned it I have never, not ever cleaned it.

You know it's going to be a good day when you are able to use all three of your crockpots!!! I was so excited I had to share--I learned today from my good friend Steph (http://www.crockpot365.blogspot.com/) that you can crockpot baked potatoes!! I had no idea! Aside from cleaning out the pantry, there is no bigger rush than having dinner in the crockpot by 9am!

OK, on to the stove. When I opened it this morning I found this...

I completely forgot I'd put this in the oven Tuesday. I was making these...

...for Aunt Tami's Birthday Tea Party and I knew the husband or one of the 6 cute kids would eat these extra sandwich pieces so I stuck them in the oven so they wouldn't dry out. If you were wondering, egg salad sandwiches do dry out after 2 days in the oven, and they change colors.



BEFORE...


Little tip...I always keep tin foil in the bottom of my oven, it would make for an easy clean up if I were to actually change it out on a regular basis.


See, this would be MUCH worse if there had been no tin foil.

The inside of the door was pretty bad.




THE TOOLS

I had to glove up twice today, once for the stove project and again for my meatloaf. I know for some people mixing meatloaf with their hands is therapeutic, I'm not one of those people. Speaking of meatloaf, have you ever tried replacing the ketchup in meatloaf with barbecue sauce--it's delicious!

I ended up having to use the spatula and Doobie, I mean Dobie scrubber too.

THE PROCEDURE

Basically I just followed the instructions on the Easy Off can. I sprayed down the entire oven, shut the door, and waited 2 hours. When it was time to wipe out the stove almost everything came right up but there was still some stuff that was pretty caked on so I sprayed it down again and waited another 2 hours. Next time I clean the oven I'll spray it on a lot thicker. Had I done that I don't think I would have had to do it twice. Of course, I may not remember if I wait another 4 years before I clean it again.

AFTER...

Check it out!!! You can see my reflection it's so clean and it glows!

Of course I put new tin foil down...

It really was an easy little project...the anticipation of having to do it was far worse than just doing it--which is usually the case for me.

I've been thinking about what D said about AMBITION...we lose it when our ideas are exhausted, we can find no new frontiers to explore, and when we have lost interest in our work.

I think she's exactly right. We homemakers need to look at the areas that wear us out and figure out how to make them a creative experience!

A few months ago I was getting frustrated with the "after dinner mess". After spending all that time preparing a meal I'd spend another hour or so cleaning it up. When school started last Fall I implemented a new rule that everyone had to stay in the kitchen and help until it was clean. The kids weren't thrilled but they cooperated for the most part. Now here's where the creativity comes in...I crank up the music (Viva la Vida is their current favorite) as soon as dinner is over and everyone busts a move...the little girls pull out the stools and use them as drums, mom shows the big kids some of her sweet dance moves and the kitchen gets cleaned in no time--and the best part...I get out of the kitchen before bedtime and we're makin' fun memories!!

So ladies, let's get creative and ambitious! (And if you have any ideas on how to get ambitious and creative when cleaning under the stove, I'd love to hear them.)

The Top of the Stove

After yesterday's project I decided I deserved an easy project so I chose to clean the top of the stove. As you all now know, I am not a chef (we all know a chef would never have an electric stove). I can say that I do keep the surface pretty clean...but the burners could use a little more attention a little more often.

BEFORE...

You'll probably need to take an even closer look...

And there it is...



It's not too bad, right?




THE TOOLS


Now would be a good time to mention my LOVE for this Quick Job stuff. Years ago I was sitting with my dad on his porch and a door to door sales lady stops by. I would have turned her away but my dad (who is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet and always lets the telemarketers give him their spill before he kindly says "No thank you") lets her give her demonstration...she cleaned stains on the carpet, cupboards, the driveway. By the time she finished me and my dad were sold and bought 3 bottles. It is my favorite all-purpose cleaner of all time! Thanks dad for not turning the Quick Job girl away!




Now I know that box says Dobie (probably pronounced "Dough-bee") but in my head I hear "Doobie" every time I think about these cute little yellow scrubbers and it makes me laugh.

THE PROCEDURE

Those of us with electric stoves know the tin foil drill right? Remove foil, soak metal plates (I'm sure that's not what they're really called, I have no idea), clean entire surface of stove and underneath plates (Go Quick Job!). Scrub metal plates if necessary (it usually is) and then dry, cover with new foil and put everything back where it goes.



AFTER...
I'm always mad that first time the Spaghetti or Potatoes boil over and mess up my nice foil.

I know, it's not all that impressive of an after picture but how can I top yesterday's project? Anything else pales in comparison.

Today we get to move on to FACET #2, another A word--AMBITION. D says everyone has occasions when they are exhausted, and justifiably so, but some people are always tired--they even wake up tired. If a physical examination proves all is well, perhaps a mental check-up would be in order. It is interesting to note as you observe ambitious people that the more one does, the more he is able to do because ENERGY GROWS WITH USE. D goes on to suggest that BOREDOM may be the problem. I can't remember the last time I was bored. Any time I even think of getting bored I get pregnant and then I'm cured. If any of you are feeling bored come to my house and I'll give you a project or two.

Tune in tomorrow for yet another kitchen project. I'm keeping it a secret but I'll give you a hint...I'm going to have to "glove up" for this one!