My Messy Kitchen:/

[Thriftylady]

Can you share a recipe for honey glazed chicken? That sounds delicious.

Sort of. I don't have a real recipe . I start with legs/thighs and bake them most of the way through on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. While baking, I make up a mix of olive oil, honey, seasoned salt, pepper and a bit of mustard in a small bowl. When most of the way done, I remove from oven and put in large bowl and drain the fat from the sheet. I pour the honey mixture over the chicken and mix it up some. Put the chicken back on the pan and bake until done spooning over excess honey mixture a time or two. I leave the skin on because hubby prefers it that way, but I don't care for the skin myself.

[Rachel]

I also do a lot of crock pot meals, and I don't cook when the kids are up. Either before or after, usually on a day off (and flash freeze) or the night before or in the morning. It takes some getting used to, but I always try to remember I'm cooking for 2 year olds, it doesn't have to be gourmet

[Play Care]

I also do a lot of crock pot meals, and I don't cook when the kids are up. Either before or after, usually on a day off (and flash freeze) or the night before or in the morning. It takes some getting used to, but I always try to remember I'm cooking for 2 year olds, it doesn't have to be gourmett

I *have* to clean my kitchen up after meals, and I plan meals to include clean up. My kitchen is just too busy for me to leave a mess until later. I plan simple, easy meals that the kids will actually eat (turkey roll ups, pb &j, homemade nuggets, etc) Meals that are made a head of time and don't require pots or pansAnytime I've tried to get fancy the food goes in the garbage and not tummies (which is fine once in a while but hungry kids are crabby kids...)
After lunch as the kids excuse themselves, I load up their plates and utensils in the dishwasher. As they get to their mats, I wipe down the tables and counters and quickly sweep. If I didn't have a dishwasher I would probably use paper plates occasionally to give myself a break.
I personally find it hard to relax at nap time (or in the evenings) if the space around me isn't cleaned up.

[finsup]

I guess to me I see the cleaning as something that comes along with the job. My husband works a full day too and the last thing he'd want to do is come home to a sink of dirty dishes to clean :/ but I do get it can be hard to get it done! I prep early when I can, and plan meal times to follow quiet times so the kids are either napping or playing quietly while I get it done. I get the big kids involved in helping too. I've had to make it work , not just for my husband (however that is important to me) but because the door the dcp's come it opens up to my kitchen. If it were messy, it wouldn't leave a good impression. For snack times you could use napkins instead of plates for some things. That could cut down on some dishes at least!

[mamamanda]

I don't expect my husband to help with the cleaning. I just struggle with having everything cleaned up before he gets home. He doesn't do anything "domestic." Cooking, cleaning, laundry, child care (for our own), that's all me. Sometimes its overwhelming to keep it all on an even keel & make sure everything is clean when he gets off work well before I do. I can keep most things in order & I teach the kids to pick up when they're done playing with stuff, but meal times are a source of stress for me. I do my "cleaning" & household chores after closing, but the kitchen is my nemesis.::

[mamamanda]

Napkins for snacks...that's a good idea!

[Rockgirl]

Napkins for snacks...that's a good idea!

It's what I do, too. Even at breakfast, if it's not too messy. Also, coffee filters are great for dry things that need to be contained.

[Baby Beluga]

Coffee filters for dry snacks work great and they are super cheap. I get 500 for less then $2.

[Baby Beluga]

It's what I do, too. Even at breakfast, if it's not too messy. Also, coffee filters are great for dry things that need to be contained.

Haha, posted at the same time

[Rockgirl]

Haha, posted at the same time

Lol--great minds!

[nothingwithoutjoy]

My routine:

Kids play w/limited toys (we've just come in from outside) while I cook/prep: books or whatever toy is on the coffee table.

After lunch, kids clear their own places. I used to have a "chicken bowl" (for scraps to be fed to chickens) on the door of my dishwasher; they'd scrape, then load dishes. I'd supervise. But my dishwasher got mad at me about the food that got in. So now the chicken bowl is on a low stool, and on another stool is a bin of soapy water. They scrape into chicken bowl, then put dishes in water.

After lunch, they go potty, wash hands, brush teeth, get books and go to mats. During that time, I move dishes to dishwasher, wipe table, wash pots (with interruptions to change diapers as needed). It's very busy but I'm always glad to have it all done! Once they're all on their mats, I finish the kitchen--counters, floor--and then join them to read to them before nap.

[finsup]

I don't expect my husband to help with the cleaning. I just struggle with having everything cleaned up before he gets home. He doesn't do anything "domestic." Cooking, cleaning, laundry, child care (for our own), that's all me. Sometimes its overwhelming to keep it all on an even keel & make sure everything is clean when he gets off work well before I do. I can keep most things in order & I teach the kids to pick up when they're done playing with stuff, but meal times are a source of stress for me. I do my "cleaning" & household chores after closing, but the kitchen is my nemesis.::

Ah I see! I misunderstood I thought you were leaving them for him to do and I was just like oh wow, my DH would not be impressed . Sorry for the misunderstanding! I do all the domestic stuff as well and feel like I'm still learning and improving on ways to keep up on everything. I actually like doing it most of time but def give yourself grace. Things will get done When we first got married, if there was a big mess I'd text my husband a "warning" so he expects it and knows I was working on it. I don't tink I really *had* to do that but it made me feel better .

[Unregistered]

Napkins for snacks...that's a good idea!

Coffee filters work great too and they're cheap!

[permanentvacation]

Coffee filters!...I never thought of that. That's a neat idea! Watch, we're all going to go out and buy coffee filters tonight! !

[Unregistered]

Coffee filters for dry snacks work great and they are super cheap. I get 500 for less then $2.

Love it!!! My dishwasher fills up too fast with plastics. This is a great idea and probably cheaper than running extra loads every day.