Getting Organized

It's that time of year when we start thinking about the things we want to improve for the new year.  Each year, one of my resolutions is to become more organized.  How about you?  I hear that "organization" is very high on the list of New Year's Resolution.

I am very pleased to say that Tupperware is making that resolution easier to keep!  Our wonderful pantry/cupboard storage containers, Modular Mates are on SALE, up to 50% off!  And, in addition to the red & blue seals, we once again are offering BLACK seals!  Hooray!  I can't tell you the times I have been asked for them...

Below, is a photo I took at Tupperware Jubilee last August.  If your cupboards or pantry look like the one on the left, I can help with that!  The cupboard on the right shows what the products from the left cupboard look like when they are organized, sanitized (bugs? yikes!), and modularized.  I'm sure you can see the value and convenience of having your staples stored this way.

Now, I have a gift for you!  Subscribe to my E-Newsletter (see the top of the right sidebar) and I will email to you a chart with sizes, shapes & container capacity for our Modular Mates!  You'll be able to decide which containers will work best for you.  I am always ready to help you with your custom kitchen planning, too!  Just click the "email me" button & let me know you'd like a phone or on-line consultation; it's FREE.

For those of you who already subscribe, just click that same "email me" button, and let me know you are a subscriber and that you'd like to receive the info too!

Be sure to come back next Tuesday, 1/3/2012, for a post about storage solutions for the very most expensive food item you have in your kitchen!

Composting?

We have been composting for several years.  Collecting kitchen scraps is an easy way to fortify that deliciously dark "food" for your soil and your fruits and veggies.  How to manage the scraps, not so much. 

I have seen lots of kitchen scrap bins that sit on the counter, but have been worried about odor & fruit flies/gnats.  Then at Tupperware Jubilee in August, I saw a demo that put those worries to rest.

Imagine it...I had the solution right at my fingertips in a box in my garage!  The Tupperware Access Mates® Large Container is perfect!  It has a tight seal, and a wide opening in the access panel.  It even comes with a a "Veg-Out" vented seal for potatoes, onions, etc., which is how I use them in my pantry.  I guess that's why I never thought of using one as a kitchen scrap bin?  By the way, the container corrals all the papery onion skins and dirt from potatoes, which is very helpful.

I learned that if you crumple a couple of sheets of newspaper and place them in the bottom of the container, it eliminates odors if you don't carry scraps out right away.  It is working perfectly for us! 

The container has a 5-qt. capacity, and is dishwasher safe.  (Just in case you forget it for a couple of days and get a "science experiment" growing inside.)

The container can be purchased on my shopping website <HERE>.  The cost is $35.00 and the seal colors available are Brilliant Blue & Passion (red).  Sorry, green is no longer available.

YUM! Salmon Carpaccio & Halibut Tartare

Every once in a while, I find a recipe that I know I will have to try.  The two pictured below are an example. 

I love sashimi, and I imagine that these are going to taste sublime!

Click HERE to view the recipes.

Source: newsletter.vitalchoice.com via Christine on Pinterest

Do you like raw fish?  If yes, would you be willing to give one of these a try?

BTW, if you have a great recipe for fish, raw OR cooked, please share!

Cook With Confidence!

I'm pretty excited about our NEW Tupperware Universal Series Knives! 

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE my Tupperware Chef Series Pro knives.  But sometimes, especially when I want to carry my knives to a picnic, party or even just into my own backyard, I worry over them.  My TW professional knives are the work horses of my kitchen and I go berserk if one gets improperly used (screwdriver?) or stored.

These new knives give high performance without the high price.  They are super sharp and each one comes with its own protective sheath which safeguards the knives during handling, storage & transporting.

There are two sets available, a 2-pc Starter Set for $59 & a Complete 7-pc Set for $189.  These are available for purchase now.  Visit my shopping website HERE and click on "What's New" to add these great new knives to your kitchen!

2-pc Starter Set - $59

7-pc Complete Set - $189

Thatsa Deal!

I know, I know...It is STILL summer.  But, with this deal from Tupperware, it isn't too soon to start thinking about your Holiday baking!  Besides, even in the dog days of summer, can you imagine how much potato salad or sliced watermelon you can pit in a 32-cup or 42-cup bowl?

This set consists of the 42-cup Thatsa Mega Bowl, the 32-cup Mega Bowl, Measuring Cups ( 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, and 1 cup) & Measuring Spoons (1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 tsp; plus 1/2 and 1 tbsp). 

You get all this great Tupperware for $39 plus shipping an tax!

That's a 50% savings!  You can also save 30% when you purchase the items individually.
 I'll even pay the additional $4.50 to ship it directly to your home! :o)

If you have been looking for BIG bowls and new measuring tools to add to your kitchen, there is no better time! 

Since I will be paying part of the shipping, I'll need to enter the orders.  If you are interested in purhasing, email me @ fettercini-thasadeal@yahoo.com, provide me a phone # & I'll call you to complete your transaction.

Happy Bratwurst Day!

Do you love Bratwurst as much as I do?

According to Wikipedia, Bratwurst is a sausage usually composed of veal, pork or beef. The plural in German is Bratwürste.

The name is German, derived from Old High German Brätwurst, from brät-, which is finely chopped meat and Wurst, or sausage. Though the brat in bratwurst described the way the sausages are made, nowadays Germans associate it with German verb “braten”, which means to pan fry or roast.  Bratwurst is usually grilled or pan fried, and sometimes cooked in broth or beer.

The following link to the Wikipedia page has some interesting info on the types & history of brats.

Wikipedia - Bratwurst

My brother lives in Wisconsin, where cooking brats is an art and a science.  He makes his own venison brats that are so delicious!  I prefer them grilled, with mustard of any kind. 

Speaking of mustard, here's a recipe that I copied from the web several years ago.  I can't figure out where I copied it, so if the recipe is yours, just let me know & I'll post credit.  And whoever you are, THANK YOU!  This stuff  rocks!


MUSTARD BEER BUTTER

Mustard beer butter goes well with grilled pork and pork products, especially sausages. That’s not to rule out grilled chicken or fish. Unwrap the roll and cut it crosswise into ½ inch thick slices. Place a slice on the hot grilled food.

This recipe will go great with sausage! What can be a better combo? This recipe brings together sausage, mustard, and beer! To reinforce the mustard flavor use three types: seed, powder, and prepared. The choice of the prepared mustard is up to you, a French mustard will give you a different flavor than a honey mustard … pick your choice. It will make for a great combo either way!

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons yellow mustard seeds
• 2 teaspoons black mustard seeds
• ¼ cup finely chopped shallots
• ½ cup dark beer
• 2 teaspoons wine or distilled white vinegar
• 2 teaspoons mustard powder
• 2 tablespoons prepared mustard, or more to taste
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) salted butter, at room temperature

1. Place both mustard seeds, the shallots, vinegar, and beer in a small saucepan and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a medium and simmer until most of the beer has evaporated and the mixture is thick and syrupy. for 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and cool to room temperature.
2. Place the mustard powder, prepared mustard, and butter in a mixing bowl and stir or whisk until light and fluffy. Stir in the mustard-beer mixture. Correct the seasoning, adding more prepared mustard or vinegar if needed.
3. Wrap, roll, and store the butter . this will make about ¾ a cup and will serve up to 12 people.

Happy Grilling!

Pasta Perfect in Minutes!

I am having so much fun with my new Tupperware Microwave Pasta Maker & 25 Pasta Creations Cookbook! 

My Summerfest Demo Table

Pasta Perfect, Oodles of Noodles, Lotsa Pasta Menu of Parties!

The weekend I brought my sample home from SummerFest, I made Shrimp Fra Diavolo.  The "Everyday Marinara" recipe is kicked up (cheers, Emeril!) with crushed red peppers and served with sautéed shrimp, over pasta.  I used gemelli.  It was delicious, and got two thumbs up from the husband and daughter!

Last night, I made the Chicken Picatta from the cookbook, and served over shell pasta.  This was a very easy recipe.  I took some photos along the way.  I hope you'll enjoy them!

Ingredients were easy and I keep most on hand.

Sauteed chicken breast slices; EVOO, salt & pepper.

Chopped a shallot & garlic - love my Tupperware Santoku knives!

Pasta & cold water in the microwave pasta maker, nuked for about 16 minutes while I made the white wine sauce.

Finished Product.

I forgot to take a photo of the sauce prep, and I was so busy getting the food plated, I didn't get a photo of the them either.  I promise, they looked pretty with the chicken composed over the shells and the chopped Italian parsley & lemon slices.

I loved it!  The white wine sauce is delicious.  My husband was less impressed.  His comment was "it's okay".  I'll qualify that by telling you that in his world, pasta should have gobs of red meat & red sauce!  I have plan-overs for another couple of meals for my daughter and myself.  He'll get tube steaks! :)

The pasta maker worked like a charm.  No boil over, and no watching and NO additional heat in the kitchen.  I'm hooked!

National S'mores Day!

For our family, S'mores present the fondest of memories.  From the time we were little kids, my family camped.  First, in a tent, then a trailer & then in my parent's dream 5th wheel.  No matter how luxurious the "abode, we spent most of our time outdoors, and never camped where we couldn't have a campfire. 

The campfire was a nightly tradition, which we all loved!  We sang silly songs, listened to my folks tell stories, and of course, ate S'mores!

Now, after all these years, anytime I bite into a warm, gooey, chocolaty S'more, I am transported back to those sweet times!

Since this is National S'mores Day, we're making S'mores tonight, for sure!  Mine may be in the form of a S'mores Martini...

No one is sure who invented S'mores, but it may have been the Girls Scouts.  (I'd like to think so...)According to the National Historic Preservation Center:

"We don't really have a history of how or when some-mores (or S'mores) were invented. Our records show only that they appeared first in our 1927 book Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts. The 1927 recipe for "Some More" calls for "16 graham crackers, 8 bars plain chocolate (any of the good plain brands broken in two), and 16 marshmallows."

Bless them, whoever they are!

For more info & recipes, click these links:

Best S'mores Dessert Recipes

S'moretini Cocktail

Tomorrow is National Watermelon Day!

I've been using a wonderful calendar from Gallo Family Vineyards, called "A Year of Family Favorites".  Each month features a delicious recipe, many of which I have tried this year. 

What has been really fun is that it also has all the national "food" days marked.  Tomorrow, Aug. 3rd, is National Watermelon Day!

I've been searching the internet for Watermelon recipes and thought I'd link to a few that I'd like to try. 

1. Awesome Summer Watermelon Salad

2. Watermelon Bloody Marys

3. Grilled Spicy Watermelon

4. Watermelon Scallop Ceviche

5. Prosciutto Wrapped Watermelon and Brie Fingers

For a real treat, visit the National Watermelon Promotion Board website > HERE.  It's loaded with recipes & photos that will have your mouth watering!

If you try any of them, please leave a comment and let me know if you enjoyed them.  Or, if you have a favorite of your own, please share. 

Raspberry Chipotle Baby Back Ribs

Erin at The Queen of Tarts Blog posted a Raspberry Chipotle Ribs recipe the other day that just had to be a part of my 4th of July menu! 

My family loves baby back pork ribs, and with raspberry & the tasty heat from the chipotles in adobo, I knew it would be a hit.

The sauce is so easy to make!  Took all of 5 minutes to assemble and mix the ingredients, then 5 minutes to simmer.  It is so good, everyone kept "tasting" it.  My husband even dunked a celery stick from the veggie tray in it.  He pronounced it, "mighty good"!

Leftover Sauce is a GOOD thing!

The BBQ King grilled the ribs to perfection.  But you'll have to take my word for it.  I was so intent on getting everything on the table, I forgot to take a photo until we were finished! Everyone LOVED these ribs!

DISCLAIMER:  Under normal circumstances, I would never show "after" photos of a meal.  But...



Raspberry Chipotle Ribs


As for the leftover sauce?  Erin suggested pouring over a block of cream cheese and serving it with crackers as an appetizer.  That is a definite possibility.  But it will more likely show up on grilled chicken in a day or two!

Please try these ribs!  If you like sweet/spicy BBQ, you're going to LOVE these!

Strawberry Cake

I promised a Facebook friend, Melissa from "Cooking with Mel" I'd post the recipe for my microwave Strawberry Cake.  Yes, I said microwave.  It was HOT here yesterday, but I wanted a dessert because I had invited a friend to dinner.  AND, I had strawberries that had to be used...if you know what I mean!

Below, are photos of the cake, one from the cookbook and one of my cake.

Cookbook Photo



My Cake


Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 pkg (18.25 oz.) yellow cake mix - I used white cake mix since that's what I had
3 eggs
1 can (21 oz.) strawberry pie filling - I finely chopped & macerated my own berries in sugar

Directions:
Prepare a microwaveable bundt/tube pan by greasing  and sprinkling with the granulated sugar.  Mix the cake mix and eggs together thoroughly.  Add the pie filling and mix until well blended.  Pour batter into the baking pan.  Microwave on High Power (100%) for 10-12 minutes, until the cake is just moist on top.  If your microwave doesn't have a turntable, you'll want to rotate the pan 1/4 turn, every 2 minutes.

I used my Tupperwave Stack Cooker for this.  I used the 3 qt. casserole with the cone.  In my new microwave, the cake only took 8 minutes.  Since microwaves are all different powers, you just have to experiment.  You can have a cake that resemble a brick if you overcook it. :o)




Stack Cooker - Click HERE for more info


You can combine just about any flavor cake mix and pie filling.  WARNING:  Yellow cake & blueberry filling give you something the color of swap water.  We'll not discuss how I know THAT!

You'll also notice that my cake doesn't have little piped bits of cream & strawberries.  No, we piled on the whipped cream, made fresh in my Whip 'N Prep (in about a minute) and fresh sliced strawberries!

Hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July!

Chill Out!

Summer is POPSICLE time! 

One of my favorite memories as a kid is my mom making fruit or pudding pops in her Tupperware Ice Tups™ Set.  Whether it was a grape or an orange bar, or the occasional chocolate pudding pop, it was always such a treat on a warm, summer day!

The tradition continues!  Tupperware's Mid-June sale flyer features the new Lollitups™ Set. 

Make fun, penguin-shaped fruit popsicles for your kids with this exclusive new product. Just add your own ingredients―fruit juice or purée, ice cream, flavored beverages or other treat. They’re easy to fill and simple to seal.

Lollitups stand on their own two “feet,” so there’s no need for a separate tray. To keep them from getting separated, simply clip their “beaks” together until ready to eat. Once removed from the mold, the cover becomes a base that shields against messy drips and sticky fingers. Kids can even stand them upright on a table before finishing.

• Set of six.

• Each Lollitup includes a cover/base and ¼-cup/65 mL mold.

• Make healthy yet delicious Lollitups using water flavored with natural fruit syrup, pure fruit juice; or try smoothies or yogurt or milk shakes.

• In Orange/Green.

• Dishwasher safe.

$24.00 per set  (Available online HERE)

The Mickey Mouse Ice Tups™ Sets are also still available HERE.

  Here's a link to a blog (that I love) with great ideas for frozen summer treats!  Lehman's Country Life

Unexpected Margaritas!

For any of you who are Matt & Shari fans, I'm posting the recipe for "Unexpected" Margaritas that I mentioned in the newsletter, a day late.  Sorry.  But, I'm sure you'll enjoy then just the same! *Ü*


It's warming up, and those outdoor meals and cool summer drinks are beckoning.  I love a pitcher of Sangria or a minty Mojito while sitting on my deck, enjoying a warm afternnon or evening.  But my new favorite is "Unexpected" Margaritas.  This is a Tupperware twist on the old favorite.  Some of my hostesses choose to make & serve these at their Salsa Celebration parties, and they're always a hit!

So... Break out your:



Go Green Salsa Collection














Then add your:


Chic Dining™ Stemless Wine Glasses














Or your:


Chic Dining Wine Glasses
















And have a PARTY!


Don't have any of the awesome Tupperware products shown?  Click on the photo to be taken to my shopping website for more information!
 
Now for that recipe. 
 
Unexpected Margaritas
 
1 - 12 oz. can of frozen Limeade (do not mix with water)
12 oz. gold tequila
1 can 7-Up
1 Corona Beer
Juice of 1 Lime
Lime wedges for garnish
 
Crushed Ice for pitcher
 
Dump frozen limeade into your:
  

Ice Prisms Pitcher




 
 









Fill the can with tequila (12 oz.) add remaining ingredients, add crushed ice & stir well. 
**Salt rim of glasses if desired. **
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Welcome to My New Career!

As some of you know, I am now a FULL-TIME Tupperware consultant.  Yay for me!

As of May 29th, my full-time corporate JOB ended. What a blessing that I already had a Tupperware career to move into right away! 

Now, I can spend my time doing what I really love.  I can focus on teaching busy families how the Systems and Solutions that Tupperware provides can truly simplify their lives.

 
• Do you love to entertain with ease AND elegance? Tupperware & I can help you do that!

 

• Do you need to organize your pantry, refrigerator or freezer?  Tupperware & I can help you do that!

 

• Do you need to know how to get healthy, delicious meals on the table in 30 minutes or less? Tupperware & I can help you do that!

 

• Do you need to learn how to cook once or twice a month to stock your freezer with quick & delicious meals for your busiest nights? Tupperware & I can help you do that!

• Do you need to learn how you can use Tupperware's brand name, well-loved, life-time warrantied products to Fundraise (online!) for your organization or cause? Tupperware & I can help you do that!

• Do you want to learn how you can add a extra $100 a month, $100 a week or $100 a day to your family budget? Tupperware & I can help you do that!

 

I hope you stay tuned to Today's Organized kitchen!  If you become a follower, you'll always know when there is something new.

I'll be posting recipes, hosting web classes about cooking & organizing, writing about fun "foodie" facts, sharing other blogs & resources that I enjoy, and letting you know about new products & sales.

This is my invitation to join me on my new journey.  Traveling is always more fun with friends alongside!