Sep. 11, 2008 - HITT ~ Dinners In a Hurry

 This post was also posted at Feelin' Feminine, a website for encouraging young ladies to become femininely modest.

If you are interested in Homemaker-In-Training Thursdays, then please go to The First Post.  We would love to have you join us!

Quick and Easy Dinners

You know the type of day that I am about to talk about.  It’s the kind of day where everything goes wrong.  The kind of day when you have a headache, and you wound up spending three hours at the grocery store, instead of the planned one.  On this kind of day, when you finally make it home from crazily carrying out all of your errands, when you get home, you just do not want to make dinner.  The little ones are crying that they are hungry, and you just want to crawl into bed. 

This is where quick and easy dinners comes into play.  You can’t eat beautiful laid out, perfectly planned dinners every day, especially on one of these kinds of days.

Here are a couple of recipes that you could try on one of those bad days.  We make these, so I assure you, they all taste fabulous!

Tacos

Tacos are wonderfully flexible.  You can use hamburger, strips of beef, chicken and even fish.  You can also top tacos with a ton of yummy stuff such as, sour cream, cheese, lettuce, salsa, hot sauce, Doritos, Frito’s, or re-fried beans.  For a different flavor, you could use the chicken, and use ranch dressing, lettuce, and bacon bits.  The possibilities are endless!

Hot Dogs

We have discovered many different ways to have a hot dog as well.  Of course you can always go the traditional route, or you can explore the realm of flavor.  My Dad invented the Garlic Dog.  You split the hot dog down it’s length, without slicing it all the way through and making it two pieces.  Then you open it like a bun, and fill it with diced garlic.  Toast it to desired crispiness.  We also exchange the regular mustard and ketchup for BBQ sauce. 

Hamburgers

Not much to say here.  It is quick and easy, however, and I don’t think I have ever been tired of eating hamburgers.  You can have a ranch burger, with bacon, or put BBQ sauce on it instead.

Super Salads

We sometimes have what we call Super Salads.  Fill a bowl or plate with salad, and then pile on the toppings!  We slice pepperoni pieces into fourths, lay them out on a plate, and microwave them until they are crisp.  Then sprinkle those over the top.  Dressings alone allow for a vast variety.  We also put cheese, bacon bits, diced sweet, and dill, pickles, olives, or hamburger on our salads.  Cubed chicken or beef is also a tasty treat.

Chicken

Take some chicken tenders, and place them in a 9×13 in. dish.  Cook in the oven for about 30 min. on 350°.  Make sure the chicken is quite done before you eat it.  Once again, toppings abound.  We put BBQ sauce, any kind of ranch, and other kinds of dips and dressings.  A couple of nights ago we had it with a cucumber ranch dip.  We also have it with Liptons Onion Soup Dip.  Frozen vegetables that have been heated up in the microwave make a great side dish.

There are many, many, many dishes that you can make in a hurry.  In fact, some people enjoy finding, and sharing, quick and easy recipes.  So here are some links to websites that list other recipes in this genre.

• Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes
• Cooks.com ~ Q&E Recipes
• All Recipes ~ Q&E Recipes
• Quick Dinner Recipes for your Family
• Easy Macaroni Salad Recipes
• Simple & Delicious Ground Beef Recipes

Quick and Easy is a popular theme these days, and so you can find these kinds of recipes all over the Internet.  If none of these links or ideas catches your fancy, just search the Internet yourself, and you are sure to find something.

Another thing you can do to make dinners a little faster for bad days, is to have some hamburger or whatever else, already cooked.  That way, you just have to heat the meat in the microwave.  Yet another idea is part of menu planning.  Plan quick and easy meals for some days, so that if something unexpected pops up, you can quickly change from making a refined dinner, to something fast.

However busy you may become, and however often you begin to use your quick and easy recipes, don’t forget the simple and beautiful pleasure of a carefully planned family dinner.  Know which days are your busy days, and which are your relaxed days, so that you can make it a priority to have a planned dinner on one of those relaxed days.  Sunday is a wonderful day on which to do this, especially if you invite someone over.

What are your quick and easy recipes?  What kind of meals do you come up with, spur of the moment?  Share them with us in a comment.  Also, if you have written a HITT of your own, please leave a comment and let us know, so we can all benefit and learn from them.

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Sep. 4, 2008 - Homemaker-In-Training ~ Efficiency, Motion Study, and Multitasking

If you want to know more about Homemaker-In-Training, then you can read the first post.  Please feel free to join us, we would love to have you!  This post has also been posted at Feelin' Feminine.

Ah, to be an efficient housewife.  Or, at least an efficient Homemaker-In-Training!  To be known among your acquaintances as a very efficient and capable woman.  That's what you want right?

The word efficient is an adjective, and it's general meaning is to do something with little or no waste.  Or, as Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary puts it, "productive without waste".  The word also has a slightly different meaning, but if you want to know that one, you will have to look the word up yourself, I am only using the above meaning!

Being productive without waste.  That sounds quite, well...efficient?  However, how does this nifty term apply to our homes, and how we take care of them?  How will this term help us even now with our chores and other daily tasks?

To be able to answer the above questions, I need to introduce you to another term.  Motion Study.  As you can read at this Wikipedia article, motion study is a process where the motions of a particular job are studied, and then evaluated, to see how efficient the job really is.  After the job has been studied and evaluated, appropriate changes are made to increase productivity, and efficiency.  It is quite an interesting subject really.

I think that you know why this would help housekeeping, or any job for that matter.  If you can minimize the amount of motions in an activity, then you are also reducing the amount of effort and time it takes to do the task!  It sounds pretty good, doesn't it, to be able to do your work with, well, less work.

However, I do believe there is a point where this could become ridiculous.  If you became obsessed with studying every action, to see if you make it more efficient, then I think you taken motion study beyond usefulness.  If this were to happen, then the whole idea would backfire.  You would have no time to do the things you are supposed to be doing, because you were too busy making more time!  I think that in a home, only the tasks that are time consuming, or unpleasant to do, are the ones that should be studied and worked on.

Another way to save time on things is to multitask.  For some that may be harder than for others, but here are some ideas.

1. Do it while watching TV or a movie.  Folding clothes or sorting something could easily be done without missing hardly anything of what you are watching.
2. Do it while talking on the phone.  In this instance, where your eyes are not engaged with the TV, you can do a lot more, but you do want to cut down on the noise.  Try dusting, or tidying your house, while chatting with your friend on the phone.
3. Do it while driving.  Okay, not you personally driving, obviously, but for those times when you are a passenger (younger people specifically), bring something along to do.  If you have to write a speech, or a dinner menu, or something else, take a notebook, pencil, and eraser along.  This is something that only some people can do though, because many get carsick if they do anything like this in while in motion.
4. Do it while listening.  If you like to listen to stories or sermons on tape or CD, then you probably already do something while listening to them.  I knit or crochet while listening to stories.  You could also do any other kind of handcraft, or clean your room.  I also do the dishes while listening to my mp3 player, or while my sister reads aloud.

I am sure that you can think of many other things that you can, or already do, multitask.  If you want to leave your ideas in a comment, I am sure they will be helpful for someone.

Efficiency, motion study, multitasking, they are all great time-management concepts.  I just need to start using them!

If you wrote a HITT and posted it on your blog, please leave a comment and let us know!

Copyright 2008 Defective Compositions

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Aug. 27, 2008 - Homemaker-In-Training ~ Keepin' On Top of Your World

This post has also been posted at Feelin' Feminine website, which I encourage all of my readers to visit.

You can read the first HITT post that explains the purpose of this meme, HERE.

You try organization, you try delegation, you try vaporization, yet all of the piles of stuff that you need to deal with keep coming back, infiltrating your life to a degree of madness.  At least, that is the way it is in our family, many a time.

Take our coffee table for example.  For a period of about a month, it will sit there, gather and collecting more and more various articles appearing to be magazines, mail, books, CD's, packages, papers, and any other general item that just hasn't made it home.

So, you ask, what is the secret to keeping the drop-off points in your house clean?  What is the magic formula that will bring order from the old, frantic search for lost possesions?

The secret and magic formula is a trick that is said time and time again, but believe me, if you do it, it works.  It something that is so simple in concept, yet extremely hard in practice.

Put things away.  Do it quick, do it now, and you won't have to deal with later!  Don't set it down, no, don't even think about setting it down. 

In other cases, don't leave it forever.  Dirty dishes, for instance, is something that you can't avoid, but you can prevent it from getting out of hand if you do it regularly.

The key is to keep on top of things.  Here  is a list of things you can do to prevent, and fix build-up.

1. Make it a priority to clean build-up spots at least once a day.
2. Sort through your mail while standing over the trash can.  Throw junk mail away right then and there that way, you don't have to worry about cleaning it up later!
3. Put a thin folder in an appropriate place.  Keep any papers that you need or want for the near future in it.  Make sure to go through the folder every once in while, and weed out old papers that you don't need anymore.
4. Now, if you have to leave something laying out where it doesn't belong, in my opinion, books would be it!  However, space, personal comfort, and order, may not permit that.  All I can say is, only read a few books at a time, and only leave them in your areas.  This means, when you are done reading for a while, go and set the book on your nightstand, or bed.  Even your current book must have a home.
5. Get or make a magazine rack for your current magazines, and set it in an out of the way, yet easily accesable place.  Of course, that is one of the most obvious tips of all time, but I am pretty sure it works.  For all of those back issues that you just can't part with, get or make one of those nifty magazine holders.  At Two Straight Lines, and The Chic Life you can get an idea of what I am talking about.
6. This tip is really for Mom's.  Delegate certain areas of your home to your children, to clean every day.  Then, every day, when you feel it is time, tell every one to mann, or clean, their stations!  You can read more about that HERE.

I know that those tips really aren't a lot, and maybe aren't that helpful, but why don't you try working on one or more of them this week.  I know that I am going to, because these are things that I really need to work on myself.  So how do I know that keeping on top of things works?  First of all, if you stop and think about it, logically you know it just does.  Secondly, I have been working on it lately with one of my chores, and it sure does help a lot!

So, if you have written your own Homemaker-In-Training post, sign the Linky and share it with us, so that we can all learn and encourage one another.

Copyright 2008 Defective Compositions

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Jul. 31, 2008 - Homemaker-In-Training #5 ~ To Your Stations!

If you are new, you can read the first Homemaker-In-Training post, HERE.

TO YOUR STATIONS!

This is probably a concept that many of you are familiar with, but I thought I might mention it all the same.  One of the biggest parts of homemaking is keeping the home clean, so that it is easier to do things, and pleasant to live in.  There are thousands of ways to do this, and I am sure that many HITT's will cover them, however, this is the method that we have been using lately. 

Each of us children in the family has a particular room in the house, other than our own bedrooms, that is our clean-up area.  This is the area that is our job to clean when the order is given.  In our house this works rather well, because we have four main living areas, and four kids.  I clean the kitchen, Bluejane takes care of the school-room, Kekoa picks up the living room, and Cheeko tidies the dining room. 

So, every time Mommy shouts, "Clean you Stations", we all run to the designated area and clean it up.  Then, we have a tidy house in only a few minutes!

Another method that Bluejane and I sometimes use in cleaning our room, is to set a timer for 15 minutes, and put on some fast-paced music.  Then, we tidy and organize and put away, and clean like crazy until the timer goes off.  It works very well, because in 15 minutes we can get a lot done in our room, and we hurry because we want to get more done before we run out of time!  It is kind of a fun way to complete a rather distasteful task.

Did you post a HITT?  Link it below, so that everyone else can read it!

Copyright 2008 Defective Compositions

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Jul. 24, 2008 - Homemaker-In-Training #4

That's right everyone, HITT is back!  I don't know how exciting that is for you, but I'm excited.  You can find the first HITT HERE.  I won't be able to post HITT every week, but please feel free to post it yourself!  There won't be a linky, but at least your own readers can benefit.

Conserving Water

This is an issue that not many people have to deal with, there are wells in abundance in the USA.  However, my family has to deal with it, and maybe someday you will to.

My family's property does not have a usable well; we use a cistern to hold water.  We have to pay every so often for a man to bring us water in a big truck.

Being able to make things last as long as possible is a good thing to learn.  Someday, you could be in a situation where you didn't have enough money to buy what you need, so have to stretch it.  I thought I would just share some of the ways that we do, have, or could, conserve water.  Maybe they will be helpful for someone, and it gives a good example of what I mean.

• Take fast showers.  We have six people in our family, and having all of us take showers twice a week uses quite a bit of our water.
• Reuse the shower water.  We plug our bathtubs and then shower like normal.  When we are done we scoop the water out and use pour it on our outdoor plants. 
• Use your dishwater for the same purpose as above.
• When you get a glass of water, drink it all.  Don't pour the rest down the sink, or leave it laying out where it could be spilled.
• Check appliances that use water.  Our dishwasher is one that we have to manually hook to the faucet, and it leaks.  We make sure to turn it off soon after it finishes, or else it continues to leak.
• Wash your car in town.  I don't know how much money this really saves, but it saves your water!
• Catch rain water in a barrel...no, just kidding!  We don't go that far!

Many of these don't really save that much more water, but at least they make you feel like you are doing a little to help!

Did you post a HITT?  Sign the Mr. Linky below, so everyone can read, learn from, and encourage you!

2008 Defective Compositions

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Jan. 24, 2008 - Homemaker-In-Training Thursday #2

Today I want to tell you about a really neat book that I had to read for school a while back.  It is called The Hidden Art of Homemaking, by Edith Schaeffer.

Although I wasn't quite sure about some of the authors theories, I really enjoyed the diverse subjects the book talked about.  It covers many topics that are more considered hobbies, than a part of homemaking, to most people today, but really can be useful in their proper places, and proper ways, in the home.  Topics include, writing, interior decorating, drama, drawing, gardening, clothing, and music. 

For instance, in the drawing chapter, Edith Schaeffer tells how she has used her drawing, to illustrate Bible stories to young children.  She also asserts the importance of practice, just like many others.  "Start somewhere."

I really recommend this book for those of you who would like to start a something, but either aren't sure if you would be good at it, or aren't sure if you have time, space, or money.

You can find this book at many of the booksellers online, such as Amazon, ChristianBooks, and Barnes & Noble.

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Jan. 17, 2008 - Homemaker-In-Training Thursday #1

Well, today, for the first real Homemaker-in-Training, I thought I would post (1) some things that I need to learn how to do, and (2) a way that I get things done in a day.

So here are some things that I consider to be something I should at least know how to do, even if I don't have to do them.

1. How to unclog the toilet.
2. How to bake a decent loaf of bread.
3. How to do the entire household's laundry.

These are some less materialistic things that I need to learn.

1. How to control my temper.
2. How to be a willing servant.
3. How to do menial tasks with a cheerful heart.
4. How to not procrastinate!

My second thing to tell you is a way that I get a lot of things done in a day.  The silly thing is, is that this is so orginal!  I write a list.  That's all, but it really helps me.  Most of the time, I never finish the list, but that kind of serves as a challenge for me to try and finish it the next time.

I put the simplest things on my list, especially if I am liable to forget them.  Anything that I need to remember to do, or need to make myself do, I put on the list.  It really does help me.

So, if you posted, sign the linky!

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Jan. 10, 2008 - Homemaker-In-Training Thursday's Debut!

Okay, this is a project that I have been working/thinking on, for several months.  Homemaker-In-Training Thursday (HITT, for people in a hurry) was designed for all girls out there to learn to become better homemakers.  I realized that there are a lot of things that I don't know how to do, that will be necessary when I am running my own household.  (Just a note on the side, isn't household kind of a cool word?  For me, it means that my house is my stronghold, a place where I can protect myself from the world.  I just thought that was neat.)

So, I came up the idea to work on some of that stuff, and then post about it, sharing with you how I learned to do it.  My schedule will be pretty loose.  I will probably not post every Thursday.  I also thought that other girls/women, would be interested in doing it too, so I am going to use a Mister Linky, that way, anyone else who participates, can go and look at how everyone else is doing.  Then we can encourage one another in our efforts to become a Proverbs 31 woman.

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