Episode #143: A Home Cooking Episode

Elsie: You’re listening to the A Stunning Mess podcast. This week, we’re chatting about residence cooking, our dream kitchens, and our most beloved household meals. We’re answering listener questions on controversial preferences and artistic tasks. 

Emma: Oh, yeah. 

Elsie: Okay, so I began listening to The Energy of Moments this morning, which is one in all our ebook membership alternatives for spring. This isn’t the ebook report episode. We’ll most likely do this subsequent week or the week after, however I simply needed to inform everybody, this ebook is unimaginable. It’s unimaginable. So I’m going to inform one story from it if that’s okay. It form of is like blowing my thoughts. It’s additionally a extremely brief learn. The audiobook was like, I feel it was like six hours lengthy or one thing like that. That’s like half the scale of quite a lot of the fiction books I learn. So it’s fast, you possibly can learn it in a day or a few days, relying in your schedule. So Oh my God, you’re gonna love this. So The Energy of Moments, it’s about the right way to make form of just like the belongings you bear in mind. There’s so many issues in life like typically there’s entire years the place you’re feeling such as you don’t bear in mind a person reminiscence however then there’s these little seasons the place you bear in mind each element. So it’s loads in regards to the variations between these issues, and how one can create extra of that in your life. Which is particularly attention-grabbing for me as a mother with little children as a result of they’re beginning to get to the age the place their core reminiscences are one thing that I take into consideration loads. Yeah, I wish to create extra core reminiscences, like what mother doesn’t need that. It’s a extremely thrilling factor. So he informed a narrative about this resort in California, I feel it’s known as The Magic Lodge, or the magic one thing, the Magic Fort Lodge. Anyway, it doesn’t matter the identify of it. Mainly, it’s an everyday wanting resort. It’s type of a middle-grade inexpensive household resort. He described it as being form of boring, it’s painted yellow. It’s form of cute, but it surely’s not like a hipster resort with like a ton of Instagram moments. It’s like a really fundamental wanting, should you consider a Vacation Inn, that’s what the rooms seem like, simply common. They’ve like a few issues they do which are actually particular and actually bizarre and it makes their evaluations so excessive and their buyer satisfaction so excessive. The issues are so on the pool, as a result of it’s quite a lot of households staying at this resort, it’s like close to Disney and stuff, on the pool they’ve a purple phone, and it says like popsicle hotline. All it’s a must to do is name it and somebody brings popsicles out to the pool on a silver tray. It’s simply so easy however so particular, memorable, and funky. Then there was this different factor the place like, you may name for room service, they usually’ll deliver you a choice of like little candies or one thing totally free. It’s similar to a enjoyable factor. It’s one thing that anybody may do however I don’t know, similar to a distinct technique. As a substitute of making an attempt to make their rooms cooler, paint extra murals or get nicer issues or fear in regards to the issues that one random particular person was complaining about, they did this particular particular factor.  I’m certain it’s like important effort to have a employees member there on a regular basis manning this hotline, however actually huge payoff. So anyway, I’m simply tremendous impressed to place extra issues like that into my life. I form of simply needed to offer a tough promote for everybody to learn this ebook, as a result of I can simply inform it’s like one of many huge ones, like a private improvement or self-help ebook that’s like a extremely particular one. I need everybody to learn it. Does that make you wish to learn it?

Emma: Oh, yeah. I imply, I used to be already going to however sure. Now I actually need a popsicle. 

Elsie: Sure, on a silver platter. It’s like so particular. I noticed an image of it.  I regarded up footage of the resort instantly. So I used to be like, is it actually as bland as what he’s saying? It actually was. It was simply easy and plain and the popsicles had been the freaking factor. Yeah.

Emma: It was the facility of that second.

Elsie: Yeah, it’s like a reminiscence. My children do, the issues that they bear in mind, it’s issues like that, for certain.

Emma: Even similar to urgent the button after they’re saying goodbye on FaceTime or simply little issues. It’s just like the little issues are particular.

Elsie: It’s true. Yeah. So anyway, I’m actually impressed now. Like, how can I add extra of that particular little magic into our life? I’m actually glad I’m studying it so early within the yr as a result of I really feel like there’s nonetheless a lot we are able to do that yr. I’ve been form of like, in a rut with feeling like, I need issues to be extra particular. So yeah, it feels actually good. Okay, we did like one meals cooking episode so way back and it was at all times Emma’s favourite. So I did this episode only for Emma, but it surely’s additionally for me, you will notice, but it surely’s positively like, I simply needed to do an entire episode about residence cooking. I do really feel like that by means of the pandemic years, I positively prepare dinner at residence much more than I used to. A results of having little children and different causes too, I’m certain. However my husband, it’s his primary interest. And dun dun da, I lastly began designing my kitchen yesterday. So I’m so enthusiastic about it. However the factor that I’ve been placing quite a lot of thought into is like, there’s all these, fancy little issues you may add to your kitchen design, that it’s like are seemingly so fantastic. For anybody who’s home store, it’s just like the kitchen is like the principle room that you just scrutinize, examine the drawers and examine how a lot you favored the home equipment and like issues like that. So anyway, however I really feel just like the factor I actually wish to maintain on the prime of my thoughts as we design the kitchen is the way it’s going for use. You recognize what I imply? Just like the issues that we actually prepare dinner, the traditions that we at all times do on a regular basis, like how can I make it extra excellent for that stuff? As a substitute of extra like excellent for Pinterest.  In order that’s the place I’m coming from this episode, I’m similar to fascinated with like what are just like the little particulars that make it magical. I simply wish to speak about like cooking, what we actually prepare dinner, we had a couple of questions on our most made meals and issues like that so we’ll undergo all of that. Okay, so do you’ve like seasons of your life? What do you suppose defines this like seasons of your life the place you’re feeling such as you’re cooking at residence on a regular basis versus seasons of your life the place you’re feeling such as you’re going out much more?

Emma: Yeah, I feel it might need to perform a little bit for me like climate after which busyness stage. Then now the entire new factor is like Oscar, so Oscar goes to sleep round seven. So usually, we don’t all eat dinner collectively proper now. It’s like he has his little fourth meal, snack time, after which as soon as he goes down Trey and I make our dinner and all that however ultimately that’s going to alter. So anyway, so I feel there’s form of like, these kinds of things however I do love cooking, although. So most likely, I don’t know if it’s greater than the typical. I don’t know. However I positively prepare dinner at residence loads and at all times have as a result of I simply take pleasure in it.

Elsie: Okay, so what are the issues that you just suppose make it just like the, whenever you’re like actually in your groove with residence cooking, what are the issues which are making it essentially the most sensible and essentially the most joyful for you? 

Emma: For me, I feel it’s my kitchen staying considerably organized and never too cluttered. Identical to my work desk, or anything in life actually, I simply get form of distracted if issues are tremendous messy. I’m not likely very sort A and I’m truly not the cleanest particular person ever, you possibly can ask my husband and like, I could possibly be fairly cluttery. But when there’s simply an excessive amount of visible muddle, I get actually distracted actually simply. So the kitchen staying form of organized is an enormous one for me. In order that after which apart from that, similar to having all the pieces you want, which I really feel like form of messes with the primary objective of preserving issues organized. It’s such as you wish to, typically you wish to purchase a couple of random elements as a result of it’s simply thrilling to have some issues round and also you may make up one thing random one night time whenever you’re cooking or no matter. However then should you do an excessive amount of of that impulsively, it’s overflowing all over the place. You’re like, uh oh. So it’s form of this ebb and stream on a regular basis of like, oh no, I’ve gotten method too many spices, what am I going to do? Then I’ll clear issues out after which impulsively, I’m like, effectively, it is a little boring. I would like some new spices. It’s similar to the cycle that you just form of are at all times backwards and forwards with a little bit bit like waves of the ocean. It’s like by no means actually stationary, tide is available in tide goes out, that’s my spice drawer I assume.

Elsie: That’s attention-grabbing. Yeah. I agree the organizing is an enormous a part of it. The opposite factor is rather like freshly grocery purchasing, the extra constantly I’m grocery purchasing. For me, there’s like an enormous distinction between if I grocery shopped only for that day or simply as a result of we didn’t have something or if it’s actually stocked. Like after I’m going to Dealer Joe’s is like the very best my kitchen ever is as a result of I get the freezers stuffed up once more. We love quite a lot of their frozen meals. It’s similar to, they simply have like all of the staples and I really feel like after I go to the opposite grocery shops, I’ll be simply getting issues for like a day or two. Okay, I needed to share a little bit bit about like sharing my organized fridge on Instagram, that is form of humorous. So a few weeks in the past, I posted a video I did fridge group for the primary time ever. I don’t suppose I’ve ever had this kind of group earlier than, the place it appears fairly like a Pinterest image.  Okay, so I’ll say the professionals and cons after which I’ll say how individuals responded. The one con I’d say is that you just do want to maneuver such as you put the organizers in, the plastic bins and stuff like that, it is advisable transfer it round loads. I don’t even know if it’s a con. It’s simply one thing that I needed to get used to is that like, it’s going to alter each week a little bit bit as a result of we don’t maintain the very same fridge staples each week, possibly some individuals do, however we don’t. So yeah, it’s gonna change a little bit bit. I feel that’s not an enormous deal in any respect. Nevertheless it form of bugged me at first as a result of I used to be making an attempt to squeeze issues into bizarre locations. Then I used to be like, you understand what, I truly suppose one shelf with no organizers is what I need. So I assume I’m simply nonetheless like, entering into, discovering the groove. There’s actually so many professionals, to begin with, there was moldy stuff in there. Everybody’s fridge who’s not, I imply possibly you’re like a greater human than me, however most individuals’s fridge is gonna have one thing in it that’s expired, proper? Like one thing outdated within the again or no matter. 

Emma: Some jar of one thing and it’s at all times the second you go to make use of it. You then’re like, had this expired a yr in the past and also you’re like, oh no.

Elsie: Then the opposite factor I felt actually impressed about is that, so my husband has an enormous assortment, you couldn’t actually inform this from the image, how huge it’s, however like of Chinese language, it’s not likely spices, like condiments, It’s like Asian cooking condiments, they usually’re principally Chinese language. It’s similar to, little jars of like, paste and issues like that so that every one these organized collectively, and he can actually see what he has. I used to be actually happy with that as a result of earlier than it was like they had been form of all around the fridge. So yeah, getting issues organized by part, actually, like there have been no cons aside from that the subsequent week, I form of wanted to reorganize it once more for the brand new groceries. Like possibly that’s simply what you get used to is that every time you get new groceries, you spruce it up once more. Perhaps you don’t at all times want the bins like you may put a few of them away and produce them again out later. I assume that’s most likely simply part of it that I simply didn’t know. So let’s speak about individuals’s responses. It bought so humorous and a little bit bit bizarre on Instagram.  I didn’t take it personally. Yeah, I didn’t take it personally as a result of it’s not the form of factor that I really feel like I must take personally. However the best way that I posted it, so I had made a reel of like earlier than and after with my fridge wanting unhealthy and my fridge wanting actually fairly. However the best way I posted it was like the primary slide was an image of the fridge and it mentioned like, do you want organized fridges? It was like 50% sure, 50% no, or one thing like that or possibly it was like extra nos. It was like lots of people saying no.

Emma: I put no as a result of I at all times troll you on Instagram. That’s what I do. 

Elsie: Then due to the best way I introduced the knowledge with the primary image, I feel lots of people didn’t know that that was my fridge. Then they like despatched actually imply DMs about how the fridge which is admittedly humorous however truly straightforward to roll off as a result of it’s prefer it’s only a fridge. Essentially the most factor that individuals say is that it’s unrealistic or individuals aren’t going to make use of these items or that it may possibly’t keep that method. It was actually actually enjoyable and I’d advocate if you wish to do like A Residence Edit wanting organized fridge, I’d advocate the venture 10 out of 10 as a result of why not attempt one thing like that. The stakes will not be excessive and should you don’t maintain it prefer it doesn’t keep excellent, who cares? At the very least you’re like cleansing out your fridge, it is advisable clear it out anyway, proper? Like wipe it and eliminate outdated stuff and also you’ve carried out that like, so I truly don’t perceive why persons are so heated about it. Nevertheless it wasn’t superb.

Emma: Sure, effectively, okay, I’ll say yet one more factor earlier than we transfer on to dream kitchens, that has to do with like, you understand, should you’re in a season of cooking and stuff. We’re form of speaking about grocery purchasing and I feel that form of leads into meal planning. So right here’s a little bit tip and I feel I’ve proven this on Instagram earlier than, however I actually neglect, each time I get a brand new cookbook, I instantly wish to take a look at it as a result of that’s what you do whenever you get a brand new ebook, clearly. However I take little posted tabs, and I mark the entire recipes that I wish to make. So then every time I’m making my grocery listing and meal planning, particularly if I’m feeling a little bit little bit of a rut, like, oh, I make the identical dinners each week, and I’m a little bit bored. I’ll actually discover that if I begin not utilizing the groceries that I purchased and ordering extra takeout. And it’s like, oh, you’re bored and also you’re similar to form of being wasteful now. So like, let’s change up what you’re cooking for dinner. So anyway, then I have already got my cookbooks have the little tabs and it’s simply quicker and simpler to be like, oh, okay, effectively, right here’s three dinner concepts from this new cookbook, which one do I wish to make this week or no matter. Then I’ll write down on my grocery listing issues that I may not have which are within the recipe. I don’t know, it’s similar to a little bit factor and I additionally simply love seeing them on my shelf with all of the little tabs protruding, the little post-it as a result of it simply makes me so excited for all of the issues that I can prepare dinner. I don’t know. It simply will get me actually jazzed for cooking so there you go.

Elsie: I really like that.

Emma: I do with magazines too. 

Elsie: Are you able to say actual quick what’s your most up-to-date greatest cookbook?

Emma: I imply, the factor I’ve been cooking from essentially the most just lately was two issues. One was like a vacation version of Pleasure the Baker’s journal. They simply had a couple of recipes in it and I’m nonetheless making them and it’s not even holidays however I’m simply into it. Then one other one known as On a regular basis Dinners and it’s from Jessica who does Home Candy Eats and that’s her weblog. Because the title suggests, it’s fairly easy, however actually scrumptious dinners that you would be able to make in the course of the week in order that they don’t take hours and hours. They’re easy however nonetheless very flavorful and good.  I’ve so many posted tabs of issues. There’s one recipe although, particularly, within the ebook, it’s like a sheet pan cashew rooster. I’ve made it a bunch of instances for meal trains when pals have infants. Apparently, I’ve quite a lot of pals who’ve had infants this yr as a result of I’m like, I’ve made that loads. I’m like, oh, yeah, effectively, everybody had a child this yr. 

Elsie: Good. I’m gonna attempt the post-it notes factor. I simply bought a brand new cookbook the opposite day, and I haven’t even had an opportunity to take a look at it but. I’m going to do your tip and see if it makes me make extra recipes.

Emma: That’s enjoyable. We’re going to speak about dream kitchens. That’s what’s subsequent. All proper.

Elsie: Okay. I’m actually excited on this. Like I mentioned, I’ve been designing my dream kitchen. I can speak about all of it day. However first, I needed to ask you, apart from hidden trash, everybody is aware of your hidden trash obsession, apart from that what are your dream kitchen options? Do you’ve extra the place that got here from?

Emma: Sure, I’ve a reasonably lengthy listing. Strap in. 

Elsie: Inform us all the pieces. I really like these items. I like it. 

Emma: Yeah, so I’m not likely like designing a kitchen in the mean time so this was really form of simply the dream for the longer term. So a few of these are like half-baked concepts, however I’ll simply undergo them. So we’ve already talked about hidden trash, no want, be at liberty although. Somebody to make me a t-shirt that claims hidden trash for all times as a result of that’s like, the place I’m at.

Elsie: It sounds actually unhealthy. 

Emma: It does. It sounds horrible. It’s like skeletons in your closet or one thing, I don’t know. Okay, so I’m additionally actually into high quality hood of some form. So we frequently broil issues or prepare dinner issues on very excessive warmth, and it may possibly get very smoky. So a high quality hood is an enormous deal to me. In my final home, we didn’t have a hood in any respect and it drove me nuts. It was so annoying. So I’m similar to that’s like a factor. I’ve additionally seen the place you probably have a structure the place a hood simply isn’t going to work, Elise, our third sister, had one in her present residence, the place it form of like pops up out of the counter, you press a button.

Elsie: I feel it’s known as a downdraft possibly.

Emma: It will possibly form of suck the smoke or no matter, cooking fumes, after which you may press a button, it goes again down into your counter. I feel that may be a fairly cool possibility too. Okay, so additionally here’s a controversial opinion and I’d love to listen to what different individuals suppose. So I’ve had an electrical vary earlier than so like stovetop cooking electrical. I’ve additionally had gasoline the place there’s extra of a flame just like the gasoline activates, after which it ignites a little bit flame. Gasoline is like what everybody says is nicer and higher and I simply don’t prefer it as a lot.

Elsie: I feel it’s higher.

Emma: I like electrical. We’d return to that sometime and it’s bizarre as a result of it doesn’t look as cute.

Elsie: What are the particular issues that you just like higher about it?

Emma: I really feel prefer it heats water should you’re like going to be cooking pasta or something the place it is advisable boil water, I really feel prefer it heats it a lot quicker. It will warmth issues extra evenly as a result of I’ve observed like our pots and pans, they get so scorching, and like no matter’s in them continues to be not that scorching. I’ve to make use of like a potholder to seize the deal with of the pot and I didn’t use to have to try this with an electrical and the contents would nonetheless be heat. So possibly it’s our vary, I don’t know. However we would return to electrical sooner or later, I don’t know. I don’t actually love the look of it as a lot and it’s not as straightforward or I don’t love cleansing them as a lot. It’s not as cute in any respect as a gasoline vary. Then additionally we use our air fryer a lot. I talked about my air fryer. I simply wrote a put up about favourite air fryer meals and I did this like Instagram actual just lately. So I really feel like I’ve talked an excessive amount of about my air fryer already however I’m like Emma, don’t go too deep, don’t go down the fryer rabbit gap. We use our air fryer each single week, a number of instances every week, and it’s a kind of home equipment that form of sits out on the counter on a regular basis as a result of we use it so usually and ours is superior. It really works so nice. It has two bays, but it surely’s not the cutest factor. It’s not like my favourite wanting issues sitting out on the counter.

Elsie: Have you ever seen the Drew Barrymore one? 

Emma: Sure. Nevertheless it’s not a double, but it surely’s so cute. 

Elsie: There’s a double 

Emma: Oh, she has a double. 

Elsie: There’s a double. 

Emma: Okay, I’m . 

Elsie: I’m considering getting it. It’s the attractive model so we’ll hyperlink it within the present notes. It is available in quite a lot of colours. I do know they’ve like a grayish, a grayish and a inexperienced. We’ve used our air fryer to dying as effectively. I’d say we most likely use it daily. I’ve just lately been fascinated with since you might be such an enormous fan of the double I used to be fascinated with an improve.

Emma: I really like the double a lot. Yeah, in order that’s type of my grievance with it and I’ve thought of getting a spread that like has an air fryer in it. I’d love to check it first. I don’t really feel bought that it’s going to be the identical as a small equipment that you just plugin.

Elsie: I don’t perceive. 

Emma: Yeah, that’s the place I’m at is I’m like, if that is good, then I’d like it as a result of it means much less muddle on the counter tops, however I simply don’t consider it’s. I don’t see the way it could possibly be so I don’t really feel bought on it however I’m . So let’s keep in mind that. Additionally, I’d like to have an island sooner or later, with stools on one aspect. So we used to have a peninsula, which was nice however I observed that anytime I’d have a big group of pals over the peninsula simply makes it the place you may’t flow into. Individuals would form of get trapped in a single space or the opposite. 

Elsie: Islands are positively higher. I had a kind of as effectively. I feel islands are the best way. 

Emma: Sure, and it doesn’t work for each structure in each home, clearly. I couldn’t put an island in my present residence so that is simply on the dream listing. So I’d love an island sooner or later, and I’d love a little bit extra closed storage. Then I additionally would actually love, so one factor that we don’t have any greater than we used to have that I miss, is a little bit fridge. We had a little bit fridge that was constructed into our cupboards, we mainly changed a trash compactor that we weren’t going to make use of, we put a mini-fridge in there. That was the place we’d put all of our Lacroix or Bubbly or no matter all of these cans. Then I’d often have like one or two bottles of like white wine. So it was similar to I at all times had chilled white wine. If somebody ended up coming over one thing like that, then I already had it within the fridge. I form of miss it as a result of our fridge, an enormous a part of our fridge is taken up by all these cans. So I’d virtually like to have a small fridge that’s form of only for drinks that possibly additionally has a pleasant icemaker. 

Elsie: Hell yeah. 

Emma: In order that after which I feel that’s mainly it. Yeah, I already mentioned extra closed storage, simply so not all the pieces must be excellent the entire time. Nevertheless it’s good to arrange issues and I do but it surely’s simply good to have a little bit of shut storage. Only for like home equipment or like random little issues that you just’re like, oh yeah, I need a waffle iron however I don’t actually wish to see it on a regular basis, similar to stuff like that.

Elsie: True. Yeah, I don’t use my waffle iron hardly in any respect, like not even as soon as a month. So I’d know when it’s sitting out the place I may see it.

Emma: Yeah, or like on a shelf the place you may see it on a regular basis the place it’s like, I don’t neglect that I’ve that so I don’t must see it on a regular basis. I like to have the ability to see issues that I would neglect. So yeah, however not a lot that waffle iron or small issues like a popcorn maker. 

Elsie: That was a extremely good listing. I actually favored it. I’m gonna use a few of these concepts as a result of I wish to steal your concepts.

Emma: Do it. 

Elsie: It’s one in all my traits. 

Emma: Additionally, plenty of retailers. A lot of retailers, put an outlet all over the place so you may plug issues in.

Elsie: That’s a good suggestion. Okay, so I’ve simply began designing my kitchen. So okay, my largest hang-ups I’ll speak about my little challenges after which I’ll speak about my dream stuff, however my hang-up is 2 issues. To start with, I really feel like we have now a good funds for our kitchen but it surely’s not a limiteless funds, and costs the place we dwell have gotten so costly. So I do must do like a splurge and save state of affairs like I would like to select the place the upgrades are and the place we’re saving. I feel that I need the splurge to be on the home equipment, so I’ve been researching lower-end cupboards. Additionally, that’s the principle factor, I assume I positively most likely received’t do tremendous costly flooring tile, I’ll keep affordable in like so many areas. However yeah, I wish to hear what everybody thinks about this example. If your home, like our home for the worth of it within the space and stuff prefer it ought to be aspiring to be at the very least like a luxurious kitchen. So is it okay to do the Ikea cupboard factor with the customized fronts in a kitchen like that? That’s what I wish to hear individuals’s opinion on as a result of I’m form of fascinated with it and I don’t suppose I’d suppose that that was like a downgrade. However I do know quite a lot of cupboards are customized. We’ve simply constructed a few of these in different components of our home so like, I understand how that’s. I perceive why they’re helpful. However I must discover a place that doesn’t matter as a lot to chop some prices. So like, is that okay, what do you suppose?

Emma: I imply, I feel so. So two ideas is one I wager you should you’re frightened about resale sooner or later, I wager you there’s lots of people who can’t inform the distinction. I feel there’s positively individuals who can however I feel there’s additionally quite a lot of patrons who wouldn’t know, they might don’t know. So not that you just’re making an attempt to idiot them however I simply imply, I don’t know if everybody actually notices that. But additionally, then again, I form of acknowledge like, I’m not a high-end particular person. So typically it’s straightforward for me to suppose like, oh yeah, nobody will care about that when like truly, individuals may, however I simply don’t have that perspective as a result of I’m simply not a luxurious particular person. Not that I don’t aspire however that’s simply not like how I grew up, or how I take into consideration the I don’t know. 

Elsie: I assume the higher query is like, do you suppose it’s extra vital to have customized cupboards, or do you suppose it’s extra vital to have fancy home equipment? 

Emma: Fancy home equipment. 

Elsie: Okay, that’s what I feel. I feel that that’s, that’s what it’s coming all the way down to. Clearly, if I can do each, I’ll, however most likely, possibly that received’t occur. My different primary factor that I’m developing in opposition to is, I do know that I don’t wish to do an all white kitchen. However I additionally know that I don’t wish to have a busy like, I do know that I don’t need a sample. I do know I don’t need totally different colours of cupboards, most likely. However I’d take into consideration like a mixture of white and wooden or paint and wooden. So I assume my subsequent problem is is wooden a shade? You recognize what I imply? Like, if I do like a white kitchen with quite a lot of wooden, does that rely as like not a white kitchen, or do I must do one thing that’s a little bit extra colourful? I don’t suppose I’d do like a daring shade however I’d do a delicate shade. I’ve been fascinated with that like that. These are my huge hang-ups, that are like very huge image issues. However I really feel like I do know what I need for the main points however I don’t know what I need for the large issues, which is complicated.

Emma: Yeah, that’s attention-grabbing.

Elsie: Okay, so ship me a message and inform me what you suppose you probably have sturdy opinions about that form of factor I’m very curious to listen to. So so far as like dream kitchen particular issues, I actually need like a kind of stunning Italian stoves. That’s like white and gold. That’s like my dream range. So I don’t know if I’ll do this a number of like well-known model, possibly. I’m between that. I positively agree with you want a wine fridge is the very best thought ever. Our beverage fridge is likely one of the issues about our kitchen that’s like primary greatest and most used and helpful. It’s like a crowd pleaser when individuals come over everybody simply loves that there’s like so many issues to select from in order that’s enjoyable. I’d by no means have the ability to maintain that many drinks in our home with out it. So I agree with you in regards to the hood. I need a hood with the little nooks the place you may cover the oil to the edges, such as you look inside it into the edges there’s little shells. I actually favored that concept and I feel that our oil proper now could be like up in cupboards. It’s like we use it a lot that it simply makes extra sense for it to be proper there by the range. The opposite factor I’ve been fascinated with is my husband, he cooks most likely greater than me. I’d say bake much more and he cooks much more and he actually likes the griddle issues on stoves, when there’s like a panel within the center the place you may make like pancakes and you are able to do like tortilla shells and issues like that. He actually likes that. So I feel we’ll positively discover an equipment that has that possibility. However yeah, I’m so enthusiastic about it. However I primarily simply need it to be like essentially the most Christmas cookie-making kitchen of all time just like the reminiscences are a lot extra significant to me proper now. I like the concept of creating a flowery kitchen however in some methods, I like don’t care. You recognize what I imply?

Emma: I’m the identical. I’m similar to, I simply need it to be actually helpful as a result of it truly is the place you hang around loads.

Elsie: So subsequent query.

Emma: Do you’ve any go-to occasion throwing suggestions?

Elsie: Hell yeah. So I just about attempt to maintain stuff in my fridge to make a cheese board on a regular basis. That’s simply what I do now as a result of I really feel like we are able to at all times use it earlier than it expires. Generally we simply make them on a Sunday, like as our dinner.

Emma: Precisely in my notes is like that after which developing on the define is like your final at residence date night time or at residence household night time and I’m like, expend the cheese board stuff if no person’s come over.

Elsie: It’s the factor. Yeah, like so many instances prior to now, somebody would come over unexpectedly and I felt like I didn’t have something. I really feel like now with my cheese, there’s like a cheese drawer in our fridge, with the cheese drawer. Then, in fact, we at all times have crackers after which the drink fridge, I really feel like we may have a celebration any time which is the very best feeling ever. It’s not likely losing something as a result of we at all times do eat the cheese similar to ourselves. Y

Emma: Us too. Yeah, effectively, like make a cheese board for dinner with no matter else we have now round or no matter. It’s superior. Yeah. I don’t learn about you however like rising up, I bear in mind sure individuals’s mother and father, like sure individuals’s mothers or dads who at all times appear to have baller snacks whenever you would go over. 

Elsie: I keep in mind that too. 

Emma: I at all times thought they had been like, cool and fancy. I used to be like, wow, they simply have these items. That’s so like, whoa, I don’t know, such as you’re a child and also you’re impressed by something, I assume. However now I’m like, all proper, right here’s my probability to be that mother.

Elsie: It’s your probability. Yeah, it’s all of our possibilities. I really like that. 

Emma: Oh, and I needed to point out, I just lately purchased some new cheese knives from Etsy. I’ll hyperlink them within the present notes. However I wish to describe them a little bit bit. In order that they’re manufactured from wooden and it was like a set of, I feel six or seven. They seem like knives, aside from one in all them appears like a tiny ax, and like I mentioned they’re manufactured from wooden. They’re nice for cheese. Like we’ve used them a bunch of instances already. But additionally they’re not truly sharp. 

Elsie: Yeah, that’s positively one in all my cheese board suggestions is mainly like, should you want a knife like simply minimize it forward of time. Simply minimize it up and put it on there. Don’t depart a tiny, tiny little steel knife for individuals to chop a block of chatter with as a result of then they simply received’t use it. The gentle cheeses will get eaten and the opposite one received’t which is like not cool. So, yeah, cheese suggestions. Okay. To be sincere, we have now not had a ton of events, but. We moved throughout COVID. I’m wanting ahead to having extra sooner or later. However most of our events to date have been pool events due to having a pool. Additionally similar to plenty of pals with children and likewise that’s similar to what makes individuals wish to come to our home for that. If in case you have a pool or should you simply wish to have like an outside porch occasion, there are a few issues. The primary one is so there’s these little like meals tents. Have you ever ever purchased one in all these like meals tents? 

Emma: No. 

Elsie: Okay, so it appears like, it appears like a little bit tent. I’ll hyperlink it within the present notes. So it’s similar to a little bit mesh factor. So should you make a cheese board or one thing or a veggie tray and you’re taking it exterior, you may put this little tent over it and no flies will have the ability to contact it. It may be on the market for like an hour as a result of it’s gross to depart snack meals exterior for a very long time after which eat it. These are like the very best factor ever. I’d positively advocate them. 

Emma: That’s cute. 

Elsie: However yeah, I’m so excited to throw events once more. I do really feel prefer it’s like too late to have a housewarming occasion. However I additionally really feel like possibly we should always nonetheless have one as a result of most of my pals haven’t been over right here but.

Emma: I don’t see why it’s too late. I additionally suppose every time you get a significant renovation carried out even when it was like simply your lavatory, possibly it is best to simply have a reveal occasion. Simply go forward and do it. Why not? 

Elsie: That’s cute. Yeah, that’s what I must do.  Okay, so the subsequent one is that this query is definitely requested a lot and I don’t suppose we’ve answered it, however are similar to most repeated meals like week within the life, what do you prepare dinner at residence like on a mean week?

Emma: Sure. So I’ve 5 issues. One in every of them’s a lunch, however then 4 are dinners. So the lunch factor is I make this like deli-style tuna salad and I’ll simply eat that with like crackers, and even carrot sticks or no matter for like days. It’s similar to, when you make it, it’s simply in your fridge so it’s like you may have actually quick as a result of that’s form of my factor. Until I’m consuming lunch with a good friend or one thing, I simply wish to eat a extremely quick lunch as a result of I’m similar to making an attempt to get all my work carried out or possibly I’ll have time to go on a stroll then or no matter. I’m simply by no means like, oh, I wish to sit down and have an hour-long lunch break simply to myself like I simply don’t really feel that method. Until I’m assembly with somebody, I’m simply desirous to do one thing quick. In order that’s like one thing I make pretty usually making it this week once more, in order that. Then listed here are 4 dinners which are on heavy, heavy rotation, like we have now these virtually each week we have now all 4 of those virtually. Some form of stir fry as a result of as everybody is aware of, or should you don’t, I’ve a dream of creating a TV present sometime known as So You Suppose You Can Stir Fry? Not likely. However I do love stir fry so you may like throw something collectively to nice one for like leftovers. You too can stir fry with noodles or with rice. I’ve an entire put up that’s like constructing the right stir fry and I can hyperlink that up. It has form of a faux meals pyramid that I made for it simply to visualise the entire thing. Anyway, so love stir fry. We additionally do air-fried rooster wings on a regular basis and we do broiled steak, which each of those I’ve weblog posts for I can hyperlink them. These are two issues particularly the steak, that’s a dinner that Trey makes at all times as a result of I’m not accountable for the steaks as a result of I mess them up. However rooster wings, both of us will do this, and stir fry both of us will do this. Then additionally about as soon as every week I make some form of selfmade cashew rooster, which I’ve a cashew rooster sauce put up in our archives on the weblog. However I don’t often bread the rooster. Right here in Springfield, Missouri, there’s like very breaded cashew rooster and it’s scrumptious. Let me simply say that. However that’s not the model I do for residence as a result of it’s similar to a deep-fried factor and I don’t actually do deep frying at residence, as a result of simply too smelly. However yeah, so that is like baked rooster that’s often not even breaded, but it surely does have some form of cashew rooster sort sauce after which rice. I wish to put actual cashews in there and issues like that. So yeah, after we bought married, we had been each mainly vegetarians, and now all our meals are like meat, meat meat. Who is aware of, life’s bizarre, life’s lengthy.

Elsie: Life is bizarre. Yeah. I truly suppose I don’t prepare dinner that a lot meat as you do. That’s attention-grabbing. So a few weeks in the past after I did that group factor, I purchased a ton of fruit. It was greater than common but it surely was like the primary day of spring break. I used to be like, I’m simply curious if we are able to eat all this fruit and we did. It was superb aside from like a little bit little bit of lemons and limes. We ate all of it. So it made me understand that simply having extra fruit round is like, it’s the very best snacks for our children having it like low down on the backside the place they will attain it’s good. They each like various things. So we’ve had quite a lot of fruit salads recently, and I feel I’m going to attempt making a recipe reel about this, however we’ve been making this fruit salad with mint leaves like cut-up actual tiny, and it’s tremendous good. It’s method higher than common fruit salad. So anyway, that may be a nice meal as a result of you may have it for any meal. My children simply are loving their fruit. Then our second heavy rotation is one thing frozen with the air fryer. So we prepare dinner a ton of dumplings, like frozen dumplings. Lots of the time from Dealer Joe’s. I particularly actually just like the cilantro ones. I do know Cilantro is a controversial factor. I additionally favored the rooster ones, and my children actually favored the fried rice from there so we prepare dinner that loads. It’s simply straightforward and easy and similar to our go-to. Then the factor that I take advantage of that type of from scratch is selfmade garlic noodles. So it’s mainly simply butter noodles with quite a lot of garlic and tremendous good and my children like it and I like it. Anytime that we don’t have like stuff to prepare dinner with, we often have the entire elements for that also so it’s simply good.

Emma: Yep, that’s my I’m out of groceries meal.

Elsie: Yeah, I really like making pasta. My children actually like pasta in order that’s useful. Then the factor that we make that particular and like, I don’t know, like cute proper now could be pizza, selfmade pizza. So we make that loads. My husband is studying his like nonetheless testing like crust recipes and issues like that, or dough recipes. We’re nonetheless making an attempt toppings and type of like making an attempt to grasp the woodfired pizza expertise in order that’s been actually, actually enjoyable. It’s one thing we often do on Friday nights and it’s like a approach to like kick off the weekend and brings quite a lot of pleasure.

Emma: Yeah, I’ve been over for the pizza earlier than and it’s superior. The final one was earlier than we get to listener questions from Instagram was about final night time at residence and a date night time in form of factor or like household night time so you probably did form of simply point out the pizza. We additionally form of talked about cheese board and the way if no person comes over, then that’s like, effectively, we get to have a cheeseboard. In order that entire factor. I form of needed so as to add to this, mainly, what are your favourite Uber Eats? What are your takeout or supply quantity ones like what are the highest two or three?

Elsie: So our favourite Uber Eats we have now three and should you dwell wherever within the Nashville space, you most likely have at the very least a few of these. We love Nicoletto’s Pasta, 5 Factors Pizza, and Emmy’s squared Pizza, which additionally they have like a tremendous salad. So these are most likely like most go to UberEATS. What are yours?

Emma: Yeah, anytime I’m in Nashville, I’m like, can we get Nicoletto’s.

Elsie: Nicolette’s Pasta is like my primary most nostalgic, like perform.

Emma: So we have now a couple of locations that we are able to stroll to and so we are going to like do this loads. There’s a taco place we go to loads and there’s a spot that does like rice bowls. So we’ll do this loads. However so far as what I order Uber Eats I form of have my prime two my favourite two which Trey has totally different favorites. My favourite two is Thai. I really like Thai meals a lot and it’s not one thing that I prepare dinner fairly often. So Thai meals after which I additionally love Mexican meals, which once more, no actual cause however like I simply don’t often prepare dinner that fairly often. I additionally consider it as positively form of a little bit bit like simply indulgent as a result of it’s often like a ton of chips and cheese like that’s mainly what I’m after is the chips and cheese. 

Elsie: Okay, so for date night time in or similar to, for me, it’s like the last word like weekend night time after we’re drained just about. I’ve been doing this loads recently is we make our like, we have now our popcorn machine and I wrote an entire weblog put up about it just lately so I’m gonna hyperlink to that within the present notes.

Emma: It’s superior.

Elsie: So to begin with, we had it for like 5 years in our outdated home, but it surely was like in our basement within the closet and we most likely used it one time in that home. On this home, we use it at the very least as soon as a month. So I’ll say like, purchase a little bit bar cart and put it on there and maintain it if there’s any method you are able to do this, maintain it in like your TV room, the place it’s simply at all times there. It simply will get a lot extra use that method. I can’t consider the distinction. Okay, so we have now some listener questions. So okay, these are each from Instagram. The primary one that is such a random query, however I form of thought it was enjoyable. What is a well-liked TV present that you just’re simply not into like everybody else has watched it? It looks like the entire world is watching aside from you.

Emma: Yeah, I really feel like my reply is like all the pieces as a result of we simply don’t like recently we simply don’t actually watch TV exhibits. We watch quite a lot of random YouTube movies however the one factor I did wish to point out although, was did you watch Bridgerton Season Two but? 

Elsie: No. 

Emma: Okay, effectively, I watched it. I really like Bridgerton, love season one a lot. I actually favored season two. I really like all of the actors, love all of the units, costume design, it’s stunning, similar to season one, but it surely simply mainly simply say it wasn’t sexy sufficient for me. I didn’t suppose so. It wasn’t fairly like season one.

Elsie: Okay, so my present that everybody on the earth watches aside from me, I assume I’ve two the primary one’s Ted Lasso. I simply really feel like everyone seems to be like gonna throw a tomato at me however we simply didn’t watch it and it wasn’t as a result of I assumed it was too tacky as a result of I really like tacky stuff. I simply didn’t prefer it simply didn’t join with me. Generally one thing similar to doesn’t hit you and also you don’t know why. That’s all it’s, I don’t know why. I simply didn’t. I don’t know. Okay, so the subsequent query, it’s a artistic one. I really like this. It’s a great one to finish on. How do you get unstuck from a artistic block, for instance, portray? Inventive blocks are like an enormous matter, we at all times get quite a lot of questions on them. My artistic blocks are like, it’s all or nothing like I’ve had it earlier than. However after I had it, it was so unhealthy. I don’t often get small ones, although. What about you?

Emma: I really feel like minor extra like, I’m both within the behavior of one thing or I’m not, it’s extra like that or I’m on the stage of a venture the place I’m actually overthinking it or scared that it sucks, or that form of factor, too. Anyway, so I had two issues for this, they usually’re fairly totally different from one another. Okay, so one is to simply attempt one thing utterly totally different. So like, should you’re portray and also you’re feeling creatively blocked, do one thing else, attempt writing attempt one thing with clay, like no matter, like simply one thing utterly totally different. For me, what this does is it takes the stress off. It additionally like forces my mind again into this artistic zone however with out feeling like I’m doing the factor that I’m for no matter cause getting blocked on, if that makes any sense. So it’s form of like a little bit trick, I assume. In order that after which the opposite factor is to set a timer or you may simply take a look at your clock, no matter. Simply form of inform your self, like nonetheless a lot I get carried out on this half-hour, I’m proud of that. For me, anyway, I’m placing quite a lot of stress on getting far with the portray or the writing or no matter it’s that I’m doing. So typically I must form of be like, you understand what for half-hour or one hour, I’m going to no matter I get carried out, I’ll be proud of it. If I write two sentences on this hour, I’ll be proud of that I simply should do one thing. That is all I’m allowed to do for the subsequent half-hour or an hour. I’m not going to scroll. I’m not going to go clear my dishes. That is it. I’m doing this proper now. It simply form of like, I don’t know, in a method prefer it’s like a little bit child within the backseat of the automobile the place you’re such as you’ve misplaced all of your toys, aside from one, and impulsively you’re like, effectively, I’m going to seek out plenty of other ways to play with this. It simply form of forces you into this little nook. I feel that may form of result in I don’t know like if something, you’re possibly gonna get just a bit bit bored, and you then’ll should create one thing. So yeah, these are my two suggestions.

Elsie: Yeah, I feel that these are actually good suggestions. So the one factor I’ve so as to add to that’s like for me f I’ve a block it’s a foul one. Like the place I don’t wish to take into consideration the factor, I don’t wish to do it, I’ll do something to keep away from it. It’s form of fairly all or nothing. So you probably have that sort of persona, that is the very best factor that I feel can work, it’s form of the identical factor. It’s like a child step is to offer your self one straightforward win that you understand you may end. For me, like how I do know I’m in a block is that I maintain beginning over, and I can’t do any, like, I can’t end something, I’m simply at all times sad with it and maintain beginning over. Which is like lots of people have that like earlier than they’ll put their work out into the world, they simply really feel prefer it’s not ok, oh, I must redo it, or I must take a category, similar to excuses. It turns into like a milestone or a hurdle that you would be able to’t overcome. So, yeah, I feel simply giving your self something that you would be able to end in a day, and similar to end it and regardless of the factor is for you want if posting it or placing it out into the world in some methods is useful, then positively do this. If it’s extra similar to displaying it to a beloved one, or no matter. I feel each artistic venture is totally different. However I feel having you’re having a little bit motion merchandise to similar to enhance your shallowness might be like the very best factor. For just like the fiftieth time I do should say the Stephen King writing ebook, so good. It’s known as on writing. I simply need everybody to learn it it doesn’t matter what form of artistic work you do however he talks about author’s block and stuff. I feel that typically you simply should make your self get again in your proper place. Show to your self that you just’re not misplaced. 

Emma :So thanks a lot for listening and indulging us as we speak about meals, speak about dream kitchens and all of that. In the event you’d wish to counsel subjects for future episodes, you may write us at podcast@beautifulness.com and we’d love love like it everytime you share our podcasts on Instagram or with your folks. In the event you simply don’t anybody who you suppose my life the present, it means loads should you share it and we do see it particularly should you tag us so thanks upfront. Bye.

Elsie: Bye