My family and I have recently switched to Gluten Free/Low Carb eating. There's a variety of reasons for this, but I won't bore you with all those details now. I will tell you that this new lifestyle has kept me in the kitchen a lot more {and my dishwasher running twice a day...if not more}. The little plastic basket with my assorted measuring spoons {most received when we got married almost ten years ago} had made its way onto the countertop so I didn't have to fish out the correct measuring spoons on my tippy toes to the second shelf in my cabinet. I'll be honest, I already cooked a lot and the last ten years have wreaked havoc on most of my measuring utensils.
I frequently find the best gems at Dollar Tree, of all places. I just recently noticed all of their new Betty Crocker measuring items...and you know they're only ONE BUCK a set! And I adore red, so these flew right into my basket. I also picked up these self-adhesive hooks from their organizing section (and I must say, they're just as good as the nicer Scotch-brand ones).
I decided I also needed to put together a conversion chart of all of the things I look up the most (my cookbook indexes have gotten a workout lately). I wanted one up in the cabinet so I could quickly reference it. I also use meat temperature charts a lot, too. My meat thermometer just does readings...it doesn't give where the meat should be. I also wanted to put together some sort of fun label for the spoons {sometimes the Dymo isn't always the most attractive label!}.
{This is the first and last time I'll ever create a chart like this in Photoshop of all things...gah! What was I thinking? Took forevahhhhh! But I do love how it turned out!}:
I had everything printed at my local Kinko's. {One of my upcoming posts is about printing free printables and getting fabulous results!} I had them laminate them, too. I can be a messy cook and wouldn't want to ruin these with flying sauce! It's less than $4 to print and laminate them. I used the double-sided foam tape (pictured in the above photo at the top left) to adhere these to the inside of my cabinet door.
After adhering the charts/label to my cabinet door, I positioned the hooks accordingly.
Instead of just grouping them in the sets I purchased them in, I put like measurements together. This is so much easier than sorting through a set, I just open the door and grab the spoon I need. And, I seriously go through at least three of my tablespoons a day (I may have to go back and get two or three more sets)!
I didn't want to do this with my measuring cups...although the thought did cross my mind. I like them nested. And I didn't want them clanking on the door every time I opened and closed it (but I do think I need to go back and get the red Betty Crocker ones, now)!
I'm so happy I did this...it works much better for me. If you decide to do this, too, watch your placement so it's not directly in front of a shelf...that would be an obstacle in shutting your cabinet door if you did that! This is in my spice cabinet...where I also house all of my mixing bowls and measuring stuff. So, the spices are far enough back from the door that these spoons don't get in the way at all.
How do you organize your measuring goodies?
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I love this! Great idea to group the same measurements together.
ReplyDeleteStopping by from Serenity Now.
Love the Dollar Store. I think I need to make another trip real soon!
ReplyDeleteWhy have I never thought to group the same size together?? That's so smart! I need to make over my measuring spoons now. I'd love if you would come share this fabulous tip with my readers http://rhapsodyofcacophony.blogspot.ca/2012/05/pin-ed-it-made-it-link-party-0518_17.html
ReplyDeleteHi Kristi!
ReplyDeleteWe love dollar store finds! This is an awesome one!
I would LOVE for you to stop over and link this up in our Crafty Saturday Showcase! It runs from Sat-Thur. Then we pick the top post to feature on Friday.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Susie @Bowdabra
http://bowdabrablog.com/2012/05/19/saturday-showcase-craft-projects-2/
Awesome idea - I think I may have to do this myself! Dollar store here I come...
ReplyDeleteGotta love a good Dollar Store project! Love the red!
ReplyDeleteLots of great ideas! Love organizing! Looks great!
ReplyDeleteI love the Dollar Tree. I find the best project starters there. I'm in the process of painting my cabinets, and once that is done I'm going to do something similar with my measuring spoons. They get lost so easily around here! I love your chart- I'm not a photoshop user, but I bet that was a ton of work. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove your organizing ideas with your measuring spoons. We have recently gone gluten free in the past six months and organizing has been a life saver. Enjoying your blog, Tanya :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a clever idea.. And what a great way to keep track of your measuring spoons! Hope you will share with my Pink Hippo Party @ http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/2012/05/pink-hippo-party-79.html
ReplyDeleteI am your newest follower~
xoxo
Amie @ Pinkapotamus
Kristi, this is a GREAT idea!! We have allergies and two kids on the Gluten free diet and so I have to bake--A LOT!! I love this idea!!
ReplyDeleteShannon@SewSweetCottage
I like your idea. Now if they just open a dollar store here on the island. lol
ReplyDeleteI weigh many of my ingredients, especially when baking. It is so much more accurate, faster and easier to weigh 6 cups of flour than to measure it cup by cup. I love the King arthurs weight charts located at
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipe/master-weight-chart.html
Try it...once you do you'll never go back to measuring!
So smart (and cheap!!) I'll definitely be doing this in my own kitchen :) Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteDevan
Super Messy Supermommy
I really love your method of organizing but I just wanted to let you know that some of the temperatures on your chart for meat doneness are incorrect. As a professional chef these are somethings that I do everyday so it's habit and I forget that many people are unaware of correct temps. Standards are that pork is safe to eat at 145*F (and ground meat always needs to reach a higher temperature than roasts/steaks because it has a greater surface area for bacteria growth). Poultry is safe to eat at 165*F. If you cook it to 180 it is likely to be very dry and tough. That being said this is a great idea and I think it is an excellent reference and decor piece for a home kitchen.
ReplyDeleteLove this idea. Thanks for sharing. I pile mine up in another measuring cup but often have to dump them to use the cup!
ReplyDeleteI ended up here from someone else who reblogged your idea. But she used the more expensive command hooks. I would like to know how the dollar store hooks have held up over time. Please let us know if they have lasted, I really want to do this!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Thanks for sharing with us:)
ReplyDeleteHi there! I'm so glad you like it! You are very welcome! Thank you bunches for stopping by! xoxo
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