Take a Shortcut

In spite of my tendencies to the contrary, I’ve become convinced that doing things the hard way is not always the best way.  While I don’t want to advocate laziness, I’ve realized that in my busy stage of life perfectionism is not doing me any favors.  I cut corners in homemaking to make more time for my family and my own mental nourishment.   If you need a short cut around the house, here are a few I recommend:

• Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: seriously, you can’t get to the grocery store or bakery and back as fast as you can bake this bread and it’s also inexpensive.

• In a pinch, you can also make this ridiculously easy wheat bread.  Again, you can’t get to the store and back faster.

• Did you know you can make compost in your blender?  It’s not as disgusting as it sounds, really.

• If you love the taste of homemade applesauce but are disinclined to do all the peeling and canning, try applesauce for the busy and open minded.

• Then, if you feel like your baby or toddler doesn’t eat enough vegetables, you can put pureed greens in the applesauce and they will be none the wiser.

• Repurpose culinary failures: just about anything can become a cookie, or a muffin, or soup.

• You can use pizza dough to make breadsticks that taste just like the ones at The Olive Garden.  Quick and easy.

• You might be able to cure your young child’s hypochondria with toothpaste.  I’ve also heard that chapstick works wonderss.

• Use leftover dryer sheets to clean hard water spots off of your faucets if you don’t need to do a deep clean in the bathroom.

• Plan menus in advance even if you’re indecisive and forgetful like I am.

• Consider adopting a minimalist approach to your kids’ bedtime routine.

• Make a miracle diaper cream that really works when nothing else does.