Creating a Functional and Organized Laundry Space

I have always  dreamed of a "Martha Stewart-Inspired" laundry room with ample countertop space for folding towels and a wall of shelves for storing all of my cleaning supplies.  Unfortunately, that just isn't my reality.  Living in the city you are lucky if you have a washer/dryer in your apartment.  Most urban dwellers have a laundry "closet" (i.e. doors to hide their washer/dryer), which believe it or not is still a pretty nice luxury.  Even in such tight quarters you can make the most of your space and store all of your laundry essentials.  Below is a breakdown of how I have made the most out of both my previous and current laundry closets.  Hopefully this will inspire you to see your space with new found potential or maybe even try a new laundry product.  

Items in my Laundry Supply Basket

  • Iron- I rarely go to the dry cleaners.  Reason being?  Ironing is not hard, doesn't take a long time and saves a ton of money when you do it yourself. This video from Martha Stewart is really helpful for understanding Dress Shirt Ironing 101.
  • Spray Starch, Sizing and Spray Bottle filled with Water- To accommodate different fabrics and preferences (I like a crisp shirt but my husband likes a soft shirt).
  • Tide-to-Go Pen-for small stains this pen has been a lifesaver!  If you don't have one, run to the store right now!  I cannot tell you how many times I have been able to save an article of clothing thanks to this pen.  
  • Spray Oxiclean- for large and/or tough stains, I pre-treat stains with a spray or two of oxiclean before laundering
  • Corn Starch - If you have a grease stain, apply corn starch immediately to the affected area.  I hosted a Super Bowl party and someone accidentally spilled taco meat on my linen dining room chair.  I cleaned the chair with a damp rag and detergent, then applied a generous layer of cornstarch to the affected area.  After a few days of letting the corn starch sit and work its magic, I vacuumed it off the chair and the stain was gone!
  • Real Simple Delicates Wash Bag - it's so devastating to open the wash and find a strap or delicate item that has fallen victim to the agitator.  This bag prevents those casualties.  
  • Woolite - for handwashing delicates, sweaters, non-machine washable items.
  • Sewing Kit- so great to have on hand when you loose a button or have a minor tear in your clothing. 
  • Individual sized packets of detergent (for travel)- Stored in my laundry supplies bin, but taken on trips.  These individual sized detergent packets have surprised me with the number of times they have come in handy.  
  • Washing Machine Cleaner- works in both top and front load washing machines.  Helps to reduce odor causing residues that build up in your washing machine over time. 

Other Laundry Closet Staples

  • Ironing Board- nothing fancy, just something to get the job done.  
  • Real Simple Drying Rack - compact storage, yet expands to accommodate many items at once.  This drying rack is an essential when laundering delicates. 
  • Martha Stewart Stain Removal Chart- so helpful to have on hand.  Many articles of clothing in my house have been spared thanks to this chart. 
  • World Market's Laundry Symbol Chart - all of the symbols on your clothing care tags are explained on this chart.  Best part?  It's magnetic so you can sick it right on your washer/dryer for easy reference.  
  • Liquid or Powdered Detergent- everyone has their own preference when it comes to detergent. I'm a dye & fragrance free-liquid detergent girl myself.
  • Extra Large Canister of Powdered Oxiclean - I am a huge fan of Oxiclean.  I add a scoop of Oxiclean to almost every load of laundry because it gets stains out, brightens whites and preserves colors.  More to come in future posts on additional reasons for how/why I love Oxiclean.  
  • Bleach - Although not visible, there is a bottle of bleach tucked on top of the Washer/Dryer behind the Oxiclean. Reason? Bleach is very potent and I try to only use it sparingly.

Favorite Flavor Enhancers for Cooking

When it comes to cooking, I am all about creating dishes that are packed with flavor.  I love incorporating fresh spices and herbs into my recipes because they not only enhance the flavor, but also aid in the creation of unique and interesting dishes.  Over time as I have continued to improve my skills as home cook, there have been some great tips and techniques that I have learned along the way.  These techniques are super easy to include in your recipes  and make a huge difference with the overall flavor profile of final products/dishes (especially soups and roasted chicken and turkey).

Bouquet Garni

A bouquet garni is a selection of various herbs and other aromatic plants that are tied together with kitchen string for easy removal during cooking, after the desired flavor has been extracted. A bouquet garni is a staple ingredient that I use to flavor my various soup, stew and roast chicken recipes.  According to the Professional Chef (*a textbook used by Culinary Institute of America Students, and a favorite resource of mine), a standard bouquet garni consists of:

  • 1 sprig thyme
  • 3 or 4 parsley stems
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 or 3 leek leaves and/or 1 celery stalk, cut in half lengthwise
  • 1 carrot, cut in half lengthwise (optional)
  • 1 parsnip, cut in half lengthwise (optional)

I will be the first to admit that this is a lot to have on hand, especially given that you are only going to be using a small quantity of each ingredient.  I really am not a fan of wasting food, so I have come up with an alternative Bouquet Garni option.  What I like to do is purchase the Poultry Blend fresh herb package (contains Rosemary, Thyme and Sage) and tie the contents of the package together with kitchen string.  This makes for a wonderful flavor enhancing bundle that you can throw in a soup you are making or even in the cavity of a chicken or turkey that you are roasting.  My version of the bouquet garni is something I would definitely recommend trying in your next recipe.  It really makes a difference in the flavor and is so easy to do!  

Mirepoix

Mirepoix is the French name for a combination of onions, carrots and celery (aka the holy trinity of aromatics).  Just like the bouquet garni, I love using a mirepoix whenever I am making a soup or roasting a chicken.  The additional flavor and color that a mirepoix brings to the dish is unreal!  It can really take your flavor profile to the next level and again, so easy to do!  

Classic Mirepoix Recipe

  • 2 Parts Onion
  • 1 Part Celery
  • 1 Part Carrots

If making a white stock or cream soup, use the White Mirepoix Recipe:

  • 1 Part/4oz Onion
  • 1 Part/4oz Celery or Celeriac
  • 1 Part/4oz Parsnip
  • 1 Part/4oz Leek

**For more information on the other types of mirepoix combinations, check out the Professional Chef

When cooking a soup, I will start out by sweating down a diced mirepoix and when roasting a chicken I like to fill the base of the roasting pan with chunkier mirepoix pieces. Whether you are directly incorporating the mirepoix (ex. in a soup) or indirectly (ex. roasting a chicken), these aromatics are a "must" in my recipes.

Parmesan Cheese Rind

Parmesan cheese rinds make for a fabulous flavor enhancer when cooking soups.  Simply add a rind as soon as the liquid in your soup comes to a boil (*if using a crockpot to make soup it's ok to add the rind at the beginning when everything is still cold) and let the rind simmer throughout the duration of the soups cooking.  The heat from the cooking will cause the parmesan cheese rind to slowly release rich and nutty flavor notes into your soup, leaving you with a finished product that is bursting with wonderful flavor.  Just remember to remove the rind before serving the soup!  In addition to cutting the rind right off of the parmesan cheese block, you can also find parmesan cheese rinds for sale at cheese shops or in the cheese section at some grocery stores.  Un-used rinds will keep for a long time and can be frozen or refrigerated.  This is a great use for something that would normally be discarded.

All three flavor enhancing techniques discussed in this post are easy to do, provide great flavor for your recipes and promote minimal wasting of food.  Try one or all of these techniques the next time you make a soup or roast a chicken.  At the very least, you can definitely count on seeing these techniques in recipes featured on Redefining Domestics.  

"First Signs of Spring" Tablescape

Although I know I am technically wrong, in my mind the start of March means Spring has sprung! What better way to celebrate the beginning of this beautiful season than with a fresh tablescape for your next dinner party!?!  

Tablescape Details:

The reason for naming this table "First Signs of Spring" is because I used both winter and spring tableware to create this scape.  For the place setting, I found the blue placemats at Home Goods (similar option here).  Rattan chargers from World Market were a new acquisition and in addition to this tablescape, I cannot tell you how excited I am for all of the future spring and summer tablescapes I have planned for these fabulous dinnerware accents.  I used my everyday dishes and my favorite crisp white restaurant napkins rolled up in horn napkin rings.  I kept my drinkware uniform by selecting Riedel water goblets and bordeaux glasses.  For more suggestions on wine glasses, check out my post on Sharing a Different Perspective on Wine Glasses.   For the centerpiece, I opted for a simple glass vase filled with beautiful and very fragrant hyacinths ("ala" Trader Joes!), Tortoise Votive Holders, horn salt and pepper dishes and a Gold Round Metal Tray to corral the look.

While spring may still be a few weeks away, I must say that I am having a really good time preparing for its impending arrival!

Preparing for Houseguests

I really enjoy having company come and stay at my home overnight.  It's fun for me to share my home and I love having the opportunity spend more than just a few hours with some of my friends and family who I may not see very often.  When prepping for any houseguest, I have a mental checklist that I usually go through to ensure that I am prepped and ready for my guests arrival.  Going beyond cleaning the house and putting out fresh flowers, this checklist helps to ensure that my guests are made to feel comfortable during their stay at my home.  

Water

One of the first things I do to prepare for a houseguest is set up a water station by their bedside.  I always get that parched feeling in the middle of the night and keep water at my bedside, so why wouldn't I provide this amenity to my guest?  I like to put out a large bottle of sparkling water with either 1 or 2 glasses (on coasters) depending on the number of guests in the room.  If you would prefer to put out flat water, using a water carafe is always a great form of presentation and can save on tabletop space. 

Towels

Hygienically speaking, just like razor blades and tooth brushes, towels are one of those personal care items that should never be shared.  Your guest should not have to fumble around the bathroom to find a towel to use when washing his/her face or a wash cloth when bathing.  I like to lay a set of towels at the foot of my guest's bed prior to their arrival.  For a male guest, I will lay out a bath towel, hand towel and wash cloth.  If I am hosting a  female guest I will lay out 2 bath towels (one to dry her hair), a hand towel and a wash cloth. 

Coffee

Coffee is very personal to each individual.  We all have our preferences for how we take our coffee and/or tea in the morning and your guest is no exception.  When possible, I will try to get in contact with my guest prior to their arrival to find out how they take their coffee in the morning.  Having the right sweeteners and creamers on hand for your guests adds a very thoughtful touch that will help your guests to feel more comfortable.  

Food

In addition to asking my guests prior to their arrival about their coffee preferences, I will also ask about any dietary restrictions and favorite foods.  Since most of my guests typically arrive after work, I like to have enough food for an impromptu cocktail hour (see my post on Cocktail Party Preparedness - Food & Beverage).  In addition, I also like to have a few breakfast items on hand.   Some of my favorite breakfast staples to serve my guests include Ina Garten's Sour Cream Coffee Cake, Perfectly Perfect French Toast and/or my Sun-Dried Tomato, Feta and Wilted Kale Frittata.

"Mi Casa es Su Casa"

This is a mantra I learned from watching my mom host houseguests over the years and I think it is great!  The goal of hosting houseguests is always to make them feel welcome and to have an enjoyable stay.  If at the onset you tell your guest "mi casa es su casa" (my house is your house…meaning "make yourself at home") and to feel free to open the refrigerator, use the television, laundry, etc..whatever.  You will instantly create a more welcoming and comfortable environment for your guests to feel at home in your home.  

There are plenty of great resources available to aid you in preparing for your houseguests (like these checklists from Real Simple and Martha Stewart).  It's easy to get carried away with preparations, but I always make a point a reigning myself in and keeping my preparations reasonable.  The last thing my guests want is to be greeted by a tired and stressed out hostess, so I have found that sticking to my own checklist has been the best way to ensuring that my guests are comfortable and I am not completely exhausted before they even arrive!