While I worked on grating the cheese, the others got busy chopping peppers, boiling noodles, browning ground beef, and Gretchen started putting together the Beef, Bean, and Tomato Burritos. (I’d love to share that recipe with you, but she made it up on the stop–as the girls in my family are prone to do!–so I haven’t a clue what was in them aside from cheese, tomatoes, taco seasoning, beef, beans, and tomatoes rolled up in tortillas).
Our kitchen is on the small side. It works for our little family of five, but it gets cramped really quickly if you add in more people. However, compared to the crackerbox kitchen we had in our little basement apartment, it seems rather spacious!
I wasn’t sure how four of us were going to cook in the kitchen without bumping into each other all over the place–especially since we’re short on counter space. My sister had a brilliant idea: set up a cardtable! So we added a large amount of work space just with this simple addition to the kitchen.
Someday, I’d love to have a a large kitchen with massive amounts of cupboard and countertop space. But in the mean time, a card table works great when you’re in a pinch for extra countertop space!
Great idea! I’m fortunate that my hubby likes to cook because I really don’t. However, when I’m in the mood (as I was this past week), I get really frustrated by our kitchen’s lack of counter space.
Glad I found you again. I used to follow your other blog until you ended it. I don’t know why I never kept up with this one!
Blessings, Leslie
I use a long white table even though I have a larger kitchen. It gives me more room for pans, to cool things and to put crock pots on. It saved me last time.
Speaking of the crowded kitchen, wondering if you’re house hunting yet? Would love a post updating on that front.
I didn’t read all the comments really close but pulling out drawers and laying things like cutting boards across can help also just be careful not to spill your food, I have pulled out our silverware drawer a lot to just sit on a cookie sheet or whatever. We have no counter space either and its usually full of whatever lol.
Crystal,
The card table was a great idea! I use card tables to help with homeschooling. I have 7 students, plus a 3 yr old, so I set up 2 card tables in my living room to separate kids. I’ve graduated 2 already. 🙂
I wanted to mention though, how blessed you are to have those sisters and mom. I am an only child, and sorely miss having close family to do things like this with.
That’s okay, though, cause I fixed it for my kids!! I’ve got 4 girls and 6 boys, so they will always have a best friend…or 2 or 3…haha. Can’t wait to be the grandma watching the kiddies while they do stuff togother!!
Dawn
Speaking of a new kitchen, when will you start your house hunt now that you’ve saved up for your house? I’d love to see more posts on what’s happening on that front! 🙂
I too have a small small kitchen. Our entire 3 bedroom place is only 700 sq ft. My kitchen is also the home of my washing machine – so, you get the idea. I barely have any counter space to speak of and after my first freezer cooking day last month I decided that we needed to get a card table – just so I would have a place to put things as they cooled. We got it after a majority of the cooking was done this month, but from what little I did use it, I can tell it is going to be a lifesaver next month!
As a mum who works full time I have found your freezer days articles fantastic, many days we all have a very quick and not always the most tasty dinner. However reading your articles has got me started on doing batches of cooking on my days off and now we are all enjoying tasty, home-cooked meals every day of the week, thank you
That’s clever! I happen to have a card table I could put to use in that way. 🙂 One question… I noticed you usually have hand grated cheese. Do you find this more cost effective? Usually, the Kroger brand block cheese is a tad bit less for my money than the already shredded cheese. Any thoughts on this? Thanks!
I buy pre-shredded cheese on occasion is there’s a super deal on it, but we don’t like it as well and it usually has extra things added to it so is not as healthful as block cheese.
I don’t understand what could be added to shredded cheese? I mean, frozen meals, canned vegetables, store bought bread, yes, I can imagine what might have been put into them. But cheese? I am stumped…
Once canning/freezing season hits in the summer, there’s a card-table set up in our kitchen and it stays there until the season is over. I have a decent sized kitchen w/ lots of counter-space and I still need more!! LOL!
I’m still in my “starter” kitchen 22 years later. Once the kids moved out the house was too big again. I use the kitchen table as my extra counter space but I have my eye on a Ikea kitchen island. One of these days it will be mine 🙂
@Connie, I love this comment I am also still in my “starter” house after well going on 12 years we have three young boys and it gets very crowded for parties which we have often, but one day it will be big again. I read an article a few years ago about how people have to have huge houses and then what? We are crowded and would love more than one bathroom or having to go thru our b-room to get to the boys, but the idea of spending a ton on a really big house is kinda daunting.
I often use our dining room table for cooking prep and then will set up a card table too-which works great for cooling baked goods. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!
We move our dining room table into the living room when we need space for people in the kitchen. 🙂
If you put a card table in our kitchen, there wouldn’t be room for any people. 🙁
Love your freezer cooking days! I used them a lot as a tool for a more simple life when I was fostering four children!
In England most houses have kitchens which are so tiny you can’t even fit tables in them, or a pantry or even a fridge freezer. Our fridge is the size of 1/2 a small cupboard and our freezer is 1 shelf!!! Step no more than three feet and you’ve passed the kitchen! lol
Great thinking….card tables are the best when cooking with friends. We actually set up card tables in our foyer and family room as well as the kitchen. (Family room = bad idea….carpet – I guess we thought we were neater cooks than we actually were :))