Odds and Ends Drawer

Our "junk" kitchen drawer organized. 

I'm sure every kitchen has one of these---a drawer where you keep odds and ends and everything but the kitchen sink.  Our kitchen sink is close---just to the left of the junk drawer, and I've been waiting until almost last to tackle this drawer.  It was actually pretty easy.  I just threw lots of stuff away (grocery receipts, used birthday candles, drinking straws) or put things in a bag to take to Goodwill. 

Here is the drawer "before":

Junk drawer "before".

And here is

All the "stuff" out on the counter.

everything out on the counter to sort through.

Dan likes to have his knife sharpening tools (actually two of them) in this drawer.  It's handy to have nearby to sharpen knives.

I keep bag twist ties in this drawer, as well as Post It Note Pads and pens. 

Twist ties in junk drawer.

I have a cute story to share about twist ties.  When Dan's oldest grandson, Sam, was about three he was in the kitchen asking what was in each drawer.  I would open a drawer and explain "the linens are in here" or "this is the cutlery drawer".  Upon opening the junk drawer, he asked "What's in here?"  I said "odds and ends".  He held up a twist tie and asked, "Is this an odd or an end?"  Whenever I see the twist ties in the drawer I think of little three-year old Sam who is now a grown man in his late twenties. 

Is this an odd or an end?  I still don't know.

Much in this drawer was jettisoned, and many things were put in a bag to donate to the Thrift Shop.

This bagful will go to Thrift Store.

 

The organized junk drawer in our kitchen.

I'm glad to have this drawer decluttered.  It probably needs to be cleaned out weekly, since we tend to put "stuff" in here when there doesn't seem to be another place for it or if we are too lazy to put it where it really belongs.  

Drawer Six,"A Piece of Cake" and a Beef Brisket Recipe

Drawer six with the foils and wraps and plastic bags nicely organized.

Drawer six where we keep our foil and wraps was "a piece of cake" to organize, because it wasn't that cluttered.  I did have some kitchen twine that belonged elsewhere.  I took everything out of the drawer and cleaned the drawer liner.

Drawer six before.

I decided to arrange the rolls along the depth of the drawer rather than across the width as before.   I discovered that gave me a little more room, and I can see all the rolls when I open the drawer.

Oven bags.

I had forgotten about these oven bags that were in the back of the drawer.   I bought them when I cooked a beef brisket using a favorite recipe from my cousin Joan.  We haven't had a brisket for some time, so I think I will prepare one this week.

I'll share the recipe with you.

Beef Brisket in an Oven Bag
1 3 to 4 lb. brisket without bone
salt/pepper
1 Tbs flour
3 medium carrots chopped
3 medium onions chopped
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes (or pureed tomatoes)
1/2 cup port wine or water
1 envelope onion soup mix (or part of one)
1 tsp dried basil
2 bay leaves

Trim fat from brisket and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Place flour in large oven cooking bag and shake.  Add brisket, place in roasting pan.  Combine remaining ingredients and pour over brisket.  Cut slits in top of bag, close bag and seal.

Cook in a 325 degree preheated oven for 2.5 to 3 hours.   Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing brisket. Slice brisket against the grain into thin slices. Serve with vegetables and natural gravy from the bag.

This recipe is easy, and the meat is so tender.  I'll serve this with mashed potatoes. 

Drawer Six organized.