if you are going to cook, you will have to get used to dishes!

Not that I am complaining... but boy I wish sometimes I had Samantha from Bewitched's tv show (yes it ages me), to wiggle her nose to clean up the Pots and pans after I am done creating my "sometimes" cooking masterpieces - (well more like edible dinners)...(better than non edible meals and still have dishes to clean).

I watch cooking shows where wonderful chefs create stunning meals and still have a clean kitchen (gleaming).  When I was young I thought that having a clean kitchen all the time you cook and after cooking was supposed to be easy.  My grandmother was a spotless cook.  I used to want to know their secret to a spotless kitchen but now know that there really isn't a secret at all.  If you are going to cook you will have a messy kitchen (especially if you are being creative).

Chefs are clean and neat - and I agree wiping off the counters as you go and having hot sudsy water helps but I now know that as a home cook I will still have dishes and its okay.

Some things that have helped me but doesn't reduce my washing pots and pans - no I can't wiggle my nose or ears to clean up the mess - I have learned a couple tricks for me:

- I have a meal plan (most of the time lol - life happens)
- I cut up veggies etc. for two days early in the morning so I have everything in its place.
- get children who are old enough to do dishes (not always willingly)
-I also have the most wonderful husband that does dishes
- I have a sink where I soak the pots as I finish with them
-rinse as you go so you can reuse cooking things

But in the end - ask me if my kitchen is clean right now... NO!!! but its okay; I just know if I  want to cook - I have to do dishes -  am I thrilled about it? .. no.

Now unless the brownie elves from girl scout stories come to help me right now...

I am off to wash the dishes...

My wish: have a huge farmers sink and 2 dish washers or a room to hide the dishes until I can get them done!

http://www.pbs.org/food/features/cleanliness-is-next-to-impossible/
Julia Child's: cleanliness is next to impossible article