Fall Cooking In A Heatwave

Yes, it is autumn. A time  for delicious roasts and elaborate sides, followed by elaborately baked desserts. Tell the temps that. Right now it is close to 90 degrees F where I am, The New York metro area is still clinging on to balmy days  - and hot kitchens.

This is the time to use the air fryer if you have one. It's a quick cook for anything, from vegan turkey cutlets to steaks. There's no turning on a stove  or standing over a stove top. Continue using your grill if you haven't put it away yet. (or you can just take it out of storage).Want a fall vibe? Glaze pork or chicken with a maple syrup that's spiked with ginger and soy sauce before grilling. It's too hot to cook acorn and butternut squash inside. Slice the squash , then brush the slices with olive oil. Put on a hot grill for a different and easy take on a fall classic. Save the grilled squash for salads. Add cherry tomatoes and mixed greens for a tasty lunch or supper.  Brussels sprouts are making a reappearance in grocery stores and farms. They're an easy cook, just steam or blanch. Yet they call be made into a chill salad mixed with granny smith apples, feta  and craisins. For more crunch and protein toss in some walnuts. They can be barbecued  in a foil pouch if you want a really easy cook.

Another fall heat wave must make is a hearty salad. It's a great meal after a day of gardening or to bring along to the beach or lake. Like any autumn dish,it needs to be rib sticking. Like any summer meal, it needs to be light with an airy flavor. Try mixing it up with kale and spinach if you spent the last three months existing on watercress and spring greens. Think about adding the ancient grain farro to give it a bit more weight. Farro can be cooked in a microwave for ten minutes.  Add some shredded carrots and onions along with almonds for protein. Another good salad to make during these balmy fall days is a kale and chicken one.To save time buy shredded rotisserie chicken from your local grocery. Acme sells this and it is a boon to anyone who doesn't want to roast a whole chicken (although you could do just that in your air fryer). Sliced avocados can be part of the mix along with the last of the vine ripe tomatoes. Any leftover steak? Sub that in for poultry.

The calendar may say fall but the temps scream summer. Combine the two season in a tasty combo of delicious and easy.It'll make for easy cooking and easy eating.

Kitchen Clean

One of the most annoying aspects of a kitchen is it's forever dirty and messy. Stoves get used every day as do plates . However thanks to old fashioned cleaning methods and new fangled gadgets, the most used room in the house can always be sparkling and bright.

Everybody has to do dishes - whether by hand or by dishwasher.  It helps if you have a dish detergent that gets rid of grease and sauces along with leaving a gleaming finish. For dishwashers many opt for Cascade ,  while others are looking into more natural types such as Seventh Generation.The last has no dyes or fragrances, perfect for those who have allergies. For those who aren't as lucky to have a dishwasher, there's Dawn dish soap. This is a favorite of mine (and yes, I still wash  dishes by hand.I have the old fashioned notion that hand washed dishes and pans are somewhat cleaner) I like the way it thoroughly rids surfaces from chocolate to  tomato sauce.It's also gentle on skin which is important during these raw winter days.It cuts down on chapped skin, Dawn is so mild that it's been used to clean birds that have been unfortunately victims of oil spills Another plus is that it comes in a wide variety of scents, from lavender to a refreshing waterfall scent.For those who do their own manicures, wash hands in Dawn before putting on  nail  polish. It gets rid of any  body oils and makes the color stay on longer.

Vinegar is a time honored classic , used for more than one hundred years. It's is wonderful on windows, cutting through soot and dirt.White distilled vinegar can get rid of any stain  - no matter how greasy or grungy. The insanely fun gadget Angry Mama below) uses it to clean the interior of

 the microwave. I bought her at What On Earth, a neat catalog company that specializes in the fun and the fantastic. Vinegar and water are poured into her body. and then heated for seven minutes in the microwave. This produces a potent steam that comes out of the holes in her head.From there the moisture is wiped away, along with grease or food particles with a paper towel. The vinegar also deodorizes the microwave, taking away any lingering odors. Let the liquid cool and it becomes an excellent cleaner for the stove top.

It pays to have a clean kitchen. There's nothing more disgusting than a grungy one,. Luckily there are so many soap, cleanserss and gadgets that can help.