More than doing dishes

I love cooking, but during the summer I want to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen. So this weekend is the perfect opportunity to perform a little kitchen clean-up and organizational magic to get me in and out in a hurry this summer. This means more time available to hang out on the patio with friends and family.

For me, nothing is more frustrating than working in a crowded and messy space. To free up valuable counter space, bring home an over-the-sink cutting board and basket. The board will not only look great, but it makes cleaning vegetables and prep work a breeze. Still short of counter space? Clear your counters with drawer organizers for spices and knives. Toasters, televisions, can-openers, microwave ovens and radio/CD players can all be bought with under-cabinet mounting options. Above the stove, consider hanging a pot rack.

I love the modern open-concept kitchens. They not only look great, but they work very efficiently. If you have ever been inside a commercial kitchen at a busy restaurant, you know that serving and prep dishes are kept on open shelves. For the cook that means what he or she needs is within easy reaching distance. Consider adding some open shelving and/or wall-hung dish racks at home. Or simply rework the kitchen so that what you need is in the most logical and handy places.

A little prep work goes a long way in the kitchen so make life a little simpler with some easy organizational changes.