More Junk

This is the second in my “junk drawer” series. It started with me looking for something in my own junk drawer and realizing that a few things in there were permanent residents and always would be. I started to wonder what normal other people kept in their junk drawers, not the stuff that moves in and out but what was there to stay. So I asked some friends and got quite a varied response; from sentimental items to silly to useful to absurd. See the first group here: Junk Drawer.

Here’s a peek into some other well-known bloggers’ drawers:

Super Mario Brothers HEAD

The boys often break toys, as you can imagine, and when it first started happening I saved the pieces. I was sure I would fix them as soon as time allowed . . . but it never does. Yet, here lays Mario’s head. Why?
~Allie @ VITA - Train for Life

Salonpas

As a child, my brother and I always found my mother’s use of Salonpas really weird (perhaps it was the combined aroma of mint, menthol and camphor). Fast forward to my own adulthood, where rouge Salonpas patches can be found in many random drawers of my home, along with peppermint essential oils. I’ve definitely taken the weirdness factor up a level – when I feel migraines coming on, I wear my patch in public.

~Monica @ Marino Bambinos

old cellphones

I am embarrassed to say this. There is no sentimental reason for this. We refuse to buy the cell phone insurance! So we have always kept our previous cell phones! With two of us on the contract and a new cell phone every 18 – 24 months for the last 10 years we have quite a collection. I know we can and should donate them, but it is the fear that something might happen to our current phone that has us saving them. Most are stored in the attic now . . . but we always have our previous “extra” in a junk drawer.

~Jodi @ The Noise of Boys

stress relief

Shhhh . . . it’s a secret. Because even though you guys know me as a trashy skank, I’m pretty sure my kid would be convinced that I’m the next June Cleaver . . . if they knew who she was. And besides, I only have one like once a week – in fact, I’ll bet this stale pack was purchased three months ago. But still, it’s a comfort knowing they’re there if necessary at the end of a stressful week. And look how sweetly they rest next to my daily devotionals. Just try not to notice that those are from 2011.

~Shay Trashy @Trashy Blog

Our little tool box

If not for this item, all my butter knives would be bent up, because that’s my go to when I can’t find a screw driver.

~Sarah @The Momisodes

Plastic Cockroaches

My ex bought then to play a nasty trick on my sister so I grabbed them and stashed them away in there so he couldn’t say I threw them away, but he also couldn’t find them to play the trick. They’ve been in there 2 years and I’ve actually used them here and there.

~Aya @ More than Cheese and Beer

Tape Measure

Always ALWAYS in my junk drawer. Cause ya never know when you’re going to need to measure something.

There’s the length of cucumbers, the dimensions of a box, the size of the back of the trunk to see if a friend’s furniture will fit. And yes, the length of a cucumber is the first thing listed.

Joy @ Evil Joy Speaks

 

Seashells

It’s no secret that I’m from New England and have been living in the Midwest. I have seashells everywhere to remind me of home; in drawers, in cars, in purses and in my junk drawer. Every time I open the drawer and see a shell I smile.

~me

What’s in YOUR junk drawer?

PS: It seems fitting to end this post with a little Crockpot Chicken Soup; for the soul, for your stomach, for what ails you.

Crockpot Chicken Soup

Crockpot Chicken Soup

                                        ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
10 cups water
2 large bone in chicken breast halves (can use a whole cut up chicken if you prefer)
3 TBSP dry chicken broth base (more or less depending on your taste)
1 TBSP salt
1 parsnip
4 stalks celery
1 ½# carrots
2 onions
OPT: Matzo balls
 
Directions:
*Put water, salt and chicken broth base into crock pot. Add chicken.
*Cut off ends of parshnip, cut into 3 chunks and add to pot.
*Wash celery, cut each into 3 chunks and add.
*Cut ends off of carrots. Peel 3 carrots, slice and add to pot. The rest of the carrots, cut off ends, cut into 3 chunks each and add to pot.
*Peel onions, leave the root end intact. Cut one in half, leave the other whole and add to pot.
*Cover crockpot and turn to high. Once it boils, turn it down to low and leave on low for an hour, skim the top, then continue to cook for another 4 to 5 hours.
OPT: While soup is cooking, if you’re making Matzo Balls, mix them up according to package directions and place in the fridge.
*Remove chicken to a plate. Remove all the vegetable chunks but leave the small sliced carrot pieces. Using a fork, pull the chicken meat from the bones, discard the skin and bones.
OPT: If making matzo balls, turn broth back on to high until boiling.  Add the matzo balls, cover and don’t open for 40 minutes, then add the chicken meat back in for 10 minutes.
*If not making matzo balls, return chicken to the pot, cook another 30 minutes on low.
NOTE: If making this for the next day or if you have leftovers, put in fridge overnight and skim the fat off the top before serving.