Friday, December 27, 2013

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.


Junk Drawer | graphic designed by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


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.


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.


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.
 
Seashells

Sea Shells | picture taken by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com


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 | recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #soup


Crockpot Chicken Soup

Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com

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.

36 comments:

  1. Super Mario's head - priceless ;-) Thank you for distracting me from a totally quiet (boring) afternoon at the office!

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    Replies
    1. I know, that one had me laughing. Have to admit this was a really fun post to do.

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  2. Replies
    1. Thank you, it was really fun collecting everyone's pictures and explanations of what they keep and why.

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  3. I'm a little OCD so a junk drawer would mess with my head too much. So everything is neat, tidy, useful and in their right places. Some of the things people put in their drawers are just so funny Karen.

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    1. I'm very neat, but inside a junk drawer doesn't bother me. I do need to clean it out now and then when it gets to overflowing though.

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  4. When you said we could get "a peek into some other well-known bloggers’ drawers" I had another idea entirely. Just sayin'. Anyway, back to the topic. I'm afraid to even look in my junk drawer. There are things in there I can't even begin to explain.

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    Replies
    1. That was deliberate. How else was I gonna entice you over here?

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  5. I seem to have batteries in all of my junk drawers. What everyone doesn't have more than one junk drawer?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But do any of those batteries still work?

      And yes, I've got more than one junk drawer. One's the main one, though.

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  6. You don't want to know what's in my junk drawers….hell, I don't even know what's in my junk drawers because I can't bear to look inside that mess anymore. Glad you posted a crockpot recipe---I live by mine since there is less time to cook nowadays. My crockpot has saved me more times than I can count!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I've been featuring a lot of crockpot recipes lately. I think it's because I just love using it in the winter, and especially for soups and stews. It's saved me more times than I can count too.

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  7. As my fiancee' has been sick these past three days that soup would be perfect for her right now.

    I agree with many of these. Our junk drawer is full of old cell phones too!

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    1. I'm so sorry your fiancee is sick, seems like everyone is right now. You better start chopping those veggies, she's gonna need this soup.

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  8. Ok so is anyone going to ask why Joy needs to be measuring cucumbers or are we all just leaving that one the hell alone?? Another awesome insight, it makes me feel a bit better about my junk drawers now.

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    Replies
    1. No, not leaving it alone, just waiting. Knew we could count on you to do it!

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  9. Ha ha ha - I almost forgot about this!! Another great post. I love the secret pack of smokes!! OMG :-)

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    Replies
    1. I love all the items. They say so much about us, don't they?

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  10. Oh my gosh, this is great, Karen! So fun to see what others have in their junk drawers, and I love that my ciggies were featured, too! Haha

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  11. Replies
    1. HA! I love when the comments on my blog keep me laughing!

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  12. I just recently made homemade stove top chicken noodle soup because hubby was sick. Looking at your recipe looks like I probably could have saved some time in the kitchen with using the crockpot! :) Some of these photos definitely make me think of my junk drawer. I can definitely recall having old cell phones when I was younger in a junk drawer because I can remember always getting new ones way before it was time for an upgrade lol.

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    1. Yeah, I have to admit I've got a drawer with quite a few old cell phones in it too. Not sure why I don't get rid of them, but then that's what junk drawers are for, right?

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  13. It funny to hear what people have in their junk drawers. I have too many things in mine.
    Karen, your soup looks yummy!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, mine is overflowing also. In fact, all of mine are.

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  14. You soup looks yummy - and I can do crock pot! I should have added old cell phones and plastic insects to my list - because I have those too. Wishing you all the best in the New Year! xx

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    Replies
    1. I know, it's so funny, I see things that people keep in their junk drawers and think "yup, I got that too."

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  15. I have had a cold for 2 weeks. This soup would be perfect! Thanks for linking it up. I Pinned it!! I will be trying it soon.
    Thank you also for linking up at Saturday Dishes.
    Blessings and have a great weekend.
    Diane Roark
    www.recipesforourdailybread.com
    I will make sure I am following your social medias.

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  16. Thank you for including me! I LOVED reading this. LOL Vinny's comment- Hilarious! I apologize for not visiting sooner. I took a mini- hiatus! But so nice to check in with you! I will be back to read more soon!

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    Replies
    1. So glad you were able to join in. And about Vinny's comment, I just love reading a comment on the blog and laughing out loud. It's like the cherry on top of the sundae.

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  17. I just wanted to let you know that I am featuring this great chicken soup you linked up on Saturday Dishes Healthy recipes tonight on my blog post. It will be live at 5pm. central.
    Blessings,
    Diane Roark
    www.recipesforurdailybread.com

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  18. It is fun to look at other peoples' junk drawer. I like your recipe for the option of matzoh ball, but what is better if feeling perish or weather is miserable! BTW, I made your cheesy bread, big hit!

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    Replies
    1. I agree, gotta have chicken soup when you're not feeling well. And I LOVE that you made my bread!

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