Key Highlights
- Suzanne Mulholland and Joe Swash offer tips for creating a harmonious kitchen.
- Their advice includes assigning specific tasks to different household members.
- Introducing a “messy bowl” can help manage clutter in the kitchen.
- Hosting guests should be approached with simplicity, according to Mulholland.
- Involving children early in cooking can foster better eating habits.
The Chaos of the Kitchen and How to Tame It
And here’s where the kitchen falls apart: surfaces that scream for attention, recipe books that are half-followed, an endless array of pots and pans. You might think this is new, but it’s a battle we’ve all faced.
Who’s in Charge?
But let’s be real—no matter how neat you are, the kitchen can still feel like a battlefield. Joe Swash, co-host of Channel 4’s “Batch from Scratch: Cooking for Less,” knows this all too well. And so does Suzanne “The Batch Lady” Mulholland. Together, they’ve got some sage advice on how to create a harmonious kitchen.
Divide and Conquer
“Whoever cooks doesn’t clean up,” says Suzanne. “In my house, we have this rule: myself and my husband cook, the kids load the dishwasher, and I never do dishes if I’ve cooked.” Joe agrees, adding that it’s a team effort. “Sharing the workload means no one feels like they’re doing all of the work,” he explains.
The Messy Bowl Solution
Now, what about that pesky clutter? Suzanne recommends something called a “messy bowl”—a big enamel French bowl that sits on top of their microwave. “If I find any clutter, it goes in the messy bowl. Then at the end of the week, we pour it out and decide whether to keep or discard,” she says.
Guests Are Not Always Welcome
Hosting can be a daunting task, but don’t stress too much about it. “If my girlfriends call for beans and toast, I’m overjoyed,” Suzanne quips. “People are really happy with anything that you do because they haven’t had to do it themselves.”
Engage the Kids
And then there’s Joe’s final tip: get children involved early on in cooking. “If kids only eat chicken nuggets or chips, teaching them when young can change their eating habits,” he suggests. “Equip them with the skills they need to handle knives safely and teach them to stay away from hot stoves.”
Stream Batch from Scratch
So there you have it—Joe Swash and Suzanne Mulholland’s top tips for a (mostly) harmonious kitchen. If you’re intrigued, you can catch “Batch from Scratch: Cooking for Less” on Channel 4 starting Monday, February 23rd at 8pm. And remember: in the kitchen, chaos is just part of the process.
