If the dwindling flour stocks on UAE supermarket shelves are anything to go by, this period of self-isolation has ignited a baking frenzy across the country.
You may be trying your hand at preparing this time-tested peanut butter loaf recipe from 1932, you may be anxiously coddling a sourdough mix, or you may be using the extra time you have to rustle up Michelin-worthy dinners. And if you are spending more time in the kitchen, here are some hacks to ensure your space is operating at optimum level.
Start with a purge
Take everything out of your drawers and cabinets. You may be shocked at the number of wooden spoons or chipped mugs you’ve been hoarding. Work out what you actually use and bin everything else.
Wipe it down
Give everything a good wipe down. Now is the perfect time for a deep clean of those out-of-reach cupboards, so get the disinfectant out.
Take stock
The temptation to stockpile is high when you are only allowed to visit the supermarket every three days. So you may now find yourself with 12 tins of tuna and nine boxes of unopened pasta. Do a stock take of what you already have in your fridge and pantry, to avoid unnecessary purchases on that next trip to Carrefour.
Be strategic
Once you’ve taken stock, start using some of that excess. Look for recipes that include those ingredients – it may force you out of your comfort zone.
Create zones
Create an organised space by allocating zones. Zone one should be things you use every day: this area should be easy to access and, ideally, close to the dishwasher or sink. Think plates, glassware and cutlery. Zone two should focus on cooking: all your pots, pans and baking items. Zone three would be your pantry: a dedicated space for dry goods, herbs and spices. Zone four should be dedicated to accessories: foil, Tupperware and the such like.
Out of sight...
Keep items you use regularly at eye level. The same applies for items that may go off and need to be used sooner rather than later.
Rotate
When you’re emptying the dishwasher, put clean items at the bottom of the pile, so that all your plates, bowls and cutlery get equal use. Otherwise, you’ll just end up using the same four things over and over.
Give appliances a dedicated home
Keep appliances off the kitchen counter unless you are using them daily. Otherwise, they’ll just be taking up valuable space and gathering dust.
Utilise your walls
Why not introduce a hanging rack for your pots and pans; magnetic holders for your knives; and hanging pots for fresh herbs. Your walls are likely underutilised, and your cupboards and counters could probably do with some extra breathing room.
Think vertically
If your cupboards have enough vertical space, attach hooks to the upper surface and hang cups and mugs from them. If your cupboards don’t extend up to the ceilings, use that extra area as storage space.
Decant
Decant dry goods, such as pasta, rice, lentils and beans, into individual see-through, space-saving containers, so you can keep track of how much you have left.
Repurpose
Turn a seldom used serving dish into a fruit bowl, or use a long-forgotten mug to store make-up brushes. If things aren’t being used for their current purpose, think outside the box to give them a function. Otherwise, get rid.
And repurpose again
Turn empty egg cartons into a storage solution by separating the top and bottom sections, placing them in your fridge and then using them as a place to store your condiments, top down. Old muffin tins can also be transformed into mini organisers.
Get on top of Tupperware
Do an inventory of your Tupperware. How many stray lids do you have? Make sure you have full sets and dispose of any stragglers.
Toss those takeaway menus
Throw away all takeaway menus immediately. You’ve heard of Talabat, right?
Handy chalkboard
Turn the insides of kitchen cupboards into chalk boards with a few swipes of chalkboard paint. This is the perfect place to jot down shopping lists, reminders or even secret messages. A cork board will also do the trick.
Sneaky storage solutions
Attach empty rectangular tissue boxes to the insides of your kitchen cupboards and use them to store things like plastic bags or dish clothes.
Colour code your recipe books
Yes, we know this sounds a little OCD, but humans are visual beings. This will help you keep track of where everything is, and will also make your kitchen look more orderly.
Add art
Your kitchen doesn’t need to be a purely utilitarian space. If you’re spending more time in there these days, why not make it more visually appealing by introducing a piece of art somewhere? Similarly, introduce unexpected design elements – hang up a fancy pendant lamp or line cupboards with an eye-catching wallpaper.
If all else fails…
Invest in a slim, lightweight trolley or rolling cart that can be moved about the room with ease. Think of the display cart as a mini kitchen, which houses the ingredients, utensils and serve-ware that you use most often.
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Read more:
Got vinegar and baking soda in the cupboard? Nine DIY cleaning products to make at home
14 easy ways to make home improvements
Cull, categorise, clean: a step-by-step guide to organising your make-up and beauty collection
_________________
Match info
UAE v Bolivia, Friday, 6.25pm, Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium, Dubai
Brief scoreline:
Tottenham 1
Son 78'
Manchester City 0
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait this month is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
UAE’s fixtures: Fri Apr 20, UAE v Qatar; Sat Apr 21, UAE v Saudi Arabia; Mon Apr 23, UAE v Bahrain; Tue Apr 24, UAE v Maldives; Thu Apr 26, UAE v Kuwait
World T20 2020 Qualifying process:
- Sixteen teams will play at the World T20 in two years’ time.
- Australia have already qualified as hosts
- Nine places are available to the top nine ranked sides in the ICC’s T20i standings, not including Australia, on Dec 31, 2018.
- The final six teams will be decided by a 14-team World T20 Qualifier.
World T20 standings: 1 Pakistan; 2 Australia; 3 India; 4 New Zealand; 5 England; 6 South Africa; 7 West Indies; 8 Sri Lanka; 9 Afghanistan; 10 Bangladesh; 11 Scotland; 12 Zimbabwe; 13 UAE; 14 Netherlands; 15 Hong Kong; 16 Papua New Guinea; 17 Oman; 18 Ireland
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
SPEC%20SHEET
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M2%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206%2C%20Bluetooth%205.0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%2C%20midnight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%20or%2035W%20dual-port%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C999%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
More on Quran memorisation:
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
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Favourite things
Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery
Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount
University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China
Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai
Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China
Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs
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The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
