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I won't kid you. Being a mom to five children under the age of six is by no stretch of the imagination easy. Rewarding, yes. Easy, a resounding NO! And by far one of the most trying times is dinnertime. Everyone is usually cranky and irritable, and of course, they're all hungry and want their food immediately.
This is where one of my little secret sanity savers comes in. Oh, I have lots of these little tricks up my sleeve, and I'll share them all with you in due time, but this is one of my favorites. Some are frugal, and then some are not so frugal, but sometimes Mommy's sanity is worth more than saving a dime. However, I always do my research to get the best price!
On to my secret . . .
Yep, that's right – my trusty KitchenAid All-Purpose Kitchen Shears. Of course mine are red to match all my other KitchenAid utensils and appliances! Yes, not so frugal but very durable . . .
I use these babies for every task imaginable. They're great for chopping up still-frozen chicken for stir-fry meals or other recipes that call for diced chicken or any other kind of meat for that matter. I use them to mince herbs, chop celery, cut up grapes – you name it. And the great thing is you can cut stuff right into the pan you're using.
But the very best use I've come up with is quickly cutting foods up into bite-size pieces for the kiddies. It makes quick work of any meal, including pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, etc. It lets me assemble their plates quickly and easily, getting them all served and ready to eat without the dangers of slicing or dicing my finger with a knife. (Who, me? I've never done anything like that.) My neighbor was an instant convert when she saw me quickly dice up a slice of pizza for my 2 year old at her birthday party.
I have at least four pairs of the shears so I always have a clean pair. I also have numerous pairs of their other styles, including the herb shears, poultry shears, bent shears, and utility shears, but the all-purpose kitchen shears will always hold a special place in my heart.
For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, visit Rocks in My Dryer!
Tara Kuczykowski is a married mom of three boys and two girls, ages 4 to 10 years, living in Columbus, OH.
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
My kids are a little older, but now THEY love the shears. When they need to make their own meals shears make it fun - sandwiches, pizza, bite size anything. My youngest is 7. I don't know if it's just him or boys and knives not going together well. I don't know, but I prefer he uses the shears.
My kids are a little older, but now THEY love the shears. When they need to make their own meals shears make it fun - sandwiches, pizza, bite size anything. My youngest is 7. I don't know if it's just him or boys and knives not going together well. I don't know, but I prefer he uses the shears.
This is a great tip! I have been under-utilising my skissors it seems! This will save so much time!
This is a great tip! I have been under-utilising my skissors it seems! This will save so much time!
I want some!
I've given a pair of scissors up to the knife drawer as kitchen shears, but I want a good pair.
It's amazing how much time they save.
I want some!
I've given a pair of scissors up to the knife drawer as kitchen shears, but I want a good pair.
It's amazing how much time they save.
I want some!I've given a pair of scissors up to the knife drawer as kitchen shears, but I want a good pair.It's amazing how much time they save.
I want some!I've given a pair of scissors up to the knife drawer as kitchen shears, but I want a good pair.It's amazing how much time they save.
I so agree with you. Kitchen shears are great, especially for kids plates (hubby thinks I'm strange to cut food with scissors) Somehow my good pair disappeared around Christmas time and I've been making do with some cheapy ones. You've inspired me to go buy a new pair of nice ones. thanks!
I so agree with you. Kitchen shears are great, especially for kids plates (hubby thinks I'm strange to cut food with scissors) Somehow my good pair disappeared around Christmas time and I've been making do with some cheapy ones. You've inspired me to go buy a new pair of nice ones. thanks!
I love my kitchen shears, I find a use for them just about every single day. I especially like to chop up things in the pot with them, so easy!
I love my kitchen shears, I find a use for them just about every single day. I especially like to chop up things in the pot with them, so easy!
I'm with you - kitchen scissors are the BEST multi-purpose tool and sanity saver!
I'm with you - kitchen scissors are the BEST multi-purpose tool and sanity saver!
I hear you...these are great to have around.
Found your blog through Rocks in My Dryer...glad I stopped by.
I hear you...these are great to have around.Found your blog through Rocks in My Dryer...glad I stopped by.
Thanks for the tip! I'm definitely putting these shears on my wish list. :)
Thanks for the tip! I'm definitely putting these shears on my wish list. :)
I have always wanted a pair of kitchen shears...now I know why!!
They are going on my wish list...I wonder if they come in pink?!
I have always wanted a pair of kitchen shears...now I know why!!They are going on my wish list...I wonder if they come in pink?!
Pampered Chef sells a pair that are dishwasher safe, I bought two!
Pampered Chef sells a pair that are dishwasher safe, I bought two!
What a great idea! It takes me forever to cut things up for my kids' dinner plates. This would be a huge time saver!
What a great idea! It takes me forever to cut things up for my kids' dinner plates. This would be a huge time saver!
Love my kitchen shears! I use them a lot more...esp. with the children.
Love my kitchen shears! I use them a lot more...esp. with the children.
Thanks for stopping by, everyone!!! I've always just thrown mine in the dishwasher. I haven't had any problems, so I guess they must be dishwasher safe. And Fuschia, I'm pretty sure that they did make a pink pair for the Susan G. Komen Foundation if you like a more pastel pink. ;)
Thanks for stopping by, everyone!!! I've always just thrown mine in the dishwasher. I haven't had any problems, so I guess they must be dishwasher safe. And Fuschia, I'm pretty sure that they did make a pink pair for the Susan G. Komen Foundation if you like a more pastel pink. ;)
I love my kitchen shears but they're getting old and worn out and this time I'll get MORE than one pair, I like that idea a lot.
Great tip!
I love my kitchen shears but they're getting old and worn out and this time I'll get MORE than one pair, I like that idea a lot.Great tip!
I have the same shears lol and you are right they are a life saver.. i actually have 3 of them.. I can't stand it if its in the dishwasher and I need it!!!! lol
I have the same shears lol and you are right they are a life saver.. i actually have 3 of them.. I can't stand it if its in the dishwasher and I need it!!!! lol
I lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve my kitchen scissors!!♥♥♥ I have to laugh at myself when I got my first pair in with a knife set. I had no clue that's what they were for and just used them as utility scissors *whistles* I've since learned and use them allll the time with Ryan. I don't know why it never occurred to me to buy more :$ Need to get a couple more pair because they're always dirty!!
I lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve my kitchen scissors!!♥♥♥ I have to laugh at myself when I got my first pair in with a knife set. I had no clue that's what they were for and just used them as utility scissors *whistles* I've since learned and use them allll the time with Ryan. I don't know why it never occurred to me to buy more :$ Need to get a couple more pair because they're always dirty!!
I see that there's a pair in the Pampered Chef Outlet, but I'm not sure I like the spring loaded part of it. Not sure I get the point of that..... any input on that? Hmmm.
I see that there's a pair in the Pampered Chef Outlet, but I'm not sure I like the spring loaded part of it. Not sure I get the point of that..... any input on that? Hmmm.
I use these too! I love the several pairs idea, mine always need to be washed.
I use these too! I love the several pairs idea, mine always need to be washed.