As we're inn our high season, there'll be more friends , family and guests . Innkeeping or not, the kitchen can be one of the most organizationally challenging rooms in the home. So much happens there: nourishing, visiting, laughing, crying, making memories. So you want your kitchen, the heart of our home, to be a place for friends and family to gather together, lingering for hours over good food and conversation.

A recipe to de-stress in the kitchen:

• large windows to bring in nature and soothing sights
• a heavy duty, wide, pull out butcher block (from a drawer) to easily expand counter space as well as allow two people to work together, one on each side
• something soft - we have a raised up sofa as part of our eating area, wonderfully cozy, conducive to hanging out
• variety of lighting, including a dimmer over the table
• room to roam, not a crowded or cramped plan
• good food, good wine, good conversation
• love

And nu.. another in the occasional Ten Commandments series but not before a brief time out to indulge in a very berry yogurt parfait... blueberries courtesy of the local farmer's market.

Heavy on indulgence.. low in guilt

8 oz blueberry yogurt
8 oz vanilla flavored yogurt
3/4 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
2 tablespoons of grape nuts, granola or other crispy cereal
Sliced or slivered almonds for topping.. okay a little indulgence, never hurt anyone

Stir together the yogurts. Add most of the blueberries and stir gently.
Spoon into dessert dishes. Sprinkle with cereal and sliced almonds, and garnish with a few blueberries. Makes 4 servings. From recipezaar

And now back to your regularly scheduled 10 Commandments

1. Thou shalt Plan the layout. It should flow. The glasses should be near the sink, the pots next to the stove and the cutting board with the knives. If you have little ones then keeping cups and healthy snacks within reach can save you time and give them some independence. Placement of everything in your kitchen should make sense. When guests come over, do you find they always look for something in a certain spot? Maybe you should move things to minimize steps and maximize efficiency.
2. Thou shalt make it safe. With most home accidents occurring in the kitchen, safety is an important concern. Your kitchen has many dangers, including electricity, chemicals, fire, knives, not to mention , bacteria. How can you make your workspace safer?
   

   • Thou shalt keep knives up out of reach of wee ones. That goes for chemicals under the sink. Find another location for your cleaners. Kids can open most child safety locks anyway.
   • Thou shalt sharpen your knives. There is more risk of cutting yourself if the utensils are not razor sharp. Keep away from guests :)
   • Thou shalt keep your food prep areas are clean. Wash things thoroughly with soap and water.

3. Thou shalt rotate stocked items. Treat your cabinets like a store shelf. Put the items that expire soonest up front. This will keep your food fresh and you will use all of your food, offering more variety to your meals. I'm absolutely type a about this
4. Thou shalt keep a list handy. Keep a magnetic pad on your fridge with a pen. When an item gets low, jot it down (don't wait until it runs out to list it). This list can eliminate multiple trips to the store, saving time and energy.
5. Thou shalt have rules. You have standards and that's a good thing. But don't banish everyone from your kingdom, get them involved. Show them how you like things done and then let them loose and put your feet up while your family cooks a meal. Set rules for cleanup and other kitchen chores. Don't cause yourself undue stress by being overly territorial. Your kitchen will be a more fun place to be.
6. Thou shalt make it easy to keep clean. Take advantage of new cleaning products that save time and effort. Keep cleaners in easy reach with a package of antibacterial wipes in the knife drawer. Invest in the new cutting pads that soak up chicken juices and you can rest easy that cleanup will be a snap. Peruse your store's cleaning aisle for ways to make cleanup easier. And keep your counter free from clutter. The more little appliances and jars you have out, the more there is to clean.
7. Thou shalt practice the 3R's. Reduce. Recycle, Reuse Recycle/ Toss that blender with the frayed cord. Appliances are so affordable that I find replacing is often cheaper than repair. Don't keep electric items that are unsafe, thinking you will get around to fixing them. You won't, they will take up prime real estate in your space and you won't buy the replacement you need. Don't hang on to it. Toss it and move on.
8. Make your kitchen a place you like to be. Even if you don't like to cook, your kitchen can be a wonderful room in your home. Use colors, textures and items that make your happy. Appliances come in so many finishes that you can create the look you want at a price you can afford. Don't be afraid to purchase things you need. Invest in your kitchen and you will spend less time cooking and cleaning and more time enjoying the fruits of your labors.
9. Control the "Hot Spots." Maybe it's the top of the microwave, near the phone or at the bar. You know it-the space that attracts clutter. Every kitchen has it. Never fear. Turn it into a strength. Turn your phone's clutter zone into a "Command Center." Contain the clutter with baskets and boxes for mail and homework. Hang the family calendar on a bulletin board, along with schedules and a notepad for messages. Be styling with this chrome rack that can be slipped into your kitchen cabinet to store up to a dozen cups. Without damaging your shelves, you can create a lot of space - also creating more space on the shelf below, if you have tall shelving. Whether you use it as intended for cups, or choose to use it for spoons or utensils, it’s sure to help out your kitchen clutter!
10. Thou shalt go with the flow. One of the best tricks I've learned is to prepare breakfast casseroles the evening before that can sit in the refrigerator overnight, and simply be baked in the morning. These work well for egg casseroles, with or without meat, and for French toast recipes that bake up beautifully in the morning
11. Okay, creative license.. thou shalt indulge.. in the fruits of one's labor. How's about a very berry parfait

Got all that? Promise? Good. Now hop to it and start planning. We’re watching you.