Here's a tip to save you a post-vacation-food-poisoning-induced-trip to the emergency room.
Food in your freezer could have languished at unsafe temperatures if the power goes out when you’re on vacation,and then returned to its frozen state when the power goes back on.
Use this tip from the Nebraska University Extension service to see if food is safe to eat. When organizing your freezer, keep an ice cube or two in a sealed plastic bag or small container in the freezer. It must be a sealed bag/container so the ice cube doesn't evaporate and disappear. If the ice cube has melted down from its original shape, you'll know the power was off for an extended period of time. And you'll have to toss the contents of your freezer.
For more tips on food safety go to:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/fact_sheets/severe_storms_and_hurricanes_guide/

My philosophy about organizing kitchen appliances is less is more. But I have to say I'm obsessing over the craziest gadget I've ever seen, the Yonanas  ice-cream maker.  It makes bananas into ice cream. That's it. It's big, it doesn't multi-task, nothing double-duty about it. But I keep thinking I could make healthy ice cream that the kids could eat without me feeling guilty. How could I work this into my small kitchen?  Maybe I could make room by tossing the cappuccino machine?  Unfortunately that is a big no, I use that every day.  How often would I eat banana ice cream? Probabaly not everyday.  That is a lot of bananas, lots of ice cream and some major counter top real estate.  OK, I am leaning towards no!  On an everyday usage I just don't think it trumps the cappuccino machine. Would love to but I have to be disciplined and say no.

Do you have an appliance you can't live without?

As the excitement of National Frozen Food Month continues, we're highlighting the way people organize and use their freezer, and it's not always about food. Some people use it as safe, freezing cash and jewelry. I've seen vodka, batteries, and Apartment Therapy had this post on freezing your jeans instead of washing or dry cleaning them.

What are some of the ways you use your freezer?

March is frozen food month. Really, I can't make this stuff up. It is time to go through that icy box and organize the contents. You might think once you stick something in the freezer it's good forever, but even freezing food has its limits. Here's some surprising facts: Cookie dough only lasts one month, Bacon, sausage - only lasts 2 months. Leftovers, such as casseroles, stews, soups, bread - a mere 3 months. So plan accordingly when you're stocking up on groceries and don't go overboard.

Have you heard about Walgreens new web pick up service? Where you order your items online and pick them up in store? Talk about a huge time saver. I don't have a lot of time to shop so I appreciate any service that can make my life easier. I just saw a advertisement for this service and I can already see its going to be a amazing. They even have curbside pick up where you dont have to get out of the car! Are you kidding me? Oh, my gosh. What a great service for any busy person. You don't really think about how much time you waste running errands. From driving, parking, shopping to check out. Not to mention all this extra stuff you come home with that you didnt really need. That's a whole other organizing topic. But this is going to save you lots of time and money. Love it!

In my previous post, I decided against getting the Yonanas device for making banana ice cream. I could not afford that counter or cabinet real estate! Instead of purchasing a specialty gadget I needed to see if could get the same results from something I already owned. Sometimes you have to get creative! An essential part of being organized is looking for ways to get the tools you have do double or even triple duty. All I had to do was look to the freezer to find those perfectly proportioned ice cube trays, mash up the bananas and freeze in an ice cube tray. So easy! Now I want to freeze everything in those little trays.

Here's some other ways to use ice cube trays:
Freeze leftover coffee for iced coffee that doesn't dilute when the ice cubes melt
Left-over tomato paste, tomato sauce, pesto, gravy and baby food.

Those are just a few ideas for the freezer.

What do you put in your ice-cube trays?

January 17 is the last day to recycle your Christmas tree with the Chicago Park District. You can take your tree to any of the following locations. For questions, call the Department of Environment at 312-744-7606.

Chicago Christmas Tree Recycling Sites:

Bessemer Park: 8930 S. Muskegon Ave.

Clark Park: 3400 N. Rockwell Ave.

Forestry Site: 900 E. 103rd St.

Garfield Park: 100 N. Central Park Ave.

Grant Park: 900 S. Columbus Dr.

Humboldt Park Boathouse: 1369 N. Sacramento Blvd.

Jackson Park: 6300 S. Cornell Ave.

Kennedy Park: 11320 S. Western Ave.

Kelvyn Park: 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave.

Lake Meadows Park: 3117 S. Rhodes Ave.

Lincoln Park: Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Ave., parking lot east of Cannon Dr.

Margate Park: 4921 N. Marine Dr.

Marquette Park: 6700 S. Kedzie Ave.

McKinley Park: 2210 W. Pershing Rd.

Mt. Greenwood Park: 3721 W. 111th St.

North Park Village: 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.

Norwood Park: 5801 N. Natoma Ave.

Portage Park: 4100 N. Long Ave.

Riis Park: 6100 W. Fullerton Ave.

Rowan Park: 11546 S. Avenue L

Sheridan Park: 910 S. Aberdeen St.

Warren Park: 6601 N. Western Ave.

Wentworth Park: 5625 S. Mobile Ave.