It's very important to keep your home kitchen clean and sanitized to prevent cross contamination and bacteria on surfaces. So how does a food truck mom keep her work space clean? 
I start by following the basic premises: 
-Scrape food and crumbs from surface, 
-Using a soapy cloth, wipe surfaces followed by a spray cleaner/degreaser (I like Simply Green.),
-Finish with a surface sanitizer. It can either be chlorine bleach or I like Purell Surface Sanitizer.
I try and complete the above steps every day, but definitely before I begin cooking or baking. However, Monday is kitchen-cleaning day.
On Mondays, I complete the following:
-Wipe down all appliances, including the small ones,
-Wipe down cabinet fronts and spray knobs with disinfecting spray, 
-Spray light switches and door knobs (including the surrounding areas) with disinfecting spray,
-Scour the sink with Barkeeper's Friend or Soft Scrub, and
-Clean the floor with a disinfecting surface product. And yes, I get on my hands and knees to clean the floors!
Once a month, I empty all counter utensil holders and run them through the dishwasher. 
I have a small kitchen, so these task are manageable, but try and eliminate clutter on your counters. I've used everything from strawberry boxes to cute metal baskets. Ultimately, it all gets dirty! 
What do you use or do to maintain a clean house?

Mix these:
3/4 cup oil
1/4 cup sour cream or vanilla Greek yogurt
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar

Then add these :
2-1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon

And finally stir in these:
3 cups-ish peeled and chopped apples, any variety

Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes. Remove and lightly cover with foil and bake and additional 20 minutes.

Pasta bakes are an easy way to use up what you have on hand, so this recipe can be highly customizable!
Ingredients
1 container cherry tomatoes
2 portobello caps, roughly chopped
1/2 zucchini, roughly chopped
1 bell pepper, roughly chopped
1/2 tbs oil - I used avocado oil
1/2 package fresh spinach
1 (24) ounce jar marinara sauce
1/2 tsp salt
pinch pepper
pinch red pepper flakes
1 tbs Italian seasoning
1 lb cooked pasta noodles
1 cup parmesan cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 
2. Toss all veggies (minus spinach) in oil and spices and spread out on a baking sheet. Roast for 20-25 minutes. Cook your noodles now.
3. Remove veggies from oven and add to a large pot on medium heat - preferably one that can go directly into oven so it's a one-pot wonder! 
4. Add spinach to wilt, then stir in marinara sauce, 1/2 cup parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella, and pasta noodles.
5. If leaving in one pot, top with remaining cheese. If adding to a casserole dish, add to casserole dish...then top with remaining cheese.
6. Bake for 25 minutes or until cheese looks goldenly good.

These are really good and this is totally. not my recipe. I copied it down to the final minute. (I did add 2 extra minutes to the total baking time.)
Click here to access the recipe!

1 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
1 tbs vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 400. 
Cream butter and sugar until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, then add vanilla.
Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add the sifted ingredients to the wet ingredients.
Roll out your dough on lightly flour-dusted parchment paper. Cut out shapes and place on parchment or silicone mat-lined baking sheet pans. Place baking sheet pan in freezer for 15 minutes. 
Bake 10 minutes until bottoms are golden brown. 

When somebody tells me I can't do something, guess what?
The above happens.
Nobody in particular told me I couldn't tackle a macaron, aside from the whole Internet. Apparently this is one of the tougher recipes to tackle. So, guess what (again)? Yup, I decided to attack the elusive M A C A R O N!
Over the years, I've Pinterest-ed them, studied them, envied them. And yesterday for some unknown reason - aside from cabin fever - I decided it was time. 
I had all the necessary ingredients, thanks to a short love affair with the Keto diet: almond flour, lots of eggs, and even more sugar (since sugar is the devil). 
I followed the recipe as is usual for me. Hurriedly. Unmeasured. And guess what (again x 2)? 
They turned out beautifully.
Only to quickly deflate and stick to the Silpat. 
​The end.

We have officially launched a new product...our ice cream freak shakes! These are delish ice cream creations topped with a sprinkled donut and other goodies. We are currently offering strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla shakes and will be rotating them into our regular dessert menu. 

Well, now that I have celebrity status, I just thought you should see how a celebrity lives. In the winter. With all boys. And cats.
Exhibit A: Cats

Once upon a time, Tom and I met on a blind date, fell in love, got married and had a baby golden, Scooby. Then along came Daphne, another golden. Then along came our kids, but we'll skip over them. Then we were down to Scooby. Then it was empty bowls. 
And during the empty bowl phase, came the resurrection of my teaching career and thus laid to rest the idea of taking care of a puppy full time. So when my son started struggling with anxiety, he requested a rabbit. A rabbit? Um, no. They are nocturnal and I am not. A guinea pig? Yes, I've heard they're sweet, but I still envisioned a dog in our life.  So rodent? No.
Well, what about a cat? 
A cat.
Hmmm.
I had cats growing up and I don't recall them being a nuisance, but as a dog lover I didn't want to transition to a cat. Eventually, though, my son wore me down and when my husband went out of town, we rescued our first cat. 
So here is the cast of characters:
Hairry - glossy black fur, marble green eyes. typical meme cat. belongs to Jack. likes no one.
Jerry - tuxedo cat. small head, big belly. mini human, belongs to Evan. likes Hairry. not liked back.
Ombre - discovered in our fire pit with his siblings. likes to cuddle but is equally petrified of you.
Bronco - likes to kick with his feet. first one at the treat drawer. causes trouble. fire pit sibling.
Gonzalez - was a boy until yesterday when I actually looked and he is a she. fire pit sibling. Thanks All About Animals for getting us in quickly!
​

Our adventures begin! 
We will begin documenting the true life and crimes of food truck life! 
This week we will embark on a semi-cross country road trip. My friend Jen and I will be taking Agent D.F. (Donut Fryer) to Tennessee where her husband will be repairing the ill-fated fryer.
Follow my new You Tube channel: https://youtu.be/pnSr1YiD4wM to see the misadventures of D.F. and other hilarity!