If you find cooking drudgery, here's one magic trick to change that. Reorganize your space to make it more functional. It will make a profound difference.

Observe any craftswoman at task and you'll see economy and grace in her movements. Her flow is acquired from repeatedly reaching for the shuttle (or builder's level or an upper octave C sharp) and finding it in its designated spot. With tools in place, you're free to create. With functional work stations, cooking is pleasurable.

My hot pads, for example, hang on their hook next to the range. When my nose says "time to take the cookies out," one hand opens the oven door, the other lifts a hot pad and in one seamless motion, the goodies are out. Conversely, imagine needing the hot pads now and reaching for their usual drawer and while rummaging through stuff for the hot pads, the corkscrew jabs your thumb and What's that you smell? Burnt cookies!

Muster the kitchen genie within you and organize your kitchen space for efficiency. Then relish the corresponding upgrade of your cooking gratification.

As a model, here's a quick tour of my kitchen: All stove-related items are within reach of the stove. Each pot and lid has direct and easy access versus being nested inside something else. My most frequently used condiments stand ready to add flavor. The stable olive, coconut and palm oils are tucked in the cupboard while all light- and heat-sensitive oils are refrigerated.

Advertisement

Now widen your focus from the stove's workstation specifics to its relation to the whole kitchen. The cutting board, sink and range form the three tips of an equilateral triangle, enabling me to wash, cut and cook a carrot in one flowing motion.

I keep sharp knives and a bowl of onions and garlic poised for action next to the cutting board. The onions are happier out there than in the fridge and, besides, their comely shapes and copper colors please the eye.

I keep dish soap and vegetable brush nearest the action side of my sink. As I rarely used the water-spray extension device, I removed it and inserted my water filter spigot in the pre-cut hole. I store strainers and colanders near the sink, as that's where they're used. Within reach of the small appliance counter are measuring devices.

Now, for the rest of this week, note the difference that one little change can make in increasing your kitchen ease and pleasure.

Your turn. Pour yourself a cup of tea, sit back and look at your kitchen as if you've never seen it before. Assess the flow of each of your workstations then make one quick upgrade right now. For example:

• How smooth is the flow pattern around your sink? Rearrange things so that dirty dishes get stacked next to where you'll wash or load them; anyplace else is inconvenient.
• Does your fridge open into your workspace? If your fridge door opens away from the action part of your kitchen, reverse the door hinges and handles using the factory-cut holes and brackets.
• Are your storage containers nested into one another so that finding a matching lid is time consuming and frustrating? Store them with their lids on.