This post highlighting recipes with tricky cleanup has been compensated by Scotch-Brite. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.
I’m sure many of you out there have a list (or more accurately, a Pinterest board) overflowing with awesome recipe ideas that you just haven’t gotten around to trying yet. I know I certainly do.
In particular, I have quite a few recipes that I seem to be dragging my feet to try for one simple reason: I judge clean up for these dishes to be a nightmare. Any food that is served in a glass, that has marshmallows that have been heated, that has a flaky crust in a small container or that involves syrup in significant quantities keeps getting passed over by me because however good the recipe may be, I’ll be annoyed that I made it when it is time to scrub the dishes.
Follow Stuff Parents Need’s board #ScotchBrite Yummy Recipe Possibilities on Pinterest.
Scotch-Brite recently challenged me to create a Pinterest board with exactly those types of dishes: the ones I’d really love to eat, and even ones I’m willing to make, as long as I don’t have to do dishes afterwards. I was also challenged to actually make one of those recipes, and then face the dreaded dish pile afterwards with the Scotch-Brite Stay Clean Dishwand in hand. The folks at Scotch-Brite were confident that with the right tools, washing those dishes would be a breeze.
Y’all, I’ve cleaned a lot of plates (in Memphis! Like Tina!) so I was not as confident. But I’m always up for a challenge, especially if it means that I get to eat something super yummy.
Miniature Pecan Pies
I reviewed my options, and at the end of the day, just couldn’t stop thinking about those adorable rustic ramekin pecan pies. Head over to Bev’s site to get the recipe (it’s a good one!) if you’d like to give it a try. I’ll show you the process I went through to make the pies, and I think in so doing, you’ll see the increasing level of “Ugh!” I was facing as clean up time neared.
First I cut out the dough to fit the inside of the ramekin (accomplished by using a bowl that was slightly larger than the ramekin). So the inside of my dish is covered in dough, which is flaky, crusty, delicious, and a bear to clean.
But, you know what? That’s not enough crust! Time to put some around the edges! I actually totally agree with Bev on this concept, and I loved the fact that the pie is supposed to look “rustic” so it is ok for the crust to not be nice and neat. But now I’ve got pie crust on the inside AND the outside of the dish.
Time to make the filling! Various yummy and sticky things go into a pecan pie filling, including eggs, sugar, lots of syrup, and to put a little pink in your cheeks, some bourbon (in my case, I used Chattanooga Whiskey…keepin’ it local!). My main concern with stuff like this is that it may come off the bowl, but then it will just be stuck to the sponge. Gross.
The finished product was totally cute and yes, absolutely delicious. My family enjoyed every single bite.
Cleaning up with Scotch-Brite Stay Clean Dishwand
I got my Scotch-Brite Stay Clean Dishwand all ready to go. It is especially designed to keep the food off the dishes AND off the sponge, which means that it can go the distance for you without having to be replaced quite so quickly. I had the perfect tool on hand for the job, so no need to dally, right?
The Part Where I Totally Embarrass Myself
Only I did dally. I dallied like it was going out of style. Honest truth time: I was nervous that the dishwand wouldn’t work as advertised, and that I’d ruin my new kitchen helper on its very first mission. Between the crust, the gooey filling, and the sticky leftovers in the prep bowl, what sponge wouldn’t have to sacrifice itself for that mess??? Also, I hate doing dishes, so that contributed to my procrastination, for sure.
Those dishes sat for 3 full days. And actually, they sat longer than that but I’m just too embarrassed to tell you how long. I avoided this chore like the plague, and in so doing, really just made my poor, cute little dishwand’s job infinitely harder.
And yet, she seemed undaunted (and perhaps even a little giddy) about her assignment (What? Dishwands totally show their emotions, you guys). I put her durable scrubbing surface to work, and what I thought was going to be a horrible chore seemed to be more like a fun game to this dishwand.
Even the crusty ramekins didn’t see to phase her, and bowl after bowl, the dishes were coming clean.
When it was all said and done, I realized that I put off a chore that wasn’t hard at all, thanks to having the right tool on hand. And was the dishwand scrubber ruined by all the sticky stuff it had to clean? On the contrary…it hardly looked used at all!
So now I’ve got a new best friend in the kitchen, and my hand washing dishes aren’t piling up for a week 3 days like they used to. The Scotch-Brite Stay Clean Dishwand is easy to use, actually works the way it claimed it would, and is priced nicely at just $2.99 for the dishwand and $4.49 for a 3 pack of refills (though it will take a while for the sponge to wear out!). The sponges are also designed to fit any Scotch-Brite wand, so if you purchase a different dishwand and want to try out these sponges, that’s no problem!
What awesome recipe are you going to try now that you know cleaning up will be easy???
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the full suite of Scotch-Brite dishwands!
Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my site.
Scrubbing & washing out the cat box is myleast favorite chore!
My least favorite is cleaning the toilet.
I hate dishes the most, so does everyone else in my house so the dishwand would be awesome.
Toilets. I just dislike greatly anything about toilets. Gross!
Without question, my least favorite chore is washing dishes.
My least favorite chore is cleaning the bathroom.
I do not like dealing with paperwork of any kind!!
I hate cleaning the bathroom
I hate cleaning the toilet.
Cleaning walls. Can’t reach, don’t see well, and I always feel like I’m removing paint but leaving dirt. Sure wish I could find someoneone to clean my walls for me! (I’d pay them, but even basic rent-a-maid type services don’t do walls.)
I hate washing dishes
cleaning the bathroom
I hate doing laundry, especially folding.
I hate folding and putting away the laundry
I hate cleaning the bathrooms
My least favorite chore is cleaning the bathroom, especially the toilets.
cleaning the bathroom
vaccuming!
I hate mopping the floors.
My least favorite chore is cleaning the bathroom!
Cleaning the bathroom is a real chore.
Hands down, I dislike doing the dishes most.
I very much dislike cleaning the bathroom, especially the toilet.
Doing laundry is my least favorite chore. I really dislike the never ending piles.
I hate to sweep and mop!
I do not understand why taking out the trash is so mentally , not physically hard to do.
My least favorite chore is in the house is a toss up between dishes & the bathtub/shower.
I hate cleaning the shower
For me it’s scrubbing the toilet.
I have been wanting to get a dish washing brush/wand, and the Scotch Brite looks like just what I need. I’m sure it would do the job.
My least favorite chore in the house is cleaning the showers.
Cleaning the bathroom is my least favorite.
My least favorite chore is the dishes.
i really don’t like anything about cleaning. but dusting is the worst
Dusting is my least favorite
I really dislike cleaning up after other people in the house, especially dishes
If I never clean another bathroom floor it would suit me fine!
I hate washing dishes
I don’t like to dust. make me sneeze a lot
Cleaning the tubs/showers! Ugg!
My least favorite chore is doing dishes.
my least favorite chore is cleaning toilets!
My least favorite is vacuuming!
My least favorite chore is cleaning the bathroom.
My least favorite chore is to clean the bathroom and to unload the dishwasher.
My least favorite chore is cleaning the house: scrubbing, etc.
Cleaning the tub is the worst!
Cleaning out my bird cages 🙁
I hate dishes
I hate cleaning the bathroom. Thank you for the chance to win this!
I hate to vacuum!
I hate them all!! Cleaning the bathroom is the worst.
Laundry
My least favorite chore is scrubbing the floors. UGH!!
I hate washing dishes
With 6 in my house I need all the help cleaning I can get!!!!!
Cleaning the dishes!!
Cleaning the toilet.
Correction: this entry has my correct email. Thank you.
Cleaning the bathroom
I have always hated ironing!
I have two household chores that I can’t stand.. dishes and scrubbing toilets. UGH… and as the mom of 3 messy kids, i need to do a lot of both! lol
babydjs_mom@yahoo.com
My least favorite chore is cleaning the shower in the bathroom.
my least favorite chore is putting the clothes away after washing!
I hate cleaning the dishes but its a necessary evil.
My least favorite chore is matching socks.
cleaning kitchen and bathroom. ick
My least favorite chore has to be doing the laundry! Of course I have to do that every day for our family of 6, maybe that’s why I dislike it so much! I’m sure I will miss it when my kids grow up!
Touching food from old dishes and taking out garbage
My least favorite chore is cleaning the bathroom.
My least favorite chore would be cleaning the bathroom…..and doing laundry comes in as a close second.
My least favorite chore is moping the kitchen floor; maybe because it gets dirty again so quickly!
Thank goodness I have a housekeeper because I detest vacuuming and ironing. Thank you for the super giveaway opportunity. Keep up the terrific blogging.
My least favorite chore is cleaning the bathroom.
Thank you!
oh – I don’t enjoy folding socks!
I hate scrubbing the tub!
Cleaning my shower and ironing get put off for looong periods of time at my house.
I do not like cleaning the bathroom. It just grosses me out plain and simple.
I hate cleaning the toilet/tub and dusting!
I don’t like cleaning the bathroom
I hate dusting the most aaaahhhhchooooo!
My least favorite chore is dusting, especially my daughter’s room. There are too many things to move around!
I hate putting laundry away.
I don’t mind doing laundry but I HATE putting it away.
My absolute least favorite chore is dusting. I simply detest dusting!
I hate when the grout in my tile gets grungy. It’s the worst to clean!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
I like cleaning my room its super easy.
Id say cleaning the bathrooms, or putting away the laundry.
I hate cleaning the shower more than anything else.
My least favorite chore is cleaning the bathrooms.
washing dishes
My least favorite chore is scrubbing pots and pans. Yuck!
My least favorite chore is the dishes. I somehow am able to often convince my son to do them, though dishes are his least favorite chore as well! 😉
My Least favorite chore is dishes ! Even with a dishwasher it’s dishes
pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thank you
My favorite chore is dishes. I love to watch the neighborhood out my window while I work. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!
lol oops, I obviously need to look at my reading skills better. My LEAST favorite chore is the bathroom, anything and everything in the bathroom. Thank you!
cleaning the tub
Cleaning the bathrooms is my least favorite..so no fun
The bathroom-
I hate doing the laundry, it seems like it is never ending!!
I hate dusting. Never gets done at my house.
I don’t like cleaning the bathroom. I am glad my significant other is willing to help!
I don’t like cleaning the bathroom. Scrubbing the toilets and cleaning the shower is my least favorite chore.
Putting away clean clothes is the WORST. I will wash, fold, and hang them… but I want someone else to put them in the closet/drawers
I don’t like doing laundry and dishes!
My least favorite chore is cleaning toilets.
i HATE dishes! i will try everything to get out of doing them!
I hate cleaning the toilets!
My least favorite chore is cleaning the showers – ugh!
hate cleaning the bathrooms
least favorite chore is in the house is the toilet
I don’t like dusting.
I hate to dust and the kitchen
I hate cleaning the bathrooms.
i hate all the chores! but i hate doing laundry! wash then dry then fold…ugh
My least favorite household chore is dusting!
The dish wand looks amazing.
I hate folding clothes!
Probably doing the dishes is my least favorite.. followed by washing the floors. BUT realistically I hate all of my chores and would enjoy having a maid service 🙂
My least favorite chore is cleaning the refrigerator.
I detest handwashing large pots and pans that do not fit into the dishwasher!
Least favorite chore is dishes. I love too cook and bake but do not enjoy dishes!
I dread putting away clothes. I don’t mind washing and folding them, I just don’t like putting them away.
Cleaning toilets is the worst chore ever!
My least favorite chore is cleaning the refrigerator. 🙂 Thank you.
I hate doing the bathrooms…any part of them. Ugh!
I don’t like scrubbing the kitchen and bathroom floors.
I hate doing the dishes! Kyle hates doing laundry, which happens to be my favorite. He makes sure the dishes are done, and I make sure we have clean clothes. Perfect trade off in my book!
I hate cleaning up. The house we are now renting FINALLY has a dishwasher. It sucks and I love it!!!! But honestly I don’t know that floors or laundry aren’t worst to work on 🙂 Esp with a toddler who throws everything you just picked up back where “it goes”.