multifunctional in the kitchen: 02

these enamel bowls were bought for camping.  i wanted to pack as little as possible, so eliminating the need to take both plates and bowls (and disposables) was a priority.  these bowls are large enough to accommodate plate meals like sandwiches and hotdogs as well as bowl meals like salad, soup, or cereal.  the bowls + camping = success.  

​when i got home i put them inside the little cooler we had also bought just for camping and stored them in the back of a cabinet for the next camping trip.  i felt annoyed that they were only going to be used a couple times per year, but it seemed like the only choice.

one day i was looking for dishes to hold our zero-waste/stove top popcorn and these bowls came to mind...  perfect!  (no skimpy portion sizes here.)  :)  the more popcorn we ate, the more we used the bowls, so they started to earn a more accessible spot in the kitchen.

that's when i started to find all kinds of uses for them.  they are bigger than our normal soup or cereal bowls, but smaller than a mixing bowl.  they are less breakable (one did chip with a fall to the cement the first time we used them camping- but is still totally useable) and more lightweight than ceramic bowls.  we take them out to the garden to gather tomatoes, peas, strawberries and peppers.

i use one to water this hanging plant...

...and as part of a double boiler to make candles and lipgloss...

…and they fit perfectly over our plates to keep leftovers in the fridge- no plastic wrap needed.  now these bowls have a place on our open shelving…right where i can reach them.  they have saved the need to buy a number of other single use items.  minimalism, zero-waste, and tim gunn agree, "make it work!"…use what you have.  :)

others in this series :: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09

love,
​jane