There’s something about spending Sunday at home. The taho vendor’s call echoes through the quiet street, the air is still cool, and the kids asleep. With coffee in hand, you stand in the kitchen and feel it: a chance to pause and reset.
The kitchen isn’t just where we cook. It’s where we plan, gather, and make life work. When it’s in chaos, we feel it too. So before the week kicks in, let’s reset—not for perfection, but for peace of mind.
If you can’t relax when your kitchen is a mess, you’re not alone. But if you’re the kind of person who can ignore the clutter and still unwind, you might be one of us. And don’t worry—that’s part of real life. The key is to treat the job as a ritual, a quiet moment to reflect and release the past week. With a little intention, you can turn the mess into a meaningful start. Yes, you can do better this week—with a fighting spirit and more mindfulness. So before we take the first step, take a deep breath. Once it becomes a habit, this reset will feel like second nature—part of your weekly groove.
Step 1: Start with a Simple Clean
Start small. Wipe down the counters, scrub the stovetop, and toss any suspicious leftovers lurking in the fridge. Clean the sink and swap out the dish towels. This clears not just space—but also your head.
Simpol Tip: Boil vinegar with lemon or calamansi peels—or sprinkle baking soda in the sink and on surfaces before scrubbing. It’s a natural disinfectant that keeps things clean and fresh.
Step 2: Face the Fridge
Take everything out. Wipe the shelves. Check expiration dates. Reorganize—sauces in one zone, snacks in another, and leftovers front and center. That sticky banana ketchup from fiesta season? Time to let it go. The fridge has a way of hiding things in plain sight—almost-empty bottles of jam, condiment jars with just a smear left, bits and pieces of ingredients you don’t even remember buying. They take up space, crowd your shelves, and drag down your kitchen mood. Let them go to make space for the food you actually plan to eat.
Simpol Tip: If you can see it, you’ll use it. Hidden food = wasted food.
Some people love full cupboards—I prefer emptying out what I have before the next haul. Overbuying often leads to waste. These days, with delivery apps and neighborhood groceries, you can buy what you need, when you need it. Less clutter, less guilt, more intention.
Step 3: Reimagine Leftovers
Before heading to the store, take a look at what’s left from the week. That last chunk of adobo, a half-container of pancit, some grilled chicken, or even leftover rice—they’re not scraps, they’re ingredients. You can turn adobo into flavorful fried rice, pancit into noodle soup with a quick egg drop, or grilled meat into stir-fry with fresh vegetables. Leftover giniling can become torta. Even a piece of lechon can transform into paksiw. Pancit wrapped in lumpia wrappers makes an easy merienda.
Reimagining leftovers isn’t just practical—it’s cultural. It cuts waste, stretches your budget, and reminds us that great meals often begin with what’s already in the kitchen. Start there before buying more.
Step 4: Shop with Intention
Once you’ve worked with what you have, make a focused grocery plan. Choose two to three meals that can remix or revive leftovers. Stock up on ingredients that help breathe new life into what’s already in your fridge: eggs, garlic, broth cubes, fresh veggies, or tortillas.
Bring your eco bag—it’s useful at the grocery and at the palengke. Greet your suki. Stick to what adds value, not clutter.
Step 5: Prep the Basics
No need to cook for the whole week. Just build a solid base to make weekday cooking smoother. A gisa mix of garlic, onion, and tomato sets up quick meals, and boiled meats can become tinola, sinigang, or adobo. Chop aromatics like garlic, ginger, and onion and store them in airtight containers. Cook one big-batch ulam—like menudo or paksiw—and divide into freezer-friendly portions. Batch cooking saves gas, time, and energy. You can even skip the vegetables and add them fresh when reheating.
Doing a bit of the work early lets you cook in half the time, especially after a long day. With smaller portions frozen and ready to go, even a simple meal feels easier. Your weekday self will thank you for the head start.
Step 6: Add a Bit of Joy
Your kitchen isn’t just a workspace—it’s a place where family life happens. After all the planning, cleaning, and prepping, breathe life back into the space. Open the window. Put on music. Place calamansi in a bowl or light a candle.
These aren’t chores. They’re little rituals that remind you: this space matters.
“You don’t need more time. Just better rhythm. And maybe a clean stovetop.”
The Simpol Reset Mindset
Resetting isn’t about doing more—it’s about caring better. For your home. For yourself. For those you feed.
So, where do you shop? And how do you reset? Share your kitchen rituals, your favorite leftover remixes, or that one habit that keeps your week running smoothly. However you do it, just remember: cook simply, cook with heart—that’s the Simpol way.
Every kitchen has its story—and sometimes, it just needs a fresh start. Whether it’s clearing the counters or finding new joy in cooking, we’re happy to be part of the journey. Here’s to calmer days, warmer meals, and a space that feels a little more like home. Especially when you have a reliable brand with you at home, La Germania: Built for the Daily Life You Live.****
