Funky Kitchen

There has been a funky smell lofting around my kitchen the past couple of days.

I've been noticing it every time I open the fridge, but I kept telling myself it wasn't that bad. Or that somehow, magically maybe, it would go away on its own like that non-showering, couch-surfing friend in college who would squat on your futon for weeks on end and then magically disappear when Phish went on tour.

Anyway, today I had to escape. It was honestly that bad. The boys and I were hanging out around the house. Instead of taking a minute to figure out from where the stench was originating, (I mean, come on! I had a baby on my hip!) I fled the scene of the crime.

We got home three hours later. When I opened the door, the funk wafted over to greet us. This was not going to be pretty.

So after I got the kids to bed, I sucked it up and took on the kitchen stank. Armed with a crinkled nose, a bottle of cleaner, and some rags, I started in on the kitchen table. I banished the boys' napkins (milk-soaked stink bombs?)to the laundry, I scrubbed the crusted yogurt off the table (seriously, are we always this gross?!?) and headed over to the fridge.

I opened the door and squatted down. I could tell the culprit was lurking somewhere on the middle shelf in the back. I began by wiping down the shelves. (Dude. How does anyone keep their fridge shelves clean? Does no one else spill? Or do they wipe it down daily?)

And that's when I saw it.

Behind the Britta and two gallons of milk. The Artichoke (more aptly named The Artichoke That Was and Never Will Be).

I had been suckered into buying it for Owen a couple of weeks ago but hadn't gotten around to trimming and steaming the dang thing. So there it sat, stem down in murky water, rotting away all sad and forgotten.

So the funk is gone, and so is the artichoke. Next time, I think I'll have to buy them in a can.

Does funk linger in your kitchen? What's growing in the back of your fridge? Do you buy your artichokes whole or just the hearts in a can? Share your comments, questions and recipes below!