If you're lucky enough to have a backyard, an outdoor fireplace is a great investment for entertaining. Think s'mores, hot dog roasts, or even just cool nights spent gathered around the fire. Fire pits generally come in three main types: wood burning (the most popular and usually the least expensive), gas/propane (a less smokey option that's pricier), and gel or ethanol (which creates a smokeless, odorless flame).

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My husband and I, itinerant apartment dwellers and disdainers of stuff, have been inducted into the cult of the grill. We love it. We can't get enough. When discussing what to make for dinner, my husband inevitably asks, "Can we...grill?" Inevitably, I nod, already plotting our next charred experiment. And it's all thanks to this new, incredibly compact, and easily-carried Element grill from Fuego. More

I recently moved into a new apartment that has everything going for it - except the stove. It's been years since I cooked on an electric stove top, and the adjustment period has come with its fair share of burnt onions and rubbery eggs. This trick for cooking on two burners has become my new favorite coping mechanism. More

Q: My husband and I have a lemon of an oven/stove and are in the market for a new one. We are looking for a 5-burner, 30-inch free-standing or slide-in piece. Consumer Reports, although helpful, did not have any high ranking appliances for a carpenter and nonprofit office manager's budget.

Any advice as to a brand, or a trustworthy website for reviews? Any personal experience? We are in dire need as our oven will turn itself off at any heat above 350°F and will then lock and unlock itself until we unplug it.

Sent by Misie More

We've talked here at The Kitchn about ways to cook in the fireplace. Now, how about the perfect fireplace in which to do it? It's even located in a kitchen! More

Ovens, as we've discovered and more than once, are not easy beasts to clean. It is mighty tempting to just avoid the situation altogether and put it off for weeks at a time. Sometimes months. Sometimes longer. Fess up, readers: how often do you clean your oven?! More

For the last several months, my husband and I have been in the process of renovating an old 1917 Russian Orthodox church into a home. The former altar area is our kitchen, the main chapel is our living room, and from entryway to the back of the stage there are all of three electrical outlets. We're finally ready to look at electricity so our question to you is — How many outlets would you like to have in your own kitchen? More

Q: In an attempt to declutter the kitchen I have removed the various photos and notes that accumulate on the refrigerator over time. Our fridge is black and the solid dark surface seems a little much, but I don't want to go back to the clutter.

Does anyone know of a company that sells large decorative magnets? Not necessarily something that will cover the entire surface — I'm thinking some sort of large swirl or flower design? A refrigerator accessory, if you will. I've searched online but haven't found what I'm looking for. 

Sent by Elise More

Toasting the occasional s'more in the fireplace is a cozy winter treat we've indulged in, but what about cooking a full meal on an indoor hearth? An article in last week's Wall Street Journal claims fireplace cooking is gaining popularity, and offers some tips for cooking with an indoor hearth. Have you ever done this? More

Q: I am looking for advice on what brand of refrigerator is the most quiet, and thought you or your readers might be able to help. The last fridge we bought was supposed to be quiet, but it's really not. We have to turn it off every time we're in the kitchen.

Sent by Dori More