The Kitchn Archive
2011
September

The Kitchn Archive: Sep 2011

Ingredient Spotlight: Rowan Berries
While traveling through Minnesota the past couple of weeks, we’ve spotted hundreds, perhaps thousands, of these brilliant red berry clusters in yards and parks. As avid foragers, our first thought was, “Are they edible?!”As it turns out, yes … but you probably don’t want to plop a raw berry in your mouth. We discovered that they are quite astringent!
Emily Han
Sep 30, 2011
Recipe: Spatchcocked Ricotta Chicken
While blessed with many attributes, a roasted chicken has its drawbacks. One biggie is that it usually limits your guest list to about four people tops. But chickens are adaptable creatures and open to being flexible. One way to stretch a chicken, quite literally, is to spatchcock it (a fun way of saying butterfly), stuff its gills and other tender parts, literally expanding the bird to feed more people.
Sara Kate Gillingham
Sep 29, 2011
Recipe: Giant Zucchini Stuffed with Sausage, Mushrooms & Sage
This, if you can’t tell, is an enormous zucchini. It’s the the type that shows up this time of year, somehow having hid beneath leaves all summer long until reaching proportions too gargantuan to ignore. There’s only one thing to do with a zucchini of this size: stuff it. This particular zucchini was bequeathed to me (as such things usually are) by a friend’s mother.
Emma Christensen
Sep 29, 2011
Recipe: Tofu-Hijiki Patties
Last week we shared a recipe for Carrot-Ginger Dressing, which we use on everything from salad to sandwiches. One of our favorite ways to serve this sauce is over tofu-hijiki patties. The patties happen to be vegan but most importantly, they’re packed with umami flavor. Hijiki is a mild, earthy flavored seaweed high in iron, calcium, and other minerals; look for it at health food stores and Japanese and Korean markets.
Emily Han
Sep 28, 2011
Fall Recipe: Vegetarian Steamed Buns
Last week, Nealey talked us through making Pork Buns (Baozi). Today, I bring you the vegetarian version. Have you ever bit into a fluffy, savory steamed bun at your local dim sum restaurant and thought, How on earth are these made? I marveled over this question for years before my sweetheart decided to take on this DIY cooking project at home. Thank goodness he did because veggie steamed buns are one of my favorite restaurant treats.
Leela Cyd
Sep 28, 2011
What Else Can I Do With Boneless Pork Loin Chops?
Q: I recently purchased half of a pig from my local farmer. I now have many boneless pork loin chops. Do you or your readers have any ideas on what I can make with these boneless chops other than pork chop dinners? I was thinking of cooking them in the crock pot and making shredded pork, but wasn’t sure if a loin would work as well as a shoulder. Any other ideas?
Faith Durand
Sep 28, 2011
Daniel Smith’s Porcelain Dinnerware
Andrew’s Simple Island Home had an amazing mixture of modern tones and textures while maintaining a casual, beachy vibe. A detail that really stuck out was an image of these made-to-order nesting bowls by UK-based ceramicist, Daniel Smith. Wouldn’t it be lovely to serve a farmer’s market salad in one of these gorgeous artisan dishes?
Faith Durand
Sep 28, 2011
Date Night Recipe: Slow-Roasted Turkish Lamb Stew
When my boyfriend and I first started dating, he invited me over for a home cooked meal. However, living in New York City, my expectations for home cooking on a date were limited. Would he make macaroni or spaghetti? But when he told me the menu involved a dish he learned from his mom in Turkey, I prepared for some seriously delicious food.After reading my blog posts over the past year, my boyfriend wanted to contribute one of his specialties.
Stephanie Barlow
Sep 27, 2011
BB Rattle by Niels Cosman
Design: BB Rattle Materials: Ash and BB’s Designer: Niels Cosman “These simple wooden rattles are crafted by hand for little hands (and mouths). BB Rattles are a refreshing alternative to mass-manufactured plastic toys, using natural textures and organic shaping to keep the little ones endlessly stimulated.” >> Go To The Entry
Faith Durand
Sep 27, 2011
Lightbulb Chair
Design: Lightbulb Chair Materials: Vintage schoolhouse chair, powdercoated metal, spray paint, varnish Designer: Hopscotch Road (Jennifer Binford, Jamie Fisher, Emily Low Johnson) “Here’s the appraisal of a well-meaning (if irritatingly candid) designer friend: “Your elevator pitch? It’s super. As long as you’re riding to the top of the Sears Tower.” Okay, first, ouch. And second,
Faith Durand
Sep 27, 2011
LEGO Fun: Lunch Boxes and Bottles
By now, everyone’s back to school, but a few of us (*raises hand*) still need to get our act together. Anyone else still need some good lunch options? Lego love + lunch supplies = BINGO! • Read the full post at Ohdeedoh
Faith Durand
Sep 27, 2011
Untitled Coffee Table by Eric Ornstein
Design: Untitled Coffee Table Materials: Solid Birch Designer: Eric Ornstein “Death. pirates. angels. warlocks. vampires, and love. My designs are inspired by none of these things. Rather, I aim to simply provide beautiful objects. Does it all really need inspiration, or can design provide for it? Or can an object simply just be . .
Faith Durand
Sep 27, 2011
Can You Guess What This Is?
I discovered this beautiful and intriguing object in the kitchen cupboards of my sublet. It definitely has a culinary application. Do you know what it is?Here’s a hint, above. Yes, it’s a pepper mill!The mill is made of pieced teak with an iron handle and has a lovely soft patina from what I can only guess to be many years of use. It’s easy to operate: you simply turn the handle and out comes the pepper from the bottom.
Dana Velden
Sep 26, 2011
The Prop by Nicholas Pajerski & Justin Brouillette
Design: The Prop Materials: ABS translucent-frosted plastic Designer: Nicholas Pajerski & Justin Brouillette “The Prop is a well designed, affordable and portable laptop stand. Functionally, the Prop slightly lifts your laptop off any surface, creating better airflow and improved ergonomics. It disassembles quickly and can be stored compactly in your desk drawer or bag. Unlike
Faith Durand
Sep 26, 2011
Ultimate Cat Scratcher/Lounger by Andrew Lesko
Design: Ultimate Cat Scratcher/Lounger Materials: Sustainable Cedar/Recycled Cardboard Designer: Andrew Lesko “My 25 lb. cat loved to lounge on her cardboard cat scratcher. It was just her natural spot to hang out on. Her own scent, left by her scratching activity gave her a sense of ownership and comfort. Not that it was comfortable. It
Faith Durand
Sep 26, 2011
What Is This Armenian Mystery Fruit?
While visiting with a friend’s elderly father, we spotted some unusual, boxy-shaped citrus growing in his yard. He plucked one of the fruits and gave it to us … but we still don’t know what it is!Our friend’s dad explained that he used to eat this fruit in his homeland of Armenia but couldn’t find it in the United States, so he grew the tree from a seed sent by a friend back home.
Emily Han
Sep 23, 2011
Recipe: Cream of Tomato Soup
Nothing is simpler or more classic than opening up a can of cream of tomato soup for lunch. So if you’re going to make a homemade version, it had better be worth the extra bother. This recipe most decidedly is, although it’s really not that much more work. Just chop up an onion, maybe a rib of celery, and open up a few cans of tomatoes. Splash in some milk and buzz it with a blender until smooth. That’s it!
Dana Velden
Sep 23, 2011
Wineglass by Julian King
Design: Wineglass Materials: solid walnut, LED strip light, batteries, and wineglasses (provided by owner) Designer: Julian King, Architect “The Design was in answer to the specific needs of apartment living in New York City, with a wineglass rack that employs the sparkling crystal of the glasses as lenses to diffuse and refract light from a
Faith Durand
Sep 23, 2011
Abstract Neon by Mariska Meijers
Design: Abstract Neon Materials: Irish linen Designer: Mariska Meijers “I am an Amsterdam based artist recently branched out into applied arts bringing my original art in to everyday life through pillows, trays, small furniture and stationery. The Abstract Neon pillow is made in The Netherlands.” >> Go To The Entry
Faith Durand
Sep 23, 2011
Chablis Wine: One of the Finest Expressions of Chardonnay
There is one wine that I find myself constantly coming back to as an all time favorite. It is the white wine Chablis. It has a truly unique steely minerality and strident sense of place. For me Chablis is one of the best manifestations of the Chardonnay grape. Here are some reflections on Chablis, and some bottles to get you started.The Chablis wine region is located in the most northern part of Burgundy, not far from the beautiful city of Auxerre.
Mary Gorman-McAdams
Sep 22, 2011
The Best Beers to Drink with Fried Chicken
Every week we round up our favorite posts from our friends at Serious Eats. This week: What beer to drink with fried chicken? Serious Eats guides the way. Plus, sandwich cookies with lingonberry jam, a new way to brew coffee, and more!• Beer Pairings: What to Drink with Fried Chicken – Which beers stand up best to the glorious greasiness of fried chicken? Serious Eats points the way.• Pie of the Week: Butternut Squash – A subtle, creamy pie for fall.
Faith Durand
Sep 22, 2011
Nook Coffee Table by Dave Pickett
Design: Nook Coffee Table Materials: Constructed from soft maple hardwoods and finished in a natural Tung Oil. Designer: Dave Pickett “The Nook Coffee Table was designed for a consumer who has limited living space and is need of a multifunctional piece of furniture. I was inspired by the idea of a bookshelf crash landing into
Faith Durand
Sep 22, 2011
Seena Lamp by Randall Kramer
Design: Seena Lamp Materials: Aluminum, Stainless Steel + Mahogany Veneer + LED strip Designer: Randall Kramer “I created this desklamp in response to a contest @ Lightology in Chicago. The constraint was to use a .625″wide adhesive backed LED light strip in a unique way. Much of the Furniture & Lighting that I design and
Faith Durand
Sep 22, 2011
Help Me Make Arrabiata Sauce with Fresh Hot Peppers?
Q: My 81-year-old Italian immigrant grandfather keeps a beautiful garden every summer. We have so many hot red and green peppers and I am wondering if you have a recipe for Arrabiata sauce?I found recipes online that call for red pepper flakes only — but I want to use the fresh hot peppers!Sent by KateyEditor: Readers, got any recipe recommendations or tips for Katey?Next question?
Faith Durand
Sep 22, 2011
Truly Magical: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Cleaning Pads
I know, I know. Cleaning is usually way down on our list of things to get excited about, and new cleaning products are even further down. But have you discovered these “magic” eraser pads? They’re all they claim to be and more.The Magic Eraser is brilliant for those little kitchen-cleaning details that always seem so annoying: shining up faucets and fixtures, cleaning tile grout, wiping scuffs off the baseboards, and cleaning fingerprints from the fridge.
Emma Christensen
Sep 21, 2011
Rosh Hashanah Recipe: Sweet & Savory Challah Poppers
Have you noticed that challahs reinvent themselves each year for the Jewish New Year? All year long, we shape our challahs into beautiful braids. On Rosh Hashanah, our challahs are round to symbolize the cycle of the year. Just like our challahs, the new year is a time when we too can consider how to transform ourselves in a positive way during the coming year.
Guest of The Kitchn
Sep 20, 2011
Not a Fantasy: The Food of Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones may be full of strange landscapes and fictional creatures, but the food in George R.R. Martin’s fantasy book series is quite familiar. Gilt Taste explains why the characters eat strawberry pie instead of roasted dragon, and where to find recipes inspired by the series.
Anjali Prasertong
Sep 20, 2011
Ready to Melt: How to Make American Cheese
Do you have a secret love for American cheese, perhaps in a melty grilled cheese sandwich or on a diner-style cheeseburger? The folks at America’s Test Kitchen have figured out how to make a block of that mild and familiar cheese from scratch, without any weird additives or preservatives. American cheese is more like a cheese ball than a traditional cheese.
Anjali Prasertong
Sep 19, 2011
Terrene by Melissa & Eric Day
Design: Terrene Materials: Concrete Designer: Melissa & Eric Day “Terrene specializes in handcrafted living works of art for your indoor or outdoor space. Terrene is based in Portland, Oregon and run by a husband/wife team. We offer a modular sized design of concrete containers, suitable for indoor or outdoor usage.” >> Go To The Entry
Faith Durand
Sep 19, 2011
Recipe Headnotes: Do We Really Need Them?
Headnotes are practically a requisite for a recipe published these days. Open a cookbook or visit a blog, and you can’t miss it: a paragraph or two of friendly introduction leading into the recipe. But do these headnotes really add anything to the recipe? Do we need them?I’ll confess. I often skip over the headnotes.
Emma Christensen
Sep 19, 2011
Collections Media Console by Sawyer DeVuyst
Design: Collections Media Console Materials: Blackened steel, cedar (reclaimed NYC watertower) Designer: Sawyer DeVuyst “Collections are a vital part of our interiors. Being able to easily display our collections on a fabulous piece of furniture is what makes the Collections media console so special. This piece features reclaimed NYC watertower wood, finished to bring out
Faith Durand
Sep 19, 2011
Weekend Meditation: Squirrel Time
The squirrels in my neighborhood are plump, happy creatures with luxurious coats and extravagant tails that curl up behind them, just like in the storybooks of my childhood. Their eyes are large and black and they clutch their food in their cute little paws and nibble away at breakneck speed. The tree outside my kitchen window is their superhighway and all day long I watch them coming and going with the bustle and urgency particular to squirrels in autumn.
Dana Velden
Sep 18, 2011
Vintage Kitchen Tool: Can You Guess What It Is?
While antique shopping the other day, we purchased this curious Bakelite-handled kitchen gadget. At first we just liked the way it looked but then we realized it might actually be very useful. Do you know what it is?It’s a pie trimmer and sealer! To use it, one would roll the wheel and its prongs along a pie crust to crimp the edges. Although this isn’t an essential pie making tool (we generally use our fingers or a fork to do the same job), it just seems fun to use.
Emily Han
Sep 16, 2011
Should I Buy a Food Mill?
Several years ago I owned a food mill like the one pictured here. Somewhere along the way I lost track of it and lately I’ve been wondering if I should purchase another. Do you own a food mill and can you recommend a brand? Food mills are an old fashioned kitchen tool. They’re part strainer and part masher/saucer in that a food mill crushes foods by forcing them through a perforated disk which also separates out any seeds, core or skin.
Dana Velden
Sep 16, 2011
Container Ten-71 by Stacy Binns and George Bennett
Design: Container Ten-71 Materials: powder coated steel Designer: Stacy Binns and George Bennett “I (Stacy) couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about this shape which would make a wonderful planter in any size. The sides of the vessel stand out enough to make it available for little plants or moss growing out the sides like a
Faith Durand
Sep 16, 2011
Water” Noren by Hiroshi Jashiki
Design: “Water” Noren Materials: Organa silk Designer: Hiroshi Jashiki “Textile has been my constant passion and inspiration. The images that I create on fabrics–ideas that primarily come from nature and landscapes –naturally suggest functional aspects. In the particular case of “Water,” first I felt movement in the image. Second, though I used many shades of
Faith Durand
Sep 16, 2011
Vote Now! Pendant Lights by Bao-Khang Luu
Design: Six-Pack Ring Pendant Lights Materials: Post-consumer six-pack rings Designer: Bao-Khang Luu “I’m a lifelong upcycler. I spent my much of my childhood in the Midwest surrounded by numerous siblings and relatives. We were poor, but we compensated with creativity. I grew up watching my father repurpose materials around the house to make repairs and
Faith Durand
Sep 16, 2011
Vote Now! Duvet Cover Set by Shilpa Rathi
Design: Wild Indigo ~ Belize/Chauras Duvet Cover Set Materials: Organic Cotton with Vegetable Dyes Designer: Shilpa Rathi “Luxurious. Stylish. Eco-friendly. My designs are a fusion of contemporary design of the modern world & ancient traditional Indian patterns. This duvet cover set is a perfect example of this fusion, boasting simple squares in Indigo on one
Faith Durand
Sep 16, 2011
Block Desk and Quartet Chair by Shawn Sowers
Design: Block Desk and Quartet Chair Materials: Solid Walnut, Painted Maple, Clear Finish Designer: Shawn R. Sowers “The word common, as used by my grandmother, has an entirely different meaning from what is found in the dictionary. She uses the word to describe a person whose character is the perfect balance of simplicity, familiarity, and
Faith Durand
Sep 16, 2011
Native American Teepee by Beauchamp & Guilmain
Design: The Native American Teepee Materials: Cardboard (84% recycled content) Designer: Maud Beauchamp and Marie-Pier Guilmain “EVERYONE KNOWS THAT EVERY CAT IS CRAZY FOR A CARDBOARD BOX. This Teepee distinguishes itself through its innovative design and is inspired by a classic symbol of Canadian iconography, The Amerindian culture and the collective imagination associated with it.”
Faith Durand
Sep 16, 2011
Recipe: Autumn Udon with Vegetables
Earlier this week we posted about about Tara Austen Weaver’s new ebookTales from a High MountainLike much of Japanese cooking, the beauty and taste lies in the simplicity of the recipe. Udon is a perfect dish for a light supper on a cool night, as the first of the autumn leaves gently rattle in the trees.
Dana Velden
Sep 15, 2011
Danny Seo’s 5 Tips for Saving Money at the Organic Grocery
While we love organic grocery stores, it can be very pricey to shop at such places (we have friends who jokingly refer to Whole Foods as Whole Paycheck). So we were very intrigued when Danny Seo — who has become such a popular, helpful resource for economical, eco-friendly, and stylish living — hinted to us that he’d found ways we hadn’t even considered to save at these stores.
Abby Stone
Sep 15, 2011
Advice for Baking No-Knead Bread in a Convection Oven?
Q: I just made No-Knead Bread and wondered if you had any suggestions about doing it in a convection oven. We live fulltime in an RV and that’s my only resource for baking. I had to bake it for an additional 30 minutes longer after the lid was removed in order for it to brown. The bread is very crusty and delicious. In fact, it reminds me of old country rustic bread. Perhaps this is just the way convection ovens work?Sent by VickieEditor: Readers, do you use a convection oven?
Faith Durand
Sep 14, 2011
Petite Concrete Lamp by Anna Ritchie
Design: Petite Concrete Materials: Concrete. maple veneer. LED light bulb Designer: Anna Ritchie “My petite concrete table lamp was inspired by the functionality of it’s LED light bulb. Something that is generally perceived as a cold technology has developed to mimic the warmth of nature.” >> Go To The Entry
Faith Durand
Sep 14, 2011
American Flags Map by Jen Adrion + Omar Noory
Design: American Flags Map Materials: Hand-printed silkscreen on paper, five colors with overprints Designer: Jen Adrion + Omar Noory “We’re Jen and Omar, a design duo based in Columbus, Ohio. Through our studio, These Are Things, we create modern maps that celebrate the beauty of cartography and the adventurous spirit of travel.” >> Go To
Faith Durand
Sep 14, 2011
From Mama to Baby: How Long It Takes for Various Food Tastes to Reach Breast Milk
We already know that the foods mothers-to-be eat can influence their child’s tastes, pre-birth, through amniotic fluid. The same goes for breast milk post-birth. The foods in the mother’s diet faintly permeate into her milk. But when is baby tasting what you ate for lunch?
Regina Yunghans
Sep 14, 2011
6 Alternative Uses For an Old Stockpot
Giant stock pots are great for more than just Sunday soup! Here are 6 ideas to make the most out of this kitchen classic once their simmering days have drawn to an end. • Read the full post at Re-Nest
Faith Durand
Sep 14, 2011
A Twist on the Usual: Sliced & Seasoned Baked Potatoes
Tired of the usual baked or roasted potatoes? For a pretty and flavorful twist, try slicing and seasoning your potatoes before popping them in the oven. Lemon and thyme, rosemary and garlic: the flavor combinations are endless.The idea for these potatoes came from the always-inspiring blog Ideas in Food. They stuffed their potatoes with lemon and oregano, and roasted them on a bed of sliced Vidalia onions. I used lemon, thyme and garlic cloves, and skipped the onions.
Anjali Prasertong
Sep 13, 2011