The Kitchn Archive
2014
August

The Kitchn Archive: Aug 2014

Make Your Own Herbal Smudge Sticks & Fire Starters
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → DIY Herbal Smudge Sticks & Fire Starters Here’s an easy way to dry extra herbs and flowers and turn them into fragrant and useful fire starters!
The Kitchn
Aug 29, 2014
Recipe: Grilled Pineapple Mojito
We’re savoring the last days of summer with grilling and some killer cocktails. Combine the two and you’ve got a head start on an amazing happy hour this weekend. The muddler is one of my favorite tools on the bar. No special instructions required for use; just insert and smash away. This tool can take pretty herbs, fruits and even vegetables, and make sure they release all their amazing flavors and aromas into the cocktail.
Maureen Petrosky
Aug 29, 2014
A Tiny, Well-Organized Scandinavian Kitchen
When your apartment is only 473 square feet, you’re guaranteed to have a tiny kitchen. And that means that you’re going to have to be smart about storage. That’s exactly what Lauren and Mikko realized when they bought their apartment in Finland. And they came up with some great solutions that balance their two aesthetics perfectly.
Kristin Appenbrink
Aug 29, 2014
6 Stylish End-of-Summer Picnic Finds
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → Fun Finds for an End-of-Summer Picnic
The Kitchn
Aug 29, 2014
Help Me Find a Non-Tomato Italian Sauce
Q: I have always made a great, simple tomato sauce based on roasting tomatoes, hot peppers, onion and garlic in the oven at 350°F for an hour, and then simmering the puree of the roasted veggies with a teabag full of Italian spices and a cup of chicken stock. It’s rich and savory and very spicy and a little sweet and I love it.
Christine Gallary
Aug 28, 2014
You Can’t See Them But You Still Need These 10 Things in the Kitchen
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 28, 2014
Don’t Like the Taste of Egg Yolk? Try Adding Lemon Peel!
Culinary School: Week 8 (of 12 weeks) Last Week’s Diary: What Are Sucs and Should We Care? This week in culinary school we had an entire class dedicated to eggs. Now, I’ve already talked a lot about eggs in these culinary school posts – the make-ahead egg trickeggs as nature’s perfect canned foodfresh Well this week my instructor taught us an interesting trick for getting rid of that gameyness – add some zest or lemon peel into your egg dish!
Ariel Knutson
Aug 28, 2014
Recipe: Braised Summer Pork Shank (Adaptable For Any Season)
It seems like Boston butts and pork shoulders get all the slow-cooking love these days, but there’s another kid in town that gets dinner on the table in much less time, and still has all that budget-conscious, fall-off-the bone goodness. A pork shank begs for a braise, too, but unlike the larger cuts of pork we usually talk about, this one won’t take all day to cook and can be done in a smaller pot.
Sara Kate Gillingham
Aug 28, 2014
6 Tips for Making the Best Meatballs
Meatballs are an inexpensive blank canvas — take ground meat, add some seasonings, form into cute little balls, and cook! Whether you like them crispy, glazed, or simmered in sauce, they’re super versatile and delicious. Here are a few tips on putting them together and cooking them to guarantee tasty meatballs every time you make them!
Christine Gallary
Aug 28, 2014
5 Habits to Help You Be More Organized
(Image credit: Sibylle Roessler) From Apartment Therapy → Want to Be More Organized? 5 Habits to Start & Keep Today
The Kitchn
Aug 28, 2014
Perfect Your French Press Coffee
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 27, 2014
This Mexican Cucumber Looks Exactly Like a Tiny Watermelon
Say hello to the Mexican cucumber, the most adorable fruit (or is it a vegetable?)! The other weekend when I was browsing the tables at the farmers market I came across the most interesting looking fruit. I’d never seen anything like it. This little fruit was the size of a large grape, and looked like a miniature watermelon with its oval shape and variegated green coloring. Have you ever tried one?
Kelli Foster
Aug 27, 2014
6 Cute Back-to-School Lunch Boxes
(Image credit: Elisabeth Wilborn) From Apartment Therapy → 6 Colorful & Graphic Lunch Boxes Start the school year right and surprise your kids with one of these fun, colorful lunch boxes!
The Kitchn
Aug 27, 2014
5 Reasons We Love Dansk Kobenstyle Cookware
I think that there may be one type of cookware that has prompted more “What is that?” questions from readers over the years than anything else, and that is Dansk Kobenstyle.
Faith Durand
Aug 27, 2014
6 Tips for Pairing Wine with Vegetables
Gone are the days when vegetables were relegated to the role of a side dish. Parsley is no longer just a garnish, kale has escaped its position as a mere salad bar prop, and the likes of beets and Brussels sprouts are found on many restaurant menus. We’re all trying to squeeze more veggies into our diets. Learning to pair wine with vegetables makes the process even more delicious! Consider the wide spectrum of flavor intensity amongst vegetables.
Jayme Henderson
Aug 27, 2014
Jam: The New Steak Sauce
As someone who doesn’t eat peanut butter or bread, jam has little significance in my life. Yes, I’ve eaten the occasional dollop mixed with yogurt or oatmeal. Or straight off the spoon — because you only live once. But to risk sounding like a total hater of preserved berries, jam just isn’t my jam. But jam has a new trick for me these days and this is bringing it back to my table.
Jessica Goldman Foung
Aug 27, 2014
How Do I Stop My Hands From Burning After Cutting Hot Peppers?
Q: Jalapeño juice got on my hands after cutting them up, and it sent my brain into overload! I couldn’t believe how bad the burning sensation got. This never happened to me before! I tried yogurt, bleach, lemon juice — nothing worked! The only thing that helped was putting my hands in a bowl of ice water. I was in a lot of pain for three to four hours. I saw today that another idea was to use olive oil then wash it off after a few minutes. That made some sense to me.
Emma Christensen
Aug 27, 2014
15 Farmhouse Sinks for Every Kitchen Imaginable
If you’ve been looking at ways to update your kitchen (or just dreaming about renovating that rental kitchen) one trend you’ve probably seen a lot of is the farmhouse sink. Whether it’s because they are big, easy to clean, or just an alternative to top-mounted sinks, we’re betting this trend is here to stay. Ready to update? Here are some styles to consider. Also called “apron front sinks,” you’ll most traditionally find this style in white porcelain.
Kristin Appenbrink
Aug 27, 2014
From a Cat Whisperer: How to Keep Your Cats Off the Counter
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 27, 2014
12 Gorgeous Marble and Wood Kitchens
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → Renovation Inspiration: 12 Beautiful White Marble and Wood Kitchens
The Kitchn
Aug 27, 2014
10 Breakfast Recipes You Can Make in a Mug in the Microwave
When you don’t have a lot of time in the morning and want something more than just yogurt or cold cereal, breakfast recipes you can make in a mug in the microwave are here to save the day. From a single-serving blueberry muffin, to French toast, and even a mini quiche, you have a lot of options to choose from to make your morning just a little bit easier. I don’t know when exactly the insatiable appetite for microwave mug meals came about, but it’s here to stay.
Ariel Knutson
Aug 26, 2014
Our Readers’ 10 Favorite Timeless Cookbooks
What defines a classic, timeless cookbook? For some, it’s the indispensable recipes that have stood the test of time. For others, it’s the nostalgia of watching mothers and grandmothers cook from them, only to now turn to the well-worn pages themselves. Some books have become staples on our shelves because they’re a comprehensive reference, and others because they teach us technique. And then there are books that just give us delicious meals, over and over again.
Kelli Foster
Aug 26, 2014
4 Ways to Use Castor Oil at Home
From Apartment Therapy → 4 Random (But Helpful) Uses for Castor Oil at Home Lucky for us, castor oil has fallen out of fashion as a medical remedy, but it can be useful in other ways at home instead!
The Kitchn Editors
Aug 26, 2014
Alternative Uses for Ice Trays
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 26, 2014
Before & After: This Cottage Kitchen Gets Classy
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 26, 2014
10 Ways to Decorate Like the World’s Most Stylish Restaurants
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → 10 Decorating Ideas to Steal from the World’s Most Stylish Restaurants
The Kitchn
Aug 26, 2014
Should I Throw Out My Rice Cooker Now That the Nonstick Lining is Scratched?
Q: I have a question about heavily-trashed Teflon, although this time not about a frying pan but about a rice cooker insert. I have this years-old but pretty well-working rice cooker with a nonstick (presumably Teflon-coated) inner pan, which now looks very scratched. I know that people have tons of alternative suggestions when it comes to frying pans, but what about this one? If it was up to me, I would stop using the machine as I am completely capable of cooking rice in a normal pan.
Christine Gallary
Aug 25, 2014
10 Smart Ways to Get More Life Out of Your Stale Bread
Sometimes I buy a baguette or a loaf of sourdough, brioche, or ciabatta, and for one reason or another, it doesn’t get finished. I always have good intentions of storing the extras in the freezer for later. But all too often I forget and a day or two later I have a loaf of stale bread on my hands. If you find yourself in the same position, instead of tossing it, try these great ways to get more life out of your stale bread.
Kelli Foster
Aug 25, 2014
How To Pack the Best Bike Picnic
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 25, 2014
What’s the Difference Between Mexican and Spanish Chorizo?
Whenever I see chorizo in a recipe, my first thought is, “Yum!” But then my second thought is always, “Wait, what kind? Spanish or Mexican?” While they’re both delicious sausages, they’re both actually quite different, so here’s what you need to know! How it’s made and sold: Mexican chorizo is a spicy ground meat sausage that is most commonly sold fresh and uncooked, either loose or in a casing, although dried versions do exist.
Christine Gallary
Aug 25, 2014
The Student Strategy for Eating Well on a Small Budget
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 25, 2014
19 Important Tips for Truly Tremendous Salads
Salad making can be divided into three basic parts: prepping the ingredients, making the dressing, and tossing it all together. Simple, right? While each part isn’t that hard, there are little tricks and tips that can help you go from making just an okay salad to a great one. From the best ways to wash and dry lettuce to easy ways to make homemade croutons, we’ve put together our best salad-making tips together here.
Christine Gallary
Aug 25, 2014
When to Save and When to Splurge During Kitchen Renovations
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → Kitchen Renovations: When to Save & When to Splurge
The Kitchn
Aug 25, 2014
A Little Goes a Long Way
Few months ago I purchased a small tub of white truffle butter from a French man who was offering samples from his booth at the Marin Farmer’s Market. At $10 for 3 ounces it was expensive, at least for my budget. But the French man was very charming and the sample was quite good so I took it home, threw it in the freezer and over the course of the last several weeks, dipped in here and there to add just a hint of that wild, delightful, truffle magic to all sorts of dishes.
Dana Velden
Aug 24, 2014
A Summer Squash Hot Dog
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 22, 2014
10 Tiny Real-Life Kitchens That Make Every Inch Count
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → Small Kitchen Designs: 10 Organized, Efficient and Tiny Real-Life Kitchens When you have a tiny kitchen, being organized and efficient are keys to making that kitchen function well. Here are 10 real-life examples!
The Kitchn
Aug 22, 2014
Chris & Jenny’s Open & Inviting Kitchen
One big challenge of apartment living can be creating separate spaces within an open floor plan, and all without making your space feel disjointed. Brooklyn residents Chris and Jenny were faced with this dilemma as their kitchen is smack dab in the middle of their apartment. Luckily, they were able to make the kitchen feel like a distinct space, all while still feeling part of the whole, and being welcoming as well.
Kristin Appenbrink
Aug 22, 2014
Don’t Make This Common Mistake in the Kitchen
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 22, 2014
Do You Need to Dimple Burger Patties So They Stay Flat?
When forming hamburger patties, I was always told that you had to make a shallow indentation or dimple in the middle of each patty — this would keep the center from bulging up as it cooked so that the patty would stay flat and even. I never questioned that technique until I came across even more methods on how to do this, so I just had to test them out myself! The basic theory is that as meat cooks, the proteins contract so that the whole patty shrinks and puffs up in the middle.
Christine Gallary
Aug 22, 2014
The Important Kitchen Measurements You Need to Know
(Image credit: Adrienne Breaux) From Apartment Therapy → Kitchen Layout Planning: Important Measurements You Need to Know
The Kitchn
Aug 22, 2014
Canning? Download These 15 Free Labels
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 21, 2014
Ways to Make the Back-to-School Transition Easier
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → Tips & Tricks for Easing the Transition Back to School Dreading the back-to-school transition? Here are some tips and tricks to make it smoother.
The Kitchn
Aug 21, 2014
What Are Sucs and Should We Care?
Culinary School: Week 7 (of 12 weeks) Last Week’s Diary: The Allure of Tomato Seed “Caviar” The last few weeks of culinary have all been about meat: chicken, pork, duck, beef, veal, and then more chicken. We’ve used various wet and dry methods of cooking (sometimes mixed), and what the chef keeps emphasizing over and over again in these classes are the importance of sucs. So what exactly are sucs and should home cooks really care?
Ariel Knutson
Aug 21, 2014
Here’s What Your Daily Recommended Fruits and Vegetables Look Like
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 21, 2014
5 Easy DIY Details to Spruce Up Your Kitchen
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → 5 Cute & Easy DIY Design Details for Your Kitchen
The Kitchn
Aug 21, 2014
How to Make Perfect Boiled Eggs
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 20, 2014
Table Linens On Sale Now
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → Dress That Table! Tablecloths, Napkins & Candleholders On Sale Now New table linens can go a long way to freshen up a dining room and table. Take advantage of some of the ones on sale right now!
The Kitchn
Aug 20, 2014
There’s a Fruit That Tastes Like Chocolate Pudding
And to answer your first question: Yes, it’s good for you too. In case you’re not familiar with it, and we’re guessing you aren’t, this is the black sapote. It’s a member of the persimmon family and is often called simply the “chocolate pudding fruit.” Before you go hunting for this sweet treat at your farmers’ market, keep in mind that it only gets that rich, chocolate pudding flavor when it is really ripe.
Kristin Appenbrink
Aug 20, 2014