The Kitchn Archive
2014
October

The Kitchn Archive: Oct 2014

How To Make a Candle Out of a Pumpkin
Apartment Therapy
Oct 31, 2014
Shrubs Are The New Best Thing to Hit Your Cocktail Glass
The book: Shrubs by Michael Dietsch The angle: Everything you need to know about making old-fashioned shrubs and using them in modern sodas and cocktails. Recipes for right now: Country Gentleman’s Brandy Shrub, Cinnamon-Apple Shrub, Pear Ginger Shrub, Pomegranate Shrub, Dr. Mike’s Celery Tonic, Lemon-Lime Rickey, Campari Soda, Shrubbed-Up Cosmo, Shrugroni Who would enjoy this book? Foodie mad scientists and cocktail-lovers.
Emma Christensen
Oct 31, 2014
Pomegranates, the Jewels of Winter
After the bounty of summer berries and stone fruits, it may seem that fall and winter are relegated to only apples, pears, and citrus, but don’t forget pomegranates! The hidden little sweet-tart jewels inside pomegranates can brighten up any rainy or wintry day. Pomegranates are one of the world’s oldest cultivated fruits. Native to Iran and India, archaeological findings show that they were grown and harvested by the Persians as far back as 2,000 BC.
Christine Gallary
Oct 31, 2014
There’s a Sofa in This Kitchen (and We Love It!)
There are few things we love more than a spacious kitchen, but Kelly and Ed’s wonderfully wide kitchen has a few more things that gave us a pleasant surprise. First is the beautiful pastel green Smeg refrigerator. And the second is what’s sitting right next to that candy-colored fridge. Take a look. How much do we love that they have a comfy, cozy couch in their kitchen/dining area?
Kristin Appenbrink
Oct 31, 2014
7 Ways to Incorporate Art into Your Kitchen
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → 7 Ways to Add Art to Your Kitchen
The Kitchn
Oct 31, 2014
This Cookbook Will Make You Throw Your Sad Burrito Out the Window Immediately
The book: Mexico by Margarita Carrillo Arronte The angle: An encyclopedic collection of all the regional foods of Mexico Recipes for right now: Green Chilaquiles with Chicken, Amaranth Salad, Bay Scallop Ceviche, Garlic Soup, Fish in Charred Corn Husks, Slow-Cooked Pork in Tequila, Goat Stew, Pan de Muerto, Mango Meringue Puddings Who would enjoy this book? Anyone eager for a deep-dive into authentic Mexican cuisine.
Emma Christensen
Oct 30, 2014
5 Last-Minute Halloween Costumes for Food-Lovers
Have you figured out your Halloween costume yet? You only have one more day to nail it down. If you’re not one to spend a lot of money on a costume or simply don’t have time to peruse your local Halloween store, these fun food-lover Halloween costumes are for you. The best part? They are all DIY! So clever! Put your blue shirt on, go to the dollar store and get a rubber chicken, and then tie it around your shirt with a cord.
Ariel Knutson
Oct 30, 2014
5 Last-Minute Halloween Costumes for Food-Lovers
Have you figured out your Halloween costume yet? You only have one more day to nail it down. If you’re not one to spend a lot of money on a costume or simply don’t have time to peruse your local Halloween store, these fun food-lover Halloween costumes are for you. The best part? They are all DIY! So clever! Put your blue shirt on, go to the dollar store and get a rubber chicken, and then tie it around your shirt with a cord.
Ariel Knutson
Oct 30, 2014
A Halloween Party Mixtape
(Image credit: Pablo Enriquez) From Apartment Therapy → Apartment Therapy’s Halloween Party Mixtape No time to come up with a Halloween playlist? Just stream Apartment Therapy’s compilation from Pandora and get ready to dance!
The Kitchn
Oct 30, 2014
5 Dishes to Help You Celebrate a Very Grown-Up Halloween
Halloween-themed food isn’t exactly in short supply this time of year! Jell-O in a brain mold will always steal the show (and our hearts), but perhaps you want something darker and more sophisticated, something more grown-up, this Friday evening. Today we have five dishes that are dark and moody enough for a creepy holiday, but without reminding you of your 5th-grade Halloween party. We’re dying to try all of these dishes, and each has a slightly dark or sexy edge.
Sarah Rae Smith
Oct 30, 2014
What It Takes to Produce One Jar of Peanut Butter
We know all about what is in peanut butter, but how does it get to us as consumers? You can grind your own on the spot at many grocers, but popular commercial brands still line the shelves alongside newer specialty brands. How are they made? Sorry, Virginia, but there isn’t a magical peanut butter fairy. Instead it’s a process that begins with roughly 500 runner peanuts.
Erika Tracy
Oct 30, 2014
Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes When Making Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled eggs are one of the most basic and comforting dishes, and, in fact, they were likely one of the first foods many of us learned to cook. But are you really doing it right? While everyone has their own favorite cooking method for scrambled eggs, there are a few rules that remain constant. We’re sharing five common mistakes that are made when cooking scrambled eggs, plus our best tips on how to avoid them!
Kelli Foster
Oct 30, 2014
10 Halloween Pumpkin Planters
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → DIY Halloween: 10 Fall Pumpkin Planters
The Kitchn
Oct 30, 2014
5 Cookbooks I Read Cover-to-Cover Like Romance Novels
If you were to look at my nightstand, it might appear a little unusual. You see, where most people stash their romance novels or the latest YA fantasy saga (which none of us will admit to reading publicly), you’ll find a collection of cookbooks beside my bed. But not just any cookbooks — special ones. I call them conversationalist cookbooks, and here’s why. I determine which cookbooks will enter, and stay, in my home based on a few things.
Sarah Rae Smith
Oct 29, 2014
Tips for Using Up Leftover Celery
Apartment Therapy
Oct 29, 2014
7 Places You Shouldn’t Forget to Clean
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → 7 Things You’re Probably Forgetting to Clean Even if you keep on top of the general cleaning at home, here are some places you might have overlooked that are worth cleaning out once in awhile!
The Kitchn
Oct 29, 2014
Did You Accidentally Pick 20 Pounds of Apples at the Farm? Let Us Help You With That.
Finally this year I remembered to go apple picking before the frost hit! I remember looking at the somewhat small bags the orchard provided and thinking that I should pick enough to fill two or three bags, because one wouldn’t be enough. Well, it’s been two weeks and we still have apples to spare. Are you in a similar state? Overloaded by apples brought on by over-eager pickers? Read on for tips on what to do with your apple bounty this fall!
Stephanie Barlow
Oct 29, 2014
Why to Preheat Your Baking Sheet
Apartment Therapy
Oct 29, 2014
Apartment Therapy’s Ultimate Guide to Halloween
(Image credit: Adrienne Breaux) From Apartment Therapy → The Ultimate Guide to Halloween: Decorations, Costumes, Party & Craft Ideas
The Kitchn
Oct 29, 2014
Kelsey Nixon’s Kitchen Confidence
Andrew Forcier
Oct 29, 2014
How (and Why) To Freeze Caramelized Onions
Apartment Therapy
Oct 28, 2014
Bring Tyler Florence’s Test Kitchen Into Your Home Kitchen
The book: Inside the Test Kitchen by Tyler Florence The angle: Empowering home cooks by example — see how Tyler Florence thinks through each step of a recipe. Recipes for right now: Parker House Rolls with Parsley-Garlic Butter, Stretchy Mac and Cheese, Kale Waldorf Chicken Salad, Green Bean Poutine, Pork Schnitzel with Sage and Capers, Paella Risotto Who would enjoy this book? Fans of Tyler Florence’s cooking.
Emma Christensen
Oct 28, 2014
10 DIY Trick or Treat Bags
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → 10 DIY Trick or Treat Bags for Every Skill Level Trick or Treating doesn’t have to involve a boring plastic pumpkin, here are 10 DIY ways to make it way more fun!
The Kitchn
Oct 28, 2014
Meet the Soy Sauce Family and Its Cousins Tamari and Kecap Manis
It’s hard to imagine any condiment shelf without a bottle of soy sauce — this intense sauce gives instant rich flavor to stir-fries, enhances sushi, and can add a quick punch of flavor to sauces and soups. But there are so many types of soy sauce out there it can be a bit confusing. Here’s our guide to the most common types of soy sauce and other sauces that are in the same family!
Christine Gallary
Oct 28, 2014
How I Make Dried Orange Peels for Homemade Bitters
If you’re feeling inspired by the tips in last week’s biters column to make your own orange bitters, one of the essential ingredients you’ll need is dried orange peel. You can probably find this product at your herbalist or specialty food store, but who knows how old those peels are? Taking the extra step to dehydrate fresh orange peel at home gives you that much more control over the quality and flavor of the final product.
Roger Kamholz
Oct 28, 2014
How Peanuts Are Grown & Harvested in Alabama
Who: Carl Sanders What: Peanut farmer Where: Coffee County, Alabama Carl Sanders is one of 25,000 peanut farmers in the major producing areas of the United States. Coffee County, Alabama, is where generation after generation of his family have turned the soil year after year to harvest the sand-loving legume.
Erika Tracy
Oct 28, 2014
One Small Way to Keep Your Tea Hoard From Taking Over the Pantry
Fall is in the air and we’ve ditched our iced beverages for warmer things. I’m an herbal tea drinker, and I love collecting the perfect flavors for cozy tea times — until moving just one box causes a tea avalanche. A tea-valanche. You know what I’m talking about! Here’s the one small thing I do to keep my tea collection from taking over my cupboard. When temperatures shift, I often feel like Michael Cera in Scott Pilgrim vs.
Sarah Rae Smith
Oct 28, 2014
4 Inexpensive Ways to Get the Look of Marble Kitchen Countertops
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → 4 Ways To Get the Look of Marble Kitchen Countertops Without Spending $$$ Money
The Kitchn
Oct 28, 2014
5 Reasons to Love a Glass Electric Stovetop
(Image credit: Shifrah Combiths) From Apartment Therapy → Why I Love My Electric Stovetop Even though gas is a popular stove choice, here are five reasons why glass electric stovetops have their own redeeming merits too!
The Kitchn
Oct 27, 2014
3 Ways to Store Greens: We Pick the Winner
From The Kitchn → We Tried 3 Ways to Store Salad Greens, and Here’s the Winner!
Apartment Therapy
Oct 27, 2014
How Do You Make Washing Dishes Less Awful?
Someone asked me yesterday what the worst thing is about writing a cookbook. I didn’t even have to think about it: “Dishes.” I feel guilty saying this, though, since my husband does nearly all the dishes in our household, so I don’t bear the brunt of this chore. Do you? How do you make dishes less awful? Do you have little tricks or shortcuts? Do you do the dishes right away, or in the morning? Tell us all!
Faith Durand
Oct 27, 2014
What to Cook Inside a Pumpkin
Apartment Therapy
Oct 27, 2014
Print Your Images on Plates
(Image credit: Pablo Enriquez) From Apartment Therapy → How To Transfer Custom Images to Ceramic Plates
The Kitchn
Oct 27, 2014
Autumn Kitchen Welcoming Winter
We’re deep into autumn right now. The move from bright to dark has begun, a yearly non-negotiable event that has a profound influence on our lives. The extent that we can shift with it will become the measure of our contentment and happiness. Often we feel a contraction from the loss of sunshine.
Dana Velden
Oct 26, 2014
This Candy Jar Is the Easiest (and Sweetest) Halloween Decoration
With just one week to go until Halloween, we’ve got a simple (and edible!) decoration that you’ve got to try. Whether you’re hosting a party or just hanging out at home with your family, this sweet DIY creation is perfect for adding a little holiday flair to your tabletop. Plus, who doesn’t love decorations that also make a delicious snack?! And it’s easy. Even if you’re not a DIY-er, you’ve totally got this one.
Kelli Foster
Oct 24, 2014
Are U-Pick Farms a Waste of Money? We Decided to Find Out
I remember fingertips stained strawberry red, hay bits stuck on kneecaps from kneeling on strawberry beds, small brown shoulders hot with summer while I balanced a half-empty crate, cramming my mouth with perfectly ripe berries. I remember the orchard every autumn: watching my dad pick the tree-top apples for my mom; inhaling the sharp cider-scent of rotting apples scattered beneath trees; casting sideways glances at the hornets hovering.
Michaela Cisney
Oct 24, 2014
Is There Any Way to Clean the Burnt Liner from My Oven?
Q: I just awakened to a mess. I accidentally left the oven liner in my oven when I turned on the self-cleaning function. This morning when I opened the door it was horrible — white stuck-on film all over the oven and door. Is there anything I can do to clean my oven? I tried sprinkling baking soda on a spot and rubbing but to no avail. PLEASE can you help me? Sent by Barbara Editor: Oh, no! Readers, any help on this?!
Emma Christensen
Oct 24, 2014
Stephen & Scott’s New Orleans Heirloom Kitchen
When Stephen LaRue returned to New Orleans after living away for a long time, he embraced the heirloom appeal of the city, but with his own personal take on the decor of the home he shares with a long-time friend. And because his kitchen and living area inhabit the same space, his design aesthetic carries through. Not only do we love the leather armchairs that serve as dining chairs. but Stephen and Scott have left no wall uncovered.
Kristin Appenbrink
Oct 24, 2014
We Went to NYCWFF’s Grand Tasting
Apartment Therapy
Oct 24, 2014
Maxwell Throws a Mystical, Magical Halloween Party
(Image credit: Pablo Enriquez) From Apartment Therapy → Maxwell & Ursula’s Mystical Magical Halloween Party
The Kitchn
Oct 24, 2014
The Difference Between Baking and Roasting
From The Kitchn → What’s the Difference Between Roasting and Baking?
Apartment Therapy
Oct 23, 2014
Why Bake a Cake When You Can Bake a Hello Kitty Cake?
The book: The Hello Kitty Baking Book by Michele Chen Chock The angle: Turn all your favorite treats into Hello Kitty funtimes. Recipes for right now: Hello Kitty Jack-O-Lantern Spice Cookies, Red Apple Cupcakes, Hello Kitty Perfect Pink Cake, Hello Kitty and Friends Cake Pops, Hello Kitty’s Favorite Apple Pie, Rainbow Finger Jello Who would enjoy this book? Anyone who squealed when they saw this post.
Emma Christensen
Oct 23, 2014
10 Principles to Help You Live a Clutter-Free Life
(Image credit: Nancy Mitchell) From Apartment Therapy → The 10 Commandments of a Clutter-Free Life Freeing up your space – not to mention life – is easier if you commit to these 1o principles!
The Kitchn
Oct 23, 2014
Recipe: Spaghetti Squash from the Oven
Apartment Therapy
Oct 23, 2014
An Easy Way to Clean the Inside of Vases
(Image credit: Ashley Poskin) From Apartment Therapy → How To Clean the Inside of Vases the Easy Way
The Kitchn
Oct 23, 2014
A Cookbook About the Mediterranean Diet, From the People Who Invented It
The book: Ikaria by Diane Kochilas The angle: On this Greek island, the Mediterranean diet isn’t a diet; it’s a lifestyle. Recipes for right now: Ikarian Fish Soup with Avgolemono, Lentil Soup with Sage and Chili Pepper, Longevity Greens and Pumpkin Pie, Potatoes Braised with Wild Fennel, Lemony Chickpeas Braised with Chard and Dill Who would enjoy this book? Greek food fans, folks shifting toward healthier eating habits.
Emma Christensen
Oct 22, 2014
How Small-Batch Bitters Are Made
If you’ve bellied up to a craft cocktail bar lately, you’ve likely noticed little bottles of concentrated spirit-and-botanical infusions adorning the bar top. These are homemade bitters, and they’re not so hard to make. These bitters are often the handiwork of the team behind the bar — and they run the gamut from the very versatile for a broad array of drink recipes, to very specific and esoteric flavors suited to just one or two drinks.
Roger Kamholz
Oct 22, 2014
Fit More in a Small Fridge
(Image credit: The Kitchn) From Apartment Therapy → Small Kitchen Idea: How To Quickly Fit More in a Small Refrigerator Even if you have a large refrigerator, this easy tip of removing package will free up lots of space!
The Kitchn
Oct 22, 2014