The Kitchn Archive
2016
January

The Kitchn Archive: Jan 2016

Psssssst! Preview Party Monday Night!
Okay, I’m totally excited … next week is the official launch of the first true product I’ve ever designed under my own name, especially for the Apartment Therapy and Kitchn audience. While I can’t say too much until next Thursday, February 4, you can all come get a sneak peek next Monday night here in NYC during the NY Now Show. I’d love to see you. All the info is below.
Maxwell Ryan
Jan 30, 2016
The Enduring Allure of Tomato Soup Cake
You don’t see tomato soup cake on dessert menus at Michelin-starred restaurants. It’s not a postmodern invention of the molecular gastronomy set. Unlike donuts or meatballs, it’s not going through some upscale comfort food revival. Yet for the past century, tomato soup cake has endured, remaining a stalwart presence through decades of food trends to become an American dessert icon. And if you haven’t tried it yet, you’re in for a revelation.
Casey Barber
Jan 29, 2016
Why You Shouldn’t Peel (Most of) Your Vegetables
When you’re late getting home from work and you’re already starving for dinner, peeling your vegetables before cooking them probably feels like the last thing you want to be doing. It tacks on a few extra minutes, which on crazed weeknights can feel all too precious. So is it really necessary? Nope! If you wash your vegetables well, organic or not, it’s OK to leave the peel on.
Sheela Prakash
Jan 29, 2016
Why I Scramble Eggs in a Wok
Making scrambled eggs in the wok means I have to throw out all the best advice about cooking scrambled eggs. Don’t use high heat, they say; pull them off the heat before they overcook, they say. But I say crank that heat all the way up and don’t pull out an extra bowl for whisking. First, we should probably talk preference, in which case, I’ll need to blame my mother.
Hali Bey Ramdene
Jan 29, 2016
Use Up Leftover Risotto with These Cheesy Arancini
Do you have leftover risotto hanging out in the fridge? If not, I suggest you make a batch, let it cool, and then make these roasted garlic and goat cheese arancini — little rice balls stuffed with fontina. To make arancini, you simply take leftover risotto, form it into balls, cover the balls in breadcrumbs, and fry them.
Lauren Kodiak
Jan 29, 2016
Free Food Art & Photographs: Some Favorites from The New York Public Library Digital Collection
Did you know that The New York Public Library recently added nearly 200,000 high-res public-domain images to the NYPL Digital Collection? Just search the database with whatever keyword strikes your fancy, then use the treasures you uncover in any way you please. I’m tempted to turn the one above into a cheesy Valentine’s Day card that reads, “You make me feel some type of whey,” but the possibilities are absolutely endless!
Kaitlin Flannery
Jan 28, 2016
What Happened to My Sourdough Starter?
Q: Day 1: I mixed 4 ounces of bread flour with 4 ounces of water in a small mixing bowl, covered it loosely with plastic, and set it in a place where the temperature was about 75°F. Day 2: After 24 hours, there was definite activity (bubbles) and I gave it a feeding of another 4 ounces of flour and 4 ounces of water. Day 3: More bubble activity and another feeding. Day 4: I checked it in the morning and all yeast activity had stopped.
Hali Bey Ramdene
Jan 28, 2016
5 Ways to Step Up Your Soup Game
Apartment Therapy
Jan 28, 2016
10 Stylish Ways to Organize Your Pantry
(Image credit: The Kitchn) Keeping a well-stocked pantry user-friendly is definitely a challenge. Here are some of the best ideas for keeping your pantry organized. You’ll never spend 15 minutes digging around for the sugar ever again. From Apartment Therapy → Stylish Storage: 10 Smart Ways to Organize Your Pantry
The Kitchn
Jan 27, 2016
A Parent’s Guide to Your New Baby Wok
First-time wokkers are always excited to jump right in and start cooking with their newest toy, but— like learning to care for an infant — it can sometimes be a little intimidating. Here are some essentials to get you started on what promises to be a long and happy relationship with your new bundle of kitchen joy. A new wok, like a new baby, has delicate skin!
Grace Young
Jan 27, 2016
The Most Popular Place to Get Coffee in Your State (and Everywhere Else)
When I first read the title of this article, I was sure that the most popular place to get coffee in Michigan would be my favorite shop in downtown Lansing. I was so wrong! How does your favorite place stack up against the rest of the coffee shops in your state? Although I was initially sad that Strange Matter Coffee Co. didn’t make the cut, the disappointment faded quickly.
Kaitlin Flannery
Jan 27, 2016
5 Tips for Keeping Your Counters Uncluttered
(Image credit: Adrienne Breaux) From Apartment Therapy → 5 No-Fail Tips for Uncluttered Counters All Year Long
The Kitchn
Jan 27, 2016
This Chicken and Rice Casserole Will Save Dinner Tonight
Still don’t know what you’re making for dinner tonight? How about this Greek-inspired chicken and rice casserole? You just need a baking dish and one hour. That’s right — you simply bake jasmine rice, chicken breast, and chicken stock in a casserole dish for about an hour until everything is cooked. While the casserole is baking, you can prep the toppings: feta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, Kalamata olives, and fresh parsley.
Lauren Kodiak
Jan 27, 2016
The One Thing to Do with Vegetables and Fruit Before Baking
I’m quick to jump at any chance I can get to pack more veggies and fruit into meals and snacks. Of course there are salads and smoothies, but the other surprisingly easy way to do this is with baking. Quiche, casseroles, bread, and muffins have all become fair game. But whatever it is I’m baking with veggies or fruit, it reaps a big benefit from adding one extra step to my cooking process.
Kelli Foster
Jan 26, 2016
Freeze-Ahead Berry Smoothie: The Video
If your winter meals are starting to look a little beige, this vibrant berry smoothie is here to help. Grab some frozen berries, an orange, some Greek yogurt, and coconut water – let’s make something delicious for breakfast. This smoothie is easy to adjust based on your preferences. You can choose any type of berry for this smoothie, but I went with frozen strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Like your smoothie a little less thick?
Ariel Knutson
Jan 26, 2016
Are There Any Recipes That Use Shrimp Chips as an Ingredient?
Q: Whenever my partner and I order Chinese or Asian takeaway, we get large bags of free shrimp chips/prawn crackers. I don’t like wasting food, so I have been keeping them fresh in the refrigerator, but they’re starting to pile up. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can use them for cooking? Could they be mashed/ground and made into a crust or be used as breadcrumbs? Any help would be great! Sent by Jennifer Editor: The first thought that came to mind was fried chicken.
Hali Bey Ramdene
Jan 26, 2016
5 Items to Pick Up On Your Next Trip to the Indian Grocery Store
Apartment Therapy
Jan 26, 2016
How Does Sugar Affect the Freezing of Ice Cream?
Q: Does the amount of sugar in homemade ice cream affect how fast it freezes? Sent by Kamaya Editor: Sugar’s role in ice cream is a starring one, as it’s one of the major factors in determining the texture of the finished product. The Kitchn’s done some digging into the science of ice cream in the past, and touched on the topic of sugar and freezing as well. This is what we learned: As ice cream freezes, ice crystals separate from the liquid cream base.
Hali Bey Ramdene
Jan 25, 2016
Have Dessert for Breakfast with This Comforting Rice Pudding
There’s nothing like a warm bowl of rice pudding to comfort you during the winter months. But there’s no reason to wait until after dinner to whip up a batch. Grab last night’s leftover rice — we’re making dessert for breakfast this morning. I love how this recipe makes use of cooked brown rice. If you’ve got a container of takeout rice sitting in the fridge, this is the perfect opportunity to use it.
Lauren Kodiak
Jan 25, 2016
The Kitchn’s Guide to Jarred and Canned Peppers
There’s an endless array of preserved peppers at my local grocery store. The canned/jarred goods aisle is crammed with so many different types of peppers — ranging in shapes, colors, sizes — and tucked away into glass jars or tin cans.
Karen Biton-Cohen
Jan 22, 2016
A Love Letter to SPAM
Dear SPAM, Those who don’t know you pass you by. Some even look at you with disgust or derision. They look at those of us who love you the same way, even with pity, and not a little bit of confusion. To them I say: You just don’t understand. They don’t understand that appearances aren’t everything. You may be pink, squishy, and a bit gelatinous — and sure, you’re not made with the best parts — but we are greater than the sum of our parts.
Danielle Ceribo
Jan 22, 2016
The Difference Between Regular and Stone-Ground Flour
From The Kitchn → What’s the Difference Between Regular and Stone-Ground Flour?
Apartment Therapy
Jan 22, 2016
A Guide to Cleaning Your Kitchen Sink & Disposal
(Image credit: Ashley Poskin) You would think your kitchen sink is relatively clean, considering the number of times per day you use it. But simply letting water run down the drain throughout the day just won’t cut it with germs and bacteria — you need to sanitize! From Apartment Therapy → How To Clean Your
The Kitchn
Jan 21, 2016
The Secret to Getting the Most Out of Dried Herbs
While I’d love to cook with fresh herbs all the time, it’s not always feasible. Between the occasional lack of practicality, the lack of availability (hello, mid-January), or last minute cooking, sometimes dried herbs are a more convenient choice. And, when used correctly, dried herbs can be your secret weapon to making a seriously flavorful dish. Dried herbs are an underrated resource.
Kelli Foster
Jan 21, 2016
This Is How You Dice an Avocado in 10 Seconds
I inherited my love of avocados from my mom. When I was in high school, she showed me how to prepare one for guacamole: carefully whacking the pit with a hefty blade, twisting to remove, and then cutting a grid pattern into the flesh before scooping with a large spoon. From there: mash, mash, mash. The task never bothered me — avocados are so delicious that the semi-annoying way that they exist is just kind of … well, fine, I guess.
Kaitlin Flannery
Jan 21, 2016
Yes, There Are Chocolate-Covered Coffee Beans in This Oatmeal
In today’s edition of why didn’t I think of that? I bring you mocha oatmeal. That’s right — this simple breakfast dish combines your morning meal and your morning coffee in one bowl. Ingenious! The key to true coffee flavor in this dish is boiling the oats in 1/2 cup fresh-brewed coffee and 1/2 cup water. Once the oats are cooked, you mix in vanilla extract, finely chopped chocolate-covered coffee beans, grated bittersweet chocolate, and cacao nibs.
Lauren Kodiak
Jan 21, 2016
Who Invented Canned Fruit Cocktail?
Canned fruit cocktail — it’s just a bunch of mushy, syrupy fruit with a few kid-friendly cherries thrown in, right? Not so fast. Fruit cocktail is actually a triumph of turn-of-the-century marketing and food technology — a perfectly packaged paean to the industrialization of our country’s food system. Here’s how it went from cookbook to can.
Casey Barber
Jan 20, 2016
What’s Your Best Advice for Eating More Vegetables?
Since we’re kicking off a new year and it’s as good a time as any to make some confessions, I have a big one: I often go days without vegetables in my diet. Now, I’m a full-fledged grownup (over 35) and a parent — and I even consider myself a moderately healthy eater. I eat minimal sweets, choose protein-heavy snacks, and shun as many added ingredients as possible. I’ve certainly come a long way from my teenage and college ways.
Erika Tracy
Jan 20, 2016
The Weird Green Bread from “The Force Awakens” Is 100% Edible
Even if you haven’t seen the “The Force Awakens”yet — who are you? — you’re pretty safe to keep reading. What follows is spoiler-free coverage that can only add to the magic of the franchise. In the beginning of the film, after hours and hours of tireless scavenging, Rey receives but a quarter-portion of rations as her reward. She’s incredulous but accepting of the tiny green puck because, really, what should she have expected?
Kaitlin Flannery
Jan 20, 2016
Recipe: The Kitchn Cookbook’s Cold Peanut Sesame Noodles with Pan-Seared Chicken
When I was 17 and an ardent vegetarian (I’ve since recovered), my good friend Allison introduced me to soba noodles. These nutty, chewy, buckwheat strands cooked up faster than pasta and were delicious with a quick sauce of rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and minced ginger. I was doing much of my grocery shopping at Asian markets at the time and buying soba noodles by the armful. But then I found peanut sauce and my soba noodles took on a whole new, far more delicious life.
Hali Bey Ramdene
Jan 20, 2016
An Easy DIY Lighting Solution for Your Kitchen
(Image credit: Jessica Isaac) From Apartment Therapy → Illuminate Your Kitchen Stylishly With This Easy DIY Lighting Solution
The Kitchn
Jan 20, 2016
20 Easy and Delicious Lentil Recipes
Apartment Therapy
Jan 20, 2016
These Mini Dill Frittatas Are a Perfect Bake-and-Take Breakfast
When it comes to morning meals, I always look for something easy and protein-packed to carry me through to lunch. These mini frittatas — with fresh dill, garlic, and shallot — definitely fit the bill. These mini frittatas couldn’t be easier to make: You simply whisk the ingredients together, pour the mixture into a greased muffin tin, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
Lauren Kodiak
Jan 20, 2016
10 Little Things That Will Make You Happier
(Image credit: The Kitchn) It’s amazing how a few tweaks to our daily habits can become a catalyst for meaningful, positive change. Here are a few simple things you can do every day to feel happier at home. From Apartment Therapy → 10 Simple Things to Make You Happier At Home
The Kitchn
Jan 19, 2016
Michael Pollan’s Latest Food Documentary Is Coming to Netflix
If you’re anything like me, you’ve already watched all the food documentaries that Netflix has to offer. From “The Search for General Tso”to “Fed Up,” each one leaves me with newfound perspective and knowledge. Quite the win for a lazy afternoon in front of the television, I’d say! But just like mid-afternoon hunger pangs, the craving for more always returns.
Kaitlin Flannery
Jan 19, 2016
A New Calorie Cutting Way to Cook Rice
Apartment Therapy
Jan 19, 2016
Why You Should Save the Liquid from Your Pickle Jar
You’ve polished off the last pickle in the jar. For most of us, the next obvious step is pouring out the liquid and washing that jar so we can use it to store more bulk bin items. Not so fast! The liquid leftover in the jar might not seem like anything special, but in fact, it’s liquid gold — and you should be saving every single drop of it. Here’s why. Which means it’s packed with zesty flavor, spices, and salt.
Kelli Foster
Jan 18, 2016
Become a Bulk Bin Master
Apartment Therapy
Jan 18, 2016
Easy Breakfast Idea for Busy Mornings: Chocolate-Pear Overnight Oats
Do you eat breakfast every morning? Sometimes it’s easier to just skip the first meal of the day — especially when you’ve got a million things on your plate and you’re frantically running out the door. But with overnight oats, you really have no excuse — just prep the ingredients the night before, and this magical breakfast will be ready for you when you wake up.
Lauren Kodiak
Jan 18, 2016
Recipe: Mini Polenta Grilled Cheese Bites with Marinara
There’s no denying the comfort that a grilled cheese sandwich brings. In fact, I don’t think of a grilled cheese sandwich as kid food — I think of it just as good food. The concept is highly adaptable too, so if you’re looking for a new version, or perhaps a gluten-free one, here’s one for you. You know those big tubes of shrink-wrapped polenta you see in the store? They make perfect “bread” for an Italian-inspired grilled cheese sandwich.
Christine Gallary
Jan 15, 2016
Cut Calories in Rice with This Surprising Method
Rice is a very important grain. It is the number-one staple food in dozens of countries, providing an inexpensive and readily available source of energy. In fact, 20 percent of the world’s dietary energy comes from rice. It is nutritious — but it is far from perfect due to its high starch content. Here’s why that’s an issue — and a surprising way to actually mitigate rice’s less-healthy aspects with one simple, surprising cooking method.
Dana Velden
Jan 15, 2016
Try This Pantry Staple to Thicken Your Soup
Put away the cream, skip the hassle of making a slurry, and leave the stick blender where it is — there’s an easier way to thicken your soup, and the answer is right inside your pantry. Even though I can (and do) eat it year-round, I crave soup on a daily basis during the cold winter months — especially homemade soups that are thick, hearty, and nourishing.
Kelli Foster
Jan 15, 2016
The Best Way to Save Overcooked Grains
We’ve all been there: You forgot to set the timer, or you stepped away from the stove and got totally distracted by something outside the kitchen. Next thing you know, that pot of grains you were planning to serve with dinner is overcooked beyond belief — like, cooked into submission, there’s no going back, definitely cut it for dinner kind of overcooked. But don’t jump to the compost bin so fast — there’s still hope for those overcooked grains.
Kelli Foster
Jan 15, 2016
Travel to Vietnam with This Beef Stir-Fry
As we head into the worst part of winter — with the holiday breaks behind us, and more cold weather ahead of us — it’s hard not to let thoughts of an exotic vacation creep into our minds. While a plane ride to Vietnam is probably out of the question, we can let our tastebuds take us there with the help of this stir-fry.
Lauren Kodiak
Jan 15, 2016
We’re Hiring: Apartment Therapy Design Editor
Apartment Therapy is actively looking for a Design Editor. Please click through for details. Apartment Therapy is a daily design and lifestyle site with over 10 million monthly readers. This full-time staff position will report to the Executive Editor and Managing Editor and will concept, assign, write and edit lifestyle content for the brand. Our head office is located in NYC but this position does not require that you reside in New York; applications are welcome from other locations.
Vanessa Warlow
Jan 15, 2016
Tight on Space? Here Are 10 Clever Hidden Storage Solutions.
(Image credit: The Kitchn) Run – don’t walk – to your nearest contractor, cabinet maker, or handy family member and ask –nay, beg– to have one of these seriously smart solutions built into the storage around your home. From Apartment Therapy → 10 Clever Hidden Storage Solutions You’ll Wish You Had at Home
The Kitchn
Jan 14, 2016
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Cooking Any Grain
It’s always the simplest foods that end up throwing you a curve ball, and grains are the quintessential example. Thanks to their versatility, they make it into most meal plans — that pot of rice you make on the weekend working its way into lunches and dinners throughout the week. But even if you’ve made quinoa a thousand times, there’s still that one day you burn it, over-salt it, or cook it until it’s a mushy goo.
Kelli Foster
Jan 14, 2016
Our Readers’ Top 5 Rules for Family Dinners in 2016
Family dinner. Do you have one regularly? For many of us, the family dinner was a big deal growing up — a ritual with its own rules and expectations. (Give thanks beforehand. No elbows on the table. Clean up after yourself!) Curious to see how time may have trifled with family dinner, we asked you to share the rules and habits you use today to keep your family dinner — however family looks to you! — humming in harmony. What we discovered is that some things never change.
Cambria Bold
Jan 14, 2016