Kristin Appenbrink's Recent Articles
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50+ Big-Batch Breakfasts You Can Make Ahead of Time
Make big-batch breakfasts part of your meal prep routine, and your future self will thank you.
Nov 30, 2022
5 Easy Ways to Save, Store, and Organize Your Recipes Online
Tips from The Kitchn
Including our very own recipe saver!
Aug 29, 2022
30+ Recipes to Make for Mother's Day Brunch
The thought and effort put into a homemade brunch is the perfect way to make her feel special.
Apr 26, 2022
15 of Our Favorite Food Videos from 2015
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video must be priceless. Whether they are recipes, tips, hilarious spoofs, or just an homage to a certain type of food, we’ll always take a few moments out of our days to watch a food video. These are the ones we couldn’t take our eyes off of this year. Need we say s’more? This gooey video tops our list and makes our mouths water. It sounds counterintuitive, but it’s life-changing. Just watch.
May 5, 2022
10 Secrets of the Organized Kitchen
We’ll take a guess that like every other year, you’re making a resolution to be more organized in 2016. It’s a goal we fully support. The more organized you are, the easier (and more fun) it can be to spend time in your kitchen and get dinner on the table every night. Here’s some of our best advice from 2015 to help you make a fresh start in the new year. Your cabinets can always use more work: Take lessons from these beautifully organized cabinets.
May 4, 2022
20 Impressively Organized Kitchen Drawers
If you’ve jumped on the KonMari method bandwagon like several of us here at The Kitchn, you’ve probably gotten the itch to reorganize everything in your kitchen — including your drawers, which can be the hardest to tackle. Because you keep them closed and away from prying eyes, it’s easy to let them get a little bit messy. To jumpstart your motivation to get those drawers in order once and for all, get inspired by these 20 wonderfully organized kitchen drawers.
May 4, 2022
10 Ways to Be a Better Host in 2016
If it’s not something you do often, or if you didn’t grow up in a household where your family hosted dinners or parties, inviting people into your home can be daunting. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves when hosting, but there are a few tricks to learn that can make everything run more smoothly. Here’s our best advice for making 2016 the year of the dinner party.
May 4, 2022
40+ Recipes That Use Up a Carton of Buttermilk
Whether you have a cup or a carton, there are plenty of ways to use it up.
Feb 21, 2022
40+ Easy Dinners That Start with Rice
Lift it from its side-dish status and bring it to the center of the plate.
Feb 4, 2022
40+ Side Dishes to Serve with Roast Chicken
From roasted potatoes to simple salads.
Nov 23, 2021
5 Essential Supplies for Washing Dishes in Your Dorm
Cleaning Tips from The Kitchn
This convenient kit will make dish duty a breeze!
Jul 13, 2021
25+ of Our Favorite Ways to Turn Black Beans into Dinner
From soups and chilis to enchiladas and salads, the possibilities are seemingly endless.
Jun 2, 2021
25 Side Dishes to Serve Alongside a Juicy Steak
Only certain sides are worthy of sharing your plate with a steak.
Feb 1, 2021
25 Easy Dinners That Start with Sweet Potatoes
If you've got a few sweet potatoes on hand, a filling dinner is at your fingertips.
Jan 14, 2021
Groot Loops and More Breakfast Cereals Fit for a Superhero
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and that’s true for superheroes, too. Artists Bamboota and Elliot Fernandez came up with a mash up of some of your favorite breakfast cereals and your favorite superheroes. Cap’n America Crunch is just the beginning. The other fictional product endorsements include “Loki Charms,” “Iron Bran,” and our personal favorite — “Groot Loops.
Sep 30, 2020
Watch What Happens When American Kids Try International Breakfasts
Think about what you ate for breakfast as a kid. If you grew up in the U.S., chances are you were eating cereal, toast, eggs, muffins, or something similar. What happens when you give American kids traditional breakfasts from countries like Korea, Finland, Poland, and Vietnam? Not only will you get a lot of questions, but you’ll also get some of the funniest facial expressions we’ve ever seen.
Sep 30, 2020
Lucky Peach Turns Hot Dogs into Disney Princesses
You might have been told never to play with your food as a kid, but now that you’re an adult, you can fully ignore that rule. Just look at this art project from Lucky Peach, where they turned four hot dogs into Disney princesses — Rapunzel, Ariel, Belle, and Pocahontas. We’re guessing you won’t need step-by-step instructions, but just in case you do, Lucky Peach has ’em. We have to say, the cheese dress with mustard embellishments for Belle might be our favorite.
Sep 30, 2020
Local Food Means Less Food Waste at Schools
When schools put a portion of their food budget toward local food, there’s a big (and unexpected) benefit. According to the USDA census of schools that have incorporated local produce into their lunch programs, the kids at those schools ended up eating healthier meals and throwing less food in the trash.
Sep 30, 2020
Use the 3 Rs to Get Picky Eaters to Try New Foods
There are few things quite as frustrating as a kid who is a fussy eater — especially when you love food and want to share that enjoyment with them. A new research study published in the journal Appetite gives the advice to just follow the three Rs to get your kid to try new foods. No, it’s not reduce, reuse, and recycle. Instead you’ll be using “repetition, role modeling, and rewards.
Sep 30, 2020
12 Gifts to Surprise and Delight a Coffee Addict
For that friend or family member who just can’t function until they’ve had their cup of joe, these 12 gifts will make their morning routine that much better. Just make sure they’ve had their first cup before you have them unwrap the present. You’re guaranteed a better reaction that way. Glazed Espresso Cup, $30 from Etsy: When you spend time crafting the perfect espresso, you deserve to sip it from something beautiful. Able Brewing DISK, $12.
Aug 31, 2020
17 Pumpkin Recipes for Fall (Yes, It’s Time)
Yes, it is officially pumpkin season, and it's good for more than just your morning latte. Here are 17 ways to turn pumpkin into dinner.
Jul 22, 2020
18 Things We Learned About Coffee in 2014
This year was a good year for coffee drinkers. (Really, what year isn’t?) From the trend of adding butter to your coffee to an expensive brew with a surprising ingredient, there was plenty to talk about. Plus, we explored all kinds of ways to make the coffee you brew at home better, including lattes that don’t require an espresso machine, how to choose the right grinder, and how to fix a bad brew next time. Here are our top java-fueled stories from 2014.
Jul 20, 2020
10 Bright & Colorful Ovens
Sleek white kitchens are nice, but we love them even more when they have a bold streak of color somewhere. Yes, it’s easy to add color with accessories, but sometimes an even braver statement is called for. Case in point: these stunning kitchens with bright, colorful ovens. You can find a range in any color of the rainbow, but here are a few of our favorite hues. Golden Yellow – Sustainable Kitchens: This sunshine yellow oven really brightens up this kitchen without overwhelming it.
Jul 16, 2020
Before & After: Replacing Tiny Details in This Kitchen Made a Big Difference
Kaycee shared her kitchen remodel with us as part of our Big Reveal contest earlier this year, and it’s one of the best examples of just how much of a difference you can make in your space by paying attention to the little things. After all, the devil is in the details. Take a look at how Kaycee’s kitchen looks now. Doesn’t it look so much fresher? Kaycee writes that the cabinets were in good shape, but that they just needed a few improvements.
Mar 11, 2020
8 Meals You Can Make in a Muffin Tin
Don’t write off that muffin tin as being a unitasker only good for baking muffins and cupcakes. There are plenty of recipes, even full meals, that can be made in those small baking pans. Plus, it’s a great way to help portion out servings to freeze for later. If you’ve been on the fence about KonMari-ing your muffin tins, let these eight recipes make the case for keeping them. Poaching eggs for a crowd can be a long process.
Mar 3, 2020
10 Silverware Organizers for In and Out of the Drawer
In an ideal kitchen, you have plenty of space to store all your utensils, containers, pots, pans, and flatware. But if you’re a renter or in need of a kitchen remodel, you might not be that lucky — which means you’ll have to get creative. Finding creative solutions for storing your flatware can be a challenge, but we’ve rounded up 10 options that should fit almost every kitchen scenario imaginable.
Sep 12, 2019
10 Mise en Place Bowls That Will Make You Feel Like a TV Chef
Setting up a mise en place before you ever turn on a burner or preheat your stove can save you a lot of time and headaches. But unless you’ve got a crazy well-stocked china cabinet, you might not have enough little bowls for all your prepped ingredients. Here are 10 smart options for mise en place bowls. You can choose everything from clear glass sets to brightly patterned bowls. And if you want to prep way in advance, go for the set that comes with lids.
Sep 11, 2019
15 Crave-Worthy Cake Stands for a Birthday Cake
The fastest way to elevate a birthday cake, both literally and figuratively, is to serve it on a cake stand. Here are our current faves.
Jul 30, 2019
13 Easy One-Pot Dinners to Cook at Your Vacation Rental
Because if you're cooking on vacation you should have the easiest recipes possible.
Jul 18, 2019
17 Easy French Recipes for Bastille Day (and Beyond)
Bastille Day is July 14, which is the perfect excuse to insert some Gallic flavor into your summer cooking. While we won’t be storming the Bastille anytime soon, that doesn’t mean we aren’t game for celebrating liberté, égalité, and fraternité in the best way. From drinks to main dishes to desserts, we have 17 easy French-inspired recipes for everyone who wants to Vive la Françe at the table.
Jul 8, 2019
5 Spots You Should Clean in Your Kitchen Every Day
Here at The Kitchn we talk a lot about how to clean all of those special and persnickety things in your kitchen — from cleaning your knives to maintaining your cast iron skillet to cleaning the outside of your wood cabinets — but what about those cleaning tasks you should tackle daily? There are a few things that should be cleaned daily to help you keep a tidy kitchen. Luckily they don’t take that much time at all. Here are the top five things you should be cleaning every day.
Jun 9, 2019
The 5 Most Popular Dinnerware Sets for Millennials
When it comes to wedding registries, it probably comes as no surprise that there has been a dramatic shift away from so-called “wedding china.” More and more couples are choosing everyday dishes, but that doesn’t mean your dinnerware has to be boring! With wedding season just around the corner, we enlisted the help of wedding registry site Zola to see what real couples are registering for right now.
Jun 9, 2019
The Secret Deal at Costco for Non-Members
Costco is a go-to for family-size everything. Do you need a 25-pound bag of flour? An eight-pack of ribeye steaks? This superstore has it. And if you’re feeding a family and have the storage space to keep items you purchase in bulk, there are some real savings to be found. But the best bargain probably isn’t what you’d expect — and you don’t even have to be a member. I’m talking about booze — specifically Costco’s Kirkland label.
Jun 9, 2019
The Dirty Secret of Meal Kit Services
Pre-packaged meal kits have become increasingly popular over the last few years. While the convenience of these kits may win you over, there’s another important aspect to consider: the astonishing amount of packaging they require. With many of these kits, each ingredient comes individually packed and clearly labeled to eliminate the need to measure at all. If you need one carrot, you’ll get one carrot in its own bag with a label that says carrot.
Jun 9, 2019
8 Shining Examples of Tin Tiles in the Kitchen
One of our favorite details in vintage kitchens is a tin ceiling. Sadly those original details are getting harder and harder to find, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add a vintage touch to your own kitchen. Besides using tin tiles on the ceiling, you can also add them to your island counter, backsplash, or all over the walls. Take a look at a few of our favorite examples.
Jun 9, 2019
3 Smart Tips for Organizing a Lunch Station
Why is it that it’s so hard to pack a lunch for work or school every day? There’s something about adding an extra few minutes to your morning routine (or your before-bed routine) that feels like a hassle. Luckily there’s a smart way to streamline packing that lunch tote. We’ve long been fans of the snack station, so why not apply that to making your lunch, or your child’s lunch, as well?
Jun 9, 2019
18 Big-Batch Cocktails to Day Drink with Your Friends
Long holiday weekends are made for big-batch cocktails. Gather a group of friends, mix up a big pitcher or two of something light, refreshing, and preferably packed with fruit (for health reasons, you know) and you’re set for an afternoon of day drinking. Just make sure you have plenty of pitchers of water and an abundance of snacks on hand, too. Sangria isn’t just the cheap summer drink of your younger days — it can go completely gourmet if you pair your fruit and wine right.
Jun 8, 2019
21 Vegetarian Burgers, Wraps, and Sandwiches to Make for Meatless Monday
When the dinner rush means you need to put a healthy, flavorful meal on the table fast, it’s time to consider a sandwich — or burger, or wrap. These vegetarian takes on the handheld meal deliver on satisfaction and give you the added bonus of an extra helping of veggies, beans, or grains. There’s a chickpea and sweet potato patty laced with the sweet heat of Sriracha, and a beet-based veggie burger that owes its savory essence to smoked paprika.
Jun 8, 2019
10 Tropical Smoothies to Brighten Your Morning
Smoothies are one of our favorite breakfast options year-round, but especially in the winter because it’s an easy way to brighten the mornings by adding extra fruit to our diets. And since frozen fruit works just as well (if not better — hello, icy, creamy texture), there’s no worry about whether it’s in season. If you’re stuck in the doldrums of gray days, try these tropical smoothies.
Jun 8, 2019
11 Ways You Can Make Open Shelving Work in Your Pantry
The merits of open shelving in the kitchen are always a point of contention around here. On the one hand, open shelves offer easy access to your ingredients and dishes. On the other hand, it can be tough to keep them clean and organized. If you’re inspired by the benefits of open shelving, consider adding it to your pantry instead. You can see all that you have in stock at once, and if the shelves get a little messy — just close the door. Here are 11 examples to give you some ideas.
Jun 8, 2019
27 Food Infographics We Love
This isn’t hard-hitting food news, but we can’t pass up the chance to share a roundup of cooking infographics. The list of charts, graphs, and diagrams includes everything from which spices pair best with which foods to cooking times for your favorite cuts of meat. One of our favorites? Bon Appetit’s guide to boiling eggs: What’s the one chart or graphic you wish you had for your kitchen?
Jun 7, 2019
A Hierarchy of When It’s OK to Eat Your Kid’s Leftover Food
Parents, we’re guessing you’ve all been there. You’ve finished feeding your kids, and now it’s time to make yourself something to eat. But those leftover bits and pieces from your child’s plate are just easier to eat, and somehow that becomes dinner. Dan Pashman, of WNYC’s The Sporkful, is ready to fess up to snacking on his kids leftovers from dinner, and he’s come up with a hierarchy of what’s okay to eat.
Jun 7, 2019
17 Ways to Eat More Vegetables Right Now
Eat more veggies. We all should be doing it, but let’s face it — sometimes it’s easier said than done. But there are plenty of recipes you can make that give you a veggie boost without a lot of extra effort. Make any of these vegetable-filled dishes this week and soon you’ll realize that getting those veggies in is easier and tastier than you might have thought. We all love mac and cheese, but it isn’t always the healthiest option.
Jun 6, 2019
5 Ways to Make Your House Smell Amazing
If you’re like us, your home starts to get a little stale this time of year. Your pine-scented Christmas tree is long gone, and it’s too cold to open the windows. So how do you freshen things up? Naturally we have a few ideas, from DIY candles to recipes guaranteed to make your home smell amazing. We know that many of you have strong opinions about whether or not scented candles belong in the kitchen, but for us, it all depends on the scent.
Jun 6, 2019
Tanya’s Colorful Country Kitchen
There’s something so peaceful about this kitchen. The combination of lots of natural light, the colorful cabinets and the large wooden dining table just seem so inviting. Take a look at the rest of this New Hampshire kitchen. Tanya, a frequent contributor to Apartment Therapy, has been working on her kitchen renovation for the past two years. (We showed you a work-in-progress of this space previously.) And now her complete home remodel is finally finished.
Jun 6, 2019
15 Kitchen Transformations That Will Blow Your Mind
We love a kitchen transformation. Sometimes it’s a little change that really turns a space around, or sometimes it’s a gut remodel that doesn’t look anything like the space did before. Either way, we find them inspiring for our own kitchens. Here are our 15 favorite before and after transformations from 2015. The Most Amazing $700 Kitchen Remodel We’ve Seen: We still can’t believe this cost only $700.
Jun 5, 2019
5 Curved Kitchen Counters That Go Beyond the Straight & Narrow
The island counter is a contemporary kitchen standard. If the room has enough space, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a kitchen without one. So what’s the next level of design? A curved island counter. No, this won’t work for every kitchen, but there are many variations on this theme, so there’s a chance that one of them will work well in your space. Here are five of our favorite examples.
Jun 5, 2019
25 Must-Try Egg Decorating Ideas for Easter
Gone are the days when the Paas dye kit was the most exciting way to color your Easter eggs. Over the past few years the ideas I’ve seen online for decorating hard-boiled or hand-blown eggs have become more elaborate and more beautiful. But just because they look more complicated doesn’t mean they’re that much harder to accomplish. These 25 dye ideas have something for every skill level. Now the only challenge is going to be figuring out which technique to try first.
Jun 5, 2019