Life

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)I have a little ritual when I bring fresh ginger home from the market:peel, grate, freeze. Not only is this a great way to keep ginger fresh longer, but it becomes incredibly easy topunch up a sauce, stir fry, or smoothie any time you want some gingery spice. • Grated Ginger in

(Image credit: Dana Velden)I actually don’t care for shiny copper, but occasionally the few pieces I have need a little cleaning up, so I was fascinated to read an article on the Kaufmann Mercantile website that recommends two very unexpected ingredients to clean copper… • Clean Your Copper The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)It was ‘polenta party‘ time at Faith’s house last week, and she served it with a delicious dish of beef braised in red wine. So, the big question we pondered was, what wine or rather what wines to serve alongside this robust, meaty, yet creamy dish? • 10 Budget Wine Picks

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)This week I’ve beensharing one of the most fun dinner partiesI’ve ever hosted — we invited six friends over and threw an Italian polenta party anchored by a four-foot-long board in the middle of the table! Here’s how it all came together: • Polenta Supper Party The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)When it comes to cooking dinner every night, one tool I can’t live without is my kitchen tongs. But I had no idea there were four more surprising uses for this everyday tool — including one that is especially helpful for short cooks like me. • Uses for Kitchen Tongs The

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)No matter how thoroughly you scrub plastic containers, there comes a point where they start to smell a little…stale. Here are six ideas to freshen them up — without resorting to harsh chemicals. • Clean Plastic Containers The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Have you ever tried making your own crispy, crunchy, seed-topped crackers? My recommendation: try it. Definitely. Crackers are surprisingly easy to make at home with just five basic ingredients, a rolling pin, and a baking sheet. • How To Make Crackers The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Julie Morelli and Andy Schwegler are the witty and creative minds behind Chicago based print shop Nourishing Notes and boutique design firm Letterform. Their mission is simple: “We believe there’s nothing better than food, family, friends, and laughter.” • A Bright, Happy Kitchen The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Canning jars make great containers for lunches prepared in bulk, individually portioned, and stored in the refrigerator or freezer, so it’s easy to grab a wholesome, homemade meal on even the busiest afternoon. • Make-Ahead Jar Lunches The Kitchn

We love having an Easter Egg hunt. It’s a tradition my mom kept alive well into my college years. No matter what the weather – even with snow on the ground – my brother, myself, and our parents went outside with our baskets and color-coded eggs. I still remember the year my mom hung a colorful bra – it was Easter-like, apparently – from a tree branch just for me!Continuing that tradition (okay, not the bra, probably) with my daughter is important.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Do you get stumped for good lunch ideas, falling back on the same unsatisfying sandwiches and cans of rewarmed soup? We have a whole month’s worth of work-week lunches up for grabs today! • 20 Satisfying Lunches The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) While it can seem like a messy endeavor, cooking bacon on the stovetop is the classic way to crisp up those delicious strips of smokey goodness, and it’s dead simple to boot. Read on for our step by step guide: • Stovetop Bacon The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Avocado. Fried eggs. Pizza dough. I probably don’t have to tell you that combining three of the world’s greatest foods gives you one fine breakfast: a warm round of chewy crust topped with a bright, cilantro-speckled avocado mash and the perfect oozy egg. • Avocado, Egg Breakfast Pizza The Kitchn

(Image credit: Sara Kate Gillingham) Where do you shop for food gifts online, particularly when you’re looking for something special and indulgent? What is your recommendation for the best, most unusual, or inspired food gifts on the web? • Food Gifts Online The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) If you own a soda maker, then you know the manufacturer rules: you must only use water! But a few adventurous drinkers are flouting those instructions and using home carbonators to concoct everything from sparkling wines to non-alcoholic fruit sodas. • Hacking a SodaStream The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Ready for the next step in my kitchen renovation? Here’s where things get a little wild and fast, and where my photo library gets a little, um, thinner than I would like… • Faith’s Kitchen Renovation The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Joshua Weissman isn’t your typical 17-year-old boy. A few years ago, overweight and bullied in school, he finally decided to take his health seriously, but packaged diet meals and quick fixes didn’t help. Instead, he started cooking — and in the process changed his life. • Meet Joshua Weissman of Slim

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) At cheese shops, cheesemongers will use cheese wires or fancy cheese harps to cut soft and crumbly cheeses neatly. But when at home, use dental floss on delicate cheeses! • My Uncool Kitchen Tool The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) We rarely use milk at our house, and whenever we do buy it for a recipe, half the bottle inevitably goes to waste. That is, until we realized we could freeze it for later! Here are some tips for freezing it. • Freeze Milk for Later The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Think cooking with less salt has to be bland? Think again! Yesterday we took a peek at Sodium Girl’s Limitless Low-Sodium Cookbook, and today we are sharing her most tried-and-true tips for taking low-sodium meals to the next level. • Low-Sodium Cooking The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Lemon curd is one of those things that I always like to have in my refrigerator. It has saved me more than once when I’ve had to rustle up a last minute dessert or had an unexpected guest stop by at tea time. • How To Make Lemon Curd The

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Last week we asked you, our readers, to share the one kitchen item you’d recommend splurging on. If you’ve ever wondered what’s worth the money in the kitchen, read on… • The One Kitchen Item Worth Splurging On The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Being a good cook is also about the small habits you practice daily, the ones that transform cooking into a more effortless and joyful part of your day. These 8 simple habits are easy to pick up, yet make a major difference in your cooking. • Small Cooking Habits The

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) The bones of a kitchen are the cabinets and their layout, and we knew from the get-go that we wanted to use IKEA’s cabinet system. Here are some things we learned along the way. • On Buying an IKEA Kitchen The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) While there is really no “One Right Way” to season or spice your favorite foods, here’s a quick guide to some of the most common — and dependably tasty! — ways to do it. • Common Spices for Common Dishes The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Lola Milholland is an avid home cook with an amazing range of culinary abilities. She cooks with tenacity and confidence! Join us for a tour of this giant, personality-filled kitchen. • Lola’s Homemade Orange Kitchen The Kitchn

I love the way our world is changing. Gone are the days where you were either a work-outside-the-home mom or a stay-at-home mom, when rare was the woman who didn’t fit into one of those categories exclusively. With the integration of technology and innovation into our work and home lives, there are so many possible combinations of working environments for moms (and dads!).

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) There’s no denying the convenience of an already-ground spice, but I’m here to make a case for why you should consider adding a few whole spices to your seasoning line-up. Four words: better flavor, fresher longer. Convinced?! • On Using Whole Spices The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Cooks can be very territorial creatures. This may make for a terrific meal at the end of the night, but it’s not so great for fostering a romantic, let’s-make-and-share-this-food-together vibe. So here are a few simple tips… • 5 Tips For a Date Night in the Kitchen The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) In short, my feelings about Valentine’s Day are a lot like this popcorn: salty and a little bitter, but impossible to ignore. • Salted Dark Chocolate Popcorn The Kitchn

How in the world does one go about planning a kitchen renovation? How do you actually make decisions? Well, I don’t know how other people make these sorts of rather scary decisions — I can only tell you how we did. • Planning Out the Kitchen The Kitchn

Last week I explained the big renovation and kitchen project we took on last year, and I showed you lots of pretty pictures of kitchens that inspired me. But in renovation, before a kitchen gets better, it usually gets worse. Much, much worse. • Faith’s Kitchen Renovation The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) In the process of dragging an old, problematic house into the 21st century, we lived through the very real clichés of remodeling. Over the next week or two I will show you how it all went and what it looks like now. Want to come along? • Faith’s Kitchen Renovation

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) The Kitchn is looking to hire a few bloggers to seek out, photograph, and write up a monthly Kitchen Tour for us. Think you’re the perfect person for the job? Get all the details here. Deadline to apply is Monday, February 18th! • The Kitchn Is Hiring The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Food, Maggie believes, whether eaten out or at home, is always more fun and festive when it’s shared with others. And with the kitchen commanding center stage in her home, it’s a gathering place for friends who share Maggie’s love of food. • Kitchen Tour The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) I’m not sure whether it’s the beginning of tax season or the gray Pacific Northwest days we’ve been having lately, but many people I know have been a bit down. For the slog that February can feel like, I have a small solution: The Winter Warmer Cocktail. • The Midwinter Warmer

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) We’ve talked before about the best way to store potatoes, onions, and other root vegetables. If you’ve got the space and wherewithal, it doesn’t get much better than these storage drawers. Deep baskets keep onions and potatoes separate – and neat! • Smart Drawer Storage The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Do you ever feel a little deflated when you walk into your kitchen? These 10 small changes are easy upgrades, but they’ll go a long way towards making you feel more organized and uplifted in your kitchen. • 10 Small Kitchen Changes The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Chicken breasts form the cornerstone of our weeknight meal repertoire, so much so that it’s easy to fall into a rut when cooking them. Here are ten recipes, ten different chicken dinners, ten ways to cook something you’ll love tonight. • Chicken Breasts for Dinner The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Open a bottle of vitamins or an electronics package and you’ll often encounter a little packet of silica gel. Printed warnings usually tell you to throw it away, but silica gel can actually be put to good reuse in the kitchen. • Reuse Silica Gel Packets The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Last year I talked about wanting to organize all my bookmarked recipes, which over the years had gotten scattered across a number of different systems. I decided to give Paprika a try and was happy to discover it has all the features I’ve been looking for… • Paprika Recipe App

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Yesterday Emma told us that to cook like a pro, you should keep your salt in a covered container or salt pig. Here are 10 options to get your salt out of the shaker once and for all: • 10 Salt Containers The Kitchn

As we approach the final days of the January Cure, the celebratory get-together is looming larger in my mind. I enjoy hosting, but there are still usually stressors and worries involved, even when I’m hosting my dearest friends. As I prepare for the big night, I’m going to keep a few things in mind to eliminate that worry and to help me make the most of it.• Your guests will be as relaxed as you are.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) There are a million and one ways to make chili. Whether you like your chili with ground meat or chuck roast, pinto beans or no beans at all, the basic method for making it is the same. Want to make a very good pot of chili? Here’s how. • How To

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Over the past week I’ve been talking about my brother’s wedding and how some friends and I cooked and catered a homey winter dinner for about 120 people. Well, today’s the final post — I’m going to show you how it all turned out! • Budget Wedding: The Dinner The

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Last weekend I took on the challenge of feeding dinner to 120 family and guests. I told you about the menu, and the plan, and today I’m going to describe just what it took to cook all that food. • Budget Wedding Meal: The Cooking The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Yesterday I shared the menu for the family wedding I’m catering this weekend. Now — how to get it all done? How do you safely cook, transport, warm up, and serve a meal to 120 people without going crazy? • Budget Wedding Meal: The Plan The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) San Francisco-based interior designer Cristin Priest thought her breakfast nook could use some sprucing up, so she decided to give it a fresh, springy makeover… • Kitchen Nook Makeover The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) We love the sweet-sour taste of pineapple. You can buy pre-cut pineapple from the store, but it’s fresher and more economical to buy a whole one and cut it yourself. Here’s the way we do it. • How To Cut Up a Whole Pineapple The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Pre-made kale chips can be really expensive, and the quality isn’t always that high. Besides, it’s really easy to make your own, so we thought we would revisit our old kale chip recipe with a complete step-by-step guide and some new tips we’ve learned. • How To Make Kale Chips

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Salt to taste. Such a simple and innocent instruction. We’ve all read those words a million times over the years without thinking anything of it. Ever wonder what it really means? • What It Means to “Salt to Taste” The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Last week we asked you to share your favorite post-workout snacks, smoothies, or pick-me-ups. You offered your favorites, and we pooled the top 5 most popular recommendations. Check ’em out below: • What To Eat After a Workout The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Fresh ginger is a staple in my kitchen. It is an extremely versatile ingredient that shows up in any course, from savory to sweet, be it main, beverage, dessert, or salad. Read on for my methods for peeling and mincing fresh ginger. • Handling Fresh Ginger The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) We’re deep in it. Soup season, that is. And in my opinion, there’s not much more comforting than a steaming bowl of creamy tomato soup. But is there a way to achieve that blissful flavor without the heavy cream? • Non-Cream Tomato Soup The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) If you’ve avoided cooking beans at home because you’ve heard that they are troublesome, finicky, or complicated, it’s time to leave that behind. • How To Cook Beans on the Stove The Kitchn

(Image credit: Maureen Petrosky) Once a year, usually late December or early January, we receive a case of the sweetest pink grapefruits delivered to our doorstep. As with anything abundant in our culinary arsenal over to the bar they went. • Pink Paloma Cocktail The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Store-bought packages or movie theater boxed treats are so often laden with preservatives and ingredients you can’t pronounce, so why not start thinking about homemade versions of your favorites to do at home? • Movie Night Snacks The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) The other night I cooked Viking Chicken for my mother, brother and daughter, and they all asked for more, so I think the recipe is worth passing on. • Maxwell’s Viking Chicken The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Lately, I’ve gotten into the habit of making my own corn chips, a process that has proved to be deeply satisfying on so many levels. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making these lighter, healthier chips at home. • How To Make Tortilla Chips The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) What are the essential ingredients for a happy kitchen? In many ways, this is what every Weekend Meditation is about, but for this week I thought I would get a little more specific. Read on for my 10 suggestions and please offer your own in the comments! • Happier in the

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) It’s a new year, and we’re all back to the races — school, work, the daily routine. Lunch has become important again, now that leisurely holiday brunches and Christmas cookies are behind us. So, what’s for lunch? Let us help you. • 15 Hearty Lunch Salads The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From how to get rid of fish odors to how to repel house flies, from how to remove red wine stains to how to care for a wood table, here are our best tips for a clean and tidy kitchen. • 15 Tips for a Tidy Kitchen The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) The momentum of the new year has us inspired to do a clean sweep in the kitchen, and we’re breaking it down into steps that can be completed in 20 minutes or less per day for five days. • Clean Your Pantry in 20 Minutes a Day for 5 Days

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Gifts for new cooks should be practical, yet inspirational, something to not only outfit them for successful cooking, but also get them excited about doing it! Here are 10 ideas sure to inspire and delight. • Inspiring Gifts for New Cooks The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Coffee lovers encompass a range of obsessions: it’s about the bean, the flavor, the caffeine, the ritual, the process, the experience. Whatever your coffee lover’s particular focus, we have a gift idea for you. • 10 Gifts for Coffee Lovers The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) These cute little pot props help a boiling pot to let off steam. Say hello to the Little Pot Critters! • Pot Guard Critters The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Treasured family recipes are priceless, which is why they can easily be transformed into special gifts with minimum expense and just a little time. Here are four favorite ideas for giving family recipes as gifts. • Family Recipe Gifts The Kitchn

Getting ready for a holiday cocktail party and thinking of putting the ole iPod on shuffle? The convenience may seem tempting, but take an hour and make a playlist instead. Cocktail parties are the time to break out the red lipstick, the fanciest drinks, the funniest stories, and the bounciest music. If you can make a playlist that will have your guests shimmying, singing, and flirting, then you’ve set the stage for a swinging night.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) It’s been raining heavily here for several days now, and this has necessitated a slightly different approach to meal time. Instead of asking my usual question what do I want?, I begin by asking what do I have? • Resourcefulness The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Aside from being a college co-ed you typically aren’t seeking Liquid Cocaine or a Prairie Fire as your drink of choice. So can shots be sophisticated? And what’s the difference between a shot and shooter anyway? • Sophisticated Shots The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) A cranberry mostarda is an Italian condiment that is exactly what it sounds like — pureed cranberries with mustard and ‘ahhh.’ And the best thing is making it is easier than you might think. • Make Cranberry Mostarda The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) What do you do if you have an “awful” old kitchen with a low popcorn ceiling and no surface space? If you’re Kitchn reader Faith, you knock out a wall between the bedroom and dining room and build a new kitchen! • Kitchen Before & After The Kitchn