I pride myself on maintaining an uncluttered home, and that applies as much to my kitchen as any other room in my small apartment. Although I am an avid and often experimental cook, over the years I have determined which…
Even though things didn't work out with my college boyfriend, he will always be remembered as the one who introduced me to artichokes. He steamed them and served them with garlic butter, a simple preparation that made me fall in…
From a very young age, I had a demanding palate with a preference for bold flavors. One of my favorite snacks (if you could call it that) were slices of fresh lemons or limes that I would stealthily eat like…
As the granddaughter of Italian immigrants, the importance of a good meal was instilled in me from a young age. My grandparents were so devoted to the real thing that they would deliver blocks of Parmigiano Reggiano to us overnight…
I'm one of those people who obsessively checks to see if the stove is turned off. Sometimes I leave the house and think: Did I turn off the stove? I probably turned off the stove. Then it haunts me until…
I have owned many kitchen utensils in my time. Some expensive ones were given to me, some I saved, but honestly, I found a lot at ALDI. And the store's colorful silicone utensils are back in stock this week. What…
Welcome to One Simply Terrific Thing, our ongoing series highlighting the little kitchen tools and items that make life better. I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but until recently, whenever I had trouble opening a jar of something, I…
A few years ago, my wife and I were visiting her parents in Montana and one evening we were invited to two of their friends' homes for what was described to us as “pizza night.” That was an understatement, and…
Have you ever experienced sticker shock so intense that it made you gasp? That's how I felt when I first laid eyes on the iconic Le Creuset enameled cast iron braiser and its $445 price tag. On the other hand,…
Fresh strawberries have arrived in my neck of the woods and I just can't get enough of them. Farmers' markets and grocery store produce sections are full of bright red berries, and I eat my weight in these juicy, sweet…