Because IKEA products are so inexpensive, they’re often billed as more temporary solutions — a couch for your dorm room, a bookcase for your first apartment. Essentially, people view it as starter stuff that you buy before you can afford the “real” stuff from a higher-end home store.
But in my experience, a lot of my IKEA starter stuff had stood the test of time and, in fact, become the real stuff that I’m still totally happy to use. Don’t believe me? Here are some favorites.
This is your summer showstopper. It’s so pretty to look at that it’s guaranteed to receive applause at the table. It’s even better to eat, of course. Tomatoes — the true gems of the season — are the focus here. No cheese or aromatics like garlic and onions stand in their way. Instead, their juicy, rich flavor stands freely on its own in this savory twist on a tarte tatin, a classic French caramelized, upside-down pastry that’s most often made with apples for dessert. A touch of balsamic vinegar and honey help caramelize the tomatoes in this take, while coaxing out their inherent sweetness, and just a touch of fresh thyme gilds the lily. All this atop a buttery, flaky puff pastry crust — it’s no wonder this recipe will be a crowd-pleaser.
Kitchn’s Delicious Links column highlights recipes we’re excited about from the bloggers we love. Follow along every weekday as we post our favorites.
Whether or not you’re team pineapple pizza (it’s always up for debate!), you’ll definitely want to be on team pineapple kebab, especially after making this recipe from Cafe Delites! There’s something about throwing fruit on the grill that feels summery. Take our word for it: Eating these charred chicken skewers threaded with pineapple, crispy bacon, and summer veggies will whisk you away on a mental vacation.
Nothing beats a classic. In this recipe, I’ve used all the flavors of a margarita to kick up fajitas. Tequila, orange juice, and plenty of lime juice create juicy, tender steak — and when topped with avocado slices and a hefty sprinkle of salt, these fajitas become the perfect fiesta fare.
By now you know that Amazon Prime Day is a good day to get things like vacuum cleaners, small appliances (hint, hint: the Instant Pot ), and Alexa-enabled devices. This year, the sale also includes a decent amount of groceries and household supplies — especially from Amazon’s in-house brands. In fact, for a limited time (while supplies last), you can save 30 percent on coffee, household essentials, snacks, and more across Amazon’s top brands.
Here’s what we suggest you stock up on.
I’ve been known to make some kitchen splurges, but if I’m going to spend more than $1 on something to clean my dishes, it better be worth it. This is my way of saying that I was intrigued when I came across The Laundress’ Copper Cleaning Cloth — for $16 (!!!). I love the brand’s laundry products and, frankly, I found this to be the prettiest sponge I’ve ever seen.
Could it be beautiful and totally functional? If the answer is yes, I’d be happy to spend a little more money. That’s a big if, though.
We all love shopping on Amazon. It’s convenient and it has literally everything you could ever want, from Fiestaware to formal wear. And the lightning-quick speed in which they deliver is obviously a huge bonus.
But if you’re not careful, the convenient nature of Amazon can make you a little trigger happy (that one-click shopping feature is dangerous), and you could end up spending a ton of money without even realizing it.
So how do you capitalize on Amazon’s convenience and service without breaking the bank? Read on for our favorite tips and tricks.
Thinking about finally getting an Instant Pot? You will most likely be able to find at least one model on sale tomorrow or Tuesday, during Amazon Prime Day (and a half). So, while we wait for the official shopping holiday to begin, let’s take a minute to go over the differences between the various models.
This way, you’ll know what you should get!
Good chocolate ice cream has contrasting allure. It’s rich, cool, and creamy with dark roasted flavors only cocoa can impart. This chocolate ice cream is for the real die-hard chocolate-lovers in the group. It’s sweet and malty, with the tiniest bitter tones to balance that sweetness. Almost right in the middle between dark chocolate and milk, it’s the kind of chocolate ice cream that doesn’t leave you wishing there was more chocolate in the mix or less.
After tasting and testing several chocolate ice cream recipes, I can firmly say this is the best one I’ve tried yet. For starters, this ice cream’s base doesn’t require tempering eggs with hot cream, so it’s easier to make. It has not one but three types of chocolate, and it doesn’t freeze up impossibly hard to scoop, thanks to a secret ingredient.
I love having frozen veggies on hand. It’s an easy way to go an extra day or two before I need to hit the grocery store or turn my leftover lunch into a more substantive meal. Recently, though, I was perusing the frozen veggie aisle at my Harris Teeter, and I noticed something: They have eight kinds of frozen broccoli, and some cost more than twice as much as others. What gives?