How To Make Ice Cream Sandwiches for a Crowd — Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn

(Image credit: Jeff Roffman)

Homemade ice cream sandwiches are already pretty simple to make. You bake a dozen cookies, you fill them individually with ice cream, and then you freeze them to enjoy later. The only problem is the time it takes to individually scoop and portion all that cookie dough, and then you have to do the same thing with the ice cream. There is a much faster (and much better) way to make ice cream sandwiches for a crowd.

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even more perfect blueberry muffins

even more perfect blueberry muffins [Get the recipe for Even More Perfect Blueberry Muffins right here] Since we rolled out the redesign, I’ve been flagging recipes in the archives I can’t stand looking at the pictures of anymore with plans to reshoot them. The perfect blueberry muffins were on this list except on my way to prettying them up, I made four other recipes first. Why make four other batches of blueberry muffins when you already have a favorite, is a pretty reasonable question, only if you’ve never shopped for jeans before even while wearing the pair you like most… or ordered steak at a restaurant besides the place you think makes it best. What I mean is, when a lot of people say “but the steak/jeans/cake here are amazing!” it’s hard not to wonder if maybe they’re onto something. What if they were just my favorite blueberry muffins at the time and there’s better out there that I didn’t know about yet? It’s been eight years. Maybe it was time for a re-review. [Note: The prospect of a re-review with outside sources every few years is not recommended to be applied to spouses, children or hairdressers.] Continue reading

A Neat Freak Shares Her Top Tips for Organizing the Fridge — Organize Thyself

(Image credit: Gina Eykemans)

I have a bit of a problem that I’ve long since known about: I am very enthusiastic about fridge organization. When I visit my dad, I spend more time pulling out items and rearranging things in his fridge than what may be deemed normal. When I lived with a whole slew of interns on a farm in Italy for the summer, I’d slip away after lunch to get things in our communal fridge in order. Call me anxious, call me crazy — but a messy fridge is just something I can’t do. So I’d like to pass the tricks I’ve learned from years of organizing on to you. Here are five tips for keeping your fridge nice and tidy.

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The Craziest Water You Should Be Cooking With — Ingredient Intelligence

Water, 99.9 percent of the time, is not crazy. Most of the time, it’s pretty boring, save for those times you decide to toss that lemon slice or a few fruit and herbs in it. I am not talking about that kind of water. In fact, this a water you wouldn’t throw back in a tall glass (although I wouldn’t judge you if you did); it’s a cooking water that comes from a little corner of Italy and it’s in that crazy 0.1 percent.

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The Kitchn’s Guide to Drinking with Spicy Foods — Drinking While Sweating

(Image credit: Samantha Bolton)

“Beat the heat” takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to alleviating the burn of spicy food. The myriad heat-inducing ingredients and their varying intensity can make matching cuisines with liquid counterparts seem like a constant battle.

But the cultures that developed irresistibly spicy foods also developed ways to relieve scorched palates. From creamy Mexican horchata to light lagers, complements exist that tame even the most tongue-searing dishes.

Across the spice spectrum, cold, low-alcohol beverages always work, but a little strategy can go a long way and keep you reaching for the next chile-laden bite. Read on for the complete guide to pairing your favorite beverages with all things spicy.

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The Best Way to Freeze Pesto Is Not What You Think — Preserve 2.0

(Image credit: Christine Han)

Whenever I am stuck with more fresh herbs than I can manage — be it herbs from my tiny container garden on my balcony or a big bunch from the grocery store — I undoubtedly make pesto. Just last week I made both sage and thyme pesto in order to get a handle on my excess. Then I froze the two to use on pasta, fish, chicken, and even just good bread whenever the craving strikes. But I don’t freeze pesto the way most people tell you to (in ice cube trays). I have a method that I wholeheartedly believe is better.

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Recipe: Rainbow Veggie Noodle Salad — Recipes from The Kitchn

(Image credit: Maria Siriano)

Yes, the spiralizer is a bit of a novelty, but it helps make things a bit more playful. I’ve found that my ambivalence towards cucumbers is immediately assuaged when I turn them into noodles, and I’ve yet to meet a spiralized zucchini dish I haven’t liked. This dish capitalizes on the novelty of the spiralizer to create a vibrant and colorful veggie noodle dish that might just change the way you feel about salad.

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