Whether you only use your freezer for ice cream or it’s currently stuffed to the brim with leftover chili, bagged vegetables, and homemade cookie dough, there are a few surprising things that should absolutely be in there.
Stash the stuff on this list in the freezer and you’ll save money, cut down on food waste, and prolong the flavors of summer for just a little longer.
We’re not ashamed to admit how much we rely on freezer aisle staples when it comes to getting breakfast, lunch, or dinner on the table. The freezer aisle rocks (and is making a comeback too)! But there are a few items that Kitchn staffers are not so inclined to buy, for various reasons. Sometimes we can make a dish better from scratch, prefer the texture of a fresh version, or just simply can’t trust ourselves to not inhale certain items in a fraction of a second.
Here’s a list of items Kitchn staffers just can’t bring themselves to buy.
Why is it that lazy Susans are basically the automatic go-to when it comes to corner cabinets in kitchens? (Fun fact: The pros call them blind corners, which definitely isn’t a good sign!) Lazy Susans usually still result in a lot of dead space and, let’s be honest, have you ever turned one that didn’t screech something awful every inch of the way?
We get that they’re relatively inexpensive (especially compared to those special shelf systems that are designed to effortlessly glide all the way in and all the way out of corner cabinets) and they’re just what people know. Chances are, this is the system your parents had when you were growing up and you can’t think of what else you’d even do with that space. Well, if you’re renovating your kitchen, we have some ideas.
Here are three things to do with the corners in your kitchen — and none of them involve a lazy Susan.
Let me be perfectly honest with you: I failed at last week’s meal plan. Trying to cook (even no-cook) dinners on vacation while traveling with kids was not my best planning at all. The silver lining is that coming back from vacation to an empty fridge is the best clean slate for meal planning; there are no leftovers to use up and I can put almost anything on the meal plan.
This week is packed with five meals that are getting me excited to cook and eat meals at home, but are also summer-centric with tomatoes, corn, and some slow cooker prep to keep things tasty and cool. Here’s what a week of dinners to give me my summer meal-planning mojo back looks like.
Everyone needs a go-to recipe for summer cookouts and potlucks, and this fresh cucumber salad is absolutely the answer. Crunchy cucumber slices, sharp red onion, and fragrant fresh dill are tossed in a tangy sour cream dressing for a summer side that’s impossible not to fall for. It pairs well with whatever’s on the grill — burgers, hot dogs, chicken, or steak — and I guarantee your family and friends will ask you for the recipe.
Perhaps one of the most coveted looks in kitchen design right now is the modern farmhouse vibe. Championed by the likes of Chip and Joanna Gaines, the look is popular for its timeless charm, rustic finishes, and lived-in appeal. One of the hallmarks of the style? A nice, deep farmhouse sink.
Tossing some chicken on the grill is an easy dinner solution just about any night of the week throughout the summer months. But once you’ve got that covered, how do you round things out in order to call it dinner? A simple side or two should do the job and satisfy the crowd. We gathered some of our most favorite recipes to serve alongside grilled chicken, all of which are no sweat to prepare. From flavor-packed salads to crisp and caramelized grilled vegetables, here are our 17 of our best.
She was standing in front of me in the IKEA checkout line. Dressed casually chic in cute jeans and carrying a brown leather purse just the right amount of broken in. In her hands was one item: a rolled up rug. (It was the LOHALS, a $140 jute area rug.) The key words here being “one item.”
This woman had the power to brave the housewares temptation juggernaut that is IKEA and emerge with a single purchase. I had deep and immediate admiration for LOHALS lady.
You can’t beat the convenience and affordability of frozen vegetables, so naturally I’ve been on a mission to make a bag of frozen broccoli taste like a million bucks. And, you guys, I finally nailed it. This easy technique will have you buying frozen broccoli in bulk because yes, these florets really are that good.
You’ll roast the florets in a very hot oven (450°F), top them with Parmesan cheese, and finish the dish with a generous squeeze of lemon juice. The result of your (very minimal) effort is the fastest side dish suited for just about any dinner.
After five very successful seasons of Fixer Upper, Chip and Joanna Gaines have become a force in the home-renovation industry, responsible for introducing the word “shiplap” to even the least handy among us. The lovable banter between the two is infectious — not to mention the wow-worthy makeovers they pull off every episode. Our favorite part of each show? When the new kitchen gets revealed. It’s often the most dramatic change, when dated, well-worn cabinetry and blah tiles get swapped for a brand-new cooking space.
We love nearly every kitchen makeover on Fixer Upper, but we were able to narrow this list down to five of our favorites.