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Last summer, by absolute luck, I scored a last-minute reservation at Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse Cafe in Berkley, California. It was during the height of the busy graduation season, and the chances of booking a table on the day of the request was highly unlikely. But it happened, and I was ushered into the cafe to a table near the window and proceeded to order nearly everything on the menu. Now, I’ve always been a fan of Alice Waters, but after that meal, I finally got what she was about. Every ingredient felt like the purest, most potent form of itself. Afterward, I enthusiastically delved into her cookbooks and discovered that with some careful choices, it was possible to achieve something similar at home.

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Do you stir-fry at home? Is this easy, healthy method of cooking in your weeknight repertoire? It should be — a simple chicken stir-fry takes only a little work to prep and even less time at the stove. But perhaps stir-frying is intimidating to you. Do you wonder whether you need special equipment or a high-powered stove? We’re here to tell you that no, you don’t need anything special to stir-fry at home; it’s one of the most home cook-friendly techniques.

Last week, we stepped into the New York City kitchen of Grace Young, stir-fry expert and author of multiple books on authentic Chinese cooking, including Stir-Frying to the Sky’s Edge. Grace demonstrated for us (and you!) everything you need to know to make several favorite stir-fry dishes, starting with this delicious, easy chicken stir-fry.

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Canned tomatoes are good for a quick soup, marinara sauce, or blender salsa, but they’re also capable of a whole lot more. On their own, canned tomatoes are a simple and inexpensive ingredient, but when put to work, they can help you pull together some impressive and incredible dishes.

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I’m in the habit of picking up a can of tomatoes every time I head to the grocery store, but I hardly amass more than two or three cans. Inevitably, I’ll come across a recipe that calls for canned tomatoes and, lucky for me, all I have to do is stroll to the pantry and pull them out. This recipe from Jamie Oliver provides a compelling reason to always keep canned tomatoes on hand if you don’t already — and that reason comes in the form of a rich tomato and red pepper pork stew.

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After buying this foreclosed one-bedroom in a trendy area of Charlotte, North Carolina, new homeowners Katie and Patrick were greeted with a less-than-encouraging scene. As they shared in their House Tour, “The day we officially moved in, this is what we found: a foreclosure notice, a bullet, an inmate identification card, and a dead pigeon.” First on the long list of much-needed home improvements was a renovation of the dated kitchen.

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Name: Tracy Bunkoczy
Location: Silver Lake — Los Angeles, California
Size: 850 square feet
Years lived in: 3 months; rented

Tracy recently downsized and relocated to Silver Lake to get a fresh start. With this move, she has gained a second floor walk-up apartment flooded with ample natural light, gorgeous architectural details, and an incredible view from her little deck. Even though she technically scaled down in terms of square footage, she truly has proved that it’s quality, not quantity, that matters.

Open House Tour

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This is my favorite smoothie to make in the morning. It’s an easy way to sneak some greens in without eating a salad. I make a bunch of smoothie packets for my freezer in advance – like 14 of them – and then I just dump one of them in the blender in the morning for a breakfast that is quick, filling, and totally delicious.

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Here’s the thing about snacking: it shouldn’t be difficult, and there’s no reason why it can’t be nutritious. Enter these three-ingredient bean dips. All you need are a few ingredients pulled from the pantry and a blender; in minutes, you’ve got a healthful, delicious treat.

So skip the store-bought dips — homemade dip is easier than you think.

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People like to joke that the only thing vegans can eat is lettuce, but that is far from the truth! In fact, I’ve been surprised by how little my grocery shopping has changed. The most important thing I stock up on is still fruits and vegetables, and my budget is basically the same. Of course, I’ve added a few new items to my weekly grocery list, and some things I just buy in greater quantities.

After I hit the produce section, here are the things that I look for.

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Apartment Therapy’s friend and organizational expert Fay Wolf is living proof that being highly organized doesn’t have to mean being sterile and rigid.

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