apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We've mentioned how much we love our wooden spoons - sometimes the simplest kitchen utensils are the best. Here's a slight riff on the basic wooden spoon, with one potentially helpful modification...

posted originally from: AT:Kitchen

Here's an interesting question from reader Julia! She has a collection of milk bottles and wants to put them to good use. She says:

How do you top a milk bottle?

Cheers,
Julia

posted originally from: AT:Kitchen

Reader Fiona writes in with a very practical question. She says, I LOVE iced coffee and make big overnight batches at least once a week. I would love to be able to tote it around in a disposable plastic cup with a lid, similar to what Starbucks uses, but I can't find them anywhere.

I know it's not terribly environmentally friendly, but lifestyle wise, it's what's best for me right now. Do you know where I might be able to buy some? Thx in advance!

posted originally from: AT:Kitchen

It seems like we go through glass after glass during the summer, trying to get our full 8 servings of water a day. Even though we try to use just one throughout the day, it seems like we're always running out of cups. So we were intrigued by this water fountain faucet cover from Tiny Living. It doesn't replace a water glass, of course, but it might save a glass when all you need is a quick drink.

See it in action below, then tell us what you think.

posted originally from: AT:Kitchen

We came across this Flickr photo entitled "Matt cleaned the grill with an onion..." and we were instantly intrigued. Cleaning the grill with an onion?

posted originally from: AT:Kitchen

You know all the jokes about San Francisco being "crunchy" and full of hippies? Well, this tidbit won't help squelch those rumors; we have a curbside composting program as part of our movement to green the city. San Francisco has mandated that by 2010, 75 percent of its garbage must be recycled or composted.

There is a great portfolio of food and table design available at a Flickr group devoted to design from students at Holon Institute of Technology in Israel. We particularly liked this dish drainer design from student Ran Shapner. See a couple more of our favorites below, plus a link to the whole portfolio...

When gardening season rolls around in Chicago, we tend to get a little restless. We curse our north-facing kitchen windows and shaded deck, where many a plant has gone to die, and half-heartedly browse Craigslist ads for an apartment with more potential green space. This year, however, we decided to channel our energy into something more productive.

We've spent the past few Saturday mornings digging in the dirt at Ginkgo Organic Gardens on Chicago's north side. This community garden, located on a residential street in a formerly vacant lot, produces approximately 1,500 pounds of produce each year, and donates it to Vital Bridges' Grocery Land, a local food pantry serving people living with AIDS.

It's no secret that many of us eat meat, and enjoy eating meat. But we also recognize that it's easy to fall into a trap of putting it at the center of every meal - the way we ate growing up. Now we're pushing meat off the plate on a semi-regular basis. Why?

We were at the greengrocer a couple months ago, slightly nonplussed because we couldn't find arugula yet. The girl at the counter told us that she just grows it herself; even through the winter, she said, it grew like wild in her containers. Hmm...we said. So when we saw tiny baby arugula at the garden center, it seemed a good idea.

Well, now look what we've got on our hands...

We asked for gardening questions for kitchen gardening expert Jennifer Bartley. Here's an answer to two of your questions.

Susmita asks: I have always had a brown thumb, but I would like to grow some herbs to keep on hand for cooking. Any advice for a novice gardener for container herb gardening? Is it better to have several types in one pot, or separate pots of each? And if so, what goes well together? I'd like to have basil, rosemary, and mint, at a minimum.

Read on for the second question as well as Jennifer's answer and explanation of her beautiful illustration above - painted just to answer these questions...

We've talked quite a bit this month about growing things. And if you're like us — a city dweller with no patch of dirt — hatching alfalfa sprouts is easy and gratifying. That is, unless you can't find cheese cloth for the top of the jar, like one reader who emailed us.

We give some alternatives, plus full instructions on growing sprouts, below...

Here's a good question from reader Ria on the best modern shopping trolley or carts. We have answers below...

Any idea of where to find a modern shopping cart to fit my modern self?

Thanks,
Ria B.

Oooh - we like these new cast iron pans from Finnish designer Mikko Laakkonen. They have raised leafy patterns that print your pancakes.