Food Lush

Containers for holiday cookie gifting

by Katie

Every year at the holidays I buy pounds of butter and sugar and spend a weekend baking a half-dozen different kinds of cookies. And every year, I drag myself to JoAnn and Michaels and Target and the grocery store, looking for cute holiday-ish containers in which to deliver them to friends, neighbors, and colleagues. I've tried them all: printed tins, which are expensive and often kind of hokey looking and seem always to come pre-dented and dinged; tupperware-type containers, which are effective but lack the "stylishly-presented" vibe I'm aiming for; and specialty holiday treat packaging from companies like Martha Stewart that are adorable but also expensive.

This year, I wised up. A few weeks ago, I found an online paper goods retailer and bought a package of these:

For 16 bucks (about the cost of 6 of the Martha boxes), I got a pack of 50 of these Bio-Pak takeout containers. They're made from 100% recycled paper (35% post-consumer) so I don't feel so horribly wasteful about using single-use packaging, and I love the kraft look- easy to customize with gift tags, rubber stamps, baker's twine, stickers, or even washi tape. Fifty boxes is more than I will use in a single holiday season, but I can see myself using these for all kinds of things- hostess gifts, birthday brownies for a co-worker, or just to bring my lunch to work in a pinch. Better than a bunch of hokey tins printed with cheesy-looking santas, that's for sure.

(Images from: http://www.eksuccessbrands.com; webrestaurantstore.com)

Guest Post: Revamp Your Food Storage

Editor's note: Warm foodie welcome to Leah, a Style Lush writer who is sharing some food storage solutions with Food Lush today. Thanks, Leah!

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By Leah

We had a bit of a situation in our kitchen cabinet: tons and tons of mismatched food storage containers that, although they were sold as "disposable," we treated as precious family heirlooms to be kept safe within our crowded abode even when they no longer served their original purpose, which was to hold food and keep it covered with a lid that actually fit. I think we've all been here before.

When my son started preschool a few weeks ago, I started having to make him lunches every day, so having a set of functional food storage containers shot way up on my list of priorities because that's just the kind of exciting life I lead. I was all set to go to the grocery store and pick up some new Ziploc or Glad sets, but then I found these:

If you don't have an Ikea nearby, look away, but if you do, shut down your computer and head out to get you some before they go the way of the Läkshmørf. (I made that up.)

The Pruta food storage system is made of BPA-free plastic and comes in a set of seventeen for $4.99. That's as much as you'll spend on just a few containers by the big brands. They're microwave-, dishwasher-, and freezer-safe, and the lids are bright clover green, which is my favorite color for fall, just ask my new Tieks.

My favorite feature is that a lot of the smaller containers fit nicely inside the larger ones, which makes packing lunches easier and cuter than dumping a bunch of random things in plastic baggies. We bought three sets in total, and I'm stealing one of them to store office supplies and craft supplies and bathroom supplies like cotton balls and Q-tips.

Wait...did I just host an online tupperware party?

Kitchen Trick: An Easy Way To Store Rice, Quinoa, and Other Grains with Instructions

by Caitlin

You cut open the bag of rice and as you scramble with your other hand to grab the measuring cup you stupidly left just out of reach, you try to keep the bag level but it starts wobbling and some spills out. You finally get the cup and try to pour the rice into it without it sprinkling all over the counter and floor. Which is silly, really, as you know you'll inevitably be sweeping up rice later, after it's stabbed the bottom of your feet on the way to the stove. When it's all over you're left with an open, partially used bag that you stuff into a ziploc, or tie a rubber band around, only to repeat the whole process next time. 

Sound familiar?

Allow me to help. 

I would also like to state for the record that I did not even get this idea from Pinterest, the appeal of which I'm still uncertain about. I'm pretty sure I got it from my Mom. You can be certain I didn't get it from Pinterest because it doesn't involve any chalkboard paint or burlap, although it does involve a mason jar, though that's not strictly necessary.

It's right up there with my saute pan draining tip, which is another trick I didn't come up with on my own. And as with that previous tip, it's not rocket science, and I feel certain others must know about it, yet I feel I'd be doing a disservice not to share it with you.

So:

Photo by me. I hope you appreciate the time I took to Pinterest-up this picture, what with the clutter of a mixing bowl, Lowe's coupon, mesh bag of limes, and the hand lotion lurking in the distance. 

Tear, cut, or otherwise remove the instructions from your bag of rice/quinoa/whatever. Pour contents of the bag into a handy container (I always have extra mason jars lying around my house leftover from canning, but you can use whatever you've got. Tupperware works.), and throw in the instructions. Voila. Display on your counter for that extra Pinterest-y touch. 

Next time you go to cook your grains, you can dip your measuring cup right in the container, while performing nary a circus act. Victory!

How do you store your grains? Are you obsessed with Pinterest? If so, please help me understand why. 

Storing Spices

By Nora    

I don't know about you, but I have been at war with my spice jars for quite a long time now. I have SO many, and not enough space to house them. I used to have a spice rack on my counter, but I got sick of looking at it there and got rid of it recently, which only led to more homeless spices in my kitchen. I have one designated cabinet/shelf for my spices, and i'ts not nearly big enough for everything. And as cute as some of those spice storage systems on Etsy are, I just didn't want to buy something that I might get tired of looking at in a few months. I just want to be able to store my spices in cabinet and find the one I need when I need it! Is that so wrong?

So I did a bit of exploring on Amazon and came across the SpiceStor Organizer Spice Rack. It's a simple concept, and it fits in a very small space, which is what i'm dealing with. You mount the clips on the plastic board depending on the spice jars you want to store, and then stick the track on the shelf above and the board easily slides in and out, thus preventing the avalanche of falling spice jars every time you need the ground cloves. It hasn't solved ALL my spice storage issues since I have some awkwardly sized jars that I still don't know what to do with, but for now it has at least prevented me from having an anxiety attack when I open the spice cabinet. 

(Image from Amazon.com)

Spice Intervention

By Ariel

Hello. My name is Ariel and I am addicted to spices.

It has come to the point where my cabinet shelves just are not enough room anymore. I need more space. I tried to talk my husband into knocking down a wall or two to extend the kitchen, but something about "support beams" and other such nonsense will keep that idea at bay for awhile. Exhibit A:

That happens to be the bottom from a case of beer. We're very high-tech around here. I also have this that I recieved as a wedding gift:

Not to mention what didn't fit in either storage space.  I need an intervention.  Preferably a stylish and functional one. I really like the Etsy find Nora wrote about a couple years ago, but I need more space. My running favorite is along the lines of Nora's solution, only bigger. I found this little DIY beauty on thekitchn.com and I love the versatility of the space. I could add, subtract, rename, paint, anything I wanted to a sheet metal base and get the perk of having funntional kitchen wall art. We have been warned that light is a no-no for spices, but I honestly blow through most of mine so fast that 6 months really isn't a bad deadline for me. I can still keep my less-oft used spices in the cupboard in a much more manageable environment.

Another option I really like is just adding racks to my vertical space, like so:

(Photo from organizeyourstuffnow)

You know what? I better go with both.

Has anyone had any experience with this whole magnetic trend? I love the idea, I just wonder if I'm just courting a spicy mess on the floor (ba dum bum). Can you ring in how well it works, how it holds up, ease of assembly? Any tricks and tips are greatly appreciated!  

Tupperware Sheer Midgets

By A'Dell

Several years ago, I found myself cleaning out a cabinet stuffed with various bits of plasticware. None of it matched, none of it lasted more than a few months before it either fell apart, lost a lid, or got warped in the dishwasher. I had the cheapie kind and the more expensive kind and it was all equally terrible. I felt like I was CONSTANTLY buying this stuff and I hated ALL OF IT.

So, I threw it all away and started over again.

I visited Tupperware.com and ordered an entire set of lifetime-guaranteed items. I only purchased what I thought would fit our lifestyle and needs and, well, it was expensive. I can't remember how much, but I remember thinking I was insane for spending so much money on TUPPERWARE.

Seven years later? IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT. I have some very basic sized items, ideal for leftovers and while they are essential, they are very boring and round and are basically just higher-quality versions of what they sell at the grocery store.

It turns out my favorite buy was a set I only ordered because I remembered my mom having them, so I figured they MUST be useful. (My mother doesn't tend to keep an un-useful thing for 30+years.)

Classic Sheer Midgets Set, $15

These are very handy little guys. They have 1 ounce, 1.5 ounce, and 2-ounce markings on the side, which makes them great for portioning out salad dressing or other condiments for a lunch. They are wee, but very spill-proof in my experience. The lids are stout.

They're perfect for baby food in the early days (an ice cube of pureed food fits perfectly). I also portion things out I want to mix together later (salsa on a burrito, croutons for a salad). You could use them for raisins, almonds, or any other tiny, snacky things you don't want to waste a plastic bag on.

I've also used them for traveling and scooped a dollop of moisturizer in one, a few pumps of face wash in another, shampoo, conditioner, etc. (Not TSA compliant, of course, but it will save you lots of space on a road trip or in a checked bag.) I do put them in a plastic bag when I travel, but they've never leaked.

We use these several times a week and even though they're very small, we haven't lost any of them. Excellent buy.

(Photo from: Tupperware)

Citrus Inspired Kitchen Accessories

By A'Dell

Anything turquoise, aqua, lemony yellow, or any shade of green are my new favorite things to buy. It's ESPECIALLY going on my list if it's a kitchen accessory, since I just decided to make curtains for my kitchen in this awezome zig-zag print:

Items I've had my eye on? (And, okay, I already bought some of these.)

5-Piece Parker Bowl Set, $29

The last thing I need is another set of bowls, but I LOVE THESE COLORS. Just look! All of my new favorite kitchen colors in one set of bowls! I coudl not resist, I bought these for myself for Mother's Day. Since getting them, I'm pretty surprised with how often I use them. They're pretty and about the right size for several jobs.

Tangier Dishtowel, $5

Well, this is just cute. And, again, so matchy! (Currently hanging in my kitchen, actually. Very nice in person.)

Gingham Spatulas, $10

Patterened spatulas are such a novelty thing, and I've never really ponied up the money to buy pretty ones of my own. One or two of these and a pretty dishtowel would make an adorable hostess gift this summer.

Water Droplet Lemon Print, $21

I think this cheery, refreshing print is just kind of fun. I"m not even sure I have a place for it in my kitchen, but I like it an awful lot.

 (Photos from: Crate and Barrel, Sur La Table, Etsy)

 

 

Farmer's Market Fruit Basket

by Katie

Until very recently, I had been storing all of our room-temperature produce (bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, etc) in our salad bowl. This worked, sort of, except it meant that I never actually used the salad bowl because it was full of all that other stuff.

For my birthday, my mom got me this:

It's the farmer's market epergne from the Sundance catalog, which my mom had seen me admiring. Now look, I am fully aware that $75 for a fruit basket is ridiculous, but that's what made it a perfect birthday gift. I would never have purchased it for myself, and I love it beyond all reason. The oxidized metal matches our new kitchen perfectly (more on that later) it holds a ton, and because it stacks vertically, it has freed up a lot of counter space. Plus, now I can use my salad bowl again! Thanks, mom!

Picnic Baskets

By A'Dell

Spring is here, and that means picnics! I rarely pack a full picnic, but I am VERY fond of packing snacks, drinks, and a blanket and calling it a picnic.

A long time ago, when we were dating, my husband took me on a date to a Shakespeare in the Park thing and I packed a picnic dinner for us. At the time, I couldn't imagine taking the picnic in something as ugly as a COOLER, so I bought a special picnic basket, just for that evening. We still use it and, seriously? It fancies up any playground we visit. I LOVE ME SOME PICNICS.

Here are some of my favorite picnic baskets this season.

Red Picnic Cooler, $63

Isn't this CUTE? It looks like it weighs too much and might be awkward to carry a long distance but...it's cute, right?! Very Mad Men. (Also comes in yellow!)

Rattan Picnic Basket for Two, $80

Oh, my stars, this is a spendy picnic basket. But, it comes with all the goodies pictured: two ceramic plates, two wine glasses, two sets of 3 piece flatware (fork, knife & spoon) and one wine bottle opener. 

Collapsible Basket with Cover, $40 + $11 = $51

I bought these for all the women in my family for Christmas and, let me tell you, I was pretty jealous I didn't buy one for ME. These things are really cool. You can buy a cover and CALL it a picnic basket, but it's really so multi-purpose it more than justifies the price tag.

Isabela Picnic Basket, $90 ( OH MY GOSH NINETY DOLLARS)

I don't know many people that want to spend NINETY DOLLARS on a picnic pasket (seriously?!) but I like that this one is tall enough for a bottle of wine. If you don't finish a bottle (HA HA HA) you can cork it and know that it'll stay safe in here, because it has room for two in a smallish compartment.

Or, you can just drink all the wine you bring and save your money for...more wine.

Another Fun Ikea Kitchen Item

By Leslie

I was over at a friend's house for dinner the other night and she was serving water out of the cutest glass bottle with a stopper.  It felt so chic and restaurant-like.  Then it hit me that it was the same bottle we had used when we co-hosted a friend's bridal shower a few months ago.  We filled them with lemonade, put a label on them that said "Bridesmaid Lemonade"  and gave them away as favors.  (As it turns out, I happen to have 10 of them in my basement leftover from this shower.)  You better believe I WILL be using them for water and other beverages in my own kitchen from now on.  The possibilities really are endless.  They are classic, simple, elegant and you can fill them with anything.  Another friend is on a homemade Bailey's kick right now and I'm thinking these bottles would be perfect to use as gifts.  

Ikea SLOM Bottle with Stopper

Ikea seems to have everything these days!  At the time they were $1.99, but I believe they are now $3.99 each. Still a good deal if you ask me!  I searched around online and similar bottles were in the $10 range.  Is anyone else a fan of these?  What are you using them for?