I've learned a lot about this recently, after starting a catering business where I do events in people's homes. 1. Plan all the serving dishes, utensils, linens and table dishes you...

I had the opportunity (misfortune?) to cook with one of these once, and it was a huge nightmare. Cooking multiple dishes, we had to rotate their places in the ovens several times throughout cookin...

The cheese selection is AMAZING. I would drive great distances just to get their massive chunks of Jarlsberg for $10 (a teeny, tiny chunk at Whole Foods is like $8!). They also have g...

If you buy an expensive faucet and the landlord won't chip in, you can always save the old one and switch them back out when you leave. Then it's more like investing in a piece of kitchen equipmen...

I think every utensil mentioned here gets used in my kitchen all the time, or at least regularly; ladle, cheese grater, microplane, potato masher, blender, pizza cutter... I'm sure I must have mos...

I use it in almost any baked good that has vanilla- I just love almond desserts. I'll have to try it in coffee! Thanks for the idea!

I love roasting marshmallows over the sterno I keep for my fondue pot. Also awesome when you've made chocolate fondue, and then you can use that with a marshmallow for a s'more!

@lz- I've seen what seem to be high-quality mint chips at Cost Plus World Market recently. I haven't tried them yet (they also have butterscotch!), but they look really good and were made by a re...

Absolutely! It's also cheaper than buying pre-made brown sugar, which of course is just white sugar that was mixed with molasses at the factory.

Beautiful! I love the wall colors, and I'm planning on installing a faux-tin backsplash of my own in the next few weeks, so it's great to see another example of how awesome this can look!

I want this right now. Awesome. I'm sure I'll use it as an appetizer sometime soon.

A spoon works great. If your particular spoons don't seem to work (though I can't imagine why they wouldn't), wouldn't picking up one random "sharper" spoon at a Goodwill or garage sale for $.25 b...

I use flour sack towels, which are also easy to use and might just be cheaper than handkerchiefs. I get them at Target.

I prefer the stove, but disagree with the instructions to wait until the pan is hot before you add the bacon. I always get better results when I put the bacon in a cold (room temperature) pan, the...

ETA: All that said, though, the one color I've used in many places and always been really, really happy with is a buttery, warm-but-bright yellow. It's not exactly neutral, but it goes with lots ...

I would base this in large part on the furnishings you already own. You can pick the most beautiful, amazing, inspired color imaginable, but if it doesn't accent/mesh with/help/enliven your decor,...

That sounds fabulous! As another Midwesterner, I'm a big rhubarb lover. What lucky wedding guests!

How can you show us all those beautiful pies and not reveal what's inside them!? Cruel! ;)

If there was room in my closet (or any other space...) I would definitely do this. I'm thinking about putting another fridge or possibly a freezer out on my patio. There's never enough space!

If you're on a budget, THRIFT! Spend some time at your local Salvation Army, Savers, Goodwill, antique shops, Craigslist, etc. I have a full set of silverware (yes, actual silver) that I use every...