leapkate's Profile

Display Name: leapkate
Member Since: 5/28/10

Latest Comments...

1. Sleep in.
2. Putter around in pajamas for several hours while drinking tea and reading magazines.
3. Take hot bath, fall asleep in tub.
4. Walk to park with book, sleep on grass.
5. Glass of wine with dinner.
6. Early to bed, another tough day ahead tomorrow & the day after!


100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
5/24/13 4:58 PM

No avocado for parakeets, I know that! Not sure if it applies to other parrot-family birds, but I know it can kill budgies/parakeets.


Feeding Table Scraps to Animals: Some Dos and Don'ts
5/24/13 4:08 PM

I was out of town for my dad's recent birthday, so I'm having him over for dinner. Smoked gouda stuffed porkchops (he LOVES smoked gouda), a corn & lime saute, celery & parsley salad, and homemade chocolate-cherry sorbet with cherry compote.

The next day I'm taking a 10+ mile walk and bringing a farro salad with cherry tomatoes, summer squash, broccolini, and feta.


What's Cooking This Weekend? Weekend of May 25-27, 2013
5/24/13 4:02 PM

It's so true! Unfortunately one of my best friends has a medical condition that means she cannot eat acidic foods at all, in any form. No vinegar, no tomatoes (or sauces/pastes), no citrus fruit, including zest or juice. I feel bad, as it's incredibly hard to make a nice meal for her that doesn't taste just a little bit ... bland.

So yes those of us who can, be grateful for that zest, that squeeze, that gurgle of balsamic!


Quick Fix to a Bland Meal? Add Some Acid!
5/23/13 12:53 PM

I LOVE kohlrabi and recently converted a coworker, too. I love it's taste, it's adorably zany looks, and especially how versatile it is. Eat it raw, yes. Treat it like you would broccoli or cauliflower, that too. Treat it like you would a root vegetable, check!


Kohlrabi Is Weird! And Here's What You Can Do With It Ingredient Spotlight
5/22/13 3:39 PM

Tomorrow night for friends: a dry rub slow cooker brisket with a mache & blueberry & avocado salad and sauteed artichoke hearts, followed by a stonefruit crisp with ice cream.

Plus I'm putting in my summer garden! Green beans, mustard greens, chard, parsley, mint.


What's Cooking This Weekend? Weekend of May 18-19, 2013
5/17/13 4:34 PM

French toast doesn't take much time. I LOVE it made with challah. That a bit of fruit salad and you're good!


Ideas for Healthy, Quick Recipes for a Sit-Down Family Breakfast? Good Questions
5/17/13 12:53 PM

A few years back I actually made cookbooks of old family recipes from my mom and both grandmothers for myself and my sisters. While some of the recipes are in there just for sentimental value (I literally cannot imagine the evening when I get a hankering for avocado and lemon jello), I make my mom's recipes -- both originally from her friend who was born in Russia and raised in Hong Kong -- for piroshki and wontons!


Recipes from Days Gone By: The Ones I Still Love (And Some I Don't)
5/17/13 12:48 PM

Polenta cooked in the microwave (in mine, 8 minutes and two stirs) + veggies either quickly sauteed (greens) or george-foremanned (eggplant). A quick grating of parmesan or a sprinkle of feta, and boom, dinner's done.

Also a super-quick bean soup. Salsa cooked down, 4-5 minutes, water, canned beans, done. You can fancy it with pureeing or using stock instead or adding lime, cilantro, or avocado, but the basic thing is SUPER quick and easy, assuming you have some salsa and beans on hand.

Cous-cous with chickpeas and dried coriander. Add some greens and herbs if you have 'em. Literally 5 minute dinner.


A Real Dinner, Fast: 5 Favorite Types of Almost-No-Work Meals
5/16/13 6:01 PM

I work a conventional schedule, but I definitely have different breakfasts on weekends. Weekdays I always have a whole-wheat English muffin with cheese, a hard-boiled egg, and some fruit. Saturdays & Sundays I have challah french toast or oatmeal that takes 20 lovely minutes to make, or a big fruit smoothie. Plus I drink several cups of tea, leisurely, whereas during the week I don't have any until I get to the office.

And although I don't have a Day Off Hat (resisting urge to run and buy one RIGHT NOW however), I just realized reading this that I do have some clothes that I ONLY wear on the weekends. Even though my workplace is super casual and I wear jeans, etc., there, I have a few tops, a hoodie, etc., that just say "day off!" to me when I wear them.


Marking The Weekend:
Day-Off Hats, Lights, + Plates

5/2/13 6:53 PM

If you have a spot that gets 4 or 5 hours sun, as opposed to full, all-day sun, greens do really well, I've had terrific luck with mustard greens, chard, and chicory. Also green beans do fine and some herbs. I've grown parsley and green onions successfully. Don't bother with stuff like eggplants or tomatoes, they need a LOT of sun.

Other advice? Well, I'm seriously hoping this ONLY applies to me, but when you're digging up 20+ years of brush from a planter box at your apartment building, and you find a giant penis statue, make sure to photograph it or no-one will believe you.


Calling Small Space Cooks Who Garden: What Do You Grow & How Do You Do It? Reader Intelligence Request
5/2/13 6:49 PM

Okay, that makes sense then! I was thinking, great, lettuce leaves for salad, sure, but what's the chocolate trifle equivalent?? It all looks amazing!!


A Hot Pink & Glam Bridal Shower
5/2/13 4:27 PM

I'm curious, you had the gorgeous-looking trifle...but no silverware? Was there some kind of platform for it?


A Hot Pink & Glam Bridal Shower
5/2/13 3:47 PM

Okay, from the title, I thought this piece was going to state the exact opposite of what it does, and be about the joys of NOT doing something from scratch and using/buying/eating a dish or ingredient that wasn't homemade!


When Doing It Yourself Isn't Always Easier (And You Don't Care One Little Bit)
4/30/13 2:40 PM

I like the World Market chairs a LOT. Like, I might steal them!

You could also go sort of old Hollywood and do canvas director's chairs -- although those wooden legs might be too tempting to your dog!


Which Chairs with West Elm Oryx Table? Good Questions
4/29/13 5:56 PM

I adore watercress and this is one of my favorite ways to use it, a shrimp & white bean salad over watercress: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/shrimp-white-bean-salad-over-watercress-10000000604724/

I usually just use regular olive oil and add some avocados to it, as opposed to using avocado oil as the recipe says, and I like it that way even better.


Perk Up Spring Dishes with Watercress! Ingredient Spotlight
4/29/13 4:00 PM

I always think focusing on where someone's eyes would naturally go helps. So in my place, that means I always make sure to have the coffee table cleared off and clean, because you see it right when you step in the front door, while you're on the couch obviously, and also from certain seats at the dining table....

And I always clean the bathroom mirror, since everyone looks at themselves -- unless you have some of those non-hand-washers around!


8 Quick Tricks to Make Your Place Look Clean and Inviting
4/26/13 3:56 PM

http://simple-nourished-living.com/2011/04/vegetarian-chili/

#4 is Laurie Colwin's vegetarian chili recipe from "More Home Cooking," which includes adzukis. I believe this was the first place I'd ever heard about them!


What Are Some Good Recipe Ideas Using Adzuki Beans? Good Questions
4/26/13 3:47 PM

I realize it's possible some of these may already be lurking in the archives:

1. A basic cake-frosting tutorial;
2. How to transfer/translate recipes from conventional to slow cooker;
3. How to plan a balanced menu, perhaps with suggestions for various seasons, holidays, or occasions; and
4. Some kohlrabi tips/recipes!


Got a Question for Reader Request Week? Tell Us What You Want on The Kitchn!
4/26/13 2:00 PM

Good timing as I'm soon heading off on a week's vacation with a close family member. I was starting to get a bit nervous but you know, this piece has helped me realize I should just go for it. I'll have space and solitude aplenty after I get home again!


Spending Every Minute Together?
Lean Into It

4/25/13 1:01 PM