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Come behind the scenes at Spiced for a #KitchenTour and see David's kitchen in New York.
The huge island in the middle! When we first moved into this house, the "island" was a small, movable cart with a cutting board on top. That worked for a year or two, but when we decided to install granite countertops, we also added a much larger island in the middle. The granite for the island was cut from the same piece of stone as the rest of the countertops, so it matches the kitchen perfectly. Plus, it gives me a ton of room to spread out and work on recipes!
Tell us about your kitchen?
Our kitchen is the center of activity in our house. It's located in the central part of the first floor, and you have to go through the kitchen to get to any other room in the house. On one side, the kitchen blends into a sitting room with a couch, chairs and a fireplace. This means that we often hang out in that area while we've got food simmering away on the stovetop!
What have you done to make your kitchen cosy, functional, beautiful or inspiring?
As I mentioned above, adding the large island was the single-biggest improvement we've made to the kitchen. We also upgraded our appliances when we moved in. There's nothing worse than trying to cook on old or broken appliances!
How do you keep organized while cooking?
I stay organized by cleaning up as I go. Even if I don't actually clean the dishes, I move them off my work area (the island) into the sink. That way the main area where I am working stays clutter-free. This helps me focus on the recipe at hand!
Any tips & tricks for organising your pantry, fridge and ingredients?
Our pantry is not actually located in our kitchen. Instead, it's down a hall and around a corner. Because of that, we have to say pretty organized. I recommend going through your pantry (and the back of your fridge) at least once a month to make sure there's nothing scary hiding in the back!
Do you do a lot of cooking and what are your favourite dishes to make?
I'm a seasonal food kinda guy. That means I love soups and stews in the winter, and I love grilling in the summer. And of course there are plenty of desserts scattered in there, too!
Where do you turn for new recipe ideas?
When it comes to new recipes, I love taking my favorites and putting a twist on them. For instance, I love blueberry muffins, and I've got a really good muffin recipe. I've used that same recipe for all sorts of other muffin flavors, too. (Peach Pecan, Cranberry Orange, Crumb Cake, etc.) Same goes with cakes. I turn to my tried and true recipes for cake layers and then just change up the flavor of the frosting. The possibilities are endless!
Do you plan out your recipes for the week or do you like to be spontaneous?
I'm a planner for sure! As a food blogger, I have to stay organized, so I plan out my agenda each week. That way I make sure to have all of the necessary ingredients on hand. But with that said, sometimes we call an audible and make a different recipe if something strikes us!
If you had three wishes, what would you do to make this your dream kitchen?
1) I would love to have a new refrigerator/freezer as our ice maker in the current fridge doesn't work. (It's not worth replacing the whole thing just for ice, though.) 2) A wine refrigerator would be a really cool addition! 3) More cabinet space! This kitchen is nice and open, but it sure does lack for cabinet space. (See above comment about the pantry being down a hall and around a corner...)
Whose kitchen would you love to explore? Send us a message!
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