Like most of you, Epicurious editors are working from home. That means all of the recipe development for this site is taking place in home kitchens. Articles are being written from couches and home desks, photographs are being taken in makeshift home studio setups, and we're cooking almost every meal for ourselves. I miss seeing my coworkers—after all, normally I spend more time with them than anyone else, even my family or closest friends. I was also curious about the tools they were using to make their home kitchens more livable, their tiny workspaces more tolerable, and their recipes more tasty and appealing.
With the new way we are all living in mind, here are the tools and ingredients our editors bought online this month for cooking, cleaning, and just feeling more relaxed:
Senior Editor Maggie Hoffman
When there aren’t any fresh herbs in the fridge, my colleague Maggie leans on jarred chutney, saying it’s just the thing to freshen a dish. “I wanted to make something resembling chaat at home, using a can of chickpeas (roasted until crispy) and some roasted sweet potatoes. A little yogurt and a dollop of this brightened everything so nicely. You could definitely make your own, but as I scramble to get quick meals on the table these days, this is really nice to have on hand.”
Associate Commerce Editor Lauren Joseph: Baking Tools & Protein Powder
Silpat Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat
After years of insisting she’s “more of a cook than a baker,” my colleague Lauren is finally finding the fun in creaming butter and sugar and dusting countertops with flour. “It turns out that I'm a baker in isolation, just like everyone else on Instagram,” she says. "I'm hoping to tap into that art school degree with some intricately decorated cookies in the next few weeks—or, you know, just some classic chocolate chip.” These silicone baking mats will create a naturally nonstick surface for all of her baked goods and, unlike parchment paper, they're reusable, which means fewer trips to the grocery store and less environmental impact.
Ancient Nutrition Vanilla Bone Broth Protein, 1.25 Pound Jar
“I've more or less eaten the same smoothie for breakfast for a decade,” says Lauren. "I'm trying out some new ingredients with all my new cooking time, including this vanilla collagen protein that gives a deliciously malty, almost cookies-and-cream flavor to my spinach-packed shake. Unlike my attempt to love roast carrots or anchovies, this is a food discovery I think I'll keep."
Senior Food Editor Anna Stockwell: Hydroponic Gardens & Measuring Spoons
VegeBox Hydroponics Growing System
It’s hard to keep fresh herbs around if you’re not going to the store often, so my coworker Anna Stockwell finally bought a hydroponic garden that allows her to grow them herself, from the safety of her apartment. "I also ordered seven different herb seeds to sprout for this, which I'm calling my NYC apartment victory garden. Hopefully now I'll never have to buy herbs again," says Anna.
6-Piece Stainless Steel Measuring Spoon Set
“Now that my home kitchen is the Epi Test Kitchen, I needed more measuring spoons than just the one set I had," says Anna. "These are my favorite kind, because the long, narrow shape of the spoons makes them ideal for scooping out of narrow spice jars.”
Commerce Writer Kendra Vaculin: Food Storage Containers
DuraHome Food Storage Containers, 44 Set Mixed Sizes
Editorial Assistant, Tiffany Hopkins: Personal Blender
Shardor Portable Smoothie Blender
"I already have full-sized blender in my kitchen, but it's big and bulky and—honestly—too much work to clean when all I want a quick smoothie for one," says Tiffany. “My solution? This budget smoothie blender that comes with two on-the-go bottles. It's small and compact, so I wouldn't use it for my
fully-loaded breakfast smoothies, but it works perfectly for my snack smoothies.”
Associate Editor Joe Sevier: Water Filtration System
Clear Genius Filter Pod Refills, 6 Pack
“Two people at home all day means our
Pur dispenser is truly earning its keep. I've been using these replacement filters for about two years and it fits perfectly,” says Joe. “Bonus: you have to dispose of the first flush of water but the runoff is great for houseplants—and since watering them with it, mine have never looked perkier.” Buy the full filtration kit
here.
Commerce Editor Emily Johnson
Ash Scented Candle by Boy Smells
A benefit of working from home is that I can burn a candle near my desk while I stare into the void of my screen. I finally decided to explore the hype of this cool-kid candle brand—and what I love about this woody, fire-y scent is that it's neutral enough to burn near the table while I eat dinner with my distancing crew. This, along with the beeswax tapers below, has helped us set a relaxed, cozy mood for dinners at the table each night, no phones allowed.
Rejuvenation Beeswax Taper Candles, Set of 2
These sweetly scented 12-inch tapers are hand-poured by a small company in upstate New York. Each one is 100% beeswax and burns for 12 hours each.
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