Some people have declared the stainless steel appliance trend finished. We used stainless steel in our main kitchen, but for the beach house we decided to go a different direction. In this post we share our thinking about when stainless might be the right choice and when it might be worth avoiding. We’ve also been experimenting in the kitchen lately — trying out meal delivery kits, testing new recipes, reorganizing the fridge, and generally seeing what’s worth keeping in our rotation.
Help for Puerto Rico
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What’s New
We’ve been trying a couple of meal delivery kits to see how they stack up. We ordered boxes from two different services and cooked mostly vegetarian meals to test convenience, flavor, and adaptability. Both services were paid for by us — just trying them out so we could report honestly on what we liked and what we didn’t.
- Our food photography needs work, but we snapped a few shots of the vegetarian dinners we made from the kits. We were able to adapt every recipe to be vegan for Sherry, and some dishes (like the avocado pasta) were so good we’ve already recreated them using our own pantry ingredients.
- Sherry compiled a short list of vegan staples and substitutes we’ve enjoyed:
- A frozen roasted vegetable pizza that feels like a treat rather than a compromise.
- Earth Balance buttery spread as a reliable butter substitute.
- Vegenaise as a mayonnaise alternative; it adds a pleasant tang.
- Unsweetened plant milks that work well with cereal and cooking.
- Tofutti-style sour cream alternatives, which are handy for certain recipes.
- Pre-made guacamole and hummus snack packs for quick snacks and packing lunches.
- Extra-firm tofu is our go-to for most savory recipes.
- If you have favorite vegan recipes or substitutes, please share them — we’re always looking to expand our list.
- If you know of a meal kit service with a broader vegetarian selection, tell us so we can test it next.
Updates
- If you missed it, we previously discussed my preference and mild neurosis about light color temperature in Episode #57. We also rounded up our favorite soft white LED bulbs for reference.
- Episode #63 included a conversation about budgeting tools, where Mint was recommended. Many listeners also suggested YNAB (You Need A Budget), so we’re testing that one as well and welcome any tips.
- For those nearby: we’ll be speaking in Bristol, Virginia on Thursday, November 9th at a shop called House Dressing. Tickets are limited.
Listener Question
We got questions about the stainless steel trend and what alternatives are worth considering. Below are the practical takeaways from our experience picking appliances and finishes:
- Stainless still works well for many kitchens, but finishes are evolving. Manufacturers now offer tinted metal finishes, matte options, and colored retro-style appliances, which give more flexibility when matching cabinetry and countertops.
- We chose a counter-depth refrigerator, a gas range, a top-control dishwasher, and a microwave for our main kitchen. For the beach house we’re leaning toward mixed finishes and lighter, more coastal-friendly tones.
- Some stainless “white” variations can look too bright next to certain cabinets, so it pays to view real samples or manufacturer renderings in context before committing.
- There are darker stainless finishes and black stainless options that reduce visible fingerprints while keeping a metallic aesthetic. And, if you want bold color, retro-style manufacturers offer saturated options that can become a focal point in the room.
We’re Digging
Here are a few small things we’ve been using that make everyday life easier:
- Fridge bins to keep snack packs, dips, and small containers organized. They come in multiple sizes and have cleared up a lot of clutter in our fridge. The “medium” size fits our snack section perfectly.
- Alternative bin options are available if our preferred style is out of stock, but any shallow clear bins will help corral toppled items and make the fridge easier to scan at a glance.
- IFTTT (If This, Then That) has been useful for small automation tasks like sharing Instagram photos to other services automatically. It connects web accounts and smart devices to create handy automations, many of which are free to set up.
If you want to find products and resources we’ve mentioned in past episodes, we keep a master list of everything we’ve recommended from previous shows. It’s a helpful reference if you’re looking for a specific item we’ve discussed.
Finally, thanks to The Annie Selke Companies for sponsoring this episode and to everyone who supports our work. We appreciate you listening and reading along.
Thanks for tuning in!
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