Kitchen of the Week: Small, Creatively Used Kitchen
A food blogger whips up recipes out of a tiny Oklahoma kitchen — and sometimes spills over to the dining room table
Beyond the great recipes, Kate Taylor's adorable blog Cookie + Kate teaches the average cook that determination and creativity are the keys to a great meal. Although the kitchen in Taylor's 500-square-foot Oklahoma apartment is anything but fancy, a knack for cooking and a few well-chosen tools help her create the easy and tasty recipes for her blog. With tips like using cutting boards to make cleanup easier, Taylor offers helpful wisdom for any kitchen.
Tip: Keep oils, drink supplies and other kitchen items on trays for easy removal and cleanup. Taylor has all the makings of a terrific cocktail on this cute tray, which can be picked up from the counter in a flash when she needs more space.
Q. How do you make cooking in a small kitchen easier?
A. My biggest challenge is finding enough counter space, especially since I tend to make a big mess! I like to place my big, cheap cutting boards underneath prep bowls to help catch some of my mess, and it definitely helps if I put dishes directly into the dishwasher instead of piling them into the sink.
Q. How do you make cooking in a small kitchen easier?
A. My biggest challenge is finding enough counter space, especially since I tend to make a big mess! I like to place my big, cheap cutting boards underneath prep bowls to help catch some of my mess, and it definitely helps if I put dishes directly into the dishwasher instead of piling them into the sink.
Tip: Spice racks are lifesavers in small kitchens. Instead of letting these bottles pile up in drawers or shelves and take up valuable space, install a rack on the wall to keep them organized and at hand.
Q. What do you love about your kitchen?
A. I love the pullout shelves for bulky pots and pans. I also appreciate my built-in spice shelves.
Q. What do you love about your kitchen?
A. I love the pullout shelves for bulky pots and pans. I also appreciate my built-in spice shelves.
Tip: Simple furniture with clean lines helps Taylor's dining room feel larger than it actually is. Choose furniture that's easy to clean — especially if your dining table doubles as a prep station.
Q. Your go-to dish for a dinner party?
A. I don't entertain a lot, but when I do, I try to make something simple so I can relax and spend time with my guests. Homemade pizza is always fun. As long as the dough is prepared in advance, the rest is easy. Serve it with ample wine and beer, and everyone's happy.
Q. Your go-to dish for a dinner party?
A. I don't entertain a lot, but when I do, I try to make something simple so I can relax and spend time with my guests. Homemade pizza is always fun. As long as the dough is prepared in advance, the rest is easy. Serve it with ample wine and beer, and everyone's happy.
Tip: Color makes a big difference in small spaces, and a kitchen is no exception. If you're cooking in a small kitchen, then work it! Use a bold wall color to give it life.
Q. About how big is your kitchen?
A. My kitchen is pretty small — smaller than it appears in the photos. Fortunately, it has just enough cabinet space to hold all of my cooking equipment and photography props. My apartment is over 500 square feet, but it feels really spacious thanks to high ceilings and lots of windows.
Q. About how big is your kitchen?
A. My kitchen is pretty small — smaller than it appears in the photos. Fortunately, it has just enough cabinet space to hold all of my cooking equipment and photography props. My apartment is over 500 square feet, but it feels really spacious thanks to high ceilings and lots of windows.
Tip: Fancy drawer dividers and dish racks aren't always an option in rental kitchens. Keep things organized by stacking like items and storing them all in the same shelf or drawer.
Q. What's a good space-saving secret?
A. Well, I don't have one magic trick, but I like stacking mixing bowls because they take up less cabinet space. Also, rectangular storage containers take up less space in the fridge than circular ones.
Q. What's a good space-saving secret?
A. Well, I don't have one magic trick, but I like stacking mixing bowls because they take up less cabinet space. Also, rectangular storage containers take up less space in the fridge than circular ones.
Tip: Clear containers help make the most out of limited kitchen storage. Use Weck canning jars, Mason jars or glass containers to store dry goods. This way you'll know exactly what you're grabbing without having to dig around in a tiny pantry.
Taylor's wisdom: Cord clutter is the bane of my existence, so I try to keep my cords under control with twist ties. I go through my kitchen at least once a year and give away the equipment I'm not using, and I try to only buy what I really, truly need ... although this is coming from a girl who owns a waffle iron and an ice cream maker.
Taylor's wisdom: Cord clutter is the bane of my existence, so I try to keep my cords under control with twist ties. I go through my kitchen at least once a year and give away the equipment I'm not using, and I try to only buy what I really, truly need ... although this is coming from a girl who owns a waffle iron and an ice cream maker.
Above, Cookie the dog watches Taylor whip up a Southwestern salad.
Q. Three kitchen necessities you use the most often?
A. I love my Wusthof santoku knife, 10-inch cast iron pan and stacking glass mixing bowls.
Q. What are three kitchen luxuries you love?
A. I'm pretty attached to my waffle maker, ice cream maker and Le Creuset French ovens.
Q. Three kitchen necessities you use the most often?
A. I love my Wusthof santoku knife, 10-inch cast iron pan and stacking glass mixing bowls.
Q. What are three kitchen luxuries you love?
A. I'm pretty attached to my waffle maker, ice cream maker and Le Creuset French ovens.
Q.: And last but not least — what are you making in these photos? It looks delicious!
A. I improvised a Southwest-style salad for the photo shoot, but it turned out so well that I may have to make a post of it. The salad consisted of mixed greens, red onions, fresh tomatillo salsa, toasted corn tortilla strips and lime-cilantro tahini dressing.
A. I improvised a Southwest-style salad for the photo shoot, but it turned out so well that I may have to make a post of it. The salad consisted of mixed greens, red onions, fresh tomatillo salsa, toasted corn tortilla strips and lime-cilantro tahini dressing.
Q. What is your neighborhood like?
A. I live in Central Oklahoma, in a good-sized college town called Norman, 30 minutes south of Oklahoma City. I live near campus, in a cozy neighborhood lined with historic Arts and Crafts–style homes and big trees. It's a nice area to go on walks with my dog, Cookie.