April 2023 - Page 3 of 22 - Food And Recipe

April 22, 2023

At the intersection of food and culture

No matter how different we are as individuals, we can all bond over a good meal.

Coordinator of the Brahma Bodega Geremy Mason helps students assemble guacamole bowls in the Multicultural Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 17, 2023. Photo by Rachael Rosenberg

“Food and Culture: Exploring the Intersection” was the first event of its kind at Pierce College. Held at the Multicultural Center on Monday, the event was a collaboration between the Brahma Bodega and the Multicultural Center that brought students and faculty together.

The event provided an opportunity for people to learn about food and culture while making a dish.

Multicultural Center Coordinator Tatevik Melkumyan came up with the idea of the event while sharing food with her colleagues. Different dishes reminded them of foods from their own culture.

“We think we’re very different, but really, we’re the same and we’re connected in a lot more ways than we actually know of,” Melkumyan said. “Being able to learn about food from different cultures and learning through food that we’re actually very much connected and very similar. So that’s what sparked the idea for the event.”

A lot of people can relate to the feeling of having their own comfort foods, so this gives students the opportunity to experience comfort foods associated with various cultures.

Brahma Bodega Coordinator Geremy Mason spoke about the significance of students exploring different aspects of themselves through traditions and food.

Geremy Mason gets ready to assemble a guacamole bowl in the Multicultural Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 17, 2023. Photo by Rachael Rosenberg

A student assembles a guacamole bowl in the Multicultural Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 17, 2023. Photo by Rachael Rosenberg

A student’s assembled guacamole bowl in the Multicultural Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 17, 2023. Photo by Rachael Rosenberg

“I think it’s really important that students can explore all aspects of multiculturalism,” Mason said. “Food preparation, as we were talking about in the presentation, is a big part of cultural identity and tradition. We wanted to have some kind of collaboration where we got to discuss that and have an engaging activity.”

After discussing the importance of food and culture, and the way they are interwoven, the main dish for the event was based on traditional Mexican cuisine. With the use of avocados in many different forms and cultures, students and faculty were able to create their own guacamole.

Ingredients and materials were prepared at the food station for people to assemble their plates. From tomatoes, avocados, and red onions, to cilantro, salsa, and quesadillas. There was a wide variety of choices, as well as chips and refreshments.

(Left-right) Pierce Students Isabella Vieyra, Nailah Babatunde-Bey, and Lliana Pride hold their guacamole bowls in the Multicultural Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 17, 2023. Photo by Rachael Rosenberg

Pierce student Isabella Vieyra enjoyed the presentation and the making of guacamole.

“I am Mexican, so it does feel like it hits a little close to home,” Vieyra said. “I think it’s fun and interactive and the presentation was a good explanation of its significance in Mexican culture.”

Dean of Student Engagement Juan Carlos Astorga expressed his connection to family traditions, and why it’s important for students to engage in the food of their culture.

“It’s an amazing opportunity because as we talk about food and culture and the connection to that, it’s also about a connection to our elders and how we pass on traditions,” Astorga said. “It’s engaging our connection to culture, but also introducing how food does those intersectional connections to each other.”

April 22, 2023

Freezer Meals: How Long Does Food Actually Keep?

The drive to prepare a meal can come in waves. You braise short ribs for hours on Sunday and struggle to gather the will to make ramen on Thursday. On those nights, it helps to have a freezer full of, well, braised short ribs. It’s cheaper than takeout, requires nearly no energy to reheat and feels like an act of care, past you taking care of present you.

The freezer is the best source of fully cooked dishes, homemade meals that need only to be heated through and, of course, desserts for sweet cravings. (It also remains a smart place to store many ingredients.)

And it’s as simple to stack up dishes in your freezer as it is to understand what keeps best and when to eat it.

You can freeze anything, though some foods are better suited and all start to diminish in taste, texture and scent over time. So it’s not exactly a matter of can, but should.

How water turns into ice largely determines what freezes best. As fresh ingredients with a lot of water freeze, their cell walls break, altering their texture. Cooking does something similar, which is why, with their broken cell walls, fully and partly prepared dishes maintain their integrity in the freezer.

How long should I freeze something?

The short answer is a year, maximum — not because the food will spoil, but because it’ll taste sad. (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a cold food storage chart, for more precise timelines.) Two to six months is better for ensuring quality. So is wrapping the food tightly. Exposure to freezing air causes food to dehydrate, making it tougher and more bland (commonly known as freezer burn). The oxygen in that air can also cause food to oxidize, causing fats to taste rancid. Follow these tips for ideal food storage and be sure to label and date every item using masking or painter’s tape and a permanent marker, so you’re never left wondering what you have.

How long is something safe to eat?

As long as your freezer is at or below zero degrees, bacteria can’t grow. The best way to tell if something seems fine to eat is to smell and touch it after it defrosts. If it smells rotten or rancid, and doesn’t feel the way it should — think mushy, mealy fish — trash it. If you’re not sure, take a little nibble. If it tastes good, enjoy.

But remember: The freezer is not a time machine. If leftover stew close to turning in the refrigerator is thrown in the freezer, it won’t thaw into impeccably fresh stew. Once thawed, it’ll return to its iffy state.

What are the best prepared dishes to freeze?

Soups, Stews and Braises: Anything liquid, soft or stored in sauce stays intact in the freezer. Stocks, soups (creamy, chunky or brothy) and stews of all kinds (from curries to chilies) can be ladled into sturdy airtight containers with at least an inch of room at the top. Braised meat or vegetables like collards should be smothered evenly in their sauce. Meatballs hold up especially well if stored in gravy, and from-scratch beans like these oven-braised ones keep their creamy, tender texture when packed with their starchy simmering liquid.

Ideally, thawing would occur overnight in the refrigerator, but these dishes can be quickly defrosted straight from the freezer. Run the sealed container under hot water until the ice block releases, then slide it into a saucepan. Add a scant inch of water, set over medium-high heat, cover, and simmer, occasionally breaking up the ice, until everything bubbles evenly for a few minutes.

Casseroles and Sweet or Savory Pies: Lasagna and anything like it — meat, vegetables or starch layered with sauce — are freezer heroes. Fully cooked casseroles can be wrapped tightly in their dishes, then unwrapped, covered with foil and heated in the oven. Leftovers can be portioned and sealed into smaller containers, then popped out and zapped in the microwave or baked until bubbling. A casserole with cooked components, such as tomato-meat sauce or creamed broccoli and rice, can be assembled in the dish, wrapped and frozen, then cooked through in the oven.

Double-crust pies should be assembled with raw dough and chilled filling. The whole thing should be frozen uncovered until rock hard, then wrapped tightly until it’s baked from its frozen state. Quiche should be fully baked, then frozen whole or in wedges. Thaw in the refrigerator, then heat in the oven.

All Manner of Dumplings: Any two-bite treat wrapped in dough — potstickers, samosas, mandu, pierogies, lumpia, phyllo rolls and the like — falls into a special freezer-friendly category. All can be fully assembled with cooked or raw fillings, then frozen uncovered on a tray until hard before being transferred to airtight containers. Then, boil, pan-fry, steam, deep-fry or bake them straight from their frozen state.

Dessert: Homemade sweets should complement your ice cream stash. Meringue, gelatin, cream desserts like trifles, and delicate baked goods like sponge cake or tuiles don’t hold up well, but nearly every other sweet does. Cookies can be frozen as dough or fully baked. Dough balls and slices should be baked from frozen; ready-to-eat cookies taste fresh when heated in a toaster oven. Cakes and breads can be kept whole or wrapped in slices, and those with a very fine-textured crumb, like this marble cake, keep especially well.

Cupcakes, brownies and other bars, waffles, unfilled cream puffs (and their savory gougères cousins) keep well in airtight containers and thaw quickly at room temperature. For goods meant to be eaten hot, a quick blast in the toaster oven refreshes their crispness.

Stocking a freezer may seem like a task for vigilant planners, but it’s especially helpful for those who don’t plot out a weekly meal plan. Anytime you’ve made too much of a dish that freezes well, wrap leftovers well and throw them in. And anytime you’re just too exhausted to cook, heat them up and be delighted with the meal you so lovingly made.

April 21, 2023

Abra Berens’ Strawberry Sundae Recipe Review

This easy yet elegant sundae features vanilla ice cream, in-season strawberries, and homemade meringue.

Makes4 sundaes

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I have a major sweet tooth, and I love to bake year-round. But my favorite time to enjoy sweet treats is, hands-down, spring and summer. With the influx of seasonal goodies like strawberries, rhubarb, and peaches, my desserts become bright, vibrant, sweet, and juicy. This affinity for fruit-based sweets led me straight to author and chef Abra Berens’ newest cookbook, Pulp: A Practical Guide to Cooking with Fruit.

Pulp explores fruit’s place in both sweet and savory cooking, with recipes like Roast Chicken over Blueberries, Cornbread + Lemon and Rum-Plum Clafoutis. But the one that immediately caught my eye was the Strawberry Sundae recipe. With creamy vanilla ice cream, crunchy meringues, sweet strawberry sauce, and flaky salt, this dessert seemed both impressive and approachable.

Why I Love This Strawberry Sundae

The first thing I noticed is that this recipe meets you where you are. While there are instructions for making all three components — ice cream, strawberry sauce, and meringue — from scratch, it’s the combination of ingredients that makes this recipe so special. So if you’re not really a baker, but you love making homemade ice cream, you could buy some vanilla meringues from your local grocery store or bakery. If you don’t have an ice cream maker, like me, then you can buy your favorite vanilla ice cream. I love that if you have a pint of ice cream in the freezer, some meringues in your pantry, and the strawberry sauce in your fridge, you can assemble this showstopping dessert in a matter of minutes — it’s perfect for dinner parties, or for the guest who stops by on short notice.

I grabbed my favorite Van Leeuwen vanilla ice cream, then set out to make my meringues. The meringue “batter” came together quickly and easily in my stand mixer. After the two-hour bake time at 250°F, my meringues were crunchy on the outside and slightly marshmallowy on the inside, albeit a little darker than I prefer.

The strawberry sauce was also so simple to put together. After hulling two pounds of strawberries, I dumped them in the food processor with a tablespoon of sugar and blitzed it until “coarsely chopped,” as instructed. Mine came out looking a little bit like strawberry salsa, but the flavor was spot-on — even with grocery-store strawberries. I can’t wait to try this with tender, fragrant farmers market strawberries in the coming months.

When it was time to assemble, I scooped some of the ice cream into a bowl, drizzled over some strawberry sauce, and topped with some crushed meringue and a pinch of flaky salt. When I took a bite, the salt hit my tongue first and then quickly gave way to the ice cream and strawberries, which evoked memories of my favorite childhood drink, Nesquik Strawberry Milk, in the best way possible. The crunchy meringues gave the perfect textural contrast, and lended a bit more sweetness to balance the salt. This is a truly impressive dessert that just so happens to be gluten-free.

In the headnotes, Abra shares the inspiration behind the recipe: “Through most of June, my favorite dessert is a bowl full of hulled strawberries, splashed with heavy cream, a spoonful of sugar, and a sprinkle of the coarsest salt.” I would say her ode to this combination more than lived up to its inspiration.

If You’re Making This Strawberry Sundae, a Few Tips

April 21, 2023

3 spicy margarita recipes for drinking in warmer weather

There are cocktail bars today that seem almost church-like — hallowed spaces where the faithful come to taste and engage in acts of exegesis, analyzing every nuance and extolling how spirit and bitters come together in the glass.

The margarita is not a drink of such bars.

Like most cocktails, the margarita — a combination of tequila, lime and triple sec that has been around since at least the 1930s, with a roster of claimants to its invention — has been endlessly upgraded and complicated by the modern craft cocktail movement. And there are serious and sublime agave spirit bars, in Mexico and domestically, that treat agave spirits, tequila and especially mezcal, as the complex and varied spirits they are.

Still, the vast volume of margaritas is still shaken up and slurped down at countless summer parties, mid-tier bars and Mexican restaurants, places with sunny patios and bottomless baskets of chips and salsa. The blender whirs, the sour mix splooshes and Roberto’s your tío. The deepest contemplation you’ll be doing is wondering how you’re going to get that guacamole stain out of your T-shirt.

But in New Orleans recently, I popped into Vals, the gas station-turned-Mexican-restaurant started by the team that runs celebrated cocktail haven Cure, and we got a round of margaritas that reminded me how good the drink can be. Vals’ frozen margarita was perfectly balanced — tart, sweet, the spirit gentle but present in the flavor, complemented by its Tajín chile-lime-salt rim.

As I sipped, I considered the various mediocre-ritas I’ve encountered — the too-diluted, the cloying, those dragged down by the lemon Pledge flavor of bad sour mix or Splitting Headache brand tequila. Of late, though, the most common problem, for me, has arrived in the form of a relative newcomer: the spicy margarita, in which the heat of chiles is added to the classic template.

The spicy marg is a drink that, done well, is everything I want in warmer weather. The tart-sweet-booze balance takes on a new dimension when peppers enter the scene. Incorporated well, they add complementary flavor and a zing of welcome heat. Overdone, you can end up with a stunt drink, the sort of thing base-jumpers would sip as they plunge off skyscrapers, yelling “EXTREME!” into each other’s GoPros.

Inviting chiles to your margarita is like asking a newbie to your longstanding happy hour: Will they get along with your other friends? Will they dominate the conversation? Will they throw their weight around? If a fight occurs, how do you get guacamole out of cotton?

The best way to make a spicy marg mind its manners will depend on just how much of a hothead you are. I’ve had spicy drinks I loved on the first sip, only to be silently suffering and wishing I had ordered differently by the fifth — palate fatigue can be acute with spicy drinks.

I often opt to add heat in tiny touches — as with that spicy/sour Tajín Clásico on the rim of the frozen margarita at Vals, or chile pepper concoctions doled out in drops. I like Bittermens’ Habanero Hellfire Shrub, which is hot and tart; the Smoked Chili bitters from Hella and Fuego bitters from El Guapo are also good pepper-uppers.

There are also chile liqueurs, such as Ancho Reyes’ original Ancho and the Verde, the former sweet and smoky, the latter retaining more of the raw poblano chile’s green vegetal notes. If you’re looking to try out the liqueurs, you can start by working them into a standard margarita template, replacing or supplementing a portion of triple sec.

The above brands are all worth playing with and generally offer consistency of both flavor and heat-level. The danger of the cheapest method — working with fresh chile peppers — is that it can lack that consistency. As any lover of guacamole knows all too well, peppers are mercurial, especially the common jalapeño. You can get one with a modest burn and then the next one will have all the fire of a tax seminar. Serranos are more reliable, and for the basic version of a spicy margarita (recipe below) I generally use a couple of wheels of it, dropping them into the cocktail shaker with the ice.

Along with that basic template, I’ve provided a couple of spicy margarita variations to try: The Tigerita (or Thai-gerita if you’re feeling cute) incorporates coconut, Thai basil and bird’s-eye chiles into the drink, and the Pineapple-Habanero margarita has three heat sources: fresh habanero and ancho chile liqueur in the drink, and Tajín Clásico on the rim of the glass. Both can be a little zippy or nigh nuclear, depending on how much of the angry little peppers you put in the shaker (as written, the recipes are geared toward milder palates).

Here are some basic guidelines for working with fresh chile peppers to create your own perfect spicy margarita.

Know your peppers. Their heat levels are measured in Scoville units, which essentially measure how much capsaicin — the compound in peppers that causes the burn on the tongue — is in the pepper. At 2,000-8,000 Scovilles, the gentle jalapeño quavers before some of the peppers sought by sadomasochistic eaters. Carolina Reapers, currently the hottest known, often measure more than 2 million Scovilles.
Chile peppers vary. The variation in peppers isn’t just heat — the burn is only part of their flavor. Habanero and some other high-heat peppers also have sweet tropical fruit notes. Jalapeño is more vegetal, with some of the same bell pepper flavors that can show up in silver tequilas. And then you have ancho chiles (dried poblanos), which are milder and smoky, which can make their flavor a great pairing with a smoky mezcal or add some interest to a standard silver tequila marg.
Divide and conquer: The hot stuff in peppers is concentrated in the ribs (the paler fibrous structures that surround the seeds) and the coating of the seeds. Including ribs and seeds in the pepper you put in your margarita will make it hotter; trim them off if you want to avoid that boost.
Longer steep, hotter drink. The more time a pepper spends in the mix — especially submerged in alcohol, a natural solvent — the more its flavor and heat will be extracted. In testing drinks, I found that the same amount of chile added to the shaker before the rest of the ingredients, instead of just before shaking, often resulted in a noticeably hotter drink. And if you don’t strain those chile solids out when you pour the drink, it will continue to infuse as you sip.
Practice safe slice. Wear protection — glove up if you’re working with anything much hotter than a jalapeño. It’s amazing how easy it is to chop up some hot peppers, wash your hands and go on your merry way, only to be unpleasantly confronted by their compounds’ staying power when you’re taking out your contact lenses later. (Don’t ask how I know this.)

Scale and get a printer-friendly version of the recipe here.

A bright and balanced margarita with adjustable heat (use jalapeño chiles if you want subtle heat; dial it up to serranos or add more chile if you’d like more zip). Blanco tequila works well here, but if you want a smokier version, go with a mezcal, such as Del Maguey Vida or Ilegal Joven.

Where to Buy: Agave syrup is available at many grocery and liquor stores; substitute simple syrup if you can’t find it. Tajín, a chile-lime seasoning salt, is available at many grocery stores, at Latino markets and online.

1 tablespoon Tajín Clásico Seasoning, or more as needed (optional, for garnish)
1/4 ounce agave syrup, plus more for garnish (optional)
Ice
2 ounces tequila or mezcal
1 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce triple sec, such as Cointreau
1 to 4 small slices jalapeño or serrano pepper
Lime wheel or jalapeño slice, for serving (optional)

If using the Tajín, on a small plate, scatter the seasoning. On another small plate, drizzle a circle of the agave syrup the circumference of your rocks glass. Dip the rim of the glass in the syrup, then in the Tajín so the seasoning sticks. (Alternatively, you can swipe a lime wedge around the glass rim before dipping the rim in the spice, but the syrup is more effective in getting the seasoning to stick.)

Add ice to the glass and set it aside.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the tequila, lime juice, triple sec, agave syrup and chile slices and shake hard for about 15 seconds. Double-strain into the prepared glass, add a lime wheel or jalapeño slice, if using, and serve.

Scale and get a printer-friendly version of the recipe here.

Think of this spicy margarita riff, with Southeast Asian-inflected flavors and heat, as a Thai-gerita if you prefer. The amount of Thai bird’s-eye chiles you opt to incorporate can make it a gentle or fierce beast. If you can’t find these chiles, you can substitute serranos. The ice can be cubes or one big rock.

Where to Buy: Liber & Co. Toasted Coconut Syrup can be found online, but you can substitute Coco López or Coco Reàl. Thai chiles (often called bird’s-eye chiles) and Thai basil can be found at well-stocked supermarkets and Asian markets.

Ice
6 leaves Thai basil, plus additional for garnish (optional)
2 to 4 slices red Thai chiles, plus additional for garnish (optional)
Pinch of fine salt
2 ounces tequila or mezcal
1 1/4 ounces fresh lime juice
3/4 ounce Liber & Co. Toasted Coconut Syrup

Add a large ice cube to a rocks glass and set aside.

In a cocktail shaker, combine the Thai basil, chile slices and salt, then fill it with ice. Add the tequila or mezcal, lime juice, and coconut syrup. Shake hard, about 15 seconds, then double-strain into the glass. Garnish with basil leaves and a chile slice, if you like, and serve.

Pineapple-Habanero Margarita

Scale and get a printer-friendly version of the recipe here.

For true spice lovers, this spicy, bright and balanced margarita has three heat sources at work: slices of habanero and a dash of ancho chile liqueur in the drink, and chile-lime salt on the rim. We recommend a smoky mezcal, such as Del Maguey Vida, to stick with the fiery theme, but a blanco or reposado tequila will work well, too. Note: You may want to use gloves when slicing the habaneros.

Where to Buy: Ancho Reyes Original chile liqueur and pineapple gomme syrup (Small Hand and Liber & Co. are both good brands) can be found at well-stocked liquor stores and online. Tajín is available at many grocery stores, at Latino markets and online.

1 tablespoon Tajín Clásico Seasoning, or more as needed, for garnish
1 ounce pineapple gomme syrup, plus more for the spice rim
Ice
2 ounces mezcal or tequila
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce Ancho Reyes Original chile liqueur
1 to 2 thin slices habanero chile pepper

On a small plate, scatter the Tajín. On another small plate, drizzle a circle of the pineapple gomme syrup the circumference of your rocks glass. Dip the rim of the glass in the syrup, then in the Tajín, so the seasoning sticks. (Alternatively, you can swipe a lime wedge around the glass rim before dipping the rim in the spice, but the syrup is more effective in getting the seasoning to stick.)

Add ice to the glass and set it aside.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the mezcal, lime juice, pineapple syrup, chile liqueur and chile slices. Shake hard for about 15 seconds, then double-strain into the prepared glass and serve.

Recipes from Spirits columnist M. Carrie Allan.

April 21, 2023

28 best Amazon organization products for your home

If your desk is overflowing with papers and you’re often scrambling to find your keys and glasses, it may be time to rethink how you organize your space. “Clutter is overwhelming and stressful to live with,” says professional organizer Stacey Agin Murray, owner of Organized Artistry in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. “Most people look at their clutter and run in the other direction because they don’t know where or how to start.”

Fortunately, there are hundreds of products on the market across a variety of categories that can help simplify your space and provide organization. To help optimize your kitchen, home office, bath and bedroom, we sought out expert guidance on what types of products are worth investing in to make your home more welcoming and clutter-free. We also rounded up top-rated products based on expert guidance that will transform your messy piles into a neatly organized space.

SKIP AHEAD Best Amazon organization products to shop | Top organization products for the kitchen | Top organization products for the bedroom | Top organization products for the home office

Our top picks

Best Amazon organization products to shop in 2023

Below, we rounded up creative solutions that will help you clean off your surfaces and organize your space. Every item is either recommended from an expert or highly rated with over 950 reviews and a 4.3-star average rating or above on Amazon.

Best organization products for the kitchen

Youcopia Storalid Organizer

4.6-star average rating from over 34,000 Amazon reviews

Trying to find the correct lid to fit your storage container can be frustrating — especially when you have to dig through cabinets and drawers to do so. Murray recommended this lid organizer, which has five adjustable dividers to store small, medium or large container lids upright so you can easily see which one you need. The base holds lids up to 9 inches wide and fits standard cabinets, pantry shelves and deep drawers, according to the brand.

Simple Housewares Under Shelf Basket

4.4-star average rating from over 8,500 Amazon reviews

Great for city apartments and small kitchens, these under-the-shelf baskets provide extra storage for food wrap, napkins, dish towels, dinnerware, canned vegetables and more. No hardware is needed to install — it slides right in once you attach it to an already-existing shelf, according to Simple Housewares. The wire basket is 2.7 pounds and can hold up to 36 cans.

Hoojo Refrigerator Organizer Bins

4.7-star average rating from over 26,000 Amazon reviews

If you’re like me, you’ve found a few “science projects” growing in the back of your fridge from time to time. With these BPA-free storage bins, you can organize fruit, veggies, cans, salad dressing, condiments and more while containing any spills. Each bin has a side-grip handle for easy transport so you can refill them with ease. They are not dishwasher-friendly however, and you’ll need to hand wash them with mild soapy water.

Simple Houseware Can Dispenser

4.6-star average rating from over 30,000 Amazon reviews

This dispenser can hold up to 12 standard-sized cans of soda or small food cans, which will save you space on your countertop or fridge. The racks, which come in a set of two in bronze, white, chrome and silver, are stackable so you can pile them up.

Vetacsion Fridge Magnetic Spice Racks

4.8-star average rating from over 1,700 Amazon reviews

These free-floating racks free up counter and cabinet space and are perfect for holding up to 12 standard spice jars, small cans, dog treats and utensils. You can buy them in a two-, three-, four- or six-pack and hang them up via a magnet that’s built-into back of the matte black racks. Each shelf can hold 11 pounds, according to the brand, and you can also attach it to the sides of coffee machines, grills and your washer or dryer.

mDesign Stackable Water Bottle Organizer

4.8-star average rating from over 12,000 Amazon reviews

Reusable water bottles are all the rage, but they can take up a lot of cabinet space. This clear rack solves that issue. It comes in a pack of two and holds six bottles horizontally, though there are options for ones that can hold up to 24 bottles if you want to continue building your stack.

mDesign Stackable Water Bottle Organizer

Avasport Under Sink Organizer

4.5-star average rating from over 10,000 Amazon reviews

These double-sliding drawers maximize the space under your sink to hold all your cleaning supplies and dish soaps. It has four hooks on the side to hang things like scrub brushes and extra sponges; you can use it under bathroom sinks or on your kitchen counter to hold spices, oils and spatulas too.

Stackable Kitchen Counter Basket with Bamboo Top

4.8-star average rating from nearly 1,900 Amazon reviews

These wire baskets come in a set of two and have a bamboo top that doubles as a cutting board. You can stack them vertically or place them side by side to store dishes. Plus, there’s a small DIY label you can fill out to remind you what’s inside.

Stackable Kitchen Counter Basket with Bamboo Top

Best organization products for the bedroom

Simple Houseware 3-Tier Shoe Rack

4.7-star average rating from over 29,000 Amazon reviews

This shoe rack can hold up to 20 pairs of shoes, with each adjustable shelf holding up to 30 pounds, according to the brand. If you have tall boots and want to eliminate the third tier for extra space, you can do so. It’s the perfect solution for a closet, entryway, mudroom or garage.

StorageWorks Underbed Storage Box

4.7-star average rating from over 1,000 Amazon reviews

The space under your bed is a great place to store extra clothes, sweaters, holiday decorations, pillows and blankets. These storage boxes, which come in a two-pack, have a clear zippered top (so you can see what’s inside) along with a handle that makes it easy to pull out from under the bed.

Perfect Curve Baseball Cap Rack

4.5-star average rating from over 70,000 Amazon reviews

Baseball caps are sometimes difficult to store — especially if you own more than one or two. This over-the-door rack can hold up to 18 hats or visors and comes with two straps so you can place them on the backs of different doors.

JonyJ Expandable Drawer Dividers

4.6-star average rating from over 6,300 Amazon reviews

Murray uses these easy-to-install drawer dividers to organize her socks, kitchen tools, toiletries and other items she needs to separate for easy access. To set them up: you’ll place the dividers in your desired drawer, adjust to fit and lock it in place. The ends are covered in a soft foam sponge that should protect your drawer from any damage, according to the brand.

Budding Joy Storage Bags

4.3-star average rating from over 32,000 Amazon reviews

These large fabric storage bags, which come in sets of two, three, four, six or eight, are ideal for packing away off-season clothes, bedsheets, comforters, blankets, pillows, toys and more. Each bag comes with two reinforced handles, so they’re easy to carry, as well as a window so you can quickly find what you need.

Wonder Hangers

4.4-star average rating from over 16,000 Amazon reviews

These will maximize your closet space by giving you the option to hang clothes vertically or horizontally. Included in the box are 10 hangers, each of which hold up to five garments or 30 pounds.

Songmics Mirrored Jewelry Cabinet

4.8-star average rating from over 15,000 Amazon reviews

I purchased this jewelry cabinet for my 18-year-old and love how aesthetically pleasing and durable it is. It has six LED lights that provide lighting when she opens the door, and at 47.2 inches tall and 14.5 inches wide, it’s spacious enough to hold all her items in one place. It has a large ring cushion, bracelet rod, two drawers, five shelves, 32 necklace hooks, 48 stud earring holes, 90 earring slots and a mirrored front door too.

Holdn’ Storage Hanging Closet Shelves

4.5-star average rating from over 3,000 Amazon reviews

This hanging basket is ideal for anyone who needs extra closet space. These reinforced canvas hanging shelves attach to your closet rod and provide an extra row of shelving to hold additional clothes. Plus, they fold flat when not in use.

Awenia Makeup Organizer

4.7-star average rating from over 1,300 Amazon reviews

This extra-large makeup organizer has 360-degree rotation and seven adjustable layers to fit items of different heights. It can hold up to 63 items and even comes with a waterproof makeup bag.

Umbra Buddy Wall-Mounted Hooks

4.6-star average rating from over 14,000 Amazon reviews

This set of three wall hooks put the fun in functional and double as unique wall decor. A space-saving alternative to the traditional coat rack, these hooks can hold purses, hats, jackets and more. The mounting hardware is included.

Best organization products for the bathroom

Yasonic Corner Shower Caddies

4.6-star average rating from nearly 1,900 Amazon reviews

This organizer kit contains two L-shaped shower caddies and a soap holder to make full use of your shower’s corner to hold shampoo, soap, razors and other essentials. It’s made of stainless steel and coated with rustproof paint so it should keep its shine without staining over time, according to the brand. Each caddy has six hooks to hold washcloths, loofahs and bath brushes, and mounts with adhesive rather than a suction cup. They’ll stick securely to smooth tile, marble, tempered glass, wood and solid metal, according to Yasonic.

Aozita Apothecary Jars

4.5-star average rating from over 34,000 reviews

Keep cotton balls, floss picks, hair ties, makeup brushes and other essentials at your fingertips in these plastic apothecary jars. They are BPA-free, available in sets of two, three and four and come with pre-printed and customizable labels.

Spirich Over-Toilet Cabinet

4.6-star average rating from over 1,400 reviews

This over-the-toilet cabinet takes up virtually no floor space. It’s made with engineered wood and tempered glass and has an adjustable inner shelf to accommodate your items. It fits over most standard toilets, and comes with an anchor bracket that attaches to your wall to ensure stability and prevent it from toppling over, according to the brand.

Best organization products for the home office

Pendaflex PileSmart Project Sorter

4.6-star average rating from over 950 reviews

Murray recommended this letter-sized organizer because it functions as a home for all your important papers. “I advise people to especially use it for ‘action papers’ — those that need to be acted on in the near future that otherwise become clutter on your kitchen counter or dining-room table,” she says. This model has 10 tabbed dividers and an elastic cord closure.

Chefstory Drawer Organizer

4.7-star average rating from over 4,400 Amazon reviews

Murray loves clear bins of any size because you can repurpose them over and over, she says. These tiny organizers have a nonslip bottom and can hold small items that often get lost in your drawers such as cosmetics, hair accessories, jewelry and office supplies. This stackable set comes with 23 boxes in four different sizes.

Marbrasse Desktop Organizer

4.5-star average rating from over 1,400 Amazon reviews

With this all-in-one desktop organizer, you can quickly grab what you need — when you need it. Made of metal mesh that’s reinforced with a steel frame, this organizer has five sliding trays, two vertical file holders, two hanging pencil slots and a sliding drawer to hold all your accessories.

Other unique organization products

Ontel Battery Daddy

4.5-star average rating from over 66,000 Amazon reviews

Murray recommended this battery holder from Ontel because it holds up to 180 batteries and includes a tester. “It takes the guesswork out of wondering if a battery works or not,” she says. The Ontel can store 78 AA, 64 AAA, eight 9-volt, 10 C, 12 Coin Cell and eight D batteries and is compact enough to fit in a drawer, according to the brand.

HomePop Large Tufted Storage Ottoman

4.5-star average rating from over 3,400 Amazon reviews

Murray recommended investing in a coffee table or ottoman with storage because they are multifunctional. This 20.2 pound round option has tapered wood legs that can support up to 250 pounds, and it’s available in 11 colors including faux leather and fabric options.

Zober Premium Wrapping Paper Storage Container

4.7-star average rating from over 21,000 Amazon reviews

This wrapping paper container is tear-, puncture-, fade- and moisture-resistant, according to the brand, and will help keep your entire gift wrap collection organized. It has two vinyl pockets to store accessories like bows, labels, tape and scissors and can hold up to 18 2.5-inch-thick rolls. It also collapses when not in use.

Zober Premium Wrapping Paper Storage Container

Lexsion Totebag Insert

4.5-star average rating from over 17,000 Amazon reviews

Tote bags and handbags with no interior pockets can become a jumbled mess, making it tough to grab your glasses, phone, keys or wallet in a hurry. This insert has 13 pockets, one of which is detachable, so you can organize all your belongings. The inserts come in 24 colors and several sizes from S-XL. And for new moms, they also make an insert specifically for diaper bags that fit two bottles.

What is the first step to decluttering your home?

The first step to decluttering your home is committing to the decision-making process, according to Murray. “Getting organized isn’t all about bins and color coding,” she says. “Items become clutter when decisions aren’t made. Keep or don’t keep? Donate or toss?” She advises her clients to consistently declutter their belongings over time — “one shelf at a time, one drawer at a time, one decision at a time.”

What are the best items to organize your home with?

Murray says these four items are among her most favorite creative solutions:

Coffee tables and ottomans with storage. These are ideal solutions for hiding pillows, blankets and household essentials you need access to but don’t necessarily want out in the open.

Magazine holders. “These have the flexibility to do much more than store magazines,” she says. “They can store papers and file folders vertically, gift-wrapping and cutting boards. They can also be placed in a pantry to hold foils and plastic wrap.”

Over-the-door shoe organizers. You can hang these in a playroom to hold dolls, action figures and toy cars or in a linen closet to stash medicine and toiletries, according to Murray. “In the winter you can store hats, gloves and scarves in each pouch, then switch them out with flip-flops and suntan lotion in summer,” she says.

Clear plastic containers. You can easily see what’s inside them, they blend in with most decor and you can reuse and repurpose them in other areas of the home, according to Murray.

Meet the expert

Stacey Agin Murray is the owner of Organized Artistry in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. In 2020, Murray was awarded the Organizer of the Year Award by the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals of Northern New Jersey.

Why trust Select?

Barbara Booth has written a number of guides on bestselling and highly rated products you can buy on Amazon that simplify your life, including best kitchen gadgets, best car accessories, best travel accessories and more. For this piece, Barbara interviewed a professional organizer and sourced top-rated items on Amazon that simplify, streamline and declutter your space.

Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

April 21, 2023

I am a Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef contestant- here are my secret tips and tricks for success on the cooking show

OMI Hooper, whose still making it through season 2 of Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef, gave her best tips and tricks for getting on the cooking show.

Speaking exclusively with The U.S. Sun, Omi said anyone who hopes to be on Gordon’s fast-paced cooking show needs to remember it’s a game and it’s all about how you play it.

Omi Hopper is having a successful run on Next Level Chef and gave her tips & tricks for her time on the showCredit: The US Sun

Gordon Ramsay's show takes chefs and has them compete for a cash prize and a chance at a top-notch mentorship — Gordon Ramsay’s show takes chefs and has them compete for a cash prize and a chance at a top-notch mentorshipCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk

“I think that you have to look at the competition as a game. We are playing a game and it’s about who’s going to play it best,” she said of her time on Next Level Chef.

“You have to be aware of the time, you need to make sure that you are listening actively to the mentors.

“It’s $250,000, but it’s also a one-year mentorship by Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais.

“They want to know how coachable you are, they want to know how well are you listening on that floor as you’re cooking, and that will be very telling for them.

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“They really want to know ‘Does this person have the potential or does this person already know it all and feel like they don’t need anything from us?’

“And I feel like that was probably the best advice that I even took for myself… remain a student at all times.”

Omi also opened up about the secret, surprising rules the contestants were given.

“The rules are to be yourself. The rules are straight out be yourself.

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“Please don’t try to make a scene for the cameras please don’t act out of character what got you here is you being yourself and please remain that way.

“So they were constantly preaching that to us, like just forget that the cameras are here and just be yourself, and I felt like that liberated a lot of people from just being able to just be.”

THE MENTORS

Next Level Chef sees three mentors take talented chefs under their wings to compete in unique cooking challenges in hopes of finding the “food world’s newest superstar.”

Those mentors include Gordon Ramsey, Nayisha Arrington and Richard Blais.

Legendary British chef Gordon Ramsay is no stranger to the culinary world or television.

Since 1997, he has been awarded 17 Michelin stars overall across various restaurants and has been seen on several cooking shows, including Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, and MasterChef.

When Ramsay is not working, he can often be found at home with his wife, Tana Ramsay, and their five kids.

Nyesha Arrington is a popular chef from California who began cooking at the age of five.

After graduating from the Art Institute of California in Los Angeles, she went on to open two restaurants- which have both been placed on Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Jonathan Gold’s iconic list of 101 Best Restaurants- and star on several cooking shows, including Top Chef and Guy’s Grocery Games.

Richard Blais is known as a chef, television personality, restaurateur, and author.

Over the years, he has been seen competing on several shows, including Top Chef and Top Chef: All-Stars, which he previously won.

When Blais is not in the kitchen, he can often be found at home, spending time with his wife, Jazmin Blais, and two kids.

How can I watch Next Level Chef?

Season 2 of Next Level Chef first premiered on February 12, 2023, and is already a hit among fans.

New episodes can be watched weekly on Fox, Thursdays at 8pm EST.

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The show can also be streamed on Hulu with an active subscription.

This year, the contestants will be competing for the $250,000 grand prize and a one-year mentorship from the three chefs, according to Variety.