Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

Back to our homemade shenanigans. Honey mustard vinaigrette was something we were craving. This recipe is savory and not as tangy as others we've tasted. It is a good complement to more spiced salad toppings or seasoned meat or poultry. We used Dijon, but also recommend a whole grain mustard for a more robust mustard flavor. 

Prep time: 2 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1.5 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon or whole grain mustard
• 1 tablespoon honey
• dash of Kosher salt
• dash of black pepper

Using your favorite whisk or salad dressing contraption, whisk together ingredient. Serve cold or at room temperature. 

Necessary?: The Orange Peeler

I'm on the fence about the orange peeler. On the one hand, it makes it so easy to start peeling an orange and you can avoid all the orange gunk under your nails. Also, it is a very small utensil.

On the other hand, once you start peeling the orange, your hands still get all sticky. Does something this small warrant so much internal turmoil??

Kitchen Gadget of the Week: Lillian Vernon Seam Cover

Food falling between your tiny stove and your tiny counter? Afraid of critters? These seem like weird problems, but living in Manhattan, I will try anything to keep furry and/or multi-legged creepies out of the apartment. Enter, the Lillian Vernon seam cover. It's exactly what it sounds like (and don't mind the dirty stove, cleaning day is Sunday):


Long live silicon! Miss Vernon states that the cover is "heat/warp/melt resistant." I've had it for a few months, and there's no sign of melting yet, which is commendable considering it is a gas stove.

Available at Lillian Vernon.

The Essentials

So, I'm no cooking expert, I just know that I've managed not to kill anyone and make edible meals in a kitchen the size of most hall closets. Observe:

That's my kitchen. That's it. Mini fridge, mini stove. I feel like a giant in there. Where's the microwave? Why it's on a cart "beside" the kitchen:


With space at a premium, I've found I cannot live without the following kitchen essentials (yes it's basic, but again, look at the size of the kitchen!):

• 1 Non-stick frying pan-I highly recommend T-Fal. I've had mine since college and it is still rocking and rolling
• 1 non-stick pot (lid is optional, really)-Again, I'm hanging out with T-Fal. I don't have a lid, but I've boiled water successfully
• Crock pot/slow cooker-Fantastic for easy, cheap meals
• Rice cooker-Because, who doesn't love rice?
• Food processor-Good for homemade salsa and other dip like things

Did I miss anything?