With Summer Solstice right around the corner (Thursday, June 21), I wanted to share some of my favorite recipes that you have to try this season:

Do you ever feel like your pantry doesn’t feel very big or you never seem to have enough space? Here are my top 5 tips to help you make your pantry feel bigger:

by Sarah Whitman-Salkin | Food52
For some people—those who might self-describe as Type A, OCD-ish, or neat freaks—a well-organized pantry is a thing of beauty. For others—those with small apartments or limited storage space, a tendency toward clutter, or calendars scheduled in 5-minute increments—a well-organized pantry is a necessity.

In a lot of ways in my kitchen, less is more. Having one gadget or appliance for every specific job may seem convenient, but things can pile up quickly, leaving you with little counter-, drawer- or cabinet-space left to actually work with! That is why I love these dual- and multi-purpose tools that can take on multiple jobs, just as they are.

I love The Container Store. I really can’t contain myself!
They carry so many products that are perfect for organizing pantries but my very favorite, ‘can’t-live-without’ items that I get from The Container Store are as follows:

There are several reasons why I don’t like to store my leftovers (or any food or drink items, for that matter), in plastic containers. Without going too in-depth, my main reasons for this have to do with aesthetic and, more importantly, health safety.

In case you missed it, the city of Malibu recently banned plastic straws (and other single-use utensils) and I am a total fan of this decision. I’ve been using stainless steel straws in my kitchen for some time now and can’t even imagine how much plastic waste I’ve prevented by making this small change for myself and my family.

With Cinco de Mayo coming up on Saturday, I wanted to share my favorite festive recipes from my friend Pamela Salzman that are easy to make and beyond delicious.  

You know how much I enjoy keeping my cupboards and pantry stocked with whole foods in clear, uniform glass containers. Not only does this provide a clean, organized look, but it also does away with any concerns of the safety of plastics for food and beverage storage.

There’s no better time to implement kitchen organizing habits than when you move into a new home (or have recently remodeled your current one). Moving can be an arduous process, but if you put some TLC into organizing each space, especially the kitchen, it really pays off! Hopefully your designer, contractor or architect has planned your kitchen with you in mind, and has designed the most efficient kitchen space for your particular type of use.