We have a joke between my siblings that all four of us love to eavesdrop on conversations and to people-watch in busy public spaces. Maybe we are just weird in this regard (generally, we are a little quirky), but given the popularity of social media and reality television — it seems like my siblings and I are not the only ones fascinated by how other people live their lives.
Over the years I’ve had many friends and clients express curiosity about what I keep in my refrigerator, pantry, and cupboards. What does a dietitian have tucked away in the nooks and crannies of their kitchen?! I suspect the minimalist label might add to the intrigue. Since I now have a way to easily show people what’s in our kitchen, I figured I would! My partner, Josh, posted general tour of our home over at TheMinimalists.com.
A few disclaimers: if you’re reading this post, you realize that I’m passionate about cooking great tasting healthy food. I cook a lot and the items in our kitchen help me nourish my family and friends, and also develop (and photograph) delicious, nutritious, and simple recipes for this community. I utilize tools to cultivate that passion — what is important for me will not necessarily be what is useful or practical for others. Josh’s dream home would be sans kitchen, but it’s my second favorite place in the house. It’s unquestionably the room with the most stuff, but it all serves a purpose. Finally, I photographed our kitchen as is, meaning I didn’t clean up prior to taking the photos and I didn’t straighten out the drawers, the refrigerator, or the pantry. I wanted you to see the space as we truly use it. So, without further ado, please join me in our kitchen (I wish I could cook you a meal).
The space:
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- With the exception of a bowl of produce, a dish drying mat, our coffee station, and radio, we keep the counters clear of clutter. Ella likes to display a piece of artwork on the fridge — held in place by a yeti magnet/bottle opener.
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- The dining table seats four adults and two kids comfortably.
- The kitchen space opens to the backyard and patio where we have a table and chairs for al fresco meals.
The drawers & cupboards:
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- Cooking utensils.
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- Knives, potholders, knife sharpener, scissors.
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- The spices of life!
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- Silverware, serving utensils, wine preserver.
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- Cooking tools (left to right): fermentation weights, ladle, masher, microplanes, ginger grater, peeler, zester, bottle opener, garlic press, citrus press, pastry tools.
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- Food storage and sprouting containers.
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- Baking pans, strainer, colander.
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- Smaller plates & bowls (mostly for food photos).
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- Pots and pans.
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- Wok, large pot, cutting boards.
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- Mixing bowls, service bowls, water bottles.
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- Ella’s gear and towels.
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- Lazy Susan: paper towels, food processor, blender, springform pan, cookie cutters & pastry decoration tools.
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- “Junk” drawer!
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- Beverage station.
The pantry:
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- Behind the tall vertical doors next to the refrigerator is the pantry. We keep our dinner plates and bowls at the top, followed by several drawers of staple items.
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- Coffee, tea, and mugs.
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- Large containers of bulk items.
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- Small containers of bulk items, nut butters, chewing gum. The chocolate also lives here.
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- From left to right: sweeteners (molasses, raw honey, agave, sugar, vanilla, stevia), hot sauces, salts, vinegars, soy sauce, liquid aminos, fish sauce, oils (olive, avocado, coconut, sesame).
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- The bottom drawer is for things that really don’t fit elsewhere — canned beans & coconut milk, baking products, protein powder, nut bars, blue corn chips, nut crackers.
The fridge:
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- Door contents: probiotics (adult & kids), cultured pastured butter, whole milk, plain greek kefir, children’s liquid multivitamin, cashew milk, pickles, flax & hemp seeds, citrus juices, salad dressings, pickled ginger, mustard, sweet chili sauce, coconut amino acids.
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- Contents: sparkling water, water filter, kimchi, peas, chimmichurri, duck eggs, chicken eggs, homemade mac & cheese, roasted cauliflower, caramelized onions, plain greek yogurt, buttermilk, cheddar cheese, chèvre, parmesan, GF tortillas, kale, parsnips, carrots, lemons, apples, clementines.
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- Frozen fruit for smoothies (berries and bananas), frozen vegetables for smoothies (kale, spinach) and cooking (broccoli, peas, corn, cauliflower), tempeh, elk round, elk burger.
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- Sockeye salmon fillets, cilantro pesto, beef broth.
There you have it. I hope you enjoyed this little peek into part of our home.
Be well,
-Bex, Josh, & Ella