Past the great recipes, Kate Taylor’s adorable blog Cookie + Kate teaches the cook which determination and creativity are the keys to a meal that is fantastic. Although the kitchen at Taylor’s 500-square-foot Oklahoma apartment isn’t anything but fancy, a knack for cooking and a couple of well-chosen tools help her create the simple and tasty recipes to get her blog. Like utilizing planks to make cleanup easier with tips, Taylor offers wisdom for virtually any kitchen.

Kate

Hint: Do not be scared to leave your kitchen for snacks which involve a whole lot of prep. Since Taylor has limited counter space, she often moves to her dining area to place dishes together and picture them for her blog.

Q. What is your neighborhood like?
A. I reside at Central Oklahoma, at a good-sized school town named Norman, 30 minutes south of Oklahoma City. I live near campus, at a comfy neighborhood lined with historic Arts and Crafts–style homes and large trees. It is a nice area to go with my dog, Cookie.

Kate

Hint: Keep oils, drink supplies along with other kitchen things on trays for simple removal and cleanup. Taylor has all of the makings of a great cocktail on this adorable tray, which is picked up from the counter at a flash when she needs more room.

Q. How do you earn cooking in a small kitchen simpler?
A. My biggest challenge is finding adequate counter space, especially since I tend to make a major mess! I love to put my large, cheap cutting boards under prep bowls to help catch a few of my mess, and it definitely helps if I place dishes directly into the dishwasher rather than piling them into the sink.

Kate

Hint: Spice racks are lifesavers in small kitchens. Rather than letting these bottles pile up in drawers or shelves and take up precious space, put in a rack on the wall to keep them organized and at hand.

Q. What do you love about your kitchen?
A. I really like the pullout shelves for bulky pots and pans. In addition, I appreciate my spice shelves that are built-in.

Kate

Hint: Simple furniture with clean lines helps Taylor’s dining room feel bigger than it actually is. Choose furniture that’s easy to wash — especially if your table doubles as a prep station.

Q. Your go-to dish for a dinner party?
A. I don’t entertain a good deal, but once I do, I attempt to make something simple so I can relax and spend time with my guests. Homemade pizza is enjoyable. Provided that the dough is prepared in advance, the rest is simple. Drink ample beer and wine to it, and everyone’s happy.

Hint: Shade makes a difference in small spaces, and also a kitchen is no exception. Then work it, if you are cooking in a kitchen! Utilize a bold wall color to give it life.

Q. Just how large is your kitchen?
A. My kitchen is really small — smaller than it appears in the photographs. Fortunately, it has just enough cupboard space to hold all of my cooking equipment and photography props. My flat is over 500 square feet, but it feels really spacious thanks.

Kate

Hint: Fancy drawer dividers and dish racks aren’t always a choice in rental kitchens. Keep things organized storing them and by stacking like things.

Q. What is a Fantastic space-saving secret?
A. Well, I really don’t have one magical trick, but I like stacking mixing bowls since they take up less cabinet space. Additionally, storage containers that are rectangular take less space in the fridge up than ones.

Kate

Hint: Clear containers help make the most out of limited kitchen storage. Utilize Mason jars Weck canning jars or glass containers to store goods. This way you’ll know without needing to dig about in a pantry exactly what you’re catching.

Taylor’s intellect: Cord clutter is the bane of my existence, so I attempt to keep my cords under control using twist ties. I go through my kitchen at least one time annually and give away the equipment I am not using, and I try to just buy what I really, truly need … although that is coming from a girl who possesses a waffle iron along with an Ice Removal Services Little Rock cream maker.

Kate

Above, Cookie the dog watches Taylor whip up a noodle that is ancestral.

Q. Three kitchen necessities you use the most often?
A. I really like my Wusthof santoku knife, 10-inch cast iron pan and stacking glass mixing bowls.

Q. What exactly are three kitchen luxuries you really adore?
A. I am quite attached to my waffle maker, Ice Removal Services Dover cream maker and Le Creuset French ovens.

Kate

Q.: And last but not least — what exactly are you making in these pictures? It looks delicious!
A. I improvised a Southwest-style salad to your photo shoot, but it was so nicely that I might need 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.

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