Sunday, November 3, 2019

Here’s Everything You Need from Trader Joe’s This Turkey Day

We rounded up the best Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving staples to complement your homemade turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce.

Trader Joe’s is one of those places I can easily rationalize Ina’s famous “store bought is fine.” Sometimes they hit the mark so hard on their pre-packaged goods, you can’t even tell it’s not homemade. (Shhhh, don’t tell my mom.)

TJ’s has a knack for champagne taste on a beer budget and who says you can’t utilize some of their easy go-to’s to make your snobby brother-in-law rave about your Thanksgiving spread? Yes, yes, you DID make all of this from scratch using Sur La Table recipes, how kind of him for noticing.

Related Reading: 11 Trader Joe’s Employee Picks for Fall

Now of course, we wouldn’t recommend doing a one stop shop here, because they may not have every single thing you need and certain produce or meat is always best when local. However, for the most part, they’ll have all of the specialty items and basic staples you could ever dream of. Here’s your cheat sheet for a deluxe Thanksgiving with half the effort—behold, our favorite Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving staples.

Apple Cider Donuts

Whether you’re hosting a Macy’s Day Parade viewing brunch, or you just want these babies to fill out your dessert table, nobody can resist an apple cider doughnut. Our favorite thing about this item? Trader Joe’s partnered with a Massachusetts family bakery to ensure everyone’s favorite farm-stand specialty tastes local.

Related Reading: Sweet & Savory Apple Cider Recipes for Fall

Fig and Olive Crisps

These cute and refined looking little crackers are perfect to serve with dips and cheeses like the TJ’s cranberry chèvre (another favorite). A crouton-like crunch and the addition of soft figs makes these crackers feel like they came fresh from a bakery. You won’t find anything similar in the cracker aisle of your local grocery chain, so I always stock up. A must for any harvest cheese platter.

Pumpkin Pie Spiced Ginger Brew

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📷: “Pumpkin Pie Spiced Mule,” feat. #TraderJoes Pumpkin Pie Spiced Ginger Brew (#TJsRecipe Link in Bio) — A spin on our perennially popular TJ’s Triple Ginger Brew, TJ’s Pumpkin Pie Spiced Ginger Brew blends a fizzy, #nonalcoholic, mulled cider base with a generous amount of #ginger purée & plenty of #pumpkin pie spices. Add a few natural flavors & a bit of cane sugar, and, bam! You’ve got #Brew.🍾🥧 — Bottled in an old-world-style, swing-top glass #bottle, this Brew’s handsome, highly gift-able presentation and delightful drinkability make it perfect for parties, potlucks, & other #fall fêtes. Offer a bottle as a hostess gift. Share one with family & friends. Pass another to the bartender ask them to make you a mule [above]…

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Somewhat akin to a sparkling mulled cider, this autumnal ginger brew is begging to be mixed with a jigger of bourbon. Fall-scow Mule, anyone? Okay, that was bad, but if you’re anything like me you’re always seeking the perfect fall cocktail recipe and this batched drink packs a flavorful punch, with none of the work. Serve over ice and garnish with a cinnamon stick and thinly sliced apples for a fragrant fall refreshment.

Related Reading: We Taste-Tested Some of the Wildest Pumpkin Spice Products

Turkey and Stuffing Seasoned Kettle Chips

I mean, you’ve gotta nosh on something while you’re doing all that cooking, right? After you’re done munching away your holiday stress, use the leftovers as a crunchy topper for that green bean casserole. And if nothing else, these flavorful chips make the perfect side for your leftovers sandwich midnight snack.

Leafy Greens with Butternut Squash Salad Kit

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📷: “Bacon, Apple, and Butternut Squash Salad,” feat. #TraderJoes Leafy Greens with Butternut Squash Salad Kit” • Click the link in our bio for the #TJsRecipe! — In honor of squash season, this #Salad Kit presents bright orange #ButternutSquash as its centerpiece, bolstered by a base of baby spinach, peppery arugula, Lolla Rosa, radicchio & frisée. The spiral-cut #Squash may be the star of the show, but every star needs a sidekick, and this Squash has three: feta cheese, dried cranberries & candied almonds. (Four if you count the packet of white balsamic vinaigrette we include.) The Kit’s components come carefully separated, so you can certainly subtract ingredients if you like.. But adding some (pictured above) is WAY more fun… 🥗+🥓+🍏=😋 — | Serves 2-4 | Feta Made w/ Non-Animal Enzymes | Bacon & Apples Sold Separately |

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Let’s be real, salad is usually an afterthought for most Thanksgiving menus, but it’s certainly nice to offer your guests something green that isn’t swimming in oil and/or butter. Consisting of a colorful mix of arugula, baby spinach, lolla rosa, radicchio, frisée, butternut squash spirals, feta cheese, sweetened dried cranberries, candied almonds , and dressed with a white vinaigrette, TJ’s Leafy Greens salad looks and tastes like the epitome of fall produce.

Related Reading: From Blue to Cheese: Get Familiar with These Under-the-Radar Squashes and Pumpkins

Cornbread Stuffing Mix

If you’re one of those weirdos who is a diehard Stouffer’s fan like me, you might want to move on to the next item. However, if you’re looking to add a bit more seasonal flavor and take your stuffing up a notch without making it from scratch, even I recommend this mix. Cornbread is generally served alongside a holiday meal, but the bread’s grainy texture is the perfect companion to soak up the juices of a bird.

Pumpkin Bisque

Many families have a tradition of serving pumpkin soup in adorable pumpkin bowls before the main meal. That’s a sweet thought, but pumpkin soup takes a long time to make and you’ve already got like 800 other dishes going. Save yourself and get this jar of bisque instead. This take is a much creamier and more flavorful version of their previous pumpkin soup. Drizzle a little sour cream and fresh chives on top for extra pizazz.

Related Reading: 16 Delicious Things You Can Make From a Pumpkin

Pumpkin Bowl with Lid, $14.96 from Sur La Table

This seasonally-appropriate bowl is the perfect vessel for serving up pumpkin bisque and other festive fall foods.
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Gluten-Free Pie Crust

Oftentimes, making gluten-free pastry from scratch can be expensive and requires a slew of ingredients. Anyone else ever spent hours scouring the grocery store aisles for xantham gum? Save yourself the stress. If pumpkin pie is your gluten-free niece’s favorite, this ready to bake pie crust shell is what’s up. Take it from a fellow member of the GF club, nobody will be able to tell the difference.

Related Reading: Pumpkin Pie Lies: It’s Actually Canned Squash

Pumpkin Cheesecake

This cheesecake is a Trader Joe’s G.O.A.T. Even though Halloween is over by the time this holiday rolls around, this cheesecake is so good it feels like black magic. It looks and tastes like you just bought it off of the table at a farmer’s market, but it’s only $6.99. Serve with a dollop of homemade whipped cream if you really want to bewitch your guests.



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10 Friendsgiving Lessons Learned from ‘Friends’ Thanksgiving Episodes

This year, “Friends” turned 25 (don’t even think about how old that makes you), and Friendsgiving has become a widely celebrated occasion in its own right. Here are some lessons learned from the show that started it all.

Whether it’s the one when Monica dances around with a raw turkey on her head or that time when Rachel made her still-famous pea-jam trifle, nothing says Friendsgiving more than binge-watching “Friends” and the show’s several Thanksgiving Day episodes.

Though the drama was/is always entertaining (and makes us feel better about our own “chosen-family” issues), lessons can be learned from what they actually made and ate. Below, what you can learn from the gang’s culinary wins and losses (Mokolate anyone?)

And after laughing at their botched attempts in the kitchen, go ahead and read our comprehensive guide to Thanksgiving for meal plans that practically require Thanksgiving pants (hint, they’re in the maternity section).

Friends: The Complete Series (Blu-ray), $88.63 on Amazon

Binge the entire series along with your meal.
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1. “The One Where the Underdog Gets Away”

Chef Monica starts the decade-long Friendsgiving precedent by hosting the dinner in her unrealistically huge New York City apartment when everyone’s individual family plans are ruined. Phoebe suggests Ross sticks his head inside the raw turkey to simulate what it’s like for his in-utero baby. Chandler is in favor of this idea. “In fact, I’d very much like to butter your head,” he says. In their excitement at watching the Underdog float that broke free from the Macy’s Day Parade from their roof, Monica gets locked out of her apartment and her elaborate feast is burned to an unrecognizable crisp. She had desperately tried to meet everyone’s potato needs: lumpy mashed potatoes for Ross, tater tots for Joey, and potatoes with peas and onions for Phoebe. Instead of totally giving up, the gang makes grilled cheese, drinks wine, and eats Chandler’s Funyuns.

grilled cheese sandwich

Chowhound

Takeaway: First and foremost, don’t forget your keys if the oven is on and you run outside real quick. Also, you can’t please everyone. You may be tempted to make dishes that remind your friends of home but don’t go nuts. When it comes to potatoes, you can try one of these tater tot recipes or go the more traditional route.

2. “The One with the List”

Ross creates a list of Rachel’s faults so that he can make a decision between being with her or Julia. Of course, Rachel finds the list and drama ensues. Meanwhile, Monica’s gig developing recipes for Mockolate food product causes her to incorporate the artificial chocolate substitute into several dishes. Enter pumpkin pie with Mockolate cookie crumb crust, Mockolate cranberry cake, and Mockolate chip cookies. Both Rachel and Phoebe spit it out. “Oh, sweet Lord! This is what evil must taste like,” Phoebe says.

Takeaway: Don’t go crazy with substitutes at Thanksgiving. Anyone on a special diet—we’re looking at you, keto fanatics—can just deal. And when you’re making pie, go for something people want to eat, like this Classic Pumpkin Pie recipe. If you want to go a little off-menu, try one of these Updated Pumpkin Pie recipe ideas.

Eggnog Pumpkin Pie recipe

Chowhound

3. “The One with the Football”

For most of this episode, the only food on the menu is pigskin with all sorts of rivalries coming to a head between siblings, genders, and love interests. Bored by the game, Rachel says she “went really long,” and grabs a soft pretzel. We don’t even really see the gang eat until the end, while Ross and Monica remain on the field wrestling with the football.

Takeaway: The day doesn’t always have to center on the meal. (Gasp! We said that?!) Okay, let’s not get carried away. Food is everything. But remember this isn’t just about stuffing your face—get outside or play a game indoors. Enjoy each other’s company. Also? If you have a vegetarian friend like Phoebe coming over, opt for a stuffing they can enjoy too, like this Vegetarian Cornbread and Apple Stuffing recipe. (And maybe provide your own soft pretzels to ensure no one ditches your gathering.)

Related Reading: Friendsgiving Games, Icebreakers & Group Activities to Keep the Party Going

homemade soft pretzels

Chowhound

4. “The One with Chandler in a Box”

Chandler apologizes to Joey for kissing his girlfriend by confining himself to a box for hours, even during the dinner. “You can’t tell, but I’m trying to break the tension by mooning you guys,” Chandler says through the small hole in the box as the rest of them chow down at the table. Monica, sporting a black eye patch, is grossed out when she kisses her ex-boyfriend’s son. “Do you really want to be in a relationship where you can say, ‘You know, that’s not how your dad used to do it?’,” Phoebe says. This time, the gang gets to enjoy a delicious meal all together. Well, except Chandler, who any Friends fanatic knows, hates the holiday anyway.

Takeaway: Make amends with friends before the holiday to alleviate any uncomfortable situations. Don’t make out with the children of your ex. And roast a great turkey like Monica did. You can’t go wrong with this Roast Turkey with Herbed Gravy recipe.

easy brined turkey with cream gravy

Chowhound

5. “The One with the Thanksgiving Flashbacks”

This is perhaps the most memorable of the Turkey day episodes for the visuals alone—first Joey, and then Monica, put their heads inside a raw turkey. To top it off, you get fun 1980s flashbacks. We see fat Monica and later skinny revenge Monica who amputates Chandler’s toe while trying to seduce him. Back to the present, Chandler reminisces about his lost toe, saying “I miss the tip. That’s the best part.” He then blurts out that he loves Monica while she dances with her head inside the raw turkey.

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Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

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Takeaway: Bread, rather than heads, belong inside a turkey. Keep your turkey on a roasting pan or try a Deep-Fried Turkey with Southern Rub recipe.

6. “The One Where Ross Got High”

When Rachel tries to make a trifle, the pages of her cookbook are stuck together, causing her to combine ingredients of two separate recipes. Only a completely clueless cook wouldn’t notice, and end up with a trifle with ladyfingers, jam, custard, beef sautéed with peas and onions, sliced bananas, and whipped cream. The only friend who likes it, unsurprisingly, is Joey of the insatiable appetite: “Custard? Good. Jam? Good. Meat? Good.” The reason Ross and Monica’s parents dislike Chandler is revealed: Ross blamed the pot-smoking smell in their college dorm room on Chandler.

Takeaway: Follow recipes from Chowhound’s website and Friendsgiving guide, rather than risk combining two recipes you may find in an old cookbook. (Or try our Drunken Prune-Mascarpone Trifle recipe.)

Drunken Prune–Mascarpone Trifle recipe

Chowhound

7. “The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs”

What kind of person hates dogs? “They are needy, they are jumpy, and you can’t tell what they are thinking and that scares me a little bit,” Chandler says after he reveals that his dog allergy is fake. Well, there you go. We also find out Ross doesn’t like ice cream: “It’s too cold!” he says. The best quote in this episode is from Joey, however. “This is all a moo point…it’s like a cow’s opinion. You know, it doesn’t really matter. It’s ‘moo.’”

Takeaway: Your dog is part of your family so guests kind of have to deal. Also, we say ice cream, especially pumpkin, should definitely be part of the meal plan, despite what Ross might think.  

pumpkin pie ice cream recipe

Chowhound

8. “The One with the Rumor”

Brad Pitt plays a bitter childhood friend of Ross’, and they admit they co-founded the “I Hate Rachel Green Club” in grade school, also concocting a rumor that Rachel was a hermaphrodite (okay, so some aspects of the show don’t quite hold up in 2019). Monica doesn’t want to make turkey this year because pregnant Rachel can’t stand poultry, Phoebe is vegetarian, and Chandler wants chicken. So, Joey insists he’d eat the entire bird, and proceeds to clean an entire 19-pound turkey on a dare from Monica. Of course, his crazy-huge meal has to be finished by a small slice of pie.

Takeaway: A wild card guest makes the evening more interesting, especially if he or she is hot. And whether or not you make an entire turkey, always, always have pie. But don’t be afraid to experiment with alternative birds.

9. “The One with Rachel’s Other Sister”

Speaking of wild guests, Christina Applegate plays Rachel’s other sister, and proceeds to insult every single friend at Monica’s Thanksgiving dinner. The crew has to eat very carefully on Monica’s new wedding china. Eventually, Chandler breaks a few dishes by accident with a baby bag. Also, Phoebe and Rachel forget to pick up the chocolate pie.

Takeaway: Don’t use your best dishware if you’re going to be crazy about it. Then again, use your fancy dishes. That’s what it’s for, especially on holidays. And again, never ever forget the pie. That’s just wrong.

chocolate pecan pie recipe

Chowhound

10. “The One with the Late Thanksgiving”

It doesn’t begin well when most of the friends are late to Thanksgiving dinner, which Monica didn’t even want to prepare in the first place because she’s so stressed and tired. (Relate?) Pissed off, Monica and Chandler lock them out. The four of them stick their contrite heads through the door opened as wide as the chain lock, and when they try to get Joey’s head out (while stuffing the back of his pants with food) he bursts through, spilling most of Monica’s dinner all over the floor. Still, this final Friendsgiving ends well. (Shocking, we know.) When Monica hears from the adoption agency that she and Chandler are getting a baby, she cries out, “This Thanksgiving kicks last Thanksgiving’s ass!”

Takeaway: Don’t be late to dinner.

Friendsgiving

Manny Rodriguez / Getty Images

* Leftovers Bonus:

Season 5, Episode 9: “The One with Ross’ Sandwich”

What to do with your leftovers? Make the sandwich that drives Ross crazy. It has layers of turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing, piled high on fluffy white bread. Also there’s a not-so-secret ingredient: The Moist Maker—a bread slice soaked in gravy shoved in the middle of the ‘wich.

Related Video: 5 Friendsgiving-Approved Wine Under $20



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Parker House Rolls

These famous Parker House rolls from the Boston Parker House Hotel are irresistibly soft and buttery. Bonus: They only require one rise! They're a great side dish for Thanksgiving dinner, a holiday buffet, or Sunday supper.

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Brew Up a Pot of Beer Chili Based on Your Favorite Style of Ale or Lager

smoked chili recipe

It’s a simple fact: chili and beer are meant to be together, whether you’re sipping a cold one on the side or putting some in the chili itself. Ideally, both! And since there’s a beer chili out there for nearly every type of ale or lager, you can match what you want to drink with what you’re cooking. The best beer chili recipe, then, largely depends on your personal preferences.

Most beer chili recipes call for either pale ales or darker stouts and porters. Sometimes they don’t really specify beyond “a bottle of beer,” but honestly, you can play pretty fast and loose with recommendations anyway. The best beer for chili is the one you like to drink! Lighter, overall less complex lagers can add a nice lift to your chili (and certainly serve as a refreshing way to wash it down), but more flavorful ales will make a bigger impact, taste-wise.

General Guidelines

Bottoms UpThe Best Glass for Every Type of BeerIn general, lighter chilis (think white chicken chili or pork chile verde) are particularly well matched with brighter, hoppy, acidic beers like IPA or even pilsners, while richer, darker, beefier chilis are best with roasty stouts and porters; the more robust the chili, the bigger the beer you can get away with, including imperial chocolate porters and cinnamon-spiced stouts.

Somewhere in the middle, nutty brown ales and malty red ales can enhance either style of chili. Play around with wildcards like chili pepper-infused brews too. Even fall’s ubiquitous pumpkin beers can have a place in chili if you want them to.

And beer-adjacent hard cider adds a sweeter note that works in autumnal pumpkin and squash chili. Basically, if you want to drink it, you can add it to your chili (with some exceptions—for instance, there aren’t any readily available sour lambic or barleywine chili recipes, probably for good reason, although you never know what you might like until you try it)!

In any case, just know that the less time your chili simmers, the stronger the beer component will be, in both taste and alcohol presence. Add your beer to the broth after any browning of meat, sauteing of vegetables, and draining of fat is done with, and simmer for at least an hour to help it mellow out and meld with all the other flavors.

Related Reading: The Best Secret Ingredients for Award-Winning Chili

Like other beer-infused treats, these all happen to be perfect for tailgating, but equally welcome on any cozy Sunday night—and some are quick enough for weekdays (even long-simmered ones can bubble away in your slow cooker while you’re at work). Just figure out what you’re in the mood to drink, then make one of these beer chilis with a spare bottle and save plenty for sipping alongside.

Beer Chili Recipes

Saison Turkey Chili

spicy turkey chili

Chowhound

Saisons are not one of the more common beer choices for chili, but their complex flavor profile—yeasty, fruity, dry, spicy, and often a little funky—could prove intriguing, and in concert with the spices and aromatics in this turkey chili, they won’t be too strange if you’re not used to the style. Still, you could always sub in a medium-bodied wheat beer or amber ale if you’re uncertain. Get the Saison Turkey Chili recipe.

Great Divide Colette Farmhouse Ale, $10.99+ on Drizly

This is the saison used in the recipe, but try your favorite farmhouse brew too.
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Eddie’s Award-Winning IPA Chili

As with other types of beer, there are lots of variations in IPA styles, but they tend to be fairly hoppy and at least somewhat bitter, a great complement to spicy chili (although a beer that’s super resinous or dank might overwhelm). This chili blends the beer with several types of peppers and chili powders, bacon, ground beef, beef chuck, and Italian sausage, among many other things. If that sounds a bit too labor-intensive, here’s an easy IPA chili you can whip up on a weeknight. But if you want something legitimately award-winning, you’ve got to put in a little more work. Get the Eddie’s Award-Winning IPA Chili recipe.

Short Rib Black Bean Coffee Stout Chili

how to doctor canned chili so it tastes homemade

Shutterstock

Stout in all its delicious forms is fun to experiment with in chili recipes, especially the darker, heartier versions that bubble up in fall and winter. Rich chocolate stout is sweet but not overly so, chipotle stout is a dream with chorizo chili, and coffee stout is toasty and a little bitter, making it a perfect match with luscious short ribs and black beans. Get the Short Rib Black Bean Coffee Stout Chili recipe.

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Chili with Porter

vegetarian chili

Chowhound

Porters come in a plethora of variations too, and are just as great in stick-to-your-ribs chilis, even if they don’t actually include meat. Using a smoked porter in chili is a smart move, but a standard chocolatey bottle works wonders too, as in this slow cooker butternut squash chili. Its inherent sweetness is amplified by the beer and cut with jalapeño and spices for a balanced bowl. Get the Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Chili with Porter recipe.

Jalapeño Pale Ale Chili

If you can acquire a bottle of jalapeño-infused pale ale, it only makes sense to use it in a chili—however, a regular pale ale will also work beautifully (in chicken chili too). Get the Jalapeño Pale Ale Chili recipe.

Birdsong Brewing Jalapeño Pale Ale, $2.69+ on Drizly

Makes sense to spike a pot of chili with a spicy beer.
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Easy Weeknight Newcastle Brown Ale Chili

The nutty flavors of a brown ale echo and amplify those of browned beef (but you can also try it in an Instant Pot duck chili if you’re craving a more unconventional bowl). Here, the beer also helps give a quick-simmered chili more depth and nuance. Get the Easy Weeknight Newcastle Brown Ale Chili recipe.

Doppelbock Texas Red Chili

chili con carne recipe

Chowhound

Toasty, malty doppelbocks (or double bocks) are another good choice for emphasizing caramelized, meaty flavors in chili—this one eschews the beans, although the inclusion of tomatoes technically bars it from being authentically Texan. It’s still tasty, especially with a dollop of sour cream on top and a cold beer on the side. Get the Doppelbock Texas Red Chili recipe.

Pumpkin Beer Chili

slow cooker chili recipe

Chowhound

‘Tis the season for pumpkin beers, and if you’re a fan, you’ll be happy to know they can be incorporated into chili too. This beefy chili also uses pumpkin puree and cinnamon, but don’t worry, it tastes nothing like dessert. Check out a vegetarian pumpkin chili (with pumpkin beer) if you don’t do meat, and in either case, consider topping your bowl with cheesy pumpkin beer biscuits. Get the Pumpkin Beer Chili recipe.

Don’t forget to check out the best beer subscription boxes to keep yourself in suds.

Related Video: The Difference Between Ale and Lager



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Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings

Rich, creamy, and deeply satisfying chicken and dumplings are made even easier in the Instant Pot. The secret to a tender dumpling is using cake flour.

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Reduce Paper Waste in the Kitchen with These Eco-Friendly Products

best products to reduce paper waste in the kitchen

Paper towels, paper napkins, paper coffee filters—we throw away a lot of paper when we go about our daily routines in the kitchen. This can really add up; in 2006, over one quarter of U.S. trash going into landfills was paper products. And, globally, we’re the number one country as far as paper towel use goes, outspending every other country in our quest to wipe away messes with quick, throw-away convenience. With long-term cost savings and environmental benefits to be had, why not invest in some more eco-friendly options to help lessen all this waste?

Take a look at these products (some of which are old-hat for other countries), which can help reduce the amount of paper that ends up in our kitchen trash bins!

Cellulose Dishcloths

Let’s kick this off with the heaviest hitter: the cellulose dishcloth! Also known as European dishcloths or Swedish dishcloths, these can be used in place of paper towels and conventional dishcloths. What makes the cellulose dishcloth so great? It’s:

  • Reusable
  • Durable
  • Super absorbent
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Machine washable
  • Sanitizable in the microwave
  • Compostable

Amala Highly Absorbent Magic Sponge Cloths, 3 for $5.99 at Target

Amala Highly Absorbent Magic Sponge Cloths

Target

At only $5.99 for three, and with the claim of replacing 45 paper towel rolls, this set of self-proclaimed “magic” sponge cloths might save you almost $40 (if you’re paying about a dollar per roll). Heck, even if it only replaces 10 rolls, you’re saving money!Buy Now

DII Swedish Dishcloths, 3 for $12.63 on Amazon

DII Swedish Dishcloths

Amazon

If style is important, spend a little more on these DII Swedish dishcloths, which come in a dozen patterns to match your kitchen, the holiday season, or just your mood. With either option, you get a versatile spongy cloth that wipes up liquids and messes, then rinses, microwaves, or washes clean to be used again and again. And check out the reviews for both products—people love these cellulose clothes! Try them out, and see how much less paper waste you create.Buy Now

Reusable Paper Towels

When it comes to changing habits, baby steps work better for some. If you are looking to make a change, but can’t quit that roll-on-the-counter, square-ripping action just yet, reusable paper towels might be a good start for you.

Bambooee Reusable Bamboo Towels, 20 sheets for $9.99 on Amazon

Bambooee Reusable Bamboo Towels

Amazon

These Bambooee reusable bamboo towels come in rolls like paper towels, but are made from bamboo, and can be reused and washed in the dishwasher or washing machine. Amazon reviewers tout how they’ve saved money and reduced their paper towel usage (and waste), even if they still use regular paper towels on occasion.

While these do come in rolls and fit on your paper towel holder, once you’ve torn off a few squares, most likely you’re going to store them on the counter or under your sink (even though one reviewer does try to return them to the roll after washing). This means that you only get that countertop-roll effect in the beginning, but even that may help you with the transition to more eco-friendly habits!

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Reusable Snapping Paper Towels, 12 sheets for $44.20 on Etsy

Reusable Snapping Paper Towels

The Tailored Home/Etsy

If you are truly beholden to that paper towel holder and tear-off format, then get ye to Etsy, for some reusable, snapping paper towels. You get 12 reusable cloth towels that snap off one at a time, but cleverly snap back together after rinsing or washing! With so many cloth-and-snap colors and combinations, this is a product that can be suited to your kitchen style and your personal taste. Real paper towel action, but with an eco-friendly soul.Buy Now

Related Reading: The Best Green Laundry Products

Cotton Coffee Filters

When you’re making coffee a few times a day, everyday (it’s not addiction, it’s love!), you’re likely in a routine where you brew, sip, and subsequently throw away a paper filter multiple times each day. While you can compost both the filter and grounds, if you don’t have access to composting services or a bin of your own, you might find that the daily disposal of this paper product quickly fills up your trash bin. The product to remedy that waste is a reusable cotton coffee filter.

CoffeeSock Reusable Drip Cone Filter, $12.99 on Amazon

CoffeeSock Reusable Drip Cone Filter

Amazon

With so many sizes and varieties, including types that can be used in a Chemex, you’re sure to find the right fit for your brew style. As with all the other products here, Amazon reviewers love CoffeeSock filters, sometimes noting improved flavor over paper filters. Though the clean up is more involved than just tossing a filter in the trash, reviewers like the eco-friendly aspect of the filter, and the fact that they don’t have to keep buying new paper filters over and over again.

Metal Coffee Filters

Unlike new-kid-on-the-block cotton coffee filters, metal coffee filters have been keeping paper filters out of landfills for a long time. Some users of metal coffee filters end up returning to paper, citing a taste difference they can’t get over (in which case, they should try cotton ones!); however, for those who prefer easier cleanup, this is the way to go.

GoldTone Reusable Coffee Filter, $5.99 on Amazon

GoldTone Reusable Coffee Filter

Amazon

Different size options fit different coffee makers, so make sure you choose the right one for your appliance. Since the grates of a metal filter don’t provide sieving as fine as with cloth, using a coarser grind of coffee will help keep grounds out of your cup (as one reviewer recommends).

Cloth Napkins

Taking a step even farther back from some of the newer products, we come to an age-old standard: the cloth napkin. Where once I had a stack of paper napkins near my kitchen table, I now have cloth napkins in a variety of colors. They’re stronger, prettier, and they don’t create any throwaway garbage. And, if you’re having a dinner party, they enhance the look of your table and place settings!

Bulk Cloth Napkins, 10 for $22.50 on Etsy

Bulk Cloth Napkins

Chow with Me/Etsy

While most department stores carry any number of different cloth napkins, like these Buffalo Plaid Napkins from Target, you’ll find the mother lode for colors, patterns, and sheer variety on Etsy. Say you’re making the switch to cloth napkins, but you don’t want to mess around with picking this fancy set or that matching set—you just need quantity so that you’re not doing laundry every couple of days in order to have clean napkins. Look for something like this set of bulk cloth napkins in shades of blue, which are hardy, washable, and most importantly, numerous! Note: These are 5 by 5 inches, but you can also order them in 8- and 10-inch square dimensions too ($26 and $32, respectively).Buy Now

French Linen Monogrammed Napkins, 4 for $65 on Etsy

French Linen Monogrammed Napkins

Sincerely Yours, Lauren/Etsy

If you are the type of person to color-coordinate, and you like extra-special details like monogrammed initials, try something like these French linen monogrammed pompom napkins. Deep, bold colors will add some drama and elegance to dinner party place settings, and customized initials are the perfect finishing touch. Paper napkins don’t even come close to creating the same sophistication.Buy Now

Silicone Pastry Mat

Finally, we have the silicone pastry mat, or specifically the brand name, Silpat. While there are certainly pros and cons to using silicone pastry mats over parchment paper, the most important “pro” for this discussion is the fact that the mats are reusable!

Half Sheet Silpat, $24.99 on Amazon

Half Sheet Silpat

Amazon

If you bake all the time, you might find you’re going through parchment paper like it’s going out of style—in which case, a silicone pastry mat like this could make a difference as far as paper waste goes. Use over and over again, cleaning each time, to avoid continuously buying and throwing away parchment paper.Buy Now

Let’s shake off some of these throwaway-culture habits, sacrificing a little convenience for more quality and less waste. Try picking just one product to replace your go-to paper version, and see how it feels—you might just fall in love with eco-friendly results!



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