News from the Nest, July 22

Learn how to make a sourdough starter from scratch with our easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide. Truly, with just a little patience, some flour, water, and a scale, you can make your own sourdough starter. It’s perfect for beginners and experienced bakers alike.

• This blanket is relatively quick to knit due to the chunky yarn and large knitting needles. I love this diagonal basket weave stitch for a blanket pattern; it creates a lovely, textured knit.

• I tried to join the yarn at the end of a row for the longest time. I would tie a good square knot and then weave in the ends. And truthfully, it worked just fine. I’ve never had one come undone, and the yarn ends are easily woven into the edge of whatever I am knitting. However, I ended up wasting a lot of yarn and still had to weave in the ends once I was done knitting. Enter the Russian Join! This method of joining yarn is especially helpful when knitting a blanket.

• Once you’ve finished knitting your blanket, scarf, throw, washcloth, sweater, or other knit project, you need and want to block it. Sure, you could get away with not blocking, but after all the work you’ve put into it, don’t you want it to look its best? Especially if you are giving your knit project as a gift. Blocking your knitting does make a big difference in how your finished project looks, making it more finished and professional-looking. This post shows you how.

• When the tomatoes and basil from our garden are on repeat, we eat a lot of caprese and bruschetta during the summer. It is such a simple way to use the fresh bounty from our garden. This recipe for tomato mozzarella bruschetta is easy to prepare and can be made in advance, making it the perfect appetizer, light lunch, or meal accompaniment.

• Spaghetti Arrabiata is a simple yet flavorful dish that highlights the essence of Italian cooking. The name “Arrabiata” translates to “angry” in Italian, which aptly describes the spicy, fiery nature of the sauce, which results from the generous use of red chili pepper flakes.

• This low-fat, high-fiber cookie recipe is chock-full of gluten-free fiber sources like oat bran, chia seed, flaxseed, figs, and prunes. Six of these little fiber-rich snacks contribute 10 grams of fiber to your diet.

• Looking for a quick and simple Strawberry Dessert? This easy Strawberry Crisp Recipe requires just 15 minutes of hands-on time. Then the oven works its magic, resulting in strawberries swimming in their lovely syrup and topped with a crunchy, crumbly oatmeal streusel.

• This Brownie Cake Recipe isn’t just about taste and texture—it’s also incredibly versatile, making it the ideal dessert centerpiece for any gathering or celebration. And while it is not made with a store-bought brownie mix or cake mix, it is still a very simple recipe!

• This is a delicious Yellow Plum Jam Recipe, spiced with cardamom, cinnamon & ginger. It is the perfect recipe for canning, morning toast, or biscuit. And not for nothing, this jam makes a wonderful hostess gift idea.

• These Leather Cord Keepers are fairly quick to make and are so very useful! We use them to help identify each other’s charging cables and earbuds and to corral the tangle of earbud wires that inevitably settle at the bottom of your bag or purse. Not only are they pretty darn functional, but they make a perfect gift!

• Making seed paper offers a unique blend of craft, environmental stewardship, and gardening. It’s a project that turns waste paper into beautiful, plantable treasures, making it a perfect activity for those who love to repurpose, recycle, and bring a touch of nature into their lives. This post shares how to make seed paper that you can use to make stationery or include in cards.

• In our neverending quest to garden organically, one of the tools we rely upon is our beneficial insect friends’ help and hard work. Instead of relying on chemicals to combat aphids, we would much rather invite an army of ladybugs to let them snack on the nasty critters. This post discusses what beneficial insects are, why you want them in your garden, and how to attract them to your garden.

• This office and crafts room declutter checklist includes twenty-seven items commonly found in offices and crafts rooms that you can most likely discard and won’t miss!

• Tips & suggestions for Planning Your First Apartment. Additionally, a free, printable checklist will help make moving to a first apartment successful.

• You CAN eat well for Less! Specific, actionable tips and suggested groceries to buy on a budget that are still healthy.