News From The Nest, January 19

New on the Blog

This week, I’m sharing the first of several posts on fermenting. Researchers have determined that fermented foods are among the most beneficial for your health, and over the past couple of years, I’ve worked to introduce more of them into our diet. Milk Kefir is hands-down the easiest fermented food you’ll ever make. You simply add kefir grains to milk, leave it on your counter for 12-24 hours, and strain. That’s it. The whole process takes maybe five minutes of actual hands-on time. And it’s significantly healthier than other fermented foods, including sauerkraut. Making it at home costs pennies compared to buying it at the store, where a small bottle can run you $4 or $5. This post goes into great detail about the health benefits, where to get grains, troubleshooting, and all the ways you can use kefir beyond just drinking it. I think you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was at how simple this is.

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From the Knit + Crochet Studio

Whether you’re just starting out with yarn crafts or have been knitting for years, understanding your materials makes all the difference. This article on Yarn for Knitting and Crochet breaks down everything from fiber types to yarn weights, plus how to read those sometimes confusing yarn labels. I also include a free printable Yarn Weights Chart that you can keep handy. If you’ve ever wondered why a knit pattern specifically calls for DK weight instead of worsted, or what ply actually means, this post has you covered.

One of the most frustrating knitting issues, especially for newer knitters, is twisted stitches. In this post, we walk you through exactly what causes stitches to twist, how to spot them before they become a problem, and how to fix them when they do. Once you understand the basics, you’ll catch these errors before they turn into bigger headaches.

These linen cocktail napkins combine simple sewing and basic crochet for a beautiful finish. From start to finish, each napkin takes about 2.5 hours, though the hand-sewing and crochet portions are completely portable, so you can work on them anywhere. Even if you’re working with a decades-old sewing machine 🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️ and you’re new to crochet, this tutorial walks you through every step, from cutting the fabric to creating those crisp corners.

These Crock Pot Pinto Beans are flavored with onions, jalapeños, garlic, chipotle in adobo, and warming spices for a versatile side dish that’s both economical and delicious. The best part? No soaking required for pinto beans. Just rinse them, add all your ingredients to the slow cooker. This article includes a helpful conversion chart for making these beans in an Instant Pot or on the stovetop, along with instructions for soaking your beans if you prefer. They’re fantastic over baked sweet potatoes, black rice bowls with avocado, or mashed up as refried beans for tacos and burritos.

This Cheesy Potato Soup combines roasted garlic, russet or Yukon potatoes, cheddar cheese, bacon, and a touch of sour cream for the ultimate comfort food. A whole head of roasted garlic adds mellow sweetness that balances perfectly with the smoky bacon and sharp cheese. This yummy, stick-to-your-ribs soup stores well in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Serve it with crusty sourdough bread and a simple salad for a satisfying meal.

Put that sourdough starter to work with this easy Sourdough Flatbread recipe. Combining sourdough starter with Greek yogurt creates tender, slightly chewy flatbreads perfect for wraps, dipping, or even as a pizza base. These versatile flatbreads work beautifully as naan for Indian dishes, as tortillas for tacos, or simply with warm, melted butter.

Skip buying expensive jams and make this Meyer Lemon and Dried Fig Conserve with dried figs, walnuts, pears, honey, and white wine. Unlike traditional jam, this conserve has a thicker, chunkier texture loaded with nuts and fruit. This versatile spread shines on a charcuterie board with Manchego or goat cheese, makes an elegant grilled cheese sandwich with brie and prosciutto, tops morning yogurt or oatmeal, or serves as a dollop alongside pork roast.

Make your own Homemade Vegetable Broth using vegetables, herbs, and aromatics for a much more flavorful result. This economical recipe is perfect for using up vegetable scraps you’ve saved in the freezer. The broth can be made on the stovetop in 1-1.5 hours or in a slow cooker on low for 6 hours. The article includes lists of vegetables to use and vegetables to avoid. Store the finished broth in the refrigerator for 3-5 days, freeze in jars, or pressure can for pantry storage. The article includes complete canning instructions.

These Mini White Chocolate Mint Mousse should be on your list of desserts for easy entertaining. You can make the mousse a day ahead, and the mini size means you get that sweet satisfaction without overdoing it. They’re built on a base of mint chocolate cookies, which fit perfectly in the little Weck jars. Light, refreshing, and just the right amount of indulgence.

From The Arts + Crafts Studio

Looking for a sweet Valentine’s Day craft project? These DIY Conversation Heart Pillows use foam pads, pink fleece, and iron-on letters to create adorable decorative pillows shaped like those classic candy hearts.

Transform ordinary wood into stunning faux marble with this clever Faux Marble Console Table tutorial. The project combines low-grain wood (such as poplar) with acrylic table legs to create an elegant custom piece. I love the ‘faux marble’ process, so I’m sharing an in-depth how-to, complete with a video for you visual learners!

Even without professional art training, you can create an Abstract Painting using acrylic paints and gold leaf. The tutorial shares helpful guidelines, such as determining a loose design (diagonal, cross, Z-shape, or triangle), choosing triadic colors that work well together, layering colors for depth, and keeping your wrist loose while painting. The post includes a time-lapse video of the entire painting process sped up by 6x for easy reference.

In The Garden

With spring seed catalogs arriving in mailboxes and online shopping carts, it’s time to talk about timing for starting vegetable seeds indoors. Here in southeastern North Carolina, we’re Zone 8a, which means our last frost date is typically around mid-March to early April. Most seeds need to be started 6-8 weeks before that last frost date, which puts us right at mid-January to early February for things like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant.

If you’re in a colder zone, your last frost date is later in the year, so you’d add a few weeks to that timeline and start seeds later. If you’re in a warmer zone, your last frost date comes earlier, so you’d actually need to start seeds earlier in the calendar year. The key is working backward from your last frost date, which you can easily find online for your specific area.

Once you’ve got your timing down and your seedlings are ready to go into the ground, it helps enormously to know which plants play well together. Our Companion Planting Chart and Guide shows you which vegetables benefit from being planted near each other and which ones should be kept apart. Some plants repel pests that would otherwise attack their neighbors, while others improve soil nutrients or provide shade. It’s one of those old-fashioned gardening techniques that actually works.

As N+N subscribers, you have free, on-demand access to all of our patterns, checklists, and other printables. Check it out here. And remember, your super-secret password is always at the bottom of Monday’s email.

Did you know the average American wastes around 200 pounds of food each year? This post, Tips to Reduce and Stop Food Waste, shares more than 40 practical suggestions to help your wallet and the environment. Simple changes make a big difference

Make your kitchen work for you with these Kitchen Organization Tips and Ideas designed to help you arrange your space for maximum efficiency. The key principle is to be mindful of where you tend to work and ensure you have the tools you need in those areas. For example, if you typically work at one specific counter when baking, house those regularly used baking tools in the drawer directly below that workspace rather than at the farthest part of the kitchen.