News From the Nest, August 3

New on the Blog

This time of year, when your kitchen counter is overflowing with peaches, this Peach Cobbler with Cardamom is exactly what you need to make before they go bad. We added the cardamom almost on a whim, and now it’s the thing that makes this dessert sing — warm and a little floral, without stealing the show from the peaches. A buttery buttermilk-and-cream biscuit topping gets dropped right over the fruit for that classic craggy cobbler top.

Knitting and Crochet

When several of you asked for a crochet potholder pattern, we delivered! This Crochet Potholder Pattern uses the Thermal Stitch, which uses just simple single crochet to create a double-thick fabric — no need to crochet two separate pieces and sew them together. I’m a knitter at heart who picked up crochet mainly for borders, so if I can master this stitch, you can too. It really is a lovely pattern.

If your knitting patterns and yarn stash live in a state of chaos, our Knitting Journal and Organizer Printable might just save your sanity. It was a full year in the making, with printable pages for tracking patterns you want to knit, cataloging your yarn inventory, and keeping all your go-to reference charts in one binder. One reader told me it finally helped her keep better track of her knitting “stuff,” and honestly, that’s exactly the goal.

Recipes from the Kitchen

Confession time: I once sat and peeled the skins off a whole batch of cooked chickpeas just to get smoother hummus — never again! Our Creamy Hummus recipe skips that nonsense entirely thanks to a simple brining trick that softens the skins right in the pot. It comes together on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot, and the smoky, spicy walnut topping is what really sets it apart from anything you’d scoop out of a tub at the store.

I’m thrilled to share Chef Bud’s Shrimp and Grits, a recipe so good I made it twice in one week. Creamy, cheesy grits are topped with plump shrimp and a savory country ham gravy, and one reader told me her husband — not exactly a seafood guy — asked for it to be added to his regular rotation. If you’re new to the dish, it’s a true Southern classic, and this version does it proud.

When we want an easy lunch that travels well, these Hummus Wraps are our go-to. They come together with just hummus, a good wrap, and whatever vegetables you have on hand — spinach and broccoli sprouts are our favorite combo. One little trick makes all the difference: keep your hummus on the thicker side so it doesn’t ooze out the moment you take a bite.

Put that extra sourdough starter to work instead of pouring it down the drain with these Sourdough Discard Waffles. They’re crisp outside, tender inside, and just tangy enough without tasting sour, and buttermilk keeps them light. Best of all, they freeze beautifully, so a weekend batch means easy breakfasts are covered for weeks.

If you’ve got a peck of plums and have never canned before, our Easy Plum Jam is the perfect place to start. It skips the pectin altogether, letting the plums’ flavor shine, and a sprig of rosemary adds the loveliest, subtly piney note if you’re up for it. One reader who calls herself a non-canner said even she could pull this one off …just what we love to hear!

This Pepper Jelly is one of my most-requested condiments, and for good reason — sweet bell peppers and spicy jalapeños balance out beautifully with a little tang from the vinegar. Spoon it over a block of cream cheese with crackers, and you’ve got an effortless appetizer that always disappears first at a party. A reader just left a five-star review, calling it delicious and noting excellent instructions…I mean, you can’t get higher praise than that.

For the four-legged members of the family, these Cheddar Cheese Dog Treats are a favorite around here. They’re made with whole wheat flour, wheat bran, and real cheddar, so you know exactly what’s going into them, and they keep for weeks in an airtight container — if they last that long!

Ever get halfway through a recipe only to discover you’re out of tomato sauce? My post on Substitutes for Tomato Sauce has you covered with sixteen different swaps, from the obvious to the surprising. It’s a handy one to bookmark for those nights when a last-minute grocery run just isn’t happening.

Arts and Crafts

These handmade Linen Cocktail Napkins with Crochet Edge hold a special place in my heart, since the story behind them is really about my grandmother and her love of handmade linens. You don’t need a fancy sewing machine or expert-level skills — just a straight seam and a simple crochet border to finish the edge. They make a beautiful, thoughtful gift for anyone who appreciates the little touches.

After receiving a waxed amaryllis bulb as a gift, I was hooked and had to figure out how to make my own — and now I’m sharing exactly how in How to Wax an Amaryllis Bulb. These self-sustaining beauties need no soil or water to bloom, and making your own instead of buying them pre-waxed can save you quite a bit of money. A little melted paraffin, a dip, and some spray paint, and you’ve got a gorgeous, no-fuss centerpiece or gift. Plan ahead for holiday gifts!

I inherited my mom’s long feet and, unfortunately, her dry heels too, so I came up with this Heel Balm Recipe to keep mine soft without the greasy mess of store-bought tubs. Shea or cocoa butter, beeswax, and a few nourishing oils melt together into a balm that tucks neatly into a wind-up tube, so it’s mess-free to apply. It makes a lovely handmade gift for stockings or a homemade spa package.

House and Home

After more than a year of settling into our “new” home, I finally tackled the kitchen in my Kitchen Organization Tips and Ideas post. My favorite trick is creating little “command centers” — grouping everything you need for coffee or baking, so you’re not hunting all over the kitchen. It’s full of simple, mostly inexpensive swaps that make a real difference in how a kitchen actually functions day to day.

When a family friend mailed me one of my grandmother’s embroidered samplers, it needed a good cleaning before I could hang it — and that’s how this post on How to Clean Vintage Linens, Lace & Embroidery came to be. With just an oxygen cleaner, warm water, and a lot of patience, decades-old stains lift right out without damaging delicate fabric or embroidery floss. If you’ve got a box of inherited linens languishing in a closet, this is the gentle process to entrust your treasures to.