News from the Nest, February 10

New on the Blog

There’s something undeniably comforting about a slow-cooked meal that fills your home with rich, savory aromas. This Slow Cooker Pork Casserole is inspired by the traditional French cassoulet, which is a rustic dish that combines white beans, pork, sausage, and aromatic herbs to create deep, satisfying flavors. While a classic cassoulet can take hours, or even days, to prepare, this version simplifies the process by using a slow cooker. It delivers the same hearty, melt-in-your-mouth goodness with minimal effort.

From the Knit + Crochet Studio

• I am relatively new to crochet, so my crochet patterns are pretty basic. You can crochet this Lemon Peel Stitch Washcloth, including the sweet scalloped edge, if you know how to chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet, and slip stitch. And if you need a quick tutorial or a refresher, I made a video showing all the essential skills needed to crochet the washcloth.

• Over the years, I’ve written a few knit and crochet patterns specifically for or ideally suited for use in the kitchen. Those patterns include trivets, pot holders, and dishcloths. You can see all those Kitchen Knit and Crochet projects here.

From the Kitchen

• This healthy Fig and Butternut Squash Salad celebrates the season’s best flavors with arugula, butternut squash, and dried figs. A maple and curry dressing finishes this delightful salad.

• This flavor-FULL, healthy, easy chicken chili combines lean protein, hearty beans, and a vibrant blend of spices to satisfy your taste buds. Whether hunkering down on a chilly evening or serving up a family feast, this Healthy White Chicken Chili Recipe is a crowd-pleaser that won’t derail your wellness goals.

• Packed with a variety of fresh vegetables, tender barley, and a touch of umami from dried mushrooms, this Vegetable and Barley Soup is a delicious and nutritious way to celebrate the season. The addition of cannellini beans boosts the protein content, making the soup even more satisfying. The rich flavors and simple preparation will surely make it a staple during soup season.

• If you have leftover cans of pumpkin from Thanksgiving in your pantry, consider making Homemade Pumpkin Dog Treats. This guide also covers the different grains you can incorporate into your pumpkin treats and provides tips on how to dehydrate them to prevent mold from forming on your homemade dog treats.

• Whether you’re hosting a gathering or simply treating yourself, this elegant dessert, which can be made ahead of time and requires no oven time, will impress with its vibrant color and luscious taste. Ideal for those who crave a simple yet sophisticated treat, this blackberry tart is a must-try for any dessert lover.

• If you’re looking for an easy and quick treat that’s also fun to make, Chocolate-Covered Oreos is an excellent choice! Simply dip Oreo cookies into your favorite melted chocolate—milk, dark, or white—and add colorful sprinkles to enhance their appeal. Best of all, you can prepare 2 to 3 dozen chocolate-dipped Oreos in under half an hour, from start to finish! Use heart sprinkles for Valentine’s Day treats or these darling Easter sprinkles for that holiday.

• When I was growing up, my all-time favorite birthday dessert was an Angel Food Cake with a Chocolatey/Kahlua Frosting and then sprinkled all over with candied almonds. I minified that recipe with these Angel Food Cupcakes.

• Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps are a fantastic replacement for single-use plastic wrap or aluminum foil. They’re reusable, which means you save money and reduce waste in the long run. And, not for nothing, they are easy to make! This post shows you how.

• In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a DIY heated neck wrap using buckwheat and lavender at home. This wrap can be microwaved for warmth or stored in the freezer for a cold neck or shoulder treatment. The addition of lavender to the heat pack enhances its relaxing properties.

Around the House + Home

• Downsizing your home, whether by choice or necessity, can be a daunting task. Having recently gone through this process, I want to share ten helpful tips for seniors, retirees, empty nesters, or anyone considering a move to a smaller space. These are ten downsizing strategies that worked for us, as well as some insights we realized afterward would have been beneficial.

• I’ve mentioned my Grandma before; I’d have to say that she’s my spirit animal. Grandma Pauline was the one who instilled an appreciation of freshly baked bread and treats, hand-embroidered bed and table linens, and fresh produce from the garden. Grandma lived with us for most of my first 16 years on the planet. A few years ago, I received one of her embroidered samplers in the mail! She had embroidered this for some family friends when we lived in Hawaii. They have since passed away, and there was a note on the back of this that it should go to me! Our friend’s niece tracked me down on Facebook and sent it my way! You can only imagine what a lovely surprise that was. Anywho…after 50 years, that sampler needed to be cleaned. I researched the best way to clean vintage linen and am sharing that here.

• Elsa is a BUSY pup. To say we’ve never had such a busy girl is an understatement. To that end, we are always looking for ways to keep her occupied. Enter the Busy Box! If you have a busy pup, this is for you (and I’d love to hear your tips, too!) I fill a box with smaller boxes into which I tuck treats. Then I close it by criss-crossing the flaps (I’m sure that there is a technical term for this way to close a box, but I don’t know it). Yes, there is cleanup. But I’m happy to trade 5 minutes of cleaning up shredded cardboard for an hour of her being occupied.