News from the Nest, July 15

N + N Tip of the Day: Find yourself some friends with a lakehouse! We are in the last days of a lovely lake weekend with longtime friends and their daughter. Reading and relaxing on the dock were the order of the day, along with lots of good eats. Of course, Elsa is here and did her first real swimming. She had two sweet yellow lab role models who taught her the ropes and put up with her shenanigans.

We head home today and will stay put for a week or two. We started this year intentionally making no travel plans, which is good because we sure are traveling a good deal for two people without travel plans!

• If one can call a washcloth ‘pretty,’ then this is one pretty washcloth! The Chinese Wave knit stitch creates a lovely, textural pattern and appreciated loft in this washcloth. And then, there’s that picot edge!

• If you use circular needles and are unsure how to keep them untangled and organized, I’ve got you! I was that person until I implemented this simple circular needle organization system.

• One of the best reasons to grow zucchini is …zucchini fries! Made in the air fryer, they are a lower-fat, healthier alternative to traditional fried food. Coated in a delectable crust of breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning, these zucchini fries are crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed full of flavor.

• This red pepper jelly pairs particularly well with cheese, crackers, meats, and vegetables, and it adds a unique and flavorful twist to any dish. You can refrigerate, freeze or water bath can this jelly.

•  This Roasted Olives Recipe features a variety of olives, caperberries, garlic, herbs, and soft and mellow feta cheese to finish it off. It is a quick, easy and elegant olives appetizer that will surely impress!

• Use your slow cooker or crockpot to cook this White Chicken Chili and keep your kitchen cool. This flavor-FULL, healthy, and easy chicken chili combines lean protein, hearty beans, and a vibrant blend of spices to thrill your taste buds. 

• If you want to make a treat to celebrate an important person or event, this Chocolate Covered Oreos recipe is a great option! Dipping Oreo cookies in your favorite melted chocolate (milk, dark, or white) and adding fun sprinkles will elevate the cookies to something special! And not for nothing, you can make 2-3 dozen chocolate dipped Oreos in less than 1/2 hour, start to finish!

• Moist and Buttery with Swirls of Strawberries and Strawberry Jam, this easy-to-make Strawberry Coffee Cake will become a brunch staple. But why stop with breakfast or brunch? Skip the coffee and serve this Strawberry Jam Cake for dessert or as an after-school snack! Use any jam and fruit you want for this tasty treat.

• This Lemon Icebox Cookie Recipe is just the perfect cookie! Start with the best icebox cookie recipe and add a touch of lemon zest and lemon juice. Then, an easy lemon glaze provides some added zing for those who love their icebox cookies with icing. Add an optional fresh pansy to the cookie, and you have a lovely lemon dessert for a special occasion or just an ‘everyday’ occasion. 

• Loom potholders are having their day…again! The new and improved kits have fantastic color options and pattern instructions. This is a great craft for all ages and would be especially fun to bring along on vacations.

• Faux-ing is fun! This faux marble tray was made from an old acrylic box frame, incorporating easy marbleizing techniques. It’s almost a mistake-proof project, as you can easily paint over parts you aren’t happy with.

• I can’t say much more about our Vinegar Weed Killer than Tracey did in her comment,

“This stuff is absolutely bananas! I used 45% vinegar plus the recommended salt and dish soap. Within 2 hrs, the area I applied the solution to was brown! It’s absolute magic!! We have well water, I feel so much better about using this vs harsh chemicals!! Thank you so much!!.”

• Escape the heat and be productive at the same time! Print off our Den + Linen Closet Decluttering Checklist, which suggests items commonly found in those areas that you can most likely discard and never miss!

• When you choose to ‘re-home’ items from your home that you no longer need or want, it is always nice to know that these items will be put to good use. Check out this list of Where to Donate and Recycle Household Goods.

• Did you know that the average American wastes around two hundred pounds of food yearly?! Think about a) how bad that is for the environment and b) how much money we throw away by doing that! The most wasted food? Hands down, it is bread! Over 240 million slices of bread are trashed each year. Check out these tips for reducing food waste in your home.

• Here are instructions for cleaning a rusty cast iron skillet. After thoroughly cleaning, we will also tackle seasoning a cast iron skillet.