News from the Nest, July 22
Hello Friends!
We are living in crazy times! No matter where you live, the world has seemed more unsettled lately. While we all come with our own beliefs, we are all passengers on this same rocking boat on these turbulent seas. Let’s all resolve to treat our fellow passengers with kindness and compassion as we chart these stormy seas. It doesn’t benefit anyone when we, the passengers, make the already rocking boat rock even more!
![Dog under bench.](https://nourishandnestle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Elsa-under-bench-1-of-1-1024x576.jpg)
Table of Contents
New on the Blog
I’ve published several sourdough and sourdough discard recipes and was prompted by several of you to publish a sourdough starter recipe. Your wish is my command!
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.
From the Knit Studio
- 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.
- And here’s a tutorial for the Diagonal Basketweave Stitch if you decide to make the blanket.
- 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.
From the Kitchen
- 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.
From the Arts + Crafts Studio
- 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 the Garden
- 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.
Around the Home
- 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.
Some Fun Finds and a Few Favorites
Some of these links may be Amazon affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from the sale of these products to help defray the costs of operating this site, but the price you are charged is not affected. You can see my full disclosure policy here.
- I wish I had purchased these earlier! While I’m generally a supporter of insects, there are a few that I have zero tolerance for: flies, fruitflies, mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and roaches. Somehow, we let a few houseflies in, and despite my best damp washcloth swatting technique (it’s something to behold!), I wasn’t having the effect necessary. Friends of ours swear by this Zevo Flying Insect Trap, so I bit the bullet and purchased them. I plugged it in last night and checked first thing this morning, and it has already caused the demise of two nasty houseflies!! I’m sold!
- This Keurig Single Serve Maker is 40% off. It’s a perfect gift for young adults heading off to college.
- Double Wall Coffee Mugs are 50% off.
Well, friends, Elsa gets to go to play with dogs today, and I’ll spend the day watching her play on the camera! Enjoy your day!
Hi Lynn…..Yesterday I made “Baked Beans from Scratch” for the fourth time. I did them in the crockpot (I don’t like to use the oven until the overnight temp gets below 10 Cel degrees!) They have turned out delicious, as usual. Thanks for the recipe. Jennie Mulholland in Canada
Hi Jennie,
Thanks so much for the compliment! I’m tickled that you are enjoying them so much. My husband is quite the baked beans guy and he loves them as well.
I really appreciate you taking the time to write in and comment. It really helps a small blog like mine.