November 2022

Recipes & how-Tos

Secret Chocolate Chip COOkies

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 CUPS all-purpose flour
• 1 TEASPOON baking soda 
• 1/2 TEASPOON salt
• 1/2 CUP unsalted butter (room temp, this is crucial to the perfect cookies)
• 1/2 CUP firmly packed light brown sugar
• 6 TABLESPOONS granulated sugar
• 1 large egg (this means you think to yourself “poor chicken”)
• 1 TEASPOON vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 to 2 CUPS chocolate chips - this is all up to you! 

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, sift the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt), set aside.

2. In another large bowl, using a mixer at medium speed, beat together the butter and sugars until smooth and mixed together well. Add the egg and vanilla and mix on low speed until combined.

3. Gradually add the flour mixture and mix with a wooden spoon until just combined - be careful not to overmix here.

4. Add chocolate chips and stir until just combined - same thing avoid over mixing. IF the dough is warm, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill in fridge for about 10 minutes. 

5. Scoop out your balls , roll them and place them on your baking sheets. You can use a hefty 1/4 cup to give you an approximate size. 

6. Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until the bottoms/edges are lightly browned. Let cool for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Cool for at least 15 minutes (this is hard, I know).

7. ENJOY!

Diy Headboard

WHAT YOU’LL NEED
• Sheet of plywood
• Jigsaw
• Palm Sander, Clamps, Level (optional)
• Upholstery fabric of your choice
• Batting or foam (can be found at Fabricland)
• Staple Gun
• 2 2x4s, cut to the height of your bed frame

HOW TO DO IT
1. Regardless of your shape or design the you intend on creating, the same method applies. First things first, measure your bed frame for width and desired height. Using these dimensions, get 2.5x the height of your eventual headboard for batting (1.5x if using foam) and 1.5x of upholstery fabric.

2. Cut your sheet of plywood to desired dimensions (this is where someone handy with tools comes into play).

3. Once you have your sheet, trace your desired cuts or patterns. I opted for a soft scallop. Cut to pattern. Sand edging down.

4. Wrap your batting/foam around your headboard and staple into place. If using batting, double up on the front and bring the half piece up and over the top of the headboard. Staple in place. Here you’re looking to bulk up the headboard.

5. Then take the upholstery fabric and lay it flat onto a large surface. Place your headboard down onto it. You want to place it so that you have about 1 foot of fabric below the headboard. Pull it up from the bottom and staple it to the back. Next work from the top. If you’re working with curved edges (like my scalloped top), you’ll want to cut straight up into the fabric just below the apex of the curve. This will then allow you to pull the fabric tight against those curves. And pull tight before you staple down, at this point a second set of hand will be helpful. *Feel free to cut extra fabric if needed.

6. Once you have your top and bottoms stapled into place, tightly pull in either side and staple. Attach your 2x4s to act as legs. We simply pushed out bed frame to keep the headboard in place but you can attach it directly to your frame.

Sun-Dried CHerry Tomatoes

This recipe is a little bit loosey goosey. As your garden yields or quantities may vary, it’s mostly about the combination of ingredients proportionally.

INGREDIENTS

• 1-2 packages of cherry tomatoes (While garden grown is best, from the grocery store is just as good) "
• 2 TEASPOONS of kosher salt
• 2 TEASPOONS of dried parsley
• 2 TEASPOONS of garlic powder
• 2 TEASPOONS of dried thyme
• 4 sprigs of fresh oregano
• Olive Oil

METHOD

1. Cut your cherry tomatoes in half, add to a large bowl.

2. Drizzle a good amount of olive oil and add your salt and spices. Using your hands, gently mix together.

IF USING A DEHYDRATOR:
3. Place your tomatoes onto the various trays ensuring that they aren’t touching and set your dehydrator to 8 hours at a medium high heat (140˚F to 160˚F). Depending on the amount of tomatoes you’re dehydrating you may need to add a few hours, takes about 8-12 hours.

IF USING THE OVEN
3. Set oven as low as it goes. If you have a convection setting, utilize that. Place your tomatoes on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Leave them in the oven for about 2-3 hours before checking on them. They may need as much as 5 hours. When ready, you should see no more tomato juices and a soft-leathery texture on the outside.

4. ENJOY! There’s really nothing that can’t be elevated with these bad boys.