Author Archives: Sarah

From Crust to Crouton

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Yesterday we taught you how to infuse olive oil with rosemary and today we will teach you how to put it to good use.  There are a hundred and one ways to use rosemary infused olive oil, but which is the easiest one?  Adding flavor to homemade croutons!

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“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without.”  I try as best as I can to live by this mantra, which is how I first came to make my own croutons.  I bought two baguettes (something you should avoid) thinking I would eat them both immediately, but a few days later the remaining baguette was hard as a rock.  I could have killed someone with this baguette.  Birds would have ate the murder weapon. How’s that for the perfect crime?  I decided to forgo the murder and figure out what to do with my baguette bat.

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Rosemary Infused Olive Oil

by Sarah | 2 Comments

Rosemary is our ingredient of the season. A few weeks ago we infused vodka with rosemary and made bloody marys; today we’re infusing olive oil.  Find other rosemary concoctions here. 

Oil infusion may be my new favorite hobby.  I’m a first timer, but I’m here to rave about it.  Make this rosemary infused olive oil and thank yourself while cooking all your future meals.  I felt like a little chemist with the measuring, pouring, heating and transferring (sorry to all the chemists I’ve just insulted).  Oil infusion may not be the most exciting or glamorous activity for a Friday night, but it’s so stinkin’ easy and it’s plain stinkin’ too.  It makes your entire home smell super fresh.  The green herbs combined with warm olive oil ease your senses into an aromatic daydream.  Personally I was skipping along green hillsides in Italy.  I’m excited to try other herbs and even fruits like lemons and oranges.  A little basket of different oils and yummy breads would make a great gift for a chef or a snacker or an anyone.

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Pack Your Bags: Spring Backpacking

by Sarah | 1 Comment

Spring is a great time to hit the trails.  The weather is warm, but not too hot and the creeks are overflowing with water.  Lots of water is a good thing.  That means you’ll have enough to drink, cook and wash with.  Nothing is worse than hiking to a campsite and realizing the creek has run dry.  Backpacking may seem a little intimidating if you have never gone before, but by the time you finish reading this post, you’ll realize you can do it to!

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In this segment of Pack Your Bags, we’ll cover everything you need in your pack for a weekend trip.  In the future we will fill you in on some basic backpacking 101 information as well as what to eat on the trail.  If you are preparing for your first hike, make it an easy overnighter.  That way you will get a feel for hiking and have a better idea of what it entails for future weekend-long hikes.

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In Season: Constellations

by Sarah | 2 Comments

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I think most of the U.S. was hit with a dose of summer temps this past week. Between warm evenings, the smell of neighbors grilling dinner, and the full moon, there was plenty of energy pulling us outside, and once there we immediately turn our heads to the sky. Spying the big dipper and Orion’s belt are easy, but this summer we’re making an effort to learn a few more constellations. And so, inspired by the hopes and wonder that fill our star-gazing evenings, we’ve found a mix of home goods to remind you that staying up last night to find Cassiopeia was totally worth it.

I’m a big fan of having educational artwork hanging up in my home.  A moon phase print and this constellation poster are on my wish list.

Glow-in-the-Dark Constellations seems like a great book for beginners and families that would like to know a little bit more about the night sky.  This book along with a handmade constellation bedroll would be a great birthday present for a summer baby.

Grab an old scarf, thread a needle and try your hand at this DIY constellation scarf.

How awesome is this DIY constellation light?  Make one and let us know how it goes.

Or you could buy one of these swoon-worthy pendant lamps.

I’ve been toying around with the idea of making constellation pillows for awhile.  I didn’t even think of doing this.

I’m not sure I have ever described a quilt as epic, but I have now. Look at that detail!

This constellation wall detail is so subtle that I didn’t even notice it the first time I look at this bathroom makeover.

See more constellation coolness here.

Image from the Library of Congress archive.

Sock Bun Tutorial

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Today I learned that a summer cold-front in North Carolina means low eighties. Oh. My.  This sweet little sock bun tutorial perfect for what are sure to be sweaty days ahead.  Sock buns are magical.  Why you ask? I’m surprised you don’t already know, but I’ll tell you anyway.  They have the power to transform dirty, unkept hair into a tame, polished mane in a matter of minutes, especially for those of us (looking into a mirror as I type this) who hate spending time getting ready.  Sock buns are also perfect for work and play because while they’re polished they’re also SO STINKIN’ CUTE (katie here : after reading this post, I noticed that Sarah thinks sock buns are just a wee bit cute.). We all need something cute in our lives and today it’s the sweetest little (or big!) bun that has a secret sock inside of it.

Our sister Kristin is the sock bun queen, and how great are those pink lips and hair tips?  She wears her bun like no other, so who better to show us how to rock the sock?  Kris also put a sock bun in Virginia’s hair, which is just past shoulder length, so don’t shy away from the sock if your hair isn’t quite as long as Kristin’s.

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Roasted Rosemary Tomato Skewers

by Sarah | 6 Comments

Rosemary is our ingredient of the season.  Sometimes we drink it, sometimes we spray it and other times we bake with it. Oh, and sometimes we water it too.

Roasted Rosemary Tomatoes are a great addition to any meal! Seriously, they’re the best.  The rosemary skewers also make presentation a breeze, which is why I used mine as a cheese plate accompaniment.

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Packed full of flavor, but not overpowering, roasted rosemary tomatoes are delicious in couscous, quinoa and lettuce salads.  They also make a yummy topping for crackers and melba toast paired with some crumbles of cheese.  Roasted rosemary tomatoes are especially delicious in fettuccine alfredo, pasta primavera and margarita pizza or as a dinner side. Enough about how they taste, let’s talk about how roasted rosemary tomatoes are prepared.

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In Season: Publications

by Sarah | 1 Comment

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As we’re gearing up for a spring and summer of fresh veggies, we like to turn to our cookbook shelf for inspiration, and over the years, have come to realize that our favorite cookbooks are the ones that are organized by season! It makes dinner (and dessert) planning so easy when you go to the farmers’ market, pick up a pile of fruit and veg, and then open your cookbook to spring and see that you have the ingredients for a handful of recipes! Today we’re sharing the publications that we love, and they are all united by their seasonal organization.

 

We love Marisa, the creator of the blog Food in Jars.  She’s a food writer and canning teacher, uh, hellllllo, dream job!  Her books, Food in Jars and Preserving by the Pint, are both laid out by the season, making them great canning guides throughout the year.

From the Cook’s Garden is the perfect source for your evening dinner dilemma.

Rustic Fruit Desserts will inspire your desserts (and breakfasts, if you’re like us!) throughout the seasons.

 Taproot is a seasonal quarterly that screams (or maybe gently sings) local authentic living and community connectivity.  It is a beautiful publication from start to finish and as of one minute ago, I ordered my yearly subscription.

Planning a potluck? Pick up Handmade Gatherings: Recipes and Crafts for Seasonal Celebrations and Potluck Parties.  It’s another goodie by Ashley English that offers up party ideas, arts and crafts and recipes that are meant to build community via collaboration.

Keep your container garden growing all year long with Continuous Container Gardens.

Do you have any favorites we didn’t mention? We would love some new leads!

Image from the Library of Congress archive.

Fresh Guacamole

by Sarah | 4 Comments

Happy Cinco De Mayo friends!  In the celebration of Mexican heritage and pride we wanted to pass along our guacamole recipe.  Guacamole is simple to whip up, which is why everyone should know how to make it by heart!  I also learned how to store guac without it turning brown, like not even a tinge brown so read on muchachos.  Arriba arriba!

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Seasoned View Vol. 2

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Each month we share our Seasoned View. Snapshots of nature taken by the Seasoned sisters. Find last month’s here.

Happy Cinco De Mayo friends! You can download any or all of the images to use as backgrounds for your computer or even phone and tablet wallpapers.  Simply click on the download link below each photo and save the image.  Enjoy!

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Download shell shocker.

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Download papery peonies.

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Download dandelion seeds.

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Download bayside boat.

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Download funky dancers.

A note about the last photo:  It was taken in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia on May 2, 2011.  I was later told that the creator of these funky creatures is a really cool dad.  He posts these up around Philly for his daughter to find during walks and car rides.  Super sweet, right? Think about that while they dance around your desktop!

In Season: Cool Camping Gear

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wpa_hikingI could spend hours in outdoor adventure stores and usually I do, but I always walk away with only the most sensible, reasonable and necessary purchases.  When I win the lottery, I’m going to finally buy all of those funky, hip, not-so-necessary purchases that I’ve coveted all along…

I’m in love with this hammock/tent combo, Tentsile. Who doesn’t love a portable treehouse?

I already have a few swiss army knives otherwise I’d buy this Matrioshka Classic SD Limited Edition.

If I had unlimited funds for fun camping gear you know I’d pick up this melon or this field of dreams tent.

Now that we’re on the subject of sweet tents, check out this VW Camper Van.  I suppose it’s the next best thing after an actual VW!

I’m inspired to make some guest bed rolls because of these.

Coffee is a must on the trail, which is why this is going to be my next backpacking purchase.  No more cowboy coffee for me.

Katie here : I know I’m getting old, because I want to make one of these super comfy camping chairs my next purchase. I think I’ll have the perfect double-use excuse once we sign up little A for soccer (just a three-year wait!) 🙂

We love our headlamps, and not just for camping. They’re great on trains, in cars, at bonfires on the beach.

While we definitely can’t afford it, we love this bear sleeping bag. And what an interesting/tragic story of design inspiration.

Lastly, a product that I wish every family had: the LifeStraw.  It filters your water quickly and efficiently.  Clean water should not be a luxury, but for most people it is.

We hoped you enjoyed our cool camping gear round-up. Happy weekend!

 

Image via Library of Congress.