This Friday is the last Friday of our first year at Today’s Nest.  Next week we will celebrate our blogiversary.  It has been an exciting and rewarding year.  We weren’t really sure how things would go in the beginning, but we knew for sure that we would have the Treat of the Week.  We kicked off the Treat of the Week series with Saffron Shortbread Stars as a nod to the Academy Awards.  They would be great for this weekend, too.

Today, however, we are bringing you a new treat.  Meringues are one of my favorites.  They are light and crispy and melt in your mouth.  While there is plenty of sugar, there is very little fat involved so I fool myself into thinking they are a “healthy” dessert.

Once you’ve made meringues you will see how very easy it is.  I follow a very basic rule for making them.  Based on the volume of egg whites I have, I match with superfine sugar and confectioners’ sugar. (1 cup egg whites+1 cup superfine sugar+1 cup confectioners’ sugar).  I use superfine sugar because it dissolves nicely and a little cream of tartar for stability.  I sometimes deviate from this formula slightly, but this is my go-to ratio.  It’s not short on sugar, but it is great for stabilizing and the cornstarch in the confectioners’ helps even more.

For our version this week, we have added pistachios for extra crunch and flavor.  These would be fine eaten ‘as is’, but to make it a real treat we have added some rose cream.  This pairing is common in Middle Eastern desserts.  It is wonderful and the flavors make something simple seem very special.

savour… simply elegant

Get the rest after the jump…

I am very pleased to announce the start of our new blog, Lola's Fresh.  We are wrapping up the final touches on the site, but here is the first blog post written by the beautiful and talented Jennifer Henderson:

Lola breaks from the Nest to bring you Lola's Fresh:  a weekly spotlight on all things modern homesteading.  A modern guy, gal, or family might find it daunting to introduce homesteading into an already packed schedule, but going local doesn't get more so than your own backyard.  While gardening will be the primary focus for the next couple of posts due to the timeliness, you can expect to find rainwater harvesting, chickens in the city, book reviews, where to find your best local goods, community gardening and much, much more.  All this with but one goal in mind:  how to give the modern homemaker all the tools to be a modern homesteader. 

I am busily preparing our raised beds for earlier (this year) planting and was pleasantly surprised to find that my thyme is supremely cold hardy, surviving our latest round of snow and ice.  It is the cold hardiest of all the herbs, but I was skeptical, especially with my yellow thumb.  My pineapple sage didn't fair so well, but truthfully, it didn't do well in the heat, so a little more TLC might be warranted this growing season.  Oregano, chervil, sage, and hyssop (aniseed flavor) are also cold hardy and do well in pots.  Even though we are moving toward warmer weather, it has me thinking smarter for next winter.  As I update my herb garden and transplant my thyme and oregano I will be adding the herbs above bearing in mind that they'll take me happily through winter by adding a bit of freshness and keeping a hint of summer alive. 

My goal this planting season is to work earlier, plant smarter, and feed the family fresh for the entire summer.  While this may seem ambitious I think it is doable with a plan.  I look forward to sharing my plan with you next week.  Until then... make the most of your thyme. 

I have fallen way behind on the deadline to finish my boys’ room redux.  There are still many projects planned and I have committed to getting them finished before Spring Break.  Yesterday I checked another item off of the list by finishing the headboards.

As far as upholstery projects go, this one is fairly simple.  The most challenging part is probably the corners.  If you haven’t done these before, be patient and take it slow.  Otherwise, this is all simple straight lines and some stapling. 

Upholstered headboards are an easy way to add your own style to a room through the use of fabrics.  Part of what makes them so appealing is the option to change it out as your style changes.  For now, the style for this room is urban, skateboarding, and music.  This seems like a good start.

savour... reading in bed

Get the rest after the jump...

When I was a younger man getting protein to fuel my workouts was challenging.  It was typically wrapped in other less desirable ingredients and added flavors to compensate for bad flavor.  There were only a few manufacturers and their product lines were limited.  If you wanted to find these products you had to visit a health food store.

Today protein is everywhere.  It has gone mainstream and is showing up on grocery shelves around the country.  As we continue to discover the merits of this product in terms of muscle building and fat loss, we can expect to see even more advances.

There is no doubt that protein helps build muscle, but research indicates that different types of proteins have different benefits.  Getting your protein from a variety of sources is a key consideration.  Be sure to get plenty of your protein supply from food sources and supplement with powders.

Because of its popularity and potential sales power, many manufacturers have begun producing full lines of protein.  With the many manufacturers and varieties of proteins available choosing one can become overwhelming.  Here we offer you a quick guide to help in your decision making.

savour… fitness fuel

Get the rest after the jump…

I knew shortly after meeting my wife that she was ‘the one’.  We share many things in common, yet we complement each other in so many ways.  She has all the best qualities to make up for my deficiencies.

It took me years to get her to appreciate coffee and olives, but one thing was sure from the start.  We both loved mint chocolate chip ice cream.  On one of our early dates, we stopped at the supermarket to get some ice cream to share.  When we got to the freezer case, we both reached in for mint chocolate chip at the same time.  It was a true 'made for the movies' moment.

For her birthday just a few weeks later, I made a mint chocolate ice cream cake.  I used softened store bought ice cream in a mold made of oreo crust.  It was delicious, but that was over 15 years ago and my tastes have evolved some.  Today, I have given new life to that cake with this more natural, made from scratch version.

Our mint ice cream is truly all natural.  The flavor comes from mint and not mint extract.  The difference is real mint taste which is a bit earthy... more like you added mint to your tea or mojito.  The ice cream is neatly wrapped in devil’s food cake which is spongey and dense at once.

savour… movie moments

Get the rest after the jump…

Love week continues with a glimpse into our world.  Here is a peek at a few of the things we are obsessed with this week.  Take note... the obsessions might be different next week.  I hope you will find some new inspiration here.

Love is in the air this week. There are candy hearts and frilly flowers everywhere.  With the Valentine Party behind us, we decided it was time for a more adult treat. 

To help our cause, it is also National Cherry Month.  That made choosing a cocktail for our post today simple.  We have made a few minor adjustments to the classic Cherry Lime Rickey.  Ours has a little kick and a bit more maraschino flavor with the added Amaretto.  This drink is sweet, sour, and a bit tangy... perfect for sipping with a friend.

savour... love potion.

Get the rest after the jump...