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Cantaloupe + Basil Summer Blend

August 19, 2013 by Morgan

It must be cantaloupe season because at the start of this weekend I had four almost overly ripe cantaloupes sitting in our fruit bowl from our CSA box. I try to come up with creative ways to use up our CSA ingredients (in the fall we receive a ton of root veggies from the local farmers, in the winter a crazy amount of delicious greens…) and when I started to think up cantaloupe uses I fell short at fruit salad. Two cantaloupes of fruit salad later and it was time to try something new.

A while back Kevin and I were trying out a new restaurant when the chef offered a cantaloupe and basil ‘palette cleanser’ between two courses. It was delicious. There’s something about the balance of sweet, juicy cantaloupe and tart (almost bitter) leafy basil that tastes so fresh and yummy.

Cantaloupe + Basil Summer Blend | PepperDesignBlog.com

And so the cantaloupe + basil summer blend was born.

Cantaloupe + Basil Summer Blend | PepperDesignBlog.com

One whole sweet cantaloupe serves as the base…

Cantaloupe + Basil Summer Blend | PepperDesignBlog.com

And a scoop of applesauce plus juice helps to balance out the bitterness of the basil.

Cantaloupe + Basil Summer Blend | PepperDesignBlog.com

One cantaloupe will make 4-5 blenders worth of juice.

You don’t have to use applesauce, any sweeter fruit would be delicious (peaches, apples, kiwi) and to add a little sparkly kick to the blend since I was bringing this to a baby shower rather than making for Liv at home, I used an Italian Blood Orange Soda from Trader Joes that we had on hand instead of regular juice. You could make it an alcoholic cocktail as well – yum.

Cantaloupe + Basil Summer Blend | PepperDesignBlog.com

To keep the leafy basil from being too chunky, I poured out the majority of the cantaloupe juice mixture until I had about a cup, and then I blended this smaller portion with a handful of leaves.

Cantaloupe + Basil Summer Blend | PepperDesignBlog.com

I stirred that into the cantaloupe juice for the final sweet summer blend!

Cantaloupe + Basil Summer Blend | PepperDesignBlog.com

The blender – and I’m not talking the traditional smoothie here – is a great solution to any excess melon (or fruit) this summer. Yum.

PS More good eats recipes found right here.

- posted on August 19, 2013 Filed Under: Going Green, Recipes Tagged With: Beverages, Breakfast, Fruit, Recipes, Snack

Girls’ Room: Securing & Trimming Out the Bookshelf Unit

August 14, 2013 by Morgan

Out here in Cali one major natural disaster that keeps us on our toes are earthquakes. I lived very near to a fault line growing up and while they may only strike every 10-15 years (and that’s a decently ground shaking one) it’s something to prepare for in every home. I can say from experience that they’re a scary and that you don’t want to be standing under a tall piece of furniture when the ground starts a movin’. Just look at that sweet little toddler bed just below that towering bookshelf! Likewise for the crib on the other side of the room.

New Nursery Bookshelves | PepperDesignBlog.com

I pulled Liv’s little bed to the middle of the room each night before she went to bed and before we put in our earthquake security update just to be sure. Now that we’ve made a few minor updates that have helped to earthquake-proof (or child-proof if our girls turn into rock climbers), we’ve also been able to finish up the moulding details to make these bookshelves and the window seat look truly built in.

New Nursery Bookshelves | PepperDesignBlog.com

Here’s the before. And if you’re starting from the beginning here’s an update on build, painting and caulking/hardware to get us where we are today with these cabinets.

New Nursery Built-In Bookshelves | Painting & Caulking | PepperDesignBlog.com

Looking at the ‘after’ shots now, these guys look so unfinished. That top and side moulding really helps to seal everything up so cleanly.

New Nursery Built-In Bookshelves | Painting & Caulking | PepperDesignBlog.com

New Nursery Built-In Bookshelves | Painting & Caulking | PepperDesignBlog.com

Here’s the area that we focused on to earthquake-proof these bookshelves so that they were securely attached to the wall.

Bookshelves | Nursery | PepperDesignBlog.com

Our awesome neighbor who initially built the built-in window seat and bookshelves for this wall constructed a square wooden box to wedge in between the shelf and ceiling.

newnursery_bookshelves_earthquakeproof_boxcloseup_500

Then he secured that box to the bookshelf as well as the wall with heavy bolts. Now you couldn’t make these guys tumble if you ran a bulldozer into them. Well, maybe a bulldozer.

newnursery_bookshelves_earthquakeproof_cornerofroom2_500

The next step was lining the bookshelves, walls and even where the cabinet met the window frame with thin trim. He chose a quarter round where the bookcase meets the window and a concave moulding where the bookcase meets the wall. How clean and sleek does that look!

newnursery_bookshelves_earthquakeproof_molding2_400

newnursery_bookshelves_earthquakeproof_molding_400

Now it’s time to pull the room together with toys, books and other fun decorating elements. Next up are the windows!

New Nursery Bookshelves | PepperDesignBlog.com

Love the moulding detailing along the ceiling, it really helps to finish off the room.

And we finished painting around the tree! The owl is still a little odd but I’m hoping to tie him into the space more.

New Nursery Bookshelves | PepperDesignBlog.com

PS More girls’ room/nursery updates can be found right here.

- posted on August 14, 2013 Filed Under: Construction, DIY, Girls' Room, Home, Liv's Nursery, Renovating Adventures Tagged With: Accessories, Construction, Decorating, DIY, Home, Nursery, Pink

Guest Post: Favorite Entertaining Trick?

August 13, 2013 by Morgan

mrslimestone_guestpost_header

Join me over at Brooklyn Limestone where I’m guest posting for Stefanie on my two favorite entertaining tricks!! Hint, one has to do with the world’s easiest way to build tiered platters (for desserts and such).

See you over there!

Fabric Flags! | PepperDesignBlog.com

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- posted on August 13, 2013 Filed Under: Guest Post, Parties & Entertaining

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Welcome to my little slice of the web where I practice finding family, career, homemade & inspired balance on a daily basis. This is where I capture my happy moments, and I'm honored that you're here to join us. Home + creativity + good eats + journaling + life as a working mom. Read more...

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Welcome to my little slice of the web where I practice finding family, career, homemade & inspired balance on a daily basis. This is where I capture my happy moments, and I'm honored that you're here to join us. Home + creativity + good eats + journaling. Read More…

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