boulderwoodgardens

boulderwoodgardens Sharing my passion for home gardening and cooking. Growing food & sharing garden to table ideas.
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12/18/2025

‼️If you’re in charge of Christmas dinner this year and it’s roast beef OR ANY ROAST — don’t skip these steps.
✌️They’re what take it from good to absolutely epic.

I learned all of these things when I lived in England from my mother-in-law almost 2 decades ago, and they completely changed how I roasted anything!

Tip #1: Roast potatoes (the right way)
Par-boil your potatoes in well-salted water until the outsides start to flake.
Drain, shake them in the colander to rough up the edges, then toss with reserved meat fat — turkey drippings, beef fat, or duck fat if you can get it.
Crispy outside, fluffy inside. Every time.

Tip #2: Clean + revive your vegetables
Soak vegetables in cold water with a little baking soda to thoroughly clean them.
Then give them an ice bath to revive and crisp them back up.

Tip #3: Perfect gravy (this is where people miss it)
Use actual meat drippings, not just fat.
That’s what gives gravy deep flavor and richness — it makes all the difference.

Yorkshire pudding (don’t skip this):
– Make the batter ahead of time
– Equal parts egg, milk, flour
– Let it sit at room temperature, whisking a few times throughout the day
– Preheat your oven hot and use beef fat or duck fat

👉 If you have empty trays in the oven, fill them with water.
This creates steam so the Yorkshire puddings rise better and prevents trays from burning or warping.

Bake at 425°F for 25–30 minutes and do not open the oven door.
They need to cook fully so they rise tall and don’t collapse.

Roast beef:
Let it rest at least 15 minutes before slicing so the juices redistribute and the meat stays tender.

Homemade horseradish (optional but incredible):
Fresh grated root, lemon juice, a little sour cream, salt and pepper.

Finish with maple-roasted carrots or crispy Brussels sprouts and you’ve got the perfect Christmas roast.

🎥 I have a Reel showing how I make the perfect gravy step by step.
💬 Comment “gravy” and I’ll send it to you.
📌 Save this for Christmas OR ANY SUNDAY😘.

12/16/2025

✨🍞 Cozy Monkey Bread ⬇️✨

Dough amount:
• About 2-3 cups worth of proofed bread dough — not batter, not flat, just soft dough that’s had time to rise (overnight fridge dough works beautifully).

Instructions:
• Cut the dough into small, bite-size pieces.
• Toss with flour, white sugar, and cinnamon until coated.

• Generously butter a Bundt pan.
• Add the coated dough pieces to the pan.

Caramel glaze:
• Melt 1 stick of butter with ½ cup packed brown sugar.
• Heat on low until it gently simmers and turns glossy.
• Pour evenly over the dough.

• Bake at 350°F for 30–40 minutes.
• Add a few ice cubes to a pan on the rack below to create steam.

• Rest briefly, then place a plate on top and flip.
• Best served warm, but equally cozy once the caramel settles.

Save this, try this OMG YUMMMYYYY!!!!!

Have you tried monkey bread before?⬇️✨🌲

12/16/2025

Herbs feeling sad this time of year? 🌿
This is my go-to way to bring them completely back to life.

✨ Ice bath
✨ Paper towel squeeze
✨ No bruising, no tearing

Perfect for cilantro, parsley, and anything going into winter salads or fresh guac.

Save this for later & share with someone who hates limp herbs 🫶✨👋.

12/13/2025

Since we’re getting an outside pizza oven I figured we better start a pizza series!!

What type of pizza context are you here for?👋⬇️🫶

12/12/2025

🫢 You’ve probably never wondered what happens when you mix fermented cranberries with real maple syrup BUT maybe now you’ll try it!! 🍁

Okay, science-y but fun: these cranberries started as a simple wild ferment — just water, a little sugar, lemon, and the natural lactobacillus floating around in the kitchen. After about a week on the counter, they got tangy and probiotic-rich, then I popped them in the fridge to slow things down.

Tonight, I poured a pint of maple syrup — a gift from a cottage guest — right over them. And here’s where the magic happens: maple syrup is hygroscopic, which is a fancy way of saying it loves water. So it literally pulls ruby juice from the berries, creating a sweet-tangy, probiotic syrup that tastes like holiday cheer in a jar.

Uses? So many:
• Mocktails & sparkling water
• Yogurt bowls or porridge
• Glaze for roasted veggies
• Salad dressings or cheese boards
• Pancakes or waffles

💡 Fun little science twist: the maple adds sugar and draws water but keeps things gentle enough that the probiotics stay happy while the syrup naturally thickens.

I’m not a scientist — I just learned this today and had to share! This is raw, living, cozy magic in a jar — anyone can make it. 🍁

12/11/2025

I can’t believe this works! Stale or frozen bread 🫶

10-20 minutes depending how large your piece/loaf 400F.

12/11/2025

GROWING GINGER Part 1: What to Look for at the Grocery Store 🍋✨

If you want to grow your own ginger in 2026, start here.
👇This part is just about choosing the right rhizomes at the store — fresh, firm, with plenty of visible “eyes.”

Ginger needs a long growing season, so if you’re in the northern hemisphere, it’s almost time to start thinking ahead.
Ask yourself:
• What’s my growing zone?
• When is my actual last frost?
• When can I safely move plants outside?

Because you’ll want your ginger sprouting a couple months before you can plant it out. And that prep starts soon.

Part 2 is coming at the end of this month / early January:
How to actually get your ginger to sprout indoors and how I set it up in soil. 🌱

Save this now so you’re ready.

12/10/2025

I keep seeing those fancy little crackers in the holiday section at the grocery store… and even though the artisan ones are absolutely delicious, this is something you can easily save your money on.

🌲You can make your own — and they might even turn out better. ✨

And you know that bread recipe you see me using all the time?
Once you find a dough you love, you can make almost anything with it… including these bougie little holiday crackers.

Here’s how I make them:

1. Roll the dough out very thin
The thinner you go, the crispier the cracker.

2. Cut into shapes
Squares, long strips, or twist them into little pretzel-like shapes.
Rustic = charming.

3. Season generously
Flaky salt, herbs, garlic powder, chili flakes — anything you like.

4. Bake them like this:
• Line a baking sheet with parchment to prevent sticking.
• Bake at 400°F.
• Flip after 15 minutes, then bake another 15–20 minutes depending on how crispy you like them.
• Keep an eye on them — the bake time depends on thickness and how much oil is in your dough.

5. Serve with something delicious
Warm melted cheese, hummus, spinach dip, whipped ricotta… everyone loves these.

And truly — any simple bread, cracker, or dough recipe will work. Don’t overthink it.
(If you want the dough recipe I use, drop me a comment below.)

Save this for holiday snacking. ✨

12/10/2025

⬇️3 CHEMICAL FREE DIY WIPES TO MAKE AT HOME⬇️✨

Are you still buying wipes at the store??
You’re literally throwing money away — and half of them are packed with chemicals your home doesn’t actually need.

Here’s how I make 3 types of DIY wipes that don’t rip, don’t smell like chemicals, and cost pennies to make. (I use Seventh Generation 2-ply paper towels — strong + eco-friendly.)

1️⃣ Bathroom & Countertop Wipes

For sinks, counters, handles, faucets.
Fast-drying + disinfecting.
Mix: canned/sterile water, isopropyl alcohol, unscented dish soap (+ lemon EO if you want). Pour over a half-roll of paper towels in a jar.

2️⃣ Dog-Safe Wipes

For muddy paws + little messes.
Just canned/sterile water + gentle soap (optional aloe).
No essential oils, no vinegar, no alcohol — safe for pets.

3️⃣ Everyday / Kid-Friendly Wipes

For sticky hands, spills, daily chaos.
Canned/sterile water + a tiny bit of unscented soap.
Gentle, clean, and chemical-free.

Tips:
• Pour slow so the towels don’t tear
• Let everything absorb before pulling the first wipe
• Seal tightly so they don’t dry out

Making your own wipes is honestly one of those small swaps that saves so much money and keeps your home cleaner without the extra junk.

One jar for the bathroom, one for the dog, one for everyday life — DONE.

If you like this type of content, follow for more DIY, clean home tips, and cottage-style living.

12/09/2025

Did you know you can naturally clean and deodorize your spice or coffee grinder with nothing but coarse salt? ✨
It scrubs out the oils, absorbs the old smells, and gets into all those tiny nooks and crannies as it breaks down.

Use kosher, sea, or even Himalayan salt — whatever you have. And don’t toss it!
That fragrant salt is seasoning gold in the kitchen:
• sprinkle it on a baking dish to scrub
• use the coffee-salt for savory rubs
• add herb-salt to a stir-fry or salad dressing

If you love simple cottage kitchen tricks like this, follow along for more 🌿🏡
Save this for later!

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