boulderwoodgardens

boulderwoodgardens Sharing my passion for home gardening and cooking. Growing food & sharing garden to table ideas.
(5)

01/17/2026

The only difference between these two bread ovens is literally everything!!🙈

One was designed for epic bread.
The other for cookies, vegetables, and roasting dinners.

Same dough.
Same shaping.
Same temperature.
Same timing.
Both with lids to trap steam.

What surprised me most wasn’t that they both worked —
it’s how they worked.

The scrappy setup actually had a little more oven spring.
The bread oven had a slightly better crumb.

Same system.
Different materials.
Different strengths.

This is why I always talk about systems.
When you understand the setup, you’re capable of doing almost anything — in the kitchen and in the garden.

I’m Alexis, a passionate kitchen gardener.
If you like learning this way, you’re in the right place 🌱🥧.

Question for you:
Would you have guessed this result?🤓

01/15/2026

This is the time of year we reach for inspiration.
What lasts are the systems that support real life.

I wrote more about this — what I mean by systems, kitchen gardening, and building a life that actually holds — in today’s blog!

You’ll find it linked in my bio and shared in Stories.

A sign this is going to be an epic year in the garden.
✨Alexis 🌱

01/13/2026

Seriously though… can you relate?

I love meal prepping for this exact reason.
Life feels really busy right now, and these one-pot meals make dinner so easy.
This is going to feed us for three nights, which honestly feels like a gift.

If you’re thinking about growing onions and peppers, now is the time to start thinking about seeds — believe it or not.
We’re cold winter sowing some outside in a bag, and I’m also starting a few peppers inside just because I like to. They tend to come in one huge flush at the end of summer for us, so we freeze them in batches and use them as needed.

Same thing with onions — you can succession sow them.
Some now, some in a month, and some the month after.
That’s our the plan this year!!

We’ve also roasted our fourth turkey in two weeks.
Lots of prepped turkey breast for sandwiches, dinners, and dog food.
It’s such an economical way to feed our dogs who eat a lot.

And a big leg of roasted lamb?
Perfect for dinners just like this.

Work once. Eat many times.
Can you relate? 🤍

Recipe inspo below 🫶

01/12/2026

I know you’ve been wanting one bread recipe —
the kind you can learn once and turn into everything 🍞
✨THE ONE BREAD DOUGH (makes 2 small loaves)✨
This has become that recipe for me.

From this single dough, I make:
→ everyday loaves
→ cinnamon rolls
→ monkey bread
→ croissants
→ dinner rolls

It makes two small loaves, which is perfect for real life.
I usually bake one right away (because we eat it warm),
and keep the other dough in the fridge to bake a few days later.

It’s a yeasted, fridge-rise dough, so it works with your schedule —
slow, forgiving, and confidence-building.

If we’re only mastering one granny hobby this year,
let it be this 🤍

👇 The base recipe is in the pinned comment
✨ The full, detailed version is on my blog
(linked in my bio + also in my stories if you want to read through it) it’s a great place to keep referring to for any questions! 💕🫶✨

https://thistlepondcottage.com/f/the-one-bread-dough-that-does-everything

📌 Let me know if you have any questions!👋

01/10/2026

✨ I already talked about this a little in December, but now is the time to get going if you want to grow your own ginger. 🌱

Make sure you’ve got the right piece — I cannot reiterate this enough. This is where it begins.

💡 Save this, find your ginger, and get ready — because mine is actually ready to plant, and in Part Two, I’ll take you through the next steps.

01/09/2026

This is the season of jump-starting things.
Planning ahead.
Making lists.
Winter sowing.
Getting a head start.

And while you’re doing all of that —
plant your feet firmly on the ground.

This is also the time to listen to yourself.
Notice what feels steady… and what feels rushed.
Leave space instead of filling every moment.

Yes, make the lists.
Yes, plant the seeds.

But remember —
you are part of what you’re growing.

01/08/2026

🍲✨ One or Two Whole Chicken’s, Endless Goodness (Full Recipe) ✨

You loved this idea in my last video, so here’s the full method as requested! I often make two chickens at once—especially if you have a big family or a large pot.

Ingredients:
• 1–2 whole chickens (skin on or off, your choice—I usually remove the skin)
• 1–2 glugs apple cider vinegar (¼–1 cup depending on pot size; this helps extract all the goodness from the bones and joints)
• Handful of black peppercorns
• Salt to taste
• Optional: bay leaf, veggies like onion, celery, carrot (I like to keep it clean so the broth works for anything)

Method:
1️⃣ Place the chicken(s) in a large pot. Cover with water.
2️⃣ Add the vinegar, peppercorns, salt, and optional bay leaf or veggies.
3️⃣ Bring to a slow, rolling boil. The water should barely bubble—not a rapid boil.
4️⃣ Let it gently cook for 4–6 hours. Shorter if you’re pressed for time; longer if you want extra collagen and richness from the bones.
5️⃣ Once cooked, remove the chicken. Let it cool, then shred the meat and portion into meal-sized servings.

What you get:
• Tender, versatile shredded chicken 🍗
• Liquid gold chicken stock 🥣 (strain and freeze in jars or cubes for future recipes)
• Bone bonus: grind leftover bones for your garden or compost 🌱

💡 Pro tip: Freeze shredded chicken on a tray for 1 hour first, then transfer to a big Ziploc. Grab only what you need—no waste!

One bird—or two—means meals for weeks, homemade broth, and even garden nutrients. Pure, old-fashioned kitchen sustainability. 🌿

If you want my gravy method using these drippings, drop a comment below—I’ll share that next if you missed it!

✨ Like ideas like this? Follow along for more practical kitchen ideas.

🪴This year, I’m turning one idea into an entire series 🌿Five plant groupings — built around growing, cooking, and preser...
01/08/2026

🪴This year, I’m turning one idea into an entire series 🌿

Five plant groupings — built around growing, cooking, and preserving food in a way that actually works.

The first pairing, The Foundation, is live on the blog — and I just shared the link in our stories.

In case you’re new here or only following me :
Thistlepond Cottage is our cozy retreat 🌿 in southern coastal Maine.

A real life place to stay, wander the gardens, cook from the harvest, and take inspiration home for your own kitchen garden.

Whether you love fresh meals, preserving, or just being surrounded by growing things, this is your space to experience it all.

Follow along. Save this. This is definitely a year for an epic kitchen garden 🌱!🫶

✨This year, I’m turning one idea into an entire series 🌿Five plant groupings — built around growing, cooking, and preser...
01/08/2026

✨This year, I’m turning one idea into an entire series 🌿

Five plant groupings — built around growing, cooking, and preserving food in a way that actually works.

The first pairing, The Foundation, is live on the our blog — and I just shared the link in our stories.

In case you’re new here or only following Lexi’s Kitchen Garden: ✨🫶✨

👋Thistlepond Cottage is our cozy retreat 🌿
A place to stay, wander the gardens, cook from the harvest, and take inspiration home for your own kitchen garden.
Whether you love fresh meals, preserving, or just being surrounded by growing things, this is your space to experience it all.

This is definitely a year for an epic kitchen garden 🌱

01/08/2026

The only difference between these vegetables is when they feed/support you 🌱🪏🪴….

This is PART ONE: OF MY 5 PLANT GROUPING SERIES — built around pairing plants that grow well together and work for fresh cooking now and preserving later.

In this grouping (in order): tomatoes, zucchini, beans, oregano, and onions.

If growing food this way is your jam, you’re in the right place.

👇Drop me any comment and I’ll send you to my beginner guide BLOG on my five grouping series.

https://thistlepondcottage.com/f/five-things-that-work-really-well-together-to-grow-and-preserve

This is going to be an epic kitchen garden year🌿✌️✨

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