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How To Be A Coffee Barista In Your Own Kitchen

Do you love waking up to the sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the kitchen? For some, there is no better way to start the morning. Coffee has long been one of America’s favorite beverages, but it’s not just for breakfast anymore. From creamy lattes and cappuccinos, to frozen blended treats, coffee can be enjoyed at any time of the day (although it’s smart to switch to decaf the closer you get to bedtime)! Best of all, you don’t need to spend a fortune at your local coffee house to sip a specialty drink. If you want to learn how to be a barista in your own kitchen, read on.

Creating A Coffee Station

Start by designating an area in your kitchen as a coffee station. Whether it’s a corner of your kitchen island countertop, a portable cart, or as part of your home bar cabinet, having a space reserved for brewing is essential. This is where you will keep your drip coffee maker, single-serve pod maker, and/or espresso machine. Install a utility tray in a nearby drawer for holding spoons or stirrers, beverage napkins, filters, reusable straws, and a coffee scoop. A pull out trash can is also a nice addition below a kitchen island. Keep a grinder for whole beans in your kitchen or bar cabinet, as well as mugs, tall glasses, a cream pitcher and a thermal carafe. Then, designate a portion of your kitchen pantry cabinet for storing non-dairy or shelf-stable creamer, canisters of white and raw sugar, honey, stevia packets, and simple syrup or agave nectar for iced coffee. If you love specialty drinks, you’ll also need flavored syrups, a blender, and spices like cinnamon, cocoa powder, and nutmeg. Last but definitely not least, you’ll need a variety of coffee beans or bags of ground coffee, and a basket or carousel for holding pods.

Specialty Coffee Drinks To Make At Home

Channel your inner coffee barista and try one of these three recipes at home, right in your very own kitchen!

Iced Vanilla Latte: With just three simple ingredients from your refrigerator and kitchen pantry cabinet, this Iced Vanilla Latte recipe from Snacks and Sips is easy to make and perfect for sipping on a hot summer day.

Frozen Mocha Frappe: This refreshing blended beverage from The Chunky Chef is a great way to use leftover coffee. Freeze your favorite brew into cubes using an ice cube tray for whenever you need a pick-me-up.

Boozy Iced Coffee: You won’t find this iced specialty drink at your local coffee house! You can use your favorite warm-weather libation from your bar cabinet to spike this recipe from The Wanderlust Kitchen, whether it’s coconut rum, hazelnut liqueur, or whipped cream vodka.

Welcome to Willow Lane Cabinetry — the #1 place to buy affordable, semi-custom cabinets online! Let us help you create the kitchen, home office, home bar, laundry room, TV room or bath of your dreams with our 100% free room design tool. We offer all wood cabinetry, fully assembled and delivered for free, plus all the accessories needed to complete your remodel. Visit our website to see our products today!

Smart Substitutions When Cooking And Baking

Picture this. You’re craving freshly baked, made from scratch cinnamon rolls and decide to do some baking. You start by adding yeast to warm milk and watch as it begins to foam and bubble. Next, you lift your stand mixer and start to blend the milk and yeast with sugar, eggs and butter. Slowly, you add flour and salt to the mix. After kneading with a dough hook, you form your dough into a ball, cover it with plastic wrap, and place it on the kitchen island to rise. After an hour or two, it doubles in size. You roll the dough on a lightly floured countertop and head to the spice drawer for cinnamon — but there is no cinnamon!

What happens when you start a recipe and realize you’re missing a major ingredient halfway through? After all, you can’t make cinnamon rolls without cinnamon, can you? Actually, you can! From your spice rack to your refrigerator and kitchen pantry cabinet, here are some smart substitutions you can make when cooking and baking, so you don’t miss a beat!

Herbs And Spices

Allspice and Nutmeg are all great substitutions for cinnamon. Since they are stronger in flavor, you’ll need to cut the amount in half when following a recipe. You can even add a dash of cloves or ginger if you’re feeling spicy. These warm, sweet spices are interchangeable for the most part, and work well in apple pie, cakes, and other desserts. But what about savory dishes? Oregano and thyme can be substituted for basil in pasta sauces and salad dressings. Out of chili powder for your tacos? Just add a few dashes of hot sauce. Swap out chives for onion powder, sage for marjoram, and rosemary for mint.

Ingredients For Cooking And Baking

In a pinch, kitchen pantry cabinet staples can save the day — and your recipe. Mashed banana cans take the place of oil if needed. Applesauce is a great substitution for eggs in baked goods, or combine one tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water per egg. Out of butter? Try shortening. Out of sour cream? Substitute plain Greek yogurt. If your recipe calls for corn syrup or honey and you don’t have any on hand, make your own substitute by melting a cup of granulated sugar in a quarter cup of water. You can also make your own buttermilk by adding a tablespoon of white vinegar to a cup of milk. For thickening fruit pies, sauces and soups, flour can be swapped for cornstarch in equal amounts.

How To Pamper Mom At Home This Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is May 10, 2020, and although the way we celebrate may be different this year, the sentiment is still the same. Moms wear many hats, especially these days. This is our chance to acknowledge all of her hard work, unconditional love, and constant care. Here are some thoughtful ways to pamper mom at home this Mother’s Day.

Have fresh flowers delivered right to her doorstep.

There are many flower companies offering no-contact delivery right to your doorstep. Help support small business and give your local florist a call to see what type of arrangements are available for Mother’s Day. A beautiful bouquet placed on the kitchen island or breakfast table can really brighten up the entire kitchen — and mom’s special day! Your thoughtful gift of fresh flowers is sure to put a smile on her face every time she walks into the room.

Stock her wine storage cabinet with all of her favorites.

Does mom love a nice glass of wine? It is easier than ever to get alcohol delivered, and your go-to grocery or liquor store is likely offering this service. Treat her to a couple of bottles of her favorite white and red, so that her wine storage cabinet is stocked while homebound. If you want to make this Mother’s Day gift even more special, send her a bottle that she ordered on your last family vacation or that you drank while celebrating a special event. Include a note reminding her of why this wine is sentimental for a jog down Memory Lane. Or if she loves trying new wines, gift her a wine subscription that sends bottles based on personality or favorite flavors.

Help her recreate her favorite spa or salon treatment.

Mom is probably missing a beauty treatment or two, so do what you can to bring the spa or salon home to her. While some services are better left on pause (home haircuts usually don’t end well), there are plenty of ways to help her refresh and relax in her very own bathroom. Pick a treatment, and then put together a gift basket with all of the goodies she’ll need. Here are some ideas for an at-home salon gift:

Mani/Pedi:

A neck massager (the next best thing to those plush massage chairs)
Softening foot mask to nourish dry skin
Nail polish remover and file
Classic nude nail polish for a foolproof application

Color/Style:

Color enhancing shampoo
Conditioning hair mask for deep hydration
Blow dryer brush for easy styling
Root cover up spray to use until she can get back to the salon

Bring her favorite dining experience home.

Since mom can’t have dinner at her favorite restaurant this year, find a way to bring that same dining experience to life at home. Order her favorite dishes to go and set up the dining room in style. You can take out the good serving ware, light a few candles, and even print out a menu. Afterwards, head to the TV room and rent that movie she recently missed in theaters. You can still create the ultimate dinner and movie night while staying safe at home.

How To Bake Your Own Artisanal Bread In The Kitchen

There is nothing quite as tempting to the senses as a freshly baked loaf of artisanal bread. The aroma, as it drifts throughout the kitchen. Kneading the dough, watching it rise and bake, and then feeling the warmth as you pull your bread from the oven. The crisp sound of falling crumbs as you cut into the crust to get to the soft and tender inside. That delectable first bite, dripping with melted butter. No matter how you slice it, homemade artisanal bread is rustic comfort food at it’s finest. And while it may look tricky to achieve at home, baking your own bread is really rather simple. Here, we’ve gathered a few easy to follow recipes for the beginner bread artisan. They all call for basic ingredients found in your kitchen pantry cabinet, and no fancy tools are required. So, spread some flour on your kitchen island countertop, and let’s get started!

Basic Artisan Bread

This Homemade Artisan Bread from Sally’s Baking Addiction is the perfect first recipe for beginners. It calls for just four ingredients—yeast, bread flour, water and salt—and is virtually foolproof. It’s also deliciously light and airy, like a French baguette, with a slightly chewy crust. Click here for photos and detailed instructions from Sally’s Baking Addiction.

Easy Wheat Bread

This Easy Homemade Wheat Bread from Minimalist Baker is a bit heartier, with wheat flour, millet, and oats. And while it requires a few more ingredients from your kitchen pantry cabinet, the recipe is uncomplicated and simple. Once baked, this whole grain bread is crusty on the outside, and warm and tender on the inside. Like a cozy farmhouse with rustic kitchen cabinets, it’s sure to warm the heart. For the recipe from Minimalist Baker, click here.

Savory Parmesan Herb Bread

We love this fragrant Savory Herb Bread from The Stay At Home Chef. It’s easy to make and can be mixed by hand with little effort. The recipe calls for staple ingredients from your kitchen pantry cabinet and dried herbs from your spice drawer, such as rosemary, basil, and oregano. If you prefer, you can also substitute freshly minced herbs from your kitchen herb garden. Click here for the complete recipe from The Stay At Home Chef.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Loaded with spicy cinnamon and juicy raisins, this sweet bake from Fifteen Spatulas is perfect for breakfast. But first, you will need to pull up your heavy duty mixer. The recipe has a few more steps than the others on this list, but it is still simple to make on the kitchen island countertop. It’s also well worth the effort! For the ingredients and instructions from Fifteen Spatulas, click here.

Smart Lighting Tech Features For The Home

If you’ve been wanting to introduce smart lighting features into your home but aren’t sure where to start, let this guide light the way! Technology is taking lighting to a whole new level, and we’re sharing four of our favorite features to set up in your home today.

1.Kitchen Lighting

Smart features are becoming a staple in modern kitchen design. We have ovens that can be turned on from our phones and refrigerators that you can see into without opening the door. It’s really incredible how technological advancements are simplifying our lives and helping us save energy in our homes.

Smart lighting is another feature that you can incorporate into your modern kitchen design and the kitchen is a great room to introduce smart lighting for the first time.

Anywhere you have a light bulb — from under your custom cabinets to above your kitchen island — you can have a smart light bulb. Switching out the bulbs in your kitchen is a great first step. These smart bulbs can be connected to your WiFi so that you can control them from an app.

This power comes in handy if you forget to shut off the lights after leaving the room. It’s also wonderful if you want the brightness over your custom cabinets to be more intense than other lighting in the room when cooking or preparing meals.

2. Smart Switches And Plugs

If you’re sold after testing out smart lighting in the kitchen, consider installing smart switches and plugs throughout your home. This will transform all of the lighting in your home into smart lighting.

You’ll be able to control each room in your home from an app, even before walking in the front door. The benefits of this are endless. For example, imagine you’re heading out for the evening, it’s dark, and you’re trying to navigate your exit. With smart switches and plugs installed, you can leave the lights on while you leave, and then shut them off from your phone once you’re safely inside your car.

3. Digital Assistants

For even more ease of use, smart lighting can be synced with your favorite digital assistant, such as Amazon Alexa or Apple Siri. Rather than controlling your smart lighting from an app on your phone or tablet, you can ask Alexa or Siri to do so for you.

Picture you and your family are settled in for movie night in your TV room. The film is about to start but the lighting is leaving a little bit of glare on the screen. When your smart lighting is synced with a digital assistant, you can simply ask Alexa or Siri to dim the lights for you.

4. Intuitive Functions

Beyond app and voice control, smart lighting can even make decisions without you. Let’s say you prefer waking up to a well lit room than a blaring alarm clock. You can set your lighting to turn on at a certain time in the morning just like your coffee machine.

Smart lighting can also react to certain triggers. Maybe you do like waking up to your alarm clock, for example, but you’re a bit groggy crawling out of your bed. If you use a fitness tracker, you can sync it to your smart lighting. When your fitness tracker learns that you’re awake for the day, your kitchen lighting will turn on, so that you have an easier time finding your favorite coffee mug in the morning.

5 Kitchen Cabinet Finishes For A Summer-Inspired Home

Whether you own a second home in a sunny locale or simply want to add a summer vibe to your year-round kitchen, there are certain elements that epitomize the season ahead. These details include linen window treatments, natural fiber area rugs, galvanized metal bar stools at the kitchen island, and more. With that said, your cabinetry is truly the focal point of the kitchen. From classic white to light and airy shades of gray, here are five gorgeous kitchen cabinet finishes for a summer-inspired home.

Salem Light Grey

Our Salem Light Grey cabinets are stained a gorgeous shade of light grey, with a glazed finish. These quality cabinets are made from solid birch, and feature recessed panel doors and dovetailed drawer boxes. To see this beautiful finish in person, order sample doors. All our samples ship free with a small deposit that will be refunded upon return.

Midtown Cream Shaker

Shaker cabinets are known for having clean lines and a minimalist style that has endured for decades. Our Midtown Cream Shaker cabinets are simply stunning, with a soft, creamy color that adds a subtle hint of warmth to a white kitchen. These durable, quality cabinets feature Sherwin Williams paint with a catalytic conversion top coat. Pair Midtown Cream Shaker cabinets with a dark kitchen island from our Midtown Shaker collection.

Providence White

The Providence White collection from Willow Lane Cabinetry features a classic white, waterborne UV finish that is right at home in a coastal kitchen. The recessed square style adds a casual yet elegant touch. Add glass front doors, a white subway tile backsplash and natural stone countertops to complete the bright and beachy summer house look.

Heather Grey Shaker

These versatile Shaker cabinets have a gorgeous light grey finish with visible wood grain that adds an extra touch of natural, organic beauty. The doors are made from solid eucalyptus grandis in a modern Shaker style, with standard soft close doors and drawer glides. If you are looking for warmth and a rustic flair, look no further than Heather Grey Shaker for your summer home.

Midtown Painted Grey Shaker

Another option in the Midtown Shaker style, our Midtown Painted Grey Shaker cabinets come in a soft grey, painted finish from Sherwin Williams with a catalytic conversion top coat. Like our other quality cabinets, they are custom made to order and no detail is too small. Take advantage of our free room design service to see just how lovely Midtown Painted Grey Shaker cabinets would look in your kitchen this summer.

Creative Ways To Color Easter Eggs Naturally

There is no need to buy artificial food dye to color hard-boiled eggs this Easter. Here are some creative and organic ways to color easter eggs naturally with common ingredients found in your refrigerator and kitchen pantry cabinet — whether your favorite color is yellow, pink, blue or green!

Yellow/Orange

Start by boiling a quart of water and two tablespoons of white vinegar in a medium saucepan on the stovetop. Stir in three tablespoons of turmeric from your spice drawer, reduce the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Cool the water at room temperature (about two to three hours) before dying your eggs, or try this trick from A Tasty Adventure. You’ll need red and yellow onion skins for color, plus a pair of nylons and fresh herbs to make a pretty pattern. For detailed instructions with photos of Onion Dyed Easter Eggs, click here.

Pink/Red

Again, start by adding a quart of water and two tablespoons of white vinegar to a medium saucepan. While you are waiting for the water to boil on the stovetop, chop two large beets and add them to the pot. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer, and let the beets soak for at least 30 minutes or until you achieve your desired color. Strain out the beets and begin coloring your eggs. Remember, the longer your eggs sit in the liquid, the deeper the hue.

Blue/Purple

Finely shred a large red cabbage (about a pound) with a chef’s knife, and add it to a medium saucepan. Top the shredded cabbage with a quart of water (or grape juice for deeper color). Add two tablespoons of white vinegar and a tablespoon of salt. Bring the saucepan to a boil on the stovetop over medium heat. Reduce the heat, cover the pot with a lid, and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain the cabbage and cool the liquid before dying. Blue takes a little more time to achieve than other colors, so be patient.

Green

Boil a quart of water with six cups of fresh spinach leaves. Stir in two tablespoons of white vinegar and let the water simmer on the stovetop until you achieve a deep shade of green. Strain out the spinach and allow the water to cool completely before dipping your eggs. Like blue, green can be tricky. When in doubt, add the dye to covered mason jars and soak your eggs overnight in the refrigerator.

When using natural dyes, it’s best to wear disposable gloves to avoid staining your hands. Whether you set up your egg dying station at the kitchen table or on the countertop of your kitchen island, be sure to cover the surface with a plastic tablecloth or kitchen towels for easy cleanup.

How To Host An Elegant Baby Or Bridal Shower At Home

There are so many advantages to hosting a baby or bridal shower at home. You are able to enjoy the intimate occasion with the utmost privacy and not be bothered by rental time restraints. To plan a special event that your guest of honor will remember forever, follow these tips for hosting an elegant baby or bridal shower at home.

Plan a menu that doesn’t require reheating.

When serving a large group from home, it’s important that the majority of menu items do not require reheating. Not even dream kitchens can compete with their commercial counterparts. A menu that is easy for a restaurant to prepare and serve can be a nightmare in a home kitchen.

Focus on foods that can be served cold or room temperature like quiches, sandwiches, different varieties of salads, and pastry items like muffins, scones and croissants. You can create a delicious and versatile brunch that doesn’t require you to shuffle dishes in and out of the oven.

Hire a bartender.

While you know your wine storage cabinet better than anyone, it’s best to surrender your home bar to a professional. Even if their job is simply managing the mimosa station, it will be a weight off your shoulders knowing someone will be there constantly uncorking the champagne.

When hosting a shower at home, it’s likely that your refrigerator and freezer will be at max capacity, so it’s smart to fill a large cooler with ice before the big day. Keep a few extra bottles of alcohol and juice chilled to make sure you never run out of drinks. Store your backup cooler out of sight but close by, preferably in a no-traffic area like your kitchen pantry, garage or laundry room.

Set up the perfect gifting spot.

Opening gifts is often the highlight of a shower. As the host, you want to designate the perfect spot for gathering gifts and viewing the unwrapping. If you have an open concept kitchen, the kitchen island can be an ideal area to organize gifts. Since it’s up a little higher, even your guests in the back of the room will be able to see clearly. Alternatively, set up your gifting spot at a buffet table that can be pushed against a wall with plenty of open space in front of it.

Make sure you also designate a gifting assistant, whether it be yourself or someone else at the party, to pass gifts to the mother or bride-to-be and take notes on each gift that is received. This is one detail that can be overlooked in the moment, so it’s best to plan in advance.

Keep decorations to a minimum.

You might feel like you need to overcompensate with decorations to make your home shower feel more festive, but this is not the case. There’s no need to cover your entire kitchen island with confetti or construct seven diaper cakes.

When planning your party, remember that the room will not look as it does right now. It will be filled with your friends and family and overflowing with gifts and delicious food. Use decorations as an accent instead of a focal point by incorporating subtle details. Elements like the cake or cookies, servingware, and even the cocktail napkins can be great opportunities to showcase your theme without making an overwhelming statement.

If you want to create the perfect photo op, convert one wall or area of the room into a photo station. Hang a sign, backdrop, or letter balloons against the wall, and set up a portable cart with accessories that guests can pose with. Since it will be off to the side, it won’t interfere with the party, and guests will be able to capture a fun memory of the shower.

Mix and Match Interior Design Secrets

Perhaps the trickiest of all current home design trends, mixing and matching can be simply stunning when done correctly — and downright disastrous when not. Whether you are pairing prints in the bedroom or an open concept floor plan, or choosing complimentary custom cabinet finishes for the kitchen, here are the design secrets to creating successful mix and match interior spaces.

Pairing Prints

When working with multiple prints, decide what interior design style you are going for and don’t stray too far from that theme. For example, delicate florals and French toile patterns would not be suitable for a modern aesthetic, just as animal prints and bold geometric patterns would look out of place in a traditional or country home. Here are some perfect print options for wallpaper, fabric and upholstery, from the classic to the contemporary. Use this list as a guide when decorating your unique space.

Classic:

Stripes (Pin, Ticking, Rugby)
Floral
Greek Key
Damask
Brocade
Toile
Plaid (Tartan, Buffalo Check, Gingham, Argyle)
Houndstooth
Jacobean
Chinoiserie
Fleur-de-Lis
Trellis & Quatrefoil

Contemporary:

Chevron & Herringbone
Polkadots
Ikat
Paisley
Ogee
Faux Animal Prints
Geometric Shapes
Harlequin
Swirls & Squiggles
Abstract
Crosshatch

When working in an eclectic or transitional theme, feel free to pull from both lists. Regardless of your personal style, stick with no more than three complimentary patterns and include a few large-scale solids for balance. Keep in mind that throw pillows and drapes are easy to swap out in contrast to costly elements like sofas and area rugs. You should also take color into careful consideration when decorating with more than one pattern. Choose a palette of one or two hues in varying shades for pattern and anchor the room with a neutral base.

Customizing Cabinet Finishes

Mix and match cabinetry is right on point in high-end kitchen design. When opting for custom cabinet finishes, select two contrasting colors in the same door style, for example, timeless white Shaker cabinets paired with a dark Shaker kitchen island as pictured here. For a more modern approach, alternate sections of dark and light all wood cabinetry for a high-contrast look.

To see how these mix and match cabinetry options would look in your kitchen, browse Willow Lane Cabinetry’s wide selection all wood cabinetry and take advantage of our free room design service. The secret to getting that magazine-quality look is just a few clicks away with a custom layout and photorealistic renderings.

5 Thanksgiving Appetizers To Serve Before The Main Course

Dream kitchens are created for holiday hosting. Whether you’re serving a formal sit-down dinner at the dining room table or a casual buffet on your kitchen island, a good host always starts the evening with a few appetizers. The goal is to whet the appetites of your guests without spoiling it. Here are few of our favorite Thanksgiving appetizers to serve before the main course. Light and delicious, these festive party starters will surely leave them wanting more.

Sweet Potato Bites

We found this sweet recipe at Delish, and we can’t think of a better (or sweeter) way to start your Thanksgiving feast. A deconstructed, bite-sized version of the sweet potato casserole, this appetizer consists of sweet potatoes sliced into thick rounds and drizzled with melted butter, maple syrup, and a sprinkling of salt. Topped with one toasty marshmallow and a single pecan, these little morsels are too cute not to love. For the full recipe from Delish, click here.

Cheese Ball Bites

Another bite-sized version of a holiday staple, these mini Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bites will be your new dinner party favorite. For this easy to follow recipe from I Am Baker, click here. Fun to make and fun to eat, this poppable appetizer is packed with the savory flavors of cream cheese, Cheddar cheese and ranch seasoning, rolled with crispy bacon, fresh chives and chopped pecans. Serve with crackers or add a pretzel stick as an edible serving tool.

Cranberry Salsa

Chips and dip are a must on any appetizer menu. Salsa is a light and healthy choice when compared to heavy, creamy dips like spinach, crab, or asiago cheese. For Thanksgiving, give your homemade salsa a festive twist by swapping out whole cranberries and orange zest for tomatoes. Sweet and spicy, you’ll also need sugar, fresh cilantro and chopped jalapeno peppers. For the complete recipe from Taste of Home, click here.

Butternut Squash Tartlets

If you have a mini muffin tin and a food processor in your kitchen cabinets, you can make these adorable homemade tartlets that feature an autumn favorite — butternut squash. Topped with crumbled Feta cheese and finely chopped parsley, this appetizer looks impressive but is actually quite easy to make. For the recipe and step-by-step instructions from Good Housekeeping, click here.

Roasted nuts are also a great way to get the holiday dinner party started. Click here for Roasted Nut Recipes For Fall And Winter Snacking from our recent blog, and keep a few bowls on your kitchen island or home bar for holiday guests to enjoy. Happy hosting!