We have new toys in the kitchen!

This weekend we went to a local arts festival called Lazy Days. I knew there would be handmade pottery and I was determined to get a French butter dish. I’ve wanted one for ages, but they’re kind of hard to find! I knew Lazy Days, which is chock-full of artists and artisans, would surely have a vendor selling the piece I wanted.

Cary Lazy Days Festival

Success!

French butter crock - handmade pottery | www.livelygreendoor.com

The idea behind it will probably freak some of you out, haha. You put the butter in the dish, fill the base with a bit of water, then invert the dish into the water, so air is prevented from reaching the butter. And – brace yourselves – you don’t refrigerate it. The butter stays soft, and thanks to the water, air is prevented from reach the butter (which oxidizes and spoils it).

I know, some of you are probably squirming at the idea of eating butter that’s been out of the fridge. But, we’re on day five, and it doesn’t smell and we’re not dead or sick! Right now, we have salted Kerrygold butter in it. It’s still delicious and melts perfectly when I’m cooking. Yes, friends: butter > anything else.

French butter crock - handmade pottery | www.livelygreendoor.com

While we’re going back to the 19th century with keeping butter, we’re in the future with our coffee maker. Meet the AeroPress.

Aerobie AeroPress - delicious coffee espresso at home! | www.livelygreendoor.com

We’ve been French press-ers for a while, but a couple of weeks ago, the carafe cracked when sooooommeebody (HUSBAND) dropped it in the sink. I thought it’d be a good time to try out the AeroPress, which local blogger Triangle Explorer recommended.

You put a filter in the bottom of the tower, scoop some grounds into the tower using the funnel, add hot water, stir and press the plunger down. Results? A lovely espresso. Just add more water for a regular coffee. I really like the coffee it makes (fewer grains!), whereas Ryan is still loyal to the French press.

Most importantly, however: WHO LOVES MY COW MUG?

Aerobie AeroPress - delicious coffee espresso at home! | www.livelygreendoor.com

And last, but not least, a souvenir from Atlanta. We’ve had the Coca Cola wall-mounted bottle opener for a while (I spray painted it oil-rubbed bronze to make it a little prettier), and while we were at World of Coca Cola in Atlanta, I snagged the bottle cap catcher. The sticker residue on it is EVIL and won’t come off! But no worries, I’ll be spray painting it soon enough.

Coca-Cola bottle cap catcher | www.livelygreendoor.com

My tip for hanging one of these: just make sure the catcher is low enough so it doesn’t get in the way when you pop a cap off a bottle. We put it as low as possible without being weirdly low, but alas, the phone jack got in the way.

Coca-Cola bottle cap catcher | www.livelygreendoor.com

Any new toys in your kitchen?

4 Responses to A Few Kitchen Updates

  1. Someone did a website makeover. Ow ow, lookin’ good!

    My dad sales bottle catchers in his etsy shop. That is if you’re looking more for the rustic/country look. http://www.rusticcreekwoodprod.etsy.com.

  2. Ashley says:

    Dang! I missed Lazy Days (had to work)! Heard it was great though. Will have to catch it next time.

  3. Ummm…I love your cow mug! lol, I have a soft side for tan cows. Its bad. I want to own one. And have it be my friend. Love your additions! We added a bottle opener to our kitchen too – Life saver (for me)! Chris forgets its there and then flips out when he can’t find our bottle opener…he’s a punk!

    • paige says:

      Fun story: When I was growing up, my parents had the same ridiculous cow mug. Ryan and I came across a pair of these same ones in a thrift shop and I was like, “No way. I have the buy these – because CHILDHOOD!” I texted my mom a picture and she confirmed – same mugs! So now I have two goofy cow mugs.

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