Nansletter 02/22/2022

Can you feel it? Spring cleaning is in the air, and it’s that time of year where we find ourselves looking at our kitchen cabinets and cluttered closets itching for a reset. We’ve certainly been busy doing some cleaning around here!

If you haven’t heard the news yet, we’re opening a second location in Southborough! This week on our social media we showed a few behind the scenes clips of demolition, getting rid of the ceiling tiles and old soda fountains in the new location, and cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.

There is definitely a vibe shift at this time of year. We’re all waiting on the edge of our seats for the next chapter to begin. Maybe you’re picking out some new paint. Figuring out how to get those awful ceiling lights replaced. Potentially reorganizing your linen closets. We get it: Friday nights are wild out here in the ‘burbs.

So, we have some inspiration for your next spring cleaning project! We also have easy dinner solutions galore for when you’re too busy focused on your side hustle, newest Pinterest project or binging Love is Blind Season 2.

Let’s Clean Out the Spice Cabinet

Now is the perfect time to clean out the spice rack. We know it can get tedious, but just imagine all the space you will have to work some of the best & freshest spices into your kitchen. We promise it’s worth it!

The first step is letting go of those spices you haven’t used in forever. It’s okay, we are emotionally attached to our spices we only used once too. So, where do you even start….

Did your glass jar get a crack? Did the bag rip a little too much? You know what we’re thinking. Get rid of those plastic baggies full of unlabeled spices (Tip: next time skip the baggies & reuse an old glass jar from jelly, pasta sauce, or even an empty spice). You may know what’s in it, you may not, but it’s time to part with them.

Next, is the most painful part. You know those beautiful spices you bought for one recipe and used only once? Get rid of them, but don’t worry, we are going to give you some amazing replacement ideas!

Now for the best part, restocking with fresher & more versatile spices! Here at Nan’s we have been LOVING spices from Burlap and Barrel & want to share a few of our favorite spices & ideas to repurpose our roasted chicken with!

Farmhouse Roasted Chicken

We think this menu item is underrated: because who doesn’t love a juicy, tender roasted chicken with crispy, flavorful skin slathered in butter and herbs? This is perfect for an easy dinner to feed the family on a busy night, and can be repurposed in so many different ways. Here’s just a few:

Chicken Quesadillas

Burlap and Barrel’s Silk Chili Flakes are the perfect addition to your newly organized spice rack. With tasting notes of roasted tomato, honey and Mediterranean sun this spice can take any dish to the next level. It is a great way to add a kick to some chicken quesadillas using our roasted chicken! All you need is tortillas, shredded cheese, bell peppers, onions, Silk Chili Flakes, taco seasoning and one of our roasted chickens. Dice your chicken, onions & peppers & then saute with oil, taco seasoning & Silk Chili Flakes. Then oil another pan & place a tortilla in it & add shredded cheese & chicken mix. Fold the tortilla & cook on both sides. Serve with sour cream, guacamole or salsa!

Learn More

Nachos

When cleaning out your spices you may have found your old peppercorn, but trust us the Burlap and Barrel Zanzibar Black Pepper is worth trying. This organically grown spice won a gold medal for quality & Burlap and Barrel is the only company that imports black pepper from Zanzibar in the US. It has tasting notes of Cacao, Lemon & Tropical Heat which is the perfect flavor profile for a delicious guacamole. To make this simple guac all you need is avocado, lemon, garlic powder, onion powder, salt & Zanzibar Black Peppercorns. Mash avocado & grind the peppercorns & then mix all the ingredients into a bowl. We then recommend getting one of our roasted chickens to shred & make chicken nachos with. Place tortilla chips, shredded cheese, shredded chicken, black beans & jalapeños in an oven safe dish. Bake until cheese melts & serve with your homemade guac, hot sauce & sour cream on top!

Learn More

Garlic Cream Sauce

Try something new with Burlap and Barrel’s nutty Purple Stripe Garlic with lots of depth. It contains tasting notes of brown butter, toasted hazelnut & asafoetida, making this sweet & savory spice a new staple in your kitchen. We suggest using it for a garlic cream sauce for interesting tasting notes. Melt butter & Purple Stripe Garlic, then add in flour. Stir in half-and-half & then season with salt & pepper, allow to thicken. Add in parsley & parmesan. Shred some of our roasted chicken & mix into the sauce for some extra protein. Add to some linguine & serve!

Learn More

Spring Cleaning Inspiration

We were feeling inspired this week and wanted to pass that onto y’all. Linked below are several spring cleaning projects we discovered that we can’t wait to get into ourselves. Let’s get cleanin’!

The Good Old-Fashioned Closet Clean Out

Tips for Zero Waste Spring Cleaning

More Into Spiritually Cleaning Your Home? Check Out This DIY Spring Smudge Stick!

What to Drink This Week

As always, Chris is saving our week with delicious wine and beer recommendations. This week he’s picked an “Americano” style wine, and a bright citrus-y wild farmhouse ale. Check out his descriptions below!

RAS A7 Americano

"Is it a port? Is it a brandy? Is it vermouth? What is it? It’s actually an "Americano" style - a base wine that is aromatized with herbs and flowers, typically bittered with cinchona bark (what makes tonic water tonic) and gentian root. Except the base isn't just wine, this is wild Maine blueberry wine, and there is nothing else like this on the planet. Only 12% ABV so much less punch than a Port or typical Vermouth. Cooked blueberry jam, slight earthy bitterness and purple flowers, with just a dash of sweetness. Try this over ice in a rocks glass with a splash of soda and orange wedge - or sub it out for sweet vermouth in a Manhattan. I would recommend stirring this with equal parts rye whiskey and a few dashes of Orange bitters."

Swift & Changeable

“Two farmhouse breweries - Oxbow out of Newcastle, ME (my personal favorite East Coast brewery) collaborated with Honest Weight out of Orange, MA to create "Swift and Changeable" - a wild farmhouse ale conditioned with brettanomyces - the yeast strain that gives you that heady barnyard funk. I love these styles of beers because they remind me of driving up to Hill Farmstead in Vermont as a youngin, passing all the deer and bails of hay to grab me some sudsy farmhouse saisons. These beers drink like fine wines in the way that they show "terroir" - kinda like a snapshot of where they were made. This one drinks incredibly bright and clean, so balanced and refreshing with touches of citrus, Saison yeast, grassy and complex enough to keep you intrigued for another sip”

Freshly Ground Coffee Beans

Did you know that we can grind any bag of coffee you select from our shelves? Yep, it’s true. Save yourself time and treat yourself to the delicious aromas of fresh ground, locally roasted coffee. Peruse our coffee wall and find a blend that strikes your fancy (we’re loving Broadsheet’s seasonal blend right now) and ask our barista to grind it for you. We’ll have it brew-ready in a jiffy!

Learn More About Broadsheet Coffee