Sinkology: November 2020

If you have any additional questions during your search for the perfect copper, fireclay farmhouse sink or granite sink, our Sinkologists are here to help. Contact us or follow us on Facebook, Houzz, Pinterest, or Instagram for more helpful tips and design ideas.

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Make Your Small Gathering Special

When it comes to the holidays, there’s no right or wrong way to celebrate! This year, we know that things might feel different for your family, but that’s no reason to skip the decor and delicious recipes. A few simple touches around your kitchen and gathering areas will help you set a tone of gratitude, family, and cheer–and who doesn’t need more of that?

We’re sharing some of our favorite DIY tips and tricks to create a beautiful fall harvest tablescape and place settings that work perfectly for smaller gatherings. Plus, a holiday meal (or casual evening at home!) can be topped off with a delicious, autumn-inspired drink. Grab your favorite fall inspirations, your Sinkology copper mug, and have fun!

Send us pics of your holiday decor that includes your Sinkology sink! Use the hashtag #ShowUsYourSink and we’ll feature your home on our social media pages. We want to see how you love to celebrate this season!

Gather DIY and Inspiration for Thanksgiving Tablescape

Autumn DIY Place Card:

Traditional Moscow Mule Recipe:

Apple Pie Mule Recipe:

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Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Our Fall Favorites: Bathroom Edition

Now that it’s October, you might be embracing autumn in your day-to-day life with pumpkin spice everything, cozy cable knit sweaters, and evening bonfires. But what about your bathroom décor? If it’s still stuck in summer, keep reading. This post will inspire you to incorporate some of our fall favorites into your bathrooms, from half baths to master suites.

We at Sinkology love all things fall and firmly believe that seasonal celebrations shouldn’t stop at the bathroom door. Now, we’re not saying that you need to fill every inch of your bathroom with fall elements. It’s quite the opposite, really. Frankly, there isn’t space for festive hay bales or spooky jack-o-lanterns in the average bathroom.

We recommend you only bring in seasonal décor that will bring a smile to your face, not annoyances to your bathroom visit. Skip the unnecessary clutter that will just slow you down in your already hurried morning routine.

…Yes, this is even recommended for those of you with a short commute traveling to your downstairs home office. No one wants to add so much seasonal stuff that it interferes with everyday life. Instead, you want to bring seasonality in conveniently.

One of the easiest, most impactful additions actually takes up the least amount of space: an air freshener. We love how air fresheners fill the room with a fall-perfect feel, without adding visible clutter. Whether a simple outlet plug like a Bath & Body Works wallflower, a soothing all-natural essential oil diffuser, or cozy candle, this is one of our favorite ways to set a fall vibe indoors. Not sure what fragrance is best for fall? Our favorite candle and wallflower fragrances include pumpkin spice (obviously), sweet apple cider, and earthy cedar. For essential oils, we’re all about natural cinnamon bark, bergamot, and clove.

We understand if some of you are less than enthused about adding fragrance to an impeccably clean bathroom. But, you can still bring in a natural fall essence with seasonal plants. From tall grasses and dried flower bouquets to branches filled with colorful leaves, there are plenty of ways to incorporate seasonal nature indoors. Opt for tall, thin vases on your countertop corners or along wall shelves. We even love trading out decorative stones, pearls, and gems in glass jars for acorns, buckeyes, and pine cones in mason jars. Just be sure to be intentional with these natural elements…and promise to not go overboard.

If the thought of adding an extra anything to your bathroom immediately gives you claustrophobia, simply replace your favorite fabrics with a more fall shade. You’ll love the transition from a beautiful, summery blue rug to rich red bath mat, crisp white towels to earthy brown alternatives, or a springy floral shower curtain to one filled with golden yellow sunflowers.

Yes, fall is a beautiful, colorful time. But, we get it if you’d prefer to stick with the neutrals. There’s really nothing better than keeping a white-and-gray theme all autumn long with a small collection of white pumpkins, distressed wood frames, and cotton branches.

These are some of our fall favorites for bathroom design. Now, we want to know: how do you bring all the fall feels to your bathroom? Share your seasonal favorites with us on Instagram @Sinkology with #FallFavorites.

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Tuesday, November 17, 2020

How To: Bring Fall Charm to your Kitchen

Autumn is officially upon us. Some of you might be exclaiming “finally” while others are already missing summer. We believe that every season is a reason to celebrate, no matter what the weather is like outside. It gives us the opportunity to spruce up our spaces, including our favorite room in the home: the kitchen.

Yes, seasonal décor *can* be tacky at times. But you don’t have to stick with overly obvious Thanksgiving-themed towels, trick-or-treat signs, or overdone autumnal color palate. We believe that, when done right, fall décor can bring a special seasonal vibe. No matter if you’re a pumpkin spice fan, love cozy sweater evenings, or just like a change of pace in your space, here are a few ways to add charming fall touches to your kitchen:

Like we’ve shared in previous posts, all-white kitchens are currently beloved in homes all over the country. But don’t think that you have to take away from that crisp minimalistic look just to bring in a touch of fall. If you want to keep your all-white kitchen consistent, bring in beautiful white pumpkins and fresh eucalyptus. Together, there is a touch of texture with just a nod to fall, without overdoing it.

If you’re open to a bit of color, burnt orange is a great place to start. Whether through a gathering of leaves sitting atop your cabinets or in potted mums surrounding your bay window, there’s nothing more fall that an orange hue. Of course, if orange is the opposite of your aesthetic, try rich reds instead. When used in table runners, place mats, and even stovetop pots, you and your entire family will be ready for cozy evenings in.

No matter your color preference, fall florals add a beautiful change to standard blooms. In addition to vibrant mums, we love bringing in a blend of wispy grain stalks and dried flowers to dining room tables, wall planters, and wreaths.

Of course, you don’t necessarily have to add clutter just to create a fall feel in your kitchen. Even the most functionality focused people can bring in a touch of fall to the kitchen. It’s all about featuring the most autumnal things that you’re already using day to day. One of our favorite ways to do this is in a countertop fruit basket. Trade out juicy limes and lemons for farm-fresh apples in your kitchen island’s fruit basket. If you have a multi-tier basket, take the top-most shelf for mini gourds. If you tend to keep sweets in stock, this is a perfect chance to feature pumpkin pie on your dessert stand or swap out your standard cookie jar for a pumpkin-shaped alternative.

Not only can you show off only your most-used fall foods, trading out materials will help you mentally shift away from summer to cooler fall nights. One way to do this is by replacing any crisp white canisters you keep on your countertop for copper. This natural metal will bring the shades of the season indoors, beautifully.

How will you bring in the season of change into your kitchen? We’d love to be inspired by your favorite fall décor. Share with us on Instagram @Sinkology with #FallFavorites.

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Monday, November 16, 2020

Hominy Gratin

Sinkology is proud to present Emily Schuermann, our food-loving guest blogger who runs Food for a Year. Emily is here to share some recipes she has created exclusively for the Sinkology blog that reflect her view of a copper sink: simple, timeless, affordable, and beautifully rustic.
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If you’ve been following along with me for these past few years, then you’ll know sides are my favorite part of the holiday meal. There’s something about a side dish that takes comfort food to a whole other level and this hominy gratin does just that!

What is Hominy?

Hominy is made from whole corn kernels that have been soaked in solution to soften the outer hull. Once the hull is removed, the kernel puffs and the texture becomes more tender and chewy than a typical corn kernel, similar to a cooked pinto bean.

Hominy is a hearty vegetable that can hold up to extended cooking time, making it a perfect addition to soups, stews and casseroles (like this Hominy Gratin).

Two Stars in this Dish ::

There are really two main steps to this simple side dish:

the cheesy sauce
the crunchy topping

The Sauce ::

For this sauce, I’ve chosen to combine two of my favorite cheeses : sharp cheddar and pepper jack. These cheeses add just the right amount of tang and spice to partner with the hominy. For some extra flavor, I’ve added one bay leaf and a teaspoon of dijon mustard.

Start by melting the butter into the flour, adding the bay leaf, dijon and salt + pepper. Once the butter melts and creates a paste, stir in milk, cream and cheeses. Continue to stir until cheese is melted. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Then pour the cheese (mornay) sauce over the hominy and diced peppers.

The Topping ::

The topping is the easiest step – just combine the topping ingredients

panko
melted butter
salt + pepper
1 oz of each cheese

and sprinkle over the hominy and sauce.

Bake the hominy gratin in a 400° oven for 10 minutes and then reduce the temperature to 350° continuing to bake for 20 minutes until the top is crisp and the cheese is melted and golden.

Such a simple side, with so much flavor. That classic, sweet flavor of hominy combine with the slightly spicy cheesy sauce and topped with crisp breadcrumbs is certain to be the perfect partner to your Thanksgiving turkey!

Hominy Gratin

2 cans hominy, drained (I used white hominy + yellow hominy)
3 T red sweet pepper, finely diced

Mornay Sauce Filling

3 1/2 T butter, salted
2 T flour
1 t dijon mustard
1/4 t sea salt
1/8 t black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 c whole milk
1/2 c heavy whipping cream
6 oz grated sharp cheddar, reserving 1 oz for garnish
2 oz grated pepper jack cheese, reserving 1 oz for garnish

Bread Crumb Topping

1 1/2 c panko breadcrumbs
1/4 t sea salt
1/8 t black pepper
2 T melted butter, salted

Preheat over to 400°. Prepare a 10″x7.5″x2″ baking dish by spraying with nonstick cooking spray.

Place drained hominy and diced sweet peppers in the prepared dish, spreading evenly.

In a medium saucepan, combine first 6 filling ingredients, melting the butter into the flour to create a paste.

Add milk, cream and cheeses (reserving 1 oz of each to use as garnish).

Whisk to combine until cheese melts and the sauce thickens. Taste to adjust seasoning of necessary.

Pour the cheese sauce over the hominy and peppers.

In a medium bowl, combine topping ingredients. Sprinkle over the cheesy hominy, top with remaining grated cheese and place into the preheated oven.

Bake for 10 minutes at 400° and then reduce the temperature to 350°, continuing to bake for 20 minutes until topping is crisp and cheese is melted and golden on top.

Serve immediately.

Serves 10

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Thursday, November 12, 2020

Small Batch Fall-Spiced Granola

Sinkology is proud to present Emily Schuermann, our food-loving guest blogger who runs Food for a Year. Emily is here to share some recipes she has created exclusively for the Sinkology blog that reflect her view of a copper sink: simple, timeless, affordable, and beautifully rustic.

As the temperatures start to drop, I really start to crave those warm flavors of allspice, cinnamon, ginger and clove. This fall-inspired small batch granola is the perfect way to incorporate those flavors into your day!

Easily Adaptable Go-To Granola Recipe

I love the basic framework for this granola recipe! It’s so versatile and can be modified and adapted to what you have on hand and what you’re currently craving. For this “Fall-inspired” granola, I used a combination of crushed, toasted hazelnuts and sprouted pumpkin seeds but you can use almonds, walnuts, pecans or any nut you prefer.

Next, I used a store-bought, pre-blended medley of dried fruit that contained all the beautiful colors of Fall including peaches, apples, apricots, raisins and pears. ((I think cranberries, cherries, plums and dates would also be some great dried-fruit options!))

Last, I boosted the flavors with a teaspoon of grated orange zest and a pre-mixed blend of warm spices (I added a little more ginger and cinnamon to get the flavors right where I wanted them).

I love the combination of these flavors, every bite is a little different thanks to the bits of dried fruit + hazelnuts + sprouted pumpkin seeds. But my favorite part?? The blend of warm spices and orange. It’s so delicious and addictive. I’m enjoying this granola all day long – on yogurt, on ice-cream and by the handfuls!

And – bonus! This recipe makes just enough to enjoy all week long!

Small Batch Fall-Spiced Granola

1/3 c honey
1/2 c brown sugar
1/3 c pure maple sirup
4 c quick oats
1 T Fall spice blend*
1 t orange zest
1/2 t sea salt
1 1/2 c dried fruit, chopped (fall medley if available)
1 1/2 c chopped nuts, chopped + toasted (I used hazelnuts)
1/2 c sprouted pumpkin seeds (or sunflower seeds)
4 t cooking oil (for coating baking sheet pans)

Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare (2) 1/2 sheet or 1/4 sheet pans by coating each with oil.

In a large mixing bowl, combine first 7 ingredients. Mix well to coat oats evenly with the sugars and spices.

Spread oat mixture evenly onto both baking sheets in a single layer with space between clumps for air circulation.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Once oats become toasted in color (medium golden) remove from oven.

Immediately place granola in a large mixing bowl and toss with nuts and dried fruit. Allow to cool, then stir to break up large clusters.

Once completely cooled, store in an air-tight container for 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.

Makes 6 cups.

*(2 t apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice + 1 t ground cinnamon + 1/4 t ground ginger)

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