11 April 2019 Crunchy Snack Recipe – Maple Cinnamon Glazed Pecans

Crunchy Snack Recipe – Maple Cinnamon Glazed Pecans

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National Pecan Day is this weekend and a great way to celebrate this nut is with a healthy, protein-packed pecan recipe. Our guest blogger Erin from Food Wise Family is here to share a wonderfully crunchy yet sweet snack that you don’t feel guilty about indulging in.

My maple cinnamon glazed pecans are a delightful way to honor the delicious pecan. Not only is this recipe super simple, but it makes your house smell amazing. I know I can’t resist the smell of maple and cinnamon welcoming me when I walk in the door.

These glazed pecans don’t last long in our house. My most recent batch only lasted a little more than 24 hours. It’s really hard not to eat more than one. They are addicting!

 

This tasty little snack is sweetened by just a little bit of maple syrup, keeping it paleo.

This not only makes a great snack, but is also a great topper for salads, if you want to add some crunch. Plus, the pecan is heart healthy, full of vitamins and minerals, and packed with fiber.

Maple Cinnamon Glazed Pecans
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Baking Time: 45 Minutes
Total Time: 50 Minutes

Ingredients
2.5 cups raw pecans
1 egg white
2 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt

glazed pecans bake

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 250°.
  2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk egg white for about one to two minutes until it is frothy.
  3. Add maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt to the egg white mixture and mix well.
  4. Pour the pecans into the egg mixture and stir until well-coated.
  5. Spread mixture evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 45 minutes. Stir the mixture every 15 minutes while baking.
  7. Remove from the oven, and let cool for 5 minutes.

Recipe Note:
Looking to make more? This recipe for maple cinnamon glazed pecans can easily be doubled. Just make sure when you are baking it, that the there is enough room on your baking sheet for the glazed pecans to be spread out evenly.

I believe that the food we put on the table should not only be healthy, but easy and full of flavor. Check out my website foodwisefamily.com for more wholesome recipes.

Love pecans and looking for a sinfully delicious dessert? See our blog for Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie!

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14 March 2019 Matcha Chia Pudding Recipe

Matcha Chia Pudding Recipe

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Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day or any other day, here’s a little bit of green to start your morning. Our guest blogger, Erin over at Food Wise Family, has a creamy treat perfect for matcha lovers – it’s called Matcha Chia Pudding!

Matcha is a finely ground powder of high-grade green tea. Unlike normal tea where you steep the leaves, with matcha you are consuming the whole leaf. Matcha has more caffeine than black tea, but less than coffee.

Chia seeds are tiny seeds that retain a large amount of water. That’s why they are great in pudding, because they soak up all the delicious coconut milk in this recipe, creating a texture similar to tapioca pudding. Since they soak up at least 10x their weight, it’s best to eat chia seeds soaked, like in a pudding, so they don’t absorb the water in your body. These tiny seeds are a great source of fiber, protein, calcium, and omega-3s.

Chia seeds tend to soak up whatever flavors you pair with them, so this matcha chia seed pudding is a balanced blend of creamy coconut and the refreshing earthy notes of matcha.

While this matcha chia pudding is far from being Irish, this tasty little goody is a great alternative to enjoying a cup of matcha. I’m not giving up my morning coffee any time soon, but every once in a while I love to indulge in a cup of matcha. This vibrant green wonder is full of antioxidants and just the right amount of caffeine.

With my love for coconut milk chia pudding, it was a no-brainer for me to combine it with matcha.

This matcha chia pudding takes just minutes to prep and requires only four ingredients. Plus it’s dairy-free and paleo!

Matcha Chia Pudding Recipe

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour to overnight
Servings: 4

Ingredients
13.5 oz can full-fat coconut milk
6 tablespoons chia seeds
2 – 3 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey)*
2 teaspoons matcha

Instructions

  1. Empty a can of coconut milk into a mixing cup and blend for a few seconds using an immersion blender.**
  2. Place remaining ingredients in the coconut milk and mix thoroughly.
  3. Spoon the matcha chia pudding into separate serving containers and cover.
  4. Refrigerate for at least an hour before enjoying. For the best flavor and for chia seeds to fully set, refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Recipe Notes:
*Use more or less sweetener to desired taste.

**You can also use a regular blender, or even just whisk the matcha chia pudding. Just make sure to mix well. If whisking, make sure to mix it immediately after adding the chia seeds. Once the chia seeds get wet, they stick to everything and clump, so it’s best to mix it right away.

I believe that the food we put on the table should not only be healthy, but easy and full of flavor. Check out my website foodwisefamily.com for more wholesome recipes.

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21 February 2019 Try Our Tangelo Margarita Recipe!

Try Our Tangelo Margarita Recipe!

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Time to break out the cocktail shaker and mix up a tangelo margarita just in time for National Margarita Day. Our guest blogger, Erin, from Food Wise Family, will show you how.

Margaritas are my go-to drink when I want a cocktail. They are oh so refreshing and the perfect balance of sour and sweet. My tangelo margarita tastes similar to the classic margarita, but leaves triple sec out of the mix. For those of you who may not recall, tangelos are a hybrid of a tangerine and pomelo/grapefruit.

I mainly eat a paleo diet, so I am always trying to recreate my past food/drink loves to be paleo-friendly. Alcohol itself really isn’t paleo, but when recreating this recipe, I made sure there was no added refined sugar or other icky additives, like most mixed drinks tend to be filled with. And so, the tangelo margarita was born!

Choosing the Tequila

When it comes to choosing the tequila for your tangelo margarita, make sure it is blanco/silver and 100% agave. Blanco tequila is usually used for the classic margarita because its pure flavor compliments the bold citrusy goodness that is a margarita. Tequila that is not 100% agave has sugars and other additives, so it’s best to make sure it says 100% pure agave on the bottle. 

tangelo margarita ingredient

Leave Out the Triple Sec

Triple sec is typically found in a margarita recipe, but I cut this from my recipe.

Triple sec is a type of orange-flavored liqueur, and liqueurs are high in sugar. By using the tangelo in the recipe instead, the sweet orangey flavor is still present.

Getting More Lime Juice

I always have a tough time juicing limes because they are so small and the rind is so tough. I found the best way to get the most juice out of a lime is to stick a whole lime in the microwave for approximately 15 seconds. This softens it up a bit and makes it so much easier to juice.

How to Make a Tangelo Margarita

Total Time: 5 minutes

Serving size: 1

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz blanco tequila (100% agave)

1 1/2 oz freshly squeezed tangelo juice

1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice

1 oz water

2 tsp maple syrup*

lime slice for garnish (optional)

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients and add ice.

2. Shake well and strain into a salt-rimmed glass with fresh ice.

3. Garnish with a lime and enjoy!

*Recipe Note: You can use honey in place of maple syrup, but let the honey dissolve in the cocktail shaker before you add the ice. If you add ice too early, the honey just won’t dissolve.

tangelo Margarita with salt

I believe that the food we put on the table should not only be healthy, but easy and full of flavor. Check out my website foodwisefamily.com for more wholesome recipes.

Looking for another margarita recipe? Check out our Hibiscus Margarita.

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31 January 2019 Customized Butcher Block Made Your Way!

Customized Butcher Block Made Your Way!

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Customized butcher block kitchen island tops and countertops is our sweet spot here at Butcher Block Co.! It is what we do every day. While standard size butcher block may work for some folks, we have found that the majority of our customers have very specific requirements to fit their kitchen islands, island bars, or countertops. Often they require unique dimensions, custom angle cuts, miter cuts, sink cutouts or stove cutouts.

For customized butcher block island tops or countertops requiring just specific length and width specifications, including custom edging, chances are you can have some fun with our Instant Quote Tool and get an online quote yourself. Visit our John Boos Instant Quote Tool, email a quote to yourself, or order immediately. It’s fast and easy!

If your customized butcher block island top or countertops require special cuts or cutouts, simply give us a call at (877) 845-5597 and we will be happy to work with you on a custom quote. The process is pretty simple:

  • Specifications – Identify all of your specifications, including wood species, dimensions and a simple sketch, then email them to us.
  • Conversation – We will call you to discuss details.
  • Quote – A firm quote will be provided for your butcher block.
  • Order – We will place a phone order with you. If you have custom cutouts for appliances, we will ask you for make and model numbers.
  • Signature Approval – A simple engineering drawing from the manufacture will be sent to you for approval prior to production.
  • Anticipation – This just requires a little patience on your end, as we make your customized butcher block!

Perhaps you are looking for a unique species of wood, if so, consider our Butcher Block Co. brand of countertops available in 15 different wood species. This would also be your choice if you have requirements for an XL butcher block, an unfinished butcher block, or you were on a tighter time frame, as these tops are made within 3 weeks, plus shipping. Our BBCo. brand custom butcher block is handcrafted by Amish woodworkers who pay special attention to detail and quality workmanship.

Go ahead and play with our BBCo. brand Instant Online Quote Tool. It is a wonderful way to research and plan a kitchen remodel in the privacy of your own home. No pressure. Just generate a quote and email it to yourself.

We would love for you to become one of our happy customers.

Every day we work with DIY homeowners, contractors and designers to help them customize butcher block their way!

We also have worked with small restaurant owners to outfit both their front of house and back of house with customized butcher block. And, we are also available to help home builders and other commercial businesses looking to integrate butcher block into their projects.

Reminder… you always get FREE SHIPPING on your butcher block island tops and countertops from Butcher Block Co. Let us know if we can help you. Give us a call at (877) 845-5597 or email us with your specs at [email protected]. Cheers!

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3 January 2019 Turkey Fried Cauliflower Rice Recipe

Turkey Fried Cauliflower Rice Recipe

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Turkey Fried Cauliflower Rice

Erin from Food Wise Family wants to make eating healthy easy. Check out this simple yet delicious turkey fried cauliflower rice recipe…

The new year is usually filled with resolutions. Some are kept and others are easily forgotten, but one common resolution that I agree strongly with is eating healthy. If you are determined enough, you will make it happen, but I think one trick to getting into the habit of eating healthy is finding meals that are quick and easy.  Loaded with protein and packed with veggies, this turkey fried cauliflower rice recipe takes only 30 minutes to whip up. Plus, it utilizes mostly frozen veggies, making prep for this meal complete in only minutes. This quick and wholesome meal creates plenty of leftovers, so lunch is taken care of, too.

Eat What Works For Youturkey fried cauliflower rice ingredients

If you’ve read any of my previous posts on here, you’ll know that I usually share paleo recipes. Not today, but only by a little. This turkey fried cauliflower rice recipe calls for a bag of frozen peas and carrots. Peas are not considered to be paleo because they are legumes. I want to point out that eating healthy also means not boxing yourself in completely to one way of eating. Eat what works for your body. However, if you’re hoping to make this meal completely paleo or you just really hate peas, substitute the peas and carrots for just carrots, or perhaps your favorite frozen veggie combo. Personally, I love peas and love having a meal that is super fast to make. So, yay for frozen peas!

Cooking Oils

I like to cook with virgin coconut oil. One thing to watch for with coconut oil is to not overheat it when you’re cooking. I’ve noticed on my stove the hottest I can go with it is medium heat, but your stove might be different. If your virgin coconut oil starts to smoke, it’s too hot. So adjust your temperature if needed.  Another good fat to cook this meal with is ghee, which is clarified butter. Ghee has a higher smoke point than virgin coconut oil or even butter, and it is a good substitute for anyone who is lactose intolerant but likes cooking with butter. The process of making ghee removes the majority of the lactose, plus ghee contains several healthy fatty acids and is rich in nutrients. Make sure you use grass-fed ghee.turkey fried cauliflower rice

This turkey fried cauliflower rice calls for coconut aminos – a soy-free and gluten-free alternative to soy sauce. It is produced from coconut tree sap and sea salt and is packed with amino acids and minerals.

However, if you are a soy sauce type of person, feel free to use soy sauce instead.

Turkey Fried Cauliflower Rice

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs ground turkey
  • 2 tbsp virgin coconut oil, or ghee
  • 1 large white onion, diced
  • 1 bag frozen peas and carrots (10 oz)
  • 2 bags frozen cauliflower rice (12 oz each)
  • 1 tsp virgin coconut oil, or ghee
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 4 tbsp coconut aminos
  • 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp pepper, or to taste

Instructions

  1. In a skillet or sauté pan, cook ground turkey.
  2. While the turkey cooks, heat coconut oil, or ghee, over medium heat in a large skillet or sauté pan. Sauté diced onion until translucent (about 5 minutes).
  3. Add peas and carrots and cauliflower rice to the cooked onions and stir in thoroughly.  Cook until heated through while stirring occasionally (about 10 minutes). If your veggies have a lot of excess water, cook a few minutes longer to reduce the amount of liquid in the pan.
  4. In the center of the pan, create an empty space by pushing all the veggies to the side of the pan. Turn the heat to medium-low and add one teaspoon of coconut oil or ghee. Once melted, add the beaten eggs. Using a spatula, scramble the egg. Once the eggs are a little over halfway cooked, stir thoroughly into the veggie mixture.
  5. Combine cooked turkey, coconut aminos, salt, and pepper in the veggie mixture and stir well.turkey fried cauliflower rice

Recipe Note: This is great served by itself, or if you want to add a kick to it, this tastes amazing with hot sauce.

I believe that the food we put on the table should not only be healthy, but easy and full of flavor. Check out my website foodwisefamily.com for more wholesome recipes.

Interested in learning more about healthy oils? Read our blog Healthy Oils For A Healthy You.

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6 December 2018 No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Balls Recipe

No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Balls Recipe

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Our monthly guest blogger, Erin from Food Wise Family, is sharing the perfect holiday treat that will be the star of your next holiday party. If you are looking for a last-minute, homemade goodie to take to a holiday party or for a Christmas cookie swap, look no further. These no-bake chocolate coconut balls are simple to make, deliciously chocolatey and crunchy, and secretly healthy.
 
Healthy Holiday Sweets
During the holidays, it’s so easy to load up on sugary treats because they are everywhere. A great solution for this is to make sweets that utilize something that’s already naturally sweet. While these chocolate coconut balls are addicting and indulge your chocolate craving, they are also guilt-free because they are sweetened only with dates. No added refined sugars here…just pure, natural dates!  

This recipe is also paleo, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free, making these chocolate coconut balls a great choice for anyone with special dietary needs or certain food allergies.

Packed with protein from the almonds, these little chocolate coconut balls are also more satisfying than you think, making it easy to stop at only eating one or two.
 chocolate coconut balls
No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Balls
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serving: About 14-16 balls, depending on size
 
Ingredients
1 cup pitted soft Medjool dates(about 15 dates)
1 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup melted virgin coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt
2-3 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut, as a topping
 
Instructions
1. Add dates to food processor and pulse several times until they are roughly chopped.
2. Add the remaining ingredients, except for the shredded coconut topping, to the food processor and blend until mixed well. 
3. Using a spoon, scoop out enough mixture to easily roll into a small ball using your hands. Continue until you’ve rolled all the mixture.
4. In a small bowl, place the remaining shredded coconut and gently roll each chocolate ball to evenly coat with the coconut.
5. Place balls on a parchment lined plate, tray or baking sheet, and chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
6. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and serve chilled.
 
I believe that the food we put on the table should not only be healthy, but easy and full of flavor. Check out my website foodwisefamily.com for more wholesome recipes. 
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15 November 2018 Homemade Paleo Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Homemade Paleo Cranberry Sauce Recipe

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Erin, our guest blogger over at Food Wise Family, has a healthy cranberry sauce recipe that is sure to be your new holiday favorite!

Whether you are cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the whole family, or you are just bringing a side dish for the upcoming holiday, homemade cranberry sauce is the way to go. Skip the canned stuff and buy some fresh cranberries instead. This dish is perfect for making the day before and grabbing from the fridge just in time for dinner.

Cut Out the Refined Sugar
I can’t have a turkey dinner without cranberry sauce, but when I started eating paleo I wanted a cranberry sauce that wasn’t full of refined sugar. So, I adapted this recipe from my mom’s that she makes every holiday.

To make this cranberry sauce recipe paleo, I removed all the refined sugar and replaced with real maple syrup.

I chose maple syrup because that’s something we always have in the house; however, you can substitute the maple syrup with honey or coconut sugar. If you use coconut sugar, make sure it completely dissolves before adding the cranberries.

Paleo Cranberry Sauce

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
Juice and zest of 1 orange
1/2 – 3/4 cup of real maple syrup*
1 small piece (about 1 inch in size) of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
3 cups of fresh cranberries

Instructions
1. In a large saucepan, combine orange juice, orange zest, maple syrup, and ginger. Simmer for about 5 minutes, while stirring often.
2. Bring to a gentle boil on medium heat and stir in cranberries. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries pop and the sauce starts to thicken (about 10 minutes).
3. Let cool and place in a storage container. Refrigerate until serving time.

*Recipe Note: Use 1/2 cup of maple syrup for a more tart cranberry sauce, or use 3/4 cup of maple syrup for a sweeter version. Personally, I enjoy a tart cranberry sauce!

Cranberry Sauce steps

I believe that the food we put on the table should not only be healthy, but easy and full of flavor. Check out my website foodwisefamily.com for more wholesome recipes.

See more of Erin’s recipes on our Butcher Block Co. Blog:

Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice

Super Moist Gluten Free Banana Bread Recipe

Try Our Recipe For Easy Grilled Sweet Potatoes

 

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8 November 2018 Creative Reuse – Slab End Table

Creative Reuse – Slab End Table

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Slab End Table Project Gives New Life to an Old Stump

America Recycles Day is November 15th. We, at Butcher Block Co., like to raise awareness and remind our readers that you can honor the spirit of this day, every day, just at home. Be mindful of what you use and what you waste. Strive to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Repurpose. It is fitting that early November is always bulk trash week in our neighborhood, so we keep an eye out for any “treasures” we can reuse. This week’s blog highlights one of the treasures we found in bulk trash earlier this year – a huge mesquite wood stump about 20″ high and 23″  wide. This stump will be reused for many projects. We start with this Slab End Table.

The goal of creative reuse, also called upcycling, is to find a purpose for items or materials that have been discarded. Many times tossed items can have an extended, useful life. The trick, or talent, is discovering and seizing this opportunity. Upcycling ultimately should, and can, have the overall environmental benefit of reducing your carbon footprint.

SLAB END TABLE – We love the unique asymmetrical shape of the stump combined with the variation in grain pattern and color.

HOW TO:

  • We decided the large stump could be made into multiple projects so we had it cut into ten – 2″ thick slabs.
  • We then ran them threw a large planer to make the top and bottom of each slab even and smooth.
  • All the loose bark was peeled off of the edges, exposing the cream colored edge of the mesquite wood.
  • All sides were then sanded smooth.
  • We applied multiple coats of WATCO Danish Oil Finish to penetrate the grain and highlight the color and grain pattern.
  • The last step of finishing was to apply multiple coats of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal Semi-Gloss Urethane.

BEFORE & AFTER

This is a sister slab (after planing) before any prep work was done versus the finished Slab End Table in our living room.

We completed the table by attaching three 23″ black hairpin legs, from DIY Hairpin Legs, making this Slab End Table the perfect height for our sofa.

Total material cost of the project – approximately $50

SLAB NIGHTSTAND – We completed a similar project from a much smaller mesquite tree stump.

Share with us your creative reuse projects. We would love to hear from you!

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11 October 2018 Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice

Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice

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Erin, our guest blogger from Food Wise Family, is getting us ready for yummy, pumpkin spice season! 

How to Make Pumpkin Spice
Now that fall is upon us, pumpkin spice is everywhere and somehow in everything, so it’s time to make a fresh spice blend. With only five ingredients, you can have this delightful autumn spice blend in five minutes or less. I am all about making homemade spice blends, and that includes pumpkin spice, which is also called pumpkin pie spice. This tasty blend is made up of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice, and somehow manages to encapsulate all that is fall.

Why You Should Make Your Own Spice Blends
Making your own spice blends saves money, especially if you already have the spices. A quick peek in the cupboard might reveal that you already have the ingredients for pumpkin spice. Without even thinking about it, you just saved some money by looking in your cabinet and making your own spice mix. Even if you don’t have all the spices, making your own blend will still save you money in the long run, particularly if you use a lot of pumpkin spice, or if you cook a lot with the individual spices.

Additionally, making your own pumpkin spice at home means you can customize the spice blend to meet your needs. If you have an allergy to a certain spice or just don’t like it, leave it out. Customize your blend to fit you and your family.

What Is Pumpkin Spice Used For
Typically, pumpkin spice is used in sweet pumpkin recipes, such as pumpkin pie, pumpkin cake, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, and don’t forget your pumpkin spice latte. Don’t limit yourself to just using it with pumpkin recipes. Branch out and sprinkle it on warm homemade applesauce, on freshly roasted butternut squash, or even delicious candied maple pecans. Get creative and liven up your food with these warming autumn spices this season.

Pumpkin Spice
Total Time: 5 Minutes

Ingredients
2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1.5 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground allspice

Instructions

  1. Add all spices to a small bowl and mix well.
  2. Place spice blend in a small airtight container. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.

Note: This mixture fits perfectly in a 4-ounce glass mason jar.

Homemade Pumpkin Spice
I believe that the food we put on the table should not only be healthy, but easy and full of flavor. Check out my website foodwisefamily.com for more wholesome recipes.
Read our other Butcher Block Co. blogs featuring pumpkin!
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4 October 2018 Coffee Table Design Takes Butcher Block Out Of The Kitchen

Coffee Table Design Takes Butcher Block Out Of The Kitchen

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John Boos butcher block has been around for over 130 years and has been used in residential gourmet kitchens and commercial kitchens alike. But butcher block is not just for kitchens anymore! It’s finding its way into other rooms of the home. Perhaps it is the current DIY craze shared through Pinterest lovers that inspire people to create differently. And maybe it is the rise of the rustic-chic and mid-century modern influences that affect home décor now. But whatever the case, no one is going to stop you from taking butcher block out of the kitchen and into the rest of your home.

Looking around my house, I see I have more butcher block in other rooms of my home than I do in my kitchen! Sure, I have butcher block cutting boards, and a while back we featured our DIY walnut butcher block kitchen table. But I also have 15 feet of walnut edge grain butcher block countertops in my home office; over 8 feet of maple butcher block workbench in the garage; and a lovely walnut end-grain butcher block table in a guest bedroom. I know I have access to more butcher block than the average person, but the point is that with a little imagination you can easily design butcher block into other rooms of your home.

butcher block

Our most recent project is this hunky end-grain butcher block we made into a handsome coffee table for our living room!

INSPIRATION

The impetus behind this project started with our 68 pound dog, Kirby, who jumped on our leather sectional and put a huge hole through the cushion. Now granted, it was an old couch, but it happened to fit perfectly in our living room; so much so, that we had it re-upholstered and re-stuffed three times over the years. We did end up replacing the sectional with two new mid-century modern couches.  But then it was clear that our coffee table did not match, was very beat up and was 4” higher than the new couch cushions. So, we needed to replace it, too. Inspiration for our new DIY coffee table came from a number of places, one of which was from our customer, Kaleb, who built a coffee table for his home from a 4” thick end grain butcher block. For our project we used a 7” thick standard size John Boos maple end grain butcher block, 36” x 25” that had been returned with some shipping damage on two corners. The damage did not affect the integrity of the piece, but it made the block unsightly and not saleable.

PREPARATION

If you are going to make a DIY butcher block coffee table, we recommend you purchase it unfinished, to save yourself prep time. In our case, we had an end grain block that already had a mineral oil finish. Because we didn’t want to oil our table every month, we needed to eliminate as much oil as possible from the wood. We let it dry out and then wiped it with denatured alcohol. We also spent a fair amount of time sanding the block with both a belt sander and an orbital sander to lessen the crushed corners. That also helped remove some oil and our sanding was successful in removing/hiding most of the damage. We decided to router all edges, including the top, bottom and corners with a ½” beveled (Chamfer) edge which removed enough wood to even out the damage. The most challenging part of this project was in trying to maneuver this 175 pound block!

FINISHING

The existing furniture in our living room is cherry stained and we wanted our natural maple end grain coffee table to blend in, so we chose a cherry finish Danish oil (DeftOil). Then we applied urethane finish to seal and protect (General Finishes Arm-R-Seal Oil & Urethane Topcoat – Satin finish). Given this butcher block weighs 175 pounds we needed legs that were not only stylish, but also strong enough to support it. We like the look of hairpin legs and think the style blends nicely with our mid-century modern couches. We determined a 9” leg would bring our table to the exact height we needed and we sourced them from DIY Hairpin Legs, ordered a set of four  ½” thick steel hairpin legs in jet black color, and were very pleased with the quality.

Here is the completed table.

Butcher Block coffee table

Feel free to comment and share with us your ideas for incorporating butcher block into other rooms of your home!

 

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