Eclectic Cottage

10/15/2026

🍂 Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup 🧡🥣

There’s nothing like a warm bowl of homemade butternut squash soup on a cozy autumn day! 🍁

Ingredients: 🎃 1 whole butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed
🧅 2 onions, chopped
🧄 4–5 cloves of garlic
🌿 2–3 bay leaves
🧈 2 tbsp butter or olive oil
🥣 4–5 cups vegetable or chicken broth
🥛 ½ cup heavy cream (or more for extra creaminess!)
🧂 Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
✨ A pinch of nutmeg for warmth
🌿 Fresh thyme for extra flavour (optional)

Method:

Sauté the onions in butter or olive oil until soft and fragrant.
Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Add the butternut squash, bay leaves and broth. Season with salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20–25 minutes, until the squash is fork-tender.
Remove the bay leaves and blend until silky smooth.
Stir in the cream, a pinch of nutmeg and fresh thyme. Warm gently and adjust the seasoning to taste.

✨ My favourite finishing touches: A swirl of cream, toasted pumpkin seeds, cracked black pepper and a little fresh thyme. So velvety, comforting and full of flavour!

Perfect for chilly evenings, cozy lunches and all things autumn. 🍂🧡

Would you add a little chilli for a kick or keep it classic and creamy? 😍

10/13/2026

10/11/2026

🛁✨ DIY BATH BOMBS — A LITTLE LUXURY FOR LESS! ✨🛁

Who else loves a relaxing bath? 🩷 Bath bombs are such a fun little DIY project, and making them at home can save you money compared to buying the fancy ones at the store!

You can customize them with your favourite scents, colours, and dried flowers to make them your own. They also make cute homemade gifts! 🎁

🌿 DIY Bath Bomb Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup baking soda

½ cup citric acid

½ cup cornstarch

½ cup Epsom salts (optional)

2–3 tsp coconut oil, melted

1 tsp water, added very slowly if needed

10–15 drops of skin-safe essential oil (optional)

A few drops of skin-safe colourant (optional)

Instructions:

Mix the baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch and Epsom salts together in a bowl.

Add the melted coconut oil and essential oil, mixing thoroughly.

If the mixture is too dry to hold together, use a spray bottle to add the tiniest amount of water at a time. Be careful — too much moisture will start the fizzing reaction!

Pack the mixture firmly into bath bomb moulds.

Let them dry in a cool, dry place for 24–48 hours before removing them from the moulds.

Store in an airtight container until you're ready to enjoy them!

🛁 My money-saving tip: Make a batch for yourself and a few extra to wrap up as gifts. Homemade doesn't have to mean expensive!

A little creativity, a few simple ingredients, and you've got yourself a lovely little treat. 🩷

Would you make these for yourself or give them as gifts?

10/10/2026

🫜 Canned beets are a favorite around here. Who else makes these beauties? 🫜

10/09/2026

I need new crockpot recipes. What's your favorite? Let me know 👇

10/07/2026

🥩 ** BEEF RIBS** 🥩

I almost didn’t post these because, let’s be honest… beef ribs aren’t exactly a budget-friendly meal! 😂 But I found these on sale, and sometimes you just have to treat yourself. ❤️

I kept them super simple. I coated the ribs generously with a dry rub and baked them **low and slow at 300°F for about 2½ hours**. Then I brushed them with BBQ sauce and popped them under the broiler until the sauce was caramelized and delicious. 🤤

Tender, sticky, saucy and SO good!

💰 **My kind of splurge:** buy it when it’s on sale, make it at home and enjoy every bite!

?? Do you prefer beef or pork ribs??

10/06/2026

🌿 DIY Beeswax Wraps 🌿

A simple little way to cut down on plastic wrap and give your fabric scraps a second life! ♻️

I made these reusable beeswax wraps using beeswax, coconut oil and pine resin. They’re perfect for covering bowls, wrapping sandwiches, cheese, fruit and snacks.

🐝 What you’ll need

• Cotton fabric
• Beeswax
• Coconut oil
• Pine resin (also called rosin)
• Parchment paper
• Baking sheet

**These can also be made with just the beeswax**

🌿 How to make them

Cut your cotton fabric into the sizes you want. Pinking shears work great to help prevent fraying.

Melt together 4 parts beeswax, 1 part pine resin and 1 part coconut oil using a double boiler or heat-safe container over simmering water.

Place your fabric on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Brush the melted mixture evenly over the fabric.

Place in a 200° oven for a few minutes

Peel off the parchment and hang the wrap for a few minutes to cool and set.

Once cool, it’s ready to use! 🐝

💡 Tip: Use the warmth of your hands to soften the wrap and mold it around bowls or food.

When it needs a refresh, simply remelt the wax mixture into the fabric.

Wash gently in cool/warm water.

Less plastic. More reusable. And a great way to use up pretty cotton fabric! 🌿