Yeah I think the woodworking project is coming along nicely. The hardest part was getting the joints to line up properly but I found that using a clamp helped a lot. I spent most of last weekend sanding and prepping the surface for staining. I decided to go with a darker walnut finish instead of the oak I originally picked out. The grain pattern on the maple boards I got was really nice so I wanted something that would make it stand out more. I still need to apply the final coat of polyurethane and then attach the hardware. Probably will take me another weekend or two to finish it completely. The design changed a bit from the original plan because I realized the dimensions were off by about half an inch. Not a big deal though I just adjusted the shelf heights slightly. The tools I borrowed from a friend made the whole process much smoother especially the miter saw for those angled cuts. I am thinking about picking up my own set soon since I keep needing them for various projects around the house.

Next up after this piece is a small bookshelf for the living room. I already have the lumber picked out just need to clear some time on the weekend. The design is pretty straightforward with three adjustable shelves and a solid back panel. I am going to try using pocket holes for the joinery this time instead of dado joints just to see which method I prefer. If this goes well I might tackle a built-in bench for the entryway later this fall.

I tried that pasta recipe you mentioned last week and it turned out really well. The key was letting the sauce simmer for at least an hour to develop the flavors. I added a bit more garlic than what the recipe called for because you can never have too much garlic in my opinion. I also used fresh basil from the garden instead of dried which made a big difference. The pasta itself was a simple fettuccine but I think next time I will try it with a thicker noodle like pappardelle. The sauce coated the noodles nicely though so it worked out fine. I served it with a side salad and some crusty bread. My family really enjoyed it and my daughter asked if I could make it again next week. I think I will double the recipe next time so we have leftovers for lunch the next day.

The preparation was pretty straightforward and did not take as long as I expected. I started by sautéing some onions and garlic in olive oil then added crushed tomatoes and the seasonings. I let it simmer while I prepped the rest of the meal. The fresh basil made the whole kitchen smell amazing. I am already thinking about variations maybe adding some mushrooms or bell peppers next time. If you have any other recipes you recommend I would love to try them out especially anything that is relatively simple for a weeknight dinner.