DIY WOODEN COFFEE TABLE

Yes. Another coffee table. I know. Apparently we just can't make up our minds on this very important piece of living room furniture. 

If you're new to this blog, you might not know that I already made a new coffee table (with a fun epoxy top) back in May last year. So, what could possibly possess us to change it up so soon? Well, two things. First, it had gotten bumped pretty hard a few times making the legs a little less sturdy. Plus, we got a new couch. And it's grey (our last couch was a greenish yellow). So the grey coffee table just didn't look right with it, and I can't leave well enough alone, apparently. 

So, we made another coffee table. And it's probably our favorite to date.

Really, Trey came up with the idea for turning something like this beautiful 2x4 table into something smaller that could work as a coffee table.

Building the coffee table out of basically a bunch of cut-to-size 2x4 boards turned out to make this a super easy project. After buying the supplies, the building portion only took a couple hours (less if you had your boards cut to size already), and then sealing it took only as long as the dry time. Easy!

Supplies:-(9) 55x2x4 inch boards
-(12) 8.5x2x4 inch boards
-(2) 13.5x2x4 inch boards
-(2) bench style hairpin legs, or 4 wooden legs (I used these)
-2.5 inch wood screws (I bought a box of 50 and used about half)
-sandpaper
-Polycrylic protective finish in semi gloss

Tools:
-power saw
-power drill
-paint brush for stain
-saw horses (optional)

First cut your 2x4 boards to the sizes listed above. Set the boards up as they will be for the final look, and mark where the legs will go to ensure space.

Also, please excuse our messy garage. Trey and I built this coffee table together on Christmas Eve in our garage... and it's a little less than picture perfect in there right now. :)

NOTE: If you wanted to remove power tools from the equation altogether, I bet this project could be pulled off pretty easily if you just got all your pieces of wood cut to 55 inches and simply wood glued the whole thing together. We wanted our legs to sit inside the table and wanted it to weigh a little less, so we went with a more hollow center. Either way, just throwing that out there.

Second, lay out the top layer of boards (consisting of five of the 55x2x4 boards). Keep in mind that this will be the top of your coffee table, so pick the prettiest sides. We offset every other board 2.5 inches to get that bundle of 2x4s look. 

The only kind of tricky part to this table is finding the best method to hold the boards together horizontally. We opted to use a couple cross beams and hide them with the second row of 2x4s. So lay out your second row of 55x2x4s on either edge (be sure to stagger 2.5 inches). Grab your 13.5x2x4s  and use them as a guide to figure out where you'll need to put the notches. Go ahead and lay out your smaller 8.5x2x4s on the vertical edges for that row as well just to make sure they fit.

Mark the edges on your second row of 55x2x4s, so you know where to cut, and give yourself some extra room. This part will be totally hidden anyway. We used our circular saw to cut the notches, but it can be done with a jigsaw or even a handsaw + chisel. A quick google search can show you the best notching techniques based on the tools you have available. Again, it's gonna be totally hidden, so no big deal if it's a little/lot sloppy.  Once cut, drill your second row and crossbeams into place.

Next, layer by layer, screw all the boards in place. This is where you can add a staggered, stair step look to the edge if you want. Like I said, ours is offset 2.5 inches. Once you have all the boards in place, screw the legs on as well.

Last you'll want to sand the entire surface and edges well. 2x4s aren't always the smoothest. Then seal with a few layers of semi-gloss polyurethane. We chose not to stain the wood as we wanted to keep the light, raw wood color. But if you want to stain before sealing—go for it. I'm not going to stop you. It all depends on what will look best in your space.

This coffee table turned out to be much sturdier than any of the others we've had in the past, making it a perfect spot to kick your feet up at the end of the day. Thanks for letting us share!

BBQ BRUSSELS SPROUT PIZZA

As many of you already know, or have probably noticed if you've been reading long, I eat a mostly vegetarian diet. I didn't grow up eating this way. My childhood was filled with chicken fingers and hamburgers. You know, kid stuff. :) 

But the thing I miss most about eating meat is not actually the meat, it's the BBQ sauce. I love it! So finding ways to add more BBQ sauce into my current diet is always a priority for me.

Did you know that BBQ sauce makes a great pizza sauce? Oh yes. It's one of my favorites for sure. So that paired with one of my very favorite vegetables (brussels sprouts!) and my favorite food group (pizza!) is a total trifecta. 

OK, pizza isn't a food group. You got me there. But geez, wouldn't that be great if pizza could be a food group? Dare to dream.

BBQ Brussels Sprout Pizza, makes two.

For the dough:
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (one packet)
pinch of sugar
1 1/8 cups warm water
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons salt

For the toppings (keep in mind this is for two, so cut in half if you are only making one):
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
1/2 cup brussels sprouts, cut into fourths
1/2 red onion
2 cups shredded cheese (mozzarella, pepper jack, colby jack, or a combination)

To make the dough, begin by stirring together the warm water and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the top of the water and allow that to sit and activate for 5-6 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the oil, flours, and salt. 

Pour the yeast mixture in with the flour, and stir until a dough ball forms. Knead for 3-4 minutes until the dough begins to feel elastic-like. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and allow to rise for 1 hour or until nearly doubled in size. This makes enough dough for two pizzas. So, if you only want to make one at a time, I'd recommend freezing half of the dough after it has risen to use at a later date. Or you can try cutting the entire recipe in half if you prefer.

Finely chop the onions and saute in a little oil over medium heat. Cook until they are brown, but not burnt. This will bring out a little sweetness in the onions, which goes well with the BBQ sauce. Once done set aside.

Cook the cut brussels sprouts in a similar way. You're looking to soften them and add a few crispy edges, but they won't necessarily be completely cooked through. And that's OK! They will cook a little more while on the pizza. I cooked mine in the pan (with oil over medium heat) for about 5 minutes. How long you cook them is really up to you and how you like your brussels, just don't burn them. :)

Roll out the dough and cook at 400°F for 6-7 minutes. Then spread on the BBQ sauce. I'm not a super fancy/expensive BBQ person. I've been using the KC Masterpiece brand for years and love it. Use whatever you love. Then add the cooked onions, brussels, and the cheese. Bake for an additional 10-12 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the edges of the crust look crispy.

I like to sprinkle on a few red pepper flakes, but that's totally optional. I love when pizza places have red pepper flakes at the table. I'm not a super spicy-foods person, but a little heat can add a lot of interest. 

Make a veggie-filled pizza this week. You'll feel good about it while also getting to enjoy one of my very favorite comfort foods. Happy pizza nights!