18 Summer Pies for a Sweet Fourth of July

​First, what is sourdough starter?

The reason you're seeing those aesthetic videos of sourdough starter moving around in a bowl is because, well, it’s technically alive. The starter consists of live fermented culture (wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria) created by fresh flour and water. Why is this an essential part of the sourdough bread baking process? It causes the dough to rise. And don’t get thrown off by the term “wild yeast,” because it’s pretty much found everywhere — fruits, flowers, vegetables, etc. all carry it!

But don't worry — it may seem intimidating to keep this concoction alive, but we've got you covered with one very hot tip.

​The Tip? Establish A Feeding Schedule For Your Sourdough Starter

Making a sourdough starter is approximately a seven day commitment. This can sound overwhelming, but if you stay consistent, it’s really not a hard feat! The easiest way to culture a successful starter is to establish a feeding schedule — this means adding in more fresh flour and water and allowing it to ferment for an extended period of time. You can leave it in a jar or bowl on the counter.

PSA: You Don’t Have to Make A Sourdough Starter Yourself

To the bakers out there that are still intimated by the length of time it takes to make a good sourdough starter, you actually don’t have to make it yourself. “My best tip is to go to a bakery that makes really good sourdough bread and ask to buy some of their starter,” Annie Paul, winner of Magnolia Network’s Silos Baking Competition and bakery owner of A P Baked Goods in Michigan, said.

Paul added that most bakeries have a starter that’s “years and years old and that will really improve the flavor of your bread.” Asking your local artisanal bakery not only aids small businesses but also may get you the tastiest of results. No matter which sourdough starter path you choose (homemade or bakery bought), you will not be disappointed with a warm slice of bread and butter.

Guinness S’mores Brownies

All the things you love, together at last. Guinness gets tossed into this brownie recipe with a s'mores twist for a delightfully decadent treat. (via Brit + Co)

Vegan Peppermint Brownies

This brownie recipe would be immaculate for the holiday season, but chocolate and peppermint taste amazing together year-round. Do what you will with that information. (via Brit + Co)

Nutella Brownies

Nutella gives these fancy brownies an addictive nutty finish, perfect for pairing with a cold glass of milk or even some coffee! (via Brit + Co)

Vegan Red Velvet Brownies

When red velvet flavors meet your classic brownie recipes, something magical happens. The result is obviously these stunning vegan brownies with a smattering of homemade icing! (via Brit + Co)

Slutty Brownies

There's nothing risqué about this brownie recipe... other than the fact that it's made with Oreos, cookie dough, and dulce de leche. Um, did someone say sugar rush?! (via Brit + Co)

Brownie Cake Pops

These portable brownie pops allow you to take your cravings on-the-go. Plus, you can customize 'em pretty easily with the sprinkles of your choice! (via Brit + Co)

Buttered Popcorn Crunch Brownies

Get chompin’ on these salty-sweet fancy brownies for your next movie night! The entire watch party will be pleased with how ooey-gooey they are. (via How Sweet Eats)

Mocha Brownies with Espresso Glaze

We're drooling already. Coffee and chocolate are already two of our favorite things, so when they combine, it's pure magic. (via The Original Dish)

Chewy Chocolate Drenched Peanut Butter Cornflake Crunch Fudge Brownies

Say that five times fast! This brownie recipe is perfect for bringing to a work potluck or bake sale, so you can watch as they disappear in the blink of an eye. Yum! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Red Velvet Chocolate Swirled Brownies

These over-the-top brownies earn a 10/10 for presentation. Just look at those swirls! (via Averie Cooks)

Praline Brownies

This brownie recipe is gonna satisfy every sweet tooth with two rich, distinct layers of chocolatey brownie and creamy praline topping. (via Cookies and Cups)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies

Brookies are the best dessert mashup around, since you get the best of both worlds in just one bite. Craving a little nibble of each? Look no further than these fancy brownies. (via Completely Delicious)

Rich Dark Chocolate Brownies with Flaky Sea Salt

A little sprinkling of flaky sea salt never did any harm! When paired with dark chocolate, the salt creates a wonderful flavor combo you'll come back for time and time again. (via No Eggs or Ham)

Ube Brownies

Ube (purple yam) shines so bright in this brownie recipe. It lends a sweet, almost-earthy flavor that works ridiculously well with the chocolate. (via Takes Two Eggs)

Irish Cream Cheesecake Brownies

Everybody is Irish on St. Brownie’s Day – especially if these cheesecake brownies are being served alongside some green cocktails! (via Chez Catey Lou)

Fudgy Flourless Brownies

The fact that you can pull of a flawless brownie recipe like this without any flour is astounding to us. We want a bite, stat! (via My Whole Food Life)

Vegan Biscoff Brownies

The sweet, spiced nature of Biscoff cookies just makes so much sense to mix into some over-the-top brownies. In this cake, you'll use Biscoff cookie butter to enrich the batter with the flavor! (via Earthly Provisions)

Hazelnut Tahini Brownies

Bye. We've died and gone to heaven after seeing these rich tahini brownies! (via Crowded Kitchen)

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Brownies

These fancy brownies are a tasty callback to classic chocolate-covered strawberries, and we need a batch to feast on as soon as humanly possible. (via Give Recipe)

Double Espresso Chocolate Brownies

Wake up to the smell of freshly-baked espresso brownies! We wouldn't want our daily dose of caffeine any other way, TBH. (via Louise’s Spis)

Salted Caramel Pretzel Topped Fudgy Brownies

The crunchy miniature pretzels that sit atop these devilishly fudgy brownies balance out each bite in terms of flavor and texture, and it's a beautiful, beautiful thing. (via Averie Cooks)

Chocolate Coconut Brownies

It's like if Almond Joy turned into a decadent brownie recipe. (via Averie Cooks)

Peppermint Pattie Brownies

Alternatively, this brownie recipe is like if York peppermint patties transformed into a crazy-yummy baked good. (via How Sweet Eats)

Rocky Road Brownies

More candy for my brownies, please! These rocky road brownies boast a fantastic layer of mini marshmallows for sugary effect. (via The Kitchen Paper)

Here's How Often You Should Cut Your Hair, According To Professionals

I’ll admit it — it had been eight months since my last haircut. My hair had lost its shape, my layers were nowhere to be found, and my ends were begging for mercy. Life got busy over the last few months and I was neglecting my haircare like never before.

My hairdresser could immediately see that I was beyond due for a cut and said I needed to get more taken off than I was hoping. I was definitely disappointed — I'd been working on growing out my hair for a while now, and it just felt like my hard work had completely gone to waste. He explained that getting consistent haircuts is the key to growing out healthy and strong hair, rather than letting it grow and grow until it eventually breaks. So let's dig into the top three things you can do to avoid this scenario!

1. Just Get The Dang Haircut

Also avoiding a haircut like I was? You might want to schedule one at your nearest salon. Like my stylist said, when you wait too long between trims like I did, you risk your hair becoming heavy, dull, and lifeless. When the hair is dry or even dead, it’s nearly impossible for it to hold a curl or style, essentially collapsing on you and taking on more and more heat damage all the while. I know the pain of spending time on a blowout only for it to fall minutes later — it’s the worst.

According to Jack, getting a haircut every 10-12 weeks is the best time frame or your ends will pay the price. Between blow-drying, curling, straightening, sun, and weather, our ends get dry and start to break without the proper care. Getting consistent haircuts allows hair to bounce back, shine, and perform the way we want in a healthy way.

2. Leave-In Conditioners Are Your Friend

His top piece of advice to keep your hair looking and feeling hydrated between trims? Invest in conditioning treatments. Jack swears by the Olaplex conditioning system, specifically the No 3 Hair Perfector. Made with patented OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology™, this conditioning treatment repairs and prevents damage in as little as three minutes. No 3 promises to reduce breakage and visibly strengthen hair, so it’s the perfect assistance to keep ends fresh between cuts. Another conditioning treatments I’ve used and loved for years is the Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, which is designed to restore moisture, elasticity, and shine to dry hair.

3. Switch Up Your Shampoos

Switching shampoos frequently is a pretty hot tip that I honestly hadn't thought of. Our hair gets used to the same products and grows tired of them, resulting in lackluster locks. Jack’s advice is to switch brands after finishing every bottle of shampoo to bring life back to your hair. Have two brands that you’re loyal to? Even switching back and forth between them after every bottle should make a big difference in your hair. I’m a huge fan of the R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo, which makes my hair look thick and full, as well as the Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo, which is so hydrating and gives so much shine.

In the end, navigating your back-and-forth relationship with haircuts often feels like a rollercoaster ride between wanting that fresh look and cringing at the receipt. Luckily, by using conditioning treatments and switching up your products,, you can keep your locks healthy, shiny, and full of life between trims. But take a newly learned lesson out of my book: don't let your ends pay the price for procrastination and just book the haircut.