I love anything that gives me a jump start on spring. Forcing forsythia indoors lets me have the showy yellow flowers of the well known harbinger of spring – forsythia bushes – to enjoy indoors well before they give you their cheery spring greeting outside. Luckily, it is very easy to force forsythia blooms in…
Clean up an ugly stove by using just three common household ingredients. This drip pan cleaning works over night to give you sparkling burner pans easily without a lot of elbow grease. One of my pet peeves is seeing my electric stove drip pans and knowing I have to make a trip to the store…
Making the perfect Gingerbread House is a cinch with these tips. From using muffin tins for supplies to the right icing, these steps will make the task of making gingerbread houses quick and easy. The taste of gingerbread desserts just seem to go along with Christmas in my mind. Check out these gingerbread Christmas tree…
A Wine and Cheese party is so much fun! Pairing wine and cheese together is one of the great culinary pleasures. And making the pairing a party with loved ones and friends adds up to one special evening. The holidays are here and we are ready for a round of entertaining with our friends. That…
We all know that parchment paper is great for easy clean up after kitchen but it has so many more uses. These creative uses for parchment paper may give you some ideas you hadn’t thought of. I love anything that makes my life easier in the kitchen or around the home. I’m always on the…
How are your fudge making skills? Do you end up with beautifully set fudge that forms nice little parcels, or do you find it a challenge? These cooking tips for making perfect fudge will have you getting wonderful results every time from now on. It’s hard to believe, after a summer of gardening, that the beginning…
We love to camp at our house, but sometimes it’s hard to find the time to get away for a real camping weekend or the weather just won’t allow it. For times like this, the kids can still have a lot of fun by having an indoor camping party. It is really just a matter of…
Make your own home made Miracle Grow as well as several other plant foods easily with epsom salt, baking soda and household ammonia. This DIY Miracle Grow fertilizer is a more organic way to feed your plants. The homemade plant food recipe is easy to make and works really well! Many people who garden do…
We all know that we should keep a carton of baking soda in the fridge to take away odors. but there are so many other uses for it too, even in the garden! Baking soda in the garden is often used in various “green cleaning” techniques. It has so many uses in the house, so it…
Ticks are a nuisance and can be dangerous as well, since they carry numerous diseases such as Lyme Disease. The bugs are drawn to dark and moist places so there are steps that we can take to control them. These tips show how to get rid of ticks in the yard as well as a…
Shallots are starting to be seen in grocery stores more and often lately. What are shallots? Like onions and garlic, shallots are a member of the allium family. Their flavor is richer and sweeter and they are very versatile in recipes. This guide will show you how to use, store and grow shallots at home.…
Ever since it was established in 1970, people around the world take part in Earth Day Activities as a way to celebrate National Earth Day on April 22. This day is now a worldwide event where more than 1 billion people take part in a day of action. Here are some things that you can…
Do you have a problem with ants in your home as soon as the warm weather arrives? I know that I do and I don’t like it at all. I decided to test 5 different Borax Ant Killers against the retail version called Terro to see which one works the best for me. Using more…
Vegetable gardening is one of the great pleasures of the summer months for many gardeners. But for many of us, space does not allow a full outside garden. In cases like this, try growing a vegetable garden on a deck. So many vegetables can be grown in large planters and having the garden so nearby…
An antipasto platter is a delicious combination of cheeses, vegetables and meats, usually served with good wines. It’s a great way to start an evening with friends and is very easy to put together. Antipasto, (the plural is called antipasti) when translated, means “before the meal.” Antipasti platters are meant to stimulate your guest’s appetite before…
A silicone baking mat can take high heat and replace parchment paper for baking & food preparation. I like to use them in lots of unusual ways in my kitchen. You can use them for cookies, of course, but there are lots of other creative Silpat baking mat uses, as well. With a silicone baking…
For many of us, the New Year means making a resolution to lose a few extra pounds that seem to magically appear during the holiday season. But losing some weight does not necessarily mean that you have to just eat lettuce and vegetables. There are many healthy kitchen swaps that you can use all year…
When the days get cooler and shorter, it is time to put the garden to bed for the winter. Cleaning clay pots this time of the year keeps my garden still in mind and makes sure that they are ready to use when it comes to for early spring bloomers in a few months. Getting…
If you are planning on having a scary get together for Halloween, these budget friendly Halloween party tips will make sure that you have a treat of a party. I love this time of the year. The heat of the summer is almost gone and the leaves are starting to turn color. And, more importantly,…
I have recently discovered a love for window boxes. During my summer vacation, we toured 10 states and visited many Botanical Gardens. Seeing how many ways there are to dress up your home with window box planters was inspiring. They are a fabulous way to create curb appeal and are easy to take care of. Window…
I love to save money and I don’t like to waste things that can be reused or recycled in another way. Did you know that many common vegetables are very easy to regrow from ordinary kitchen scraps? I love the idea that you can use to regrow your food. What a great way to…
Vinegar is a versatile and effective household product that is more useful than just for making salad dressing. There are dozens of vinegar uses in the home. From soaking your sponges to keeping your counters free of ants, this product is a must have. I recently had to deal with ants in my kitchen and tested some…
Critters in the garden range from beneficial to invasive. Some actually are listed by the US Department of Agriculture as invasive pests that need to be controlled. See my tips for dealing with these unwanted bugs. This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture – Animal…
One of the latest trends in the diet industry is a gluten free diet. And for many of those people a gluten free diet is not necessary at all. The Diet was designed primarily for those who suffer from Celiac Disease. If you are someone who follows this diet, either to lose weight or for…
We have a patch of poison ivy that seems to keep re-appearing in one of my garden beds every so often. Since I don’t like to use chemicals in the garden, I have been trying to find natural treatments for poison Ivy prevention so that I don’t have to use poisons Poison Oak and…
Are there times when you are missing just one ingredient and can’t make a recipe? Perhaps you are following a meal plan or trying to lose weight and you can’t have certain foods. If so, you will find these recipe substitutes and replacements a big help in getting your meals on the table in no time at…
