Now, I like grapefruit as much as the next person, but I only need a few each week to keep me happy. Imagine my dismay when I got home from the grocery store the other day, with what I thought was a large bag of oranges, only to discover (after I had cut open the…
Any meal is made more special with the addition of the perfect mashed potatoes. They seem to scream comfort food! Mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food. We all love them, don’t we? I get asked often for cooking tips, but when people taste my mashed potatoes, they always want to know my tip for…
What could be better in a grapefruit based cocktail than these grapefruit ice cubes? What do you do when you have a huge bag of grapefruit that you thought were oranges? Why juice some of them and freeze the juice to use later, suggests a fan of the Gardening Cook on Facebook – Violet Roew. …
These DIY Flower Projects appeal to me because they are not your normal run of the mill cut paper flower. Most of those are cute but not very stylish looking to me. DIY flower projects for those who love gardening in any form These projects take creativity to a whole new level. Some of them…
Check out these 10 pumpkin carving ideas. They are sure to give you some inspiration when you get ready to carve your pumpkin this year. Each year at this time, we seem to discover new and unusual ways to carve a pumpkin. And there are so many pumpkin types to choose from. Pumpkins that have…
It’s time for my hydrangea wreath make over. The blooms have changed colors and they are perfect for a fall look. A couple of weeks ago, I did a tutorial on how to make a wreath from Hydrangea blossoms. When I made the wreath, it had color (sort of a green a burgundy color) with…
Making hydrangea wreaths is a very easy project and costs so much less than a store bought wreath. Mine cost $6.99 and about an hour of my time, and I’ll be able to use the straw ring for another project later. Last year I showed you how to make hydrangea wreaths in this article. The…
Tutorial – How to Make a Floral Bow My experience has taught me that anything purchased in a florist shop is expensive and floral bows are no exception. Why pay retail prices when they are so easy to make? I use floral bows for hand made wreaths, garlands and also on all of my special…
This page is a collection of easy DIY projects for home and seasonal decorating. Each idea is simple to create, utilizes basic materials, and is designed to enhance your home or garden quickly. These DIY projects feature a mix of home décor, seasonal crafts, and simple creative ideas you can complete without special tools or…
I have always loved cats, to the point where I even purchased a set of Lenox spice jars called “Cats of Distinction.” Anyone who looks on eBay, Ruby Lane, or other sites that sell vintage items will see old kitchen items that you may have used at some point being offered for sale. Today, I…
Here are some of my favorite home decor ideas. These best home decor ideas range from simple decorating accents to complete kitchen make overs. There is something for all tastes here. My only requirement for an idea to land on this page is that it must be tasteful and it must inspire me to think…
Here are some more of my favorites. These best creative do it yourself projects range from simple gardening ideas to accent your outdoor space, to fairly complicated DIY tutorials for larger indoor projects. My only requirement for an idea to land on this page is that it must be tasteful. I also love projects that make…
Every now and then, it is fun to just let your hair down and enjoy a bit of gardening and cooking humor. These graphics and jokes are a way for us to lighten your day. Life should not always be too serious. The Gardening Cook agrees. So we have made a collection of some of…
This handy butter Margarine conversion chart will show you how much oil to use in the recipe instead of the butter that is called for. I keep a very well stocked pantry, but there are still times when I am out of something that I needed for a recipe, only to discover that I am…
Food carving and creative food art is something that requires a great deal of patience to end up with just the perfect result. I love seeing what creative people can do with food to make it into an art form. Food is soft and this makes it the perfect medium for carving into life-like objects….
Many drink recipes ask for a sweet and sour mix. This home made version is perfect for those who don’t want a very sweet mix. There are lots of commercial sweet and sour mixes available for purchase in grocery stores and where liquor is sold. But most of those are too sweet for my liking….
Readers of the recipes on my blog know that I love my slow cooker. Today, I have another love to tell you about – A crock pot timer. Have you ever found a great crock pot recipe for breakfast but thought “I’d have to get up in the middle of the night to get it…