These peppermint Rice Krispie ball cookies are so tasty and look really festive too. They have a crunchy cereal base dipped in white chocolate with a fun candy cane holder. This cookie recipe makes a great homemade Christmas gift and is perfect to take to a cookie swap. I love making cookies this time of …
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 …
This microwave peanut brittle is simple to make but looks like you made a trip to the candy shop. It comes together in just minutes and tastes amazing. Homemade nut brittle is one of our favorite Christmas recipes. Peanut brittle is not just for the holidays. Keep that taste coming in January, too, by celebrating …
These lemon snowball cookies are snowball-shaped bites of melt-in-your-mouth sweet deliciousness. This snowball cookie recipe is perfect for a cookie swap and will be a cookie recipe that you will love to make each Christmas. These delicate cookies are the perfect choice to make for Bake Cookies Day on December 18. Oh the weather outside …
These creative uses for parchment paper may give you some ideas you hadn’t thought of. We all know that parchment paper is great for easy clean up after kitchen but it has so many more uses. I love anything that makes my life easier in the kitchen or around the home. I’m always on the …
These cinnamon baked apple slices have a thick brown sugar glaze but is not too sweet, since I used tart Granny Smith apples. Ever since I was a little girl, apples and pork were flavors that I really loved. I often make homemade applesauce to go with a pork dish but for tonight’s dinner, I …
This easy crustless bacon quiche is brimming with flavor. It is ready to cook in just minutes and is sure to become one of your family’s favorite breakfast recipes. However, when it comes to counting calories, a quiche is not often thought of as a diet-friendly choice. Many of the calories in a quiche comes …
Are you wondering what to plant in the fall when the summer flowers have all but stopped their show of color? These fall blooming perennials and annuals will add that last touch of bold color in most gardening zones. These late bloomers will grow in most planting zones and will give new life to a …
It’s time to welcome autumn with these tips for fall decorations. From easy and simple porch and patio decor and wreaths to table decor, these autumn decor ideas will say hello to the new season in all areas of your home. I love the last change of seasons during the year. The sights and textures …
Planting garlic works best if you do it in the fall. It is very easy to grow and gives you bulbs to use in cooking for much of the year. Be sure to get the heads for planting from a reputable supplier. There are many types members of the allium family. Garlic is one of …
This authentic German potato salad recipe has a rustic homemade taste and texture that makes it a great side dish for any summer BBQ or special occasion. I make potato salad all the time. My grandmother had a great recipe that she served on Thanksgiving and it is scrumptious. But sometimes I am not in the …
I love all flowers – big or small, ornate or simple. But when I see unusual flowers that are amazing and beautiful, they almost take my breath away. Nature is amazing in the type of flowers that it gives us to enjoy. Most of these specimens are tender perennials that grow outdoors only in zones …
Air plants have specialized leaves that draw in nutrients. I see them all the time at garden centers lately. I love their simple structure and ease of care. Tillandsia is also known as an air plant. Air plants are a member of the epiphyte family. This plant needs no soil to grow and gets its …
One of the best things about a camping trip is the time and tastes that come from campfire cooking. Nothing seems to taste as good as those recipes cooked on a big campfire. Even though the summer is ending, there is still time to get out there and enjoy the good old outdoors with some …
If you like hardy perennials that have an extended bloom time, try growing gaillardia, also known as blanket flower perennial. The plant is very showy and super easy to grow. Gaillardia is a pretty perennial plant that has an extended bloom time to give you loads of color all season long. If you like daisies, …
Many recipes call for shallots – a member of the onion family. But what can you do if you don’t have time to shop, or can’t find shallots for your recipe? Use these shallot substitutes, instead! Shallots are a small bulb like plant with a taste that is somewhere between garlic and onion. The flavor …
If you are fond of growing perennials, you really should try daylilies. They are one of my favorite plants that come back each year. There is such a variety of bloom style, color and temperament. and they are very easy to grow. Beginning and seasoned gardeners love them, and other than a bit of deadheading, …
Surround yourself in nature in the 25,000 square foot gardens of Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory. This enclosed conservatory is an oasis nestled in the downtown area of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The gardens feature tropical displays, waterfalls, and a Sonoran Desert display with over 72 types of cacti. In all, the gardens boast over 1200 plants (over …
Hydrangea care involves control of sunlight, adequate moisture and proper pruning. These tips for growing hydrangea bushes will help you get the most out of your plants. The size of the flower heads, alone, make hydrangeas a favorite perennial among gardeners. Cutting fresh hydrangea blooms gives you terrific cut flowers that last a long time. They …
Bicycle planters make great garden accents for both annuals and perennial plants. I love to find ideas about recycling or re-purposing household items in garden projects. Someone else’s trash can always be a garden treasure. Many bicycles have baskets or back carriers which are the ideal spot to tuck away some flowers and vines. The …
Do you like Bluegrass music with a side of daylilies? If you do, you’ll enjoy this virtual tour of the daylilies at Wildwood Farms in Floyd, Virginia. Located just 42 miles from Roanoke, VA and very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway, you will find Wildwood Farms. This general store features live Bluegrass music from …
These pruning tips will help you make sure that your shrubs and garden plants will look their best, season after season. If you study the habits of any gardener who has wonderful looking plants and shrubs, you will know that proper pruning is a key to their success. Done correctly, pruning will add to …
If you like the look of cottage gardens, you’ll love purple coneflowers (echinacea purpurea). These tips for growing echinacea will have butterflies, birds and bees flocking to your garden in droves! This easy care perennial draws insects and birds to it, making sure that neighboring plants will have plenty of pollinators all season long. This coarse …
It’s easy to resort to slice and bake cookies but it is also super easy to make your own basic sugar cookie dough. It keeps well and can be used to make all sorts of delicious holiday treats. July 9 is Sugar Cookie Day. Are you a cookie baker? Why Buy Slice and Bake? Make …
Autumn Frost Hosta is one of my favorite hostas. The leaves have blue green centers and wide yellow margins around the edge. By summer time, the margins will turn a creamy white. It’s a slug resistant hardy perennial that comes back year after year. Variegated hostas really pop in any shade garden. This variety has …
If you are looking for ways to live a healthier lifestyle, this list of heart healthy snacks is sure to help keep you on the right track. Americans love to snack, but this type of food is often filled with fat, sugar and other not so good for you ingredients. Did you know that coronary …