These creative bird baths make use of re-purposed items that you may have around the house. They add a whimsical touch to any garden decorating theme. This time of the year, it’s common for bird baths to get really dirty. Check out the video on cleaning a bird bath for and easy solution to this…
These dip recipes are the perfect way to start any party or gathering. It will soon be time to start thinking about summer parties and barbecues. (I know, I know…will this winter ever end?) But it is never too early to start planning for the next big event. Start your celebrations off right with one…
These 30 minute meals are perfect for those days when time it at a minimum. There never seems to be enough time in the day for me. Especially during the week. Weeknights are so busy for me. I am always on the look out for recipes that just won’t take much time after a busy…
I have to admit. I am a huge fan of peanut butter. Sort of like Claire on the series Lost. There are days when I could just dive into a jar and eat just that for the day. Add to the peanut butter some chocolate, like many of these recipes do and that is a…
One of my favorite things to do when I have some spare time is to visit Raleigh Botanical Gardens. I love the new perennial and annual plants that I learn about and it just de-stresses me like nothing else seems to do. Raleigh has a great Botanical Garden called JC Raulston Arboretum. The beauty of…
Much of my personal peace and happiness comes from the time I spend in my garden. It soothes my soul like nothing else that I do during the day. These images are flowers from my garden and I have teamed them up with sayings that describe how I often feel when I am outside working…
These potato recipes will give you lots of ideas for cooking this humble vegetable. I’ve always been a meat and potatoes kind of gal. No matter how I do them, I always feels as though the potatoes are the star of the dish. Potatoes can be cooked so many ways. They always make a great…
These baked lamb chops are beautifully tender and have a delicious rosemary cream sauce. The recipe makes a nice main course alternative to pork or beef. I’ve you’ve never tried baked lamb, you are in for a treat. Lamb loin chops are a tender cut of meat and much less expensive than the fancy rack…
Got an impulse to cater to your sweet tooth? These candy creations will tempt even the most ardent candy lover. Making candy at home is a great way to try new tastes and save money, to boot. Fortunately, it is not too hard to do! From fudge to truffles, and in between, here are some…
It’s cocktail hour! There is nothing quite like relaxing with a tasty cocktail at the end of a long day. And it is getting to that time of the year when you can do it on a lawn chair overlooking your back garden. Do you have the same sort of drink that is your favorite,…
Here are some of my favorite strawberry recipes. It will soon be time for the abundance of fresh strawberries to start appearing at the farmer’s market. Well, maybe not soon, with the winter we have had but I have a bad case of spring fever. When strawberries are available, I always buy them in bulk…
These chicken thighs are so easy to prepare and yet taste as though you spent hours in the kitchen. And they are perfect for those following a Paleo diet. Chicken thighs are made from the dark meat, so are naturally moist and removing the skin saves calories but does not lessen the juiciness of them….
I love making crock pot recipes all the time, but particularly in the winter months. One of my favorite things to make in it is a great tasting crock pot vegetable beef soup recipe. Having a big bowl of soup is a great way to warm up on early spring days when the weather is…
Are you looking for a recipe that will give you the moistest chicken you have ever made? Use bacon! Not only does the bacon give the chicken a delicious taste, but if wrapped around the chicken breasts, it will make them moist and very juicy. This is another easy recipe. I make the marinade early…
Feeling your Sweet tooth wanting something special? Try one of my favorite chocolate dessert recipes. They are all rich and flavorful and will delight even the most ardent chocoholic. Whether you are looking for a piece of chocolate bark or something as elaborate as the chocolate blooming onion, one of these desserts is just perfect…
Oh the weather outside is frightful, or so the saying goes. Here in Raleigh, we are not known for much cold weather in the winter, but this year has been different in that regard. We have had a couple of days of snow and several weeks of unseasonably cold weather, with temps getting down to…
These cookie recipes are perfect for an afternoon snack, or easy dessert. There is nothing quite like dunking a cookie into a glass of milk. This round up of delicious cookies features everything from a basic shortbread to a decadent peanut butter cream filled whoopie pie. You are sure to find one that will tempt…
Caramelized mushrooms are one of my favorite side dishes. Who doesn’t love the delicious taste of these slowly cooked mushrooms that take on a lovely caramel color and a boat load of amazing flavor. This recipe is super easy to make and a must have addition to any side dishes recipe collection. Cooking mushrooms this way…
Ah…the other white meat – pork! I really love the taste of it but some of the cuts don’t really agree with me. When shopping I choose very lean medallions of pork, or even cut my own from a pork loin roast, which is what I did for these recipes. If you are looking…
This recipe for chicken breasts with roasted garlic is full of flavor and freshness. The star of this dish is the whole cloves of roasted garlic. Mushrooms add a nice earthiness and fresh rosemary adds a delightful herbal note. Keep reading to learn how to make this tasty recipe. Chicken breasts with roasted garlic recipe…
These baked chicken recipes will give you 10 new ways to serve this humble protein. Why not try one tonight? I love chicken. It’s moist and tender and can be cooked in so many ways. Chicken is relatively inexpensive compared to other proteins and can be as plain or as fancy as you like in…
One of my most appetizing memories from when my daughter was young, was the day she brought home Girl Scout Cookies. Those Samoas and Thin Mints were so tempting. I had to freeze them to get them out of sight! If you also love the flavor of caramel, coconut and chocolate, you are in luck!…
Some of you may remember that I made a boxwood wreath for the first time in December last year for Christmas. I’ve long since removed the Christmas decorations but left it hanging and it has started to dry out. I decided to re-purpose it into a bird feeder for my backyard test garden. My husband…
The weather is warming up here in NC and it makes me think of things to do outside. Gardening is my first choice, of course, but I also love hosting gatherings and coming up with outdoor games for them. I grew up in a family of six children and we were always playing games. When…
I have loved plants all of my life. For a large portion of it, that meant indoor plants. Now that I have a largish property, it means lots and lots of garden beds with perennials. I don’t have much time to tend indoor plants, but I still like to have a few of them around. …
This cheesy pasta recipe is flavored with ground beef, fresh garden herbs and onions. It is super easy to put together and ready in 35 minutes. Forget Hamburger Helper casseroles! Why put all those chemicals into your body when you can make a hamburger casserole that is almost as fast and twice as delicious. (and…