Sweet Williams have pretty fringed flowers that grow in a cluster on top of a long stalk. Dianthus Barbatus is a lovely variety of the dianthus species. Dianthus Barbatus – is a tender perennial. It is often treated as a Biennial with leaves the first year and flowers the second before dying off. My Dianthus Barbatus …
Even though Labor day has come and gone, you can still grill. We do it most weekends here in NC, all year long. These Margarita steaks will be perfect for the barbecue. My husband is the grill master at our house, but he counts on me to come up with something to season or marinate …
Tiki torch Planters add a nice bit of ambiance to your parties and have a more natural look than normal lighting does. There are lots of ideas for how to brighten up your patio space for night time entertaining. This fun idea combines lighting and plants for a decorative effect that your party guests will …
I recently tried this roasted rutabaga recipe and it is just delicious and makes a wonderful fall side dish. I have always used rutabagas in casseroles and stews. I like using lots of root vegetables in recipes like this type of recipe. Roasting rutabagas concentrate the natural sweetness of the vegetable. This is the same …
This creamy garlic pasta is an adaptation of the higher fat recipe that contains full cream and butter. I have made some substitutions so that the fat content is reduced but the flavor is still great. I’ve added broccoli to the recipe because I love pasta dishes with broccoli. Any veggie you like could be …
There are plenty of egg replacements but first you have to examine your recipe to find out what you want the egg to do. Eggs have many different uses. Sometimes they are used for binding ingredients, sometimes for making a recipe lighter and fluffier, ) and sometimes just for the taste of the egg itself. …
Wheelbarrow planters are one things on my bucket list of must do gardening ideas. I have been looking for just the right old fashioned wheelbarrow for months. I want to add them as focal pieces in my perennial garden beds. Since wheelbarrows are an often used garden tool, recycling them into planters just makes sense. …
These Amaretto cocktails all use an almond base liqueur as part of the drink. I first tasted Amaretto when I lived in Australia. It was very common to end most meals in a restaurant with a liqueur of some sort. Amaretto soon became one of my favorites. Some of these cocktails are simple and some …
The Hotel Riley Rum cocktail combines vodka, amaretto and coconut rum with the refreshing taste of lime and pineapple juice. Let’s enjoy another of my delicious tropical rum cocktail recipes! This one is so, so delicious. There is nothing quite like the taste of a Caribbean-flavored drink. From frozen strawberry daiquiris to mixed drinks made …
This Kahlua Amaretto cream is a great cocktail recipe that is perfect to serve at a cocktail party. Amaretto is one of my favorite liqueurs. The flavor of almonds is just delicious and I use them all the time in recipes for both food and drinks. Not all good cocktails contain spirits. Sometimes, they are …
This White Russian Kahlua cocktail combines that taste with vodka and cream for a great tasting drink. I love the coffee taste of Kahlua in cocktail recipes. I’m not a coffee drinker but the smoothness of Kahlua is a great taste sensation. It is creamy and rich and you can make one at home in …
This dark Russian Kahlua cocktail combines that taste with vodka, chocolate milk, and cream for a great tasting drink. Here is another of my favorite Kahlua cocktail recipes. I’m not a coffee drinker but the smoothness of Kahlua is a great taste sensation and this drink won me over. You can make one of these …
Fresh rosemary is one of my favorite spices. I use it all the time in Italian cooking and also in many of my chicken recipes. This herb easy to grow and is a great one to start with for those who are new at growing herbs. The favor of this fresh herb is robust and …
The Cuban Breeze cocktail combines amaretto, vodka and pineapple juice for a refreshing tropical style drink with just a hint of almonds. Looking for a refreshing cocktail recipe that gives a tropical feeling when you drink it? There is nothing quite like the taste of a Caribbean-flavored drink. From frozen strawberry daiquiris to mixed my …
This easy recipe makes a super DIY stainless steel cleaner at a fraction of the price of a retail produce. There is nothing quite like the look of stainless steel appliances in a kitchen. They are very popular right now and most kitchens seem to have them. But one of the problems associated with them …
Food manufacturers seem to think that all home cooks have muscles to spare! This easy DIY jar opener shows them I mean business without heading to the gym before opening their jars! The older I get, the more I start to believe that some jar lids were just not meant to be opened. Some just …
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 …
I have long dreamed of having a test garden. I’ve always enjoyed experimenting with various types of plants. Some turn out well and others don’t last the season, but I enjoy it all. Since I write about how to grow plants for my blog posts, I wanted a dedicated place where I can test growing …
This vegetable manicotti is loaded with the fresh taste of lots of vegetables but has a richness from the sauce and cheese that will delight even meat eaters. Manicotti is pasta in the shape of tubes. These large tubes are just waiting for all types of fillings to make them more tasty! Today, we’ll be …
This basic cheese quiche is so easy to make, there is no reason to buy store bought versions of it. As a bonus, you get all the goodness of home made without any of the chemicals of retail convenience food. A quiche is an egg-based dish that has been cooked in a pie crust. It …
Learning how to devein shrimp is a necessary cooking tip for those who love to cook with shrimp. It’s the final step to make sure that your finished dish looks clean and restaurant quality. Sometimes this may have been done for you by the retailer where you purchased them but more often, you will need …
This ground beef Manicotti adds a nice mix to the normal manicotti recipe with just beef and ricotta cheese. It is a great way to get kids to eat their vegetables and not complain. The whole dish is topped with store bought Italian sauce to save on time and then sprinkled with your favorite cheese. …
This tasty Greek Salad combines tomatoes, green peppers and cucumbers in a tangy lemon and olive oil dressing. It is a great addition to my collection of Mediterranean recipes. The flavors are delightful and combine creamy goat cheese and kalamata olives for a nice change. It makes a great side dish for any protein. Mediterranean …
This easy Lemon Garlic Broccoli is a great go to recipe to make on those busy week nights when you are strapped for time. Looking for an easy side dish that will compliment any protein choice? This tasty recipe is perfect for the job. My family loves vegetables and it’s nice to try new ways …
I really love stuffed portobello mushrooms. They are so creamy, warm and delicious. I am always looking for new ideas on how to prepare them. We often have meatless Mondays at our house and this is a recipe that I make often. This idea for using Laughing Cow cheese came to me in my sleep …
Cocktail recipes are so much fun to share with friends. This Malibu Earl Gray Paradise Punch is a great drink to share with friends. It combines traditional Earl Grey Tea (will Delight your English buddies) and Malibu original rum for a refreshing summer time drink. Earl Grey tea is a blend which is flavored with …