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Growing Dianthus Barbatus (Sweet William) and Other Garden Pinks

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 …

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Brighten up your Outside Space with Tiki Planters

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 …

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Roasted Rutabaga – Bring out the Sweetness of Root Veggies

 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 …

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Wheelbarrow Planters – Reuse Re Purpose Recycle

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. …

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Favorite Amaretto Cocktails – Almonds at Cocktail Hour!

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 …

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Hotel Riley Rum Cocktail – Vacation Time!

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 …

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Toasted Almond Cocktail – Kahlua Amaretto Cream

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 …

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Cuban Breeze – Amaretto, Vodka & Pineapple Juice

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 …

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DIY Stainless Steel Cleaner – Today’s Household tip

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 …

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Easy DIY Jar Opener – Just use a Rubber Band – Today’s Tip

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 …

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Test Garden – Experimenting with a Variety of Plants and Flowers

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 …

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Vegetable Manicotti – Healthy Italian Main Course Recipe

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 …

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Devein Shrimp – Easy How To Cooking Project

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 …

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Ground Beef Manicotti – Hearty Italian Main Course Recipe

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.  …

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Greek Salad with Kalamata Olives and Goat 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 …

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Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Laughing Cow Cheese

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 …

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Malibu Earl Grey Paradise Punch – Refreshing High Ball

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 …

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