-
How to Host the Perfect Wine and Cheese Party – Tips for Wine Pairings
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 […]
-
Uses for Parchment Paper- 30 Creative Ideas
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 […]
-
15 Tested Tips for Using, Storing and Growing Shallots
Shallots are starting to be seen in grocery stores more and often lately. What are shallots? Like onions and garlic, shallots are a member of the allium family. They are a cold hardy vegetable and, like onions, are easy to grow. Their flavor is richer and sweeter and they are very versatile in recipes. This […]
-
Earth Day Activities – Crafts, Food and Fun for April 22
Ever since it was established in 1970, people around the world take part in Earth Day Activities as a way to celebrate National Earth Day on April 22. This day is now a worldwide event where more than 1 billion people take part in a day of action. Here are some things that you can […]
-
Silicone Baking Mat Uses – Tips for Using Silpat Baking Mats
A silicone baking mat can take high heat and replace parchment paper for baking & food preparation. I like to use them in lots of unusual ways in my kitchen. You can use them for cookies, of course, but there are lots of other creative Silpat baking mat uses, as well. With a silicone baking […]
-
Healthy Kitchen Swaps – Food Swaps for Weight Loss Success
There are many healthy kitchen swaps that you can use all year round for weight loss success. Implementing these food swaps will make sure that those extra pounds won’t find themselves on your thighs and rear next year. For many of us, the start of the year means making a New Year’s resolution to lose […]
-
Cleaning Clay Pots – How to Clean Terracotta Pots and Planters
Cleaning clay pots this time of the year keeps my garden still in mind and makes sure that they are ready to use when it comes to for early spring bloomers in a few months. When the days get cooler and shorter, it is time to put the garden to bed for the winter. […]
-
Window Box Planters – How to Plant Window Boxes
Seeing how many ways there are to dress up your home with window box planters was inspiring. They are a fabulous way to create curb appeal and are easy to take care of. I have recently discovered a love for window boxes. During my summer vacation, we toured 10 states and visited many Botanical Gardens. […]
-
Regrow Your Food From Kitchen Scraps
I love to save money and I don’t like to waste things that can be reused or recycled in another way. Did you know that many common vegetables are very easy to regrow from ordinary kitchen scraps? I love the idea that you can use to regrow your food. What a great way to […]
-
50+ Tried and Tested Uses for Vinegar
There are dozens of vinegar uses in the home. From soaking your sponges to keeping your counters free of ants, this product is a must have. Vinegar is a versatile and effective household product that is more useful than just for making salad dressing. There are many vinegar uses around the house and garden. One of the […]
-
Tips for Dealing with Invasive Pests
Critters in the garden range from beneficial to invasive. Some actually are listed by the US Department of Agriculture as invasive pests that need to be controlled. See my tips for dealing with these unwanted bugs. This post was sponsored on behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection […]
-
16 Gluten Free Replacements and Substitutes
If you are someone who follows a gluten free diet, either to lose weight or for your health, you will know that you sometimes need gluten free replacements and substitutes to cook your favorite recipes. One of the latest trends in the diet industry is a gluten free diet. And for many of those people […]
-
Poison Ivy and Poisonous Vines – Natural Preventative Measures
Since I don’t like to use chemicals in the garden, I have been trying to find natural treatments for poison Ivy prevention so that I don’t have to use poisons We have a patch of poison ivy that seems to keep re-appearing in one of my garden beds every so often. You have all heard […]
-
100+ Recipe Substitutions – Replacements
If mealtime is stressful for you, these recipe substitutes and replacements will be a big help in getting your meals on the table in no time at all. Are there times when you are missing just one ingredient and can’t make a recipe? Perhaps you are following a meal plan or trying to lose weight […]
-
Dos & Don’ts Tips for Growing Great Tomatoes
Growing great tomatoes doesn’t happen just by putting a few plants into the ground and turning on the hose. But anyone can master growing great tomatoes by following a few simple dos and don’ts. In the world of vegetable gardening, there is nothing quite like the taste of fresh home grown tomatoes. The flavor of […]
-
Composting Tips – Tricks for Creating Nature’s Black Gold
If you enjoy vegetable gardening or growing flowers, adding organic matter formed by composting will give you great results. Have you always thought that making compost is difficult? These Composting Tips will take the mystery out of it for you. Composting may seem like something that only our ancestors did, but many modern gardeners take […]
-
Dieffenbachia Poisoning – How Toxic is this Houseplant?
Dieffenbachia poisoning is talked about all the time when the plant is reviewed on line, but how toxic is the plant to your cats, dogs and children, really? Dieffenbachia one of the most common indoor plants, is easy to care and great as an office plant. However the plant can be poisonous so there are some situations […]
-
Borax Weed Killer for Creeping Charlie
This Borax weed killer for Creeping Charlie is a more natural remedy that resorting to chemical herbicides and Round Up. It can be used on established lawns and works well to get of this common weed. Are you plagued with Creeping Charlie in your lawn? So are many home owners and they are looking for […]
-
Mosquito Repelling Plants – Keep Those Bugs Away!
With summer comes lots of outdoor living. Sadly, that can mean lots of mosquitoes. I don’t like to use chemical products but, thankfully, Mother Nature has the perfect answer – Mosquito Repelling Plants! We can grow annuals, perennials and herbs that will keep the bugs away naturally. With all the hype about West Nile Virus, […]
-
How to Keep Ants Out of the House
It is ant season again! You can kill ants with various home remedies, but are there are lots of other things that you can do to keep ants out of the house? As soon as the weather starts to heat up, and particularly after a warm rainy day, ants decide that indoors is a good […]
-
25 Succulent Planters – You Can Grow these Hardy Plants in Just About Anything!
These 25 fun succulent planters will show you that if it can hold dirt, it can be planted with a succulent! From teacups to wooden drawers, these planters are unique and a fun way to pot your succulent houseplants. Succulents are so versatile and easy to care for. They are very drought tolerant, perfect if you […]
-
Natural Ant Killer Remedies
These natural ant killer remedies will help to control the ants in your home in a non toxic way. I am so looking forward to the return of warm weather. With the sunny days come flowers, gardening and time spent outdoors. Unfortunately, with the warm weather also come ants! It is fun for kids to […]
-
Using Candles in Your Home – It’s Time for Some Decorating Ideas
Using candles in the home creates an intimacy that sets a mood to a room and makes guests feel really welcome. Arranged pleasantly with just the right accessories, a candle can really transform the look of any area in your home. There is just something really warm and inviting about a room with the look […]
-
Why do Onions Make you Cry?
Peeling onions is something that many cooks do on a daily basis but the job brings along tears. Do you know why onions make you cry? There are many types of this versatile vegetable and most will make you cry when you chop them. Find out about the onion varieties here. Onions are easy to grow […]
-
11 Food and Drink Substitutes for Weight Loss and Health
Are you thinking more about your overall health and fitness? These 11 food and drink substitutes help me with my weight loss, and also have other beneficial effects for my general health. I had a scare late last year that had me in the hospital for a few weeks worrying about my heart and my […]
-
My 10 Most Popular Posts of 2016
Each year, at the end of December, I take stock of what worked (and what didn’t!) on my blog. Sometimes, I am surprised when a blog post makes my top 10 list for the past year when I wasn’t expecting it. Other times, I think “not you again” when a tried and true favorite post […]