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Expandable Curtain Rods as Plant Supports
All gardeners know the task of keeping tall flower stalks from flopping over. There are lots of retail supports that you can purchase, but they can be pricey and also sometimes are not the right lengths. A great creative gardening hack is to use expandable curtain rods as plant supports. The answer is easy. Collect […]
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Fans of the Gardening Cook share their favorite planters
I recently asked The Gardening Cook Facebook fans to submit their favorite planters When it comes to creative planters, the sky seems to be the limit. Almost anything with an opening can become a garden planter. The Gardening Cook fans are an inventive group when it comes to thinking outside the box of normal pots. […]
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Homemade Garlic Bread with Basil and Parsley – Perfect Side Dish
Homemade Garlic bread is a must have accompaniment to many main course dishes. This recipe combines butter with basil and parsley for a great taste sensation. There are so many ways to use this homemade garlic bread recipe. Serve it with home style soups or stews to get that last drop of broth. And what […]
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Fourth of July DIY Home Projects
The 4th of July is traditionally a time for family and friend get-togethers. Why not entertain in style with one of these neat Patriotic Fourth of July DIY projects? From party games to table displays, these red white and blue projects give a patriotic feel to your outdoor gathering. Most of the projects require just […]
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Creative Garden Signs – Dress up your yard.
I thought it would be fun to put together a collection of creative garden signs to give you some ideas for ways to dress up your garden space. There is nothing like a creative and funny garden sign to add a touch of whimsy to your garden. They invite guests to explore your garden space […]
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Pestiños – Traditional Spanish Cookies with a Wine and Cinnamon Flavor
These Pestiños pastries are flavored with citrus, wine and cinnamon. If you are looking for something special to take to a cookie swap, this recipe will delight the party guests with their delicate texture. Pestiños are a Spanish cookie from Andalusia and other regions of Southern Spain. They are often served at Christmas time, but […]
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Butterscotch Balls with Rum and Chocolate
These delicious chocolate and rum butterscotch balls are bite sized and just full of flavor. These yummy butterscotch balls are very easy to make and delicious to eat. The recipe combines dark chocolate, dark brown sugar and walnuts together with a few other pantry staples. I love a sweet treat this is just a […]
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Gardening Tips from my readers
I recently asked my readers on my Facebook Gardening Cook page to give me some frugal gardening tips and they did not disappoint. These clever ladies and gents shared tips that help with getting plants for free to using old newspapers for mulch and so many more ideas. If you would like your frugal gardening […]
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Butter and Margarine Conversion Chart
This handy butter Margarine conversion chart will show you how much oil to use in the recipe instead of the butter that is called for. I keep a very well stocked pantry, but there are still times when I am out of something that I needed for a recipe, only to discover that I am […]
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That’s a Cake? Cakes that don’t look like Food
Cakes that don’t look like food always surprise me when I see them. I spent a short period of my life, when my daughter was young decorating cakes. I had a set of Wilton cake decorating tips and a few magazines and made a fancy cake each year for her birthday. But never once did […]
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Gardens of Kyoto Japan
Kyoto Japan is jam packed with stunning Japanese gardens, and it is a must visit in any Japan itinerary. If you love beautiful gardens and large temples, this place needs to be on your travel bucket list. The gardens, often part of temples or old imperial retreats, are spread around the city. They are particularly […]
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Cheesecake Recipe Roundup – The best of the best
What is not to like about cheesecake recipes? Here is a cheesecake recipe roundup to tempt all taste buds. Cheesecake recipes are rich and indulgent. They are the ultimate dessert to end any special occasion meal. These recipes can be made with so many different ingredients and is sure to please the most critical sweet […]
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Black bean Salsa with Corn and Tomatoes
This black bean salsa is a nice change from the regular bottled salsa and is much more hearty. We have tacos and burritos a lot at my house. Most of the time, we use traditional toppings and sides. Today I decided to make a special salsa to go along with the tacos. They pair together […]
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Roasted Potatoes with Spices and Lemon
These roasted potatoes with lemon are cooked in the oven, not deep fried, to make them tasty and healthier at the same time. Roasting any vegetable brings out their natural sweetness. I love roasted potatoes. There is nothing like biting into a crispy outer skin and then having a creamy center surprise. Roasted Potatoes with […]
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Pizza Roll up with Spicy Chicken – Easy Week Night Meal
If you are looking for an easy weeknight meal , this pizza roll up recipe is a great option. The recipe combines chicken with spicy sauce in a refrigerated dough. It’s kind of like a pizza in a pocket. All the flavors combine to make a delicious filling that tastes amazing. Pizza Roll up with […]
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Sugar Snap Pea Stir Fry with Mushrooms and Tomatoes in Wine
This recipe for sugar snap peas, mushrooms and tomatoes is easy to make and just full of flavor. It would make a fast side dish for any weeknight when time is limited. Best of all, the ingredients are fresh from the garden! What could be better? Nothing tastes quite like a vegetable dish made from […]
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Chocolate Covered Hazelnut Coffee
This luscious Chocolate covered hazelnut coffee drink also adds Kahlua to two of my favorite tastes. They give the drink a coffee flavor that takes the other two flavors to a whole new level. Any cocktail that combines hazelnut and chocolate is a good one, in my book. These flavors are used for the delicious […]
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Pimp My Ride – Car Planters Gone Wild
My husband loves the car show Pimp my Ride. He gets a kick out of how people dress up their cars in neat an innovative ways. But the show has never yet shown how people use their cars as car planters! It appears that many gardeners also like the idea of pimping their cars – […]
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Food Art – Artistic License in the Kitchen
Food carving and creative food art is something that requires a great deal of patience to end up with just the perfect result. I love seeing what creative people can do with food to make it into an art form. Food is soft and this makes it the perfect medium for carving into life-like objects. […]
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Porch and Patio Ideas – Relax in Style
These great porch and patio designs would soothe the most ardent workaholic! There is nothing like ending the day by sitting on a patio that makes you feel relaxed and glad to be home from work. As well as being a place for relaxation, porches and patios are attractive and add so much to the […]
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Home made sweet and sour mix
Many drink recipes ask for a sweet and sour mix. This home made version is perfect for those who don’t want a very sweet mix. There are lots of commercial sweet and sour mixes available for purchase in grocery stores and where liquor is sold. But most of those are too sweet for my liking. […]
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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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Margarita steaks with cilantro and Lime
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 […]
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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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Creamy Garlic Pasta with Broccoli
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 […]