At Home & In the Garden with Two Blonds & Co.

STARTING SEEDS INDOORS

2011-01-24T15:36:00.000-06:00

Even though there may be frost or even snow on the ground it's not too early to be thinking of your Spring garden. Here are a few tips to get going!

You don't need to have special nursery trays for seedlings...just pick something you use a lot of such as plastic milk cartons. Cut all the way around the jug just below the handle leaving it attached to the "bottom." Place soil in bottom and cover with the handle "top."

Personally, I purchase a lot of rotisserie chicken from Wally Mart. They come in a plastic container; the bottom is black...the top is clear with little vents...perfect for a mini "greenhouse."

Earlier fuits and flowers, plus endless variety

Photography by Christa Neu

Starting seeds indoors will give you earlier vegetables and flowers, and your cultivar choices will be endless. The process of germination may seem complex, but the act of seed planting is reassuringly simple. Just take it step-by-step, and you’ll soon be presiding over a healthy crop of seedlings.

Select your work area—a surface at a comfortable height and close to a water supply where you’ll have room to spread things out. Assemble your equipment: seed-starting containers, starting medium or soil mix, watering can, labels, marking pen, and seed packets.

Choosing Containers
You can start seeds in almost any kind of container that will hold 1 to 2 inches of starting medium and won’t become easily waterlogged. Once seedlings form more roots and develop their true leaves, though, they grow best in containers that provide more space for root growth and have holes for drainage.

You can start seedlings in open flats, in individual sections of a market pack, or in pots. Individual containers are preferable, because the less you disturb tender roots, the better. Some containers, such as peat pots, paper pots, and soil blocks, go right into the garden with the plant during transplanting. Other pots must be slipped off the root ball before planting.

Square or rectangular containers make better use of space and provide more root area than round ones do. However, individual containers dry out faster than open flats. Many gardeners start seeds in open flats and transplant seedlings to individual containers after the first true leaves unfold. Choose flats and containers to match the number and types of plants you wish to grow and the space you have available.

Excellent seed-starting systems are available from garden centers and mail-order suppliers. You can also build your own wooden flats. If you raise large numbers of seedlings, it’s useful to have interchangeable, standard-sized flats and inserts.

You can reuse your seedling containers for many years. To prevent problems with dampening off, you may want to sanitize flats at the end of the season by dipping them in a 10 percent solution of household bleach (1 cup of bleach plus 9 cups of water).

Homemade containers: You can recycle milk cartons and many types of plastic containers as seed-starting pots. Just be sure to poke a drainage hole in the bottom of each. Cut lengths of clothes hanger as a frame for your flats so you can wrap them in plastic to encourage germination. You can bend the wire to fit into a plastic flat filled with pots or six-packs, or staple the wire to the sides of a wooden flat as shown at right. Use clear plastic wrap or plastic bags (like the ones from the dry cleaner) to enclose the flat.

Two make-at-home seed-starting containers are newspaper pots and soil blocks. To make pots from newspaper, begin by cutting bands of newspaper about twice as wide as the desired height of a pot (about 4 inches wide for a 2-inch-high pot). Wrap a band around the lower half of a jar a few times, and secure it with masking tape. Then form the bottom of the pot by creasing and folding the paper in around the bottom of the jar. You can also put a piece of tape across the pot bottom to hold it more securely in place. Slip the newspaper pot off the jar. Set your pots in high-sided trays with their sides touching. When you fill them with potting mix, they will support one another. There are also commercial molds for making newspaper pots.

Monday Melange: Painted Spurge

2011-01-24T15:07:00.000-06:00

Here in Northeast Texas we have these growing everywhere...now I know what they are!

Monday Melange: Painted Spurge

Written by Heleigh Bostwick Monday, 24 January 2011
Painted spurge (Euphorbia cyathophora, is a poinsettia that is indigenous to the US, its range extending across a large portion of the US including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Painted spurge is not found in New England, northern Mid-Atlantic States, the Pacific Northwest, or Nevada, Montana and the Dakotas. Painted spurge is a member of the Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) family.Euphorbia is one of the largest genera of flowering plants in the world. Painted spurge is also known by a number of other common names including wild poinsettia, fire-on-the-mountain, Mexican fire plant, and summer poinsettia. It is a considered an annual plant and commonly planted in California where it becomes naturalized through reseeding. Its main attraction is it’s showy reddish-orange bracts and similar appearance to the cultivated poinsettia. Like there domestic counterparts, the flowers of wild poinsettia are inconspicuous. A somewhat weedy plant in certain parts of the country (particularly the south), in the wild painted spurge grows in alluvial soils, gravel bars adjacent to stream beds, and disturbed sites such as railroad beds. It will also thrive in “regular” garden soil and grows to a height of about 24 inches. It prefers full sun. Photo source: www.missouriplants.com

Top 10 Recipes for Christmas Dinner

2010-12-23T13:38:00.000-06:00

Great ideas for holiday cooking...

Plan the perfect Christmas dinner with our favorite Christmas recipes including Cream of Pumpkin Soup with Cranberry Drizzle and Cider-and-Beer-Braised Pork with Chocolate Mole.

Medallions of Beef Tenderloin

This beef medallion recipe will make you look like a hero in the kitchen--it looks beautiful and tastes incredible.

Duck with Sweet Orange Sauce

Want to show off this holiday season? If you can roast a chicken, why not up the ante and roast a duck! A roast duck for Christmas dinner is chic and easy. This recipe is my version of the classic French dish "Duck a l'Orange."

Cream of Pumpkin Soup with Cranberry Drizzle

Sometimes there is nothing like cozying up to a rich, warm bowl of soup for dinner. This recipe invokes the flavors of the season and looks just gorgeous on any Christmas dinner table.

Collard Greens and Smoked Turkey

Enjoy a taste of the south this Christmas. This dish is simmered with smoked turkey, collard greens and bell peppers.

Potato Cheese and Mushroom Pie

Finally, a vegetarian dish to take center stage for a festive Christmas meal! This savory pie is as impressive as it is mouth-watering.

Apple-Maple Country Ham

This ham is effortless to make, but is sinfully delicious. It's Christmas dinner in a crock-pot! Plus, the leftovers are fabulous for sandwiches and salads.

Cornish Hens

Cornish hens are another great choice for Christmas dinner. Whether you are cooking for a small family or hosting a big crowd.

Spicy Maple Glazed Lamb Chops with Spinach

Lamb is a holiday favorite and I love this recipe because you simply sear lamb chops and then finish them off in the oven. An upscale Christmas dinner is served in a matter of minutes! The sweet and spicy glaze works really well with the flavor of the lamb and the wilted spinach makes it a complete dish.

Cider-and-Beer-Braised Pork with Chocolate Mole

Chocolate is a favorite holiday ingredient that many people do not typically consider pairing with pork, but Chef Symon’s recipeshows that pork's versatility enhances almost any holiday ingredient. You will receive raves from your friends and family if you serve this dish at Christmas!

Lobster Tails

Decadent lobster is often saved for special celebrations. This recipe is so easy, you will want to make it all year long!

More Christmas Recipes

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS

2010-12-23T13:31:00.000-06:00

POINSETTIAS
Written by Heleigh Bostwick Thursday, 23 December 2010

Considered one of North America’s Christmas flowers, most of us purchase our poinsettias from the garden center in the form of potted plants during the holiday season. In their native habitat, the mountains of Mexico, poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are actually semi-tropical woody shrubs. The US Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett, for whom poinsettias are named, introduced poinsettias to the US in 1825.

Propagated by leaf cuttings, and available in a wide range of colors, California is the largest commercial grower of poinsettias in the world. Look closely at the poinsettia flower and you will see that what appear to be the petals of the flower are actually bracts. Bracts are modified leaves. The flowers themselves are non-descript consisting of small green cup-like structures.

Poinsettias do not like variations in temperature so keep them away from drafts. As with most other members of the Euphorbiaceae or Spurge family, a milky white latex sap exudes from the leaves and stems. This sap is not poisonous but may be irritating to the skin, more so in native species rather than propagated ones.

Fire on the mountain E. cyathophora, a somewhat weedy perennial that bears a resemblance to the propagated varieties, is the only poinsettia native to the US.

Recommended reading:
Poinsettias: Myth & Legend
The Poinsettia Tradition

SIMPLY ELEGANT EDIBLE GIFTS!

2010-12-16T21:10:00.005-06:00

After having made a few of these, I am most impressed! Throw in your own special touch or make them as per the recipe...they are scrumptious!

Homemade Food Gifts for the Holidays

(Slide 1 of 30) Start at the Beginning

Southwestern Three-Bean & Barley Soup Mix

Making your own dry soup mix from beans and spices couldn’t be easier. Layered in a jar, it makes a very pretty gift.

Recipe: Southwestern Three-Bean & Barley Soup Mix

Whole-Grain Roasted-Garlic Mustard

This spicy whole-grain mustard has a touch of roasted garlic and maple syrup. When you see how easy it is to make, you may give up store-bought mustard.

Recipe: Whole-Grain Roasted-Garlic Mustard

"The Death of Common Sense"

2010-12-14T08:11:00.005-06:00

Another article to make you think...again I do not know who deserves the credit but "Thank you!"

The Death Of Common Sense
12-13-10

Obituary


Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.


He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:


- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair; and
- Maybe it was my fault..


Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.


Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.


It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.


Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.


Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.


Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.


Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.


He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers:


I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim


Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone...
If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Ya'll Know Who You Are!

2010-12-05T17:26:00.004-06:00

Don't know to whom to give the credit...but I got such a kick out of this that I could not resist the urge to send it along! After reading it...I suppose I'm one of this elite crowd as well.

Have a good one!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have enjoyed the redneck jokes for years. It's time to
take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that
values home, family, country and God.

If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I'd choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up.

Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit -- that's what rednecks are
made of. I hope I am one of those. If you feel the same, pass this on to your redneck friends.

Y'all know who ya are...

You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to
be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God..'

You might be a redneck if: You've never protested about seeing
the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck if: You still say ' Christmas'
instead of 'Winter Festival.'

You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when
someone prays.

You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your
hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem

You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces
veterans with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if: You've never burned an
American flag, nor intend to.

You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe
and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and
raised your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if: You'd give your last dollar to
a friend.

If you got this far reading this, it could be because I believe that
you, like me, have just enough Red Neck in you to have the
same beliefs as those talked about in this email.

God Bless the USA !

"Take time to reflect on what has gone right with your life"

2010-11-22T09:30:00.001-06:00

Tough Times May Make Us More Thankful This Season

Like Americans during the Great Depression, strife may bring us closer together

Sara Huffman

ConsumerAffairs.com

November 20, 2010
Tough economic times may make people more thankful this Thanksgiving, says Samuel T. Gladding, professor of counseling at Wake Forest University and an expert on families.

"I think many families will be staying home this holiday seasonâ€”some with anxiety, others with hope, but the majority with gratitude for what they have. We are not so different in 2010 from 1930 during the Great Depression," Gladding says.

Despite the changes in family structure -- more single parent and blended families -- and the fact many of us live far from our relatives, Gladding said we're similar to the Americans living 80 years ago in that we're "grateful for the essentials."

Gratitude is a key to positive mental health, he says.

Many people may have a hard time focusing on the positive this season, especially if they became one of the many American workers to lose their jobs.

But Gladding says financial distress can actually help people be more thankful for relationships, people, and non-material things.

"While many are struggling financially, it is heartwarming to focus on what we value more, which is human relationships and moments that don't have a monetary value," says Gladding, who is the author of several books on family counseling.

Sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas, Thanksgiving has, for the most part, avoided the consumerism of other holidays. Instead of centering on gifts, it is a time set aside for family, friends and the shared experience of making and eating a meal.

Gladding offers several suggestions for how to foster gratitude and build family connections at Thanksgiving:

Take time to reflect on what has gone right with your life.
Tell stories. Whether you are a religious or non-religious person, tell stories that reflect the good in people.
Strengthen generational ties by asking older members of the family to describe how they got through hard times. Experience with resilience can be educational and inspirational to younger people.
Encourage conversations with kids about what they are most thankful for other than their possessions.
Continue a ritual or start a new one.
Try to avoid cynicism and anger even if you have lost a job or are facing financial uncertainty.
Give your time and talents to others by reaching out and including them or helping them in some non-material way.

How NOT to fry a turkey!!

2010-11-22T09:19:00.002-06:00

Don't Let Your Fried Turkey (or House) Go Up in Flames

Tips on staying safe when frying or roasting your holiday bird

Sara Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

November 20, 2010
Aficionados agree that deep frying a turkey is the best way to produce the most flavorful and moist version of the traditional centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal.

However, if you choose to go the deep-frying route, you have to be careful that the bird is the not the only thing that gets fried on Thanksgiving Day.

In the United States, more than 141 serious fires and hot-oil burns have been reported from the use of turkey fryers over the last decade, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

"If a turkey fryer is used the way it's supposed to be used by people who are not impaired by alcohol or drugs, I think they're fine," said Dr. Thomas Esposito, chief of the Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Burns in the Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Ill.

"Injuries from turkey fryers are rare, but when they happen to you or a family member, that doesn't matter - they are very devastating."

If you're planning to use a turkey fryer, Esposito said safety tips to heed include:

Keep the fryer in full view while the burner is on.
Keep children and pets away from the cooking area.
Place the fryer in an open area away from all walls, fences or other structures.
Never use in, on, or under a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, deck or any other structure that can catch fire.
Slowly raise and lower the turkey to reduce splatter and avoid burns.
Never cook in short sleeves, shorts, or bare feet. Cover all bare skin when adding or removing bird.
Protect your eyes with goggles or glasses.
Immediately turn off fryer if the oil begins to smoke.
Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water don't mix and water can cause oil to spill over, creating a fire or even an explosion.
Don't overfill fryer with oil. Turkey fryers can ignite in seconds after oil hits the burner.
Keep a fire extinguisher appropriate for oil fires close at hand and be familiar with how to operate it.
Do not use a hose in attempts to douse a turkey fryer fire.
If you are burned, seek immediate medical attention.

Hope to avoid catastrophe by cooking your turkey in the oven, the old fashioned way? Experts say fires and serious burns can occur that way, too.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving Day is the leading day for cooking fires, with three times as many as an average day.

"It doesn't matter if it is a turkey fryer or a conventional oven, you should always take great care when using appliances, vehicles and any other device that has the potential to cause great harm to yourself and others if used in a careless, irresponsible manner," Esposito said.

Early-Bird Thanksgiving Preparation

2010-11-09T09:16:00.002-06:00

The holiday season is upon us...only a few weeks until Thanksgiving. Time to prepare for guests and upcoming events.

Early-Bird Thanksgiving Preparation

Want to get a jump-start on planning for Thanksgiving? Here, some to-do's to make sure you — and your house — are ready for the big day.

Provided by:

PAY ATTENTION CLASS!!

2010-02-24T14:26:00.004-06:00

For those of you who continue plodding along with your heads in the clouds thinking that the financial troubles of our country will all get better without intervention of us "common" folk...wise up stupid!! We have been through this in our country many years ago due to the arrogant "progressive" actions of the White House and Congress.

We must stand firm and just say "no" to the attempts to cram legislation down our throats. If you think it's bad now don't kid yourself...it could be much worse.

Here's a bit of history and food for thought.

America’s Forgotten Depression... and Roaring Recovery!

February 24, 2010 - 12:31 ET
Related Article
The Revolutionary Debt Bomb - And How the Founders Fixed It!
By Larry Schweikart

Ever hear of the Great Depression of 1920? No, me either. Do you know why? Because the recession that began shortly after World War I ended never deepened and never became “great” (as though any depression is great). There is a history lesson in that story that our leadership in Washington should keep in mind today.

As the United States, and the world, came out of World War I, the economies of the warring powers had been cranked up to full production to meet wartime demands. Suddenly, in 1918, the Armistice was announced, and within a year, troops began returning to civilian life. The influx of millions of soldiers worldwide introduced sudden unemployment, and thousands of farmers came back to farms that were already at or near full capacity, causing farm prices to fall. In the United States, Woodrow Wilson’s hand-picked successor, James Cox, the newspaper magnate from Dayton, Ohio, ran on a platform of reducing America’s wartime debt through a policy of maintaining Wilson’s outrageously high wartime tax rates.

The Progressive President Wilson had been in office when the Income Tax Amendment was passed—a story in itself. While the goal of the Progressives who favored an income tax was first and foremost wealth redistribution (not raising money to run the government), the income tax itself was largely sold to the American people on two major positive features. First, its rates were (by current standards) ridiculously low. Most people paid no income taxes at all, the bottom bracket paid only about 1%, and the very richest Americans paid only 6% (today, many states have higher income tax rates than that!). As a Vegas comedian would say, “What’s not to like?”

But it only took Wilson a couple of years of war to jack up the top rates to an astounding 73% (near confiscation) and hike the bottom rate to 25%.

Now for a little sidebar: how often have you heard that “World War II got us out of the Great Depression?” Probably more times than you can count. What is often forgotten is that when your very survival is at stake, as it was from 1941 to 1945, people will submit to most anything—rationing, confiscatory tax rates, muzzling of civil liberties. This is laudable and natural. But it is wholly unnatural and oppressive for a government to seek to maintain wartime tax levels and intrusions on civil liberties in peacetime. Hence, to return to our story, Wilson “got away” with the outrageously high tax rates during the war because . . . it was a war! Once the threat was over, however, Americans expected their country back.

Cox’s opponent, Warren Harding, also of Ohio, ran on a platform of returning the country to its pre-war “normal” economy and freedoms. While he didn’t explicitly endorse a tax cut, voters rightly inferred that’s what he meant, and sent him to the White House instead of Cox. In perhaps his shrewdest move, Harding asked Pittsburgh millionaire Andrew Mellon to be the Secretary of the Treasury. When Mellon told him he “didn’t want the job,” Harding knew he had the right guy. Mellon finally gave in, and immediately studied the recession, which was severe.

Various estimates of the 1920-1921 recession suggest that Gross National Product fell anywhere from 2.4% to a whopping 6.9%. Estimates of unemployment put the rate at between 7% and 8%. Interestingly, while most economists correctly identify the issue of returning troops as a “shock,” few note that the extremely high tax rates dragged the economy down faster than “Bernie” behind the boat (reference to “Weekend at Bernies,” if you haven’t seen it).

Mellon performed a review of another phenomenon: even though Wilson’s boys consistently pushed up tax rates, the relative return from those rates fell steadily. Without knowing it, Mellon had come up with an early version of the “Laffer Curve,” which says that at a certain point, raising taxes will result in less revenue to government, because people will silently revolt and either cease work or go into the black market. Mellon convinced Harding to ask Congress for a radical tax cut. Of course, many in government opposed. In a stunner, the New York Times of 1909 had actually warned that “when men get in the habit of keeping themselves to the property of others, they cannot easily be cured of it.”[1] Harding died in office, but his successor, the great Calvin Coolidge, remained committed to steeply reducing tax rates. Mellon, Harding, and Coolidge succeeded in reducing the top rate from 73% to 25%, and the bottom rate from 25% to 5%. There are two observations one can make: a) that’s an astounding drop, and all three men are to be commended, and b) it was still many times higher than the pre-war rates!

Nevertheless, the economy quickly recovered. Unemployment rates fell, down to 5%, then 4%, then finally, in 1926, to 1.6% according to one study. Even more shocking, the share of taxes paid by the rich . . . skyrocketed. Those earning over $50,000 (a “supermillionaire” back then) had only paid 45% of the total taxes when the rates were sky-high, but after the Mellon cuts paid 62%. Those in the “Bill Gates” category of “so-rich-they-wouldn’t-pick-up-a-$100-bill-on-the-sidewalk” rich ($100,000 at the time), saw their share of taxes paid almost double, from 28% to 51%.

We call what happened next the “Roaring ‘20s,” because the economy absolutely went nuts. Average Americans came to own cars, radio, have appliances and the electricity to power them (electricity use rose by almost 300% between 1899 and 1929), telephones, and a myriad of other products once considered luxuries.[2] Ford’s Model T, once considered revolutionary for its low cost and simplicity, now was out; General Motors, with its different car line for every income class was in. And they say tax cuts don’t work? Tell that to the Americans of the Roaring ‘20s.”

Larry Schweikart

Professor of History, University of Dayton

co-author, A Patriot’s History of the United States
[1]. Quoted in Arthur B. Laffer, Stephen Moore, and Peter J. Tanous, The End of Prosperity: How Higher Taxes Will Doom the Economy—If We Let It Happen (New York: Threshold, 2008), 49.

[2]. See Larry Schweikart and Lynne Pierson Doti, American Entrepreneur (New York: Amacom, 2009), ch. 9.

Eat Pasta, Drop Pounds!

2010-02-21T09:49:00.003-06:00

Despite all the negative comments about "carbs" it has been my contention for many years that you actually need (not only want) pasta and other delicious carbs. Whole grain breads and pasta are super delicious and make the meal seem extraordinary indeed with the nutty flavors.

From me to you...ENJOY!

By Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief - Posted on Thu, Feb 18, 2010, 4:09 pm PST

Ever tried to avoid carbs in order to lose weight and found they still follow you everywhere you go? At my favorite restaurant, the fettuccine on the menu taunts me; at my friend’s baby shower, the sandwich platter beckons much louder than the mixed greens. And in a business meeting, the cookies distract me. Whether it’s a basket of warm bread, a tasty pasta or tantalizing desserts, carbs can be hard to quit.

Thankfully, you don’t have to. Despite their reputation for helping pack on the pudge (remember Dr. Atkins?), certain carbs can actually help you feel fuller longer and fight fat. The key? Fiber—found in whole grains, oats, certain legumes and even popcorn! When people follow a high-fiber diet—at least 34 grams of fiber a day—they absorb up to 6 percent fewer calories, research shows.

Before you raid your breadbox, learn these two simple carb commandments to enjoy pasta and all your fave carbs and still peel off pounds.

Carb commandment #1: Look for whole grains. Unlike their white counterparts, whole-grain versions of rice, bread and pasta are high in satiating, fat-fighting fiber. Opt for whole-grain pastas and replace your usual loaf of bread with one that offers 4 to 5 g fiber per slice, says SELF contributing editor Janis Jibrin, R.D. For breakfast, nibble on whole-grain waffles.

On pizza night, try whipping up a whole-wheat crust at home. Order brown rice with your Chinese stir-fry, and use whole-wheat tortillas on Mexican Mondays. These subtle (and scrumptious!) swaps will help you slim!

Carb commandment #2: No need to pig out—even on whole wheat! As with every nugget of nutrition advice, moderation is key. Fortunately, whole grains contain the same number of calories as refined or white carbs, but they serve up more fiber, so you’ll be satisfied with a smaller portion, says Madelyn Fernstrom, Ph.D., author of The Real You Diet (Wiley). Go ahead and have your Butternut Squash and Fried Sage Pasta, but serve it in a cereal bowl rather than a Frisbee-sized dinner plate and stick to a 1-cup serving. Mangia!

Now that you’ve swapped your default fettuccine for whole-grain and brown rice for white, check out this list of amazing grains on Self.com for more ways to fill your cart smart.

Subscribe to SELF for less than $1 an issue.
Get a FREE Healthy Recipe Book download!

VALENTINE'S DAY MENUS

2009-02-12T10:58:00.004-06:00

Howdy ya'll:

These ideas for Valentine's Day menus come from FINE COOKING E-magazine. They always have wonderful delectable dishes for all occasions. Enjoy!

Forget flowers, jewelry, and store-bought candy—a home-cooked meal is the best (and least expensive) way to express those three little words. You might even offer to do the dishes, too.

Chocolate-Hazelnut Wontons, part of the Seductive Finger Food menu.

Whether you're cooking together or surprising your special someone, our menus—complete with recipes, tips, and shopping lists—will make it easy.

Seductive Finger Foods

Breakfast in Bed

Classic Romance Menu

Spicy Valentine's Day Dinner

Quick Dinner for Two

Browse Valentine's Day Recipes

Healing and Air Purifying Plants

2009-01-26T17:50:00.004-06:00

I always knew I loved gardening and having plants around me...love the feel of the dirt in my hands and watching things grow...now I know that it's good for many reasons other than my personal enjoyment!!

Have a good one!

Green Eyes on: Healing and Air Purifying Plants

by Sara Snow on 01.19.09

Gerbera daisies and mini Gerbera daisies. Photo via flowerbud.com.

A number of years ago, NASA began to look into the air purifying properties of plants (PDF). Specifically, they were trying to find out if plants could be used to clean the air in orbiting space stations. The findings--helpful for both their purposes and ours--proved common indoor air pollutants (culprits called Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, off-gasses from the likes of fabric finishes, paints, wood adhesives, and floor stains) can be mitigated or removed by way of the leaves, roots, and soil of certain indoor plants.

English Ivy. Photo via Talkin Over It.

By keeping plants like Gerbera daisies, English ivy, and bamboo palm in the house, your air can actually be a great deal healthier than it would be without the plants.

New Research Shows Plants in Hospitals Help Healing
All of this is something I’ve known for quite some time. What is exciting me today is recent research showing that plants also have a tremendous healing influence on hospital patients.

And here’s why it’s so interesting to me now: For the last two weeks, I’ve spent my days with my 90-year-old stroke-recovering grandma. We’ve gone to physical, occupational, and recreational therapy appointments together. We’ve eaten meals of pureed turkey and vegetables. We’ve watched a continuous loop of wildlife scenes on the in-house hospital TV channel. We’ve read cards from well-wishers and (being the proud grandma that she is) snippets from the galley copy of my upcoming book. And we’ve marveled at the beauty of the live plants and fresh cut flowers in her room. This is why I was thrilled by the recent influx of information on the actual, scientifically proven, healing properties of plants.

Sara's grandma.

According to a recent study, patients with plants in their room (and we mean plants, not just cut flowers because of the longevity of the plant) began to take interest in their plants, watering and pruning them, and moving them around for better light. At the same time, these same patients took less pain medication, had less pain and anxiety, lower blood pressure, improved heart rates, and felt more positive overall about their room environment. When asked, they said they said plants were their favorite element in their rooms, versus the patients without plants who voted for the TV.

Tomorrow morning when I head back to the hospital, instead of just giving water to the jasmine plant on my grandma’s window sill, I think I’ll take it to her bedside to see if she wants to smell it or prune it. Or maybe she’ll just want to admire the way its tendrils stretch up toward the sky. Who knows, that could be the magic pill the doctors have missed.

More on Indoor Air Quality and Healing Plants

More Than a Pretty Greenhouse--Kew Gardens research into herbal remedies
Top 5 Plants For Improving Indoor Air Quality
10 Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality
Indoor Air Quality on Planet Green
A Bicycle That Creates Clean Air AND Clean Water!
VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds, Indoor Air Quality and Respiratory Health

Sara Snow is a green living expert and regular contributor to TreeHugger via her Green Eyes On column. She can also be seen on CNN.com on Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Her new DVD Growing Green Babies is now available through SaraSnow.com.

Beans, Beans the Musical Fruit...

2009-01-26T17:28:00.006-06:00

Being a Texas gal, I'm no advocate of becoming a Vegetarian, however, I came across this article from "Vegging Out" regarding The Bean. It's interesting to know that most people don't know how to cook beans in such a way as to eliminate the gas associated with eating them. I have know for years the "secret" and so I'll pass it on to you along with a few recipes.

Enjoy!

Beans, Beans, the Magical Fruit: How To Eat Them Without the Flatulence

by Kelly Rossiter, Toronto

Food & Health (food)

I was chatting with my cousin about some health and weight problems she was having and I was stunned to discover that she almost never cooks vegetables for her family dinner. Too much trouble she said. I suggested that not only should she add vegetables every day, she should significantly reduce her meat intake and add legumes to her diet. She was vehement about not eating beans at all. Her reason? Gas.

I suspect there are a lot of people out there who feel the same way about beans.Excess gas can cause discomfort and sometimes actual pain as well as embarrassing flatulence. Judy at Savvy Vegetarian thinks that some new vegetarians give up for that very reason. People who are new to vegetarianism may well be suddenly eating a greater amount of beans and perhaps our bodies need a bit of time to adapt.

Once you understand the cause of gas, it's fairly easy to remedy. Beans contain a sugar called oligosaccharide and we lack the enzyme required to break the sugar down. When the sugar arrives in your lower intestinal tract intact, it ferments, creating a buildup of gas. The gas isn't absorbed into the intestine, so the body expels it, creating red faces all around.

The answer to this problem is pretty simple. Cook your own beans rather than using canned, and soak them thoroughly first to allow the sugar leach out. To avoid having it re-absorbed into the beans, it's a good idea to change the soaking water a few times. Cooking the beans slowly also makes a difference. Adding the spice asafoetida, or Kombu which is a kelp or baking soda are all said to help break down the sugar. Rinse the beans after you have cooked them as well.

I also read a number of other hints that may also help reduce gas. Younger beans are better to use than older beans, and although it is impossible to know how long the beans you are buying have been dried, there are a couple of things to look out for. Beans darken with age so choose beans that are lighter in colour, and also those with fewer cracks in them. There are suggestions that grinding or mashing beans helps, and simply chewing them well makes a difference. If you are using canned beans, rinse them a number of times.

Beans are such a great source of protein, fibre and nutrients, they should be a major part of everyone's diet and you can do it without the gas. You can check out the Recipe of the Week in the TreeHugger archives for lots of legume recipes such as Wine Braised Lentils or head over to Planet Green for recipes like Chickpea Salad , Bean and Swiss Chard Stew for a Tomato Lentil Curry or a Black Bean Soup.

Some of these recipes call for canned beans, but if you are going to soak them, here is a chart of bean soaking times from recipenet.

Challenge of the Week: Embrace the bean and make a meal based around a legume.

Sources: Savvy Vegetarian, About.com, AOL Canada, The Skinny On...

GUERILLA GARDENING

2009-01-19T04:00:00.004-06:00

Thought you might enjoy this article...seems some of us will do just about anything to make our environment a bit more pleasurable. We just love Dave's Garden Newsletter and hope you will as well.

Why not reach over your personal boundaries to beautify and replenish "God's green earth" in one way or another. Take cuttings from your own plants and root them for gifts or give away landscaping plants that you may not like or want...someone would love to have them.

Have a good one!

Guerilla Gardening - What is it?

By Susanne Talbert
January 19, 2009

Equally daring and endearing, if not a little illegal, Guerilla Gardening is a movement taking some parts of the world by storm. What is it, you ask? Read on for a brief introduction to this interesting alliance of tactical growers.

If you search for "guerilla gardening" on the web, you will find a plethora of rants and raves about the movement. But if you have never heard of it, then well, it's likely you'd never know about it. A definition of the term can even be found in Dave's Garden Garden Terms section, which states that guerilla gardening is "gardening on a piece of property, usually public land that does not belong to you."

Guerilla gardening is the act of gardening or otherwise improving the aesthetics of an area that has been left abandoned or unkempt and has become a general eyesore to the public. Guerilla gardeners seek to improve these areas, usually surreptitiously, by picking up trash, putting in new plants, and maintaining the space by weeding and watering. Groups of organized guerillas often form in online groups and meet under the cover of night to complete a whole transformation in just a matter of hours. Guerilla gardeners are also just your average, unplanned plant lovers who seek to improve the area in which they live. Sometimes they ask permission, sometimes they ask for forgiveness after the fact.

Active "Chapters"

If you know the story of Johnny Appleseed, you know that the concept of guerilla gardening is not new. There are a couple well-known and active groups out there to know about.

Green Guerillas

In the 1970s, a group called Green Guerillas was started to combat empty and ugly vacant lots around New York City. Today the organization remains a stronghold for sustainability within city limits, championing over 600 community gardens. The organization also seeks to unify other non-profits in order to fight hunger as well as rally community gardens and organizations. The creator of the group, Liz Christy, founded a garden which is still maintained today in her name as a beautiful green oasis within New York City. You can read more about the garden's history and see more pictures here.

To read more about Green Guerillas and their fight for urban sustainability, visit their website.

Guerrilla Gardeners

A well organized movement across parts of Europe which officially calls itself Guerrilla Gardeners, was started by Richard Reynolds in London in 2004. He runs a highly trafficked blog, through which people share their personal successes and struggles of Guerrilla Gardening around Great Britain. Participants take on big brother-esque aliases such as Amanda 5637 and Andy 157. Reynolds is well known for rallying his troops with the saying, "Let's fight the filth with forks and flowers." He also recently published a book on his gardening plight called, On Guerrilla Gardening: A Handbook for Gardening without Boundaries. Other books have been published on the subject, such as Guerrilla Gardening: A Manualfesto, by David Tracey.

What do they say about the best inventions result from war?

As Plato once wrote, necessity is the mother of invention...and so came about seed bombs (as referred to by Guerrilla Gardeners) and Green-aids (as referred to by Green Guerillas). This technique is not just for guerillas, but could also be used by the average backyard gardener. With a mix of clay, seeds, and fertilizer, seeds bombs make for the perfect, effortless "weapon" against hard-to-garden-in spaces such as fenced in lots or the big, wild hill behind your house.

A short video how-to on seed bombs

DG's own Sharon Brown (Sharran) wrote a fantastic article about seed balls, as they are sometimes called, if you wanted to read more.

Now that you know what Guerilla Gardening is, you might just look at the abandoned lot across the way from your work a little differently.

**Please note that this article does not represent any support or condoning of the Guerilla Gardening movement on behalf of Dave's Garden. This is purely meant as an informative piece. **

Citation:

http://www.mediarights.org/news/2008/07/15/resistance_is_fertile_its_time_to_start_guerrilla_gardening

Photo credits:

Thumbnail of guerrilla gardening - ScottBB

Wild sunflowers - btc129psu

Tree and fence - art_n_garden

About Susanne Talbert

Having moved to Colorado from Texas a little over 2 years ago, I am on a steep learning curve in the garden these days. I am definitely learning what 'perennial' really means! My passions include thrifty gardening, vines, super-hardy perennials, and unusual foliage plants. By day, I am a high school ceramics teacher and a ceramicist and painter.

RECIPES: Thanksgiving Leftovers With a Twist of Tequila

2008-12-02T11:12:00.006-06:00

This is an absolutely awesome way to prepare Thanksgiving leftovers! Our thanks to ABC Nightline for interviewing wonder chef Guy Fieri. Have a good one!

Tequila Turkey Fettucine

Recipe courtesy Guy Fieri

Yield: 1 serving

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes Ingredients:

1 ounce olive oil
1/4 red onion, cut into strips
1/2 tablespoon minced jalapeno
1 tablespoon minced garlic
5 ounces turkey breast, cooked, sliced
1 ounce tequila
4 ounces heavy cream
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves
9 ounces fettuccini pasta, cooked
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
2 lime wedges, for garnish
2 sprigs cilantro, for garnish
2 tablespoons diced Roma tomato, for garnish
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. In saute pan with high heat, add olive oil, onions, jalapeno and saute until translucent.

2. Add garlic and continue to saute for 2 minutes.

3. Add turkey, lightly mix ingredients, careful not to break turkey up too much.

4. Deglaze pan with tequila, pouring around the edge of the saute pan.

5. Add cream, lemon juice and cilantro.

6. Toss together, then add pasta, and toss ingredients while adding Parmesan cheese.

Nest pasta on plate, pour sauce over pasta. Lay sprigs of cilantro over top, sprinkle tomatoes on top, and crack pepper around the rim of the plate.

Ease of preparation: intermediate

Hot Tequila Pumpkin Pie Drink

Recipe courtesy Guy Fieri

Yield: 1 serving Prep Time: 5 minutes Ease of preparation: easy

Ingredients:

1 ounce tequila (recommended: Cazadores Reposado)
1 ounce pumpkin spice liqueur (recommended: Hiram Walker or Bols)
1/2 ounce triple sec
4 ounces very hot water
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
1 ounce heavy cream
Drizzle hazelnut liqueur (recommended: Frangelico)
Small dash freshly grated nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Combine first five ingredients in clear coffee mug, stir to combine.

2. Top with heavy cream and drizzle of hazelnut liqueur.

3. Dust with grated nutmeg.

JUNK FOOD QUIZ

2008-11-30T12:08:00.004-06:00

How much do you know about your favorite junk food...take the quiz and find out!

Thanks to MSN for showing us the light.

Have a good one!

Quiz

IT'S TIME TO DO SOMETHING...ANYTHING!

2008-10-29T10:48:00.002-05:00



Boone here, Last month the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, predicted that 'the American empire is reaching the end of the road'. The world is facing a recession, money is getting incredibly tight and people are losing their jobs and wondering what tomorrow will bring. And what do we do? We keep sending our money to foreign countries to buy oil. 5 years ago OPEC nations were taking in 250 billion dollars for their oil. This year they'll take in 1 TRILLION, 250 billion dollars. Imagine that! Here we are, in the middle of a recession and we're sending the very dollars we need for a recovery to a bunch of people that don't even like us. We have to start using our own wind, solar and natural gas. And we need to start paying for it by keeping the money here at home instead of sending it to the Middle East and Africa. We're in a crack! A bad one! And it's getting worse by the day! I know I've asked a lot of you these past few weeks, but dammit, I don't want this opportunity to slip away from you. Let these guys know what you think. Show them that you care - that you want more than words this time around. -Sign the petition and get others to do the same. We have 1,304,271 people in the Army -- let's get it up to 1,400,000 by Election Day. -Deliver a copy of the "What's Your Plan?" Petition to your local campaign headquarters for Senators McCain and Obama. -Spend 30 minutes outside of your polling place asking your neighbors to lend their support to the Pickens Plan. We'll be sending you more information about this tomorrow. I've said it before, but every President since Nixon has said we'll get off foreign oil -- every single one of them. But in 1973 we were importing just 24% of our oil -- and now it's nearly 70%. Were these guys lying to us? Are Senators Obama and McCain lying to us? Probably not. But there is a very good chance they didn't know how serious the problem is. Well let me tell you -- it's serious! Very serious! Like Iran, nations all over the world think we're on our knees. Maybe it's just one knee and the other is wobbling. But whatever it is, the bottom line is that we have the ability to get off our knees and stand tall. We have the ability, right now, to stop our addiction to foreign oil and get this economy going again. And we can start today. You and I are making a difference. Over 500 elected officials have signed the Pickens Pledge -- Congressmen, Senators, Governors and Mayors -- all across this country. You helped make that happen. I'm so very grateful for your confidence in me and this plan. Together we're going to make this plan happen and save this great country of ours from going deeper into the hole. -Boone

Turn household scraps and garden trimmings into useful fertilizer.

2008-10-17T12:45:00.000-05:00

We've had a compost bin for a number of years. Living in the country, I don't know what we'd do without it. Although we have garbage pickup service available, why in the world would I not take advantage of God's gifts to replenish the soil with organic materials? I found this article on Lowe's Creative Ideas site and as always...it says it better than I ever could.

Going Green...it's really not such a difficult task...try it, you'll like it.

Compost It

Turn household scraps and garden trimmings into useful fertilizer.

Photography by Brian Francis

Compost improves soil’s fertility, texture, and ability to hold water. Start your own collection bin or pile to generate a supply of nature’s soil amendment.

Natural Ingredients

Composting follows the same cycle of plant decomposition found in nature, but at a slightly more accelerated rate. In addition to the microorganisms necessary to the decaying process, successful composting requires carbon, nitrogen, water, and air. Good sources of carbon include fall leaves, straw, cornstalks, sawdust, and shredded black-and-white newspaper. You can ensure that your compost pile has enough nitrogen by adding grass clippings, fresh weeds, and nonmeat/nondairy kitchen waste such as fruits, vegetables, and coffee filters. And remember that water and air are both vital to decomposition.

Tips for Success

Moisten whatever you add to your compost heap, and check the moisture content occasionally by squeezing a handful of the composting materials. They should feel like a damp, not-too-wet sponge.

To add oxygen, turn the pile regularly and create air pockets by mixing in bulky materials such as corncobs and large sticks. You also can try inserting a PVC pipe drilled with ventilation holes, or build your pile on a pallet to allow airflow underneath.

To continue growing your compost heap, layer carbon and nitrogen materials, moisten as needed, and turn weekly. To speed the process, shred materials before adding them to the pile.
When the compost is ready in the spring, mix it with topsoil for use in your flowerbeds and vegetable garden and around trees that need extra nutrients. As the compost breaks down, it will create healthy soil.

The Nose Knows

Remember, healthy compost should have a good, earthy smell. Use the guide below to keep your pile in good condition.

Problem: The pile has a foul odor.
Diagnosis: It’s too wet.
Solution: Add dry materials, and turn the pile. Check moisture content using the squeeze Method: Remember, composting materials should feel about as moist as a damp sponge.

Problem: The pile smells like ammonia.
Diagnosis: It has too much nitrogen.
Solution: Add more carbon materials such as leaves and newspaper, turning the pile to mix them in.

Add to Your Compost Heap:

fruit and vegetable scraps
coffee grounds
eggshells (rinsed)
leaves
straw
sawdust
shredded newspaper (avoid glossy and color inserts)

Do Not Compost:

Meat and bones
Fat and grease
Dairy products
Pet manure

Want to build your own compost bin?

2008-10-17T12:41:00.007-05:00

Here is a great set of building plans for your compost bin. Once again, our thanks to Lowe's Creative Ideas.

Want to build your own compost bin? Here's a list of materials and tools, along with step-by-step instructions.

American lawns generate a lot of yard waste each year. Instead of bagging it for disposal, why not convert it to a usable resource - compost? In addition to being environmentally friendly, many states have laws banning yard waste from landfills.

This two-bin composting system can be built by one person in about five hours. The bin holds one ton of properly moistened yard waste. It's rodent proof and has removable front doors to reduce the work of turning the compost. You'll never have to buy organic matter for your garden again!

You can also adapt this design to a three-bin system by adding another middle partition and increasing the length of the system to three feet.

Tools

Drill/driver
Two Clamps with at least 6" Jaws
Framing square
Chisel
Claw Hammer
Circular saw

Materials

Five pieces of 2"x2"x8' lumber rated for outdoor use
Five pieces of 2"x4"x12' lumber rated for outdoor use
Three pieces of 2"x6"x12' lumber rated for outdoor use
Six pieces of 5/4"x6"x12' lumber rated for outdoor use
5' #12 Jack Chain
15' 36"-wide Hardware Cloth
One 1-LB box 3/4" Fencing Staples
One 1-LB box 3 1/2" 16d galvanized lumber nails
Two 1-LB boxes 2 1/2" 8d galvanized lumber nails
Eight 2"x5/8" corner irons
One 100-count box 2 1/2" galvanized deck screws
One 100-count box 1 1/4" galvanized deck screws
Four 3 1/2" tee hinges
Two 5" turning hasps
Twelve 3 1/2"x1/4" carriage bolts, nuts, and washers
Twelve 4 1/2"x1/4" carriage bolts, nuts and washers

Design Considerations

Most of the lumber dimensions are multiples of approximately three feet, making maximum use of 12' long boards.

Because this unit will be outside and is designed for the decomposition of organic matter, all fasteners and hinges must be galvanized and all lumber must be rated for outdoor use. This will provide your project with long-lasting lumber.

Construction

Step 1: The Frame

Cut three pieces of 2" x 4" x 5'9" for joists. Cut two pieces of 2" x 4" x 33" for headers. Mark centers of headers. That is where you will nail the center joist. Butt end nail headers to the three joists, overlapping the joists at the ends. When this step is complete, you should have a 6' by 33" rectangle with a joist down the center.

Step 2: The Posts

Cut three pieces of 2" x 4" x 34" for rear posts. Cut three pieces of 5/4" x 6" x 34" for front posts. Using a circular saw, cut a 3/4” deep notch 1 1/2" from one end of each 2"x 4". Chisel out the waste to create a 1 1/2" x 3/4" notch on one end of each rear post.

Step 3: Post Installation

Clamp the two outer rear posts to the rear corners of the frame. The bottom ends should be flush with the bottom. The notch should be up and facing inward. Using a framing square, make sure the posts are all perpendicular to the frame. Using two 3 1/2" x 1/4" carriage bolts, nuts and washers, fasten each 2" x 4" to the base.

Do the same to the two outer front posts, assembling them to the two front corners of the frame. (There are no notches on these posts).

To install middle front and middle rear posts, mark the center of the front and rear joists and the centers of the two remaining posts. Using two 3 1/2" x 1/4" carriage bolts, nuts and washers, fasten the front middle post to the center of the front joist, perpendicular to the base. Repeat for middle rear post.

Step 4: The Floor

Cut twelve pieces of 2" x 6" x 34 1/2" for floorboards. Cut a 3 1/2" x 1 1/2" notch in one corner of one floorboard. Starting on the left side with the notched board fitted around the left rear post, line up your floorboards widthwise across the base and flush with the front of the frame. (The boards will overhang the back of the frame). Leave 1/8" between boards. Notch the center floorboard to fit around the center rear post. Since a 2" x 6" is actually 5 1/2" wide, you will have a 3 5/8" gap after lining up the floorboards. Cut one piece of 2" x 4" x 33". Lay this floorboard along the right side between the front and rear posts. Using 8d galvanized nails, secure floorboards to frame.

Step 5: The Back

Cut five pieces of 5/4" x 6" x 6' for back slats. Starting at the bottom and spacing them 1/4" apart, secure back slats to rear posts with 2 1/2" galvanized #8 deck screws. The ends of the slats should be flush with the sides of the rear posts.

Step 6: Front Door Side Runners

Cut three pieces of 2" x 2" x 29

1/2". Cut three pieces of 2" x 4" x 27 1/4". For side runners, stand each 2" x 2" upright behind each (5/4" x 6" x 34") front post, flush with outer edge. Stand each 2" x 4" behind a 2" x 2", again flush with the outer edge of the front post.

This forms a sandwich with a track in the middle (see illustration). Repeat for other side. Clamp them together and drill two 1/4" holes through all three boards, 6" from top and 10" from bottom. Join the three boards with 4 1/2" x 1/4" carriage bolts, nuts and flat washers.

Step 7: Front Door Middle Runners

Mark centers of 5/4" x 6" middle post, 2" x 2" and 2" x 4". Clamp the three boards together at the centers to form left and right center channels. Drill 1/4" holes through the three boards six inches from the top and bottom of the middle post assembly. Join them with two 4 1/2" x 1/4" carriage bolts, nuts and flat washers.

Step 8: Runner Top Rails

Cut three pieces of 2" x 4" x 32" for top rails of runner assemblies. Set a top rail into the notch at the top of each rear post and across to the top of each inner front post (2"x 4"). Using four #8 2 1/2" deck screws, join each of the top rails to the tops of the front and rear posts.

Step 9: Front Door Slats

Cut ten pieces of 5/4" x 6" x 33 1/4". Screw two #6 1 1/4" deck screws into the bottom edge of each of the ten boards (one on each side), leaving about 1/4" of each screw protruding. Check that the slat's slide easily in the runners. If they do not, your posts are not 100 percent perpendicular to your joists. You should still be able to push your posts slightly to adjust them. Using a framing square, make sure the posts are perpendicular to the frame. Using 16d nails, nail them to the floorboards.

Step 10: Hardware Cloth Partitions

To complete the middle partition, cut one piece of 2" x 4" x 30" for the middle bottom rail. Nail it to the central floorboard with 8d nails, between the front and rear middle posts. Cut one 31 " x 34" piece of 1/4" hardware cloth. Using 3/4" galvanized fencing staples every four inches, secure hardware cloth to one side of the middle frame.

Cut two pieces of 36" x 33" x 1/4" hardware cloth. Fold one inch in from each edge to eliminate jagged edges. Using 3/4" galvanized fencing staples every four inches, secure hardware cloth to the right and left sides of the compost system.

Step 11: Rear Rail

Cut one piece of 2" x 4" x 6' for top rear rail. Fasten to the top of the rear posts, using 16d nails.

Step 12: Lids

Cut four pieces of 2" x 2" x 32" for lid sides. Cut six pieces of 2" x 2" x 31 3/4" for lid cross-members. Mark the centers of the four lid sides. Using 2 1/2" deck screws, fasten two lid sides to two lid cross-members to form a square (see illustration). Secure third cross-member to the centers of the two lid sides to reinforce the lids. Further reinforce the lids by adding 2" x 5/8" corner irons to insides of each of the corners see illustration below). Cut two pieces of 36" x 33" x 1/4" hardware cloth. Fold one inch in from each edge to eliminate jagged edges. Using fencing staples, secure hardware cloth to the tops of lids.

Step 13: Attaching Lids

Secure the lids to the top rear rail, using two 3 1/2" tee hinges per lid. Using fencing staples, secure one 30" piece of #12 jack chain to the inside edge of each lid and to the inside of each side rail at about the middle of the rail. Complete the lids by fastening a 5" turning hasp to the middle of each lid and the top front door slat (see assembly illustration - Steps 11 & 12).

Simple Compost

Alternate six inches of dry plant material with six inches of wet plant material.

Cover it with a thin layer of manure and a thin layer of soil or mature compost.

Place your compostable household garbage anywhere in the pile, as long as it is under the cover of the soil so that it will not smell or attract flies.

Water the pile regularly to keep it at the consistency of a squeezed-out sponge.

What Goes Into the Heap

Nearly everything that was once alive is a candidate for the compost heap. That includes old newspapers, coffee grounds, tea bags, pet hair, leaves, eggshells, spoiled fruit and vegetables, leaves, sawdust, cold fireplace ash, wool, and cow and horse manure.

Do not use meat scraps, kitchen grease or materials that have been heavily treated with chemicals. Large pieces of wood, leaves and pine needles should be chopped up before composting.

A compost heap requires a ratio of about 30 parts carbon to one part nitrogen. If you have too much carbon, the pile will take forever to decompose. Too much nitrogen will make it smell. Some materials that are very high in carbon are sawdust and leaves. Materials that have heavy nitrogen content are fertilizers and blood meal.

The more diverse your pile, the more beneficial microorganisms you will attract and the faster your material will decompose.

Start building your pile in one of the two bins. Because organic material shrinks to less than five percent of its original volume during decomposition, you will be adding layers to your pile over several weeks.

When your first bin has settled and can hold no more compost, it's time to turn it over in order to speed decomposition. Remove the front door slats from both bins. Starting from the top and sides, shovel your compost from the first bin into the second, adding slats to the second bin as it fills.

Start a second compost pile in the empty bin. When it is full, it's usually time to use the compost from the other bin.

Pumpkin and Spice Bread

2008-10-10T16:21:00.006-05:00

This is an absolutely awesome recipe using canned pumpkin but it goes one step further by using the pumpkin bread in delicious bread pudding. Enjoy!

Pumpkin and Spice Bread

One of our favorite bread recipes doubles as a custard-rich dessert.

Recipe by Karen Barker

photography: By James Baigrie

Pumpkin Spice Bread
This loaf is so good you’ll want to double it and turn the extra loaf into a delicious bread pudding (below).

MAKES: 1 (8 1/2- x 4 1/2-inch) loaf
PREP: 10 minutes
BAKE: 1 hour 5 minutes
STAND: 20 minutes

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 plus 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons canned unsweetened pumpkin
1 large egg

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour an 8 1/2- x 4 1/2-inch loafpan. Sift together first 5 ingredients; stir in kosher salt.
2. Combine sugar, oil, and pumpkin in a large bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add egg, beating until well blended. Gradually add dry ingredients, beating at low speed until blended. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
3. Bake at 350° for 1 hour 5 minutes or until loaf is golden and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.

photography: By James Baigrie

Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding

If desired, you can make this several hours ahead and reheat it just before serving.

MAKES: 8 servings
PREP: 15 minutes
STAND: 30 minutes
BAKE: 1 hour 20 minutes

1 loaf Pumpkin Spice Bread
4 large eggs
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
1/4 cup canned unsweetened pumpkin
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
Toppings: Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Cut Pumpkin Spice Bread into 1/2-inch cubes with a serrated knife. Spread cubes in a single layer on a lightly greased jellyroll pan. Bake at 400° for 11 to 14 minutes or until lightly toasted. Remove cubes from oven; set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 350°.
2. Whisk together eggs, egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, pumpkin, lemon zest, and salt in a large mixing bowl until well blended. Whisk in milk and 1 1/2 cups whipping cream until blended.
3. Add toasted pumpkin bread cubes to custard mixture, stirring gently to moisten evenly. Let stand 20 minutes.
4. Grease an 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Pour bread pudding mixture into baking dish, spreading evenly; sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
5. Pour hot tap water to a depth of 3/4 inch in a roasting pan. Place roasting pan in oven. Place baking dish containing bread pudding in center of roasting pan. Bake at 350° for 1 hour 10 minutes or until set at center. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

CHEAP EATS!!

2008-10-08T14:05:00.006-05:00

Featured Recipes: Sweet & Sour Chicken with Brown Rice | Gnocchi with Zucchini Ribbons & Parsley Brown Butter | Tijuana Torta | Quick "Cheesecake"

Forget take-out. Here are 100+ easy recipes for budget-friendly meals at home.

It’s hard to escape the biggest news in the country: the economy’s struggling. At a personal level, the nation’s financial woes may have you figuring out where you can cut costs. Cooking at home instead of eating out is an easy way to save money, particularly if you focus your meals around cheap ingredients.

We’ve pulled together more than 100 recipes that utilize some inexpensive, but nutritious, items from the grocery store. Browse these suggestions for recipes to help you save money and make an easy, budget-friendly dinner tonight.

******************************************************

Dinner in a Snap

These recipes use low-cost main ingredients that pack a lot of flavor, such as chicken thighs, beans and ground beef.

Bean Recipes
It's convenience in a can. Quick and budget-friendly suppers with canned beans.

Ground Beef Recipes
Lean ground beef is a healthy, economical choice for quick and easy meals.

Quick Chicken Recipes
A chicken in every pot. Healthy chicken recipes ready in 30 minutes or less!

Casserole Recipes
Warm, satisfying casseroles are the epitome of comfort food; ours are healthy, tasty and satisfying. Plus, they make great leftovers!

Soup and Bread Recipes
Healthy soup and bread recipes that will satisfy and warm you all season long.

Vegetarian Recipes
Go meat-free; make simple and delicious meals with these healthy vegetarian recipes.

Chicken Thigh Recipes
Flavor and frugality are just two reasons to love chicken thighs.

Quick Pasta Recipes
Fast, healthy pasta recipes for any day of the week.

Tofu Recipes
Embrace tofu—a great, inexpensive source of protein—with these bold, delicious recipes.

*****************************************************

Forget Take-Out

Save money and eat healthier at home with these easy, delicious ethnic recipes.

*****************************************************

Save Money at Every Meal

Packaged on-the-go foods don’t hold a candle to these easy and healthy breakfast, lunch, snack and dessert recipes.

Stay current with the latest issue of EatingWell. Subscribe Risk-Free Now!

Don't throw in the trowel—there's still time to garden!

2008-10-08T13:17:00.017-05:00

Here in my part of the world, the growing season is practically year-long...one of the great things about living in East Texas. No matter where you are, I think you'll find several new ideas to perk up your window boxes or container gardens for the Fall.

As usual COTTAGE LIVING MAGAZINE is an excellent source of ideas...many thanks.

Have a good one!

Fall Window Box, 3 Ways

Don't throw in the trowel—there's still time to garden.
These fiery fall container combos will last all season.
By Kate Karam

photography: Robbie Caponetto
A: Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum); B: variegated Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii 'Variegata'); C: florist mums; D: small white pumpkins 'Baby boo'; E: ornamental peppers

1. Playful

Tricked out for the season in combustible colors and a late-autumn harvest, this exuberant window box celebrates all that we love about fall—like the vivid colors and leafy textures. While it may require some boldness and a passion for abundance to pull off a planting like this, it was actually very easy—we found all the plants and supplies at our local home-improvement store's garden center. (By the way, this was the one that really got the neighbors talking.)

Tip: Mums rarely come tagged from a nursery or garden center with specific variety names; they usually are just listed as "florist mums." If you want to know which mum's which, check out kingsmums.com or yoder.com for color photos of dozens of named varieties.

photography: Robbie Caponetto
A: Ornamental cabbage 'Dynasty'; B: ivy (Hedera helix 'Glacier'); C: ornamental kale 'Kamone'; D: ornamental kale 'Peacock'; E: cascading mums

2. Elegant

We love the luxe, posh look of this box with its classic pairing of mums and ornamental cabbages. What keeps it from veering into cliché territory are the unusual cascading mums. To get the look, pack a window box with deep smoky purple ornamental cabbages and sparkling white ornamental kales, then intersperse them with rich magenta pompom chrysanthemums trained into a graceful cascade. Ice-tipped trailing ivy adds shimmer in the late afternoon light.

Tip: Cascading mums are no different than the mounded pots of mums you’re seeing at garden centers right now. The plants are simply trained to one stem when young then wired downward to achieve this particular effect.

photography: Robbie Caponetto
A: Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus); B: small white pumpkins 'Snowball'; C: large white pumpkins 'Lumina'; D: bittersweet (cut branches)

3. Modern

Gleaming white 'Lumina' (large) and 'Snowball' (small) pumpkins spiked with shiny tufts of black-as-night mondo grass makes a simple combination that's all-hallows spooky but oh-so chic. In and around, we tucked fat clusters of blood-orange berries, which drip from branches of bittersweet vine (sold in bunches at florists). You can up the spook factor by hiding strands of mini lights between pumpkins.

Tip: Ivy can be potted up (before a killing frost in coldest regions, anytime in more temperate zones) and brought indoors for the winter.

WINDOW BOX PLANS

2008-10-08T12:17:00.003-05:00

Window box Plan

Plans for the cottage swallowtail window box.

Download the PDF plan

Build a Fire Pit

2008-10-07T12:31:00.013-05:00

Having acquired our 11 acres just over one year ago, I am now looking forward to landscaping and fine tuning the garden and yard. Not only is this project a focal point for family gatherings, but it also provides heat on those chilly winter evenings.

I've had the idea in my head for some time now and have a stack of old Chicago bricks but needed the knowledge that I was on the right track.

A special thanks to our friends at Lowe's Creative Ideas for the instructions.

Have a good one!

===================================================================

Linger outside with friends and family on cool fall evenings.

Photography by Brian Francis | Styling by Jen Rotenstreich

Build a simple fire pit in a weekend and add ambience to your backyard. Find
inspiration here, and then follow our step-by-step guidelines to create your own cozy outdoor retreat, where your guests can enjoy nightly tall tales, ghost stories, or sing-alongs.

Skill level: Advanced

Rough cost estimate: $715*

Rough time estimate: 2 days

wall block pavers (Olde Manor, #123429)
red bricks (#10298)
5 bags of patio/paver base (#100166)

*Does not include applicable taxes, which vary by market, or the cost of tools.

Design for Comfort and Safety

Set a few stones into the ground to serve as a flat surface for a side
table. If desired, add additional pavers around the structure or to create a
path leading to your home.
Before you begin building, check your local codes regarding open fires and permits. Take care to site the firepit away from overhanging trees and shrubs, structures, and flammable materials.
It’s best to dry stack the pavers because heat can melt adhesive or cause it to release fumes.
Line the inside of your firepit with fire-rated material, such as fire-rated bricks.
Follow basic fire safety rules. Children should always be supervised, and a water source needs to be easily accessible.

Use a whiskey-barrel planter to store firewood.

Basics for Building

1. Mark the dimensions on the ground with stakes and twine, creating a square. For easier building, adjust the dimensions to avoid splitting any pavers. Spray-paint over the twine, covering the grass. Remove the stakes and twine.

2. Use a shovel to dig out the square to a depth of 12 inches. Keep the site level.

3. Add several inches of paver base to the square, and tamp it down. Usin g a level, make sure the area is flat. (The paver base covers the entire floor of the firepit.)

4. Lay a perimeter of pavers level with the ground. For each course, check from paver to paver and from front to back to ensure that the structure is level. Alternate the gaps between pavers from one course to the next.

5. Line the interior walls with fire-rated bricks, smooth sides facing out. Complete one row before you add the next. Bricks need to fit tightly with no gaps; this will make a stable, uniform surface so that the pavers are not directly exposed to heat.

6. ENJOY!!

Fresh-Mex Recipes

2008-08-13T13:05:00.002-05:00

Spice up summer's most gorgeous ingredients
Combine the season's perfect tomatoes, corn, squash and herbs with the freshest meat and seafood and give it all a bright south-of-the-border spin.

Ripe tomatoes, arugula, and drunken goat cheese get
a kick from chile-infused oil and baked tortilla chips.

Tomato & Drunken Goat Cheese Salad
Grilled Corn on the Cob with Lime-Cayenne Butter
Farmers' Market Quesadillas
Grilled Tuna with Mango Habanero Mojo
Web Exclusive: Coconut-Chile Shrimp Tostadas
Spicy-Smoky Pork Kebabs
Browse the entire collection

Our thanks to Fine Cooking Newsletter, Taunton Press

Great backyard project: Instant garden retreat

2008-08-09T10:01:00.004-05:00

Don't know about you, but I'm always looking for creative inexpensive ideas for landscaping. Here are a few of my favorties from the folks at Sunset.

Have a good one...be careful in this heat!

Have a small patch of grass? This patio measures just 7 feet across. You can build it in a weekend for less than $200.

By Kathleen N. Brenzel, Sunset

Most patios take time — and days of effort — to build. But a small, detached patio like the one pictured here comes together quickly with minimal effort.

Think of the possible uses for this circle of bricks (see three ideas in this slide show). You can tuck it into a perennial border. Or place it in a remote corner of your garden, where you can linger at day's end over a glass of wine or on Sunday morning with a latte while perusing the papers.

Such flexibility was our goal when Sunset's Bud Stuckey installed this patio near the end of a wide flower border in our editorial test garden in Menlo Park, Calif., last summer. But we also wanted our tiny tuck-in to be relatively inexpensive to build, easy to install in a day or a weekend and moveable. (Since heavy foot traffic wouldn't be an issue, we set the bricks in sand.)

You wouldn't want to walk on this patio wearing spike heels. But if throwing fancy-dress garden parties is your style, set the bricks in mortar on a concrete base, or arrange them on packed soil so you can grow plants such as creeping thyme in wider spaces between them. (You can edge the patio with bricks set on end in a trench around the outside, soil packed firmly against them.)

If bricks don't match the other pavers in your yard, you can adapt the idea, substituting flagstone, slate, cobblestone or colored concrete pavers. In place of a round slate paver in the center, you can use a concrete paver embellished with broken glazed tiles in pretty colors.
Locate your patio on level ground, out of wind and hot sun. Position it to take advantage of any grand views and create access to it with steppingstones. Then comes the fun part: styling your patio. Oh, and settling in with a tall glass of something cool to celebrate its completion.

Build it yourself: Installing the instant patio

Time: 1 day (plus a day for planting)

Cost: About $190

Materials: Two 7-foot-long two-by-fours, two 1-foot-long stakes with pointed tips, string, gypsum, 12 1-cubic-foot bags (about a half-yard) of clean sand, one round slate or flagstone paver (about 17 inches in diameter; add two or more for steppingstones — optional), and 150 used bricks (includes a few extras for color matching). Optional: One 80-pound bag Quikcrete mortar mix, one quart mortar color

Tools: Rotary tiller or spade, rake, carpenter's level, tamper, hose, rubber mallet, bench broom. Optional: Bucket for mixing mortar, grout bag, trowel, rag, burlap

Begin: 8 a.m.

1. Rototill or dig the soil; rake it smooth. Lay the two-by-fours about seven feet apart to serve as temporary guides. Place a stake in the soil to mark the patio's center; tie a 3 1/2-foot-long piece of string to it, then tie the string's free end to the second stake. With the free stake, trace the patio's outline in the soil, pulling the string taut as you walk in a wide circle around the center stake. Remove the stakes and mark the circle with gypsum. Remove the two-by-fours from the sides; then place the carpenter's level on one of them to make sure soil is level. (Recheck level at every stage.)

2. Pour six bags of sand evenly over the soil to about five inches beyond the gypsum mark. Smooth it with the edge of one of the two-by-fours, then tamp it evenly to firm. Spray with a fine mist from the hose, then tamp it again into a layer about two inches thick.

3. Place the center paver on the sand base. Working from the center outward, set down the bricks (use the pattern on your left), tapping them into place with the mallet and butting them together as tightly as possible. Spread three bags of sand evenly over the surface of the finished paving, let it dry if wet, then sweep the sand into the joints between bricks. Mist lightly with the hose. Add sand until joints are full.

4. To mortar the center paver in place (optional, but recommended), mix the mortar and add color, if desired, according to package directions. Using a grout bag, apply the mixture between the bricks immediately surrounding the center paver (use a trowel tip to smooth it if necessary). Allow it to dry; wipe away excess with a clean, soft rag. For extra firming (also optional), mix one part mortar with one part sand, then brush the mixture into joints between the outer bricks. Carefully sweep excess mortar off the bricks. Mist periodically over the next two hours. Scrub bricks with burlap to eliminate any mortar stains.

5. Pour the remaining sand around the patio's perimeter; mist it with the hose and pack it firmly with your hands or the back of the trowel.

End: 5 p.m.

Finished! Planting can wait until tomorrow. To help reinforce the patio's edge, lay sod or plant low-growing ground cover as close to it as possible.

DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW, PAY LESS

2008-05-29T10:48:00.004-05:00

Howdy Ya'll!

This morning our Congressman, Louie Gohmert, (R) Texas, made an appearance on our local television stations to address the high gas prices and oil dependency issues. He endorsed AMERICAN SOLUTIONS http://www.americansolutions.com as a source for all of us to become aware of the situation at hand and take action.

Their program 'DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW, PAY LESS' has a petition to sign (which is free.) You may of course make a $10.00 contribution if you wish but is not required. You may also sign up for an email newsletter for updates.

It might be worth your while to take a look, so I'm passing it along.

AMERICAN SOLUTIONS basically says:

'As gas prices continue to increase, Congress continues to blame others while ignoring practical steps to stop the pain Americans are feeling at the pump. To lower gasoline prices and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we need real solutions to our energy challenges.'

Background

The average price for a gallon of gas is now $3.72, this is $.61 higher than a year ago.
The U.S. Congress has acted, but in the wrong direction. Last week, the Senate voted narrowly against reversing a moratorium on oil-shale development.
Federal officials and industry experts estimate that up to 1.8 trillion barrels of oil is trapped in the region's oil shale, or three times the proven reserves of Saudi Arabia.
Laws and policies that restrict access to America’s abundant energy drive up the price of fuel and electricity. They cause widespread layoffs and leave workers and families struggling to survive, as the cost of everything they eat, drive, wear and do spirals higher.

Research from the Platform of the American People

73% of the American people agree that with appropriate safeguards to protect the environment, we should drill for oil off America's coasts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Read more tri-partisan solutions in the Platform of the American People:

Energy and the Environment

Oil and National Security

Overview of the research data

ENOUGH SAID!!

2008-05-29T10:34:00.003-05:00

MEMORIAL DAY PARTY

2008-05-24T15:38:00.009-05:00

Here are a few simply scrumptious recipes from our buddies at The Food Network which will be the hit of any backyard party!

Have a happy and safe Memorial Day...and please remember the reason for the celebration. Visit www.twoblonds.blogspot.com for a quick reminder.

Grilled Appetizer

Grilled Entrees

No-Cook Salads and Sides

Beachside or Backyard Clambake

Summer Sweets

Breezy Beverages

Easy Ways to Get Your Yard Summer-Ready

2008-05-15T11:25:00.007-05:00

Only a few weeks until the first official holiday of summer, Memorial Day. Now's the time to prepare your home for cookouts and get-to-gethers right in your own backyard.

Enjoy!

Dale

This year, make your outdoor haven everything you’ve dreamed it could be.

Which Deck Style Is Best for You?

Choose the Right Decking Material

Step-by-Step Patio Planning

10 Easy-to-Install Deck Tiles

Deck Maintenance 101

•	How to Refinish Your Deck

•	Synthetic Decking 411

•	Stain Removal Tips

Better Outdoor Living


•	Build an Outdoor Fireplace

•	Relax by the Pool

•	Enjoy an Outdoor Room

Traditional St. Patrick's Day Food

2008-03-11T10:36:00.014-05:00

If you are all about the traditional foods and themes of the holidays, then you will be excited about St. Patrick's Day celebrated on March 17.

Thanks to our friends at the Food Network for all this scrumptious collection of eats!

CLASSIC IRISH EATS

Celebrate the holiday with these traditional pub favorites that are more than just meat and potatoes.

Potato, Onion and Pea Champ
Colcannon
Smoked Salmon Hash with Dill Vinaigrette
Ten more classic Irish recipes >>

CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE

Although it's not Irish, this dish is a St. Patrick's Day tradition in America.

Our favorite Corned Beef and Cabbage
New England Boiled Dinner
Corned Beef and Cabbage Strudel with a Grain Mustard Sauce
Browse more recipes for corned beef >>

SIMPLE, HEARTY IRISH STEWS

Settle in on St. Patrick’s Day with one of Ireland's classic lamb stews.

Barley and Lamb Stew
Cabbage and Lamb Stew
Ballymaloe Irish Stew
Traditional Irish Stew the Bailey
Hearty stews your family will love >>

TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD

Easy, delicious and true to its name, Irish soda bread uses baking soda and buttermilk for its biscuit-like texture.

Oatmeal Soda Bread
Sweet Irish Soda Bread
Raisin-Caraway Soda Bread
Find more recipes for soda breads >>

SWEET IRISH ENDINGS

Celebrate St. Patrick with a delicious finish to your holiday meal.

Apple Oatmeal Crisp with Irish Whiskey Cream
Roscommon Rhubarb Pie
Oat Cake with Berry Compote and Clotted Cream
More Irish desserts >>

SIPS AND STOUTS

Sing an Irish folksong while you wash down your feast with a classic Irish drink.

Black Velvet
Irish Coffee
Black and Tan
Get 22 more Irish drinks >>

From the Kitchen of: TWO BLONDS & CO.

2008-03-03T13:36:00.018-06:00

"Everything old is new again!" describes the kitchen appliance called the CROCK POT. Busy schedules and ease of preparation have brought back a traditional standby. Here are just a few of the hundreds of mouth-watering recipes we found to tempt the palate.

Our thanks to Better Recipes.com where you can enter to win $250.00 in prizes on their site.

Enjoy!

Pepper Chicken in Creamy Wine Sauce

Chicken thighs are cooked with red & yellow sweet peppers, onion, mushrooms, and a sauce made from cream soups and white wine

Chicken Athena

Chicken breasts, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, olives & dried

tomatoes are cooked in a crock pot and sprinkled with fresh basil, feta cheese & capers

Mojito Pepper Chicken

This easy-to-make crock pot meal is loaded with the flavors of Cuba -- tomatoes, peppers, lime, and rum

Top 10 Recipes

1. Cocktail Chicken

2. Pulled Chicken

3. Spicy Thai Chicken

4. Athens Chicken with Greek Salsa

5. Crock Pot Italian Chicken

6. Homemade Chicken and Noodles

7.Slow Cooked Chicken Cacciatore

8. Crock Pot Lemon Chicken

9. Chipotle Chicken Tacos

10. Herb-Crusted Chicken Crock Pie

"DO WHAT...?"

2008-02-13T09:13:00.014-06:00

Being a MAC "middle aged chic" a name coined by fellow blogger "Punchy" on her blog "Lucchese to Louis Vuitton", requires much time and maintenance...especially after menopause.

I am bombarded with what to eat, what not to eat and tests for my tests to determine what hormones are working and what effect they have on my overall health. So far nothing seems to be working to my benefit. Where's Dr. Phil when you need him?

I walk everyday due to the fact that I live on 11 ac and am building a house...just hubby and me doing the work. I have always been very careful with food content watching carefully the fat, salt and sugar intake. (No, I don't mean I watch it as it passes from fork to mouth either!)

Being a Texas gal, it's difficult to eliminate the Texican foods that are fried and slathered with cheese and/or sauces but I've adapted.

I've been using Splenda for over a year now to cut down on calories ... it is derived from real sugar cane. I just can't get away from sweetened iced tea or that freshly brewed cup of coffee in the a.m. Mama don't take my caffiene away!

Now, much to my dismay...yet another naysayer report has come out with information regarding sugar substitutes which poses the question:

Can Sugar Substitutes Make You Fat?

Click on the link for the whole story!

This leads me to say "DO WHAT...?"

Have a good one...with or without sugar substitutes! At this point, I'm thinking forget about replanting the tree farm...let's grow STEVIA!!

Dale

DID I HEAR "CHOCOLATE?"

2008-02-12T08:47:00.000-06:00

February 12, 2008

Doesn't matter what your age, the word "chocolate" makes your mouth water, right? And who wouldn't love you for baking something delectible and delicious?

Here's a Valentine idea to sweeten up Cupid's special day AND coupons as well for NESTLÉ CHOCOLATIER™

Have a good one!

Dale

Chocolate Lover's Dream Come True

Everything looks pretty in pink on Valentine's Day. Why not your dessert? The Chocolate Raspberry Brownie Mousse Delight, made with NESTLÉ CHOCOLATIER™ 53% Cacao Dark Chocolate Morsels, offers a delicious blend of raspberries and chocolate, topped with a fluffy raspberry cream cheese mousse.

For other indulgent recipes, click here.

WAYS TO PLAY CUPID THIS VALENTINE'S DAY

2008-02-08T19:26:00.001-06:00

Here are some of the best ideas I've seen in a long time to show your special Valentine how much you care. And don't forget the best gift you can give is to give of yourself.

A special thanks to the gang at HGTV for getting the creative juices flowing. Don't forget to register for the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway being built on Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

We'd be pleased as punch if you'd stop by Two Blonds & Co. and select a gorgeous piece of jewelry for your honey. Nothing like diamonds to make a girl sparkle!!

Have a good one!

Dale

PLAN A GREAT ESCAPE

2008-02-08T18:53:00.000-06:00

Grab Your baby and steal away for one night--or longer--with these tips.

Planning a Romantic Getaway

Tips for Romantic Trips

Locating Luxury Services Near Home

8 Romantic Escapes

Elegant Paris

World's Best Spas

GIVE TREATS TO YOUR SWEET!

2008-02-08T18:45:00.000-06:00

Say it with food...recipes and ideas to set a romantic mood.

Romantic Picnic Ideas

Valentine Aphrodisiacs

Oven Roasted Lamb Shanks with...

Stuffed New Potatoes with Caviar

Pan Roasted Venison with...

Wines for Valentine's Day

PLAN A HEART WARMING MENU

2008-02-08T18:41:00.001-06:00

Say it with food...recipes and ideas to set a romantic mood.

Romantic Picnic Ideas

Valentine Aphrodisiacs

Oven Roasted Lamb Shanks with...

Stuffed New Potatoes with Caviar

Pan Roasted Venison with...

Wines for Valentine's Day

SET THE SCENE FOR ROMANCE

2008-02-08T18:36:00.000-06:00

Six ways to create rooms that will make your sweetie swoon.

Create a Romantic Look in Your Home

How to Make a Room Soft and Alluring

Chocolate Bedroom

Romantic Moroccan Lounge

Sensual Sophisticated Bedroom

Date With Design

New Year's Day Dinner

2007-12-31T15:04:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

I so look forward to January 1st each year. It is a time to be thankful for all that we have had in the past and a time of regeneration and hope for the future. I am a traditional southern gal who cooks the same way.

Legend has it that we have the black-eyed peas, collards or cabbage and cornbread on this day because as the Union troops came through and ravaged the South, those were the only food left. Seems the black-eyed peas were considered "fodder" as was the dried corn. They took with them any livestock for the Union soldiers. They had no idea that the collards could be eaten.

Thus the tradition was born. Out of ignorance, these foods were thought to be feed for livestock. Southerners considered these foods to be a blessing in disguise. Apparently the ham was a European tradition chosen because the animal roots forward looking for it's food instead of scratching backward as does a chicken or turkey.

I too love these foods and included two of my favorite recipes which I serve on New Year's Day.

HOPPIN’ JOHN (quick version)

1 medium onion, chopped
1 sweet red pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 Tbsp vegetable oil (keeps butter from burning)
2 Tbsp salted butter
2 cans (15.8 oz) Black-eyed Peas
1 Tbsp Pace Picante sauce
1 bay leaf
3 cups cooked white long-grain rice

Cook rice as usual but substitute liquid of one-can black-eyed peas (approx. ½ cup) for equal amount of water as flavoring. (i.e. Bring to boil 2 ½ cups water plus ½ cup black-eyed peas juice; pour in 1-½ cups uncooked rice to make 3 cups cooked rice. Bring to a boil then turn down heat; simmer 20 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.

In a large Dutch oven, sauté’ onion & peppers in oil and melted butter for approximately 4 minutes or until tender but not brown. Drain Black-eyed peas, reserving liquid. Add peas, Picante and ½ cup reserved liquid to onion-pepper mixture. Add bay leaf and simmer for 15 minutes. Salt & pepper to taste. Remove bay leaf.

Gently fold in cooked rice with black-eyed peas mixture.

Serve as a side dish with ham and sweet potatoes backed in jackets. You can also serve with Whole Cranberry Relish as a garnish.

CABBAGE WEDGES with CARROTS

1 large cabbage cut in wedges
4 large carrots, peeled; cut in ¼” diagonal slices
1 medium onion, finely sliced
1 can chicken broth
1-½ cups water
¼ tsp peppercorns
2 bay leaves
Pinch of salt

Remove any damaged leaves from cabbage. When slicing cabbage, leave the heart in tact; only trim off the stem where it was cut from plant. Slice lengthwise (so each wedge has a piece of the heart to hold it together) into 8 wedges.

In a large Dutch oven, add chicken broth, water, onion, carrots, peppercorns and bay leaves to boil. Cook until carrots are tender. Turn down heat just a bit and add cabbage wedges. Cover & cook about 6-8 minutes only until heart is fork tender. Cabbage should not be “transparent” but “just cooked” or “al dente.” Remove vegetables from broth and serve.

Save the broth for making soup.

Throw a Labor Day grilled pizza party!

2007-08-30T09:51:00.000-05:00

The last days of summer are upon us but that doesn't mean you need to let the winter doldrums take over just yet! If you don't already have plans, why not organize a backyard BBQ with a few good friends or your family? To make it a bit unpredictable, throw a grilled pizza party with homemade dough (or store bought if you're not feeling so adventurous) and set out all the toppings so everyone can throw on whatever they like.

Suggested bases: marinara, pesto, flavored olive oil, barbeque sauce
Suggested cheeses: mozzarella, fresh mozzarella, ricotta, goat cheese, Parmesan, Gorgonzola
Ideas for toppings: grilled vegetables, prosciutto and fresh figs, salami, chicken, fresh herbs, fresh arugula, toasted pine nuts, olives or capers, caramelized onions, roasted garlic

You'll need to grill them on high heat and your pizza crust should be no more than 1/4 inch thick. Grill one side first then set the pizza to the side and let each person add their toppings. Once they're ready, put them back on the grill until the cheese is melted and your toppings are warm (anywhere from two to ten minutes). Visit the link above to get a full rundown to ensure success - and find a few recipes for inspiration if you're not sure just what you want on your own pizza. And if you're feeling intimidated, Allrecipes.com even has a how to video describing exactly how to go through the grilling process!

WEEKEND PROJECT: Garden Chaises

2007-08-07T11:31:00.000-05:00

Garden Chaises

Every backyard can use a few of these chaises for drip-drying on after a dunk in the pool or for just lounging around after a day in the garden. They're made entirely out of 1x4 treated pine boards and finished off with exterior primer and paint. If you wish, substitute cedar or redwood for this outdoor furniture and let the wood weather naturally. A power saw, though not absolutely necessary, will make cutting easier.

Materials You'll Need:

1x4 treated pine boards

11 4-inch galvanized finishing nails

Sixteen 1 1/4-inch galvanized deck screws

Exterior paint primer

Crosscut saw, circular saw, or table saw

Rafter angle square

Pencil

Tape Measure

HammerDrill

Clamps

Paint brushes

To make Garden Chaises:

1. To form the side rails of the chaise base, lay out two 6-foot-long 1x4s like train tracks, approximately 20 inches apart. Cut three 20-inch crosspieces. To form the rectangular base, nail a crosspiece at each end, overlapping the side rail ends and squaring the crosspiece up with the outer edges to form a butt joint. Repeat at the other end. Set aside third crosspiece.

2. Cut two 12-inch 1x4s for the front legs. Position legs in the inside corners of the base, with the leg tops flush with the tops of the side rails and front crosspiece; use four screws to attach each leg. This should leave 8 ½ inches of leg exposed.

3. The back legs are 27 inches at their highest point. Mark 27 inches on each board, then cut down from there a 35-degree angle. (For angle, mark line with a rafter angle square. With a power saw, simply adjust the bevel gauge.) Attach the back legs at the inside corners of the other end, with 8 ½ inches of leg exposed. Attach to base frame using four screws for each leg.

4. To make the angled backrest of the chaises , trim the end of a 1x4 at a 35-degree angle. Line up this piece flush with 1 back leg. Clamp to hold it against the leg and the side rail. Draw a line where the backrest meets the side rail. (This will be a 55-degree angle.) Unclamp and cut, then nail in place. Repeat on the other side. Nail the third 20-inch crosspiece across the top of the back legs, aligning the ends of the crosspiece with the outside edges.

5. Cut eighteen 20-inch slats. Work from the back legs to the front, evenly spacing the slats and nailing into place.

6. To finish, prime, following product instructions. Lightly sand. Paint two coats of the finish color, sanding lightly between coats.

Country Home Magazine

August 2001

MEET INGRID FREEMAN

2007-07-24T19:19:00.000-05:00

Having lived in Coral Gables, Florida for several years, I discovered that the most delectable food in the world is found in and around Miami. Nothing compares to the atmosphere of food, music and people. One of those people who emcompasses all qualities is Ingrid Hoffman who showcases her incredible talent on Food Network .With a name like Ingrid Hoffman you'd never expect she is of Latin descent. Her cooking videos are superb and her recipes are "delicioso!" Here's more about her.

Learn how to spice up your meals with Latin flavors

Ingrid Hoffmann is passionate about food and entertaining and spends each day sharing her enthusiasm and talent with an international audience. Her recipes and entertaining ideas are showcased in her Food Network series, Simply Delicioso. In addition, Ingrid hosts her Spanish language cooking and lifestyle show, Delicioso (www.delicioso.com), on Galavision/Univision and is gearing up for her cookbook, Simply Delicioso: A Collection of Everyday Recipes with a Latin Twist (February 2008, Clarkson Potter/Random House).

Ingrid's obsession with food, cooking and style began as a little girl. She started cooking with her mother, a Cordon Bleu chef, at such a young age that she needed a stool to reach the stove. With her mother she discovered not only a love of cooking, but found a flair for entertaining, and in no time developed her own distinctive style.

Raised in Colombia, Ingrid moved to Miami where she opened La Capricieuse, a high fashion luxury boutique in Miami's Coconut Grove. Soon after, the store grew into a chain of four boutiques with a flagship on the island of Aruba, as well as a men's shop in Miami.

Her infatuation with food was so strong that Ingrid returned to her passion, and opened Rocca, the first restaurant to feature tabletop cooking on heated lava rocks. Within weeks, Rocca was touted as a hot destination for Miami's movers and shakers - it was even featured on Robin Leach's Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous. Ingrid also became one of Miami's premier live event planners with a client list that included M&M Mars, Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Thomas Maier and Comercio.com.

While both businesses thrived, she had the opportunity to host a cooking segment on a local Miami-area TV show. Executives at Univision were so impressed that they offered her a bi-weekly cooking and style segment on Despierta America, the most popular morning show in the US Hispanic market, and the number two morning show in the US (after Today Show).

Ingrid launched her own show, Delicioso with Ingrid Hoffmann, on DirecTv in September 2005, which propelled her popularity to new heights. In November 2006, the show premiered in its second season on a new network - Galavision. Each episode centers around a theme that Ingrid uses to connect segments on menu planning, shopping, cooking and decorating. The show's light-hearted, interactive style draws in viewers for both Ingrid's talents as well as her vibrant personality. Regular appearances by three pound Salsita, Ingrid's charismatic dog adds to the lively environment.

Aside from hosting her English and Spanish-language shows, Ingrid appears regularly on Univision's Despierta America, contributes her decorating and cooking expertise regularly to BuenHogar, the Spanish version of Good Housekeeping, and publishes a bi-monthly syndicated column in the Rumbo chain of Spanish daily newspapers.

Crazy Coconut Lemonade

2007-07-24T18:28:00.000-05:00

Crazy Coconut Lemonade
Recipe courtesy Ingrid Hoffmann

6 to 8 mint leaves, plus more for garnish

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup mixed lemon and lime juice

Rum, optional

1/2 gallon water, or to taste

Lemon and lime slices

Sweetened shredded coconut

Muddle (If you don't own a muddler, use the back of a wooden spoon) the mint leaves with a pestle in the bottom of a large pitcher. Add sugar, lemon and lime juice, and rum, to taste. Cover with water and refrigerate until cold. When ready to serve pour over ice, slices of lemon and lime, and coconut flakes. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

MUDDLE Definition: To muddle is to combine ingredients, usually in the bottom of a mixing glass, by pressing them with a muddler before add the majority of the liquid ingredients.

A muddler is a small wooden pestle shaped like a baseball bat. One end is large and rounded and it used to mash the ingredients. While the other end is skinnier and flat and is used to mix ingredients.

Pineapple Mojito Gelatin Shot

2007-07-19T19:30:00.001-05:00

Pineapple Mojito Gelatin Shot
Recipe courtesy Ingrid Hoffmann

12 fresh mint leaves

3 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lime juice

3 tablespoons pineapple juice

1 box lime gelatin

1 box pineapple gelatin

1 teaspoon sugar

1 cup boiling water

1/4 cup light rum

10 to 12 small plastic cups or shot glasses

Bruise the mint leaves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker using a muddler. (If you don't own a muddler, use the back of a wooden spoon.) Add the lime juice, pineapple juice and shake the 2 together. In a medium bowl combine the lime and pineapple gelatins, and the sugar. Stir in the boiling water and whisk until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the rum and pour into the plastic shot glasses. Refrigerate until set, about 3 hours. Enjoy!

MUDDLE Definition:
To muddle is to combine ingredients, usually in the bottom of a mixing glass, by pressing them with a muddler before add the majority of the liquid ingredients.

A muddler is a small wooden pestle shaped like a baseball bat. One end is large and rounded and it used to mash the ingredients. While the other end is skinnier and flat and is used to mix ingredients.

Garden Pests & Summer Heat

2007-07-19T16:59:00.000-05:00

These notations are taken from GARDEN NOTES which is written by Justin W. Hancock, who is the Garden Editor for Better Homes and Gardens. As always, he gives us useful ideas and sugestions to have a happier, healthier garden.

Stop Garden Pests

This is the start of a 3-week series of tips to help you keep your garden safe from weeds, deer, bunnies, bugs, and other pests. Week 1 is about weeds. Check back next week for tips on saving your yard from critters.

Weed Control Guide
15 Tips for a Weed-Free Garden
Smother Weeds with Mulch

Survive Summer Heat

It's hot outside, and the heat can be as much a burden to plants as it is for you. Help your plants by making sure they're watered adequately and there's a layer of mulch over the soil to help keep their roots a little cooler. For more tips, check out these links.

Container Plants That Take the Heat
The 15 Top Low-Water Plants
Tips for Using Less Water
Easy-Care, Heat-Tolerant Garden Plan

Make the Most of Shade

When I have to be out in the yard on hot, sunny days, I make the most of it by working in the shade. It can make things complicated (like weeding one garden bed, then taking a break and waiting a couple of hours for the sun to move so I can work in another shaded area). Try these tips for making the most of your shade.

The Best Perennials for Shade
10 Beautiful Shade-Garden Plans
Wishbone Flower: A Great Annual for Shade
Find More Shade Plants with Plant Finder

Question of the Week
How to Keep Your Lawn Green

Question:

How can I keep my Kentucky bluegrassgreen if there's a drought this summer?

Answer:

The easiest way to keep your cool-season lawn green during the hot months is to keep it watered. But that can be expensive and time-consuming.

Letting your lawn stop growing and turn brown in midsummer won't hurt it. The grass copes with hot, dry weather by taking a summer siesta before greening up again as soon as rain and slightly cooler temperatures return. If you don't like the look of a dormant lawn, look for turf paints that ensure the green appearance during summer's heat or winter's cold at local sports-supply stores or online. Mix the paint with water according to directions and spray it on your lawn. The average application lasts about 6 weeks. If you paint your lawn, allow it to go dormant and do not water it. Click here for more on lawn care.

What's going on in your Yard?

2007-07-19T12:19:00.000-05:00

Hi folks!

It's definitely summer here in East Texas. The rains although welcome have caused major flooding in certain areas of our great state. Seems that developers of every kind, commercial, residential and highways, have forgottten that the more concrete you put on the ground, the less ground is available for water absorption.

Years ago, the Corp of Engineers would dredge out rivers and other waterways due to the constant flow of soil into those tributaries but that doesn't seem to happen anymore. So therefore the lakes and rivers overflow their banks much more often. We have to dredge our own small creek and under our bridge once in a while so you can only imagine how much a larger creek or river accumulates over years of rain.

I am not going to get on the band wagon with Mr. Gore with his Global Warming program or the Green Earth surge. Each one of us has a responsibility to do his or her share right in their own little piece of the world.

At this point, I am basically a homesteader after living in a corporate world most of my adult life. My home was in a Master-Planned community with a manicured yard and cookie-cutter house. My ultimate goal now is to have a totally self-sufficient small farm complete with solar and wind power.

I garden, have a rain barrel and make compost. I also can fruit and vegetables, love to cook and share recipes. I mow my own yard and propogate everything I can get my hands on. Although I live a meager existence compared to my former life, it is absolute bliss.

What's going on in your own backyard or kitchen? If you have suggestions, questions or need help, I'd love to hear from you, no matter what your world may be. In the meantime, I'll continue to post information from the various sources I use and hope that you will enjoy!

Dale

Beat the Heat Lemon Sorbet

2007-07-12T13:38:00.000-05:00

From the Kitchen of: Two Blonds & Co.

It has been hotter than hot here in Texas with daytime temps in the upper 90's and evenings that only cool down to the lower 80's. Finding recipes that are simple, don't heat up the kitchen and still taste delicious are my goal. This sorbet beats the heat everytime.

LEMON SORBET
Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2003
See this recipe on air Thursday Jul. 26 at 2:00 PM ET/PT.
Show:
The Essence of Emeril
Episode:
Ice Cream/Sorbet

LEMON SORBET
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest

Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, remove from the heat, and cool. Combine the syrup with the lemon and zest and pour into the bowl of an ice cream machine. Freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. After the sorbet is made, transfer to an airtight container. Cover tightly and freeze until ready to serve.

Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 1 quart

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO FLOWER GARDENING

2007-07-12T13:03:00.000-05:00

Improved garden products and new, tougher plants mean that even newbies soon will be cutting bouquets and collecting compliments.

By Marilyn Lewis

Expert picks: Top 'no-fail' flowers
4 hot backyard trends
How to landscape on the cheap

There's never been a better moment for beginning gardeners. Improved garden products and easy-to-grow plant varieties have made starting out truly easy.

The first thing you'll want to cultivate, however, is a list of local resources and experts to assist your newfound quest for vegetation:
Many colleges' cooperative extension programs offer master gardener consultants, expert gardeners trained to answer questions from the public on everything from what plants thrive in your climate to how much soil you need. Wikipedia has a list of cooperative extension services around the country, as does Bayer (that's right: the aspirin folks; they also make garden products).

Garden clubs are great for getting started. Find one at National Garden Clubs, check your newspaper or search the Internet.

Explore independent garden stores and nurseries. Find them in the Lawn & Garden Yellow Pages or use the search page at Garden Centers of America, a national affiliation of independent garden centers. Home Depot garden centers are another fine resource.

Now choose a sunny spot in your yard, select -- or dig -- a bed about 10 feet long and at least three feet wide, then try the following pared-down instructions and soon you'll be sporting a green thumb of your very own.

The "dirt" on soil

Here is, hands down, the best garden advice you'll ever get: Spend your money on buying or making great soil. Good dirt does the work for you. You can plant in poor soil until you're 100 and reap nothing but grief. Sow a handful of seeds in rich, well-aerated soil and you're suddenly a genius.

"My mom lives in the Mojave Desert, which is all sand. Her plants just would not grow," says Everett LeRoy, Northwest territorial manager for Burpee, which sells seeds and plants through its catalog. "In the street meridians of her town, she wonders why the plants are so lush and the grass is so green. I tell her, 'It's because they just dig the sand out and replace it with wonderful, wonderful soil.' "

LeRoy did the same for his mom: "I dug 2½ feet down in the bed and I filled it up with soil from a landscape materials place. Now she is the talk of the town."

Where to get such fabulous dirt? If you've inherited a garden, your soil might already be in good shape. But probably not. If you've got a patch of rocks, you'll be starting from scratch.
Either way, here's what to know: When gardeners talk about soil "structure," what they mean is, is it mostly clay? Or mostly sand?

Clay -- is thick and heavy. Water pools up and sits there. It won't drain, so your babies' roots just drown. Clay is hard to dig and a shovelful weighs a ton.

Sand -- well, you know what sand's like. It's easy to dig. Too easy. It slides right through your fingers. It drains alright -- too well. Water runs through so fast your seedlings can't get a drink, no matter how much you water them.

Fabulous dirt, the kind that makes a gardener's life easy and rewarding, has a consistency between sand and clay. It's sort of fluffy and it doesn't stick together. Water disappears, but enough moisture is trapped to keep plants from instant thirst.

Try this test: Water your soil and watch what happens. If the bed is sloped and water runs off in a river, modify the grade or use rocks to shape little terraces so water can soak in. Wait 24 hours, then stick your hand in the soil and grab a fistful -- getting dirty is part of the fun. It should feel moist but not wet, and your hand shouldn't come out slimy, says Barb Pierson, horticulturist and nursery manager for White Flower Farm, the venerable catalog company. "It should have a little bit of soil stuck to it but not with mud on it, and no pooling or feeling of actual water," she says.

For soil that's less than ideal, there are easy fixes. You can go one of two routes:
Simple: Put a handful of dirt into a sandwich bag and get it tested at a garden center or extension service. With test results, your expert can help you choose soil "amendments" (supplements) to turn your poor dirt into rich loam. When the ground is dry, dig or rototill the amendments into your flower bed.

Even simpler: Buy perfect potting soil by the bag. It's not cheap; you'll need it 18 to 24 inches deep the length and width of your bed. But there is no easier or quicker path to the perfect gardening experience. A compromise: Dig bagged garden soil -- not potting soil -- into your garden dirt. Ask your local gardening resources and neighbors what soil and amendments to use. Pierson likes Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Garden Soil.

Now, dig in

With your preparation done, you're ready for the fun: picking and planting seeds. Initially, the variety of plants is beguiling and even overwhelming. To improve your chances of success, stick to no-fail plants such as hardy geraniums, daisies and echinacea (see more plant recommendations here).

Simple: Plant seeds indoors in February in peat pots (here are the Burpee pots) filled with bagged garden soil. Scratch the soil with a fork and drop seeds into the shallow grooves. Smooth a wee bit of dirt over the seeds. Water daily until shoots and leaves emerge (about six to 10 days). After that, keep them moist but not soaked. When you see two sets of leaves and you're sure there's no chance of frost, plug those little cups right into the garden. (Here are Miracle-Gro tips for planting peat pots.)

Even simpler: When you're sure that winter frosts are over, buy six-packs of annual and perennial flowers and plants and install them according to directions on the label. You can also get a few bigger plants if you want instant gratification, but you might as well save your money since small plants grow quickly and catch up. One note: planting seeds is more economical, but can be trickier.

The key is learning to read plant labels. They tell you everything from the climate zone it thrives in, how far apart to plant, water needs and flowering habit, to whether it's an annual or perennial, maximum height and breadth and other tidbits. Don't be afraid to ask your local resources a lot of questions, especially about the climate zone and watering. You can also find plenty of information online:

Good sites for looking up plants are Virtual Plant Tags, Better Homes and Gardens plant finder or the plant search tool at Dave's Garden. Wikipedia is another excellent plant search site.

Wondering what climate "zones" are all about? It's easy: Plug your ZIP code into the Proven Winners' zone map. Better Homes & Gardens has good climate maps, too.

A word about water

Plants are like people. They need food, air, water and light. As with human babies, you can't just throw all this at them at once. Consistent, regular attention is the trick.
Decide early how you will water your garden: Hand watering? Irrigation? Automated sprinklers?

Plants need watering when first put in the ground. Then, they need constantly moist (not wet) soil for at least a week or two after planting. If the soil an inch beneath the surface is moist, it's just right. Even drought-tolerant perennials -- plants that can go for long periods with little or no watering -- need regular water for the first couple of years to get established.

But the beginner's big mistake is over-watering. "When plants are over-watered, they start turning yellow, so then people think, 'I'm not watering them enough.' It turns into a mean, vicious circle. Then it's death," says White Flower Farm's Pierson.

On the other hand, plants that droop are too dry. Choose plants with similar water needs so you can water them all at once with no fussing over individual requirements. Or simpler yet, use only drought tolerant plants. Once established, these need the least water of all; low maintenance for you, easy on the environment and easy on your water bills.

5 more tips from the experts

Check labels for potential height. Place tall plants in the back, medium in the middle of the garden and low plants along the edge. Use a couple of evergreen shrubs -- or a small tree, if there's room -- since evergreens keep leaves or needles all year long, giving color in the bleakest months of the year. Easy evergreens include camellia, evergreen clematis vines, some magnolias, some grasses, boxwood, juniper and hebe.

Burpee's LeRoy spreads a featherweight layer of peat moss over newly sown seeds, then waters. Not only does peat retain moisture and prevent seeds from blowing away, it also turns dark when wet, so you can notice dangerous drying. "The whole secret to seed sowing is to keep soil moist (not soaking wet) . . . If it dries out, that seed is completely dead," says LeRoy.

Plants -- such as like marigolds and petunias -- whose stalks bear a succession of flowers will produce even more prolifically if you deadhead (pick off spent blossoms).

Feed plants regularly with an all-purpose fertilizer. Pierson and LeRoy recommend Miracle-Gro's Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food or Organic Choice.

Watch leaves for white or dark spots, holes or curled up or ridged edges. Clip a sample into a sandwich bag, seal it (to prevent further contamination) and bring it to your garden expert for diagnosis. Avoid pesticides. Excellent organic horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps are available that are safe to use around children and pets.

7 DEADLY LANSCAPING SINS

2007-07-12T12:48:00.000-05:00

With the recent decline in sales of real estate, one of the most important ways to attract buyers is with curb appeal. Here are some priceless tips on transforming your yard from blah to beautiful.

From unnaturally geometric bushes to skimpy garden beds, our experts save you from your worst landscaping transgressions.
By Christopher Solomon

Hey, Joe Homeowner: Drop that rake and fall to your knees like the sinner you are.

We asked a half-dozen certified landscape designers with the Association of Professional Landscape Designers what crimes against nature they regularly witness in neighborhood yards. And while everyone has his own pet peeves, a clear consensus emerged in the responses.

Call them the seven deadly landscaping sins. Don't be surprised if your home is guilty of more than one of the offenses, but fear not. For every transgression, our experts shared at least one way to atone.

Sin No. 1: The meatball shrub"One of the things that drives me crazy is the pruning of shrubs into boxes, balls, squares, triangles and rectangles," says Bobbie Schwartz, owner of Bobbie's Green Thumb in Shaker Heights, Ohio and author of "The Design Puzzle: Putting the Pieces Together" These giant blocks and spheres -- designer Rhonda Smith calls it the "meatball look" -- often occur close to the house. "That's why a lot of houses look like fortresses," says Schwartz, who lectures nationally on landscape design. "You can't see the windows, you can't find the doors. It makes for a very unwelcoming exterior."

How to atone: "I really think the trend is toward very natural, ecological landscapes," Schwartz says, echoing several designers. Sometimes large shrubs are aggressively manicured because they're simply too large for where they've been placed and they need to be removed, says Smith, owner of Exteriors in Merrimac, Mass.

But depending on the plant and its location, you may be able to let a shrub simply grow out and prune it more naturally, Smith says. Inexperienced homeowners usually just cut the newest growth on a bush to tame it. But instead, try taking out perhaps one third (at most) of the older wood in a lilac or other quickly growing plant, which allows the newer wood to be the dominant part of the plant and lets it grow in a more organic form.

If you're not an experienced gardener, and don't want to learn, don't expect a standard "mow and blow" company to do this for you, says Deanna Glory, of Deanna Glory Landscape Design in the San Francisco Bay area. Invest in a true gardening service -- or expect more meatballs.

Sin No. 2: Marching flowers"Soldiering" -- the act of running single plants or flowers in a file beside a sidewalk or driveway -- is "out of fashion," says Mary Donovan, owner of Donovan Design in the Atlanta area. Why? It looks odd and unnatural to have a single flower occurring by itself -- and nature doesn't work in strict rows, anyway.

How to atone: "Now we plant in mass groupings, more like nature does," says Donovan. "Bunched together, in a bouquet effect, that attracts the eye." Shrubs, annuals, perennials -- everything can work this way. To accommodate this, beds can often break from the linear mold, too, and be more rounded and shapely.

"The only time you want 'one-sies,'" Donovan says, is with "a specimen plant. And that's usually a tree. You want it to stand out all by itself."

Sin No. 3: Dyed mulch "When I'm driving around, the first thing I react to is those new, strongly colored mulches, because the eye is drawn to those first, not the plants first," Donovan says about the reddish-orange, dyed mulch that has grown popular in the past five to seven years. "It really can stick out in the landscape. It doesn't look natural."

How to atone: Stick to natural mulch, and take your color cues from the natural ground materials of the area in which you live, Donovan says. For example, in the South, she suggests using pine nuggets, or chewed-up pieces of pine bark, or pine straw. "The landscaping is meant to do two things: one is to anchor the man-made structure to the land and the other is complement it," she reminds. "Mulch should be forgotten. It should not come forward to the eye."

Sin No. 4: Too much -- of everything Just as many people clutter the inside of their houses, they clutter the landscaping with too much stuff in too many hues. "In their attempt to beautify they don't know what to choose, and so they impulse buy," says designer Smith. "And they do this potpourri of everything."

The upshot? "They'll get this hodgepodge effect," says Donovan, who sees it often. But using lots of colors all over the place "produces chaos," she says. "That's too busy for the eye. It's like wearing too much jewelry." And often all of the colors don't complement the home -- one of landscaping's chief goals.

How to atone: First, don't be scattershot. "I think one of the top things that people need to remember is to keep it simple," Smith says. "Buy five, seven, 11 of something, and combine it with another plant" and you'll get a lot more visual bang for your buck.

A very effective way to create unity with color is to use a monochromatic scheme -- that is, a scheme in which everything is related to one color, Donovan says. For instance, "You could work in the purple family -- purples and plums and lavenders." Some plants that would work in that scheme: loropetalum, an evergreen shrub with burgundy-colored leaves; camellias; clematis; Japanese maple; and Knockout Rose, a soft blue-red rose that's disease resistant and is very popular in the South right now, Donovan says.

Want a little more color? Donovan recommends a simple complementary color scheme: using two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, such as purple and yellow, for instance. "And you can always mix white in," she says.

Sin No. 5: Bad proportions Many homeowners don't have a good sense of what fits in their landscaping. In many cases, "People use things that are too small," says Daniel Lowery, a garden designer, consultant and owner of Queen Anne Gardens in Seattle. "It could be everything from trees, to shrubs, to containers."

Designer Smith recalls not long ago seeing, in front of a home and its large expanse of lawn, a prominent lamppost "with this teeny, tiny lamp at the top of the post."

Often, when people plant trees in their yards they make small islands -- too small -- that at 3 or 4 feet wide look adrift in the yard, with single flowers like polka dots, says Patrick Bones, owner of Brighton Landscape & Design in Tulsa, Okla. "For lack of a better professional word, it just looks twinky," says Bones, who is president-elect of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.

Proportion cuts both ways. Recently, Bones saw in mid-town Tulsa, home to many old oil barons' mansions, a yard in which a landscaper had had plopped down giant landscaping boulders and a water feature. "It looks terrible. It's too bad, because they spent so much money," Bones says. "Those are the ones where I drive by and I just want to cry."

Proportionality extends to keeping a home somewhat in the realm of the neighborhood's aesthetic, Bones believes.

How to atone:• Trees: "Houses are big, and trees should be bigger than houses," pronounces Lowery. "A small tree is 20 feet tall." Plant a tree that will mature into a grand addition, he suggests. "It's better to plant a younger tree. It's easier and less expensive, and there's a higher success rate."

• Pots and containers: "Containers, decorative pots, less than 24 inches tall and in diameter are a waste of money," Lowery says. "One or two big containers are much more dramatic than several 'wiener' pots," he says. Pots smaller than that look too small against the house and aren't good for plants anyway. "If someone's looking for compliments," he adds, "they'll get an 'oooh' out of a big pot; they won't get a compliment out of a little pot."

• Islands: If you've got a mid-yard island, expand its area threefold, and give those single plants some company, Bones suggests.

• Picture it: Wondering whether that lamp or fountain will work in front of your home? Don't guess; bring a picture of your house to the store, the experts advise.

Sin No. 6: Skinny sidewalks "Another one that drives me crazy is the narrow, 'contractor' sidewalk," says Schwartz, referring to the standard-issue residential sidewalk usually installed by a contractor when the home is built. That sidewalk is only wide enough for one person, shoots straight off the driveway and usually leaves room for only a narrow planting bed between sidewalk and house.

"Layering," the important work of placing two to three different groupings of plants of different heights and textures, can't be done in such a cramped space. A frustrated homeowner usually resorts to passé soldiering, Schwartz says.

In addition, says designer Glory, a concrete slab is invariably drab and excruciatingly boring: "It looks unfinished."

How to atone: Schwartz recommends widening, and meandering, the approach to your home. "It should be welcoming, it should be enjoyable, it could even be an adventure, depending on how it's designed and planted," she says.

The material itself needs to be spiced up, too, Glory says. "There's so much fun stuff you can do with concrete these days." Colors can be mixed into it (integral concrete); acid staining can give an old world look; and stamping can give concrete the very realistic look of stone, for example.

Sin No. 7: House-hugging plants and their bad beds "Most homeowners plant way too close to their home," Bones says. "It's like pieces of furniture pushed up against the wall." One reason for this may be that homeowners confine themselves to the shallow beds that surround most suburban homes. To landscape designers, these beds – installed for reasons of haste and expense by contractors -- are like fingernails on a chalkboard. "In a lot of homes the beds look like Band-Aids, instead of skirts" that would flatter the edifice, Schwartz says. And when homeowners jam plants and shrubs into them, they're overcrowded to boot.

How to atone: First, deepen those beds. A general rule of thumb is to extend planting beds adjacent to a house out about one- or two-thirds of the house's height at that location. When you're in the home you should be able to see out into the beds, Smith says.

Next, "You need to pull the shrubs away from the wall,” Bones says. You should be able to walk between your plants and your wall. If you do opt for foundation plants, plant a dwarf variety that will not grow too large and intrude upon the house, Smith suggests.

And if you’ve got existing gigantic plants that are smothering your windows? Consider the hatchet. "We're doing one today," says designer Bones. "Ripping everything out that the builder put in."

Finally, get away from the everyday, suggests Schwartz. "I hate normal foundation plantings," she says of the ho-hum evergreens and hostas that everyone uses.

Add textural contrast to give your home's exterior an updated look, she says. Think trees with interesting leaves such as sweet gum and acanthus, for example. "What you want is the contrast, so that all the leaves don't look the same." Schwartz says. "I would add ornamental grasses, I would add flowering deciduous shrubs, I would add perennials."

One final piece of adviceDraw up a plan before remodeling your home's landscape, so the final result will have a unity and coherence to it, and you can tackle pieces one at a time.

Tackle a plan yourself, or consider hiring a landscape designer. Cost of a plan from a designer ranges, depending on region and on the scale, from about $500 to $750 in the South to $1,000 to $2,500 in the Northeast. Click here to find an APLD-certified designer in your area.

NEW TRENDS IN GARDEN ART

2007-07-12T12:36:00.000-05:00

It's out with the gnomes, in with the new as Buddhas, outdoor paintings, bold colors and recycled artworks take over 21st century gardens. Here's how to make these trends your own.

By Marilyn Lewis

With garden experts these days urging us to treat our outdoor plots as rooms, the question becomes, "How shall we decorate them?"

Oh, so glad you asked. Fashion changes constantly -- even in garden décor. There's no time for moss to grow in the restless world of floricultural furnishings. You may have fond childhood memories of garden gnomes -- and perhaps they'll have their day in the sun again -- but right now, it's out with the gnomes and in with a statue of Buddha. It's the new American garden essential.

Kay Estey watches garden trends emerge. She produces the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show. To her, one word describes the new American garden: sophistication. "People in the states have become just as sophisticated about gardening as the English and Europeans," she says.

The recent interest in garden décor is led by -- you guessed it -- the baby boomer generation. Boomers, in their great numbers, transform whatever they touch. They have traveled the world, seen its gardens, acquired cosmopolitan tastes and are lavishing money on their home turf, driving the market with their perennial interest in the environment, organics and natural stuff, and their newer interest in transforming homes into high-end cocoons.

Younger generations, too, have taken up gardening. "It's just taken off incredibly," Estey says. "As people get more sophisticated, it seems that the industry follows. Now there's the outdoor kitchen, the outdoor living room, the idea that the garden you create outside is another room in your house."

And like any well-appointed room, you need ways to embellish its natural beauty.
The biggest trends in garden art include the use of sculpture, bold color and recycled materials, Estey says.

JULY GARDENING CHECKLIST

2007-07-12T11:57:00.000-05:00

There's plenty to do in the garden this month, including planting, trimming, watering and harvesting.

By Sally Anderson

While you're standing at the grill, brushing barbecue sauce on sizzling chicken and passing out cold ones to your friends, remember that your garden friends will be extra thirsty this month too. Gardens should explode with color and fruit this month, as long as you don't let them dry out -- and be ferocious about pest and weed control.

Annuals

Go wild! "Color spots," usually sold in 4-inch, 6-inch or 1-gallon pots, can go straight from the pot into the ground to instantly jazz up colorless corners.

--Check all annuals often for dryness; new plantings are especially needy as they establish their roots.
--Deadhead spent blossoms -- snap or snip them off -- to reinvigorate flowering plants; you'll be rewarded by more flower and root growth.
--For a second bloom, cut annuals back to half their height and fertilize.
--Replace dead annuals with hardy annual or perennial newcomers.

Perennials

Perennials can be transplanted all month; keep on top of deadheading duties.

--In mild climates, fertilize roses once a month throughout the summer.
--Bearded irises should be separated and given a bit more space between now and August, especially if it hasn't been done in the past three to five years.
--After the last iris blooms fade, stop giving them water.
--When leaves start turning brown, trim them down to green areas in a two-snip pyramid shape.
--Dig them up and cut apart their knobby rhizomes.
--Set them in the shade for a few days to harden off.
--Replant at the same depth (rhizomes should be approximately level with the ground) in soil that's been amended with processed manure and compost.

Lawns

If you're an inveterate summer waterer, your lawn might need a light application of fertilizer this month, even if it was fertilized in early spring.

--When mowing, recycle nutrients by letting lawn clippings stay in place, or spread them with a rake.
--Water early in the morning before the sun is at its hottest, so that plants benefit before evaporation takes place.
--Water deeply and less often -- say, an hour once a week. Aim sprinklers so that their spray benefits life forms only; water on the sidewalk is water wasted!
--In dry weather, trim lawn edges.

Cleanup

Think of July as maintenance month, and roll up the sleeves on that denim shirt.

--Take no prisoners in the war against weeds.
--Trim periwinkle and other ground covers after they've finished blooming.
--Thin plants to give them better air circulation and exposure to the sun.

Compost

--All that nice bacteria you've been nurturing as future plant food needs a little extra attention in the dog days of summer.
--Keep feeding the pile with organic materials.
--Turn compost at least once a week.
--If compost becomes too dry the bacteria will die, so give your heap a shower whenever it starts to get crusty.

Vegetables

Even in the heart of summer, in most areas you can keep planting vegetables for fall harvest.

--Plant potatoes early in the month.
--Sow seeds of these leafy green and red vegetables: spinach, kale, Swiss chard, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, radishes, beets, carrots, peas, bush beans, onions and scallions.
--As you start to enjoy the fruits of your labor, there are always a few things you can fiddle with in the vegetable garden.
--Tomatoes and peppers are shameless sun lovers, so you should see lots of growth. Keep them off the ground, and harvest them as soon as they ripen so pests don't beat you to the draw.
--Keep mulch around tomato plants evenly spread and slightly moist.
--Plant veggies now for fall and winter harvest.
--Transplant greens such as kale and collards, broccoli, cauliflower and early cabbage.
--Transplant colorful ornamental kale in midmonth.

Greenhouse

When it's hot outdoors, greenhouses can turn into pressure cookers. Be sure those thirsty hothouse tomatoes and cucumbers are kept satisfied. Provide adequate ventilation during hot months, especially before making a summer getaway.

Pest control

Pests are everywhere, but if you've had a rainy June, you're looking at some serious damage control now.

--Root rot is a frequent hazard of wet seasons; help prevent it by thinning mulch around vulnerable plants.
--Look for slugs under moist mulch and in ground cover -- a favorite retreat.
--Spray honeysuckles for aphids every 10 to 14 days; spray them with an insecticidal soap or give them a strong blast with a hose.

Weeds

The weeds you didn't catch before flowering are probably supping happily on your soil now; stay ahead of the game as the next generation peeps up.

Hoe young weeds and leave them in place with their roots exposed. If you do this early on a sunny day, the sun will do the rest of the work.

Pruning

Because pruning stimulates new growth, if you expect an early winter or you're in a cold-winter region, avoid pruning trees and bushes. In milder climates, prune dead wood from shrubs and trees in early to midsummer.

--Thin apples and pears.
--Trim back lindens, boxwoods and other hedges.

Harvest

As the saying goes, you reap just what you sow, and this month you should be getting plenty of perks from your spring efforts.

--Harvest ripe vegetables and fruits as soon as possible to stay a step ahead of pests.
--Help strawberry plants stay strong after harvest: Clear out weeds, then clip or high-mow tops, avoiding plant crowns.

Container plants

Container plants get extremely thirsty in summer months and may need water as often as once or twice a day. If you're a newcomer to container gardening, you're in for a treat!

--Planters can be tucked into any cranny. Fill in bare garden spots, arrange them on steps and along walkways, frame a garage door, set them on railings, or circle them around the old oak tree.
--Variety is the spice of container gardening. Combine containers of different shapes, sizes, colors and textures.
--Try grouping similar flowers with a zap of something completely different. Don't worry about being perfect; just choose plants you like and learn as you go.
--Move pots around, from sun to shade, or just for a change of mood.
--Branch out from terra-cotta pots and window boxes. Containers made of resin and other synthetics are available in a riot of shapes and styles, from "estate classic" to "Mediterranean" -- and they're lightweight. Or get funky with old washbasins and hand-painted coffee cans. Just be sure that containers have drainage holes in the bottom.

TWO BLONDS & CO. offers an assortment of monogrammed WHITEHALL MIO PLANTERS online.

Mio Planter Monogram Package

--Constructed from fiberglass reinforced polyresin
--Includes removable drain plug
--Personalized plaque constructed from rust-free aluminum with matching finish

Dimensions (inches): 17.5"L x 17.5"W x 17.5"H

4th of JULY: FREEDOM ISN'T FREE

2007-07-04T10:09:00.000-05:00

On this day, perhaps the greatest of all our American holidays, let us not forget the reason we celebrate. Many have died or suffered great pain so that we might gather round the bar-b-que pit, light fireworks and shoot off our mouths.

We must never forget who deserves the credit for the freedoms we enjoy and for which we should be eternally grateful. Whether you are for or against “the war”…stand together in support of our troops.

God bless our Military who are protecting our Country for our freedom. And may God continue to bless America.

“Freedom Isn’t Free”
--author unknown

I watched the flag pass by one day
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it
And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of “Taps” one night
when everything was still
I listened to the bugler play
and felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
that “Taps” had meant "Amen"
when a flag had draped a coffin
of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
of the mothers and the wives,
of fathers, sons and husbands
with interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
at the bottom of the sea,
of unmarked graves in Arlington;
No, freedom isn't free.

From the Kitchen of: Two Blonds & Co.

2007-07-03T12:11:00.000-05:00

Being a Texan definitely has its advantages. We have our fun in the sun non-stop most of the year and that includes lazy days on the lake with scrumptious food after dark. It was nothing to have 25 guests show up at our lake home when word spread that it was my “turn” to cook.

The recipes included here are versatile in that they can be increased for a crowd with no problem or reduced for a smaller group. Throw in a pot of homemade beans and a tossed salad (both can be made ahead of time) and you won’t have to worry about more mouths to feed than you had anticipated. Good food always draws a crowd.

The night before, marinate the brisket and begin the beans. I always cook the beans the night before; they have more flavor the next day. That morning, silk the corn leaving the shucks attached and put in water to soak for 4-6 hours. The brisket will be smoking most of the day so you can enjoy your day out on the lake instead of being stuck in the kitchen. Then come back in a few hours before the rest of the gang to prepare the remainder of the bounty. While the potatoes are baking, toss the salad, spread the butter mixture on corn to make ready for the grill and return them to the “fridge.”

To complete this feast, add plenty of hot sliced garlic bread. When potatoes are done, pop the garlic bread into the already hot oven just before guests arrive.

And what would a July 4th celebration be without ice-cold watermelon; try the yellow meat for an unexpected change in flavor. Slice it into 1” wedges that can be eaten with the fingers.

Set up a table buffet style so guests can walk around it. On one end: plates stacked (if using paper, please get plastic or heavy paper ones,) small cups or bowls for beans, flatware standing up in a small bucket or pottery urn, napkins stacked in a basket. Use hurricane lamps for decorative feature.

Put platters of brisket, hot foil-wrapped potatoes, corn on cob, garlic bread wrapped in foil and placed in basket, pot of beans with ladle, salad with tongs, etc. down the middle of table. Place condiments (i.e. dressings, sauces) beside each respective platter or bowl. Leave room on the edges of the table for guests to place their plate and use both hands to get food. Make a separate table for drinks, ice and glasses. Consider using a washtub filled with ice and canned beverages. Use this area for the watermelon as well.

Take advantage of the bath while your guests are still out on the lake. Then while everyone else is pulling out their boats and cleaning up, you can put the corn on the grill, bread in the oven and set the table. You’ll make your appearance as a cool, collected incredible hostess. The ultimate compliment to a cook in Texas is “That’s fit to eat!”

Happy 4th, ya’ll!

TEJAS-STYLE SMOKED BRISKET
By “The Mommy”

1 (10-12 pound) beef brisket, trimmed

MEAT RUB:
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 small box OLD BAY SEASONING

Mesquite wood chips soaked in water
Can of beer or water for smoker pan

ALTERNATE RECIPE FOR MEAT RUB: (if you don't have OLD BAY)
6 TBL chili powder
6 TBL paprika
6 TBL salt
3 TBL garlic powder
3 TBL onion powder
3 TBL black pepper
3 TBL cayenne
2 TBL dry mustard
2 TBL ground cumin
1/4 cup dark brown sugar

Trim fat off one side completely. Trim to 1/4" on other side.

Set the brisket on a large sheet of plastic wrap. Look at the meat and determine the “grain” of the meat. Make several scores with a sharp knife ACROSS the grain, through the fat side. This will make it easier to know which way to cut when meat is cooked.

In a medium bowl combine the dark brown sugar, chili power, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne, dry mustard, and cumin thoroughly. Rub the mixture onto the brisket and wrap tightly in the plastic wrap. Place on a baking sheet and let marinate in refrigerator at least 6 hours or at best overnight.

Remove the meat from the refrigerator and let come to room temperature. Soak mesquite wood chips in a large bowl of water for 1 to 2 hours. Remove, drain and set aside. (Try using oak or pecan chips trimmed from local trees.) Prepare a smoker with charcoal and the wood chips according to the manufacturer's instructions to 180 to 200 degrees F. (Or you can use an electric smoker.) Place the water pan in the smoker and add beer or water to the fill line, about 2/3 full.

Place the unwrapped marinated brisket fat side up on the lower rack off the direct heat, close lid, and cook. You will need to periodically check the fire & add also additional soaked chips. Cook until an instant-read thermometer registers an internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees F., about 6 to 8 hours.

Remove the meat from the grill; let rest for 20 minutes before carving. Remove the fat. Slice the meat across the grain (in line with the scores you made earlier) into thin slices.

BAKED POTATOES WITH PIZZAZ
By “The Mommy”

These are great with smoked brisket or ribs, corn on the cob and fresh green beans.

10 large baking potatoes
1 stick salted butter
1 TBL garlic powder
1 TBL lemon & pepper seasoning
1 medium onion (cut into a quarter wedges)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Next, clean potatoes thoroughly removing any blemishes. Tear off 1ft squares of aluminum foil. Cut each potato in half lengthwise; once again check for any dark spots and remove; place in center of foil. Spread about 1 TBL butter mixture in center of both potato halves. Place 1 thin slice of onion wedge in middle with butter mixture; press together. Pull sides of foil to top and fold over twice; bring ends upward and fold, forming jacket for baking.

Place all potatoes on cookie sheet; bake in oven 45 minutes to 1 hour or until inserted fork indicates soft cooked potato. Serve hot (with or without foil.)

GRILLED CORN ON THE COB
by “The Mommy”

10 ears yellow or white corn in their husks
1 stick salted butter, softened
1 tsp salt
1 TBL OLD BAY Seasoning

Pull back the husks on the corn and remove the silk. Pull the husks back into place and soak the corn in a large bowl of water for at least 2 and up to 4 hours. Remove and drain on paper towels.

Preheat the grill.

In a small bowl, mix the butter, salt, Old Bay Seasoning, until smooth.

Pull the husks down and spread about 1TBL of the mixture evenly over each ear of corn. Pull the husks back into place, tying the ends if necessary to keep in place.

Place on the grill and cook until the kernels are tender, about 20 minutes, turning occasionally.
Remove from the grill and carefully peel back the husks. Place on a platter and serve immediately.

TEJAS GRANDIOSE BEANS by “The Mommy”

1 cup dried pinto beans
½ cup dried white or navy beans
¼ cup dried split peas
1 TBL OLD BAY seasoning (love that OLD BAY!)
1 tsp garlic powder
2 bay leaves

1 large onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 10 oz can Rotel tomatoes with juice, mild
1 14.5 oz can Diced tomatoes with juice
1 can Bush’s black beans with juice
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ tsp salt
1 can corn

Pour dried beans/peas into Dutch oven, cover with water & rinse thoroughly; drain. Add water to cover contents; heat on stovetop to a boil; remove and drain. Repeat this process once more. This will take the place of overnight soaking and should help “de-gas” beans. You can also place 1 Russet potato in bottom of pot to “de-gas” (Caution: DO NOT EAT THE POTATO!!) Now, add 2 cups water to drained beans in Dutch oven, seasoning and bay leaves. Bring to a boil.

Add Rotel’ tomatoes, diced tomatoes, onion & bell pepper, brown sugar, salt, corn, black beans bring to boil and reduce heat to simmer; cook for 1 hour or until beans are tender, occasionally stirring the bottom. **

During cooking process, you can add leftover ham or Kielbasa sausage slices. Serve hot with grated cheese on bed of hot rice. Serves four as a main dish.

** (If using a pressure cooker, stir after adding ingredients and bring to a boil. Close lid, put on pressure gauge. Continue cooking over medium/high heat. As soon as gauge begins to clatter, turn down heat to simmer and time for 15-minutes. Remove gauge to release pressure. )

"SICKO" a new movie by Michael Moore

2007-07-02T08:34:00.000-05:00

Although I don't often sound off about much and I'm not a fan of Michael Moore, his new movie "Sicko" is right on target. It is time to forget about blaming Republicans or Democrats and get down to the basics of life. 41 million uninsured Americans are the unwilling participants in this blight on our great country. It is of the essence to care for our people.

We encourage you to read this review posted by Lifted Magazine, one of our favorite blogs.

We'd appreciate your feedback.

Dale

Monday, July 2, 2007

New Releases: Sicko

Michael Moore is one of the most controversial documentarists of this time. He has made many friends and enimies with previous films such as Bowling for Columbine and Farenheit 911. But now he has used his personal connections to take his research to a whole new level and perhaps make a positive impact on the lives of many individuals in America.

Although Moore is famous for being one-sided in his political plight, this film is made for the American people in a hope to promote understanding and encourage change in our system. The argument Moore makes is one of a moral and ethical tone. If the United States is one of the richest countries in terms of GDP and other health indices, why do we fall so low in our health care system?

In his film, Moore uses juxtaposition to analyze the US health care system versus counties like Canada, Britain and France. Because these citizens pay for universal health care through taxes, doctors and health-aids are government employees and patients need not worry about their medical bills. Citizens can chose which hospital, pharmacy, and doctor to see – without paying any money. This may seem like a mythical utopia, but as Moore captures in his film, this is a reality. Read our full review online.

For more information on Sicko and local show times, please visit http://www.michaelmoore.com/

Posted by Tiffany at 9:45 AM
Life At Lifted Magazine

Flag Etiquette

2007-06-28T09:41:00.000-05:00

"The things that the flag stands for were created by the experiences of a great people. Everything that it stands for was written by their lives. The flag is the embodiment, not of sentiment, but of history."

Woodrow Wilson, June 14, 1915, Flag Day

Whether it be nylon, polyester or plain cotton, the American flag is more than fabric and thread. It represents each of us, our past, present and future. Great sacrifices and national pride are stitched into its stars and stripes, and it stands as a symbol of hope, opportunity and freedom.

The flag is not an inanimate object. It flies freely with a life force powerful enough to unite an entire nation.

Since every person has the right to own and display the American flag, it's important to treat it with respect. Representatives of 68 national organizations including the Army and Navy came together to create the United States Flag Code, which became public law about a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor. This code formalizes and unifies a set of instructions on handling, displaying and caring for the American Flag. It also indicates inappropriate use and disrespectful behavior. By following these rules, you are showing the flag and our nation your reverence and pride.

When and How to Fly the Flag

Although it is permitted to fly the American Flag any and every day of the year, it is recommended to fly the flag on certain holidays and special occasions. Most people associate the flag with patriotic days like Independence Day and Flag Day, but any holiday that is important to our country can be represented by the flag.

Dates:
New Year’s Day - January 1
Martin Luther King Day - 3rd Monday in January
Inauguration Day - January 20
Lincoln’s Birthday - February 12
Washington’s Birthday - 3rd Monday in February
Easter Sunday - Variable
Patriots' Day - 3rd Monday in April
Mother’s Day - 2nd Sunday in May
Peace Officers Memorial Day (half-staff) - May 19
Armed Forces Day - 3rd Saturday in May
Memorial Day (half-staff until noon) Last Monday in May
Flag Day - June 14
Father’s Day - 3rd Sunday in June
Independence Day – July 4
Korean War Veterans Day - July 27
Labor Day - 1st Monday in September
Patriot Day (half-staff) - September 11
Constitution Day - September 17
Gold Star Mother’s Day - Last Sunday in September
Columbus Day - 2nd Monday in October
Navy Day - October 27
Election Day - 1st Tuesday in November
Veteran’s Day - November 11
Thanksgiving Day - 4th Thursday in November
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (half-staff) - December 7
Christmas Day - December 25
State Birthdays/Holidays
Other Days Proclaimed by the President of the United States

Hours

For a stationary flag displayed on a building, pole or staff, it is customary to fly it from sunrise to sunset. You are only permitted to display your flag at night if it is properly illuminated. This means that you must have a light dedicated to "spotlighting" your flag. A street light or well lit area will not provide enough light. With the right lighting, you can fly your flag 24 hours a day for as many days as you like.

Conditions

If you haven't invested in an all-weather flag, make sure you bring your flag indoors in weather conditions like rain, snow, sleet or hail. Even all-weather flags can be damaged by severe storms, causing them to become torn and tattered. A damaged flag is disrespectful to our nation, and will require repair or replacement.

The Flag Code describes the flag as a living thing, and it should be treated as such. With the proper care, your flag can last for a long time with little or no repair.

Location

According to the Flag Code, the American Flag should be flown:

--On or near every polling place on election days Voting is one of the most important rights we have as American people. It, like the flag, represents our freedom, and stands as a basis for our governmental structure. It is a requirement that the flag is flown on election days at polling places.

--On or near the main administration building of all public institutions

--On or near every schoolhouse (during school days) The flag is to be flown at public schools and colleges to instill a sense of patriotism in the students. These institutions are owned by the government and important to the nation. Although it is strongly suggested to fly the flag in these areas, it is not required.

Position

The flag should always be displayed upright with the union to the top left. Flying the flag with the union down is considered a "breach of etiquette" (Sharpman). However, it can be used as a call for help, similar to SOS, if you are in extreme danger and need assistance.

Throughout the years war protestors have flown the flag upside down to show that the entire country is in distress. It is still a debate whether this should be considered a desecration of the flag or an expression of free speech. It will usually attract negative attention from law enforcement and civilians alike.

Two Blonds & Co. carries flagpole eagles and other patriotic memorabilia and while doing research for July 4th festivities, we came across UNITED STATES FLAG STORE. Their site is most informative regarding the display of our flag, the history and the meaning of respective holidays and events. They offer many sizes of flagpoles, flags and bunting.