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1 cup packed brown sugar ½ cup butter ½ cup half-and-half or light cream 2 tablespoon light-colored corn syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla

Our fun (and free) bingo card is easy to download and print, and it’ll help you check off all these classic activities. Shoot for four in a row, or go all out for Independence Day and check off all 16 items on the list. 1. Make a Red, White, and Blue Dessert If apple pie is the most American food you can make, these red, white, and blue desserts are a close second....

See great tropical flowers for your deck or patio. Test Garden Tip: Save money and go green with solar-powered lights. New models cast a glow for a much longer period than old types. Test Garden Tip: Pay attention to plants when planning your backyard. Big, bold tropicals create one look; select lavender, sage, and other silvery-leaf plants for a Mediterranean feel. Test Garden Tip: Create a ledge in your pond so koi have a place to find shelter from predators, such as birds and raccoons....

10 cup water 2 pound pork hocks 2 carrots, cut into thirds 3 stalks celery, cut up 1 medium onion, cut in half ¼ cup fresh thyme sprigs, loosely packed 3 bay leaves 3 cloves garlic, minced

Highlights Past contributing editor to Country Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, Garden Design and Florists’ Review magazinesPast garden features writer for Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the Los Angeles TimesPast president of GardenComm, the international association of garden communicatorsFrequently quoted expert on flower farming, sustainable floral design, lifestyle trends and outdoor living. She has been quoted in the New York Times, WSJ, Washington Post, and many major shelter publications She is also the editorial director and co-founder with Robin Avni of BLOOM Imprint, a boutique publisher that identifies and develops creative book ideas by and about members of the Slow Flowers Movement....

Red Wallpapered Bathroom If you’re looking to start small, wallpaper in a small-scale pattern with a white background, like seen above, is a subtle choice. Red accents in an otherwise neutral bathroom feel pretty and glamorous. The red remains approachable, accented with marble countertops and silver accents. Add blue for a more nautical feel, or try pink if you want to skew feminine. Retro Red Eclectic Kitchen Decorating with red walls in this kitchen evokes a retro feel....

Deutzia Care It’s hard to believe that deutzia didn’t catch on sooner. They’re extremely low-maintenance. Plant them in well-drained soils and provide consistent moisture until they’re established. Once established, they can handle drought well, with few, if any, negative side effects. Plant deutzia in full sun to maximize the flower buds and fall color (a few varieties turn deep burgundy red for a show of color in fall). While full sun is ideal for flower production, some varieties, like ‘Chardonnay Pearls,’ do better in part sun, as their blooms can burn in intense sun....

A mixer A mixing bowlA spatulaA wooden spoonA cookie sheetA cooling rack While anyone who cooks most likely has the first five items on the list, some cooks find themselves without that last item: a wire rack to cool cookies. How important is this cookie cooling rack? What can you substitute if you don’t have one? Good questions. Here are some straightforward answers. Do I Need a Cooling Rack to Cool Cookies?...

1 cup shortening 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon almond extract 4 cup powdered sugar 3 tablespoon milk

Fresh Tomato and Olive Topping: In a small bowl, stir together 1 cup seeded and finely chopped tomato (2 medium): 1 cup coarsely chopped assorted pitted ripe olives (such as kalamata, Greek, or Mission); 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion; 2 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro or parsley; 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar; and 2 cloves garlic, minced. Shrimp Topping: In a medium bowl stir together 8 ounces peeled and deveined cooked shrimp, chopped; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper....