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Amy Elbert attended Northwestern University. She also graduated with a B.A. in History and English from the University of Iowa.

Normally you need an Ancestry account to view your family tree and map your genealogy, but the company has made it free for anyone to use this service. The only information you have to enter is the name of a grandparent and a place they may have lived. I entered my maternal grandfather’s name and the state he lived in and found my first female relative who was eligible to vote: The 19th Amendment was passed when my great-great-grandmother was 41, so she was able to vote for the first time in the 1920 election....

½ cup packed brown sugar ⅓ cup all-purpose flour ¼ cup oats ¼ cup butter Cream Cheese Topper 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened ⅔ cup whipping cream ⅔ cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoon raspberry jelly

Classic Art Deco Materials Many of the materials used in traditional Art Deco rooms and furnishings also lent inspiration to hallmark colors of the period. For example, polished or inlaid hardwoods with unusual graining or patterning – ebony, zebrawood – were often used in furnishings and fixtures, which led to deep, dark browns and shades of black on focal-point pieces. Designers from the Art Deco period also relied heavily on metals such as bronze, brushed steel, and nickel....

To Serve Salad on Oranges: Peel and section 6 oranges over a bowl, reserving the juice. Arrange orange sections on chilled dinner plates. Top with meat and beet slices; drizzle with the reserved orange juice and the dressing. Sprinkle with parsley.Nutrition analysis per serving: 362 calories, 27 g protein, 27 g carbohydrate, 15 g total fat (4 g sat. fat), 68 mg cholesterol, 6 g fiber, 21 g total sugar, 10% Vitamin A, 95% Vitamin C, 644 mg sodium, 9% calcium, 18% iron...

1 ½ cup sour cream 4 Roma tomatoes, diced ¼ cup finely chopped chives Pizza Dough 1 teaspoon sugar 1 cup warm water (113°F) 1 tablespoon active dry yeast (or 2 packets) 2 tablespoon olive oil, plus more to grease bowl 1 teaspoon fine sea salt 2 ½ cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

Plant banana shrub near a home foundation where its evergreen leaves will provide color and interest year-round and its banana-scented, cream-colored flowers will be enjoyed. It is also a great plant for a mixed shrub border where it will grow alongside other shrubs, such a firebush, bay laurel, bottlebrush, and holly. Employ a mixed shrub border as a living screen. Banana shrub along with other easy-to-grow shrubs will not only mask views, but the shrubs are welcome wildlife habitats, providing food and nesting space....

3 ½ cup water 1 cup yellow cornmeal ¼ cup milk 2 tablespoon purchased dried tomato tapenade or basil pesto ½ teaspoon salt

Highlights Nearly a decade of experience as a garden writer and presenter* Contributor to national garden magazines, including the American Horticultural Society’s The American Gardener and Mother Earth News* Contributor to niche horticultural publications like the Arnold Arboretum’s Arnoldia and the newsletter of the Heritage Rose Foundation* Former professional gardener

Editor for Family Handyman magazine and websiteFreelance writer covering home design, parenting, and travel topicsContributed to Better Homes & Gardens, Parents, Runner’s World, Family Circle, Taste of Home, Do It Yourself, Midwest Living, and many othersCollaborated with brands such as 3M, Better Crocker, Panera, Lowe’s, Target, and many more

2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour ¾ teaspoon salt ¾ cup shortening 8 tablespoon cold water

1 ½ cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup shortening ¼ cup butter, cut up, or shortening ¼ cup cold water

How to Care For Bloodroot Bloodroot grows best in shade or part shade and moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. It is a common wildflower in deciduous woodlands where it thrives in the bright spring light and then grows well in the summer shade produced by foliage overhead. Loose, moist soil that is brimming with nutrients is also key to good bloodroot growth. Improve soil structure and fertility by incorporating a 2-inch-thick layer of compost in the garden bed before planting....

1 ripe avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and mashed (about 1 cup) ½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup sour cream 3 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 3 tablespoon snipped fresh dill ¼ cup milk ½ teaspoon garlic salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper Garlicky Focaccia Croutons 3 cup 1/2-inch cubes garlic foccacia 2 tablespoon olive oil Show Off Before serving, halve, seed, and peel 2 avocados. Cut each half into 4 to 6 wedges and place on top of salad....

3 ¾ cup all-purpose flour 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt 3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces ¾ cup cold water