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In 2016, Kristin hosted the first of what’s now an annual Hanukkah party that her Japanese American heritage with her husband’s Jewish roots. As a guest in their home, the couple’s friends find traditional food, decor, and rituals reimagined in modern, intentional ways. Rethink Classic Recipes For Kristin, that means incorporating Japanese ingredients in the Hanukkah dishes, like adding mochi (sweet rice) flour to homemade latkes and yuzu zest (a tart Asian citrus fruit) to doughnut filling....

DIY Retaining Wall Ideas Scrap lengths of rebar or wooden dowels 8-foot, 2x4 lumber 4-foot-long level Base material, concrete blocks, sand, crushed gravel Torpedo level, rubber mallet, construction adhesive, perforated drainpipe Hand tamper; a gas-powered tamper is optional Editor’s Tip: To cut, score a line around the block with a brick chisel, then tap until the block splits. If you need to make many cuts, or cut custom capstones, rent a masonry saw from a tool-rental shop....

When planning your DIY project, save yourself some work and choose a pattern that doesn’t require cutting the patio material. Bricks or pavers in straight or gently curving patterns typically work well for an easy job. Flagstones, with their irregular shapes, are ideal for an informal patio with natural appeal. How to Build a Patio Building a patio is much like putting together a puzzle. Rotate the pieces until they fit together, working to create a nearly uniform space between the stones....

Granite is easy to care for (routine cleaning is as simple as water, a mild dish soap, and a soft cloth) and is generally stain-resistant. Still, you’ll want to take precautions when cleaning and caring for your granite countertops. This is especially true when cleaning granite counters naturally. (Green cleaning favorites such as vinegar and lemon are a no-go for granite.) Employ these care and cleaning strategies, including how to clean granite with natural products, to ensure your granite surfaces retain their natural beauty....

The Best Ways to Clean Houseplants In nature, rain often does the job of cleaning off plants. One of the best ways to clean many tropical houseplants is with a gentle spray of water. Move smaller or compact houseplants like pothos or pilea into a sink. Place larger plants in the shower. Rinse them off with lukewarm water to get rid of pests and dust. Keep the water pressure low and don’t use hot or cold water because extreme temperatures can damage leaves....

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash in an Instant Pot Use our tested step-by-step directions to make spaghetti squash in the pressure cooker. Start by washing your spaghetti squash. Note: We tested 3- and 3½-pound squashes, which both worked. Cut squash in half crosswise (this gives longer strands of squash and fits in your cooker better than cutting lengthwise) and scoop out the seeds. Place squash halves, cut side up, in a 6-quart Instant Pot or other pressure cooker....

How to Cook a Turkey in an Electric Roaster As with all turkeys, allow ample time for the bird to defrost, then prep and season the bird as desired. Make these modifications to cook in an electric roaster. Remove the rack or insert pan from your roaster. Cover and preheat roaster to 325°F Optional, but recommended, brush your turkey with a browning sauce made from butter, Kitchen Bouquet (you can also use Worcestershire, Maggi Seasoning, or Liquid Aminos), and paprika....

How to Slice Flank Steak Whether you’re slicing flank steak before cooking to quickly stir-fry or have finished making a smoky grilled flank steak recipe, you’ll be cutting flank steak the same way. To cut across the grain look at the whole flank steak to determine which direction the muscle fibers are running, then line up your knife perpendicularly (you’ll be cutting through the fibers not parallel to them) to that and slice....

This situation can occur with refrigerator freezers, upright freezers, and chest-style freezers. To handle the problem, all you need to do is defrost the freezer. This easy maintenance project melts the ice and allows it to drain out of the freezer. It also gives you an opportunity to clean the inside of the freezer before plugging it back in or turning it on. Use this guide to learn how to defrost a freezer....

Tips: Remember, soups and other liquids or semiliquids expand when they freeze, so leave about 1/2-inch space below the rim.Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or in the microwave, never at room temperature. Tips for Packing Your Freezer

Before You Start Safety comes first when cleaning electronic appliances, so remember to unplug the dryer, avoid toxic and flammable substances, and use protective gloves and gear before trying these methods to remove stubborn stains. To start, remove any clothes from the dryer and start treating any stains on the garments. Once you’ve treated the ink stains on clothes, move onto the dryer. According to Don’s Appliances, start with a 1:1 warm water and bleach mixture to wipe away ink stains....

In order to prevent a pileup of blankets, it’s important to know how to organize them when not in use. The following blanket storage ideas will help you prevent clutter and maintain a tidy space while still keeping throws within convenient reach. 1. Tuck Them into a Trunk Whether antique, heirloom, or even brand new, storage trunks make for great multifunctional furniture. A trunk placed in the living room or family den can serve as a coffee table and create necessary storage for blankets....

Find other DIY chocolate candy recipes. Try our other fruit cobbler and crisp recipes!

Test Kitchen Tip: If you anticipate being crunched for time on Thanksgiving, stir together the syrup up to 2 days ahead. Once guests arrive, it takes less than 10 minutes to shake up a batch of sidecars.

More Sewing Room Organization Ideas

Use Almost Empty Jars for Sauces When your jar of mayonnaise or peanut butter is almost empty, use it to shake up a sauce for pasta or make a salad dressing so you’ll use every last bit. Bonus: Because you don’t have to get out a bowl, this also prevents more dishes from getting dirty! Put a Cheese Rind in Your Soup The rind at the end of your Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is packed with a salty, umami flavor that can really enhance your dishes....

Buy It: Pyrex Glass Food Storage Container ($11, Target) Buy It: Cuisinart Tart Pan with Removable Bottom ($17, Crate & Barrel) Buy It: Wilton Ultra Bake Professional 3 Tier Stackable Cooling Gridsoling Grids ($11, Target)