Black Bottom Muffins
Make a Birthday Calendar
If one of your resolutions is to keep track of birthdays and other special occasions this year, treat yourself to a birthday calendar. Buy one at your local stationery store, convert a notebook or journal into one, or make one using the instructions and print-outs below.
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Crazy for Carnations
"The fairest flowers o’ the season are the carnations." from "A Winter’s Tale" by William Shakespeare The Carnation, January’s flower, is simple and sweet with ruffled petals that communicate romance. Carnations are a favorite given in mixed boquets or bunched on their own. Even a single stem is a thoughful gift. Though carnations are usually…
Baking Biscotti
Cold weather begs for hot beverages. Hot beverages beg for something to dunk into them. Which brings us to biscotti. These crunchy, uniquely shaped cookie-biscuits are a perfect accompaniment for tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or even chai. "Bis-cotti" means "twice-baked". A Tuscan baker created these cookies several hundred years ago for dunking into wine. Because…
Caramel Apples
1. Wash apples and dry thoroughly. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and lightly butter it. Put chopped nuts into a shallow dish or on a plate, ready for rolling the apples. 2. Combine caramels and milk in a medium saucepan and melt over low heat, stirring regularly. When thoroughly melted and combined, remove…
Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin, a popular flavor for the holidays, appears in cookies, breads, muffins, purees, and, of course, pie. Usually flavored with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, these fragrant dishes are moist and delicious. Try this recipe for pumpkin bread, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea.
Gladiolus
Gladiolus – August's Flower Unique in many ways, Gladioli are a lovely addition to the home garden. Named for its sword-like foliage (gladius is sword in Latin) and featuring funnel-shaped flowers, this perennial corm is a late summer classic. Successful in many zones ranging from Florida to Canada, gladioli are readily available from the florist,…