Notes from the Garden

I grow lots of my seasonal herbs and veggies from seed, which means I always have too many seedlings for the area I've reserved for them. I give some away, but there always seem to be more -- and more -- and more than I plan for.Instead of throwing the...

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How to Make Fried Zucchini Cakes with Herbs

One of my success stories in the garden is definitely squash. When I manage to save my crop from the ravages of squash bugs, vine borers, and powdery mildew, I'm ready to celebrate. I fry the blossoms for an incredibly tasty appetizer and grate young,...

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Cleaning Flower Pots - and Decorating Them Too

I'm a big advocate of variety in plant pots. I've used ceramic mixing bowls (that I drilled holes in with a special drill bit -- a big thumbs up for Ms. Fixit), watering cans, bulk kitty litter containers, buckets, window boxes, bulk plastic plant pots...

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How to Make Sun Tea With Fresh Herbs (or tea bags)

I'm all for beverages that make themselves -- while I do something else. Sun tea is like that. It's also very nice to make something right in the garden. I used to have a neighbor who put a huge glass jar filled with fresh herbs for sun tea in her driveway...

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What is Borage and How Do You Grow It

Borage has been used for herbal healing since at least Roman times. Recently, you may have read about its effectiveness in treating the inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. It's an interesting herb with a lot going for it -- but there's...

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How to Make Dill Pickles from Scratch

It's easy to make dill pickles -- and it's fun too.The dill in my garden is up to my knees and ready to harvest. Actually, I'm lucky it hasn't bolted. It's in dappled light by a ruined wooden post in the garden, so it's happy to list sideways in the...

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Herb Butter Recipe for Lamb

I love lamb, and my favorite holiday dish is leg of lamb cooked on the rotisserie. I use lots of rosemary, oregano, garlic and lemon during prep, and add a little mint too. When I'm cooking lamb chops or grilling lamb kabobs for a quick meal, I like...

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What is Castor Sugar?

Castor sugar is a very finely wrought sugar product. It isn't powdered sugar (sugar to which anti-clumping agents like cornstarch have been added). It's a granulated sugar, but the granules are very tiny. In the U.S., castor sugar is often called superfine...

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Spice Sugar Recipe

Spice sugar is a fall treat around our house. It's our introduction to Halloween and everything that follows. How to Make Spice SugarI throw lots of spices together with sugar to make a mixture that I can use in pies and cookies. It's a kitchen sink...

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Cardamom Sugar Recipe

If you aren't familiar with cardamom seed, you're missing out on a tasty sweet and savory spice that's warm and heady without being overpowering. It's the key ingredient in an outlandishly delicious hot toddy I make every holiday season.You don't have...

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Lime Sugar Recipe

Lime sugar is very like lemon sugar, but because limes have that slightly distinctive bite, lime sugar can add that something extra to desserts and baked goods. It makes a nice, aromatic topping for cupcakes and cookies. If the idea of lemon sugar in...

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