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Preparation Heirloom produce, flowers, seed, and books about heirloom foods keep trending. But what exactly does “heirloom” mean? The first thing to understand about heirloom is that there is no single or legal definition for the term. It is open to some (occasionally heated) interpretation. This can be frustrating for gardeners who want to understand what they are planting, what they should plant, and why. It also complicates our eating and farmers’ market shopping lives: What is heirloom?...

Preparation Looking for a new way to upgrade a room? Consider its fifth wall: the ceiling. And if you’ve never thought about taking your design inspiration to new heights-or find it much too daunting-you’re not alone. “The ceiling is an important, and often overlooked, element in a room,” says New York-based interior designer Sara Story. “Painting your ceiling a dramatic or subtle color in a contrasting sheen from the walls gives the space another dimension and adds an unexpected twist....

Ingredients 2 cups boiling water 1 box (6 oz) lime-flavored gelatin for green ribbon or berry blue-flavored gelatin for blue ribbon 1 container (6 oz) Yoplait® Original yogurt Key lime for green ribbon or mountain blueberry yogurt for blue ribbon 2/3 cup cold water 2 cups boiling water 1 box (6 oz) lemon-flavored gelatin for cream ribbon or Piña colada gelatin for white ribbon 1 container (6 oz) Yoplait® Original yogurt lemon burst for yellow ribbon or Original coconut cream pie yogurt for white ribbon...

Ingredients 3 large eggs, slightly beaten 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla Dash of salt 2 1/2 cups very warm milk (120°F to 130°F) Ground nutmeg Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt with wire whisk or fork. Gradually stir in milk. Pour into six 6-ounce custard cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Place cups in 13x9-inch pan on oven rack. Pour very hot water into pan to within 1/2 inch of tops of cups (see box, below)....

You can’t go wrong with making homemade Cupcakes. Whether making classic Vanilla Cupcakes or Carrot Cupcakes or this amazing chocolate cupcake recipe! BEST CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE RECIPE- We love this classic chocolate cupcake batter! The cupcakes come out so soft and fluffy – a chocolate lover’s dream. Top the homemade chocolate cupcakes with frosting and you got yourselves the ultimate chocolate dessert! INGREDIENTS- You can have the best chocolate cupcakes ready with just a few simple kitchen ingredients you most likely already have on hand!...

Preparation You like kids-if they’re someone else’s. But when it comes to your own life, you’ve chosen to go child-free. And now, you have to tell your partner. Here’s why: “The decision to have or not have children is one of the most crucial topics every couple must discuss,” says Alisa Ruby Bash, Psy.D., MFT, who adds that if you keep your decision a secret, you risk inviting serious conflict into your relationship....

Ingredients 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted 1 large onion, finely chopped (1 cup) 1 package (16 oz) herb-seasoned stuffing mix crumbs 2 medium red apples, chopped (2 cups) 1 1/2 cups dried cherries 1 cup chopped pecans 2 1/2 cups Progresso™ chicken broth (from 32-oz carton) Preparation Heat oven to 325°F. Grease 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with shortening or cooking spray. In 8-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat....

Preparation You don’t have to start with white fabric-if you want to reinvent a colored item, try a color remover (similar to bleach, but non-damaging) before dyeing it. This will whiten or lighten the fabric so it can take on the new color. Wash your fabric item if it is new. Cover work surface with a drop cloth. Fill a bucket, bin, or stainless steel sink (large enough to hold the fabric loosely) about halfway with very hot tap water or boiling water....

Preparation Few things evoke the spirit of fall like a colorful assortment of mums in the garden, but helping them weather the winter, spring, and summer in order to return next autumn can be tricky for even the most seasoned of green thumbs. “Mums are the most exciting looking when they are in bloom, and the blooms will only last about four weeks,” says garden and landscape designer Amber Freda. “However, people often have a hard time getting mums to bloom as well as they did the first year....

Ingredients 2 cups Original Bisquick™ mix 1 lb bulk spicy or regular pork sausage 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz) Ranch dressing, honey mustard or barbecue sauce, if desired Preparation Heat oven to 400°F. Grease 48 mini muffin cups with shortening or cooking spray. In large bowl, mix Bisquick mix, sausage and cheese, pressing together with hands. Spoon rounded tablespoonfuls into muffin cups. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown....

Full Disclosure: This post was sponsored by National Pork Board. The thoughts and opinions stated are my own. My family loves pork. Not only is it inexpensive and flavorful, but pork is also the jack-of-all-proteins that works in a myriad of dishes. It is a diverse protein giving people the ability to unite through food. In Japanese cuisine, you can find many classic and favorite recipes – from tonkatsu, tonjiru, chashu, to gyoza – that make the best of this versatile meat....

Ingredients 3 cups (16 to 20) Brussels sprouts (12 oz) 2 1/2 cups baby-cut carrots (12 oz) 1 cup water 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper Preparation Trim Brussels sprouts. Cut small “X” in stem end, about 1/4 inch deep. If Brussels sprouts are very large, cut in half. In 2-quart saucepan, place Brussels sprouts and carrots; add water....

Preparation As we head into the warmer months, we’re all turning our attention to our yards—for some people, that means doubling down on our pest control efforts. “Many yards are breeding grounds for insects such as mosquitoes, ants, and other nuisance species,” notes Timothy Wong, Technical Director at M&M Pest Control. “Like all living creatures, they require food, water, and shelter to survive and thrive.” Wong reminds us that finding insects in your backyard is normal—it’s their natural habitat, after all— but it’s important to keep their populations at bay so they don’t start searching for food and shelter too close to your home....

Japanese sweet potatoes are called Satsumaimo (さつまいも, サツマイモ). With distinct purple-ish or reddish color skin, inside the sweet potatoes are creamy white flesh that turns yellow after cooking. They come in small to medium sizes and are generally rounder with tapered ends. In Japan, sweet potatoes are the signature flavor of fall. Nothing beats the warmth of a freshly roasted Japanese sweet potato when the weather turns cool. The sweet and wonderful aroma fills the air....

This Matcha Chocolate, or what we call Matcha Nama Chocolate (抹茶生チョコレート) in Japan, simply melts in your mouth. As I was testing this recipe, I knew I won’t be able to stop eating them so Mr. JOC took them to work. He told me later, “The green tea chocolate disappeared in seconds.” I promise you, it’s really good! Green tea powder, or matcha (抹茶), has a unique bitter taste to it....

Ingredients 1 cup cornmeal 1 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1/3 cup sugar 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 eggs 1 can (14.75 oz) cream-style corn 1/4 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup butter, softened (do not use margarine) 1/4 cup honey Dash salt Preparation Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 9- or 8-inch round cake pan with baking spray with flour. In medium bowl, stir all cornbread ingredients except pecans until well blended....

Ingredients 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup pizza sauce 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1/2 cup chopped pepperoni 1 can (2 1/4 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained 1/3 cup finely diced red bell pepper 5 medium green onions, sliced (1/3 cup) 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (2 oz) 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves Colored tortilla chips Preparation Set oven control to broil. On 12- or 13-inch round ovenproof serving plate, spread cream cheese in thin layer....

Ingredients 1/3 cup ranch dressing 1/3 cup zesty cocktail sauce 1 bag (10 oz) torn romaine lettuce (about 7 cups) 1 cup thinly sliced English (seedless) cucumber 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes (about 1/2 pint) 24 cooked deveined peeled large shrimp, thawed if frozen, tail shells removed (about 1/2 lb) 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives Preparation In small bowl, beat dressing ingredients with whisk until blended. On 4 individual plates, evenly divide lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes....

Ingredients 1 bag (1 lb) dried brown lentils, sorted, rinsed 2 medium carrots, chopped (about 1 cup) 1 large onion, chopped (about 1 cup) 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 cartons (32 oz each) Progresso™ chicken broth (8 cups) 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste 1/2 cup dry sherry or Progresso™ chicken broth 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves Preparation Spray 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray....

Ingredients 1 cut-up whole chicken (3 to 3 1/2 lb), skin removed 1/3 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 medium green bell pepper 2 medium onions 1 can (14.5 oz) Muir Glen™ organic diced tomatoes, undrained 1 jar (4.5 oz) sliced mushrooms, drained 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves 1/4 teaspoon dried basil leaves 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped Grated Parmesan cheese Preparation Coat chicken with flour....