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*Test Kitchen Tip: For seeds, try sesame, poppy, or fennel. For nuts, try pecans, walnuts, or pine nuts.

*Sugar Substitute: Choose from Splenda Granular, Equal Spoonful or packets, or Sweet ‘N Low bulk or packets. Follow package directions to use amount equivalent to 1/2 cup sugar. Blogger Variation by Ashton Swank of Something Swanky For Ashton’s version, add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the crust in Step 1 and add a heaping tablespoon of cinnamon to the cheesecake swirl in Step 3.

The Nordic Ware Elegant Heart Bundt Pan is made from cast aluminum with a nonstick gold-tone coating to ensure an even bake that slides right out of the pan. It has that classic bundt detailing but in the shape of the heart, so it’s basically decorated for you—just top with icing, chocolate ganache, or powdered sugar and berries. Prices range from $32–$40 depending on the retailer, but the pans are already selling out quickly, so be sure to add one to your cart ASAP....

How to Reuse Potting Soil It’s generally fine to reuse potting soil if whatever you were growing in it was healthy. If you did notice pests or diseases on your plants, it’s best to sterilize the mix to avoid infecting next year’s plants. First, remove any roots, grubs, leaves, and other debris from the old potting soil. Then, decide on the best method for banishing microbes and insects. One technique for sterilizing soil is called solarizing....

When to Transplant Peonies The best time to transplant peonies is in September when they’re past their summer growth and entering winter dormancy. But it’s also possible to dig and plant the entire root ball in the spring before the plants start to sprout new growth for the season. Disturbing peonies at any other time of the year will likely stress them out too much for them to survive. How to Divide Peonies First, gently dig up the plant, keeping as many of the roots as possible....

¼ cup finely chopped pistachio nuts ¼ cup finely chopped macadamia nuts 8 ounce white chocolate baking squares 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel 1 tablespoon shortening

How Much Water Do Indoor Orchids Need? In general, the types of orchids most commonly grown as houseplants come from tropical regions of the world, but that doesn’t mean they like constant dampness. And rather than growing on the ground in soil, these tropical orchid species are actually epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants or trees). That means their roots work a little differently than the roots of your other indoor plants, which is why orchids won’t appreciate being planted in regular potting soil....

Although the exact definition has changed quite a bit over the years, gnomes are said to be nature spirits who live underground, often interacting with humans in either helpful or mischievous ways. However, in Scandinavia, gnomes (known as nisse in Norway or tomte Sweden) are associated with the Christmas season. Much like the American Santa Claus, the julenisse—basically Kris Kringle in gnome form—visits the homes of good children on Christmas Eve....

*Tip: To get potatoes to brown properly, it is important to dry them well before cooking. If you don’t have a salad spinner, dry the potatoes by pressing the water out with a potato ricer or by patting the shredded potatoes dry with paper towels. **Tip: A skillet with sloping sides works particularly well. Loaded Hash Browns: Top with scrambled, soft-boiled, or hard-boiled eggs; crisp-cooked and crumbled bacon; cooked pork or chicken sausage; thinly sliced prosciutto, ham, or turkey; chopped white, red, or green onion, sweet pepper, and/or mushrooms; shredded or crumbled cheese; thinly sliced jalapeno chile peppers; salsa; sour cream; hot pepper sauce; and/or chopped fresh herbs....

1 8 ounce package softened cream cheese ⅓ cup sugar 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder ½ cup whipping cream ¼ cup finely chopped macadamia nuts ½ cup toasted coconut Honey Filling with Berries 3 ounce softened cream cheese 2 tablespoon honey ½ teaspoon vanilla ½ cup whipping cream sliced fresh strawberries or other berries Lemon Cheesecake Filling 1 8 ounce package softened cream cheese ⅓ cup sugar 3 tablespoon lemon curd

1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon chopped shallot 1 cup ruby port 2 tablespoon fig or quince jam, large pieces snipped ½ teaspoon dried thyme, crushed 3 tablespoon red wine vinegar 3 tablespoon olive oil ¼ teaspoon salt ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper Shortcut: Instead of making Port Glaze and Vinaigrette, use 1 cup bottled balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing (1/3 cup for the glaze and 2/3 cup for the vinaigrette).

24 flat-bottom ice cream cones 1 cup all-purpose flour 6 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt 6 tablespoon butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs, room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla ¾ cup milk Vanilla Buttercream: ½ cup butter, softened 2 teaspoon vanilla Pinch of salt 4 - 4 ½ cup powdered sugar ¼ cup milk Green food coloring White jimmy sprinkles Candy flowers (optional)