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1 ¼ pound fresh tomatoes (4 medium), cored and chopped ½ cup chopped fresh basil 2 tablespoon olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Yellowing of Lower Leaves There are three possible reasons for the older leaves lower down on your plant to turn yellow. First, if roots are pushing through the bottom of the container, it means the plant has run out of room and needs to be repotted into a bigger container with some fresh potting mix ($15, The Sill). Second, the soil may be low in nitrogen, an important nutrient that plants need to grow properly....

According to the Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen, using the countertop to make that first crack is the way to go. There’s an actual reason why you shouldn’t use the bowl (or the edge of the counter) if you can help it. Cracking an egg on the side of a mixing bowl makes a thinner crack than using your countertop. When you use your thumbs to pull the shell apart, you have to break it even more to get the egg open, which creates more tiny pieces of shell that can fall into your food....

We’ve already seen these start to pop up this year—there are currently more than 5,300 posts under #HanukkahBush and more than 700 #HanukkahTree posts on Instagram—and while the tradition is not for everyone, we love the sentiment behind it. We talked to Victoria Wildhorn—who puts up a Hanukkah tree—about what the tradition means to her family. As a child, she had a small 3-foot tree she called a Hanukkah bush....

Highlights Contributor to national food magazines and websites, covering everything from Christmas cookies to Cognac to celebrity chefs.Author of three cookbooks: The Bonne Femme Cookbook: Simple, Splendid Food That French Women Cook Every; The Little Women Cookbook; and Everyday French Cooking: Modern French Cuisine Made Simple.Finalist for the Goodreads Choice Award, Best Food & Cookbooks 2019, for The Little Women Cookbook. Contributor to many Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks, including three editions of the iconic Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book....

A ready-to-drink cocktail is a flavored, typically carbonated alcoholic beverage that’s often promoted as an alternative to other spirits or mixed drinks. If you haven’t already heard of ready-to-drink (or RTD) beverages, you likely will soon: This type of store-bought mixed drink is skyrocketing in popularity. You can find an assortment of options at many retailers (where alcohol is sold in grocery stores, of course). In addition to Casa Cantina, you can find frozen cocktails from SunPop, Ketel One vodka spritzes, and Topo Chico margarita seltzers just on Target’s shelves; most grocery retailers will have a selection of RTD drinks these days....

The term “wicker” actually refers to a technique—it involves the bending and weaving of natural materials such as paper, rattan, bamboo, other grasses, or thin woods like willow branches. Carefully examine your pieces for identifying properties—the characteristic rings on bamboo, the rough bark of a tree branch—to determine what was used to make your wicker furniture. Some wicker-style furniture is also made from synthetic materials, like resins. How to Clean Wicker Furniture Whether your wicker is bamboo or rattan or some other material, a little bit of maintenance and routine cleaning will keep it looking fresh....

½ 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened ¼ cup butter, softened 3 cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon milk

May we introduce you to tie-dye eggs? All you need to make these patterned beauties is baking soda, vinegar, and gel food coloring. If those materials give you flashbacks to science-fair volcanoes, you’re not far off. It’s this fizzing combination of baking soda and vinegar that distributes the food coloring into a graphic pattern reminiscent of tie-dye. These multicolored eggs are pretty on their own, but there’s a way to add another layer of gorgeous design: Drizzle the shells with rubber cement before dyeing them....

This marbling technique is all about experimentation, so have fun! “With marbling, the process is so fluid and unpredictable that no matter the experience level, the end result is beautifully unique,” says Heather Hale, teacher and creative director at Craft, an open studio for makers based in Austin. Her secret to success is confidence: jump in and try different techniques. “During a trial run, I had an ingredient off by one teaspoon and got a completely different result,” says Hale....

Admittedly, compared to ordering delivery, it can feel a bit daunting to make your own pizza dough. But take the DIY route and you can customize your crust any which way you like. Ahead, we’ll share how to make homemade pizza dough for thin to medium pies, such as New York-style, plus how to make pizza dough from scratch for deep dish-style feasts. Then we’ll discuss the process for make-ahead pizza dough so you can save up for a rainy (ahem, hungry) day....

Reusable Bag and Wrap Tips Sandwich wraps and snack pouches can be made using fabric quarters or 18- x 22-inch fat quarters for the outer fabric, which means inexpensive fabric and less leftover material. Allow extra fabric for prints such as diagonal stripes. Use polyester thread ($2, Joann), as it resists moisture transfer. This helps prevent food from drying out. For the liner, ripstop nylon ($8, Joann) can work in place of polyurethane laminate (PUL) ($5, Etsy) and still offer moisture resistance, but it is harder to sew....

1. Bottle Them Up If your little ones have moved on from them, repurpose the bands used to slip around baby bottles or sippy cups. Bundle medium-sized cords and cinch them with these stretchable bands. If you don’t own any, you can easily find inexpensive options online. They can be customized with any text, including information about cord length and usage, so you don’t have to unravel one to check whether it’s the right cord....

Where to Plant American Hornbeam American hornbeam typically comes from nurseries as a single-stem tree. Most cultivars of American hornbeam are columnar in shape when they are young, then develop a pyramidal shape as they age. Plant narrow, upright trees in groups to create a living screen or windbreak. Or use this tree as a specimen plant in a narrow yard or in a curbside planting strip. (A low grower, it can take decades to reach full height—so plan accordingly....

You’ll know it’s time to say goodbye to a candle when 1/2-inch of wax remains at the bottom of the jar. Burning a candle past this point can damage the container or even the surface it’s sitting on. Learn how to get wax out of a candle jar with a few household items and our four no-fail methods. Once you’ve removed any remaining wax, polish up your container with our cleaning tips before reusing it in your home....

You want to serve up sauces with the correct viscosity to cling to the intended food, not run everywhere. Here are some tips on how to thicken sauce with cornstarch and flour—items likely already in your pantry so that you don’t have to run to the store. How to Thicken Sauce with Flour To use flour as a thickening agent: How to Thicken Sauce with Cornstarch Thickening a sauce with cornstarch is very similar to using flour, but you need different quantities: Test Kitchen Tip: Be careful not to overcook cornstarch-thickened sauces....

Set a Budget Before you send out the invitations, set a budget for yourself. You’ll want to set two separate budgets: First, decide how much you want to spend on making your outdoor space party-ready. This includes items you’ll use for all your gatherings, like seating, lighting, and outdoor decor. Doing this at the start of the season will make each event cost less since you’ll already have the basics covered....

Kentucky Derby Party Decor Ideas The first step to any Kentucky Derby party is classic Southern-inspired decor. Vintage silver serving ware and a big bouquet of pink roses bring elegance and charm to your Derby celebration. You can also turn your Kentucky Derby food into party decor! Cute cookie cutters transform our classic gingerbread cookies into race-ready treats, and bright candies and frosted cupcakes tie the color scheme together. All you have to do is add a few flowers and your Kentucky Derby party decor is done!...

If you don’t own a belt sander, look to a local hardware store. Some stores let you rent power tools for a small fee. This is a great option for DIY novices who may not have the space (or need) for such a large tool in their permanent collection. Step 1: Choose Your Belt Before you begin sanding, you’ll need to choose the right sanding belt for the job. Start with a belt that has a coarser grit, such as 40, 80, or 100; this will help remove the majority of scuffs and finishes....