Making homemade birdseed ornaments is a great project that is fun, kid-friendly, inexpensive, and it feeds birds such as cardinals, finches and grosbeaks. As if that wasn't enough, making homemade birdseed ornaments results in great gifts that are fun to give during the holiday season. Birdseed ornaments and wreaths fit the “bill” on all counts. (Did you see how I snuck that pun in?) Feeding songbirds is a great way for us to interact with nature. Plus, homemade bird seed ornaments help birds get through the tough months of autumn and winter. That’s when available food is scarce, and wild birds need all the help they can get. Studies show that consistent bird feeding produces significantly earlier egg laying dates, larger clutches of eggs, and higher chick weights across a wide range of bird species. Feeding birds is not only good for the birds, it makes bird lovers happy. Here’s how I create homemade birdseed ornaments for my bird friends—and for my people friends, … [Read more...] about Feed Birds with Homemade Birdseed Ornaments
recipe
Easy-to-Bake Lemon Tangelo Meringue Pie
A delicious Lemon Tangelo Meringue Pie is a variation on the classic lemon meringue pie. If there is a Dessert Hall of Fame, surely the lemon meringue pie is inducted. It’s delicious. It looks great. And it’s not hard to make—it just looks like it would be hard to make. The lemon meringue pie is so awesome it even has its own Wikipedia page. When you bake a lemon meringue pie, people are impressed. So, imagine the kudos you’ll get when you bake a Lemon Tangelo Meringue Pie. Whoa! Your friends and family with think you just got back from a pastry-making class in Paris. The list of ingredients is in the graphic below. I have also included a link to my video on YouTube that shows all the steps in making this delicious dessert. Helpful Instructions for Making a Lemon Tangelo Meringue Pie When I make this Lemon Tangelo Meringue Pie, I make it gluten free. So, I buy a gluten-free pie crust from the natural foods market. Feel free to use a regular pie crust if you would … [Read more...] about Easy-to-Bake Lemon Tangelo Meringue Pie
Festive Holiday Drinks for Fabulous Celebrations
There’s nothing like festive holiday drinks to make holiday parties come alive. It's no wonder that cold weather makes us want to snuggle and keep warm, and hot beverages certainly help. So, I've taken some favorite recipes and changed them up a bit to delight your guests. (It's also perfectly acceptable for you to enjoy these festive holiday drinks during an intimate evening with your special loved one.) I have also included my favorite eggnog recipe for when you want a cold and refreshing holiday beverage. Enjoy! Grand Marnier Hot Chocolate (Serves 8-10) Delicious hot chocolate might be the queen of all festive holiday drinks. This hot chocolate gets its kick from Grand Marnier. But if you want a non-alcoholic drink, leave out the liqueur and instead add 4 strips of orange peel (½ inch wide) to the liquid as it is heating. Ingredients 2/3 cup natural, unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch-process cocoa powder or dark cocoa powder such as Droste, Ghiradelli or … [Read more...] about Festive Holiday Drinks for Fabulous Celebrations
Garden Roses: Queen of Edible Flowers
When it comes to edible flowers, edible roses recipes are among my favorites. Roses are among the most ancient of flowers and are one of the most revered. Fossil records indicate roses have been on Earth for more than 40 million years—predating humans. Native only to the northern hemisphere, roses will also grow south of the Equator. The Greek poet Sappho summed it all up more than 2,500 years ago when she called roses the “Queen of Flowers.” That's why I consider edible roses recipes to be the queens of edible flowers foods. After all, roses have been cultivated for thousands of years. But the ancient Romans get the credit for introducing the flowers to the world as edible. (Peasants already used the rose hips). Selecting Edible Roses for Flavor There are more than 200 species of roses and 20,000 man-made hybrids. The flavors of rose petals run the gamut from totally flavorless to bitter, sour to sweet, slightly spicy to herbal and apple to minty. With all the roses to choose … [Read more...] about Garden Roses: Queen of Edible Flowers
Edible Spring Flowers: Dandelions, Tulips and Violets
After a long winter is finally over and flowers are bursting forth everywhere, it’s time to start thinking about edible spring flowers. Edible spring flowers (and some edible summer flowers) grow throughout the garden—and even in the lawn. These flowers do double duty, because they are as attractive outdoors in the yard and the meadow as they are on the plate. And they taste really good. Let’s look at three spring-blooming edible flowers —dandelions, sweet violets and tulips. While some folks bemoan dandelions and violets in their lawns, I rejoice at the ever-increasing number of lawns that are not pristine green, because the presence of these lively yellow and purple flowers mean that the lawn has not been treated with chemicals. (See The 10 Commandments of Edible Flowers posted here on HG&H.com.) Meanwhile, tulips rarely have any pests or diseases, so there’s no need for any chemical intervention. Edible Flowers: Dandelion Native Americans and the American … [Read more...] about Edible Spring Flowers: Dandelions, Tulips and Violets
