Deadly Castor Beans Castor bean is extremely poisonous due to the deadly compound ricin in all parts of the plant, but especially the seeds. (The seeds are safe to handle because they have a protective coating.) However, the seeds do contain nontoxic oil harvested for numerous uses, including industrial, cosmetic, and as a laxative. If you can’t resist adding this tropical plant to your landscape, consider cutting off flower stalks before they mature to prevent them from setting seeds....

6 tablespoon butter, softened 1 16 ounce package powdered sugar (4 cups) 4 tablespoon champagne, sparkling wine, or milk 1 teaspoon vanilla Champagne, sparkling wine, or milk

2 tablespoon butter 4 medium bananas, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices ¼ cup tequila ¼ cup agave nectar ½ cup water ½ teaspoon cornstarch

3 ounce semisweet chocolate 1 ½ teaspoon shortening

Pressure Cooker Directions Prepare as directed, except reduce all ingredients by half. Combine all ingredients in a 6-quart stovetop pressure cooker or electric pressure cooker. Lock lid in place. Set electric cookers on high pressure to cook for 1 1/2 hours. For stovetop cookers, bring up to pressure over medium-high heat according to manufacturer’s directions; reduce heat enough to maintain steady (but not excessive) pressure according to manufacturer’s directions. Cook for 1 1/2 hours....

1 ¼ cup vegetable oil 2 inch piece of ginger, sliced 2 star anise pods ½ cup chopped garlic, packed ½ cup chopped shallot, packed ¼ cup crushed red pepper flakes 2 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce 2 teaspoon umami/mushroom seasoning or 2 Tbsp. reduced sodium soy sauce

¾ cup vinegar ⅔ cup water 2 tablespoon sugar ¼ teaspoon salt 1 pound green tomatoes 1 teaspoon salt 3 teaspoon dill seed 3 serrano peppers ** To grill bread or buns brush lightly with olive oil or margarine. Grill directly over medium coals for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until just toasted, turning once. *** An instant-read meat thermometer ensures perfectly cooked burgers (patties). The internal color of the burger is not a reliable doneness indicator....

Chive Care Must-Knows Chives grow best in full sun and well-drained soil. Plant them in a raised bed to improve drainage, if needed. They tolerate part shade well and will grow and blossom when they receive at least 6 hours of bright, direct light. One of the easiest herbs to grow, chives slowly increase the size of the initial plants and they self-seed, popping up around the garden. Easy to remove, any unwanted seedlings should be pulled....

½ cup whipping cream 6 ounce bittersweet chocolate, chopped ½ teaspoon peppermint extract ⅓ cup chopped peppermint sticks Chocolate Butter Frosting ½ cup butter, softened 5 cup powdered sugar ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder ¼ cup milk 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla 2 tablespoon milk

1 16 ounce package powdered sugar (4-1/4 cups) 3 tablespoon meringue powder ½ teaspoon cream of tartar ½ cup warm water 1 teaspoon vanilla **Tip: Meringue powder is a mixture of pasteurized dried egg whites, sugar, and edible gums. Look for it in the baking aisle of your supermarket or at a specialty food store.

2 pound sweet potatoes ¼ cup margarine or butter ¼ cup plain yogurt Low-fat or skim milk