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1 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoon butter, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 ½ cup powdered sugar milk

Herb Garden Plans for Beginners The first consideration is where you will grow your herbs—in the ground or in a pot. Although both work, success depends on choosing the correct herb for the conditions. (No matter where you plant them, know that all herbs need 6 to 8 hours of sun and well-drained soil.) Many herbs reach high and wide. Those will do best in the ground. Perennials are better suited where they won’t be disrupted when your garden tiller works the soil....

2 tablespoon safflower oil ¼ cup chopped yellow onion ½ cup chopped red bell pepper ¾ cup fresh or frozen (thawed) baby lima beans or edamame 1 cup fresh corn kernels (2 ears) ¼ cup apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon dry mustard ½ teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoon chopped fresh dill weed 1 tablespoon chopped green onion

⅓ cup plain fat-free yogurt 2 tablespoon fat-free mayonnaise or salad dressing 1 ½ teaspoon Dijon-style mustard 1 teaspoon honey

Think of designing a landscape for the bare lot surrounding your new home as an adventure in creativity. Perhaps your property needs only a few small, easily doable projects to make it more attractive. Either way, it’s important to consider how each change will relate to the big picture. Stand back from time to time to see the entire landscape and how each part fits into it. Start at Square One Begin at square one, whether you seek to perform landscaping magic by transforming a new site or you are refreshing an established one....

⅓ cup packed brown sugar 3 tablespoon butter 3 tablespoon honey 1 cup dry roasted mixed nuts Pastry for a Single-Crust Pie 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup shortening ¼ cup butter, cut up, or shortening ¼ cup cold water

Entertaining expert Kimberly Whitman says only one rule truly matters. “Do whatever makes those around you feel good,” she says. “Just show kindness. If you keep it simple and fun, you’ll have a good time, and your guests will too!” To share her love of entertaining, Kimberly partnered with interior designer and close friend Shelley Johnstone Paschke to host a luncheon in Dallas that celebrates their new book, A Loving Table: Creating Memorable Gatherings....

Before You Start Cleaning Copper Some copper items feature a lacquer finish that you should avoid cleaning with these methods. To determine whether the surface is lacquered, dip a rag in white vinegar, then baking soda, and use it to rub an inconspicuous spot on the copper surface. If it removes an area of tarnish, the piece isn’t lacquered, and you can use the following natural cleaners. Before cleaning copper, you should check if the item is copper-plated....

What Is Honeynut Squash? This tiny squash’s life began in the 1980s at Cornell University as a cross between butternut and buttercup squashes. It wasn’t until 2015, when plant breeder and associate professor Michael Mazourek refined the flavor and shrunk its size to create a small squash with concentrated flavors, that honeynut became available nationally. How It Stacks Up At about 5 inches tall and weighing less than 2 lb., honeynut squash is roughly half the size of an average butternut but has sweeter, more concentrated flavor....

Patty pan squash is a variety of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo), making it a relative of the zucchini and yellow summer squash you might be more familiar with. They come in yellow, light green, dark green, orange, white and multicolored varieties, and can be harvested and utilized when the veggies are as small as a ping pong ball or as large as a softball. Patty pan squash season is generally around May through August....

How to Grill Chicken Breasts Start by removing the skin if you want (remember there’s no need to rinse chicken), then marinate and/or season the chicken. Place the chicken breasts on the grill rack directly over medium coals. Grill, covered, 15 to 18 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 165°F when inserted in the thickest part, turning once halfway through grilling. Test Kitchen Tip: To test your grill for medium heat, use the built-in thermometer on your grill if it has one....

An upflushing unit makes the job much easier. Instead of using gravity to drain, an upflushing toilet has a heavy-duty pump activated by a float and switch. When the lower portion of the tank fills, the pump turns on, forcing waste up through the 2-inch drain. A 3-inch vent is required. Make sure the vent and drain conform to local plumbing codes. Some upflushing units, especially those installed in the ’70s and ’80s, were unreliable and needed frequent repairs....

Drain and vent lines must be positioned precisely, so you should install them before the supply pipes. It might be possible to simplify supply runs by moving a vent pipe over a few inches. If you must run drainpipes across a floor, carefully calculate the amount of vertical space available; you must slope the drainpipe at ⅛- to ¼-inch drop per foot. Sometimes it’s difficult to visualize how drainpipes will travel through walls and floors....

First, almost all gas lines are black threaded pipe, which is installed the same way as galvanized pipe. Make sure you know the difference when working. It’s also crucial to measure carefully, keeping in mind that ½- and ¾-inch pipe goes about ½ inch into each fitting. Have a home center or hardware store employee cut and thread pieces to these exact measurements. A more flexible strategy is to estimate your pipe and fitting needs....

Craft this spring wreath using faux florals and an inexpensive grapevine wreath form (just like our DIY tulip wreath). We used two types of artificial cherry blossom stems to create a lasting decoration that will last year after year. Customize your finished wreath with a metallic or patterned ribbon and hang it on your door. How to Make a Cherry Blossom Wreath Supplies Needed Faux cherry blossom stemsWire clippersFlorists wireGrapevine wreath RibbonScissors...