Easy Party Drink Basics Most cocktail drinks consist of four basic parts. Whether you are making margaritas, martinis, daiquiris, or other popular cocktails and mixed drinks, each element makes a different contribution to a drink’s flavor. Basic cocktail components: Bases are the spirits, or liquor, in a mixed drink. Common cocktail bases include bourbon, vodka, gin, brandy, rum, and tequila.Modifiers (or mixers) will enhance your party drink without overpowering it. Popular mixers include vermouth, tonic, club soda, mild or sweet fruit juices, sparkling wines, and soft drinks....

Your Best Veggie Tray Ever When was the last time you went to a party where a veggie tray wasn’t served? Possibly … never? Indeed, a veggie tray is pretty much a must-have on the party buffet. Yet just because it’s the inevitable appetizer doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Check out these party veggie tray ideas for party-perfect results. Try new veggies: Head to a farmers market or natural food grocers for less-expected in-season options, such as young carrots, summer squash, radishes, mini bell peppers, sugar snap peas, and cauliflower—varieties tinged with green or purple will especially turn heads....

Gather the Ingredients Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Read the directions all the way through before starting. Plan on about 45 minutes of hands-on prep time for the cake and frosting, plus 20 minutes baking time and about 1 hour to cool the cake layers completely before frosting.Allow 3/4 cup butter (1-1/2 sticks) and 3 large eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. The butter will blend more easily with the other ingredients if it is slightly softened, and the eggs will give the cake more volume if given the chance to warm up a bit....

To pull off a successful bathroom remodel or build, a functional floor plan is key. To determine space-planning requirements, answer the questions below to fully understand how you’ll use the space. For an existing bath, assess the pros and cons of the current layout. For a new bathroom layout, think about how your dream space would function. Questions to Ask Yourself When Planning a Bathroom Layout These important considerations can help you determine the best way to lay out your new or newly-remodeled bathroom....

Varieties of Petticoat Daffodil Small-Cup Daffodil Small-cup daffodils have all the same qualities of large-cup and trumpet daffodils, with the exception of the size of their cups. To be classified as a small-cup daffodil, the cup must be less than one-third the length of the petals.Most small-cup daffodils bear only one flower per stem. Blooms may be yellow, white, pink, or bicolor, and some are fragrant. Daffodils make good cut flowers....

Varieties of Waterlily Tulip Uncle Tom Tulip Double-flowered tulips stand out because their blooms are packed with petals. Some have so many petals that they are referred to as peony-flowered tulips for their resemblance to those flowers. Bloom time depends on type; some bloom in early spring and others bloom late. Regardless of when they show off their flowers, the blossoms last a long time because the flowers have so much substance....

If you don’t notice a pet stain until it has already set, you’ll likely have to use more powerful cleaning agents to lift out the spot. But with the right technique, it won’t be permanent. Even when the stain is visibly gone, however, the odor might still persist. In our guide below, we’ll show you how to remove pet stains and odors, including techniques for tackling old stains and neutralizing stubborn smells....

Because sockets and the wires attached to them are near a hot bulb and often enclosed, they deteriorate. If all the lights do not work, the stem wire probably needs to be replaced. If some wiring needs to be replaced, consider rewiring the entire fixture—it won’t take much longer. If only one light fails to come on, try pulling up the contact tab inside the socket. Vacuum dust from the socket....

About Beehives The most popular hive, the Langstroth, was invented in 1852 by apiarist Lorenzo Langstroth, aka the father of American beekeeping. It lets you harvest the honey with minimal bee disturbance. The structure includes a cinder block base, a bottom board that works as an entrance for worker bees, a brood box where the queen lays eggs, and supers, which are boxes with vertical frames (10 per super) where the bees build honeycomb....

How to Store Unbaked Cookie Dough If you want to get a head start on cooking making, but still want fresh-from-the-oven cookies in a few days, store the dough. Then, when you’re ready to serve, remove the dough from storage and bake. Refrigerate Cookie Dough: How long do cookies last in the fridge? Unbaked, you’ve got about 7 days. Mix cookie dough (except bar cookie batters and meringues) and refrigerate up to 1 week....

But what happens if your baking spree depletes your supply of brown sugar? Luckily, there’s a quick and easy solution for this. You can substitute white sugar for brown sugar in one of two ways: either by using them interchangeably or by relying on our Test Kitchen’s easy brown sugar substitute. How to Substitute Sugar for Brown Sugar In a pinch, white sugar in an equal amount will work just fine as a brown sugar replacement....

Closely Related, Yet Different Plants Christmas cactus and Thanksgiving cactus are closely related, so it’s easy to mistake them for the same plant. Both grow wild in the mountains of southeastern Brazil, so they prefer things on the cool and shady side, unlike the cacti found in desert habitats. This is partly why they make such easy-care houseplants, though they do need more regular watering than a desert cactus would. Both of these holiday cactus plants have flattened, spineless, segmented green stems, and technically they don’t have leaves....

1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened ⅔ cup butter, softened 8 ounce white baking chocolate, melted and cooled 3 teaspoon vanilla 8 cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoon milk For a lamb face: Frost the top and add a woolly trim: Use a piping bag and star tip to make a ruffly border around the edge. If you don’t have a star tip, make curly loops using a small open tip or plastic bag....

Plant Person: “My favorite thing about home is my plants. We have loads! My partner and I have very green fingers! They may soon take over because we have sooo many.” Never Fear: “We moved around a lot because of my father’s work, so I think there was always a sense of adventure. Because of that, I have never been afraid of traveling, experiencing new things, and meeting new people....

What Is Cottage Cheese? Cottage cheese is a fresh cheese made of curds and cream. It has a mild, milky flavor and its texture is soft and creamy. According to Jesse Merrill, co-founder and CEO of Good Culture, the process starts by fermenting milk with gut-friendly live and active cultures which form curds. “Once the curd is made and the whey is drained, cream is added to finish off the ridiculously good, thick and creamy cottage cheese we know and love,” he says....

Tips Round out this meat and potatoes recipe with a side dish of fresh steamed broccoli or green beans.

In 2014 Jessica started RockPaperRobot, an engineering and design firm that specializes in decor, art, and technology. With Jessica’s passion for technology, artificial intelligence, and home decor, she has contributed her design and organization tips to Beautiful Kitchens & Baths and Better Homes & Gardens.