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What Is Shelf-Stable Milk? Shelf-stable (aseptic) milk is milk that does not need to be refrigerated and can be stored at room temperature in your pantry for later use, says Julia Joseph, co-founder of Maple Hill Creamery. Maple Hill’s single-serve, shelf-stable milk boxes are a true innovation as they provide the only 100% grass-fed organic milk in a shelf-stable format. Why Doesn’t Shelf-Stable Milk Need Refrigeration? Pasteurization and sterile packaging allow for the shelf-stable storage of milk....

What Is Shochu? Shochu is a clear white spirit that’s distilled from (one or a combination of) grains and vegetables such as barley (mugi), rice (kome), or sweet potato (imo). It’s often fermented with koji, a type of mold that grows on the grain which aids in breaking down the starches. (Fun fact: different strains of koji are essential to Asian food preparations and crafting ingredients such as soy sauce and miso....

What Is Soy Sauce? Soy sauce, or shoyu, is a dark brown, salty liquid used as a condiment or ingredient in recipes. Soybeans are, of course, the main ingredient in soy sauce, but the base recipe also usually contains wheat, salt, and water. There is also usually an acid or fermenting agent such as mold or yeast. What Does Soy Sauce Taste Like? Soy sauce provides a salty, savory flavor to dishes when used as a condiment....

How to Plant Orienpet Lilies Like most lilies, you want to get Orienpet bulbs in the ground in the fall. Late fall is the best, but you can plant them as soon as the soil is workable in spring. First, choose a spot in full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight each day) with well-drained soil, then place the bulbs in a hole 2 ½ times their height. Cover the bulbs with soil, pressing firmly to remove any air pockets, then water well....

The tradition dates almost as far back as the holiday itself, and its story is fascinating. It turns out it wasn’t always about performing tricks for the neighbors or carrying around a pumpkin-shaped bucket to collect handfuls of Reese’s Cups and Hershey’s bars. In fact, the phrase “trick-or-treat” wasn’t coined until fairly recently. Before you get into costume and head out with your family this Halloween, read up on the history of this iconic celebration....

Well, there are actually 654 trees that qualified as national champions or co-champions in the 2020 National Register of Champion Trees published last October. They represent nearly 600 different species. Winners are determined using a formula based on the tree’s height, circumference, and crown span (the spread of its branches). That means their status is based on more than just how tall they are. And because trees continue to grow or may get limbs broken off in a storm, the list is updated each year....

So why do the shapes taste so much better than the original? People have been sharing their opinions online for years. While there’s no official statement yet from the Hershey Company on the specific recipe differences, we’re going to proclaim ourselves Reese’s experts and weigh in. We did what any good investigative journalist would do—we bought two bags of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and started unwrapping. We discovered that it all comes down to the peanut butter-to-chocolate ratio....

Spring Maintaining Your Mower Before you even step foot onto your lawn, tend to your mower. Bring your grass cutter in for service in early spring—that way, you’ll beat the rush, and your most critical tool will be in tip-top shape when you need it. Make sure to sharpen the blades so they cut evenly and efficiently. Starting Your Lawn from Seed Fall is the ideal time to start a new lawn from seed....

If you love the look, follow our step-by-step guide to mimic this stunning coastal style—no matter if you’re hundreds of miles from the shore. Although cedar shingles are more time-consuming to install than most other types of siding, the extra effort is worth it for the rich, textured aesthetic they’ll give your home. Before you dive in, make sure your house’s sheathing—the exterior material covering the framing—is made from boards, plywood, or oriental strand board (OSB); otherwise, you won’t be able to install cedar shingle siding....

The most important part about planting successful bulbs is getting the timing right. Then, there are some must-know tips and tricks for taking care of bulbs after they are planted. Use this guide as a springing-off point to get perfect bulb-based blooms in your garden bed or container garden. Learn how to care for bulbs in pots here. When to Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs The best time to plant most spring-blooming bulbs (including tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths) is in fall when the soil temperatures have cooled but before the ground freezes....

This simple outdoor project lets you easily assemble sturdy posts for string lights without digging holes in your yard. Container gardens filled with a foundation of concrete serve as the base for the wood posts, and cup hooks hold the strands of lights in place. Because they’re not set into the ground, you can easily reposition as needed or take them down at the end of the season. The string-light planters also provide an opportunity to add color to your yard with pretty flowers or lush greenery....

Below you’ll find step-by-step instructions for how to make paper snowflakes using things you already have around the house—you only need paper and scissors. You can always use regular printer paper, but other materials like wrapping paper, coffee filters, cupcake liners, or even newspaper also work well and will create shapes of different sizes. Any old pair of scissors will work for this project, but small, sharp scissors will allow for the most precise cuts....

How to Make Tamales: The Basic Ingredients The traditional Mexican dish has a flavorful filling enveloped by masa dough and tied up in softened cornhusks (or banana leaves). To keep the process smooth, do all your prep work ahead of time, such as making the masa mixture and meat filling and softening the cornhusks. Before you start making tamales, double-check that you have all the ingredients you need (if you already have a stocked Mexican pantry, you’re set)....

“With the correct tools and materials, most DIYers will be able to take this project on,” says Lowe’s store manager Gary McCoy. But he’s also quick to point out a few issues that could complicate the process, including the age of the staircase, the number of steps, and whether they’re carpeted. These roadblocks shouldn’t hinder your plans, though. Even carpet is relatively easy to deal with, as long as you have the right tools and guidance for its removal....

Ajuga’s common names are carpetweed and bugleweed, so you’d be right in assuming that this plant is a vigorous grower. Each growing point on the plant is actually a little rosette of foliage. Ajuga spreads steadily by sending out plenty of wandering stolons, which are essentially horizontal roots growing outward from the plant. From each node on a stolon, the plant sends down roots and forms another crown of leaves—so that as they grow, they create more colonies....

The several different species of pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) are actually viola hybrids. (Johnny jump-ups, or Viola tricolor, and Viola ‘Jackanapes’ are closely related, similarly hardy, and usually sold in garden centers at the same time.) These beloved biennials, often grown as annuals, are perhaps most well known for their “faces”—the distinct markings on their petals that British growers began to breed for in the 1800s. However, pansies can also be single-colored or streaked....

Unlike a bouquet of dried flowers, pressed flowers are great for framing and displaying as art, giving as a sentimental gift, or dressing up handwritten cards and letters. You don’t need any special tools to preserve them either; there are a few different methods for pressing flowers, but you can easily get the job done with just a few supplies from around your house. Selecting Flowers for Pressing If you’re pressing flowers from a bouquet, it’s best to start as soon as possible; don’t wait until the day before you’ll have to throw the arrangement out....

How to Press Tofu Do you really need to press tofu? Well, no. There’s nothing wrong with using tofu right out of the water-filled package, but most tofu recipes will call for draining and pressing tofu. When you press water out of tofu, it allows the bean curd to soak up whatever marinade or seasonings you add. Pressing tofu also allows the exterior to get nice and crispy if you’re frying, baking, or sautéing it....