Posts

1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained 2 tablespoon snipped fresh basil Salt Ground black pepper

12 6 inch flour or corn tortillas

A Few Door Basics To get that satisfying “thunk” when a door closes—rather than rattles, squeaks, or scrapes—there must be an even gap between the door and the jamb all around. The hinges should be flush with the jamb and move freely, and the stop and the strike plate should be correctly aligned, so the door’s latch easily clicks into the hole in the strike plate when the door closes. The door itself may be solid-core, hollow-core, or made of panels....

Dining Tables Tabletops get seen closely and touched a lot, so read the details to consider if you’ll be happy with the look, feel, and performance of the material. “It’s always great when something comes assembled,” says Taniya Nayak, Boston-based interior designer and designer on Restaurant: Impossible. “You’ll see that the price point is usually higher, but it can be code for higher quality. Assembly required? Chances are the quality isn’t as great....

Zinnia Care Must-Knows Native to grassland areas, zinnias are tough plants that handle drought well. Even though they grow best in well-drained organic soil, zinnias are extremely tolerant of poor soils, including hard clay. No matter where your zinnias grow, they will benefit from a slow-release fertilizer and the occasional liquid feed to keep them blooming all season long. This is especially true in container settings filled with a soilless potting medium....

Food Safety Tip: Does edamame need to be cooked before eating? Yes! The edamame seeds are incredibly difficult to remove when raw. Fortunately, they slip out easily once the pods are cooked. Also, if you’re cooking edamame from the frozen state, remember that for food safety, all frozen vegetables (including edamame) should be thoroughly cooked before serving. How to Cook Fresh Edamame A steaming bowl of seasoned edamame pods is a go-to appetizer at many restaurants....

Remove them from the pan, place them in a colander, and run cold water over them until they’re cool enough to handle. To peel, gently tap each egg on the counter. Roll the egg between the palms of your hands. Peel off eggshell. Cover and refrigerate eggs until thoroughly chilled, about 1 hour. Egg Know-How Deviled eggs are everything you want in a hot-weather food: cool, easy, and the right size to sustain you between lunch and dinner....

How to Make Quick Bread Follow our Test Kitchen’s best tips for making quick bread that turns out perfect every time, whether you’re craving muffins, scones, or corn bread. Step 1: Grease the Pan Even if your loaf pan ($6, Walmart) is nonstick, grease it to ensure the quick bread dough bakes evenly and doesn’t stick. Use a clean pastry brush to lightly spread vegetable shortening over the bottom and slightly up the sides (about ½ inch) of the loaf pan....

How to Make a Cake Moist There are many steps in the cake-baking process where things can go awry. Follow these three simple guidelines for a moist cake. 1. Use Ingredients Called For and Measure Carefully What makes a cake moist? Precision, for one. Baking requires using exactly the ingredients called for. For example, some cakes use milk, buttermilk (or an acceptable substitute), or sour cream for liquid. These ingredients are not interchangeable....

You’ve likely spotted these on the shelves at your favorite home goods stores over the past few seasons, but it’s just as easy to make your own. Plus, it’s a great way to make good use of a sweater that’s no longer wearable, rather than just throwing it away. These faux pumpkins come together in just a few minutes, so you can make several in an afternoon. Hit the thrift store or sort through your donation pile, then grab a few faux gourds and start creating your own mini pumpkin patch with these simple instructions....

Wooden tubs work well; plastic pots hold moisture, while unglazed terra-cotta dries out quickly. A smaller miniature rose (from 6 to 18 inches tall) needs a pot at least 6 to 8 inches deep; a 2- to 3-foot standard rose requires a container at least 18 inches deep. Make sure the pot has a drainage hole. Click here to learn how to cut and prune your roses. Improve the soil....

Types of Cherry Trees When it comes to fruiting cherry trees, there are really two kinds: sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) and sweet cherries (Prunus avium). 1. Sour Cherries Often called dwarf cherries for their smaller size, sour cherries will reach about 20 feet if allowed to grow unchecked on standard root stocks. These trees grow best in USDA Zones 4-6; they favor cooler climates and are also more disease and pest resistant than sweet cherries....

Which Fabrics Can Be Bleached? The first place you should turn to when debating whether to bleach clothes is the garment care label. Here are the three symbols associated with bleach care and what they mean: Triangle: The garment can be washed with any type of bleach.Triangle with two parallel lines inside: Treat the garment with non-chlorine bleach only.Solid triangle with an X through it: Do not bleach. However, according to Clorox laundry scientist Mary Gagliardi, aka Dr....

How to Tell When Pumpkin Pie Is Done—3 Different Tests Here are three surefire tests for telling when pumpkin pie is done. Note that if your test determines an undercooked pumpkin pie, return it to the oven and bake a few minutes longer before testing it again. The Knife Test The classic knife test is the easiest and most foolproof way to tell if your pumpkin pie is done. Simply insert a knife near the center of the pie....

How To Tie A Bow For A Wreath Follow these simple how-to instructions to tie a classic bow and add it to a wreath. You should be able to complete the steps in about 5 minutes. Supplies Needed: RibbonScissorsWreath Step 1: Select Your Ribbon To make a big statement, opt for a thick ribbon that’s at least 2 inches wide. Ribbon with a wire edge gives the final look more shape and durability....

This affordable material is sold in rolls and features one decorative side and one highly adhesive side (much like an oversize sticker.) And if you’re renting or trying to renovate on a budget, self-adhesive paper makes an ideal option. Anika Gandhi, founder of the blog Anika’s DIY Life, has taken on the project multiple times and says it cost her less than $50 to do her entire kitchen. (She purchased about three to four rolls....