A few smart tips to keep in mind: First, remove all excess moisture from the butternut squash fries before coating them with cornstarch. “This will help them to get more crisp in the oven,” Jawad says. Also, make sure to cut the fries as evenly and thinly as you can to help them get more browned and ensure that they cook through evenly. And lastly, avoid over-crowding your pan with the cut fries....
Here, lovely pink and purple anemone are a fun contrast to golden-yellow California poppy. Shown here are pink foxgloves, blue delphiniums, a pink hydrangea, and red snapdragon. Related Video
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Fireflies are predators of many garden pests and essential pollinators, so it’s crucial to find out if their numbers are growing or shrinking. That’s why Mass Audubon, a nonprofit that protects over 38,000 acres of land in Massachusetts, asks people to spend 10 minutes per week counting firefly flashes. Even if you don’t see any, that will still provide valuable information to scientists. If you want to participate in the project, keep an eye out for fireflies before they usually come out in your area....
Cover Crop Benefits Cover cropping can benefit any garden, says horticulture educator Chris Enroth with Illinois Extension. In addition to crowding out weeds, it puts down roots that feed the soil’s community of living organisms—including fungi, bacteria, and earthworms—that provide nutrients to future plantings. A cover crop’s roots and organic materials also loosen compacted soil and produce binding agents. These help soil filter water to plant roots and hold some of it there for later rather than pooling it on the surface or letting it run off, taking soil with it....
What is a rain chain? Originally called kusari-doi, rain chains started in Japan, where they are still used to keep water runoff away from roofs and foundations of homes. Beautiful and highly functional, rain chains attach to gutters and guide rainwater down to the ground or to a water-harvesting receptacle. In Japan, they are used on homes, garden pagodas, temples, and other iconic settings. The popularity of rain chains has soared in the United States in recent years and it’s no wonder why....
Even when considering that information, my proclamations to others about how I never want to own a home are routinely met with the same response: disbelief, followed by a monologue about the American dream (the one that I’m supposedly missing out on). The worst responses also include statements about my supposed financial irresponsibility as I skip out on the sound investment opportunity that is home ownership. But I don’t think I’m missing out on anything....
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From simple to ornate, the right area rug can either blend into the background or become the room’s focal point. Laying down a new rug is also an easy way to give your living space a quick refresh. Simply decide which rug size best fits your space, then choose a color and pattern that complements the pieces you already have. To help inspire your own living space, we’re sharing our favorite living room rug ideas....
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1. Utilize Outdoor Space Summer is the time to get outside! Utilize your outdoor space to throw a summer dinner party under the stars, a pergola, or treetops. Update your patio space with wall decor, a DIY fire pit, or planters. Make sure there is plenty of outdoor seating for all of your guests. Oversize outdoor pillows tossed about the space is a super-easy way to create more seating that is unforgettably cozy....
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Buy It: Hamilton Beach Stack and Snap 12-Cup Food Processor ($60, Target) Test Kitchen Tip: Serranos and other chile peppers contain oils that can irritate your skin and eyes. Wear plastic or rubber gloves when working with them. Buy It: OXO Good Grips 7-Cup Smart Seal Glass Round Container ($16, OXO) Related Video
Plus, you might notice that some of the markdowns you saw on Friday have an even steeper discount right now. Just think of this Cyber Week as your last chance to save loads on all the things you need for your home as well as clothing and beauty items ahead of the big holidays. So if you missed out on Black Friday, you’ll want for nothing after this sale....
Buy It: All-Clad Grill Pan, $60, Williams Sonoma Buy It: Lodge Cast-Iron Grill Pan, $39, Target Test Kitchen Tip: Enjoy leftovers as a grab-and-go breakfast sandwich the next day by tucking a sliver inside a pita or between two slices of toast. Related Video
Test Kitchen Tip: Make the squash blend, ricotta mixture, and slice the toasts up to 24 hours in advance. Store each in a separate airtight container (the toast at room temp, the other two in the fridge). Just before the party, toast the bread as you allow the other two elements to come to room temp. Then layer it up! Test Kitchen Tip: This DIY condiment makes seven half-pints. Enjoy one at the soirée, then send guests home with a jar each as a thoughtful food gift that will extend the celebration....
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