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Monthly Archives: July 2013
Homemade Fig Newtons
Introduced by the Kennedy Biscuit Company in 1891, Fig Newtons were named not for physicist Isaac Newton, but rather the town of Newton, Massachusetts, near the factory that first produced the tasty cookie commercially. Kennedy Biscuit eventually merged with several … Continue reading
Grass Guide: Zoysia
Heat tolerant and able to grow under many soil conditions, the dense, soft coverage that zoysia grass provides has gained popularity in recent years among homeowners across much of the United States. Durable and drought-resistant, zoysia stands up well in … Continue reading
Peach Jam: Try a No-Pectin Variety
Pectin is a naturally occurring carbohydrate found in ripening fruit. Some fruits, like apples and citrus fruits are loaded with the stuff, while others, strawberries, for example, have much less. Why do we care? Pectin has a quality that comes … Continue reading
How to Make Fig Preserves
Sweet and soft, fresh figs are a treat I missed out on as a kid. Growing up in the Midwest where cold winters make fig trees a less common sight, I was familiar with figs dried and in Newton form, … Continue reading
Gazing Ball History
First introduced in 13th century Venice by artisan glass blowers, gazing balls are now a common sight in yards and gardens as decoration. And the reflective spheres have served many purposes over the years. Those colorful globes may bring an … Continue reading
6 Handy Uses for Tea (That Don’t Involve Sipping)
When I was a kid, I’d occasionally see my mother pour the end of a cup of tea out on our kitchen table and wipe it down. I never gave it too much thought, but it turns out she was … Continue reading
How to Keep Yellow Jackets Away
Often mistaken for honeybees due to their similar size and coloring, yellow jackets aren’t bees at all. Members of the wasp family, there are several varieties of this summer scourge found throughout the United States. Yellow jackets do have some … Continue reading
Churn It! How to Make Butter at Home
Although butter has been around since the time of the ancient Egyptians, when you think about making butter, odds are you’re picturing the wooden butter churns of the pioneers and an overworked farm wife cranking away at the paddle. It … Continue reading
Homemade Maraschino Cherries
My friend Kendall is a perfection seeker. A Chicago resident, he called me a few weeks ago from Mystic, CT, his last stop on a driving tour of the Eastern seaboard in search of the perfect pizza. But he wasn’t … Continue reading
Refrigerator Pickles
Maybe the garden isn’t yielding big this year. Maybe you just have a few leftover cucumbers or other garden vegetables hanging around. Or maybe you’re just itching for some homemade pickles without the hassle and time that goes with processing … Continue reading
Your Old Pal Mick 