½ cup packed brown sugar ¼ cup butter ¼ cup whipping cream ½ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper 1 teaspoon vanilla

Boston-based interior designer Jean Courtney revels in the complexity of putting together a color-rich palette, especially in a kitchen. “White cabinets? No problem,” she says. “But I think you’re missing an opportunity if you don’t introduce some color somewhere else in the room.” But which color – or colors? That seemingly simple question drives homeowners to stare at paint chips until they’re dizzy and to cover their walls with so many samples that they look like crazy quilts....

4 cup powdered sugar 3 tablespoon meringue powder* ½ teaspoon cream of tartar ½ cup warm water (100°F to 105°F) 1 teaspoon vanilla Gel paste food coloring

Oyster Stuffing: Prepare as above, except omit the giblets and use a medium saucepan. Add 1 pint shucked oysters, drained and chopped, to the cooked vegetables. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Stir in seasonings. Continue as above, except reduce broth to 1/4 cup. Chestnut Stuffing: Prepare as above, except omit the giblets. With a knife, cut an X in the shells of 1 pound fresh chestnuts (3 cups). Spread chestnuts on a large baking sheet....

Beyond Chips Instead of tortilla chips, spoon nacho toppings over hot French fries, potato tots, baked potato skins, roasted sweet potato slices, pita rounds, shredded lettuce, or pizza crust.

Divide the work into tasks that can be completed in small chunks of time throughout the week preceding the party to reduce the stress of party preparations. Give each day a cleaning theme, and finish that day’s tasks in an hour or less. You can slip in many of the tasks among other daily activities. Start here: Day 1: StrategizeDay 2: Brighten the Windows and EntryDay 3: Clean the BathroomsDay 4: Clear Guest AreasDay 5: Attack the KitchenDay 6: Polish the Party SpacesDay 7: Do Touch-Ups...

½ cup butter, softened 2 tablespoon chopped refrigerated mango slices 1 tablespoon powdered sugar

¼ cup chopped green onion 2 tablespoon butter or margarine 2 medium tomatoes, peeled,seeded, and chopped ½ teaspoon sugar ¼ teaspoon salt ⅔ cup milk 4 teaspoon all-purpose flour

What is Grass-Cloth Wallpaper? Grass-cloth wallpaper includes various products (some natural, some engineered) that have a similar look and feel, with a primarily vertical and tactile pattern. It can be made of a range of materials, including hemp, reed, arrowroot, jute, and other faux grass-cloth products. Traditional, natural grass cloth is created through a complex process that uses seagrass strands and thin cotton thread, both of which are adhered to a light backing, typically rice paper....

Made from the naturally shed bark of cork oak, leaving the trees in tact, cork is a highly renewable resource. Not only is it good for the ecosystem at large, cork is great for a home’s environment as well. It is resistant to mold and mildew, making it one of the most hypoallergenic flooring options available and a smart choice for damp bathrooms. Cork is filled with air cells that make it naturally spongy and soft underfoot....

½ cup dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate pieces 1 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened ⅓ cup powdered sugar ¼ teaspoon vanilla 1 tablespoon hot water (optional)