3 ounce semisweet chocolate 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate ½ cup half-and-half or light cream ¼ cup sugar ¼ teaspoon vanilla Chocolate Pastry Cream ½ cup sugar ¼ cup all-purpose flour ¼ teaspoon salt 1 ½ cup half-and-half or light cream 4 ounce semisweet chocolate, chopped 4 egg yolks 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ cup whipping cream Strawberry Whipped Cream 1 ½ cup heavy cream, chilled ¾ cup strawberry jam or jelly Freeze dried strawberries, finely crushed (optional)...

more ideas to improve your landscape More Videos »

1 16 ounce package powdered sugar (4-1/4 cups) 3 tablespoon meringue powder ½ teaspoon cream of tartar ½ cup warm water 1 teaspoon vanilla **Tip: Meringue powder is a mixture of pasteurized dried egg whites, sugar, and edible gums. Look for it in the baking aisle of your supermarket or at a specialty food store.

⅔ cup butter, softened ¾ cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1 egg 1 tablespoon milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cup all-purpose flour

Make a DIY Balloon Garland Set the tone of your New Year’s Eve party by hanging a DIY balloon garland above the serving area. As soon as guests walk in, they’ll know this is going to be a party to remember. A large balloon garland might look intimidating, but it’s actually super quick and easy to make. We purchased a package of balloons in various shades of pink, then used a string of balloon garland tape (yes, that’s a thing!...

1 shallot, grated 1 8 ounce block sharp cheddar cheese, grated ½ cup or more to taste of mayonnaise (not light) ½ 4 ounce jar pimientos Fresh ground pepper Direct Grilling: For this method, the food is placed on the grill rack directly over the heat source. Direct grilling is best for searing and cooking small, tender cuts that cook in 30 minutes or less, such as steaks, burgers, or boneless chicken....

Make It Glam: Add a feminine color. Here, pretty pink colors on the walls above the wainscoting, as well as the simple window treatment. Make It Glam: Determine what luxuries are important to you. In this bathroom, a show-stopping shower tops the list. Make It Glam: Splurge smartly. The homeowners went all out on the shower, but kept costs within budget by selecting inexpensive porcelain floor tiles, keeping the existing toilet, and installing a new pedestal sink and wall sconce in the same spot as the old ones, which eliminated extra plumbing and electrical expenses....

But in order to do their job—and stay stable—landscape walls must be correctly constructed and maintained. That includes building a solid base, adding enough tilt to the back (called battering), and including drains to keep water from damming up behind them. With the soil constantly pushing on retaining walls, they need regular maintenance and occasional repairs. Here’s how to build yours and keep it in the best shape possible....

As a deck railing, attach posts to the deck either with through posts at the corners and taller rail posts in between or with tall rail posts throughout. You’ll need to dig postholes and set posts for a detached lattice fence. Just make sure the fence line is square to the landscape feature of your choice. If its function is to provide privacy to the deck, it should be square to the deck, no matter how far away it is....

If your ceiling does need to be washed (kitchen spatters, for example), use an all-purpose cleaner and scrub one small section at a time. You can also use a homemade cleaning solution made by diluting 2 tablespoons of white vinegar or ammonia in a quart of water. After you’ve washed the ceiling, rinse with clear water and a clean sponge or rag. If the stains remain, apply a stain-resistant sealer – such as Kilz – and repaint....

How to Clean a Refrigerator A clean refrigerator can change your kitchen in more ways than one. Aside from looking nice, a clean fridge can rid your home of odors, expired foods, and unsightly clutter. Here’s how to clean a refrigerator the easy way. What You Need Vinegar Spray bottleCloth Step 1: Prep and Apply Cleaning Solution Mix together equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Keep this food-safe cleaner in the refrigerator (with a label)....

How to Clean Mushrooms The only “tool” you’ll need is a paper towel. How to Clean All Mushrooms (Except Morels) Use a damp paper towel or a soft mushroom brush to wipe each mushroom, one at a time, to remove any dirt. We can imagine the follow-up question now: How do you clean mushrooms when you don’t have time to individually wipe each one? We grant you permission to lightly rinse the mushrooms with cool water and pat dry with paper towels....

When it comes to wood furniture maintenance, there are a number of terms that get tossed around, such as dusting, cleaning, waxing, and polishing. To keep wood furniture looking its best, you’ll likely have to tackle all four of these cleaning tasks every now and then. While experts have varying opinions on wood furniture care, the technique you use will depend on the finish of the piece. You should always seek out specific care and cleaning guidelines when purchasing new or old furnishings....

Not all roses need deadheading, and some need a little more care than just snipping off the old blooms, so follow the tips below for the variety you’re growing. Other than knowing which type of rose you’re working with, all you need for the job is a good pair of gardening shears. Deadheading Hybrid Tea Roses The general rule for deadheading hybrid teas is to find the top set of five leaflets, then cut the stem below that at the second set of five leaflets....

Pegboards can be as big or small as you need them to be, so if your space is limited, just cut the board to the appropriate size for the area. This makes it easy to add a pegboard to your basement, workshop, garage, garden shed, or anywhere in need of additional storage. Use this guide to find out more about pegboard materials and learn how to hang pegboard on your wall....

Check out our steps below to see how it’s done. You’ll be surprised at how easy this project can be! Editor’s Tip: We used inexpensive boards to get the look of a rustic pallet wall. Because of the high amount of chemicals used to treat pallets, we don’t recommend using upcycled pallets for interior projects. What You Need 28 8-foot-long 1x4 boards, sanded (our wall is 8x8 feet)StainPaintbrush1/4-inch plywoodStud finderPencilConstruction adhesiveNail gun with nailsJigsaw...

Joint width depends on the relation of the brick’s actual size to its nominal size. Generally if the actual size of a brick is 1/2 inch shorter than its nominal size, you’ll make 1/2-inch joints. If it’s shorter by 3/8 inch, you’ll space the bricks at 3/8 inch. You can adjust spacing for aesthetics. Cut plywood of the desired thickness for spacers. If you’re mortaring your borders to the surface of the slab instead of setting them on the side of the patio, build forms to contain them....

How to Make an Egg Salad Sandwich This step-by-step process uses a classic egg salad recipe, which is a simple combination of cooked eggs, relish, mayonnaise, and mustard. 1. Hard-Cook Your Eggs The secret to delicious egg salad is perfectly cooked eggs. While there are several different methods, the BHG Test Kitchen’s favorite way to cook eggs is actually steaming them in a pot fitted with a steamer basket ($23, Target)....

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....