Fortunately, you can save most of those time-consuming chores for a more substantial weekly once-over or an in-depth monthly cleaning routine. On a daily basis, simply focus on a few trouble spots, such as countertops crowded with dishes or that pile of clutter on your coffee table, to maintain order and keep housework under control. Set up a daily cleaning checklist that includes a handful of quick tasks in each room....

3 cloves garlic 2 tablespoon vegetable oil ⅓ cup white wine vinegar 2 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard 2 teaspoon sugar ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper ½ cup vegetable oil

Editor’s Tip: Copper is toxic to air plants. We used copper-colored pipe hangers.

½ cup butter, softened 2 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened 5 ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled 2 teaspoon vanilla 6 ½ cup powdered sugar ¼ cup milk Vanilla Sour Cream Frosting ¾ cup butter, softened ¾ cup sour cream 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla 8 cup powdered sugar Buttermilk or milk ** To avoid crumbs in your frosting, brush cake layers with a pastry brush. After stacking cake layers, spread the sides of the cake with a thin coat of frosting....

⅓ cup sour cream ⅓ cup mayonnaise 2 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon yellow mustard Portobello Mushrooms Benedict: Prepare as above, except before poaching eggs, cook four, 3-1/2- to 4-inch-diameter stemmed portobello mushroom caps in 1 tablespoon hot olive oil about 6 minutes, or until tender, turning once. Remove from skillet; blot with a paper towel. Slice mushrooms; sprinkle with salt and ground black pepper. Cover with foil to keep warm....

Colorful Combinations Elephant’s ear will thrive wherever there’s moist soil and warm temperatures. It’s striking alongside ponds where its massive leaves create beautiful reflections in the water. It also grows well in a large pot, easily anchoring a container garden. Pair this tropical plant with other easy-to-grow tropicals for a lush, vibrant garden. Colorful planting partners include canna, coleus, ginger, caladium, sweet potato vine, and philodendron. Elephant’s Ear Care Must-Knows Elephant’s ear grows best in part shade or filtered sun....

* To make tortillas easier to roll, wrap one tortilla in damp paper towels and microwave on high for about 10 seconds or until warm and pliable, repeat with remaining tortillas. Tips Make the chicken and bean fillings ahead and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Make the Mexican Rice Filling ahead and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. 2-quart baking dish Prepare as directed except divide the rice between two 2-quart baking dishes....

1 cup shortening 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon almond extract 4 cup powdered sugar 3 tablespoon milk

⅔ cup chopped red sweet pepper 2 tablespoon finely chopped green onion or onion 1 tablespoon cider vinegar ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Pruning and Harvesting Begin harvesting leaves when the plant reaches 18 inches tall by snipping tender shoots with scissors. When bulbs reach 3 inches in diameter, dig the whole plant and store bulbs in the refrigerator until needed. The bulbs become tough and stringy if left in the ground too long. More Varieties of Fennel ‘Zefo Fino’ fennel Foeniculum vulgare azoricum ‘Zefo Fino’ is an early maturing, bolt-resistant variety good for warm-summer regions....

1 1 pound box (about 4-1/2 cups) powdered sugar ⅓ cup butter 3 tablespoon milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 tablespoon cherry spreadable fruit Red food coloring

To carve: Clean out your pumpkin with an ice cream scoop, scraping the pumpkin flesh thinnest on the side you’re planning to carve the design. Tape the printed stencil pattern to the pumpkin. Use a push pin or spiked tracing wheel to make closely spaced pricks along the stencil lines, piercing through the paper into the surface of the pumpkin. Tear off the printed stencil. Use a thin crafts knife to carve along the pin prick lines, cutting completely through the side of the pumpkin....

1 ½ cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup shortening ¼ cup butter, cut up, or shortening ¼ cup cold water title: “French Silk Pie” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-11” author: “Donna Phanco”

⅓ cup light sour cream ¼ cup buttermilk 2 tablespoon snipped fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives 1 tablespoon lime juice 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon chili powder

1 cup bottled cayenne pepper sauce ⅔ cup melted butter Creamy Parmesan Dressing ¾ cup mayonnaise or salad dressing ¼ cup sour cream 3 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese 2 teaspoon white wine vinegar or white vinegar 1 clove garlic, minced ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper (optional)

⅓ cup mayonnaise or salad dressing 2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 1 ½ teaspoon lime juice ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ cup olive oil 1 tablespoon minced green onion

Strawberry Applesauce Leather: Prepare as directed, except substitute 1/2 cup pureed fresh strawberries for 1/2 cup of the applesauce.Per Serving: Same as above, except 30 calories, 8 g carb. 6 g total sugar, 7% Vitamin C. Cherry Applesauce Leather: Prepare as directed, except substitute 1/2 cup pureed fresh sweet cherries for 1/2 cup of the applesauce (after pureeing the cherries, combine them with the applesauce immediately to prevent browning).Per Serving: Same as above, except 32 calories, 8 g carb....

The light, bright room is a pass-through from garage to house. In addition to laundry, it includes a mudroom with built-in lockers plus a desk that creates a work-from-home office. Open and closed shelving allow for both hidden-away storage and the opportunity to showcase pretty laundry essentials and crafting supplies. White cabinetry and gray subway tiles bring clean, soft style to the room. Floating shelves are a modern touch and keep the wall airy, while dark floors mask dirt....