The Finer things You Can Afford

Every year I grow begonias in hanging baskets.  They tend to do quite well unless we have a stretch of 90 degree weather despite me watering them every day.  This year we used Miracle Gro moisture control soil and they look fabulous.  And I don’t even have to water them every day. 

Tis the season for flea markets and tag sales.  I recently found a silver plated pitcher for $15 at a flea market.  It looks great with a bunch of flowers in it or just sitting on a table with a couple of books.  So get out there and see what treasures you can find.  I would love to hear about them. 

PS Don’t forget a silver polishing cloth so you can polish items a little to see if it is worth taking home. 

Original art is undoubtedly an investment, but most pieces will give you a nice return on your investment in the future.  I used to buy prints exclusively because that is all I thought that I could afford.  Over time I realized that I should be more open minded and have found some great pieces for reasonable prices.  I am more likely to leave a spot blank than buy something I don’t absolutely love just because it is cheap and I need something on the wall. 

I know that it may sound formal, but I love using place cards for a dinner party.  It gives me the option to seat people with common interests near one another and it also gives one the option to separate guests from each other or from me if the need arises.  It is all part of planning ahead and making everyone feel comfortable because we are typically seated for quite some time. 

Most people tend to be intimidated by arranging their own flowers.  An important thing is to be sure that your flowers are cut to the proper height for your vase or container as that can make or break your arrangement.  I like to keep it simple and arrange only one type of flower.  You can tie the stems together with a garbage bag tie if they need some extra support.  Put a ribbon over it if the tie is visible.  The important thing is to experiment and begin enjoying fresh flowers in your home.  Besides, it is the perfect time of year to go pick some flowers out of your garden and give it a whirl.

Every year Japanese beetles make a pilgrimage to my garden and attach themselves to my roses.  Sometimes they also end up on my zinnias and my butterfly bush.  I have found that the best way to get rid of them is to shake them off the plant into a dish of soapy water.  If you are afraid to touch them you can use a plastic spoon to move them into the water.  I like this solution because it does not hurt the environment or harm beneficial insects. 

How to freeze herbs:

The first step is to rinse and pat the herbs dry with a paper towel or allow them to air dry. I’ll list the instructions for each kind of herb below. You should use the herbs promptly after removing them from the freezer.

Thyme – I usually freeze them on the stem. When I need some thyme, I simply remove the leaves by pinching them slightly and running my fingers down each sprig. If needed, I chop the thyme slightly and use it promptly.

Basil – I pull the leaves off the plant and freeze them whole. It leaves me the option to keep the leave large or to chop them into smaller pieces.

Rosemary – I usually freeze them on the stem and remove the leaves by running my fingers down the sprig. Then I chop them up before using them.

Sage – You can either freeze them on the stem or off. I like to freeze the leaves whole so I have the option to use the whole leaf.

Just say no to….

1. Wine from a box.
2. Garlic salt or any type of dried garlic.
3. Pre-cut garlic, it takes seconds to slice garlic or if you are inexperienced start with a garlic press.
4. Dried herbs, fresh herbs add so much flavor and most herbs can be frozen for up to three months in plastic bags. You should wash and cut them beforehand so they are ready to use.
5. Cooking wine, if you would not serve it to guests or drink it, then it should certainly not be in your food.
6. Salted butter should not be used for baking or when cooking. This will allow you to put in the correct amount of sodium and will help your food to be healthier as well.

Tips for going from ordinary to extraordinary….

1. Use fresh herbs instead of dried herbs. They add a freshness that cannot be duplicated with dried herbs.
2. When a recipe calls for wine, use a wine that you enjoy drinking. It is also nice to serve the same wine with dinner since you already know that it pairs well if it has been added as an ingredient.
3. Use sea salt, it comes finely ground and coarsely ground. You will be amazed at the difference from this small change. And you can use a little less of it, which will cut back on your overall salt intake without sacrificing a bit of flavor.
4. Use freshly ground black pepper instead of the pre-ground pepper. Pepper mills are available in a wide variety of prize ranges and the taste of freshly ground pepper is superior to pepper that was ground months or even years ago.
5. Use high quality olive oil. It is worth the extra money to invest in extra virgin olive oil so you can use it when cooking and when making salad dressing. Extra virgin olive oil comes from the first press of the olives, which is why it is a bit more expensive.
6. Try to use fresh produce instead of frozen whenever possible. Food is healthiest and more nutrient rich when it is not processed.