Cultivate

Chrysanthemum

October 1, 2019 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

Across a waste of moorland, bleak and bear,
A lonely bird is flying, calling low—
The last of all the feathered host to go,
And loth to leave still lingers, calling, there
Within my silent garden-passes, where
The flowers are withered that in summer blow,
I walk with murmuring ghosts, that to and fro
Sway gently in the chill November air;

When, lo! I mark a little way apart
The sovereign glory of this waning year
That now, alone, unheralded hath come,
In gorgeous robes — alas, my fickle heart
Forgets the dead, and laughs that she is here,
The royal queen of fall, Chrysanthemum.

“Chrysanthemum” by Albert Bigelow Paine (Rhymes by Two Friends, 1893)

Júhuā

Chrysanthemum was first cultivated as a flowering herb in China more than 3,000 years ago, and is a symbolic and therapeutic element of Chinese and East Asia traditions, culture and art.

Chinese scholars and poets frequently praise the chrysanthemum in ancient writings as a noble flower of elegance and strength, beautifully flowering during the cold days of autumn and early winter. It’s also designated as one of the Four Gentlemen, or Noble Ones, four plants depicted in Chinese art ‘bird and flower’ painting as far back as the Song dynasty (960 -1279), and later used by other artists in East Asia to represent the four seasons: orchid (spring); bamboo (summer); chrysanthemum (autumn); and plum blossom (winter).

Drinking chrysanthemum tea also dates back to the Chinese Song dynasty, and is still enjoyed today. It has a delicate floral aroma and light, refreshing taste, and is typically prepared by steeping dried flowers of Chrysanthemum morifolium or Chrysanthemum indicum in hot water, with sugar often added, and sometimes wolfberries (goji). The teapot of chrysanthemum flowers is customarily refilled with hot water several times during tea drinking, lightening the flavor and potency of the tea with each serving. While drinking chrysanthemum tea is believed to have cleansing and special healing properties, its effectiveness is uncertain, and it can cause side effects in some people. Therefore, best to consult your doctor before indulging. If you are allergic to ragweed, pregnant or nursing, avoid chrysanthemum tea and any type of supplement containing the flower.

Information/Resources:
You’ll find more history of chrysanthemum as well as planting/gardening information, tips and resources on the National Chrysanthemum Society (USA) website.
Be Careful – Chrysanthemums are toxic to dogs, cats and horses (Learn more about toxic plants ASPCA website)
General informational resource: Wikipedia – Chrysanthemum

See Spring Flowers blooming – right before your eyes

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Football mums feature photo is courtesy of Erol Ahmed/StockSnap CC0
Chrysanthemum (1722-1735) Xian’e Changchun Album by Giuseppe Castiglione/Wikimedia PD Chrysanthemum tea photo courtesy of Ornella Binni/StockSnap CC0

Handcrafted Coffee at Home

September 29, 2019 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

Those big beautiful single serve coffee machines — so much to love: the convenience of a cup of joe in only a minute, effortless clean-up, and a selection of every coffee flavor imaginable. My sister and I bought one for our mother after her stroke six years ago so that she could make her own breakfast in the morning despite her physical disabilities. She loved it. But, kinda knew from the very start that it was all too good to be true.

The little plastic 2×2 coffee pods (aka K-Cups) used in the machines have quickly become an environmental calamity because they are not recyclable and every year billions of them are incinerated, dumping poison into the air, water and soil. And, until we come up with a solution, there’s no telling how many billions more will end up in the ocean and on our beaches as so much plastic waste does.

For about a year, I substituted a re-usable plastic pod in my single serve coffee maker in an effort to reduce plastic waste at home as well as coffee making costs (the price of those pods add up over time!), but discovered the process of filling, cleaning and re-filling the small pods significantly reduces the convenience of a single serve machine, especially when making more than one cup. Also began to realize the taste of the coffee is not that great when using single serve machines, and the machine takes up a lot of counter space. Then, I had a brainstorm while visiting a friend in France — why not use a french press at home?

I love the rich taste of coffee made with a french press, but hadn’t used one in years as the latest and greatest technology took over the coffee making in my home kitchen. Decided to make a change– go back to basics and simplicity. So, I dug the thing out from its hiding spot on a top shelf, gave it a try and became a fan once again. It’s a good feeling to do just a little something to help save our beautiful planet while enjoying a hot cup of coffee with maximum flavor first thing in the morning. Easy clean-up, too.

It's surprisingly easy and quick to brew coffee using a french press. — Kettle and French Press © Zeester Media LLC 2019

Don’t know how to brew up a cuppa using a french press? No worries. It’s surprisingly quick and easy, and you don’t have to be a coffee expert or spend a lot of money to enjoy the process of brewing handcrafted coffee. Here are the basics in French Press Coffee tools and technique:

What you need to start:

Kettle — for heating up water. Any kind (both stove-top and electric) will work perfectly, and maybe you have one. If not, I recommend you check out the electric kettles. I like that they free up stove-top space and have automatic shut-off. I’ve been using a Capresso model for two years without a problem, but the Hamilton Beach Electric 1.7 Electric Tea Kettle/Water Heater gets good reviews and costs less.

A French Press (aka cafetière, press pot, coffee press, coffee plunger) — is a coffee pot in the shape of a narrow cylinder with a lid and plunger made of fine stainless steal or nylon mesh. A french press can also be used to make cold brew coffee and brew tea. My favorite is by Bodum as they are well made, seem to retain heat longer than other less expensive brands, and come in all sizes and styles — even single serve and a travel mug version for on the go coffee drinkers → Bodum French Press Selections

Coffee Bean Grinder — Your favorite, coarsely ground. I love the taste of deep dark coffee (and chocolate), and go for the dark roast beans (a friend once told me the best coffee comes from beans that are almost black). It’s typically recommended you grind coffee beans for a fresh pot every day as freshly ground beans make better tasting, flavorful coffee. Whole coffee beans stay fresher longer (a few weeks, if stored in air tight container). I sometimes buy pre-ground french roast (dark) coffee to save a step in the process when I’m in a big hurry to get that first cup or serving coffee to a group of friends, but I can also taste the difference — too bitter for some coffee drinkers. If you’d like to grind beans at home, you’ll need a grinder. There are two types of electric grinders: blade and burr. Krups makes a good blade grinder, and you can purchase from Amazon right now for less than $20 → KRUPS F203 Spice and Coffee Grinder (Tip: Not a good idea to use same grinder for coffee and spices because your coffee will pick up the taste of spices.) Electric burr grinders are typically more expensive, but they do a better job of grinding the beans into consistently sized coarse particulars that are best for using with a french press. Burr Grinders

Instructions: (Tip: Everything you do or don’t do affects the taste of coffee with a french press (good & bad). Take advantage by experimenting and adjusting this process until you find your perfect cup of coffee.)

1. Boil water in the kettle. I use filtered water from the tap, but water selection, just like coffee roasts, is really a matter of personal preference because tap water differs by location. Experts recommend using ‘fresh water’, in other words, don’t re-use previously boiled water.

2. Add coffee grounds to french press. General rule: 2 tablespoons (28 grams) of ground coffee for every one cup (8 oz/30 grams) of water. Adjust this ratio to suit your personal taste — use more ground coffee for stronger flavor.

3. After water boils, let it cool about a minute, then pour evenly over the grounds. There are two methods. i) Blooming method — gently pour hot water just to cover grounds (filling pot 1/2 – 3/4 full), and you’ll see foam start to appear (this is the ‘bloom’). Let it sit for 15-20 seconds. Then a quick stir around before pouring more hot water to fill the pot ii) Stirring method – pour hot water evenly over the grounds and stir. For stirring, I use a chopstick or cocktail stirrer. If you use a metal spoon or stirrer, avoid hitting sides of glass pot of the french press while stirring because that could cause cracking of the glass.

4. Cover and let steep. Place the lid/plunger on top of the french press (careful to allow a little space between coffee and plunger), and let coffee steep 2-4 minutes. The longer the steeping time, the stronger the coffee. Here again, you should experiment until you find exactly the right steeping time for your perfect cup of coffee. Here’s a general guide:

Standard – 4 minutes; 2 minutes for small french press (3-4 cups)
Extra dark & strong – as much as 10 minutes
Short/No steep – 30-60 seconds or no steeping time (produces a less bitter coffee taste, but you’ll probably need to use more coffee grounds to get full flavor)

Tip: It’s easy to forget the time when multi-tasking in the morning. A timer helps. Use kitchen appliance timer or phone app.

5. Plunge and Pour. Press down slowly on the plunger using one hand until the mesh filter reaches the bottom of the french press (just above the grounds). Now. it’s ready to pour and serve! Tip: If you aren’t going to drink the brewed coffee immediately, keep it hot by pouring into an insulated carafe. They come in all shapes and sizes → Coffee Carafes

6. Clean it up. Dump out used coffee grounds in trash or compost because pouring down a drain could cause clogging. Follow manufacturer’s instructions as to how to clean your french press for use the next day. Most can be washed in dishwasher. It’s important to remove all the oily coffee residue because it will quickly turn rancid and ruin the taste of the next pot of coffee.

Information/Resources:
Kill the K-Cup – a non-profit organization committed to bringing attention to the growing waste created by K-Cups
Pressed Coffee Is Going Mainstream – But Should You Drink It? by Heidi Godman, Harvard Health Publishing (April 29, 2016) – recommended to limit to no more than 4 cups a day and keep a watch on cholesterol levels as pressed coffee may raise “bad” LDL cholesterol levels

This page includes affiliate links to Amazon shopping. If you purchase a product or service directly through one of the links, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

Feature photo is courtesy of Quincy Alivio/Unsplash CC0

Enjoy your perfect cup of coffee with a German Chocolate Cup Cake

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Honey Bees

August 17, 2019 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

There are about 20,000 known species of bees. Only 7 species are honey bees which includes 44 subspecies that can all be grouped into three branches: Micrapis (dwarf honey bees), Megapis (giant honey bee), and Apis (domestic honey bees and close relatives).

Humans have been collecting wild honey as far back as 10,000 years ago, and some time later, began learning how to manage wild bees (aka ‘domesticating’ bees) using artificial hives made from hollow logs, wooden boxes, pottery vessels, and woven straw baskets. It wasn’t until the 19th century that a better understanding of bee behavior and their colonies resulted in the invention and development of a revolutionary ‘moveable comb hive’ that allowed honey to be harvested without destroying the entire colony. Beekeeping really took off from there.

HOW BEES MAKE HONEY

Beekeeping is both an art and a science as well as a fascinating hobby. — A look inside beehive by Annie Spratt/Unsplash CC0

Bees make honey primarily from flower nectar, but they’ll use other plant saps as well as the sticky and sugary liquid (called ‘honeydew’) secreted by insects feeding on plants. The bee sucks the liquid up through its long, tube-like tongue (called a ‘proboscis’) and stores it in its honey sac, then adds special enzymes that convert the nectar into different types of sugars as the nectar begins to evaporate. The bee returns to the hive, places the nectar into the cells of the honeycomb, and uses its wings to further evaporate water from the nectar. Warm temperatures within a hive continue the evaporation, and when the water content of the nectar is good and low, the bees seal the cell with a wax capping using the beeswax produced from the special glands in the abdominal segments of worker bees. Simple as that!

A TASTE OF HONEY

Honey is one of the world’s oldest foods, and it’s become increasingly popular today among foodies as different color, texture and flavor varieties have become available and the nutritional value is recognized as an added bonus to the sweet taste sourced from nature. In fact, honey is super rich in nutrients (glucose, fructose and water) and contains at least 16 antioxidants, bioflavonoids, and other plant substances such as grains of pollen as well as small amounts of other sugars, vitamins, amino acids, minerals and enzymes. Adding to all that good stuff, honey, with its antibacterial properties and healing power, is an ancient remedy in the treatment of wounds, burns, skin ulcers and inflammations.

There are also more and more hobby beekeepers and small producers, making fresh, locally produced honey more available at farmers’ markets and speciality stores and offering shoppers a chance to taste unique honey as well as help support beekeeping sustainability with a purchase. And now– incredibly, there’s a website to help you find locally produced honey anywhere in the world. GO TO → Local Honey Finder. The National Honey Board (USA agricultural promotion group) also has a Honey Locator Map for all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and Germany. Try them both to find all the best spots for locally produced honey. (Tip – Call & verify online info before you take off for a new honey hole.)

IS BEEKEEPING THE RIGHT HOBBY FOR YOU?

If you’re thinking about beekeeping in Nepal, decide only after you’ve watched the video The Last Honey Hunter (Behind the Scenes). Two American photographers/climbers capture the harrowing process of harvesting honey from large hives of the Himalayan giant honey bee from under overhangs on the faces of vertical cliffs.

Beekeeping is both an art and science as well as a fascinating hobby. It also requires commitment and some know-how. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a rock climber, but there are a few things you should consider before embarking on a beekeeping venture:

Beekeeping requires commitment and know-how, but there are resources and local clubs to help the beginner beekeeper get started. — Beekeeper by Annie Spratt/Unsplash CC0

Allergies to bee stings. Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. If you’re allergic to bee stings, this is not the hobby for you as a sting or two is inevitable in beekeeping. But, you can become an ‘arm chair beekeeper’ as well as help support environmental and education projects for research into sustainability of honey bees. [Go to → British Beekeepers Association Adopt a Beehive] You can also help bees by providing water and bee-loving flowering plants in an out-of-the-way spot within your backyard garden. [How to create an oasis for bees – Plant a Bee Garden]

Rules and Requirements. Check local ordinances, zoning regulations and homeowners association rules for beekeeping restrictions and requirements in your area, and talk to your neighbors to make sure bees would be welcomed in the neighborhood.

Local beekeepers association — Always the best information resource for honey lovers as well as beginner beekeepers. [Check out this → interactive map to find local beekeeping associations in USA and Canada, and the British Beekeepers Association online search tool to find local organizations within the UK → search UK. In Australia, find a club via the Amateur Beekeepers Association → find a local club. In New Zealand, search using a club map → here. If you reside in other areas of the world, there’s a good chance you’ll find helpful information for locating a nearby organization at this resource page → Honey Traveler – Beekeeping Associations, Journals & Magazines]

Beekeeping class. You’ll benefit from an introductory course that provides a basic understanding of beekeeping before you make a big investment in time and money. Most often you’ll find classes offered by local beekeeper associations or community groups, but there are online courses, too. For example, comprehensive online lessons and step-by-step basics (including videos) by Brushy Mountain Bee Farm are free → BEE Educated], and in the video series NATURAL BEEKEEPING, beekeeper Jerry Dunbar explains and demonstrates the entire beekeeping process, including establishing a new hive, monitoring and maintaining beehive health, harvesting honey, and transforming other products from the hive into useful healthy products humans can use.

Study Up. Do some online research and read books and magazines to learn more about bees and beekeeping. THE BACKYARD BEEKEEPER by Kim Flottum is a popular handbook filled with expert advice for urban and rural beekeepers at every skill level. There are also video documentaries that showcase bees and beekeeping around the globe. HONEY HUNTERS is a breathtaking documentary (the photography is amazing) that takes you from the perilous hills of Nepal to Paris rooftops for a look at some of the extreme methods involved in protecting bees and harvesting honey.

Resources/Information:
Definition and Uses of Honey, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Honey: Its medicinal property and antibacterial activity by Manisha Deb Mandal and Shyamapada Mandal (Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, April 1, 2011)
Beekeeping and Sustainability – Bees For Development
The Forest Beekeepers of Zanzibar, In Pictures (August 27, 2018) – Decades of intense farming has stripped much of the land, but reforestation programs are underway, and bees are helping by pollinating the plants and providing additional income to farmers from the sale of honey.
Massive Loss of Thousands of Hives Afflicts Orchard Growers and Beekeepers, NPR, The Salt (February 19, 2019) – Chemicals, loss of wildflowers, climate change, nutrition and viruses all affect the health of honey bees, but in 2019, a deadly parasite called the varroa mite is the cause of devastating losses of honey bee colonies. Many US beekeepers have lost half their hives, some as many as 80%.
Honey Bees and Beekeeping – Wikipedia

This article includes a few affiliate links to Amazon for books and videos. If you make a purchase directly through the link, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

Feature photo is courtesy of Jenna Lee/Unsplash CC0
Taste of Honey photo courtesy of Tookapic/Pexels CC0

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Backyard Birding

May 18, 2019 By Zola Zeester 3 Comments

You don’t have to travel or hike for miles to enjoy birdwatching. There’s plenty of great birding in your backyard, and you can attract even more birds by creating a garden sanctuary filled with the food, water, shelter and nesting sites birds need throughout the year. Moreover, tired, hunger birds face many dangers during migration and nesting season, and your bird-friendly backyard can be a life saver.

First, choose backyard plants wisely as they are a source of food (bugs, fruit, nuts & seeds, nectar) and shelter for birds in your neighborhood. Use this resource link to find the best plants for birds in your area ⇒ Native Plants for Birds

Don’t have a backyard?–no problem. You can attract birds to your balcony or patio with a bird-friendly container garden (here’s how ⇒ Get Started and Wildlife-friendly Planters, Hanging Baskets and Window Boxes)

FEEDING

[su_dropcap]B[/su_dropcap]irds often have trouble finding enough calcium in their natural diet of seeds and insects, and they need even larger quantities of the mineral during nesting season. Providing calcium-rich food as a diet supplement for your backyard nesting birds will help in egg laying and chick development. Examples of good calcium supplement sources that are easy to place in your backyard: i) Feed birds dried mealworm; ii) Mix a small amount of crushed eggshells into bird seed or put eggshells from kitchen into compost pile or bin; iii) Provide a separate ‘grit’ dish away from bird feeders and fill with crushed oyster shell, dried finely-crushed gravel or mortar, sand, or wood ash from fireplace or fire pit (not chemically treated fire logs such as Duraflame).

You’ll be amazed at the variety of bird feeders available, and there are many options for those without a backyard or big outdoor space. Click/Tap this link to shop online ⇒ BIRD FEEDERS *

Heartland Gardener @nk03262 enjoys mixing up batches of her ⇒ ‘Nancy’s Bird Butter’ for backyard bird extra nutrition and love.

NESTING

[su_dropcap]B[/su_dropcap]irds need a good location and the right materials to build nests. The best place for nesting, however, varies among different bird species — from trees, bushes, vines to right on the ground, and they creatively use building materials such as dried grass, twigs, sticks, wood chips, mud, animal hair, moss, lichens, spider silk, plant fibers, feathers, and just about anything else.

There are three types of nests: cup, platform and cavity. While ‘primary’ cavity nesting species (such as woodpecker) dig out their nest cavities, ‘secondary’ cavity nesters can’t do the digging; consequently, they must search for pre-existing cavities to nest (e.g., the Mountain Bluebird has historically used tree cavities previously excavated by woodpeckers). Nesting boxes* and bird houses help make a bird’s search for a nesting cavity a little easier by providing more nesting opportunities. Even better, you can create natural starter holes for these cavity seekers with a drill and a little know-how ⇒ Instructions HERE

Information/Resources:
How to Make Your Yard Bird-Friendly, the National Audubon Society website (April 6, 2016) – choosing plants, planning, preparing and caring for a bird habitat garden
Bird Notes: Creating a Garden For Birds, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (No. 13, Catalogue No. 223)
Attracting Birds, The National Wildlife Federation
Plants for Wildlife – everything you need to know about making a home for nature in your large or small garden (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)
Common Nesting Birds, NestWatch (The Cornell Lab of Ornithology) – information by region on habitat, nesting type and location
Plants For Birds (Native Plant Data Base – National Audubon Society) Find the best plants for birds in your area
Ten Spring Migration Tips to Help Birds on their Way, American Bird Conservancy

The Backyard Bird-Lover’s Guide* is a colorful reference book by Jan Mahnken filled with information on bird territory, courtship, nesting, and parenting with detailed illustrations by Jeffrey C. Domm as well as tips to attract, feed and watch 135 American bird species. Click/Tap on the image of the book for more info and purchase. [*If you purchase this book or any product directly through an affiliate link to Amazon shopping located on this page, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.]

WATCH On2In2™

If you missed Amy Tucker’s , talk Birding Basics: Preparing Your Backyard for Nesting Season at the Fayetteville Arkansas Public Library on February 27, 2018, it’s not to late to watch a video recording. Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button or the video post on the video player below ↓

Hummingbirds are Fast and Fearless, and so much fun to watch

We’ve got a garden chat group & would love to hear from you! If you’d like to comment on this article or join the conversation going on at the Heartland Gardeners group, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page’. Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy (unless you’re a robot).

Feature photo is courtesy of Irina Blok/Unsplash, CC0
Bird Nest photo is courtesy of Landon Martin/Unsplash, CC0

Creature Comforts

December 5, 2018 By Zola Zeester 2 Comments

[su_dropcap]W[/su_dropcap]e all need a safe, comfortable place to call home, and wildlife is no exception. Animals and birds need cover to protect against inclement weather and predators, and that can be difficult to find in your neighborhood without a little help from humans. Here are some ideas for creating wildlife homes in your backyards and gardens:

ROOSTING BOX

The birds that hang around instead of migrating south for the winter must hunt for a good spot to stay warm. A roosting box is specially designed to provided needed shelter for birds during the long, cold winter nights. Set one of these up, and make a bunch of birdies very happy.

BAT HOUSE

Bats do more good for our world than most people realize; eating insects, pollinating cactus and agave plants, and providing farmers nutrient-rich fertilizer via bat guano. Yet, bats are vulnerable to extinction as they are slow reproducing mammals and are threatened by climate change, deforestation, hunting, wind turbines and fungal infection.

By installing a bat house in your backyard, you’ll provide grateful bats a place to roost and a female bat a safe, warm place to raise a young, healthy pup.

TOAD HOUSE

Toads like to hang out in leaves and undergrowth and chow down on insects, but they also need a place to escape from sun and predators. Toad houses make the perfect little hide-away as well as add a little character to your outdoor space.

SQUIRREL HOUSE

Where there are birds, there will be squirrels eating from bird feeders and taking over bird houses. Giving squirrels a special place to call home will give them cover from weather and predators, and just maybe keep them away from bird sanctuaries.

NANCY’S BIRD BUTTER

In winter, food for wild things often becomes scarce. You can help backyard birds with full, easy to find feeders, and by offering foods high in fat and calories that provide the energy required to keep birds warm.

Nancy (@nk03262) shared her Nancy’s Bird Butter recipe in a 1/12018 post. It’s perfect winter bird food— “good for the birds and your soul”.

• Melt 16 oz lard and 2 cups crunchy peanut butter in the microwave in microwave safe bowl (mine takes 3 to 4 minutes on High to melt). It’s hot – Be carefull removing bowl.

• While the melt is happening — Mix 4 cups quick oats, 4 cups cornmeal, 2 cups flour, and 2/3rds cup sugar. Stir this mixture into the melted lard and peanut butter.

• Spread into a disposable 9 X 13 aluminum pan, and place in freezer. When solid, remove and let soften a bit, and then cut into 6 squares. Store squares in zip locs in freezer.

• Place one in a square suet feeder in your yard, and watch our feathered friends come with open beaks and gratitude, especially in winter.

• To keep squirrels out of the bird feeders, you need the right equipment, e.g. pole mount, wrap-around baffle and hanging baffle.

Feature squirrel photo is courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels CC0

Cookie Crunch

December 1, 2018 By Zola Zeester 1 Comment

Traditions of cookie decorating can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and got a start in North America during the 17^th century with the introduction of cookie cutters, molds and holiday decorating by Dutch and German settlers. About 200 years later, decorating cookies for Christmas gained popularity in America as more German-imported cookie cutters became available and cookbooks featured cookies cut in holiday inspired shapes sparked creativity in home kitchens. Today, the popularity of cookie decorating continues to grow during holidays throughout the world with all sorts of creations.

This holiday season, Zandy R (@pillbug) has been working on a cookie cookbook and experimenting with different iced cookie recipes and techniques (sugar cookie cut-outs decorated with royal icing). You can do it, too. Here are her cookie decorating tips:

• Use your favorite sugar cookie and royal icing recipes, try something new or go nostalgic with a family recipe. Find Zandy R’s (@pillbug) absolute favorite sugar cookie and royal icing recipes here → Roll & Cut Sugar Cookies. If this is your first cookie decorating adventure, best to do a little research before starting. The Complete Photo Guide to Cookie Decorating by Autumn Carpenter

• It helps (a lot) to have the right equipment. To decorate cookies with royal icing, you’ll need piping bags and/or squeeze bottles (a bunch, if using different colors) and a small offset spatula or rounded butter knife (to help spread the icing). Also, toothpicks come in handy for tiny, precision work.

See Zandy’s favorite cookie baking tools below. The stainless steel rolling pin eliminates the sticky dough problem by keeping the dough cool, the battery-powered sifter is genius, the 4-tier cooling rack is a great space saver during mega cookie baking projects, and the Kitchen Aid mixer—well, that’s really a dream machine. For more information on any item, click/tap on the photo within the in the ad, and there’s a search box to help you find anything else your heart desires.

• Roll out cookie dough with a chilled rolling pin to avoid sticking. Have fun cutting out a variety of cookie shapes Holiday Cookie Cutters

• After cookies are baked and cooled, keep at least overnight (loosely covered with a sheet of parchment paper) before decorating.

• If using royal icing (as Zandy R did for her cookies), there are no quick short-cuts. Let each application dry before applying the next one. Check out Betty Crocker’s advice for decorating cookies with icing ⇒ here

• It’s a creative process of experimentation and experience, and that takes time and patience. Don’t be afraid to try different techniques and colors because you’ll get better and better the more you decorate.

• When something goes wrong and you totally mess up a cookie, eat it immediately.

This page includes affiliate links to a shop website. If you purchase a product or service directly through the link, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

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Feature photo courtesy of Gratisography CC0

Pumpkin Bread

November 6, 2018 By Zola Zeester 2 Comments

[su_dropcap]S[/su_dropcap]ince spotting the pumpkin bread recipe in a 1973 issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine, many loaves have been baked, eaten, and gifted by family and friends, and the recipe has been shared countless times because pumpkin bread is perfectly sweet and spiced with tastes of fall and winter holiday seasons and does not require special baking skills or technique (just a strong stirring arm). It freezes well, too. That means you can start baking now, and fill your kitchen with the aroma of delicious holiday happiness. Here’s an updated version of our long time favorite pumpkin bread recipe.

♥ Please share the joy.

PUMPKIN BREAD

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup + 1 Tbsp Light Olive Oil (or ¾ cup margarine)*
2½ cups Sugar
4 Eggs
16 oz Puréed Pumpkin (canned or homemade from scratch)
2/3 cup Water
3½ cups Unbleached Flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
1½ tsp Salt
1½ tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Ground Cloves
2/3 cup Chopped Walnuts or Pecans (optional)
1/2 cup Dried Fruit (optional) e.g. cranberries, cherries, golden raisins

*The original recipe called for margarine, but that was more than 40 years ago. Substituting olive oil is a contempo tweak.

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT

2 mixing bowls (1 large & 1 medium or small size)
1 or 2 spoons for mixing, wood or metal
1 whisk or a fork
2 loaf pans (approx. 8.5″x4.25″x2.75″) Only have one? Bake one at a time.
Measuring cups and spoons
Cake tester or skewer (wood or metal)
Cooling rack
Plastic wrap for keeping & freezer paper/plastic bags for storing in freezer

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven at 350°F/177°C, and prepare (grease & flour or spray with non-stick cooking spray) 2 loaf pans. You can use loaf pans made of any material (e.g, metal, glass, silicone), but using different types and sizes requires an adjustment of the baking time which you may have to do anyway as timing often varies with different ovens. Best advice to avoid a disaster, frequently check your pumpkin bread while baking, and don’t take out of the oven too soon or too late.

• In a large mixing bowl, lightly beat the eggs, then add the olive oil, water, pumpkin purée and sugar. Combine thoroughly. [If you are using margarine, first cream softened margarine & sugar in large bowl, add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly, then mix in pumpkin purée and water.]

• In a separate, smaller sized bowl, combine the flour with all the other dry ingredients and spices.

• Stir the dry ingredients into the large mixing bowl of wet, pumpkin mixture, just a little at a time, and keep stirring until batter is thoroughly blended.

• If you’d like to add nuts and/or dried fruit, stir into the batter after it’s thoroughly blended.

• Pour batter into the prepared loaf pans.

• Bake for 1 hour+10 min @ 350°F. Check the pumpkin bread by inserting a cake tester stick or skewer in the center of each. Adjust time, if necessary. It’s ready to come out of the oven when the tester comes out clean.

• Cool on rack for 10-15 minutes before removing bread from loaf pan. Let loaves cool completely before wrapping tightly in plastic wrap. Pumpkin bread should keep a week in the refrigerator. If freezing, add another layer of wrapping (freezer paper or clear plastic freezer bags).

Another family favorite → German Chocolate Cupcakes

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Feature photo of baking table courtesy of Andy Chilton/StockSnap CC0
Pumpkin bread photo by Flickr user, Rebecca Siegel CC BY 2.0

Say Goodbye, Jack

October 29, 2018 By Zola Zeester

It’s fun while it lasts, but the job of protecting our homes against vampires and chasing off evil spirits is done after Halloween night…..What to do with all those jack-o’-lanterns? Rather than throwing an unwanted pumpkin in the trash, here are some tricks* that make good use of it and keep the treats coming a little while longer.

*Editor’s Note: Toxins in paint can be harmful to people and wildlife; therefore, these pumpkin recycling suggestions apply to jack-o’-lanterns and other pumpkins used for holiday decoration that have not been painted.

COMPOST IT

A fundamental of organic farming is a nutrient-rich compost that’s made of recycled and decomposed “green” waste materials, such as leaves, grass clippings, vegetable trimmings, and food waste.

Pumpkins breakdown and decompose quickly because they are 90% water. To avoid sprouting pumpkin plants in your compost pile, make sure all seeds have been removed from your jack-o’-lantern before throwing it in your compost bin. If you don’t compost, check with gardening friends and neighbors, community gardens and farms about donating pumpkins.

Starting a compost project at home, indoors or outside, is easy, good for your garden soil and the environment. For the best results, first read up on the basics [EPA website: “Composting at Home Basics “, and for more composting info & gardening tips, check out this ⇒ Book Selection ], and get the right equipment [Click here to see selection of handy kitchen food scrap bins and a variety of garden composters ⇒ SHOP ].

SEED & FEED

You’ve got to pull away the seeds from the stringy, slimy pumpkin flesh, rinse them off in a colander, then let dry a bit (not on paper or cloth because they’ll stick). You can, of course, roast the seeds for a crunchy snack as it’s easy enough to spread them on a baking sheet, coat with oil, sprinkle with seasonings, and bake in 350F/180C preheated oven for 10 minutes. However, there are probably some hungry birds outside. Why not give them a treat?

For the BIRDS: Take the clean, dry pumpkin seeds, don’t add a thing—no salt, oil, or seasoning, and no roasting, and simply place them outdoors on a flat surface, tray, or shallow bowl, or mix with commercial bird seed. Watch happy birds chow down.

For PLANTING: You can also save some of the pumpkin seeds for planting next spring. If your gardening space is limited or nonexistent, try growing pumpkin plants in 5-10 gallon buckets. Learn more about planting, growing and harvesting pumpkins from the Farmer’s Almanac.

CUT UP for CRITTERS

Animals (deer, rabbits, squirrels) enjoy eating pumpkin as much as we do. Just cut the pumpkin into pieces and leave outside (away from the house & best near trees) for your neighborhood wildlife. Easy!

Give the wild things in your backyard a cozy winter home
⇒ Ideas for creating wildlife homes

This page includes links to a shop website. If you purchase a product or service directly through a link, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

Sad old jack-o’-lantern photo by Flickr user, Seth Halstead, CC BY-NC 2.0

German Chocolate Cupcakes

October 11, 2018 By Zola Zeester 1 Comment

A German Chocolate Cake recipe by Mrs. George Clay was first published in a 1957 ‘Recipe of the Day’ column of the Dallas Morning News. It was referred to as ‘German’s Chocolate Cake’ (later simply ‘German Chocolate Cake’), not because it derived from Germany, but because Mrs. Clay’s recipe called for a sweet, dark baking chocolate known as ‘Baker’s German’s Sweet Chocolate’, developed in 1852 by chocolate maker, Samuel German, for the Baker’s Chocolate Company, an American brand. General Mills, owner of the Baker’s brand at the time of publication, distributed the cake recipe to other US newspapers and printed it on German’s Sweet Chocolate packaging, and it became a big hit throughout America, increasing sales of German’s Sweet Chocolate by a reported 73%. German Chocolate Cake is still popular today, and there are many variations and modified recipes.

The best birthday cupcakes were created from traditional German's Sweet Chocolate Cake recipe found in a grandmother's collection of cake recipes. — Source: Oma’s recipe collection

When it came time to bake cupcakes for a special birthday celebration, @pillbug went to her grandmother’s cake and pie recipe collection for inspiration. It’s a well-used spiral notebook filled with Oma’s favorites from friends and relatives as well as clippings from newspapers and magazines, and on the first page is the German’s Sweet Chocolate Cake recipe she saved from a package of German’s Sweet Chocolate. @pillbug used this traditional custard-like coconut/pecan frosting recipe for a German Chocolate Cupcake topping with sweet success:

Coconut-Pecan Frosting (makes 2 2/3 cups)

Combine 1 cup evaporated milk, 1 cup sugar, 3 egg yolks, ¼ lb (=½ cup) margarine, and 1 teaspoon vanilla

Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened (about 12 minutes)

Add 1 & 1/3 cups flake coconut and 1 cup chopped pecans

Beat until thick enough to spread

We made a traditional Coconut-Pecan frosting for German Chocolate Cupcakes, and decorated with a single red rose. — German Chocolate Cupcakes decorated with sugar red rose garnish

Information/Resources:
German Chocolate Cake (Wikipedia)
Inside Out German Chocolate Cake, Perfecting Deliciousness (October 11, 2014), recipe & step-by-step instructions for a version of the famous Bridge Street Bakery specialty cake, “Inside-out German Chocolate Cake” featured in Gourmet Magazine (March 2000) and now offered for purchase via mail-order.

Another family favorite for fall→ Perfectly sweet & spiced Pumpkin Bread

We’re the social type as well as cup cake lovers. Please register via the ENGAGE page to join the conversation, share your inspiration, ideas and recipes, and network with other On2In2™ playmakers.

Photos of German Chocolate Cupcakes: Courtesy of Zeester Media LLC, CC BY-NC-ND

Monarchs on the Move

September 27, 2018 By Zola Zeester 1 Comment

A UNA MARIPOSA MONARCA (To a Monarch Butterfly)
by Homero Aridjis (translated by George McWhirter)

Tu que vas por el día
como un tigre alado
quemándote en tu vuelo
dime qué vida sobrenatural
está pintada en tus alas
para que después de esta vida
pueda verte en mi noche

You who go through the day
like a winged tiger
burning as you fly
tell me what supernatural life
is painted on your wings
so that after this life
I may see you in my night

Don’t know why exactly, but there is something special about a monarch sighting. Maybe it’s the mystery of where it’s going, where it’s been, or the mystical legend of monarchs as returning spirits of deceased loved ones. But, to watch thousands of monarchs flying en masse………..well, you just have to see it!

The Wings of Life – Monarch Butterflies is a short video from Disneynature studio that captures in spectacular time-lapse/high speed/macro cinematography many thousands of monarchs wintering in Mexico, with close-up views of these amazing butterflies in action. The video documentary was directed by award-winning nature filmmaker, Louie Schwartzberg, and narrated by Meryl Streep.

Monarch Migration
–One of the most remarkable natural phenomena on Earth–

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is an iconic pollinator species native to the New World where it can be found from southern Canada to northern South America. Monarchs can also be found hanging out in other parts of the world: Caribbean, Hawaii, Cook Islands, the Solomons, New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, the Philippines and North Africa, and they make an occasional visit to the UK as an ‘accidental migrant’ (displacement is caused by storms, high winds, swift currents). Bright orange coloring with black and white markings make monarchs easy to spot, but they are commonly misidentified as the smaller viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus), another North American butterfly with similar pattern and coloring.

A monarch’s life is spent on the move, and it’s complicated. Each year in late summer to early autumn, millions of monarchs migrate thousands of miles south from central and northern US states and southern Canada to Mexico, Florida and the coastal areas of southern and central California where they make a winter home in large clusters of colonies high within trees. Taking advantage of air currents and thermals and traveling only during daylight hours (roosting in clusters to stay warm at night), the trip takes about two months, covering 50-100 miles a day at a flight speed of about 5.5 mph (9 km/hr). In spring, they make the journey back north.

During the spring migration northward, the travel itinerary is quite different as monarchs mate and produce four generations along the way. The first three generations have life spans of only 2 – 6 weeks, but each continues mating and moving north. The fourth generation lives 6 – 8, sometimes 9 months, and is the generation of monarchs that will migrate south for the winter. No one really knows how these later generation monarchs navigate their way to a winter home they have never before visited. Clearly, they must rely on instincts rather than learning as the last generation with knowledge of the route is long dead. Some experts have determined that monarchs must be genetically programmed to migrate long distances and use some sort of biological sun and magnetic compasses as orienting tools.

No other butterfly is known to make an epic round-trip migration as the monarch does every year. While this makes the monarch extraordinarily unique, the long journeys also cause monarchs to be particularly vulnerable to climate conditions and human activities that disrupt and destroy their habitat. Consequently, their numbers have decreased significantly during the last 20 years (a decline of more than 80 percent over the past two decades), and there is great concern that monarch migration is at high risk of failure. Conservationists, scientists, and federal, state and local organizations in the United States, Mexico and Canada have begun efforts to stop the destruction before it’s too late, and yes— everyone can do something to help monarchs and have fun doing it!

• Create a Monarch Habitat Make a special spot for monarchs. Maybe it’s just a small pot on your front steps, patio or balcony, a backyard garden, pasture, farm or ranch land. Plant milkweed and nectar plants that are native to your area and free of pesticides, insecticides and neonicotinoids.

• Help Scientists Study Monarchs

• Get Involved as a Community Join forces with friends, neighbors and colleagues to develop ‘monarch friendly’ landscaping at schools, businesses, community parks and gardens, and urban green spaces with native plants and wildflowers for monarchs.

• Garden Organically Using organic methods in your garden will reduce your impact on monarchs, their food plants and other pollinators.

• Support Conservation Efforts

• Spread the Word about Pollinators, Conservation, and How to Help It’s easy to get started with this one — Share this article with your friends!

Monarch travel many miles in migration, and there are things each of us can do to help monarchs survive the journey — Monarch on a Thistle, Lake of the Ozarks, by Sean Stratton/Unsplash CC0

References/Information Sources [To learn more about helping monarchs, check out these selected resources]:

Monarch Butterfly Basic Facts, Defenders of Wildlife website

Monarch Migration, University of Minnesota website, Biology & Research

Migration and Overwintering, USDA Forest Service website

Monarch Butterfly Migration Interactive Map It’s fun to keep track of monarch migration. This interactive map has the best up-to-date info on Spring 2017 first sightings (January – July). Check it out, and report your sightings, too.

Monarch Migration Could Collapse as Population Remains Low, Center for Biological Diversity (March 5, 2018) More milkweed needed! The count of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico (released 3/5/18), shows a decrease from last year’s count, and “confirms the iconic orange and black butterfly is still very much at risk”.

The Monarch Butterfly is in Trouble —You Can Help! US Fish and Wildlife Service

“Monarchs Still Need Your Help” (Open Spaces, US Fish & Wildlife blog, 2/14/2017)

How to Build a Butterfly/Pollinator Garden in 7 Steps, US Fish and Wildlife Service (May 18, 2016). Regional Milkweed Planting Guide –The Xerces Society website

Study Monarchs: Citizen Science Opportunities. How to help scientists count and track monarchs.

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve Located within rugged forested mountains about 64 miles (100 km) northwest of Mexico City, researchers first discovered monarchs overwintering within the area in 1975. It was designated a federal reserve in 1980 by presidential decree and a World Heritage Site in 2008.

WWF Monarch Butterfly Tours – Ecotours of central Mexico provide an opportunity to observe and photograph large colonies of monarchs at their remote winter roosting sites in the highlands of central Mexico. “The Kingdom of the Monarchs” 2018 tour dates are scheduled January thru March.

Myth and Mystery in Mexico’s Monarch Kingdom, Good Nature Travel (October, 2009)

“Migration: The Biology of Life on the Move” by Hugh Dingle (Oxford University Press, 2014)

Nature is full of extraordinary sights to experience and explore, and talented photographers bring it all to life on your screen. You’ll be amazed!

Watch and discover Natural Beauty via On2In2™ selected videos.
Free to Watch – On Demand

Feature photo of monarch butterfly is courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels CC0