Classic shortbreads are plain and simple. Whether you choose to roll them into logs and slice them 1/4 inch or roll 1/4 inch thick and use a 1.5 inch round cutter. Bake.
Cranberry orange shortbreads with flecks of red and a hint of citrus. Take your batch of shortbread dough and add 1/4 cup of white sugar to finely chopped dried cranberries. Zest of orange or clementine. Mix the dough into two 1-1/2 inch thick logs wrapped in plastic and refrigerate until firm enough to slice. Slice 1/4 inch thick and dip the slices into white sugar. Bake.
Take the long ends of the plastic wrap and cover the dough from all sides and smooth out the dough. The plastic wrap will give you a smoother surface by rubbing it down. Refrigerate the loaf pan until you can life the three layer dough out of the pan ( about 5 minutes or more). 
Place the wrapped 3 layer dough on a small cutting board or anything that can keep and hold the dough flat. Place the dough in the fridge until firm. At this point, you can freeze the dough until you are ready to bake ( Frozen dough should be thawed)
Once the dough has firmed up, slice the dough on the long side in half. Slice into 1/4 inches and place on ungreased pan and bake. Bake
These little book houses are popping up everywhere on college campus to local neighbourhoods. I was even told there was one at a local park. Each and every book houses are custom built and painted with a variety of book titles...what is that all about?
Mix up your chocolate chip cookie recipe.
With Summer officially ending, the foliage of colourful flowers are fading at the close of the season. Nature has this way with perennials to either self seed if they are not picked. How about trying to harvest the seeds? Collecting your own seeds is economical and cost efficient. Not only will you be ensuring your garden with new blooms from the seed harvest. You can also share your replants or seeds with friends and family.  |
| Zinnia seeds are located right under the stem. Just break off the brown petals for the seeds. |
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| Cone flower seeds are embedded..just shake |
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| Sasha Daisies seeds...just shake |
I decided to plant potatoes in the middle of summer. It was very late in the season because I had a hard time trying to get my potatoes to sprout long enough to plant. It's ironic when you don't want your potatoes to sprout, they sprout like crazy and when you want them to sprout, they just don't. I think next year with planning a few months ahead, I will get my potatoes into the soil earlier for longer and larger yield. I was surprisingly happy with assortment fingerlings in different sizes. I cannot wait to cook them up!
I made three cut outs on the sides of the slightly smaller planter. I cut three inches from the top and the bottom of the planter. I call these cuts, windows. The reasoning behind the cut outs is that once the potatoes are in full growth, you will be able to lift the slightly smaller planter straight out of the larger planter and dig out the potato yields in the windows cuts on the planter. 
Once the potato sprouts begin to peek through the soil, keep covering the sprouts day after day until the sprouts reach to the top of the planter. This is a long process but the results are rewarding.
Turn under 1 inch of the raw hem and pin to secure. 
Fold the 1 inch hem under to the creased hem (this will give you an 1/2 inch clean seam)
With the jean's turned on the right side. Thread your sewing machine with either matching thread or orange thread. Don't forget to change your sewing machine needle to a denim or heavier needle to avoid breakage.
Remove the pins and basting threads. Clip the threads. Give the hems a quick press 
I have not had any success with the rosemary for the cilantro rooting. The basil was a success that I ended up planting the basil in an outside planter. There is still a lot of summer left for the herb to thrive outdoors and I will remember to do my herb clippings before the fall weather is amongst us for rooting and drying.
Why not whip up batch of guiltless canine yoghourt pops for your favorite K-9 in your freezer. Keep the treats on hand especially on those hot days. With 4 simple ingredients and a few hours in the freezer, spoil your favorite four legged friend(s) knowing he is getting a healthy cooling treat. 
1 cup of plain yoghourt 
