Innholdsfortegnelse for February - March 2016 i Country Woman

I love my old red accordion. I used to haul it up a flight of stairs to the music room where I took lessons after school. Now, after just a few decades—or more—I can play only a couple chords. But I can’t part with the pretty little squeezebox. Our antiques expert took a look at it, along with a band of other antique musical instruments, in the story “High Notes” beginning on page 32. I’d love to hear your stories or see photos about your favorite keepsake—musical or otherwise. Send them to us at submissions@countrywomanmagazine.com. In this issue, we’ll also take you into an old farm kitchen that’s been painted and polished to take on new life. Owner KariAnne Wood of Grand Rivers, Kentucky, uses rummage sale finds, including platters,…

Snip extra seedlings from your vegetable garden to use as microgreens in salads. Turn overripe fruits and veggies into jams or sauces. Add coffee grounds to your next homemade body scrub to naturally exfoliate your skin. Take a ride through the countryside and seek out roadside farm stands. Pick up Georgia’s book Modern Pioneering for more hands-on tips and tutorials, or visit georgiapellegrini.com  to join an adventure getaway.…

I took this photo of my 15-year-old daughter, Nadia, during record-breaking snowfall in Massachusetts last February. The mound she’s standing in front of was part of a pile in our backyard. The snowplows made even bigger piles in front of our house, which Nadia painted, hoping to cheer up passing drivers and remind them that spring was coming. When we got more snow, Nadia’s painting disappeared. So she made another in our backyard. She filled spray bottles with water and food coloring and sprayed in clusters to create bright flowers. PAGE SOSTEK WENHAM, MA…

Use it or lose it “The cereal bowls are kept in a basket on the rolling rack. The plates, which we use every day, are in the hutch. Everything is mismatched, but white, which keeps the look cohesive. It’s about loving what you have. Buy items you’re going to use and want people to see.” Add architectural detail “My husband framed out this plate rack using one-by-two pine boards. He then used decorative molding for shelves and added rows of screen molding to secure the platters. The recipe reminds me of my mother’s famous cranberry bread and is printed on self-adhering vinyl that I ordered through a local vinyl cutter. The entire project came in under $25.” Visit thistlewoodfarms.com/built-in-plate-rack for specific how-to photos and advice. Stack happy surprises “I challenge…

PRETTY IN PINK You can call them Chinese evergreen and nerve plants, but it’s more fun to pronounce their true names: ag-lah-neem-a and fi-tohnee-a . Cheerful reddish-pink and green leaves of red aglaonema grow best in medium or indirect light. In direct sunlight, shade the plant with a sheer curtain. It can withstand a little watering neglect and needs no pruning. For a stylish look, pair it with a fittonia that sports bright pink, red or white veins. Fittonia needs the same light levels but wants soil that is kept lightly moist. Tie these rose-touched plants together in a trendy group using containers of similar colors but mismatched styles. READY FREDDIE Looking for a handsome guy who is well-behaved and easy on the eyes? ‘Freddie’ is a calathea cultivar whose…

Tender Crescent Rolls We have a big holiday meal with several soups and breads, but this is one of my favorites. Nothing compares to the aroma and from-scratch flair of these crescents. —BONNIE MYERS CALLAWAY, NE PREP: 45 MIN. + RISING BAKE: 10 MIN./BATCH MAKES: 4 DOZEN 2 envelopes (1/4 oz. each) active dry yeast 1 cup warm water (110° to 115°) 1 cup warm 2% milk (110° to 115°) 3 large eggs 1/2 cup sugar 6 Tbsp. shortening 1 tsp. salt 6 1/2 to 7 cups all-purpose flour 1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, combine the milk, eggs, sugar, shortening, salt, yeast mixture and 3 cups flour; beat on medium speed 3 minutes until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to…

Eleanor Joyce was not related to us, but she and my grandmother Esther Solseng were as close as sisters for 57 years. Eleanor was born in 1919 on her parents’ farm in Thief River Falls, where she lived for 94 years. She loved everything about her homestead and even fell in love with and married her father’s hired hand, George Joyce. The couple stayed there for decades, raising chickens, cattle and grain. Eleanor and Esther became fast friends almost as soon as my grandparents moved nearby. They were almost inseparable, but even more so after they both became widows. It was a rare occasion when they weren’t together, especially in the kitchen. They loved to cook and bake side by side. One of my favorite memories is watching them make…

If you want to lose weight and keep it off -- hate dieting and are tired of taking pills, buying costly diet foods or gimmick “fast loss” plans that don’t work-- you’ll love the easy Vinegar way to lose all the pounds you want to lose. And keep them off! Today, the natural Vinegar weight loss plan is a reality. Written by noted vinegar authority Emily Thacker. Her just published book “Vinegar Anniversary” will help you attain your ideal weight the healthiest and most enjoyable way ever. You’ll never again have to count calories. Or go hungry. Or go to expensive diet salons. Or buy pills, drugs. You’ll eat foods you like and get a trimmer, slimmer figure--free of fat and flab-- as the pounds fade away. To prove that…

FUN IN A FLURRY Q: What are your cabin fever cures? “I start planning what chickens I’m adding to our small backyard flock. This year we added White Plymouth Rocks, Dominiques and Buff Orpingtons. It’s fun to have tiny chicks in the house in a big tote storage container. The kids and I watch them get bigger by the day! You know it’s spring when the chicks go outside with the older hens.” KELLY THOMPSON SHOEMAKER STAFFORD, VA “We push the snow off the grill and make our favorite summertime BBQ recipes!” ANNE ORMOND DOVER, NH “The last couple of years I’ve been trying to have a green thumb, so my kids and I start seedlings indoors as soon as we can. They like watching the seeds sprout and grow.…

BRIGHT IDEA! If your pot is solid on the bottom, drill some drainage holes or add a layer of pebbles to the pot before planting. Spray-paint a small pot gold, applying 2-3 coats and waiting a minute or so between each coat. Plant the pot with a lucky shamrock (oxalis). String a clover charm onto a piece of green ribbon. Wrap the ribbon around the pot’s top edge and tie into a bow. Free subscription to CW ! Send an idea, project or tip that makes your garden greener or your life easier—or more fun. If we publish it, you’ll get a year’s subscription to Country Woman for yourself or a friend. Email ideas to submissions@countrywomanmagazine.com .…

The very first romance novel I read was Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen Woodiwiss. It remains a favorite to this day because the heroine is strong but feminine. Now I absolutely devour love stories. I like a happy ending! RENEE PAGE OCHELLE, IL Outlander by Diana Galdabon. I don’t know if I could live in the 1700s, but I loved reading about the romance and adventures of Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser. DEBORAH SWARTZ BRANTFORD, ON Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. What tugs at my heartstrings is the truth that neither looks nor education, not even mistakes of the past, matter when you find your soul mate. KATHARINA MILLS VIA FACEBOOK…

Just driving by, you’d never know that Karen Morss harvests 3 tons of Meyer lemons from 40 trees in her backyard. Her Lemon Ladies Orchard in Emerald Hills, California, hugs a south-facing slope like a fragrant secret garden. “The Meyer is a cross between a lemon and mandarin orange,” Karen says. “It tastes sweeter and more floral than other lemons.” Biting into a wedge, you can taste the difference—not quite as puckery. Ripe Meyer lemons are golden yellow with a slight orange tint. With thin, smooth skin, they must be handled carefully. Karen and four neighborhood kids give the lemons plenty of TLC as they harvest, wash and ship about 300 pounds each week November through April. FARMER-COME-LATELY “Hello, Amelia,” Karen says, parting thick foliage that hides clusters of lemons.…

The best time to repot is spring through summer, during active growth. Repot when water drains through without stopping or when roots grow through the drainage hole. Choose a new pot that’s only 1 to 2 inches wider than the previous one. Be sure the pot has at least one drainage hole. Buy a commercial potting mix that’s best suited for your type of plant. Garden soil is too dense. Add enough potting mix to place the crown (where roots and stems meet) just below the rim of the pot. Gently fill the remaining space with mix. Water thoroughly. Fertilize a few times throughout spring and summer if your potting mix doesn’t come with premixed fertilizer.…

Hang found violins or guitars on a wall—alone or in multiples—to make a stunning statement. Repurpose an instrument to create one-of-a-kind lighting and furniture. Consider wiring that trumpet to make a lamp or converting a drum into a side table. Frame sheet music and piano rolls. You can also use them to line dresser drawers or to craft flowers, wreaths and table runners. Gather smaller instruments, such as harmonicas or whistles, to display in a tabletop arrangement or in a shadow box.…

1 “Olivia breathed in the sweet scent of the season in her great-grandma’s garden, a place she loves to visit,” says Jane Bucholtz of Porterfield, Wisconsin. 2 Jeepers cheepers! “My grandchildren raised their flock of chicken friends,” says Norma Schultz of Colfax, Washington. 3 “Jewel the mule and I shared a hearty hee-haw,” says Lynn Beitzel of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. 4 “Our family tree includes my grandkids (from top) Matthew, Jennifer, Tyler, Ryan and Jessica,” writes Selma Thurber of Blackie, Alberta. 5 “A grumpy bunny face made Amelia even more adorable,” Grandaunt June Shebeck of Strongstown, Pennsylvania, says. Your Family Could Be Scrapbook Stars! Email a family snapshot and description to submissions@countrywomanmagazine.com . If we publish it you’ll get well-deserved bragging rights and a free year of…

EMILYT HACKER Author JAMES VICTOR Publisher Jane King Editor/Research Dear Emily: I’m allergic to perfumes, chemical smells plus many other things. Cleaning has gotten to be a problem as manufactures seem to think everything has to have a fragrance in their product. Can you recommend to me a natural way to freshen my room and air? – B.A., Newport, PA Dear B.A.: Vinegar is the cleaner of choice for those with allergies, asthma or a sensitivity to harsh chemicals. Cleaners you make yourself cost pennies, instead of the dollars supermarket cleaners cost. And, what is much more significant, the compounds you put together are safe, natural and easy on the environment. I will give you my natural Fresh Air freshener from page 108 of my latest book The Vinegar Anniversary…

Dentist Recommends Vinegar I have some useful advice that others may be interested in. When I got my Dentures several years ago, the Dentist told me use vinegar to get the plaque off them. So - about once a week I soak them in the wonder liquid and Presto - they sparkle. I have since gotten implants - Since I am not fond of the hygienist scraping the posts for cleaning - I clean them with Vinegar before going for my check-up. On my last visit to her, she couldn’t believe how clean they were and praised me for it! I then asked the Dentist that put the implants in if the vinegar would harm the metal posts and he informed me it is OK to use it. - D.…

1. Email your submissions to us at submissions@countrywomanmagazine.com, or mail to COUNTRY WOMAN, 1610 N 2ND ST STE 102, MILWAUKEE WI 53212-3906. 2. Include your name, daytime phone number, email address and mailing address with each submission, including emailed submissions. 3. Note which department you’re submitting for, and whether the material has been published before. However, your item may be selected to run in any section of our magazine, or elsewhere. 4. Save your stamps! We do not return submitted materials. Send good-quality copies of photos (keep the original!), or email high-resolution JPEG files. Although we are unable to acknowledge receipt of all submissions, we’ll let you know if they’re published. 5. We accept high-resolution digital images or color prints on photo paper. Digital images should be about 4x6 inches…

Mini Ham ’n’ Cheese Frittatas I found this recipe a few years ago and made some little changes to it. I’m diabetic, and it fits into my low-carb and low-fat diet. Every time I serve a brunch, the frittatas are the first to disappear, and nobody even knows they are low in fat! —SUSAN WATT BASKING RIDGE, NJ PREP: 15 MIN.• BAKE: 25 MIN.• MAKES: 8 MINI FRITTATAS 6 large eggs 4 large egg whites 2 Tbsp. fat-free milk 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 3 Tbsp. minced fresh chives 3/4 cup cubed fully cooked ham (about 4 oz.) 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded fat-free cheddar cheese 1. Preheat oven to 375°. In a bowl, whisk the first five ingredients until blended; stir in chives. Divide ham and cheese among…

BRIGHT IDEA! Buy a few decorative bird nests from a craft store to use as earthy home accents. 1 Make your space sparkle with a chandelier light. 2 Turn a galvanized caddy or hardware organizer into a rustic centerpiece. 3 Use a tiered kitchen cart to stash extra dishes or storage containers. Take a neutral stance “A neutral palette offers flexibility when you want a new look,” says owner KariAnne Wood. “It’s easy to add color with dishes, florals and more. Small changes like these can transform an entire space.” “It was nothing but a pipe in the ground,” KariAnne Wood recalls as she watches afternoon sunlight stream through the shutters and dance across the pinewood floor, “but my first thought when I saw this kitchen was, ‘Wow, this could…

Each tree in Karen’s orchard is named for a woman who has inspired her and is represented by a painted tile on Karen’s kitchen wall. Some tiles were painted by the trees’ namesakes, and others Karen painted herself. Sister Michael Maureen, a beloved teacher from Karen’s childhood in Pennsylvania. Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-born astronaut tragically lost on the space shuttle Columbia . Martha Stewart, because “when she started featuring recipes using Meyer lemons, cooks everywhere wanted them!” Karen says.…

LOVIN’ SPOOLFUL USE LEFTOVER SEWING SUPPLIES TO CREATE A PRETTY HEART PLAQUE THAT CAN DOUBLE AS A KEY HOLDER. WHAT YOU’LL NEED Unfinished wood craft plaque Vintage wood thread spools Heart pattern Pink acrylic craft paint 2 sponge brushes 3 decorative skeleton keys Silver ball keychain Silver heart locket Hammer Nails Glue gun Faux metal key lock plate and brad nails (optional) DIRECTIONS 1. Dip a sponge brush into paint, then into water. Following the wood grain, apply a thin coat of paint-water mixture to the front and edges of plaque. Work into the wood with dry sponge brush. 2. Cut a paper heart to use as a pattern or print one from online. Using pencil, lightly trace heart on center front of plaque. 3. Setting one spool aside, arrange…

“When I had kids, I wanted them to share the experiences I had on the farm.” The early spring months in New England are called the “fifth season,” or mud season, when maple sap starts flowing in the trees. The days are getting longer and the weather is warming up. At night, the temperature still dips below freezing, and steam escapes from sugarhouses, sweetly filling the air. My family began making syrup in 1971. We collected sap from all the sugar maples near our farm in Connecticut. The deep snow made it quite a task to walk from tree to tree to get buckets of sap and then trudge back to our truck to empty them in the tank. We’d then drive to the sugarhouse to turn the sap into…

EAT SMART Black Bean Tortilla Pie When I found this southwestern entree I decreased the cheese and increased the herbs called for. It’s one of my toddler’s favorites. She always smiles when she sees it on the table. —WENDY KELLY PETERSBURG, NY PREP: 50 MIN.• BAKE: 15 MIN. MAKES: 6 SERVINGS 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 medium green pepper, chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 1 tsp. ground cumin 1/4 tsp. pepper 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 cans (15 oz. each) black beans, rinsed and drained 1 can (14 1/2 oz . ) vegetable broth 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen corn, thawed 4 green onions, sliced 4 flour tortillas (8 in.) 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese, divided 1. Preheat oven to 400°. In a…

Frick and Frackers My two daughters, Katrina and Kris, ages 3 and 4, are quite the pair. Once, when they sat down to their lunchtime bowls of chicken noodle soup, Katrina asked Kris to please pass the “frackers,” pointing to a sleeve of crackers. Kris, being older and wiser, corrected her sister. “You silly, frackers are those little brown dots across your nose.” GRACE NAEGELE COLUMBUS, OH Not Eggs-actly I was explaining Easter to my son Charlie, saying that Good Friday was the day Jesus died. Charlie said, “Dyed Easter eggs?” KATHY BLUME MEQUON, WI Another Way to Look At It When he kept rubbing his eye, I asked my 4-year-old grandson, Logan, if he had something in it. “Grandma, I just have a string in my eye,” he said.…

Thousands of years ago ancient healers trusted apple cider vinegar, and modern research shows - vinegar just might be a wonder cure! In fact, apple cider vinegar’s biggest fans believe this golden liquid can help solve the most troublesome of human afflictions. Since even the earliest of times a daily vinegar cocktail was used to help control appetite to lose weight and continue good health. And now after years of continued research all across the globe, over 1000 new vinegar super-remedies and tonics are available in the brand new 168-page Vinegar Anniversary Book by famed natural health author, Emily Thacker. From the Bible to Cleopatra to the fierce Samurai warriors of Japan, vinegar has been documented as a powerful tonic to ensure strength, power and long life. Today’s research studies…

Simple Vinegar used to reduce cervical cancer deaths by 31% The latest study about vinegar, shows it will prevent an estimated 72,600 deaths from cervical cancer each year. This according to a study released at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago, IL. The results were based over a 12 year period tracking 150,000 women in Mumbai, India, between the ages of 35-64 years. The conclusion, a simple vinegar test significantly reduces cervical cancer deaths. Immediate plans are to implement this simple and successful screening test in developing countries. The study had been planned for 16 years, but after the results were analyzed and found to be conclusive it was stopped at 12 years. Vinegar has always been used for its versatility in home remedies, cooking and…

BRIGHT IDEA! Surround glass with an extra scoop of marshmallows for the taking. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Parfait glass Prepared mousse or pudding Pastel miniature marshmallow Six 2-in. pieces uncooked angel hair pasta 1 palmier cookie White sprinkles (optional) DIRECTIONS: 1. For bunny nose, cut marshmallow in half. Press the cut edge of one half against the side of the parfait glass until the marshmallow sticks. 2. For whiskers, gently insert one end of each pasta piece into the marshmallow, placing 3 whiskers on each side of nose. 3. Fill the parfait glass with prepared mousse or pudding and insert palmier, positioning cookie so that it resembles bunny ears. Top with sprinkles if desired. Serve immediately.…