Innholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2021 i Country Woman

I think I could eat ice cream every day in the summer. That’s probably not a sound nutritional plan, but it’s a favorite way to beat the heat of the season. Those of you who agree will find ideas for ice cream desserts (or dinner, if you think the same way I do on this subject) on page 36. But if you prefer to manage a heat wave with fewer dairy products, this issue has a double-dip of other ideas for you. On hot weather days, try to keep your kitchen cool by putting your slow cooker to work—it’s not just for cozy winter meals. Recipes begin on page 42. Or take your dinner outdoors. On page 16, you’ll meet the Ostertag family and tour the gorgeous outdoor entertaining pavilion…

Buttons Get Their Due I was delighted to see Country Woman’s cover photo featuring button crafts on the February/March issue. When I opened to the article and saw the selection of five button crafts, I was over the moon! I hope your fun article will entice your readers to learn more about collecting buttons by joining the National Button Society (NBS). A main mission of NBS is to preserve the beauty and history of vintage buttons. Consequently, we encourage button crafters to use noncollectible or craft buttons in their creations or to use a “no-harm” method to attach vintage buttons to their projects. Thank you again for featuring button crafts! SYLVIA LISZKA DURELL NATIONAL BUTTON SOCIETY EDITOR’S NOTE: So many of you made your own versions of the button crafts…

Emily Selby of Clinton Township, Michigan, loves to go “garbage picking” with her mom. “This was one of our best finds,” she says of the outdated cabinet they discovered sitting on a curb. “With a limited budget, I am always looking for ways to update without breaking the bank.” Emily enjoys showing others how chalk paint can transform a piece, and this project was no exception. With a few coats of paint and some new hardware, she gave the old cabinet a new look that calls to mind a vintage library card catalog. “It is so easy to update furniture with a small budget, and it’s so well worth it,” Emily says. “This became a beautiful statement piece that looks gorgeous sitting in the living room!”…

FLAG WALL HANGING WHAT YOU’LL NEED 4 22-in.-sq. red bandannas 3 22-in.-sq. white bandannas 1 22-in.-sq. blue bandanna Coordinating thread 26 in. dowel rod Twine 13 star-shaped lapel pins Scissors Sewing machine Straight pins Iron DIRECTIONS 1 Wash and dry bandannas. 2 Cut red and white bandannas into 5-in.-wide strips. Sew 2 red strips together at short end. Repeat with remaining red pieces for 7 long red strips. Repeat with white pieces for 6 long strips. 3 Fold 1 ½ in. of raw edge of each strip to back and press in place, leaving 2-in.-wide strip. 4 Fold 3 in. of each strip over the dowel rod and pin in place with straight pins, alternating red and white stripes. 5 Fold blue bandanna to match width of 7 stripes (approximately…

Chocolate Chip Strawberry Ice Cream My husband and I have a favorite Dairy Queen Blizzard we always get, so I came up with my own version. Make sure the ice cream mixture is cooled for several hours or overnight. SANDY MARTIN ELIZABETHTOWN, PA PREP: 25 MIN. PROCESS: 15 MIN. + FREEZING MAKES: 11/2 QT. 1 2/3 cups sugar 5 Tbsp. cornstarch, divided 4 cups 2% milk 2 large egg yolks 1 1/3 cups heavy whipping cream 2/3 cup half-and-half cream 3 tsp. vanilla extract 1/4 cup light corn syrup 3 cups fresh strawberries, hulled 1 dark chocolate candy bar (8 oz.), finely chopped Optional: Whipped cream and maraschino cherries 1. In a large heavy saucepan, whisk sugar and 4 Tbsp. cornstarch until blended; whisk in the milk until smooth. Bring…

Tell us about yourself. Hey y’all! I live on a small farm in Florida where we raise Aberdeen lowline cattle. I have a daughter and a son (and I gained a daughter-in-law recently). My husband and I have been building our new “old” farmhouse for five and a half years now—we should finish this year. What are your hobbies? I love being outdoors—hiking, walking, enjoying nature. You can also find me in my garden pretty much any day of the week. I love grinding my own flour and giving my family all the health benefits while baking and cooking from scratch. What lessons have you learned from building your own house? Patience. That is one thing I realized I didn’t have prior to this project. Taking our time really allowed…

It really all started with a kitten. Linda Kastiel Kozlowski, the founder of Comfort for Critters, was in her local animal shelter adopting the meowing ball of fuzz when she noticed the rest of the homeless pets in their enclosures. She was helping one, but what could she do for the other 50 she couldn’t take with her? Inspiration came when the shelter worker told her they sometimes lined the cages with old towels to make the animals more comfortable. “I’m a Christian,” Linda says, “and I felt a tap on my shoulder to do something about all these pets. I had been crocheting my whole life, so I said, ‘How about I crochet blankets and you can use that instead of old towels?’ I was really answering a calling…

Long before they showed up in mask form in an effort to mitigate spread of the coronavirus, bandannas were used to manage numerous other tasks. They originated in 18th-century India, where the colorful squares were named after bandhani, the ancient tie-dyeing process used to pattern them. From there, they became hankies, head coverings and neck wraps, and for generations, many outdoor enthusiasts haven’t left home without one. 1 Dishcloth. For cleanup around the campfire. 2 Belt. Tie a few together for style and function. 3 Trail marker. Never lose sight of the way. 4 Bib. Keep your lunch off your shirt. 5 Splint. Always be prepared. 6 Napkin. Handy and environmentally aware. 7 Pet accessory. Even Fido wants to be stylish. 8 Hair tie. Keep those loose ends in place.…

These combos might sound a little crazy, but readers love the mix of crunchy, creamy, fruity and nutty over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Ritz Crackers & Chocolate Sauce Hershey’s chocolate sauce and Ritz crackers! BROOKLYN REYNOLDS ANDERSON, INDIANA Bacon & Maple Syrup I top mine with maple syrup and crispy thick-cut bacon. CAROL FELDMANN SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WISCONSIN Cornflakes & Cinnamon From my sister’s brain: cornflakes and cinnamon. It tastes like apple pie. SABRINA EILEEN STEBBINS BROWN SARATOGA SPRINGS, UTAH Espresso Pour on some cooled Cuban coffee or espresso. It’s just plain awesome. CATHY KILLINGER LOPEZ CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA Balsamic & Fruit Balsamic vinegar and fruit! It adds just the right amount of tang. ALLISON OCHOA HAYS, KANSAS Crushed Potato Chips The flavor combo gives you both sweet and…

Garden Tour With the growing season in full swing, we want to see what you’re working on—especially on the small scale. Send us photos of any solutions you have for growing in tiny spaces, as well as a list of the plants that thrive there. Make Us Laugh In every issue, readers share their funniest stories in the Lots of Laughs column. We’ve giggled over embarrassing moments, assumptions gone awry and farm mishaps. Do you have a funny tale to tell? Send it to us, and your story could appear in an upcoming issue! Are We There Yet? With many families sticking to car travel this summer, we’re looking for your best tips for keeping the kiddos occupied when you hit the road. If you have a good game or…

Watermelon Feta Flag Salad Our family celebrates July 4th with a watermelon salad that resembles the flag. It’s an all-American centerpiece that’s truly red, white and blue. JAN WHITWORTH ROEBUCK, SC TAKES: 25 MIN.• MAKES: 12 SERVINGS 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp. grated lemon zest 1 tsp. sugar 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1/3 cup olive oil 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion SALAD 6 cups fresh arugula (about 5 oz.) 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries 5 cups cubed seedless watermelon 1 pkg. (8 oz.) feta cheese, cut into 1/2 -in. cubes 1. For vinaigrette, in a small bowl, whisk the first 6 ingredients; gradually whisk in oil until blended. Stir in onion. 2. In a large bowl, lightly toss arugula with 1/4…

Root Beer Pulled Pork Nachos I count on my slow cooker to do the honors when I have a house full of summer guests. Teenagers especially love DIY nachos. Try cola, ginger ale or lemon-lime soda if you’re not into root beer. JAMES SCHEND PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WI PREP: 20 MIN.• COOK: 8 HOURS MAKES: 12 SERVINGS 1 boneless pork shoulder butt roast (3 to 4 lbs.) 1 can (12 oz.) root beer or cola 12 cups tortilla chips 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 2 medium tomatoes, chopped Optional: Pico de gallo, chopped green onions and sliced jalapeno peppers 1. In a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker, combine pork roast and root beer. Cook, covered, on low until meat is tender, 8-9 hours. 2. Remove roast; cool slightly. When cool enough…

1 Long May She Wave I love this photo of our granddaughter Hazel. It had been a hot summer in Illinois, but that never stops us from enjoying the Independence Day festivities. BRENDA KELLY CHILLICOTHE, ILLINOIS 2 Sweet Surprise My then-7-month-old son, Greyson, had his first taste of watermelon and loved it! RACHEL THOMAS LIVE OAK, FLORIDA 3 Good Clean Fun My beautiful youngest granddaughter found her Fourth of July fun by playing in the mud. MELISSA BOWDEN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA Visit countrywomanmagazine.com/submit to share a family snapshot. If we publish it, you’ll get a free year of Country Woman.…