By now, you probably know what kind of soil you have out there in your “back 40.” If planting that rose bush brought up wads of gummy goo, you know to call it clay. If instead you scooped up g…
Home and Hearth
AP
If ever a 22-inch square of cotton could tell stories, it would be the bandana.
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CASA GRANDE -- I like trying new things, but when I first heard of popcorn salad, I was reluctant.
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CASA GRANDE -- Last December, we bought an Arizona yellow bell. We made it our Christmas tree, though it’s more of a bush.
CASA GRANDE — A Mother’s Day brunch will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Paramount Theatre, 420 N. Florence St.
Central air conditioning systems are critical to surviving the brutal Arizona summers. Just one day in July without a properly working AC unit is one day too many.
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NEW YORK — Mother’s Day is here again and, yes, we’re still in a pandemic. Keep those handmade cards, bouquets or breakfasts in bed coming, but up your game in celebration of brighter days with one of these store-bought gifts:
PHOENIX — Entries for Bashas’ annual Donut Flavor Craze contest are open through May 17.
AP
NEW YORK — When Leland Stein heads to his 93-year-old mother’s senior living facility for Mother’s Day, he’ll have flowers in hand, a bottle of bubbly and a year’s worth of hugs.
AP
A path is a feature too often overlooked in a garden or landscape. Maybe it lacks functionality, or beauty, or it’s needed — but just not there.
Before you begin your remodeling or repair project, it is critical that you conduct due diligence on the contractors you hire. There are a few measures to take when completing your due diligence.
Multiclass reunion
AP
The gardening world has a tried-and-true formula for the perfect window box: a thriller, a filler and a spiller. You simply can’t go wrong with a tall red geranium amid a tranquil bed of white impatiens and cascading vines of ivy.
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CASA GRANDE -- Making eggs, whether poached, fried, scrambled or boiled, isn’t difficult, but there are plenty of hacks and tricks that aim to make the job even easier.
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CASA GRANDE — Jim Dalton had a layover at Union Station in St. Louis. It was December 1943, well into World War II. Dalton, 18, was a sailor on a troop train. He had eight hours to kill and decided on a snack.
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CASA GRANDE -- I love homemade bread, but sometimes, there’s simply no time for all that kneading and waiting. For those times when you need a loaf of rustic, fresh-baked bread in a hurry, beer bread is the solution.
If you are having trouble locating rarely used dishware or nearly slice your fingers during food prep, lack of light may be the problem.
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CASA GRANDE -- April is a fun month for foodies.
When we hear about water safety, we tend to think it is a seasonal issue pertaining to children and swimming pools. Water safety goes way beyond the pool. It includes lakes, canals, ponds, and any other natural occurring body of water, plus areas in and around the house such as the bathtub, …
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CASA GRANDE — For those who wish to turn off the oven while still serving up a platter of yummy treats, a “grazing board” can offer something for everyone.
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CASA GRANDE -- If COVID-19 hadn’t interfered, the Pinal County Fair would have been held in mid-March, bringing with it the rides, livestock shows, entertainment, attractions and of course the food.
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The question was: What kind of fish can you catch in a canal? So asked Andy Howell, PinalCentral’s assistant managing editor.
One of the most overlooked components of a house is the window and door screens. Homebuyers generally accept the screens that are there and don’t really think about them until they become damaged and need to be replaced. But are the screens the right ones for your lifestyle?
Blood drives set
DEAR DR. BLONZ: At what age is a person considered an adult as regards nutrient requirements? My daughter is 14, and I want her to take a supplement because of her sketchy eating habits. I developed osteoporosis — it is now under control, but I do not want this for her. — F.M., Phoenix
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CASA GRANDE -- Few vegetables are as versatile as the potato. They can be fried, mashed, baked, boiled and even microwaved. And in the classic French method of preparing fondant potatoes, two methods — frying and baking — are combined to create creamy, delicious, melt-in-your-mouth potatoes.
CASA GRANDE — Pinal-Gila Council for Senior Citizens is hosting the free, virtual Diabetes Self-Management Workshop from April 15 through May 20.
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CASA GRANDE -- The toughest thing about making traditional Polish paczki might be pronouncing the word correctly — puhnch-kee, not pak-ski.
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CASA GRANDE -- Terri Topmiller was married to a Vietnam War veteran. The war was something he never got over. It was something she never got over.
It’s not unheard of for Central Arizona to hit 100-degrees in April. Don’t wait until 90 degrees to get your air conditioning unit serviced. Wait, and you will be at the mercy of everyone else in line. Because of the pandemic it is also taking longer for contractors to receive the necessary …
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CASA GRANDE -- I recently purchased the meat grinder attachment for my KitchenAid stand mixer and have been busy grinding meats and experimenting with sausage-making, so we’ve been eating a lot of breakfast-for-dinner in our house lately.
Chips, small holes, and minor cracks in your home’s windows are going to happen. Common mishaps can be a pebble flung from a mower or weed-whacker, a bad football pass, even a bird flying into the window. Cracked or broken glass needs immediate attention.
February was a big month for health care.
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CASA GRANDE -- Vegetables might not be fun, and a snack called “vegetable pie” might not excite too many people, but this little dish is actually fun and pretty yummy and nutritious.
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CASA GRANDE -- Many of us grew up on McDonald’s apple pie.
Imagine you won a gourmet meal prepared in your kitchen by a celebrity chef. Would the chef be able to find the tools needed to create the feast without having to call in a search party? If not, it’s time to organize.
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CASA GRANDE -- Tuesday is the end of Mardi Gras and what better way to celebrate than with the sweet and creamy Haitian celebratory drink known as kremas.
CASA GRANDE — I hired on with the Dispatch in the summer of 2010. My job was to write feature stories. I preferred face-to-face interviews.
Looking to brighten things up or take it down a few notches? Replacing a traditional light switch with a lighting dimmer switch can set the ambiance for a romantic dinner, a meditation space, TV watching, a party, or whatever activity you want to set the mood for.
TUCSON -- The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting many aspects of our lives, including our romantic relationships. Some couples may be feeling the strain of living and working in the same space day after day. Other people may be feeling especially lonely this year as the pandemic disrupts traditi…
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CASA GRANDE -- Whether it’s called a Swiss roll, jelly roll or the more proper “roulade,” rolled cakes are easy to make and a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, especially when the cake is pink and filled with bright red strawberry jelly.
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CASA GRANDE — Girl Scouts throughout the area began their annual cookie sales on Jan. 16 and are working toward their goals.
Interior designers probably didn’t predict that 2020 would play a significant role in the design trends for 2021. The amount of time we spent at home cooped up with loved ones, created a need for privacy, comfort, and nostalgia.
CASA GRANDE — Good oral health in young children plays a critical role in their overall wellbeing and education. Yet, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease faced by young children and is also 100% preventable.
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CASA GRANDE -- Would you eat macaroni and cheese if it’s candy-colored pink? How about on Valentine’s Day?
I’ve settled on my pandemic wardrobe. It’s not new, actually. It’s pretty much the same wardrobe I selected for retirement.
Remember the great toilet paper famine of 2020? What if another stay-at-home order happens or another event that requires you and your family to stay home for a lengthy period? Will you have everything you need to get by? Do you know what you need to get by? And do you want to just get by or…