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Bacon. What can I say? I adore it. Truly. It is one of life’s simple joys, and if someone tells me they do not like bacon, I cannot help but pause and wonder—just a little—about the choices that led them to this moment. Kidding… mostly. But bacon does come with its fair share of drama. It curls, it twists, it acts like it has somewhere better to be, and it absolutely refuses to lay flat long enough to crisp evenly. Each strip seems to have its own little personality, and not

Pie crust. What can I say? It is either amazing or an adventure that tests your character. I have a genuine fear of the dreaded soggy bottom, thanks to many episodes of The Great British Baking Show. I can practically hear Paul Hollywood tapping the bottom of a slice and announcing with deep disappointment that it is, in fact, soggy. Tragic. It takes a lot to sway me from my mother’s tried and true pie crust recipe, but here I am… swaying. I recently heard about a trick that

I live in Texas. That means I live in Texas , period. And if you know, you know, summer here feels a whole lot like gardening on the surface of the sun. Garden beds don’t just struggle… they suffer . Last year, in a moment of “well, why not?” inspiration, I had a wild idea I decided to test out. And today, I get to tell you how it went. I bought 8-foot sections of perforated French drain pipe and buried them right down the center of my garden beds. I dug a long trench, tucked

From the Whimsy Hive Kitchen: When the weather turns crisp and the evenings come a little earlier, there’s nothing better than the smell of something warm simmering on the stove. Roasted Vegetable Lentil Soup There’s something about a bowl of Roasted Vegetable Lentil Soup that just feels like a hug on a cold day. It’s hearty, wholesome, and packed with flavor, the kind of meal that makes you feel cared for from the inside out. I started making this soup years ago on a chilly

When I first saw this recipe, I had two thoughts: One  — this will be AMAZING! Two  — this could be a taste disaster. Naturally, I had to find out for myself. Well friends, I’m happy to report that this Carrot Cake Jam is everything I hoped it would be — warm, sweet, spiced, and absolutely delightful. It’s the kind of recipe that makes your kitchen smell like fall, your spoon "accidentally" find its way into the pot a few too many times, and your jars disappear almost as fast

I’ve read many times over the years that saffron is the world’s most expensive spice. Because I love gardening and a good challenge, I decided to give saffron a go in my garden this year. I ordered ten corms. (Why are they called corms, anyway? Why not just call them bulbs? But I digress.) I planted my ten little corms in early August and had all but given up on them ever sprouting when, one day...poof...saffron blooms appeared! All I had to do was pluck the flowers, gently p

Ah, tomatoes. Those cheerful little bursts of sunshine are such a joy...until they all decide to ripen at the same time ! If you grow tomatoes, you know the rhythm well: nothing for days or weeks, and then suddenly, it’s tomato overload. Counters full. Baskets full. You’re trying to pawn them off on neighbors before they start getting a little too soft and wrinkly. So what’s a homegrown tomato lover to do? Here’s one of my favorite tricks: freeze cherry tomatoes whole! No bla