How to Identify Wasps The word “wasp” is an umbrella term used for thousands of types of flying and stinging insects, including yellow jackets, hornets, and paper wasps. So how can you tell if a flying insect is a beneficial bee or a threatening wasp? A wasp has a waist that is much thinner than the rest of its body; a bee’s body is about the same thickness throughout. Wasp bodies look almost sleek, lacking the fuzzy hairs that enable bees to gather lots of pollen....

But if you take that route, according to experts, you might pay more than necessary and possibly find yourself out of luck if the product breaks down. Here’s how to take a different approach to buying appliances for your home and make a smarter financial investment. Seek out recommendations from technicians. A well-ranked product would seem to be an obvious choice when shopping for home appliances, but things are more complicated than they seem, according to Greg Rode, owner of Ace Appliance in Western Massachusetts....

Every adult family member should know how to shut off the water, both at the fixtures and to the entire house. Find tips and information on stop valves for the kitchen sink, saddle tee-valves, in-faucet stop valves, the main shutoff for the entire house, intermediate shutoff valves, buffalo boxes, water meters, and more below. Fixture Shutoffs Most homes built in the past 40 years have a separate stop valve (also called a fixture shutoff valve) for each faucet, toilet, and fixture....

With that in mind, here are three ways to soften cream cheese in a matter of minutes so you can follow food safety guidelines and put yourself in good shape for recipe success, whether you’re making a dip, frosting, cheesecake, or other culinary creations. How to Soften Cream Cheese Quickly Try one of these three methods below to soften cream cheese in less than 30 minutes. That way, you can get to the rest of your recipe in next to no time....

How to Identify Morel Mushrooms Whenever you’re foraging, identification is key (you don’t want to end up bringing home a basket filled with inedible or possibly toxic mushrooms by accident). Luckily, morel mushrooms have a distinct look that’s pretty easy to spot. Look for mushrooms with a cone-shape cap with lots of crevices like a sponge. When you slice them open, all true morels are hollow inside. Watch out for false morel mushrooms, which can sometimes be toxic....

Choosing the Best Weed Whacker When deciding on the type of weed whacker to purchase, it helps to keep a few considerations in mind. First, think about whether you want a plug-in, battery-powered, or gas-powered model. Plug-in weed whackers are relatively quiet and powerful. And being electric, there’s no exhaust to contend with or trips to the gas station for fuel. However, they do require an extension cord and care should be taken not to trip over or cut the cord while actively trimming....

Getting Started Metal studs save money and are easy to install. Metal studs have precut holes designed to accommodate electrical and plumbing lines. When running NM cable through metal framing, inspect the holes to be sure there are no rough or sharp edges that could damage insulation. Always use the special bushings designed to protect wiring. What You Need ScrewdriverTin snipsStrippersVariable-speed drillLineman’s pliersNonconducting ladderBushingsCableBoxes for metal studs Step 1: Insert Studs Cut metal studs and channels with tin snips....

Planting Jerusalem Artichoke Jerusalem artichoke thrives in average, well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. It grows best in soil with consistent moisture but will tolerate drought and a wide variety of soils as long as the drainage is good. Plant tubers in late spring after the last frost has occurred or in early fall before frost makes an appearance. Choose a planting site that is protected from strong winds to help these lofty plants remain upright....

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2 teaspoon freshly shredded lime peel (3 limes) ½ cup lime juice ½ cup extra virgin olive oil 2 cloves minced garlic 2 teaspoon ground coriander 2 teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon salt ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

2 cup powdered sugar 1 ½ teaspoon clementine or lemon zest 3 tablespoon clementine or lemon juice

½ cup light dairy sour cream ½ teaspoon finely shredded orange peel 2 tablespoon orange juice 2 teaspoon sugar ½ teaspoon poppy seeds