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2 ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup shortening ¼ cup butter, cut up, or shortening ½ cup ice water If the lemon curd is thick enough to make it difficult to mix with the whipped cream, try this step first: In a small microwave-safe bowl microwave the lemon curd on 100 percent power (high) about 10 seconds to thin it slightly.

Caring for Fosteriana Tulips Fosteriana tulips, like all tulip bulbs, require well-drained soil and at least 6 hours of bright sunlight per day. Tulips do best in soil that is relatively dry in summer and well-drained in winter. Wet, boggy soil in winter quickly leads to bulb rot. The best time to plant tulips bulbs is mid-fall when the nighttime temperatures consistently hover in the 40s. Prepare the planting bed, breaking up any soil clods as you dig a 6- to 8-inch-deep planting trench....

Durability is important, but perhaps even more important is the fit of the garden gloves. If they’re too big or loose, you won’t have the dexterity you need, and gripping tools and plants properly could be tricky. They should have a snug or adjustable cuff to keep soil and debris from falling inside the glove. While gloves should fit snugly if they’re too tight, they’ll limit your movements and wear out more quickly....

To Store Freeze pancakes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze up to 2 months. To serve, reheat in a toaster. Vegan Coconut Whipped Cream: For filling, chill a 1, 13- to 14-ounce can coconut cream overnight. Open can and loosen firm cream from edge of can. Pour any separate liquid into a small bowl. Place firm cream into chilled bowl. Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla....

½ cup warm water 2 tablespoon white vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar ½ teaspoon salt 2 medium carrots, cut into thin bite-size strips **Tip: To warm tortillas, preheat oven to 350°F. Stack tortillas and wrap tightly in foil. Bake about 10 minutes or until heated through. ICON: warm weather

Find more natives for your southwestern garden here! How to Grow Wavy Cloak Fern Wavy cloak fern grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. Native to the desert Southwest, it is most often found growing underneath evergreen desert shrubs in rocky soil or in rock crevices. It shows the most growth when it is growing in locations where its leaves receive sun and its roots are sheltered in the shade of a rock outcropping or underneath a dense shrub....

Before you consider swatches, keep this painting pointer in mind: There’s no need to go crazy with color, especially when you’re trying to appeal to as many buyers as possible. Valspar’s Sue Kim advises keeping your paint color combination to around three colors. For example, “try a clean white for the siding like Valspar’s Swiss Coffee, Dark Kettle Black on details, and Heirloom Red on the front door for a traditionally classic scheme that won’t go out of style,” she says....

Influenced by Germany’s utilitarian Bauhaus movement and the simplicity of Scandinavian and Japanese design styles, minimalism provides a quieter alternative to over-accessorized interiors. Minimalism creates a tranquil atmosphere in living rooms or bedrooms and gives kitchens and bathrooms a clean, modern look. Although it’s designed to appear effortless, decorating in minimalist style is highly deliberate and can be difficult to pull off. Learn more about its key characteristics and discover tricks to achieving a clean, minimalist look without sacrificing personality....

Especially if you’re planning to complete any DIY electrical work, such as repairing or replacing a switch or adding a new light fixture, it’s important to know the basics of how these switches control your electricity. By taking the time to learn how your switch wiring system works, you can reduce your risk of electric shock or fire when working with switches. Check out our comprehensive guide below to learn the ins and outs of light switch wiring, including information on power-through and end-line switches....

Rhododendrons Curl Their Leaves Against Winter Wind If your rhododendron is exposed to too much cold winter wind, it will curl its leaves inward, trying to keep less leaf surface exposed. The shrub is trying to keep water from evaporating from its leaves. Here’s how to help: Whenever the temperature gets above freezing, give your rhododendron a slow and steady trickle of water until the soil feels damp 8-10 inches down....

Line-voltage thermostats operate at either 120 or 240 volts and control gable vent fans, electric baseboard heaters, and similar appliances. Replacing them is different but no harder than replacing a furnace thermostat. There is one important—and potentially dangerous—difference between the two, however. A conventional low-voltage thermostat operates at 24 volts. An electric baseboard heater may operate at 240 volts. Always make sure the power is off when working on either type of thermostat, but be doubly cautious with a line-voltage thermostat....

Loose-lay vinyl has a heavy fiberglass backing that allows the sheet to lay flat on the floor without glue. You can purchase the flooring at most home centers and flooring stores. Standard sheet vinyl is not heavy enough to be installed in this fashion—it will slip and curl over time. To prevent loose-lay vinyl from curling up in high traffic areas, secure the material with double-sided tape at the doorways....

Note: This gate is designed for a stair base with posts on both sides. This project can accommodate any hallway or staircase opening up to 48 inches. Tools Miter sawDrill¼-inch drill bitFraming squareTape measurePencilSander blockSandpaperPaint and paintbrush Materials 1x3x48-inch pine board (actual width is 3½ inches)(4) 1x6x72-inch pine boards (actual width is 5½ inches)1x4x72-inch pine lumbers (actual width is 3½ inches)48x96-inch bead board(1 box) 1¼-inch drywall screwsWood glue2 extra-heavy gate hingesGate latchExtra long zip ties (20 inches)...

Supplies Needed Two-way garden hose connector (1/2" faucet hose fitting)Irrigation timerPressure regulatorMainline drip irrigation hose (1/2" poly drip irrigation tubing)Plant containersTape measureTapePVC pipe cutting saw, or a PVC cutting tool (for cutting the poly tubing)Poly tubing end capHammerIrrigation micro tubing (1/4" vinyl micro tubing)Drip irrigation hole punchDrip line connectorsDrip hose goof plugs (to patch holes that are mispunched)Potting soilPlantsIrrigation drippers with spikes, one for each pot Step-by-Step Instructions You can opt to pick up the list of supplies from the hardware store or use a pre-assembled drip irrigation kit ($42, The Home Depot)....