Nothing beats real maple syrup when it comes to flavor. It’s a natural sweetener that’s sustainable and (potentially) profitable. As we get closer and closer to maple syrup season, you may be contemplating harvesting sap and making your own syrup this year. And that’s awesome. But if you’ve never do...

While rosemary is not a perennial in Vermont, you can still grow and enjoy fresh rosemary all year. Just plant it in a container. Bring it outside in warmer weather and inside before the first frost. Why rosemary? It is attractive, resembling a small pine tree, and has a pleasant scent, is easy to g...

Green, red, kidney, lima or soy are just a few of the different kinds of beans recognized on National Bean Day – Jan. 6. This day celebrates the bean in all sizes, shapes and colors. Humans have been cultivating beans (legumes) since the early seventh millennium BCE. And today, just as throughout th...

It seems almost too appropriate that January is National Soup Month . With winter really settled in, we all crave something cozy, and a big bowl of something warm and tasty is the perfect prescription. The beauty of soup is that you can literally put whatever you want in it. Want to use up some stor...

As we head through winter, you may find yourself thinking about the warmth of summer and getting back into the garden again. This daydreaming is a good opportunity to reflect on the past growing season and set goals for next year’s garden by making some new year’s resolutions. Making New Year’s reso...

Another viewpoint: The mailbox is filled with flower seed, bulb and plant catalogs. Joan spends hours poring through them, comparing descriptions, colors and prices to plan out her dream garden. She then gets on the phone with her sisters and daughters-in-law to see who wants in on the high count/lo...

The arrival of the seed and plant catalogs is like a glimpse of spring in the midst of winter. While it’s easy enough to go online and find all the latest and greatest varieties, there’s nothing more warming on a cold, wintry day than grabbing a hot cup of coffee, paper and pen and poring through th...

Eggnog has a limited shelf life, but consumers can still indulge post-Christmas cravings, and do so safely, with a few kitchen hacks. Mary Rapoport, consumer affairs and educational director for the Virginia Egg Council , shared some tips in aJanuary 2021 episodeof Virginia This Morning on CBS 6 New...

A brief history of the gingerbread house and finding a holiday’s sense of home in a Christmas tradition Gingerbread houses are a holiday staple in my house. We didn’t quite get the memo the first year we tried it – you know, to use actual gingerbread? There were five of us kids, early elementary to ...