May is when cooking starts to feel more flexible, with fresh produce showing up and schedules filling quickly. These May dinner menus are built around real food meals with sides, designed to keep dinner nourishing and organized without spending extra time in the kitchen. Not sure why to menu plan? Check out all the great...

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Good things to do, buy, read, and watch: catching up on the spring garden, moving to a new soaker hose, plus book reviews and a documentary I’m still thinking about. Some links in this article are affiliate links and if you click on them I will receive a small commission at no cost to you....

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A 30 minute shrimp and asparagus recipe that feels a little special with only a few ingredients, two pans, and basic cooking! Tender shrimp and crisp asparagus cook quickly and are served over a smooth white bean puree for a protein rich, filling meal. It’s an amazingly simple recipe with a lemony-garlic flavor that comes...

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This list of easy plants for your garden focuses on the ones that actually grow well, need less attention, and keep your garden looking good without constant effort. Just as important, it also highlights a few popular plants you may want to skip because they spread aggressively or struggle to thrive. These reliable picks help...

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This oat fudge bar recipe is a simple way to make a homemade treat in a few minutes of hands-on time without turning on the oven. With a soft oat base and crumble with a rich nut butter-chocolate layer, these bars come together quickly using pantry ingredients and a few easy steps. They’re naturally gluten...

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Weeds don’t have to take over your garden or your time, I promise! Using this easy natural weed control method with paper and mulch changed my gardening life, blocking weeds as well as improving the soil. Instead of constant pulling or relying on chemicals, simply lay down a barrier that works quietly in the background,...

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This cozy barley recipe is one of those simple dishes you’ll keep coming back to. Barley, carrots, broth, and warm curry spices all go right into a crockpot in about 15 minutes and then slowly cooks into a hearty, flavorful dish all on it’s own. By dinnertime you have a warm, fiber rich nourishing side...

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A list of the truly easiest vegetables to grow for reliable, low maintenance production whether you’re a beginner or experienced gardener. You’ll also find a few vegetables that tend to be more trouble than they’re worth, and avoiding them may save you time, space, and frustration. I’ve learned through trial and error that choosing wisely...

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Roasted green beans are the kind of side dish you can rely on anytime, even straight from the freezer. This simple recipe works with fresh or frozen beans, so you don’t have to plan ahead or thaw anything, just toss, spread, and roast! This simple recipe for roasted green beans is one of my favorite...

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When you need a quick, satisfying dinner that feels a little special without extra effort, this creamy pesto tortellini is one of those recipes you’ll come back to again and again. Tender cheese-filled pasta is tossed in a creamy sauce and paired with sweet red peppers for just the right balance of richness and freshness....

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