Let the adults have a little Christmas fun, too! We’re sure your friends and family will love these tasty jelly shots! They’re made with cherry and lime jello and have a very special ingredient – vanilla vodka! They may look complicated, but they’re so easy to make! Add some whipped cream and mint leaves on top and any red candy you like (we love red Skittles!) and you’re ready to party!

Ingredients:

1) 1 three ounce box cherry gelatin or jello

2) 1 three ounce box lime gelatin or jello

3) 3 packets unflavored gelatin

4) 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

5) 1 1/2 cups vanilla vodka

6) 36 dollops whipped cream

7) 36 mint leaves

8) 72 small red candies (try red Skittles!)

Step #1:

Coat a square dish lightly with cooking spray. Spread the cooking spray around with paper towel.

Step #2:

To make the cherry layer, add 1/2 a packet of gelatin over 1/4 cup of water. Leave it to soak for 1-2 minutes. Add in 1 box of cherry gelatin and 1 cup boiling water. Mix until it dissolves. Add 3/4 cup of vanilla vodka. Repeat this process to make the lime layer.

Step #3:

For the white layer, add 2 packets of gelatin to 1/2 cup of water and leave it to soak for 1-2 minutes. Add in 1 cup boiling water and 1 14 ounce can of condensed milk. Mix until the gelatin dissolves. This will make 3 cups of liquid. Leave it to cool to room temperature.

Step #4:

Add 1/2 of the cherry mixture into the pan. Place the pan in the fridge for 20 minutes for the gelatin to set. Once it has set, add 1/3 of the white mixture on top of the cherry mixture. If any air bubbles surface, pop them before placing the pan back in the fridge for 20 minutes. Repeat this process for the lime mixture. Add white over the lime, then cherry, then white, then finish with the lime. Leave the finished pan to set in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours, or overnight.

Step #5:

When you’re ready to serve the jelly shots, gently pull the edges away from the pan. Invert the jelly onto a cutting board and cut into squares.

Step #6:

Place your jelly shots on a serving tray and top them with a bit of whipped cream. Top the whipped cream with a mint leaf and 2 red candies (to make a holly leaf). Enjoy!

Photos: Tablespoon.

We’ve decided to ditch the store-bought deodorizers in favor of natural, home-made ones. Free of any toxic chemicals, they’re completely safe for you and your pets. These natural home deodorizers can be made in almost any combination. Simply add the ingredients (cut any fruit into slices ) to a pot and fill 3/4 of the way with water. Bring to a boil, then lower the temperature down to a simmer. Leave the scent to simmer for a few hours, adding water as needed. If you like, you can use a crock pot instead of using the stove. You can also freeze the scents for future use. Remember, there are no measurements in these recipes! Experiment a little to find which scent suits you best.

Here are a few recipes to get you started:

1. Cinnamon sticks, orange rinds, apple peels, and whole cloves.

2. A few drops of vanilla and orange peels.

3. Lime, coconut oil, and vanilla.

4. Oranges, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and vanilla.

5. Rosemary, lavender, and lemon.

6. Cedar twigs.

7. Lemon, black peppercorns, and basil.

8. Earl Grey tea and vanilla extract.

9. Lemon, peppermint extract, and rosemary.

10. Orange and almond extract.

Photos: Day Break Houses, Eliza Domestica, A Joyful Dwelling.

Salads are great for summer – they’re light, healthy, and easy to put together, as they require no cooking! So, take a break from the stove with this tasty salad! In this Tex-Mex southwestern salad, we used corn, beans, cilantro, avocado, tomatoes, and romaine lettuce. Garnished with tortilla strips, and drizzled with a cilantro-lime dressing, this salad is fresh and light, perfect for the summer heat.

Tex-Mex Southwestern Salad With Cilantro Lime Dressing

A healthy salad with beans, corn, tomatoes, tortilla strips, and avocados. The dressing is made of cilantro, Greek yogurt, lime, and olive oil. Protein packed, this salad is sure to get the stamp of approval from everyone!

Ingredients for the salad

• 5 cups romaine lettuce (chopped)
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
• 1/2 cup canned corn kernels (drained)
• 1/2 cup canned black beans (drained and rinsed)
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves (chopped)
• 1 avocado (halved, seeded, peeled and diced)
• 1/2 cup tortilla strips

Ingredients for the dressing

• 1 cup cilantro (stems removed)
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 garlic cloves
• juice of 1 lime
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions

1. For the dressing, combine cilantro, yogurt, garlic, lime juice and salt in a food processor. Blend well, then add olive oil and vinegar and blend again until smooth.
2. Place romaine lettuce in a bowl and top with tomatoes, black beans, corn, and cilantro.
3. Pour dressing on top of the salad and toss gently. Add in avocado and stir.
4. Serve immediately and garnish with the tortilla strips.

Photos: Damn Delicious.

We love terra cotta pots, and who doesn’t? They are so versatile and work well in any garden. But, sometimes the new pots are just a bit too orange, and would look better if they had an ‘aged’ look. Those aged terra cotta pots for sale are just a bit too expensive, so here are 4 ways how to do it yourself!

1. The Yoghurt Method

First, soak your pot in water for about 15 minutes. Take it out and using a foam brush, brush on yoghurt in uneven directions. Let the pot sit outside in a cool, moist place for 4-6 weeks. The final effect will be a green patina effect.

2. The Lime Method

Mix equal parts garden lime and water in a bowl until you get a paste. Brush on the mixture onto the pot until it’s completely covered in a thick layer. When dry, use sandpaper to smooth out the pot, and be sure to rub some areas more aggressively than others for a natural look. The final step is to seal the pot with 3-4 coats of a matte sealer. This gives pots a white, chalky look.

3. The Moss and Buttermilk Method

Head to the woods and gather some moss. Remove as much dirt as you can and tear it up into small pieces. In a bowl, combine buttermilk and moss pieces and mix. You can now brush the mixture onto your pots, and when finished, place the pot in a shaded place. You should soon see moss start to grow onto the pot.

4. The Clay Soil Method

Rub the soil over the pot, and add water as needed if the soil doesn’t stick. Then, place the pot in a shaded area for at least 1 month. Get out a wire brush and brush the pot to create a textured surface.

Photos: Canadian Gardening, Mother Earth Living.