This takes three minutes and has an outsized effect on how the morning feels — the room looks cared for, and there is a small satisfaction in having done the first thing of the day well.

The flowers that dry best: strawflowers, in every color, which hold their shape and color almost perfectly. Statice, in lavender and white, which adds a delicate filler element…

The core principle: count backwards from your last frost date. If you don't know your last frost date, look it up — it's the single most important piece of information a gardener can have.

The hot toddy is one of those drinks that has been overly rusticated when in fact it is one of the most warming drinks on a cold February night.

Olive oil cakes have the texture that butter cakes can only aspire to: dense without being heavy, moist without being wet, with a crumb that is simultaneously tender and substantial.