Eggnog Cake

Ingredients

• Cake:
• 1 (18.5 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups eggnog
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon rum flavored extract
• Filling:
• 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 cups eggnog
• 1/2 teaspoon rum flavored extract
• Whipped Topping:
• 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 teaspoon rum flavored extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8 inch round cake pans.
2. For the Cake: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cake mix, eggs, 2 cups eggnog, melted butter, nutmeg, and 1/2 tsp rum flavored extract. Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans.
3. Bake the cake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven to cool on wire racks.
4. For the Filling: Mix together the vanilla pudding mix, 2 cups eggnog, and 1/2 teaspoon rum flavored extract in a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
5. For the Whipped Topping: In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over the cold water, allow to stand for 5 minutes to soften and then stir until the gelatin is fully dissolved. Whip the heavy cream in a large mixing bowl to soft peaks. Add the sugar, gelatin, and 1/2 teaspoon rum flavored extract, and continue whipping to stiff peaks. Refrigerate until ready to use.

6. To Build the Cake: Remove the cakes from the cake pans. Place one round onto a serving plate. Spoon the filling onto the cake round, and spread over the cake evenly. Place the second cake round on top of the filling. Cover the top and sides of the layered cake with the whipped topping. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

The African Violet, as its name suggests, comes from Africa. The African Violet gained much popularity in Germany, and it soon spread across Europe until was introduced to North America in 1926. The type brought in had blue blooms with single, pansy-shaped blossoms. Today, African Violet cultivars total over 2000 and are available with flower in colours ranging from white, to pink, violet, yellow, and of course, blue.

African Violets are one of those plant that require more tender loving care than the average houseplant. Avoid getting water droplets on the leaves as this will cause stains. Some people stand their plants above a bowl of water to increase its humidity - this should not be necessary if you are living in the tropics. African Violets need light intensity of at least 5000 lux to develop flower buds as well as a long day. For this reason, and especially in temperate climate, the plants are more likely to flower in summer.

As mentioned above, the plant hates water getting on its leaves. Also, African Violet don't tolerate hard water, so if you are living in a hard water area, stay away from watering direct from the tap. Keep the soil slightly on the dry side. Excess moisture causes rot. On the other hand, it is also sensitive to dryness, so water when the soil feels dry to the touch, but before it hardens.

When they are in active growth, the African Violet must be fed once a month. If the plant refuses to flower, use nitrogen-free fertiliser, like those for cacti. This should be done about once a year, in spring, using lime-free compost and wide, shallow pots with good drainage.  African Violets are usually grown from cuttings. Cut a leaf with 2 to 5 cm of stalk, and insert into cutting compost, keeping the temperature at 20°C.
 

The Kalanchoe- Another Family Favorite

It's Hard to resist a Kalanchoe covered in clusters of red, pink, orange and yellow flowers.  The flowers last several weeks, and the plants are quite easy to grow. In order to get the Kalanchoe to flower there are key things you have to do, before the plant will make buds, it must be exposed to a series of long, sunny days (or direct sunlight) followed by about 2 weeks of short days, less than 12 hours long. The easiest way to do this is to put the plant outside during the summer  and then bring them indoors in late fall, just before nighttime temperatures drop below 40 degrees. Make sure to keep them in a room where no light is used at night. Kalanchoe usually flowers from January to February, you can force it to flower whenever you like though, as long as you follow the guidelines above.  Fertilize in late spring to midwinter. Keep the soil moist during the warmer months and cooler months withhold until soil dries out between waterings.

Christmas Cactus Care

The Christmas cactus has been a favorite houseplant. It's not unusual for a single plant to be passed down from generation to generation because they're long-lived, rather easy plants to grow. But if you want to get them in bloom for the upcoming holiday season, they will need a little special care during the coming weeks. Hybridization over the past century has resulted in the introduction of many new varieties of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter cactus. These plants are members of the Zygo-cactus family. Most of which are native to Central and South America. Although these plants are called cacti, they are truly different in all aspects from the common desert cactus with which we are all familiar. These plants, called epiphytes are found in the same environments as orchids. They are most often found in the forks of tree limbs where they grow in decayed leaves and other natural debris that accumulates there. Since they are tropical cacti, their cultural requirements are totally different from true cacti. So here are a few ideas on how to care for them and the steps to follow to get them into bloom for the upcoming holiday season.
In September and October, Christmas cactus plants should be kept in a cool room where temperatures will remain around 50 degrees, give or take a few degrees. Be sure not to expose them to freezing temperatures. It's also very important they be kept in a room where no artificial light will be turned on at night.
Actually the key to getting Christmas cactus to flower during the holiday season, is the proper light exposure, correct temperatures and limited watering. So during the fall months, the Christmas cactus should be placed in a spot where it receives indoor indirect bright light during the daylight hours but total darkness at night. (Much the same exposure you would give a poinsettia except a Christmas poinsettia requires warm temperatures whereas the Christmas cactus needs a spot where the temperatures are cool during the fall months.)
Since the Christmas cactus is a tropical plant it will require watering on much the same basis as any other type of tropical plant. A good procedure to follow is to water the plants thoroughly and then allow about the top inch of soil to dry before watering again. However, during the fall and winter months, the plants should be watered less frequently in order to get them to bloom.
Christmas cactus require about 50 to 60 percent humidity. So it's a good practice to place a glass, vase or tray of water near the plant. As the water evaporates it will provide the humidity the cactus needs. A humidity tray is another method of providing the humidity the Christmas cactus requires. This is done by filling a waterproof saucer with gravel, then adding water halfway up the gravel. Place the pot on the gravel surface.
The Christmas cactus should never be placed near a door that opens and closes to the outside. Likewise, keep it away from heating ducts or near the fireplace or drafty areas.
In late October or early November, make an application of a 0-10-10 type liquid fertilizer. A second application of this fertilizer can be made in February. During the growing season from April through September, fertilize the plants with an all purpose liquid houseplant type fertilizer. The fertilizer you use should have a nitrogen ratio of no higher than 10 percent. Of the three numbers on a fertilizer container, the first number is nitrogen.
How do the professionals get Christmas cactus into bloom for the holiday season? They keep them in cool greenhouses where the temperatures average approximately 50 degrees and where the plants receive between 12 and 14 hours of total darkness each day and watering is done sparingly.
One of the most frustrating things that can happen to Christmas cactus is after the flower buds have developed they drop off the plant. Bud drop can be caused by anyone of several different conditions. Usually it's because of over-watering, lack of humidity or insufficient light.
After The Christmas holiday season, the Christmas cactus should be given about a 30 day rest. Again place it in a cool room and provide limited water. Don't worry if it loses a few leaves or joints and appears weak during this rest period.
This is not the time to pinch, prune or shape a Christmas cactus. The best time is when the new growth begins in March or early April.
Likewise, the best time for repotting a cactus is in February, March or April. However, keep in mind the plant will flower best if it's kept in a container where it's pot-bound. If your Christmas cactus is given proper care and is placed in the right location, it's not unusual for it to flower several times throughout the year. 

My Teacher, My Knowledge

My Teacher My knowledge

First and foremost I have to thank the man who taught me all that I know about Gardening 101. Without my grandpa's patience, vast knowledge of plants, and what it takes to yield a good crop, I'm not sure if I would have learned to love nature and all that it creates as much as I do.


This is for you grandpa... Love You!