Home & Garden

Yellow cake with French silk chocolate frosting

Submitted by Krista Pennie Myers, News Producer

Sunday, September 11th, 2011, 10:49pm

Yellow cake with French silk chocolate frosting

Here's a great cake recipe that's sure to be a hit with your friends and family!

Make your favorite yellow cake recipe or box cake. Make cake in two, eight inch round pans. After cake is cooled, slice each layer in half horizontally so you now have four layers.

Frosting:

1/4 lb. butter or margarine (1 stick)

3/4 cup sugar (white granulated)

2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add melted chocolate and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating for 5 minutes after each. Chill before spreading on cake. Frost between layers and top of cake. Refrigerate.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Holy mole go away!

Submitted by Janice Broach, Reporter

Thursday, September 8th, 2011, 11:23am

Are they digging to China?

Have you ever spent time walking around your lawn stomping down mole tunnels?

It can be frustrating and doesn't get rid of the moles who are dining on your grubs and worms. Most of the things you've heard of - poison gas cannisters, poison bait, mothballs, vibrating devices like small wind decorations - do not work.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Shelby County Health Dept. Mosquito Spray Schedule

Submitted by John Phelps, Community Blogger

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011, 2:39pm

Shelby County Health Dept. Mosquito Spray Schedule

To continue to address the recent positive tests of West Nile Virus in mosquitos, the Health Department will conduct truck-mounted spraying (adulticiding) of EPA-approved insecticides, weather permitting, in portions specific ZIP codes according to the following schedule from 8-11 p.m.:

Tuesday, August 23rd
38016, 38017, 38018, 38028, 38125, 38139

Wednesday, August 24th
38002, 38016, 38018, 38028, 38128, 38133, 38134, 38135

Thursday, August 25th
38002, 38016, 38018, 38028, 38053

Monday, August 29th
38106, 38108, 38111, 38114, 38116, 38117, 38118, 38120, 38122, 38127, 38128, 38152

West Nile Virus is expected to be active in neighborhoods throughout Shelby County for a longer period of time this year. The Shelby County Health Department urges residents to use repellents when outdoors at night regardless of perceived mosquito activity.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Quick tips on watering your lawn

Submitted by Janice Broach, Reporter

Friday, August 5th, 2011, 9:30pm

With the dog days of summer bearing down, our lawns are longing for a drink of water. But how much water does a lawn need and when should it happen. It's clear a great lawn needs watering.

Here's what the experts say: water in the morning. Doing it at night is discouraged because the water can cause disease and fungus. Deep watering is preferred for a great lawn. Thirty to forty minutes is recommended.

Photo courtesy Flickr user Robert S. Donovan.

View Comments | Post a Comment

To keep or kill, your landline phone

Submitted by Andy Wise, Chief Consumer Investigator/Andy's Restaurant Scorecard

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011, 1:52pm

The landline phone just made the same list as the Trout Cod, the Maccoa Duck and the Altai Weasel.

The endangered species list.

In the age of unlimited long distance, texting and messaging cell plans, the landline's on life support.

Yet Josh Elledge, Chief Executive "Angel" of SavingsAngel.com, said there's an argument for keeping your landline. Actually, four:

* GREATER RELIABILITY. "Particularly if your cell phone doesn’t get great coverage at home," said Elledge. "The argument can be made for either side regarding reliability in a power outage. Personally, my home phones are cordless - so a power outage would leave me unable to use them unless plugged into to a generator - or battery backup. Still, many people believe that non-powered landline phones are the most reliable method of phone communication."

View Comments | Post a Comment

Memphis hosts Natural Hair Expo

Submitted by Kym Clark on Friday, July 8th, 9:20 am

On July 16, Memphis will host its first Natural Hair Care Expo.

The Tennessee Natural Hair Care and Wellness Expo will be a fun-filled event with vendors, workshops and classes, held at the Memphis Airport Hotel and Conference Center (2240 Democrat Road) and will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Natural hair is taking over the world and this conference is a part of that phenomenon, showcasing stylists, fashion, natural hair models and beauty and wellness products.

Classes Include:

Beauty With A Conscience: Choices for Your Whole-istic Health - Leah Patterson of Etniq Minerals

View Comments | Post a Comment

Household hazardous waste facility closes for holiday

Submitted by Jeramia Trotter, WMCTV.com

Monday, June 27th, 2011, 5:14pm

If you’ve got paint or other household items you need to get rid of, but can’t toss in the trash – you’ll need to hurry and take care of them before Independence Day.

The Memphis and Shelby County Household Hazardous Waste Facility will be closed July 2 2011 for the holiday weekend.

However, the facility will be open on Tuesday and Thursday, June 27 and 28, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.

View Comments | Post a Comment