The
Country
Almanac
The shortest month of the year
begins in the frost of winter and
leads to the promise of spring.MAKE IT,
DON’T BUY IT!
Stock your pantry with
homemade staples.1
VanillaExtract:Place
6 vanilla beans, split
lengthwise, in a tall jar;
cover with 2 cups vodka.
Seal jar tightly. Let stand in
a cool, dark place for at least
six weeks, gently shaking jar
once a week.2
Spice Mix:Combine
½ cup paprika with
3 Tbsp. each onion powder,
garlic powder and cayenne;
2 Tbsp. each white pepper
and pepper; and 4 tsp. each
salt, dried thyme, oregano,
cumin and chili powder.
Use for up to six months
on grilled pork, chicken and
veggies.3
Peanut Butter:Process
2 cups unsalted roasted
peanuts and ½ tsp. salt in
a food processor for about
5 minutes. Add 1 Tbsp.
honey and process until just
blended. Store, sealed, in
the fridge. Best PB&J ever!Go totasteofhome.comfor
more money-saving tips.Laura Ingalls Wilder,
author ofLittle
House on the Prairie, was born
on this day in 1867. Rocky Ridge
Farm—where she did most of her
writing—is now a museum and
opens for the season on March 1.
lauraingallswilderhome.comSaturday, March 3
Iditarod mushers and
their mighty sled dogs
set off to win the storied
Iditarod race, which
winds through the
Alaskan wilderness from
Anchorage to Nome.
iditarod.comFirst Day
of Spring
Feb. 19 Presidents Day
Did you know that President George
Washington was a dog enthusiast? The
man known as the father of our country
is credited with helping develop the
American foxhound breed. He had more
than 30 of these hunting dogs.FEB.
2
GROUNDHOG: SCOTT SCHILLER; JAPANESE MAPLE: AMY BENNETTFebruary/March 2018
FEBRUARY 14Happy
Valentine’s Day!
“On that glorious day when the breezes begin
to ripple warmth across the land and rain
showers gently tease, my soul comes alive!”LYNELLE WEAVER Port Trevorton, Pennsylvania
Groundhog Day
Make your own weather
prediction. Place a stuffed
animal on a flat surface
outdoors. If you see its
shadow, you can expect six
more weeks of winter.2/ 7
MARCH 20
18 COUNTRY-MAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018