December Gardening Tip—from GARDENING IN IOWA AND SURROUNDING AREAS

"When leaving on vacation, keep potted plants healthy by watering well and covering them with a clear dry-cleaning bag. The plants will stay watered for up to three weeks."—Darlene Lorenz, Independence Garden Club

Gardening in Iowa and Surrounding Areas, by Veronica Lorson Fowler with the Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa

Holiday Cranberry Salad—from UP A COUNTRY LANE COOKBOOK, by Evelyn Birkby

All of us at the University of Iowa Press would like to wish you and your family a happy and safe holiday! Share this holiday cranberry salad recipe from Up a Country Lane Cookbook, by Evelyn Birkby, with your family this season.

Holiday Cranberry Salad

1 pound cranberries
6 unpeeled apples
1 or 2 unpeeled oranges
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Wash cranberries. Pick out any unusable cranberries and discard. Wash and core apples and oranges. Grind all the fruits together. Stir in sugar and nuts. Chill, covered, for several hours or overnight. This will keep for a week or more. Excellent as a meat accompaniment. Makes about 8 to 10 servings.