An elimination play can save many a contract. Its purpose is to force a defender, usually near the end of play, to make a play disadvantageous to his side. Here is a simple illustration. South is in four spades, and West starts by leading three high hearts, declarer ruffing the third. South ...

Pureed soups cry out for embellishment. We favor heavy cream, whipped or not; sour cream; snipped chives or minced scallions; or a drizzle of melted butter or olive oil to add more flavor. This minty pea soup from our cookbook “Canal House” is topped with finely diced ham and lots of ...

By the time the Spring equinox occurs, fruit from the 2025 harvest has been in the cellars for several months. In the fall, the grapes were crushed, juices settled and primary fermentation is largely complete. While most white wines will spend their lives in stainless, reds (along with some ...

Our ground is covered again with snow, so even though the calendar tells us spring began Friday, we will be patient and wait. I'm sure a lot of you readers are having much more. Hopefully you are all safe and warm. I have been busy cleaning corners and organizing the house so when we start ...

Dear Annie: I have been married for 22 years to a good man. He is faithful, hardworking and, by most people’s standards, a wonderful husband. He has never given me any reason to doubt his loyalty, and he has always taken his responsibilities seriously. From the outside, we look like a solid, ...

DEAR HELOISE: I have a black leather purse, which I stored in its fabric bag. But when I pulled it out this year, it had a terrible moldy smell. I read that baking soda and/or lemon zest would help get rid of the odor, but neither helped. Any ideas on how to get rid of the odor? — Mel G., ...