Foodie Chickie

From Martha Stewart Living magazine.

The skin of onions not only color broth but also are believed to predict weather. Thin-skinned onions are said to forecast a mild weather; thicker skins mean that you'll need a heavy winter coat.

In the tradition of Navajo basket and blanket makers to weave one small line along the edge, called a weaver's pathway, this is believed to prevent a crafter's spirit from being trapped in the finished piece. It also creates a slight imperfection, so the weaver always has room for improvement.

In Cato the Elder's treatise on agriculture, who lived from 234 B.C. to 149 B.C., included a recipe for the popular pie of ancient Rome; it was not filled with pumpkin or apples, but with sheep's-milk cheese and honey.

Originally used to protect and shield candle flames from drafts, sconces get their name from the Latin word abscondere, which means "to hide".

Chinese Taoists believe that extracting the scent from a fragrant plant represents the releasing of the soul.