WASHINGTON — Now you see them, now you don’t.

Some folks might say making New Year resolutions is a waste of time, because we often forget what we resolved by the end of January. However, the main key to success is to make resolutions that are measurable, reasonable and reachable. For example, if every Hawaii Island resident planted just one tree a month in 2023, that would be well over two million trees to sequester carbon and produce tons of oxygen thus helping to slow global warming. To be practical, that might be a resolution too big to achieve. To bring the resolution down to scale, plant what you can in your garden.

Jody Denton, a self-described “chili head,” ran an experiment with his two young daughters, Ana and Olivia. As they grew up, he cooked their meals just a little bit spicier than they wanted.

Here’s a festive dish for this time of year or anytime you want something special. The steak is flambeed with brandy. The alcohol is burned off, leaving the flavor behind. Brandy is a generic name for wine or fermented fruit juice that has been distilled and aged in oak barrels. Cognac and Armagnac, named for the region where the grapes are produced, are considered fine brandies. Use any type of brandy in this recipe. You don’t need to buy a large bottle. You can buy small bottles or splits (1.5 ounces) of different types of brandy in most liquor stores.

If you have chosen the kitchen for your next big redesign project, there are a number of stylish ways to spruce up the heart of your home. And it doesn’t have to be another unending time waster or money pit project. Giving your kitchen a new look can be easy, quick and cheap. Most importantly, when it’s all said and done, it is going to look great.

A large rainbow spans the horizon off Laupahoehoe Point in mid-November.

Jelly doughnuts, also known as sufganiyot, have become a classic Hanukkah treat, one of a number of foods fried in oil that are popular on the holiday ( latkes, or potato pancakes, are another).