Posts

A charcuterie board, a selection of cured and smoked meats, is one of the best and easiest appetizers for a crowd because you don’t have to cook anything—all you have to do is grab your prettiest platter and assemble a few store-bought ingredients. If you’re crazy about smoked sausage or country ham, it’s fine to serve one type of meat. But if you’re hosting a party, it’s fun for people to have a few options to pick and choose from, so aim for three types of meat with different flavors and textures....

You’ve just brought in a bucket of strawberries from the backyard berry patch, farmers’ market, or the U-pick farm down the road. Now you’re dreaming up all the strawberry recipes and sweet desserts you plan to make—or you’re dreaming of snacking on those berries right from the bowl. Before you begin popping those plump strawberries into your mouth, you need to clean them. Cleaning strawberries isn’t an overly complicated process. Everything you need is likely in your kitchen right now, but it is necessary for several reasons....

It used to be that if you wanted to sample good smoked brisket you had to book a flight to Central Texas and drive out to a small town like Lockhart or Taylor. These days, barbecued beef has spread far beyond The Lone Star State, and you can find prime brisket on menus as far afield as Seattle and Manhattan. And that means barbecue fans increasingly are asked this when they step up to the counter to order: “lean or fatty?...

COVID-19 has fundamentally shifted the way that we shop. While sales of pants are down and pajama purchases soar, there’s also been an unprecedented rush on lavender. Yes, lavender. According to a recent CNN report, lavender sales are surging among people seeking relief from stress and sleep deprivation during the pandemic. Lavender growers in the U.S. and UK are reporting that sales on “sleep oil” have quadrupled as a growing number of customers seek new sources of comfort during these turbulent times....

With the arrival of January comes the dismantling of the Christmas tree, the packing up of the decorations, and, inevitably, the post-holiday blues. But Valentine’s Day, which will be here before we know it, is the perfect excuse to deck out your home once again—and we’ve found just the cookware to add some romance to your kitchen. Le Creuset, known for their high-quality enameled cast-iron cookware (and impressive variety of colors) has three adorable Valentine’s Day pieces, each one more swoon-worthy than the last....

Lowe’s was founded in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in 1921, and now the Mooresville, North Carolina, headquartered home improvement giant is celebrating their centennial in the most meaningful of ways—by giving back to those in need. Earlier this week, the home improvement retailer announced the “100 Hometowns” initiative, which is setting out to complete 100 community impact projects across the country by the end of this year as part of the company’s $10 million commitment to helping the communities Lowe’s serves....

What’s two inches long, has dozens of yellow legs, and oozes a cyanide toxin that smells like cherries? Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the Apheloria virginiensis millipede. This unique creature, also known as a cherry millipede, first came to our attention last week, when Richmond National Battlefield Park in Virginia shared on Facebook that they were recently spotted in the park. “Bees aren’t the only insects who rock yellow stripes!...

Oh, how we yearn to escape into the beautiful, twisted vortex that is Netflix’s The Crown. With episodes in season 3 taking viewers on journeys to America, South Wales, the Caribbean, and beyond, along with plenty of intrigue in Buckingham Palace, we certainly can’t wait for more seasons of one of our favorite shows. As of late, it’s been a whirlwind of emotions for fans of Netflix’s The Crown. After hearing in January from Netflix that The Crown’s fifth season would be its last, the show’s creator Peter Morgan announced in July that the show will actually run for six seasons....

New Orleans Red Beans and Rice: New Orleans Red Beans and Rice Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice: Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice Stovetop Red Beans and Rice: Stovetop Red Beans and Rice Easy Red Beans and Rice: Easy Red Beans and Rice Red Beans and Rice VariationsThere’s more to this classic dish than beans. For some cooks, ham hocks, andouille sausage, or bacon are a must; for others, it’s pickled or salt pork....

Growing up a gifted three-sport athlete in Whitehouse, Texas, even from a young age, it was clear that Patrick Mahomes was destined for great things. Sure, his coaches and teammates might have seen a Super Bowl ring in his future, but only one person had the foresight to write his prediction down. Spencer Shaw, who attended Whitehouse High School with Mahomes, was so certain that his classmate would one day win the Super Bowl, that he wrote it in their yearbook....

Grilled chicken wings are a fun party snack, but they’re not always fun for the party host. Most people can eat a lot of wings—especially if beer is involved. And no one wants to be stuck at the grill, flipping batch after batch of wings, working up a sweat and missing out on all of the fun. Which is why you should break out your trusty slow cooker and make a big batch of tender, sticky wings in advance....

BUY IT: $34.99 (orig. $44.99); amazon.com “I love these sheets so much! They make it so hard for me to get out of bed in the mornings,” shared a shopper who titled their review “Best Sheets Ever” and confirmed the set is soft and cooling. “As a general rule, any sheet or blanket is too warm in the summer, even with the A/C on,” wrote another reviewer who lives in Texas....

Fall is here and you know what means—it’s pumpkin season! From lattes to pies, we’re embracing all things pumpkin spice. There’s just something about heading into the chillier months that makes us want to crank up the oven, break out the butter, and start baking. And quick bread, as the name implies, is the easiest loaf of all. In addition to quick breads rising faster than traditional yeast breads, they’re also a long-lasting treat that you can freeze and serve over and over again....

The biggest names in country music are teaming up to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital this week. Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and others are set to perform in the upcoming Music Gives: Together #forStJude, a free, virtual concert hosted by CMT’s Marley Sherwood and Cody Alan that will “entertain, inspire, and highlight the lifesaving mission of St. Jude.” Other A-list performers taking part in the livestream event include Brett Eldredge, Darius Rucker, Lady A, Third Eye Blind, Jason Mraz, and Randy Owen with Alabama....

“It’s crazy to see the dedication that the frontline workers have,” McGraw says towards the beginning of his recent appearance on Ellen DeGeneres’ The Ellen Show, capturing the sentiment we all so deeply feel right now amidst the coronavirus pandemic. These turbulent times have given us all an opportunity to pause and feel immense gratitude for all who keep society moving as this invisible virus wreaks its havoc. More than ever, so many of us are looking for ways to pitch in by virtually volunteering for those in need or expressing our appreciation for nurses....

A young Georgia athlete is receiving high praise for something more important than winning: sportsmanship. Daylon Meeks is a two-sport athlete at Treutlen County Middle School in the tiny “two-stoplight town” of Soperton. In addition to playing football, Meeks is the only eighth-grade boy on the school’s cross-country team. According to his cross-country coach Kristy Versprille, Meeks has been improving his two-mile time at every meet, which is why she was surprised when he didn’t cross the finish line during a recent matchup against Mount De Sales Academy....

When it comes to buying laundry detergent, there are lots of factors to consider. Do you want extra stain-fighting power or clean and gentle? Do you want triple-action or standard (and what is the difference, really)? Do you enjoy scented or unscented? Liquid, pods, or powder? Or should you ditch the store-bought stuff entirely and make your own? When browsing in the grocery store’s laundry aisle, it can be challenging to discern the differences between all the bright-colored bottles....

Maybe you got a fitness tracker for the holidays and are feeling inspired to log a few extra miles a week. Or maybe you enjoy walking as a form of regular exercise, but are curious as to how you can slim down doing it. Whatever your reason, it’s easier than you think to torch serious calories by simply moving your right foot in front of your left. WATCH: 7 Fat-Burning Foods That Boost Metabolism...

Ready to abandon everything in your Netflix queue? (Sorry, season two of Virgin River, Bridgerton and, yes, we still have to get to Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas…we know we’ve got to try to find time to tune in to all of these, too.) Well, there’s a good reason we’re suggesting this temporary detour: Every single episode of Ree Drummond’s Food Network series, The Pioneer Woman, is now available for your streaming enjoyment on discovery+ — Food Network is a division of Discovery Networks U....

As we head into the fall and winter months, it’s time to start planning tailgates, Thanksgiving dinners, holiday parties, and other gatherings. There’s something special about hosting all of the people you love in your home. But what do you do when you realize that your guest list is larger than your space? These experts have tips on throwing a party that’s festive and comfortable for everyone, regardless of the size of your home....