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While we’ll always look forward to Mama’s homemade dressing on Thanksgiving, there are some side dishes that we don’t mind taking a shortcut with. We’ll gladly let the experts at Publix take the lead on a few side dishes so we can focus on the more time-intensive recipes that are worth spending all day in the kitchen. Whether you need a dish to bring along to a Friendsgiving gathering or you need to grab a last-minute side so you don’t show up to your family’s Thanksgiving empty handed, Publix can save the day....

Theme parks are most certainly at the top of every family’s summer to-do list. But, even a single day visit to parks like Disney World and Universal can be an expensive proposition for a small family. There is, however, one more option out there for park-lovers, and best of all, it’s completely free. Tucked away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, theme park aficionados can find the destination of their dreams known as The Gathering Place....

From dishing about the essential Southern potluck recipes on our Biscuits & Jam podcast to filling us in about her three must-have kitchen tools to sharing her treasured potato chip-topped Funeral Potatoes casserole, we like to think we’re basically BFFs with Ree Drummond. OK, that might be a stretch, but we’ve been lucky enough to interview and showcase enough of her delicious Pioneer Woman dishes, it can feel like we’ve studied and savored it all....

Cicadas Have Been Around for a Long Time Cicadas emit one of the most distinct sounds of the animal kingdom—of the insect group, anyway. The song of the cicada is a reverberating noise that’s hard to describe and even harder to re-create. They belong to a superfamily, the Cicadoidea, and there are more than 3,000 known species of cicadas. Evolutionary biologists have determined that these exceptionally loud bugs have been present in North America for millions of years....

It’s typically late February when the matzo stockpile starts. With limited supplies of matzo in local grocery stores, my family starts buying up matzo meal, potato starch, and the works a solid month in advance of the Passover holiday. It’s as much of a tradition as hiding the afikoman in the same spot under the tv or the haphazard way my uncle fumbles through the Haggadah even though he’s led the family service for decades....

We could all learn something from SeaWorld San Antonio’s unique penguin family. The Texas theme park is sharing the story of its two male Gentoo penguins who, after years of waiting, are raising a Chinstrap chick—a penguin of a different species no less—as a pair. This heartwarming tale began in 2017, when a team of aviculturists observed two male Gentoo penguins building a nest together. According to a SeaWorld spokesperson, they behaved as a pair, taking turns guarding the nest site and “sitting just as an expectant parent bird would....

Southerners have long had a love affair with sweet breads, from quick and easy banana-nut muffins to time consuming yeast breads, such as the seasonal King Cake and Citrus Pull-Apart Bread. We take our sweet breads so seriously, that we even turn them into casseroles. Check out this Cinnamon Roll Casserole if you have any doubts. One special sweet roll, the Alabama Orange Roll, has taken an entire state by storm....

Beanie Weenies, potted meat, and Vienna sausages—for many of us of a certain age, these are the essential and formative canned, ready-to-eat convenience foods from our childhood. They were the snacks and provisions we associate with outdoor excursions, fishing trips, camp outs, and time with a granddaddy or other beloved family member who fed us grab-and-go items from country stores, filling stations, and bait shacks. We remember them as treats enjoyed away from home, which was a big part of what made them special....

The holidays are typically filled with traditions, whether that means baking a family cookie recipe, singing carols, or watching “White Christmas” with your mother every year. However, sometimes a fun trend comes along that makes you want to forget about those annual rituals and try something new. This year, it’s the gold Christmas tree. But if you’re itching to shake up your usual holiday decor with an elegant golden tree, fret not....

Beer might be the drink of choice at Super Bowl parties, but if you don’t like drinking it, that doesn’t mean you should be stuck sipping soda or water. (Unless you’re the designated driver, of course.) If you like watching the game with a glass of something stronger, try one of these fun cocktails. These drinks are a great match for hearty game day food like chili, nachos, or burgers. And best of all, they can be made in large batches if you’re hosting a crowd so you won’t have to play bartender and miss the game....

If you enjoyed the most recent performance by Chapel Hart, you weren’t alone—Tanya Tucker herself loved their song on America’s Got Talent. After watching the buzzy group clinch their spot in the AGT finals with their original song, “The Girls Are Back In Town,” which name drops Tucker, the country legend took time from her filming schedule to share the love with the Mississippi-based band. “I’m shooting a Christmas movie right now… I saw you on @AmericasGotIt and wow!...

As Southerners, we have a natural predilection for taking the roundabout, scenic route. Winding, country roads and a summer sunset? Sign us up. Give us a week’s vacation and an Amtrak ticket from New York City to Emeryville, California, and we’ll be happy campers. (Give us a good friend and a pile of books, too, please.) Over the past few years, so-called “slow travel” has risen to the forefront of travel trends with beautiful, lengthy train rides bringing to life the old adage that travel is not about the destination, but the journey....

Ouch! Those intimately acquainted with the sting of Alabama’s notorious red wasp know that they never want to encounter another. And who can blame them? Knowledge is power, so get to know this flying insect and you’ll have a better chance of staying safe from its painful sting. The red wasp’s scientific name is Polistes carolina, and it’s one of two existing species of red paper wasps. According to National Geographic, “Generally, the brighter colored species are in the Vespidae, or stinging wasp, family....

For the first time in its storied 75-year history, Brennan’s has entered the king cake game. And with three distinct flavors of the ring-shaped dessert on the menu, the New Orleans restaurant is going big. Brennan’s is now selling king cakes for pick-up, delivery, and nationwide shipping. The classic purple, green, and gold-frosted Mardi Gras confections are 10 to 12 inches in diameter, serve 15 to 20 people, and can be ordered until February 15....

We come bearing peachy news. By that, we mean actual news of peaches, guys and gals: Chick-fil-A’s Peach Milkshake is back at the fast food chain’s eateries nationwide starting today, Monday, June 14 for a limited time while supplies last. (And given how many we can gulp down, we have a feeling these supplies are going to run out sooner rather than later.) The much-loved milkshake, first introduced in 2009, is a delectable combination of Chick-fil-A’s Icedream soft serve with peaches, garnished with whipped cream and a cherry (these toppings are omitted if you order the milkshake for delivery)....

Lewes, Delaware, dates back to 1631, and today its rich history still resounds through the salty air. Walking around the quiet, peaceful town today, Lewes is difficult to imagine as a place of great drama and action. While Lewes may no longer be the site of pirates’ raids or great naval upheaval, it’s almost ironically a popular destination for retirees because of its coastal location and slow pace. Just north of popular Atlantic Coast destination Rehoboth Beach—known for its classic boardwalk and family-friendly beaches—Lewes offers similar charms with fewer crowds....

Will Dunn is an avid angler. He grew up on boats, fishing off the coast of the Florida Keys with his father who ran a lobster business. Fishing has always been a part of his life, but it wasn’t until he met Cameron Delong that he realized the power it had to change lives. “I had a little neighbor, and I found out he was fatherless,” Dunn told Southern Living. “His dad wasn’t part of his life....

Mixing patterns is downright intimidating. And to be fair, it’s easy to miss the mark and end up with a dizzying living room. So most of us pass the task of picking printed fabrics off the task to experienced design pros. Combining patterns is really something anyone can do, and it’s a great way to add personality to your spaces. Mastering the art of mixing patterns is all about knowing where to start....

Summer has officially given way to fall. The change in weather and the color of leaves could only mean three things for Southerners: SEC football, chilly autumn evenings spent on the porch, and, of course, breaking out the slow cooker to make warm, comforting meals. We’re already well aware of how much you love cooking things low and slow using this handy appliance. But, did you know that the slow cooker can make your life even easier depending on where it’s located and positioned?...

They were once in every kitchen, sometimes even attached to a free-standing cabinet known as a Hoosier cabinet. A flour sifter was a necessary item to have if the home cook wanted tender cakes and biscuits. Today’s recipes usually don’t call for sifting flour, but it is still a good idea to have a sifter on hand for those few occasions when you do need it. If one recipe tells you to sift flour but another doesn’t mention it, how do you know when, and if, the process of sifting is really necessary?...