Graters are one of the handiest tools to have in a kitchen. The right grater can break down a hunk of Parmesan, take the yellow right off a grapefruit, and transform nutmeg into a coffee topping. As handy as they are, though, after you zest, grate, or grind, cleaning a grater can be, well, grating. Cleaning a grater can scrape your knuckles, destroy your manicure, and ruin your sponges, especially if the food has dried on there....
For any true bookworm, or even the casual reading hobbyist, a cozy, quiet corner to relax with a good book sounds like heaven on earth. Picture this: a blissful paradise of your own to get comfortable, leave the day’s worries behind, and dig your nose firmly into a thoughtful, new literary world. Sure, you can whip out your e-reader or present paperback in any old place, but wouldn’t it be oh-so much better to do so in a comfortable spot where you can lay back, prop your feet up, and immerse yourself in your favorite author’s words without distraction?...
Most of us know the basics, but in case you need a little refresher, the hard and fast rules for loading a dishwasher begin with the universal truth that all dishes should be loaded with the dirty side facing the jets. If you’ve been loading with all of your dishes facing the same direction, it’s time to update the strategy. You’re probably well aware, though, that the dirtiest dishes should go on the bottom, while more fragile or lightly soiled items can go on the top....
What is the best part of the holiday feast? Is it having all of your favorite side dishes spread out on one table or the fabulous pecan pies and other fall desserts? Maybe it’s the succulent turkey, crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. They all sound pretty wonderful. But if you properly store leftover turkey and casseroles, then your enjoyment of the holiday meal doesn’t have to end once the feast is over....
I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for a bean salad. Whether we’re talking three beans, four beans, or eight beans, the humble dish has a certain nostalgic factor for me. It was a summertime fixture on my grandparent’s supper table, then my parents’, and now my own. The version my grandmother served was no-frills but delicious. I haven’t attempted to recreate that magic—though, rumor has it, the bean salad in question was in fact store-bought from a jar—but my mom somehow managed to find a recipe that comes daringly close....
There’s nothing in the garden that can compete with the bright green foliage, dramatic blossoms, and overall glory of a hydrangea in full bloom. They’re a siren of warm-weather days, long evenings on the porch, and daylight that lasts well past suppertime. But sometimes, their garden splendor might seem lackluster and a tad bit tired and droopy, with the onset of symptoms usually hitting around the same time every afternoon. It turns out, there’s a reason (or maybe a few) as to why your hydrangea is getting a case of the blues like clockwork, but uncovering the cause isn’t as simple as upping its water intake and hoping for the best....
Unwanted plants in the lawn and garden (a.k.a. weeds) can be a problem, especially if you like things neat, uniform, and pristine, like a baseball field. But many of these plants do a great job at supporting area pollinators, including bees, butterflies and other insects. If you (or your Homeowner’s Association) insist on your front lawn being completely weed-free, find another place on your property where the good weeds can have their space, whether it’s as a cover crop, along a fence row, or by creating a pollinator garden....
Charcoal company Kingsford has launched a new initiative that focuses on highlighting and preserving the contributions Black Americans have made to barbecue, while ensuring they have a prominent place in the future of the cuisine. With this week’s launch of Kingsford’s Preserve the Pit fellowship program, aspiring barbecue professionals are invited to apply to an opportunity for immersive training and one-on-one mentorship with some of the top pitmasters in the nation....
McDonald’s is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Egg McMuffin—and the different ways people eat them—by offering the beloved breakfast sandwich for its original price: 63 cents. To go along with the promotion, McDonald’s is also sharing several popular “fan hacks” that make the Egg McMuffin “a little extra.” For example, you can ditch the muffins and replace them with two hash browns, add tomato and bacon, or even embellish your Egg McMuffin with a little grape jelly....
Subrina and Greg Collier move as a unit—always have. About a decade of business partnership, marriage, triumph, loss, and trial and error has created something in them that resembles a well-tended garden that’s free of weeds and has plenty of space to grow. They are companion plants thriving next to one another and seeding the next generation. The first thing most people notice about them is that they are unapologetically themselves....
You have a million photos of your furry friend in your camera roll, but do you have a hand-painted portrait of them done by a professional pet artist? We didn’t think so. This spring, give your phone (and yourself) a much-needed break and head to Savannah’s Perry Lane Hotel. The swanky, pet-friendly hotel is partnering with Charleston-based artist Hannah Elliott to provide guests and their pets with the ultimate vacation keepsake....
A Texas rabbi held during a nearly 11-hour standoff at a Fort Worth-area synagogue is being credited with saving the lives of the three other hostages. Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker told CBS Mornings that when a stranger knocked on the door of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville Saturday morning, he assumed he needed shelter from the cold weather. Cytron-Walker invited him in and even made him tea. It wasn’t until prayer service that the man’s sinister intentions became clear....
Good manners dictate that every sneeze should be followed by some variation of “bless you.” Whether it’s a wall-shaking nasal explosion or a dainty achoo, no sneeze is complete without it. But have you ever wondered why we do it (other than the fact that mama raised us right, that is)? Unfortunately, the true origins of this bizarre social convention are a bit murky. But there are plenty of fascinating guesses, and not surprisingly, most of them are based heavily on superstition....
Helping those in need is a way of life for Rodney Smith Jr. Through his organization, Raising Men Lawn Care, Smith has been mentoring and recruiting local youth to take care of lawns for the elderly, disabled, single mothers, and veterans in the Huntsville, Alabama community since 2015. His good work has even caught the eye of Queen Elizabeth. Even with most of America locked down amid the coronavirus crisis, Smith has continued to mow lawns free of charge....
There are lots of things we look forward to in October—leaves changing color, mums making their annual appearances, gourds decorating everything from the front porch to the dinner table. October also brings—you guessed it—countless Oktoberfests to cities and small towns around the South. The festivals in the South were inspired by the first ones, autumn celebrations held in Germany during early fall to commemorate Bavarian culture, food, and beer from local brewers....
More than any color, style, or even sink shape, open shelving is arguably the biggest trend in kitchen design right now. In a beautifully designed and styled kitchen like the one above, it’s easy to see why. From an appearance perspective, having open shelves allows your kitchen to showcase more personality than wall-to-wall monotone cabinets. Plants, bowls, cookbooks, mugs—you name it—are shown off, adding color and texture to the space. The shelves themselves can also be an accent with material options from raw wood to stainless steel and everything in between....
A suburb of Memphis, Collierville, Tennessee, is a town of about 50,000 with a charming town square straight out of a Hallmark movie. In fact, the channel shot scenes for its “Wedding at Graceland” film starring Kellie Pickler there in 2019. Year round, Collierville is a unique place to visit for its railroad history, lovely parks, delicious restaurants, and cute local boutiques. In spring through fall, it’s especially delightful for outdoor dining, with more than a dozen spots to enjoy patio weather around town....
It’s hard to find a dish in the South that is more celebrated—or debated than gumbo. Well, there’s also cornbread (sugar or not), chili (beans or not), and the old East versus West barbecue debate. Southerners like to argue about food. But gumbo is a particularly controversial subject, especially among Louisianans. What goes into a gumbo varies as much as the cook making it, but there are a few rules to keep in mind....
Back to school season is here and summer is nearing its end. If your savings have taken a major hit with purchasing school supplies and hosting all those backyard bashes this season, we have good news for you: now is the time to score incredible deals on those big-ticket items you’ve been coveting for the past three months. Oh, and also to save for that long-overdue girls’ getaway you’ve been dying to take this year....
Whenever I’m tempted to make a rash design decision in my home, a little voice in my head (that sounds suspiciously like my interior designer cousin) will remind me, “Don’t rush it! Decorating a house takes time.” Typically, I listen to this voice of reason, waiting for the fabric I want for the dining room chairs rather than settling for a quick fix, or holding off on artwork until I find just the right piece for the space....
