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We rave about Truvy. Adore Shelby. Fantasize about whipping out Ouiser’s one-liners. And we all need a M’Lynn. But every woman wishes she had a friend like Clairee. The cheerful, gossip-hound Clairee Belcher (played by Olympia Dukakis) is that Southern girlfriend we all know and yearn for when we just need a laugh and some weekend gossip. That friend we call when news just starts trickling through the local grapevine. Here, a few reminders of why the former mayor’s widow had us worshipping the quicksand she walked on....

Cherries are associated with cheerfulness, classic pie, and the crowning touch atop ice cream sundaes. They are often the first summer fruit to show up in our grocery stores and markets. They are the smallest of the stone fruit, so named for the hard pit inside. Some people call that the cherry seed, but the seed is actually inside that pit. Fresh cherries are delicious, easy to scarf down by the handful, and equally delicious in recipes....

After a thorough investigation, we’ve determined that the only thing cuter than one otter pup is three otter pups. The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF) currently has a whole lot of cuteness on their hands and they need our help. While most of us aren’t qualified to care for the Kure Beach aquarium’s trio of Asian small-clawed otters, we can assist in the naming process. According to a news release, the otter pups born on May 21 “now have their own unique personalities and the aquarium team is ready to give them their own unique names....

Corn is native to the Americas, and is a critical component of Indigenous diets across both the North American and South American continents. It appears in Indigenous diets across the South: The traditional diet of the Natchez people from the Mississippi Valley includes at least 42 different corn-based dishes, for example. Corn is an important part of Southern Appalachian culture, too, having been cultivated in the region since precolonial times by the Cherokee and used for a range of dishes, including sour corn, a lightly fermented pickled corn....

When artist Inslee Fariss and her husband, Anderson, first looked at their would-be home in Raleigh, the Realtor felt certain they would not be sold on the area. “The location may not appeal to some people,” says Inslee, who grew up in Leesburg, Virginia. “The agent kept telling us, ‘I don’t think you’re going to like this. It backs up to a commercial property.’ " But after eight years of living in New York City, a little noise was just what the young couple was after....

March Madness once again lived up to its name as this year’s tournament was full of wild upsets—who saw Oral Roberts coming? It seems only appropriate that tonight’s championship was decided by one final shocker. Not that anyone would call Baylor a Cinderella team, not by a long shot. They were a number 1 seed after all, but Gonzaga went the entire season undefeated. They were chasing that elusive record of the perfect season, last achieved in 1976 by Indiana University....

Of all the famous chefs we look up to for culinary inspiration, Bobby Flay is one of the most recognizable. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who isn’t familiar with his Food Network and Cooking Channel appearances in the early 2000s. So when I discovered that the new pans I was testing out from Italian cookware brand Sardel were also a favorite of Flay’s, I felt like I was ready for my own turn on Throwdown!...

Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Linda Skeens. Skeens, the 74-year-old from Russell County, Virginia, became a viral sensation after dominating the Virginia-Kentucky District Fair this year. The humble grandma swept the Baked Goods category, nabbed many of the spots in Canned Foods, and even placed in the Embroidery and Wall Décor categories. In total, Skeens won 25 separate ribbons at the annual VaKy Fair. Though she’s been cooking and baking for more than 50 years, the legend of Linda Skeens was born just last month, on June 13, when this year’s winners were announced on VaKy Fair’s Facebook page....

When it comes to double names, it’s important to know the rules whether you’re in possession of a double name, know someone with a double name, or are the bestower of a double name. (We must all fit into at least one of these categories, right?) If you happen to have a double name, this list of name-related know-how will certainly be of interest, particularly when it comes to politely, yet firmly, correcting those who dare to abbreviate your moniker without hesitation....

Not to alarm you, but on December 2, 1982, an alien invaded Earth… And this August, it’s coming back. The alien in question, of course, is the star of Steven Spielberg’s classic film, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, which is returning to theaters to mark the film’s 40th anniversary. The film starred Henry Thomas as Elliott, a ten-year old boy who meets a lost alien desperate to phone home and reconnect with his people....

While your local stationery shop may not offer official greeting cards for National First Responders Day, the brilliant minds at Krispy Kreme have come up with a great way to thank the folks who help us when we really need it. The beloved Southern chain is taking the opportunity to celebrate first responders by offering firefighters, paramedics/EMTs, law enforcement officers, emergency operators, dispatchers, and search and rescue personnel a free Original Glazed Doughnut and a fresh-brewed hot or iced coffee on Friday, October 28 (a....

You probably don’t need to be sold on the advantages of purchasing local produce. Picked at an almost-ripe stage and immediately transported to a farmers’ market, fresh, regional peaches can be purchased within a day or two of harvest, unlike store bought peaches, which are picked, packed in crates, and shipped hundreds of miles only to sit for days and days in the bin at the grocery store. Visit your favorite farmers’ market throughout the season and get to know the farmers; they can tell you all about their peaches, if they are clingstone, freestone, or semifreestone, whether or not they are ready to eat, and also help you pick out the best fruit for your needs....

Don’t let risotto intimidate you. It’s simply a more elegant version of rice. Risotto has the creaminess of cheese grits and the delicate texture of rice. Making creamy risotto is far from rocket science, but there are a few valuable tips every home cook should know. Don’t Rinse The Rice Unlike other rice such as jasmine or basmati, you should not rinse arborio rice (the rice used to cook risotto) before cooking....

“New season, new cookie decorating kits!” a recent Instagram post from Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia brand read. We wholeheartedly agree that each season should be greeted with a new cookie-decorating project, and we can’t wait to get to work with those piping bags. Spring has sprung, and our tummies are growling for cookies, how about you? Magnolia’s Spring Cookie Kit is available on Magnolia.com for $38.99 and includes the following items to get you ready to decorate:...

A cold snap drove Florida’s struggling manatee population to Blue Spring State Park in record numbers this week. On Tuesday, when the temperature of the St. Johns River dipped to a particularly chilly 59 degrees, Save the Manatee Club counted a staggering 664 sea cows gathered in the warm waters of the Volusia County spring. “That’s the coldest we’ve had so far this winter season,” Cora Berchem, director of multi-media and research associate with the non-profit manatee protection organization, told The Daytona Beach News-Journal....

Along with the joy the holidays bring, there’s also the stress, er, pleasure, rather, of planning an excellent Christmas feast. While in many homes, a ham is traditional, some prefer seafood, and there’s no shortage of turkey, sometimes it’s nice to really push out the boat and make a Christmas goose recipe. Embrace an Old-Fashioned Christmas Goose conjures images of an old-fashioned Christmas—even just the words “Christmas goose” make us feel festive....

When you’re setting the table to impress—even if you’re just trying to wow your own family—there’s nothing quite like gorgeous, sparkling crystal. Whether you’ve inherited your grandmother’s collection or you’re breaking out the pieces you registered for as a young bride-to-be, the addition of crystal to your table turns even a casual family dinner into an elegant affair. Yes, we still believe brides should be registering for crystal. It’s important to think of it as more than a special occasion item....

Texas lawmakers are pushing for the Grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee, to receive the ultimate international recognition. North Texas Congressman Marc Veasey and 33 other members of Congress sent a letter to the Nobel Prize Nomination Committee, asking them to nominate the civil rights icon for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. “I’ve heard rumors, but it never occurred to me that it would actually happen. … I don’t know what to say,” the 95-year-old told The Dallas Morning News....

Mind your children, because the Sanderson sisters are coming back and they are hungrier than ever. On Tuesday, Disney gave us the first glimpse of Hocus Pocus 2 with a brand new teaser trailer for the highly anticipated sequel to the 1993 comedy. “Yes, Salem, we’re back!” warns Winifred, showing that the time away has not dampened the wicked ways of the Sanderson sisters, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy....

It’s something we touch almost daily, but few people ever realize that bread bag twist ties hold a secret message. That’s right, those colorful fasteners you barely give a second glance tell a tale that goes beyond expiration dates and ingredients lists. As Tasting Table recently pointed out, the color of the ties are far from arbitrary. In fact, each color indicates which day of the week the bread was baked on....