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Most homeowners may welcome images of leaves changing with the seasons and temperatures falling as winter approaches—but they are a nuisance to those who dread the impending yard work and outdoor maintenance. Nevertheless, fall is a great time to address some needed home chores before winter arrives. Get outside and take advantage of cooler weather with these helpful reminders. General Winter Checklist Every season creates specific concerns when it comes to home maintenance....

It’s long been a treasured Southern tradition for young women to make their introduction to society via a debutante ball. There, these women can show off their deep understanding of proper etiquette, society, and socialization. But, there’s one more thing Texas ladies must master before making their debut: The Texas Dip. According to D Magazine, the Texas Dip has murky origins but likely made its own debut sometime around 1909 by the famed ballerina Anna Pavlova....

How many times have you thrown your hands up in the kitchen and wondered, is there a faster way to do this? I’ve spent many an hour pleading at the culinary altars to will a quicker way of rolling dough, chiffonading kale, and, of course, cleaning the dishes into existence. Lamentably, you’re out of luck in these three cases. But if you’re hoping for a swifter way to bread chicken, you’d be in luck....

Before You Begin: What Ham Should You Buy? We recommend buying a ham that has already been cooked. This may seem counterintuitive to “cooking a ham” for yourself, but you will still have your work cut out for you, we promise. By purchasing a ham that is already cooked, you ensure that the meat will be food safe and you can focus on imparting delicious flavor. How to Slow Cook at Ham This method is our go-to for preparing a ham when we don’t have time to stick around the kitchen....

We can count quite a few reasons why baking a layer cake can seem intimidating. From the actual cake layers to frostings and fillings, layer cakes are the sum of a few different components—and putting them all together is another story entirely. For those who want to try their hand at baking a layer cake from scratch, our best advice is to break it down step by step. Looking at the whole process as a series of tasks makes the baking, layering, and decorating seem like a piece of cake....

When you bring home a pound of ground beef, what should you do with it? Make hamburger patties! Whether you grill on your stovetop, on a portable grill, or on an outside grill, making patties are the first step to yummy, juicy hamburgers. Making a great patty is the base for everything from a basic cheeseburger to a Juicy Lucy. From tailgates to weekday dinners, hamburger patties are the perfect palette for your favorite toppings....

That old saying “you eat like a bird” was meant to imply that a person just picks at their food while consuming very little. This simile suggests that birds don’t eat much but, in reality, this could not be farther from the truth. The tiny and much-loved hummingbird may be one of the smallest birds in the world but fluttering those miniscule wings at up to 90 beats per second will burn valuable calories....

Melting chocolate is a basic skill that every cook should have in his or her arsenal. From chocolate-dipped pretzels to an indulgent, centerpiece-worthy Chocolate Torte, silky-smooth melted chocolate brings depth and richness to countless decadent chocolate desserts. There are two primary methods you can use to melt chocolate: melting the chocolate on the stovetop by using a double boiler, or melting it in the microwave. While the microwave technique may be quicker, taking time to create a double boiler and melting the chocolate on the stovetop will ensure that the chocolate does not burn, resulting in an even melt with a silky-smooth texture....

If you’re an avid home baker, chances are that you’ve amassed a fair collection of baking tins. From Grandma’s pretty patterned Pyrex dishes to sleek steel tins, our bakeware collections tick the boxes for both fashion and function. But then comes the essential question: Which piece is actually best for baking? We’ve got all sorts of gadgets and gizmos, but at the end of the day, we’re always going to reach for the pan that delivers the best, even bake....

With its ocean-to-sound panoramic views, 250 feet of secluded beach with private beach access, nine spacious bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and generous indoor and outdoor living spaces, it’s easy to see why “A Welcome Respite” snagged the honor of being the highest-listed home in the history of the Outer Banks. For a cool $11 million, you can have 11,000 square feet of beachfront luxury in beautiful Corolla, North Carolina. This sprawling estate includes an open concept living area centered around a soaring great room and a large dining room facing the Currituck Sound....

When the weather forecast predicts snow is on the way, before dreaming of hot chocolate and sledding, some people immediately gasp, then run to the nearest Piggly Wiggly before the store runs out of bread. It’s such a common phenomenon that North Carolina TV meteorologist Brad Panovich even uses a “Bread Meter” to let his viewers know how bad the winter weather will be. Nashville’s News4 puts “buy bread and milk” on their winter weather Panic-o-meter....

Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, holiday shopping is looking very different this year. But the elves at Sam’s Club have been working overtime to bring a unique experience to life to infuse more fun into our online shopping. The bulk discount retailer has launched a very special virtual holiday shopping experience, where shoppers can browse through the make-believe home of the famed Griswold family from the National Lampoon Vacation movies. Specifically, prepare to be dazzled by their imaginary National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation home complete with movie trivia, interactive elements (like a squirrel in the Christmas tree and Aunt Bethany’s cat tucked into a gift box), and fabulous lights....

Sargento Foods, Inc., recently announced that certain packages of its Ultra Thin Sliced Longhorn Colby and Chef Blends Shredded Nacho & Taco Cheese are being recalled “due to a potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes,” CNN reports. Listeria is a serious foodborne illness that can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women and older people. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches and sometimes diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems. Sargento, one of the largest cheesemakers in the United States, packages its products in Plymouth, Wisconsin....

The customer-loved Lodge Cast Iron 12-Inch Skillet is on sale for $30, and it comes with a convenient silicone handle cover designed to keep your hands safe from temperatures as high as 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The nonstick coating is pre-seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil, which the brand recommends re-seasoning with a high-heat oil after washing with mild soap and warm water—and drying promptly afterward. With proper care, this versatile piece of cookware will last you for years to come....

You know that girl? She’s the one at birthday parties who makes an offhand remark about how she isn’t “a cake person,” naming a string of more “sophisticated” desserts that are more worthy of her taste—I avoid her at all costs. The cake spectrum is broad, filled, and frosted with a million possibilities, topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting or layered between fudgy mounds of chocolate ganache. I’m obsessed with good cake, and it should go without saying that one of the keys to a delicious cake is the cake layers themselves....

Each spring, azaleas light up our gardens with a profusion of colorful blooms. These classic mounding shrubs drift across the landscape like showy clouds. Once established, they need little care. Prune them correctly, and watch plants produce layers of beautiful bell-shaped flowers. Which Type of Azaleas Need Pruning Before you pick up any pruning shears, make sure you know what type of azalea you have. There are two classes of azaleas: native azaleas and Asian azaleas....

Whether you are planning to host the holidays or need more room for adult children or aging parents, discovering house plans with guest houses can be an efficient way to add square footage to your home. Our Southern hospitality tells us that family and friends are always welcome, but sometimes you need extra space to keep everyone comfortable during the holidays. A home addition can be costly and complicated, especially if you plan on living in your home through construction....

My father-in-law is the king of omelettes. He makes them so big, fluffly, and flavorful that one single omelette can feed a group of ten or more for brunch. The only problem is finding a plate big enough for his army-sized portions. His expertise has made my husband’s side of the family big at-home brunchers. When family is in town or on any given Sunday, literally just because, they go all out....

Armed with a stack of fluffy white bread slices, associate editor Hannah Hayes and I sampled six different brands of barbecue sauces commonly found in grocery stores throughout the South. What you like in a barbecue sauce depends on where you’re from and what you grew up eating. It’s almost as personal as your football team or place of worship. This taste test was limited to tomato-based “red” sauces, with the exception of one white barbecue sauce....

No, you’re not looking at the world’s deadliest insect. That honor rightfully belongs to the mosquito. It kills more than one million people a year by transmitting diseases like malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis. But you might well be looking at the world’s scariest six-legged beast. Dubbed the “murder hornet” by media types who delight in spawning panic to increase ratings, the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is a nightmare for other insects and a royal pain for you if you tick it off....