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The dishwasher is a hard-working member of any busy household, yet it is often overlooked during your weekly cleaning chores. In case you were wondering, yes, you really need to be cleaning your dishwasher. This helps it perform to the utmost of its ability, leaving your dishes cleaner and more sanitized. While vinegar and baking soda go a long way with a hot wash cycle, there is a not-so-obvious part hidden inside of your dishwasher that you might be forgetting: the filter....

You don’t need a special pot or kitchen gadget to cook shrimp perfectly. (Although a deveiner will help you peel a pile of them quickly). You don’t even need to track down a particular variety of shrimp. The secret to shrimp is patience. I can sense your skepticism. “But shrimp cook in minutes,” you say. “Why in the world would you need patience to cook shrimp?” Yes, shrimp do cook in minutes....

If you prefer a home-cooked meal, chances are you find yourself shredding chicken pretty often. The simple ingredient completes chicken salad, fajitas, stir-fry, and even some spaghetti recipes. The tender meat leaves us full and refreshingly satisfied. Here’s the problem – shredding chicken isn’t quite as easy as it sounds. Using a fork leaves us with crumbly, uneven pieces – not ideal. Some folks use a knife, but that results in chicken chunks instead of fluffy shreds....

Craving mashed potatoes? When it comes to Thanksgiving side dishes, it seems many Southerners have the classic, creamy potato dish on their minds, according to food and retail delivery giant, Instacart. Based on their data, the most purchased Thanksgiving side dish in the Southern part of the country—determined by comparing the percent increase for the number of units sold between September-October and November-December in 2019—is mashed potatoes in eight states, followed by collard greens in a distant second place in four states....

For some reason, the question of “what’s for dinner?” is always the hardest on Sunday night. Maybe it’s the knowledge that things will kick up into busy mode come Monday so Sunday brings the desire to savor a lengthy, laid-back meal. Maybe it’s because your fridge is loaded with groceries from a weekend shopping run, and you just can’t settle on what to whip up. Maybe it hearkens back to our childhood memories of Sunday supper at mama’s was always a grand feast....

Get to Know Kane Brown Raised in the small town of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, just outside of Chattanooga, Kane Brown is now playing stadiums all over the country and electrifying audiences with his deep voice and his powerful catalog of hit songs. Ever since he burst onto the scene with “Used to Love You Sober” in 2014, he’s been receiving awards and building a loyal fan base, as well as a reputation as a guy with a big heart....

To fill the hours as we remain safely at home during the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve been looking for all the virtual tours we can find. Via our screens, we’ve wandered through Kentucky’s horse farms (check out our video below). We’ve taken a digital spin through Southern botanical gardens. Guided by park rangers, we’ve eHiked our way through national parks. Now, we think we deserve a glass of wine. That’s why we were excited to learn of a host of wineries in Loudoun County—a region known for its wine in Northeastern Virginia—have launched virtual experiences for oenophiles to enjoy from afar....

We could all use about a billion and one Disney movies right about now. There’s just something about the way these simple yet profound fairy tales and animated stories tug at our hearts and allow us to stay more grounded and appreciate the everyday gifts of life. That’s why we were so excited to learn about a special promotion from Reviews.org via food and lifestyle website, Delish. Given the current social distancing edicts in place across the country, Reviews....

There are certain, unmistakable hallmarks of a Southern home. China hanging on the walls, the smell of food wafting from the kitchen, plentiful spots to sit and stay a while. There might be one that you have never noticed, or at least taken mental inventory of, though. Hidden in bedrooms, tucked away in a cozy study, or even seamlessly blending into a breakfast nook is a true Southern trademark that instantly warms up a space: the shaded sconce....

When I received my first pair of Spanx passed down from my mother and grandmother, it was a rite of passage. Wiggling into a pair of these smoothing shorts to wear under a church dress for the Christmas Eve service was nothing short of a coming-of-age moment, and the brand’s been a steady companion of mine ever since. Spanx has consistently launched best-selling pants and denim, so its latest venture, its first-ever line of dresses, feels like a natural progression....

Southerners take their desserts seriously, and there’s nothing like a homemade slice of pound cake or a juicy scoop of cobbler. As it goes, desserts often require a good dose of sugar, and we’ve rounded up the best sugar substitutes for baking and other sweets. Before you run to the kitchen to swap out your granulated sugar, here are some things to keep in mind. While sugar substitutes (artificial and natural) can provide healthier alternatives, they won’t always yield identical results....

Thanks to an exhaustive restoration project, for the first time in nearly 100 years, guests to Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina, can experience the Oak Sitting Room as it was during the Vanderbilt era. Located between the bedrooms of George W. Vanderbilt and his wife Edith, the Oak Sitting Room served as a central part of the family apartment in Biltmore House. It was treated as a private living room for the couple and their daughter Cornelia from 1895-1914....

We have bad news for those of you who like their burgers almost mooing. While the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics standards say it’s fine to eat your steak cooked rare, it’s unsafe to do the same with hamburger and other ground meat. The reason? Food safety experts say it’s all in the process. “Grinding the meat extends the fabrication (or cutting) process one more level,” Ted Siegel, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, explained to Reader’s Digest....

While Charleston is celebrated for its elegant row houses, cobblestone streets, and treasure trove of historic sites, the Holy City is far from frozen in the past. A vibrant community for over three centuries, Charleston hums with the energy of a cosmopolitan coastal enclave—one with an undeniable and irrepressible Southern accent. The New Stays Hotels are abundant these days around town. Notable among them are The Ryder and Emeline, both located in the historic district and both boutique renovations of existing properties that had lost their luster....

Diehard tailgate chefs begin preparations days in advance: procuring ingredients, finalizing guest lists, and deploying fully-loaded field kitchens for the weekend festivities. Not all of us are up to that level of commitment, but we can still eat well on game day by letting someone else do the cooking. Here are some of the most beloved spots from around the South for tailgating takeout. Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen University of North Carolina1305 East Franklin StreetChapel Hill, NC; sunrisebiscuits....

A video of a Houston police officer playing mama to a brood of tiny ducklings over the weekend is warming hearts across the country. The Houston Police Department took to social media with footage of Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite playing follow-the-leader with a line of ducklings on Saturday. According to the caption, the baby ducks had gotten separated from their mom and needed help finding her in Memorial Park. They appear plenty thankful to have gotten a police escort....

When it comes to outdoor drinkware, nothing beats YETI. We’re big fans of the Texas-based company for mugs, wine tumblers, coolers, and more, and we’re guessing that most outdoor enthusiasts in your life swear by their high-quality products. Correction: We bet most outdoor enthusiasts in your life wouldn’t dream of going camping, hiking, or having that lakefront campfire without some YETI beverage holders (and probably a cooler) for the excursion. Even if you’re not the outdoorsy type, we love that YETI’s drinkware line are all dishwasher safe, made of stainless steel, and feature double-wall vacuum insulation to keep your beverages hot or cold....

When it comes to lipstick, most women agree: you get what you pay for. But according to a new report from Stowaway Cosmetics, that’s not exactly true. In fact, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Hoping to increase transparency in the beauty industry, Stowaway, a brand that specializes in affordable, travel-size makeup products, is lifting the veil on lipstick markups. And ladies, you’re going to want to sit down for this one....

What if someone told you there’s a long, sprawling road in Atlanta with some of the most diverse dining experiences in the Southeast, but it isn’t named Peachtree or Ponce De Leon? You’d be forgiven for not expecting this stretch to have the name Buford (especially in Georgia). But it’s true—Buford Highway has long been one of Atlanta’s greatest experiences. It’s a glorious, kaleidoscopic destination where global cultures and ethnic identities can be tasted through delicious cuisines....

1. Creative Home Cooks On television shows we see talented chefs cooking in professional spaces, but TikTok is all about the home kitchen. From everyday people showing off their culinary interests for the first time to food editors sharing how they cook in their own kitchens, there’s room for everyone to share what they know and love about Southern food. With videos clocking in under a minute, most even shorter, the recipes I see on TikTok often require few ingredients and simple methods to pull together....