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On Friday, Dec. 10 a swath of at least 50 tornadoes ravaged six states across the Midwest and South. The tornado seemed to indiscriminately devour everything in its path. Yet, it’s amazing what can stand in a storm. For example, an unscathed Christmas tree with presents carefully tucked underneath remained in a home that had its entire front wall ripped off. Family photos that should easily have been ripped to shreds were swept up by 155 mile-per-hour winds and transported across state lines up to 130 miles away....

This may not be a shared feeling with other young professionals, but I don’t find cooking relaxing. I’m always looking for shortcuts to make meals a quick affair. This tendency started when I always had my college days booked back-to-back, so meals were brief occasions between classes, extracurriculars, and assignments. Although I now have much more time to enjoy cooking, I’m still a fan of those kitchen shortcuts that make my life even the tiniest bit easier....

When the summer temperatures soar and the humidity becomes unbearable, Southerners seek solace along the water. But crowded beaches aren’t for everyone. Many prefer the lake life, which is found in abundance in the region’s plentiful waterways, an easy drive from major cities. So many early memories include fishing excursions, trips on boats, and relaxing on the dock, so it’s easy to see why some choose the lake over the beach....

Colonial Williamsburg is regarded as the “Oldest Living History Museum” in the U.S. Founded as the capital of the Virginia colony in 1699, our Colonial roots have been painstakingly preserved here. Christmas festivities are especially cherished, and create a beautiful draw during the holiday season. Colonial Christmas Decorations in Williamsburg Williamsburg takes on a new life during the holiday season when the historic buildings are decorated with thoughtful care. The traditions and Colonial Christmas decorations have gained popularity throughout the country....

In the South, a church hostess is a special breed. Many would argue that she outranks the preacher. She’s there for weddings and funerals—on hand to “feed the family” in times of joy or sorrow. She can throw together a social for 200 people with no more than a 15-minute meeting of her committee—held immediately following the Sunday morning service and efficiently run, so as to get everybody home for lunch before the slow cooker shuts off and the pot roast gravy starts to coagulate....

When it comes to decorating a house, color is so much more than a matter of taste. In fact, plenty of scientific evidence suggests that use of color can have a major impact on a person’s mood. (There’s a reason people don’t paint their bedrooms red!) The folks at Mental Floss spoke to a group of experts about using color to create the most soothing environment in each room, which naturally piqued our interest....

The official start of spring is just a few days away, and the world-renowned gardens at Biltmore Estate have already begun to burst with color. The historic Asheville estate is kicking off Biltmore Blooms, its annual springtime celebration, on April 1, 2021, and we can’t think of a better way to dust off the cobwebs of the past year than with a visit to 8,000 acres of impeccably landscaped grounds....

Budweiser, the self-described King of Beers, is giving people an opportunity to “Live Like a King” with their new Willy Wonka-inspired giveaway. Only instead of a lifetime supply of chocolate and behind-the-scenes factory tour, one lucky winner will take home $1 million. In lieu of five golden tickets, Anheiser-Busch has hidden 10,000 golden cans in cases of Budweiser beer sold across the country. Anyone who finds a golden can is eligible to enter the drawing for the $1 million grand prize....

Three of country music’s biggest stars are joining forces to help the communities in Eastern Kentucky impacted by deadly flooding in July. Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers, and Dwight Yoakam—all from different parts of Kentucky— will be putting on a benefit show called “Kentucky Rising.” The one-night event will take place at Rupp Arena in Lexington on Tuesday, October 11. Historic rainfall caused flash flooding in the easten part of the state, washing away roads and homes, and ultimately claiming the lives of 40 residents....

Fans of hit western drama Yellowstone know actor Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler, the brooding Dutton ranch foreman who escaped a dark past and forged a new beginning under the wing of John Dutton and in the arms of Beth Dutton. In the show, Wheeler watches his father kill his brother and mother, then eventually kills his father and escapes as an orphaned fugitive. The actor’s real-life upbringing was much sunnier, but no less exciting....

A Florida police department made a meaningful rescue from Hurricane Ian’s deadly flood waters this week. A now-viral video posted to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page Monday shows deputies searching the swollen St. Johns River by boat. They were in the Osteen area when a submerged American flag caught their attention. The video shows a female deputy leaning out of the boat to cut the flag free before shaking it out to dry....

Children may see the flash of Santa’s reindeer crossing the night’s sky on Christmas Eve, but there is one farm in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where you can see these magical creatures long before St. Nick’s yearly visit. Plan a visit to The Reindeer Farm to see Santa’s sleigh ride companions up close and personal for a festive outing with family and friends. A Family Tradition Owners Jessica and Russell Anderson came up with the idea to start a reindeer farm about five years ago when they were up late one night shortly after the birth of their third child....

This Memorial Day Weekend, as the coronavirus crisis continues, Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry is putting on a timely tribute show in honor of both the United States military and essential workers helping the battle against COVID-19. On Saturday, May 23, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT, Craig Morgan, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Kellie Pickler will perform in the Opry’s anual pre-Memorial Day “Salute the Troops” show, with radio star Bobby Bones hosting the livestream....

The Yellowstone universe just keeps getting better… and bigger! Hollywood heavyweights Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford will star in the next chapter in the Dutton saga, Paramount+ announced Tuesday. The series, which has a working title of 1932, is set to begin streaming in December. “The next Yellowstone origin story will introduce a new generation of the Dutton family and explore the early twentieth century when pandemics, historic drought, the end of Prohibition, and the Great Depression all plague the mountain west, and the Duttons who call it home,” the network teased in a statement....

Rising to the Challenge Not so long ago, Auburn, Alabama, wasn’t high on anyone’s list of food cities, even though its deep agricultural roots gave it plenty of fertile ground for farm-to-table cooking. Making a change meant plowing under a student-first model, heavy on fast food, and planting seeds for a well-rounded culinary landscape. Now the community honors homegrown produce from Alabama farmers and fresh seafood from the Gulf while embracing the cuisines of international transplants who’ve found a home here....

Out of all the party dips—like spinach-artichoke, buffalo chicken, or retro seven-layer—hummus doesn’t get much attention. The Mediterranean dip made from chickpeas is easily overlooked and seen as more of a weekday snack than appetizer spread standout. Creamy, crowd-pleasing, and generally easy, hummus actually makes the perfect appetizer for families or gatherings that need just a munch before the main course. Making homemade crab dip from scratch is nice and all, but what happens when you don’t have time to make an elaborate baked dip for more casual drop-in company?...

Chances are there’s a birthday party happening in your spice cabinet right now! A favorite of Southern chefs everywhere, Tony Chachere’s Famous Creole Seasoning is celebrating 50 years of spicing things up. Chachere was 65 years old when he wrote and published Tony Chachere’s Cajun Country Cookbook in 1972. Legend has it Chachere sold 10,000 copies from the back of his station wagon in a few weeks. Fans couldn’t get enough of his signature blend of seasonings, and Tony Chachere’s Famous Creole Seasoning was born that same year....

Sweet Magnolias may have debuted on Netflix in May, but we still can’t stop thinking about the fictional South Carolina town of Serenity and all the characters we met there. Now that the runaway hit has officially been renewed for a second season, we’ve found our minds wondering what’s in store for Maddie, Helen, Dana Sue, and the crew. (Warning: As you probably gathered from the headline, spoilers lie ahead.)...

Here’s a true story: Today I started my morning with a dozen Krispy Kreme Reese’s Doughnuts and from the time my teeth sunk into that first bite of the Reese’s Original Filled Chocolate Lovers Doughnut to the last smack of my lips all of my troubles were forgotten. That is, to say, of course, that a Krispy Kreme doughnut has the power to make everything better, at least for a few fleeting minutes....

Olivia King was just doing her grocery shopping at Kroger after Mass on September 23, when the unthinkable happened. A gunman shot her right there at the grocery store. The widowed mother of five grown sons was killed and 14 other employees and customers were injured in the horrifying event. Now, Kroger has donated $1 million to help launch a new fund to help those victims and their families. The Collierville Survivors Fund was established by the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, Kroger Delta Division, and the National Compassion Fund (NCF), according to local news outlet KAIT 8....