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Peak asparagus season is very brief, just a few weeks in most growing zones. Even still, you can buy asparagus year-round from other places, which means asparagus is always welcome on dinner plates or holiday buffets alike. If you ever find yourself with too many bundles, you can and should freeze asparagus to use it later. In fact, it’s handy to have some asparagus in the freezer at all times. You can pop some into stir-fries, mix a few spears into a casserole, or spruce up a pasta dish with a handful of frozen pieces....

Zinnias are warm season, flowering annuals that are easy to grow from seed. Grown in full sun, these herbaceous plants will bloom from summer to frost. Intense breeding efforts have produced such a wide variety of plant sizes, flower colors, and flower shapes making them very versatile in the garden. Depending on the size, zinnias can be grown in containers or window boxes, as small border plants, in the garden, and for cut flowers....

People around the world may kiss under the mistletoe, but in the South, it’s the harvest of this Christmas favorite that’s really steeped in tradition. For generations, Southern couples and families have risen early on December mornings to roam the woods in search of a Christmas tree to chop and mistletoe to shoot down. What Is Mistletoe? The white-berried greenery grows in abundance across the region and can be found in large clumps (the size of a head of cabbage or bigger) high atop hardwood trees, such as oaks and elms....

Brisket is a tough piece of beef, which is one reason some cooks shy away from it. But those of us who love it know that when cooked for a long time at low heat, the meat becomes meltingly tender and full of robust flavor (try this Slow-Cooker Texas Chili or this Barbecue Brisket and you will be a true believer). If you happen to purchase a large brisket, you may be left wondering what to do with the leftovers....

For those who live down South, we know every region has its version of comfort food. These recipes passed down throughout generations are cherished culinary traditions. We asked five writers to team up with their favorite chefs to pick one dish representing the culinary traditions in their corner of the South. From chili con carne in Texas to ham-and-bean soup in Virginia, we explore the plates that give Southern food its reputation for superb cooking and delicious dishes....

We’re always on the lookout for pretty houseplants with eye-catching foliage. Some of our favorites are calatheas (pronounced “cah-lay-thee-ahs”), also known as prayer plants, which are able to thrive indoors with minimal maintenance. They do best in bright, indirect light, but they can also handle low-light scenarios. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites below along with some growing tips, including why you should give calatheas a spay day every once in a while....

In many ways, Abigail Leggio is just like every other three-year-old girl: she loves unicorns, playing princess, and all things magical. But the youngster from Clarksville, Tennessee, has also been battling brain cancer for the better part of a year. Abigail’s family recently teamed up with Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee to help her live out her dream of being a magical princess and meet a unicorn. On her wish day, Make-A-Wish gifted Abigail a princess dress and flower crown, and gave her brother Ty a prince outfit so he could also participate in the magic....

Walking into this moody, dimly-lit Savannah, Georgia, bar feels like stepping into a 1940s film noir scene. Enter through a door tucked in a back alley (hence the name, Alley Cat Lounge) and descend a set of stairs to the basement. Inside, hundreds of liquor bottles are backlit against burgundy brick; guests sit in red vinyl booths with newspapers spread out before them, the cover stamped with Alley Cat’s motto: “For pleasure....

In Orange, Virginia, amber hills of grain melt into purple vineyard vines. It’s where horse farms neighbor tiny villages, and fried chicken is as likely to be on the menu as a crab cake. It’s where people like James Madison made his family homestead and developed his ideals and conflicting principles of freedom, and the Grand Dame of Southern cooking, Edna Lewis, was raised. The history runs deep, the food is soulful, and the people are hospitable....

Never underestimate the power of paint. Give your kitchen a makeover without having to undergo a major renovation by applying a fresh coat of paint to your cabinetry. It’s also a cost-efficient alternative to ripping out your current cabinets and replacing them with new ones. If you still love your cabinets’ style—like traditional shaker or sleek flat fronts—give them a face-lift with a new paint color. The biggest mistake to avoid when painting kitchen cabinets is overlooking the prep work....

One October, I was down on St. Simons Island in Georgia, attending Firebox, a barbecue festival staged by the guys at Southern Soul. On the way home, I took a short detour to track down a barbecue relic that I had seen in pictures but never in person: the first Brunswick stew pot. Georgia’s Brunswick Stew Claims It’s a curious historical marker: a 25-gallon black iron pot affixed to a stone base....

Given their fancifully coifed pompadours and their owners’ seeming predilection for little pink bows, it’d be tempting to think that the poodle might take first prize as the country’s most pampered pooch. But according to data from pet gift shop Yappy.com, they don’t even break the top five, coming in at a cool number seven instead. But just how do you measure how spoiled a dog really is? Yappy.com determines just how lavished upon a dog breed is by calculating how much its owners spend on toys, accessories, and treats for their four-legged friends....

Made with borosilicate glass and stainless steel, the Hiware Glass Pitcher has a large 68-ounce capacity, making it great for entertaining. It also has an ergonomic handle, a non-drip spout, and a wide mouth that makes adding in ice cubes or fruit easy. The pitcher can support temperatures from 0 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, so it can hold a range of beverages including iced tea, hot tea, sangria, coffee, and cocktails....

Southernmost is a state of mind. When you find yourself in Key West, and, inevitably, on the sidewalks of busy Duval Street, keep an eye out. As you’re carried along by the constant bustle of the central thoroughfare, it’s easy to miss: a narrow passageway lined with leafy plants, leading—where, exactly? Between Mel Fisher’s Treasures at 613 Duval and Antonia’s Restaurant at 615 Duval, there’s a pretty alleyway, unmarked save for some subtle signage proclaiming “Wood Fire Pizza and Trattoria” and an accompanying menu....

There’s no denying the fact that Tim McGraw loves his fans. The country star is so dedicated to his fanbase that when he took a tumble off the stage during a recent concert, he used it as an opportunity to dole out some hugs. McGraw was performing at the Boots in the Park festival in Tempe, Arizona, over the weekend. At one point in the show, he knelt down at the edge of the stage....

You know what sounds pretty dreamy for the holidays? A snow-draped castle nestled in the woods with panoramic mountain views. If it seems like the stuff of fairy tales, think again. That vacation can become your reality if you book a stay at Smithmore Castle on English Knob Mountain in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The 100-acre property is the stuff of dreams, or, more accurately, dreams come true. The Smithmore website locates the castle “5 minutes from downtown Spruce Pine, 10 minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway, 40 minutes from Beech and Sugar Mountain ski resorts and 45 minutes from Asheville,” making it a convenient home base for exploring Western North Carolina....

Our social calendars are pretty jam-packed from November through December and that’s without even including the actual holidays. The list of family and friend obligations goes on and on—between Friendsgivings, office holiday parties, gift swaps, festive dinners and gatherings, and New Year’s Eve bashes, we are inundated with celebrations. Maybe you’re like me and want to join in on the fun of hosting a soiree, but simply just don’t have the time....

I have a soft spot for azaleas. I associate them with Easter egg hunts, Masters Tournament golf, and my Aunt Nana. I can smell the light perfume of a ‘George Lindley Taber’ azalea in my dreams. But over the years, I have fallen in and out of love with azaleas. This fickle relationship is partly my fault, as there have been times when I haven’t followed my own advice and remembered some fundamental facts about them....

We’re taking a stand. Valentine’s Day is out, and Galentine’s Day is in. It’s a special holiday designed to celebrate the women in your life who support and love you. Leslie Knope, a character from the TV comedy Parks and Recreation, first deemed February 14 the day to cherish your lady friends. Reading through Galentine’s Day quotes is a great way to get in the spirit. From funny to sentimental, there’s something for everyone....

It’s safe to say we’re all getting into the holiday spirit a bit earlier than usual to lift our spirits amid the coronavirus pandemic, civil unrest, and general malaise that has hung over this past year. Now, we’re looking forward to getting our holiday movie fix starting on Sunday, November 1 thanks to the announcement of Freeform’s “Kickoff to Christmas” movie programming event going on all November long. If you’re ready to tune into all the yuletide joy, grab a pen to mark your calendars and read on....