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The steam that erupts from your beloved Instant Pot’s pressure-release valve is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it means your super-simple meal is ready. On the other, it means that you likely just gave your wood cabinets a facial—and not the kind that makes you prettier. The not-so delicious truth is that all those piping hot droplets of moisture can wreak havoc on wood and paint. As The Kitchn points out, repeated steam exposure (we’re talking weekly or nightly) to your kitchen cabinets can soften the paint and warp the wood, which is the last thing Instant Pot enthusiasts with small kitchens want to hear....

Baking Christmas cookies is the ultimate way to draw the whole family into the kitchen—and we can’t think of a better recipe to do just that than our Melted Snowman Cookies. Consisting of a simple sugar cookie base and decorated with melted vanilla candy coating, some sprinkles, and some black frosting, the finished cookies decorate your counter with an adorable collection of melted snowmen. Not sure exactly how to get your kids involved in the fun?...

The beauty of a cast-iron skillet is not a new concept to Southerners. I didn’t truly understand the value of a cast-iron skillet in a Southern kitchen until my best friend gifted one to me for my sixteenth birthday – that’s what I call true dedication to the art of cast-iron cooking. My trusty cast-iron pan made the journey with me from Virginia to Alabama when I moved after college, and has more than proved its worth as a staple in my kitchen....

In light of the coronavirus crisis, Ina Garten and her team decided to release her newest cookbook, Modern Comfort Food, early, as the Food Network star announced on Instagram earlier this week: “GOOD NEWS!! Because we all need it ASAP, we decided to move up the publication date of my new book MODERN COMFORT FOOD to October 6th!” she writes, much to our delight. “You can preorder it online, at bookstores everywhere, or at BarefootContessa....

Krispy Kreme is celebrating America’s latest achievement in space exploration with an out-of-this-world doughnut creation for one day only. As NASA’s Perseverance Rover lands on Mars this Thursday, February 18, Krispy Kreme will be treating Earth-bound fans to a limited-edition Mars Doughnut made to look like the red planet itself. Inspired by the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, the limited-edition confection features a chocolate Kreme-filled doughnut dipped in caramel icing with a “red planet swirl” and sprinkled with chocolate cookie crumbs....

Yellowstone fans got a little surprise in a recent episode. While anyone who watches the show knows to brace for the unexpected, be it an explosion, sly stock move, or raid on the Dutton ranch, this time it was something far better—another new song from Lainey Wilson! The rising country star turned Yellowstone actor snuck a brand new track into the background of Episode 4. The previously unheard song is called “New Friends” and was playing softly in the background of a bar scene featuring Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) and Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri)....

If you’re anything like us, your laundry room is a sad, forgotten space, piled high with clothes and littered with cleaning products. (Thank the lord it’s out of sight!) But that was then, and this is now. Thanks to Tonya Payne, the brilliant woman behind the lifestyle blog, Hey Tonya, we have exactly what we need to transform our tiny, cluttered laundry rooms into the organized sanctuaries they ought to be....

Remember months ago, when someone—usually your mother or your dentist’s office—would call you on the phone and you’d look at the screen with the same expression as a mom whose toddler has just asked her to please take the booger off his index finger? Yep, me too. I love my mother. But I had places to go and things to do, and I believed wizards invented smartphones so that we could text each other and ignore people when we felt like it....

We knew Heather Headley was talented, we just didn’t realize exactly how talented. As Wide Open Country recently pointed out, the actress who plays Helen Decatur on Sweet Magnolias has an impressive showbiz resume spanning more than 25 years. Headley has had successes in film, television, theater, and music, earning both a Grammy and Tony along the way. The Trinidadian-born multihyphenate’s first major role was Nala in the original Broadway production of The Lion King in 1997....

We highly recommend watching where you step the next time you visit Big Bend National Park. The Internet is in a frenzy after the National Park Service shared a photo of a fearsome-looking bug known as a vinegarroon or whip scorpion taken at a campground inside the popular Texas park. “It’s a cross between a spider and a scorpion that shoots acetic ‘vinegar’ from a ‘whip,’” NPS wrote alongside the photo on Instagram....

Once every few months—the frequency has slowed somewhat due to Covid—a chapter of the Southern Living Cake Club convenes in a northern suburb of Austin, Texas. Clad in matching “Cake Club” t-shirts and clutching culinary carrying cases, a cabal of five brave bakers comes together to fulfill their mission of making, tasting, and engaging in deep discussion about every single one of the 50 Southern Living Vintage Cakes That Deserve a Comeback during the course of a year....

Close your eyes and picture your favorite local watering hole that’s always got friendly service, a good vibe, and the occasional character or two. READ MORE: Why You Really Need to Go to Dahlonega this Christmas Ashley McBryde’s new single, “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega” is a testament to the power of local, small businesses brightening patrons’ lives. “To the bag packed, first love leaver / The heart cracked, double-down dreamer / The homesick, the grass that’s greener / And a slice of mama’s peach pie,” McBryde croons in the song’s opening verse....

Florida is known for making dreams come true. And while many associate Orlando with vacation magic (Hello, Disney!), a lesser-known destination about an hour and a half northwest brings the same levels of memorable awe—with much less planning and hassle. Crystal River, Florida, is home to just over 3,000 residents, but it’s the town’s aquatic population—manatees in particular—that make the tiny town truly special. Every winter, around 800 manatees seek refuge in the warm waters of Crystal River’s Kings Bay and its 70 natural springs....

Perhaps you have a loved one who had to cancel their trip to Disney World in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Or maybe it happened to you. Or do you simply have someone in your life who is head-over-heels for all things Disney? Whatever the case may be, do we have the perfect gift: Disney-themed cheeseboards from shopDisney.com. We first heard of these darling home accessories from the team over Apartment Therapy, and we can’t stop eyeing them for our next Roquefort or Camembert course....

Have you ever heard of the Law of Unintended Consequences? It expresses the thought that sometimes an action to improve something ends up making something worse. And that’s certainly the case when it comes to the EPA, pressure-treated lumber, and a pest called the carpenter bee. The Difference Between Carpenter and Bumblebees You probably have carpenter bees buzzing around your house right now. They’re almost dead ringers for friendly, beneficial bumblebees, but there’s an easy way to distinguish them....

We heard our readers loud and clear—the Lowcountry Farmhouse (SL-2000) was far and away the most-loved Southern Living house plan of 2019. This timeless home—designed by architect William Court of the Court Atkins Group in Bluffton, South Carolina—blends the best of two favorite Southern architectural styles. This 2,574-square-foot getaway with three bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths stays cozy while providing enough space for hosting guests. With a wide, welcoming front porch and breezy interior, this house was built for coastal living....

If you’ve ever found yourself ironing a pile of button-down shirts you may have noticed that the weird fact that on many shirts, women’s buttons are on the left side, while men’s are on the right. The reasons for the button differences go back a long, long way. Here are the most popular theories on why women are buttoning up differently. Men Had To Fight One theory is that men’s shirts buttoned on the right because of weaponry....

Charles Barkley was known for years for his superb skills in the power forward position on the hard court. His NBA career led the former Auburn Tiger to play with the 76ers, the Suns, the Rockets, and to land a spot on that 1992 Olympic squad deemed “The Dream Team.” After retiring from playing the game, Barkley hasn’t gone far. He remains a fixture in the broadcast booth for TNT and Turner Sports sharing his often hilarious, sometimes controversial, but always brutally honest take on the game he loves....

Hurricane Ida made landfall as a powerful and destructive category 4 storm on August 29. More than a month later, much of Louisiana is still suffering. The damage to homes and businesses alike was severe and widespread. There are still so many of our Louisiana neighbors without power or basic necessities. They will need our help for quite some time to come. And fortunately, there are plenty of helpers on the ground already....

Yes, you can toss a sheet over some high-back chairs or create a blanket roof between the twin beds in your kids’ room (we won’t judge … we’re tired too), but if you’re looking to really up the ante this weekend, follow these five steps for free family entertainment and the best blanket fort this side of the Mississippi. Fair warning: Your kids may never want to take it down....