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The Charm of Vero Beach It’s a low-key tropical escape for millionaires (and billionaires) who want to relax out of the spotlight of Palm Beach and Miami to the south. This is where celebs can stroll the public boardwalk and no one makes a fuss. It’s been called the Hamptons of Florida, home to upmarket boutiques, wine bars, and spas. It’s also home to Bibble Irvin. You can find the sixty-something surfer and artist at Waldo’s Restaurant & Bar, a beloved establishment constructed of driftwood smack-dab in the center of Vero....

I can’t remember the first recipe I made with crème fraiche. But I definitely remember licking crème fraiche off of the spoon, not wanting to waste a bit of it. What Is Crème Fraîche? If you’ve never tried it before, crème fraîche is a type of soured cream popular in France. It’s an extremely rich and creamy dairy product, with a silky custard-like texture and a delicate tang. It’s wonderful stirred into sauces or hot cooked pasta, or even dolloped on desserts in place of whipped cream....

No Southern Thanksgiving table would be complete without a classic Sweet Potato Casserole. It’s a mainstay on our sideboard and helps balance out the salty components of our plates. In true Southern fashion, we always prepare much more of this signature dish than necessary—after all, running out of sweet potato casserole on Thanksgiving would be a travesty unforgotten and harped on by the in-laws for many holidays to come. But our tendency to overprepare often leaves us with copious amounts of leftovers....

Southerners know there is no wrong time to enjoy Blue Bell ice cream. While we love it in winter when their holiday flavors come out, below the Mason-Dixon line, the brand is synonymous with summer. The beloved ice cream has become a Southern staple, because it “tastes just like the good ole’ days,” but back in those good ole’ days, Blue Bell wasn’t Blue Bell. It all started back in 1907 when a group of local farmers in Brenham, Texas, decided to work together and founded the Brenham Creamery Company....

This summer, while traveling through Tennessee for the latest edition of The South’s Top 50 Barbecue Joints, I got reacquainted with a menu item that I’ve always thought to be a bit of a barbecue oddity: the rib sandwich. We’re not talking sliced prime rib on a brioche bun or deboned pork pressed into a patty, and certainly nothing with a “Mc” in its name. In many parts of the South, a rib sandwich is exactly what it sounds like: a small slab of pork ribs placed bones and all between two slices of plain white bread and slathered with tangy sauce....

There’s a lot to love about individually wrapped pieces of frozen fish: they’re easy to store, prepare and portion. But what if we told you that those handy vacuum-sealed filets also pose a huge hidden health risk? Eeek! Few people realize that thawing fish in its packaging presents a high risk for botulism. Clostridium botulinum is an anaerobic bacteria that forms spores that allow it to thrive in low-oxygen environments—like the ones created by vacuum-sealed packages....

The holidays and the gift-giving season are upon us. Unlike Santa though, we certainly don’t have a host of elves helping us with that list, wrapping all those gifts, and delivering them. What we do want is to be prepared during the season, especially when it comes to wrapping the gifts we enjoy giving. The best way to ensure that packages and presents are pretty is preparation. Having the right wrapping items safely stowed, ready, and waiting for all our gifting needs can truly make or break the season for us....

From the brining to the dredging to the frying, Southern-style fried chicken is a true labor of love. But you also need some cooking know-how to avoid soggy, dried-out, or overly salty fried chicken. We’ve found the most common mistakes people make when frying chicken and what to do instead for a delicious batch that has a crisp crust and evenly cooked meat. Follow our advice for the crispiest, juiciest fried chicken you’ve ever made....

Remember in the 80’s and 90’s when Sun-In was the “it” product of the hair product world? The neon bottle angled itself as the easiest way to lighten up your strands — no salon appointment or box of hair color needed. While it was great in theory, many women, especially those with darker strands, ended up with a funky orangey-red hue instead of a beautiful blonde. Recently, hair lightening sprays are having a resurgence, and thanks to their new and improved formulas, they won’t leave you looking brassy....

For the ninth year in a row, Auntie Anne’s is partnering with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) to take help end childhood cancer. Throughout September—Childhood Cancer Awareness month—the world’s largest hand-rolled soft pretzel franchise is once again asking fans to join them in raising funds for research in the fight against childhood cancer. From now until September 30, guests can donate to ALSF at participating Auntie Anne’s stores or when they order in the Pretzel Perks app....

There’s no denying that every home Ben and Erin Napier transform on HGTV’s Home Town has a certain warmth and perfection to it that we can’t quite define, and yet, is always there. From blanket’s inscribed with a deceased husband’s love letter to his widow, to woodwork fashioned out of materials with special significance for a family, the couple always incorporates the sweetest of details into their clients’ new abodes....

About Chrissy Metz Chrissy Metz is an actress, author, and musician whom many of you know from the hit television show This Is Us. She has been widely celebrated for her role as Kate Pearson, an aspiring singer who struggles with her confidence—and dreams of a career in music. In real life, Chrissy has had that dream since she was a little girl in Gainesville, Florida, singing along to Whitney Houston records—and now she’s embarking on a successful music career of her own....

It’s no secret we Southerners love traditions, especially those that encourage participation from each generation as a rite of passage. So it shouldn’t be surprising that two well-known coming-of-age traditions are closely associated with Southern culture: cotillions and debutante balls. Just the mention of either and visions of white gloves and young people dancing the foxtrot appear in our heads. These two events have a lot in common but are distinct occasions with different origins and purposes....

Nandina, aka “heavenly bamboo,” is one of those plants you either love or hate. Now those who hate it have another reason to do so. According to posts repeatedly shared across social media, nandina berries poison birds. As far as I can tell, most or all of these reports stem from a single incident that occurred in Thomas County, Georgia in April 2009. Somebody found a bunch of dead cedar waxwings in their yards....

If there’s anybody who deserves to be on Santa’s Nice List, it’s Dolly Parton. From putting books in the hands of millions of children to partially funding a lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine, there’s a reason we named her our Southerner of the Year! It would seem reasonable to assume that the country music icon has a direct line to Old Saint Nick. So, as an unprecedented year comes to an end, Parton is cashing in on her connection to Santa to ask for some important things—not for herself, but for all of us....

Alright, it may be outside of the South. And it may be outside of our budget. But we can’t stop swooning for the fabulous Norman Lykes House, also known as the Circular Sun House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and now listed for $7,995,000 on FlexMLS.com with realtor Deanna Peters. In these stunning photos from Casey Pickard of FotoStaging.com, you can see just how truly remarkable the one-of-a-kind space—which boasts a swimming pool, breathtaking views of Palm Canyon, ample space for entertaining, and more—is....

In her first interview since the death of her mother, Wynonna Judd opened up to CBS Sunday Morning about learning to live life without her. In a preview of the interview (below), Wynonna reflects on the day Naomi died. “I got the call, and I went over, and I saw her and that was that. I said goodbye to her in the hospital, and I closed her eyes, and I kissed her forehead and that was that,” the younger Judd told correspondent Lee Cowan....

When it comes to side dishes, we’re no stranger to potatoes around here. Baked potatoes, potatoes au gratin, homemade French fries, mashed potatoes–you name it, and I can guarantee I’ve served it in the past week or two. But one of my family’s favorite ways to satisfy a carb craving is the simplest: roasting them. In all the years that I’ve been roasting spuds, I’ve never actually followed a recipe. I’ll chop them up, drizzle them in olive oil, and head to the cabinet to grab a spice....

If you are yet to check out the powerful music and stunning vocal talents of country music singer Mickey Guyton, you’re missing out. Now, the Arlington, Texas, native is making history, as the first Black female solo artist to earn a Grammy nomination in a country category for the upcoming 2021 Grammy Awards. The song for which she’s nominated"Black Like Me," is an evocative song about racial inequality in America, and it’s hard not to tear up listening to it....

Call in your better half for backup and/or book the babysitter. Text your friends. Plot your course. It’s time to plan your inaugural momcation—we hope the first of many fun annual getaways with fellow moms in need of a vacation. While girlfriend getaways have been a wonderful bonding tradition we’ve long advocated, the trend of moms-specific vacations is gaining momentum. These days, a quick perusal on social media of “#momcation” will reveal a slew of posts of mamas gathering together for some quality time, whether in San Diego or Disney World (hey, moms love Splash Mountain, too)....