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There’s nothing like the joy of coming home—especially after you’ve served time in the United States Armed Forces. Recently, members of the West Virginia National Guard were eager to fly home following an 11-month deployment in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan. On board the plane, several broke into a rendition of John Denver’s 1971 hit single, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” as WSAZ-TV out of Huntington, West Virginia, originally reported of the now-popular clip....

I was a child—six, maybe seven—when I woke up not feeling well enough to go to school. Now, the truth is, I probably wasn’t sick. I was a frequent target of bullies at school (you know: a smart boy with a name like Stacey, it happens) and often faked being sick to avoid having to deal with being picked on. But that’s another story entirely. The point here is that I didn’t really feel that bad....

This week, the World Health Organization declared the Wuhan coronavirus an international public health emergency. But despite climbing numbers—more than 300 people have died, with about 17,00 infections confirmed—still little is known about the deadly virus. While it’s clear that it’s transmissible between humans, experts aren’t certain whether contact with the cough droplets of an infected person is required to pass it on, or if simply being in their presence is all it takes to contract it....

As many have come to realize amidst coronavirus shutdowns, public libraries are one of the many blessings of daily life we took for granted in the pre-COVID 19 era. But even though libraries across the country are shuttered to visitors, that doesn’t mean the fun—and learning—has to stop. Just take the example of “Curbside Larry” played by Barbara Bush Branch Library staffer John Schaffer, who reminds readers that they can still utilize their local Harris County Public Library for curbside pickup....

There’s more than one reason why women love lipstick. First, nothing makes a statement like walking into a room swiped in a bold red. Second, a signature lip color can become something akin to a childhood blanket, giving comfort and confidence when you need it most. Lastly, if a time arises when you want to try something totally out of your normal wheelhouse, there’s always magenta or mauve waiting to replace that signature pale pink, even if only for the night....

Colorful flower beds, shapely hedges, a lush Zoysia lawn—these landscaping features are what curb appeal dreams are made of. Transforming a blank outdoor space into an eye-catching garden oasis is an achievable DIY project. Creating a charming yard can take a lot of sweat equity, but the results are worth it. A few common, easy-to-make mistakes—like overgrown flower beds or brown splotches on the grass—can ruin a homeowner’s hard work. Avoid these seven frequent gardening errors for the best landscape on the block....

In this week’s episode, Sid Evans talks to the acclaimed chef and Chopped judge Maneet Chauhan about how she found her calling in Nashville, her upcoming book, and why traveling has been the greatest influence on her expansive culinary career. If you’re a fan of the Food Network program Chopped, you know Maneet Chauhan well for being a judge throughout the run of the show. Graduating at the top of her class from India’s number one culinary school, she led kitchens in both New York and Chicago, before setting her sights on Nashville, to launch the Morph Hospitality Group with her husband Vivek....

Texas is good at keeping its gems hidden. It secures many of them far, far away from city limits, down long deserted roads or secluded in dusty corners, and if you want to find them, you’re better off wandering in a rented Mustang convertible than following instructions on any laptop or smartphone. “There’s really nothing special out that way,” people will tell you. Only a fool would believe them. What they mean is, there’s nothing out there except grand little towns, sleepy rivers, and some pretty phenomenal chicken-fried steak....

Before you can master making a perfect pot of grits, you’ve got to choose the right ground corn for the job. Read on for the most commonly found varieties of grits, from artisanal stone-ground to “get the job done” instant grits. Types of Grits Stone-ground Grits Stone-ground grits are whole dried corn kernels that have been coarsely ground the old-fashioned way: between the two stones of a grist mill. Because the entire kernel is ground, including the germ, stone-ground grits often have a speckled appearance, a more toothsome texture, and a rich corn flavor....

Professional chefs make it look so easy – handling soft and pliable dough that doesn’t stick to you or the surface, scattering flour across a small portion of the counter and none of it lands on the floor, and deep-frying delectable treats without splattering grease all over the kitchen (and themselves). And admit it – sometimes the mess we make while baking, especially if we are baking with family and friends, is just part of the fun....

With the Egg Bowl just days away, former Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning reflected on his memories from playing in the legendary SEC rivalry game. The Thanksgiving series between Ole Miss and Mississippi State, also known as “Battle for the Golden Egg,” dates back to 1901. Manning played in three Egg Bowls during his tenure at Ole Miss, and took home the Golden Egg twice: during his junior (2002) and senior (2003) years....

Scientists encountered a rare phenomenon when they spotted a whale entangled in fishing rope swimming with its newborn calf off the coast of Georgia. The sighting confirmed that the endangered North Atlantic right whale gave birth while entangled in the rope. The whale, nicknamed Snow Cone, was first spotted with rope in its mouth in March 2021 in Cape Cod Bay. Boat teams in Massachusetts and Canada were able to remove more than 100 yards of rope from the whale, leaving behind two 20-foot segments of rope wrapped around her baleen (fibrous feeding system) and hanging out of the left side of her mouth....

Some of our favorite fast-food chains add fish sandwich specials to their menus during Lent, the six-week period leading up to Easter, which falls on April 12 this year. Some people who observe Lent modify their diet during the time (such as abstaining from meat on Fridays), while others always enjoy a great fish sandwich and appreciate the surge in choices. Here are a few limited-edition fish sandwiches to catch while you can....

PDQ, which stands for “People Dedicated to Quality”, is a rapidly-expanding Tampa-based restaurant chain that specializes in two of the South’s favorite things—chicken tenders and milkshakes. While kids will certainly love the menu options, adults will too. PDQ manages to elevate the lowly chicken tender from humble fare to a delicious meal. The chain has grown rapidly since it was founded in 2011, fueled in part by its willingness to put in the work to make food that is downright delicious....

You may already be familiar with persimmons. Ones native to the South will make your mouth pucker up if you eat them before they’re soft and ripe. However, you may not know their cousins, Oriental persimmons, with selections that can be either sweet or sour. How To Plant an Oriental Persimmon TreeOriental persimmons (Diospyros kaki) love the heat of the South, require little to no spraying, and are self-fruitful, meaning you’ll need only one tree to produce fruit....

On a team full of unlikely stories, TCU linebacker Johnny Hodges might have the unlikeliest. In 2021, Hodges was unhappy at the United States Naval Academy. The standout high school athlete left the Navy Midshipmen in the middle of the season and entered the college football portal. Weeks and weeks went by and all Hodges received was silence. He was, as one team put it, “not good enough.” Discouraged, he told his father that his football days were over....

In November 1966, we celebrated our first Thanksgiving with a foil-baked turkey. Yes, a foil-baked turkey. And it was absolutely delicious. Now, our Test Kitchen cooked up two of the most mouthwatering turkey recipes ever. We have a traditional seasoned turkey and one with a little more of a flavorful kick. After you cook your bird to a crispy golden brown, make sure you know how to carve it like a pro....

It’s no secret that Southerners love bacon. And that includes the grease, too. If you were raised in the South (or raised by someone who was), one of the first kitchen lessons you might have learned is to never pour bacon grease (or drippings) down the drain. Not only will hardened fats create a plumbing nightmare, bacon grease is a precious ingredient, almost as important as the bacon itself. Bacon grease adds savory, smoky depth to all kinds of recipes: skillet cornbread, succotash, buttermilk biscuits, pastas, and just about any type of cooked vegetable, to name a few....

A dream road trip has lots of things going for it: Quirky roadside attractions, natural wonders, and plenty of delicious grub. But what’s one thing that makes for road trip perfection? Great weather. To make a great-weather road-trip come to life Anchorage-based meteorologist Brian Brettschneider settled on a temperature of 70ºF for the route he created that rose the ranks of internet fame in 2015. “It’s something completely arbitrary that I came up with....

Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach was hospitalized on Sunday after suffering a “personal health issue” at his home, the school said in a statement. “That issue led to a decision to transfer Coach Leach to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson by ambulance,” the school said. “That is the extent of information that MSU has available regarding Coach Leach’s condition, and the university will make no other comment at this time other than to say that the thoughts and prayers of the university are with Mike and Sharon and their family....