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A fried bologna (c’mon, we know it’s pronounced baloney, no matter how it’s spelled) sandwich occupies that delicious middle ground between sentimental Southern comfort food and charming throwback party fare. Either way, it’s a tasty meal that is a step up from a ho-hum cold sandwich that is slapped together in the flinty blue light of an open fridge door. Crafting a proper fried bologna sandwich qualifies as home cooking. A skillet is central to the intent and outcome, as is a knowing eye....

Much like wishing doughnuts had the same nutritional value as a bag of kale, hoping a batch of freshly made guacamole will stay fresh and green in the refrigerator for longer than a couple hours falls into the category of things that always set us up for disappointment. As soon as air hits an avocado, though, you’re toast. Enzymes react and start turning your lovely bowl of lime juice-laden guacamole brown faster than you can go grab another bag of chips....

Originally made with a pound each of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour, creative cooks have, over time, come up with countless variations, such as replacing a portion of the butter with cream cheese or a few of the eggs with sour cream and leavening. The most extraordinary thing about these pound cakes is how easy they are to prepare. You can bake them days ahead of time and store them in the pantry, or place them in large zip-top freezer bags and store in the freezer for up to two months....

Yesterday, February 2, Ina Garten rang in her 73rd birthday. And while she didn’t share any details from her special day (or at least, she hasn’t as of press time), we’re guessing this year’s celebrations were of the at-home variety amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic with just her and her husband Jeffrey. As we learned from CheatSheet.com, there’s a certain birthday sheet cake that’s our top contender for easy birthday cake recipes from the Barefoot Contessa’s portfolio—and we sure hope Garten treated herself to it for her birthday....

Butter isn’t something we Southerners joke about, especially when it comes to making a big batch of buttermilk biscuits, a stack of Sunday morning pancakes, and the like—when butter is not only used in the recipe, but slathered on top in a generous fashion. Back in the day, it wasn’t uncommon to leave butter out on a pretty little dish all day long, just waiting for someone to have a reason to take a butter knife to it for a perfectly softened, smooth pat....

Wisteria chains are both romantic and fragrant. But unless the homeowner is very careful, the vine’s grasp will subject the house to more than an innocent crush. Luckily, there are many different kinds of wisteria, and there are safe ways to enjoy its beauty around the garden and home, while still keeping it in check.Know What Your are Planting. Hailing from Asia, the two most popular species of wisteria, Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) and Chinese wisteria (W....

Alone time can be psychologically healing if you look at it in the right light. Solitude can spark creativity, give you perspective, or rest your mind. A survey conducted by the BBC in partnership with the Wellcome Collection, found that the majority of activities people found restful were things that could be done alone, from reading to enjoying a cup of coffee or tea. People often have go-to activities for enjoying their own company....

If you ask the James Beard Award-winning cookbook author and consummate hostess Nathalie Dupree, the secret to successful entertaining isn’t perfectly polished silver or an expertly set table. It’s also not an eclectic guest list or even an extravagant multi-course meal. Of course, those things don’t hurt, but the secret to a truly good party, she says, is a much simpler one. Plan ahead. Whether it’s a backyard barbecue or a formal seated dinner, the host or hostess sets a party’s tone, so if you’re frazzled or stressed, your guests will be too....

A new art exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art is giving a voice to individuals who have devoted years of their lives to protecting the art on display. “Guarding the Art” features 25 works from the museum’s greater collection, selected by 17 former and current members of the museums’ security team. The exhibit, which will be on display from March 27 through July 10, gives guests the opportunity to see art through the eyes of the people who spend their days watching over it....

Earlier this month, we reported on Baltimore, Maryland, restaurateur John Minadakis, who helped raise nearly $500,000 for competitors struggling during the coronavirus pandemic (check out our video below). Now, we’re back with more inspiring news from Charm City: Local restaurants and companies have banded together to donate 20,000 KN95 masks to city teachers as they prepare to return to their classrooms As TODAY.com originally reported, the effort started after local teacher Laur Plawker expressed her concern over returning to in-person teaching to Golden West Cafe owner Samantha Claassen....

We love Dolly Parton for many reasons. Her incredible music. Her kind heart. Her helping to, you know, save the world with her $1 million donation to Vanderbilt Medical Center which supported the creation of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. Nevermind the fact that the main thing that got us through quarantine life was binging on films like Coat of Many Colors, Steel Magnolias, and 9 to 5. Now, her hair. Let’s talk about the Smoky Mountain Songbird’s hair....

Somehow, summer has arrived. Ready to celebrate? Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is sure ready to kick things off on a festive note. This Friday, June 25, the theme park is welcoming the start of Dollywood’s Summer Celebration (which runs from June 25 through Saturday, July 31), which will include a special drone show called Sweet Summer Nights. Per a company press release, the display is described as a multi-sensory drone light show that “creates a symphony of light in the sky above the Pigeon Forge park....

Has spending all this time at home this past year made you realize you could use a design refresh? And have you spent said time at home watching more than your fair share of Property Brothers episodes on HGTV? Welcome to the club. And now…perhaps it’s time to welcome yourself to the Jonathan and Drew Scott wallpaper club, too. As the brothers shared in a recent blog post, they’ve unveiled their latest collection of Scott Living wallpaper, with the new debuts available exclusively at The Home Depot through February 28....

It’s little wonder why western North Carolina’s mountain towns seduce us in the spring, summer, and fall with their siren calls of blooming dogwoods, mild temperatures, and brilliant foliage. The real mystery is why we tend to neglect these same places in the colder months, when there’s a singular allure that blankets the region like a dusting of pure snow. Yes, you’ll likely have to layer up for outdoor adventures, but this is a corner of the South that’s mastered the restorative art of cozy....

As crisp autumn air starts settling in on late-September afternoons, leaf peepers begin hitting Virginia’s stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Cloudless skies set an ethereal backdrop for clusters of crimson, burnt orange, and golden leaves lining the curvy two-lane highway, a bright runway for the smoky blue mountains peeking over the horizon. Carloads of tourists embark on the scenic drive every fall to take in Virginia’s striking foliage. Escape the crowds, and pull off the parkway to explore a few mountain towns with front-row seats to the seasonal show....

We’d like to interrupt your day’s regularly scheduled programming for a moment, if we may, for some much-needed Christmas daydreaming. And thanks to Gaylord Hotels, our reverie just got so much better. This fall, Gaylord Hotels has partnered with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to create a movie-themed Christmas experience at Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee, Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida, Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas, and outside our neck of the woods, Gaylord Rockies in Aurora, Colroado....

There comes a point in every woman’s life where she decides to hunker down and finally get serious about skincare. While there are thousands of reasons to adopt a detailed skincare regime early on (and even more products to choose from), it’s no secret that intimidating price tags can be a deterrent when it comes to investing in products that actually deliver results. That’s why when the organic vitamin E oil that shoppers say promises “youthful and plump” skin after just one week of use finally goes on sale, we click “add to cart” ASAP....

If you’ve ever made a big chop to your hair, you might recall the wondering of how long, exactly, it’ll take for your hair to grow back. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about how fast hair grows and how to maintain healthy hair growth for long, luscious locks in no time. How Fast Does Hair Really Grow? First of all, it’s important to note that everyone’s hair growth rate will vary due to many factors—think genes, hormone levels, age, and more....

Around the holidays, staying busy is a given. Luckily, adding paperwhites (Narcissus tazetta) to a table or your yard is surprisingly simple. The bulbs of these fragrant, star-shaped flowers can be forced indoors without chilling or planted outdoors in frost-free areas, sprouting and producing pretty white blooms in just four to six weeks. “Paperwhites are some of the easiest flowers to grow, but they aren’t all the same,” says Brent Heath, a third-generation Southern bulb farmer....

Just like you, we’re crazy about lush French hydrangeas. These showy blooms practically arrange themselves, but if you cut them at the wrong time (or prep them incorrectly), they’ll deflate fast and furiously. For lasting arrangements (about two to three days for fresh cut flowers), take our advice and gather blooms in the morning. Pick ones that are open and colorful. Mature flowers with a slightly papery feel will hold up best....