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From the shelf dedicated solely to stacked jars of Lindsay brand diced pimentos at the Piggly Wiggly to the array of tubbed, pre-made varieties that rivals the hummus selection at Whole Foods, there is no shortage of evidence on the importance of pimento cheese to be found in the South. In addition, how a Southerner prepares their particular recipe is akin to an artist statement or a family crest. That’s why we hesitate to provide too much advice or direction on pimento cheese making unless it is indeed warranted and worthy of consideration....

The Zober Christmas light storage box is made from a heavy-duty fabric that’s water- and tear-resistant. It comes with four plastic holders that are each designed to hold strands of lights with up to 200 bulbs. The best news is the combination of the box and the holders keeps lights neatly wound and tangle-free, so putting them back up next year will be a breeze. BUY IT: $22.99; amazon.com “I’ve never had an organized way of storing Christmas lights....

His country ham can be found in Momofuku Noodle Bar’s ramen bowls in New York City and his bacon ground into the patties of Husk’s legendary cheeseburgers in Charleston. He has been called such monikers as “bacon god” and “ham hero.” But before Allan Benton’s name was in the contact list of every star chef’s cell phone, he was an almost-high school guidance counselor in Madisonville, Tennessee. Benton’s path to pork notoriety was not an overnight success....

We all have our favorite paint colors—the ones we know will look good in every room, the ones we’ll never tire of, and the ones we recommend to friends. The right paint is critical to creating a space you love, so it makes sense to stick to what you know. But now, it’s time to have some fun. We asked three Southern design aficionados, known for their fresh use of color, to share their favorite shades you won’t find on a best sellers list....

While the keeping room has historical roots, its purpose couldn’t be more on point for today. It’s a small seating area off of the kitchen where family or guests can hang out to keep the person who is cooking company. Erin and Ben Napier, the couple behind the popular show Home Town, recently shared their new country home in Mississippi with us, which had a keeping room just off of their kitchen....

If you’re a Texan, we’re going to go ahead, play mind reader for a brief moment, and guess you cherish two things: Matthew McConaughey and Whataburger. (We’re also going to go ahead and guess you especially love Matthew McConaughey describing his love for Texas.) Well, while we’re quite pleased to report that McConaughey is as charming and wonderful as always, we’ve got some big changes to share on the Whataburger front....

I asked three friends (Vicki, Cindy, and Taryn) who have been in nursing for more than 40 years, why they chose this profession. They, of course, enjoy the science of medicine, but as Cindy puts it, “I enjoy the fulfillment when I am able to answer patient’s healthcare questions and guide them through acute and chronic health issues.” But they all know they’re making a true difference in people’s lives....

There are few things as comforting as spending a Southern summer in the backyard around a grill with friends and family. Although we would never ever turn down a juicy slab of ribs, we can’t always pull off the dish for a weeknight meal. We’ve teamed up with our friends at Edley’s Bar-B-Que in Nashville, Tennessee to bring you some killer barbecue recipes. Owned and founded by Will and Catherine Newman, this Nashville hot spot was opened to pay tribute to Will’s grandfather, Edley Newman....

The names of Civil Rights leaders are taught in schools, especially Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, and Rosa Parks. But there are many others who fought for racial equality. One name that may be less well known is Annie Lee Cooper. Cooper was born in Selma, Alabama, to a family of ten children in 1910. She dropped out of school in seventh grade and moved to Kentucky to live with her sister....

Is adrenaline your middle name? Is fear not a factor? Have you long yearned to interact with formidable sharks? Well, the Georgia Aquarium may be the trepidation station you seek. As shared in a recent press release, the renowned Atlanta aquarium is debuting two exciting new shark experiences as part of the largest expansion since the aquarium opened in 2005. Inside the new main exhibit (rendering above), guests will have the opportunity to participate in two shark experiences, the Shark Cage Dive and Shark & Ray Immersion (click the links for more information and requirements for entry)....

There’s a lot of nonsense on the internet when it comes to freezing bananas. You’d think something so simple couldn’t be overcomplicated, but lo and behold, you find instructions to slice each banana crosswise and freeze the individual pieces on a sheet pan (sometimes turning the pieces after an hour of freezing to freeze for another two hours) and then removing the pieces from the pan to a storage container. Here’s the good news: it can (and should) be much simpler than that....

Moth orchids are great year-round, but they’re especially well-suited for cold days when you’re spending a lot of time indoors. Their elegant flowers will brighten tables and windowsills in your home for months at a time. Don’t be intimidated by their exotic appearance. They need very little to thrive inside. Kate Santos loves moth orchids. “Dr. Kate,” as her coworkers call her, is the director of research and development for Costa Farms near Miami....

On Wednesday, a group of VIPs (Very Important Pups) boarded an early-morning flight. No, they weren’t headed further South for the winter. Instead, they were headed north toward brighter futures. After a three-and-a-half-hour flight, the 45 Louisiana shelter dogs landed at Waukesha County Airport in Wisconsin where they’ll continue their epic journey to find forever homes. Thanks to Good Flights, a program created by Greater Good Charities with support from Mars Petcare and PEDIGREE Foundation, all 45 furry friends now have a new lease on life....

A Maryland fire department is praising one of its own as a “true public servant” after she brushed aside her own needs to care for a civilian in danger. Megan Warfield is a career firefighter with Baltimore County and a member of the Bowleys Quarters Volunteer Fire Department. The 30-year-old was heavily pregnant and on desk duty when involved in a multi-car collision earlier this month. Despite her condition, she sprung into action to help another driver trapped in an overturned car—ignoring any chance that she herself could be injured....

RomaDrama Live! Is a unique fan experience, “a boutique convention”, as the creators call it, where all of us get to have face to face conversations with the actors, authors, and screenwriters behind some of our favorite TV shows and films. The three-day event will be held at the Palm Beach Convention Center in Palm Beach, Florida, January 7-9, 2022. It will be three fun-filled days that will include VIP experiences, meet & greets, panel discussions, Q & A sessions, chances for autographs and photo ops and more, so says the press release....

Salt is arguably the most important ingredient in cooking, used to season all kinds of savory dishes, to enhance baked goods and sweets, to preserve food, and to balance bitter flavors. You might come across recipes that call for table salt, others that use sea salt. What’s the difference between the two, and does it matter? What Is Table Salt? Table salt refers to the fine crystals that you’ll find in most salt shakers....

A sign of a good hostess is a well-stocked (and stylish) bar cart. This piece of furniture is not only functional but a great way to express your personal style in a small space. From a screened porch to an outside deck or even an empty space between the living room and dining room, a bar cart can provide compact mobility, function, and flair to any area. The fun part about bar carts is seeing how people decide to decorate them....

Sharpening your knives is just about as appealing of a chore as, say, re-seasoning your cast-iron skillet or dusting the fan blades. It doesn’t take long to accomplish, but it is oh-so tempting to put off until you can absolutely wait no longer. While usually the suspects that need sharpening are the big kitchen knives that are used to mince and chop, there might be another that needs your attention every now and then: the bread knife....

If you have made New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, get healthy, or drink more water, you’ll want to take note that SodaStream has partnered with sparkling water brand, bubly. Y’all, this is going to be a hydration game changer. We all know we should drink more H2O, but plain water can get a bit dull after a glass or two. Flavored spritzer water has taken over the supermarket aisles for years now (and the Southern Living office fridge), but with this partnership, you can make your very own at home....

There’s nothing we love more than cleaning hacks. And the easier the better too! So you can probably imagine how excited we were by Today’s roundup of the most surprising items you can clean right into the ol’ dishwasher—after your plates and glasses of course. From golf balls to baseball caps, see below for 12 of the most mind-blowing things you can safely wash in your dear friend, the dishwasher....