Before You Start Cleaning Copper Some copper items feature a lacquer finish that you should avoid cleaning with these methods. To determine whether the surface is lacquered, dip a rag in white vinegar, then baking soda, and use it to rub an inconspicuous spot on the copper surface. If it removes an area of tarnish, the piece isn’t lacquered, and you can use the following natural cleaners. Before cleaning copper, you should check if the item is copper-plated....

If you’re not familiar with this root vegetable, keep reading to learn how to cook parsnips and discover parsnip recipes that will erase any preconceived notions. What Is a Parsnip? A parsnip is a long, tapered root vegetable. It resembles a carrot in this way, and indeed they are part of the same family. But parsnips don’t taste like carrots. They’re sweeter—think sweet potatoes—and they have a delicious naturally nutty or earthy flavor....

Two years later, the pretty-much-perfect studio had just one small challenge: “After years of working elbow-to-elbow with my team, it was time to finally carve out a private area for me to have one-on-one meetings, calls, and sometimes just hunker down and be super-efficient,” says Styles. “I wanted to reinvent my little corner of the office as an earthy, bohemian space with cozy textures that made me want to curl up at my desk, kick off my shoes, and dive into work,” she explains....

It’s true that gliding a brush against a wall is easier than many home improvement jobs, but the biggest challenge of painting is in the surrounding prep work. And if you skimp on the prep, it’s likely that your simple DIY becomes a lot more complex (or a lot less attractive). And everyone wants to have results that appear as though a professional was called in, even if you actually did the work solo and in sweatpants....

What now? Before you take all of the lights back off the tree and head to the store for yet another replacement strand, we’ve got a few tips and tricks for fixing your string lights and getting the holiday season back on track. Common Christmas Light Issues Christmas lights aren’t the most reliable decoration. While string light technology has improved with time, homeowner-grade lights found at big-box stores aren’t always made to last....

How to Bake a Cake First you’ll have to choose a recipe. You can keep it simple with a yellow cake (pictured above), or you can choose a slightly showier recipe, like a chocolate devil’s food cake or a vibrant red velvet cake.If you’re not a fan of the traditional frostings, try a German chocolate cake. We also have a few birthday cake recipes for celebratory occasions. The possibilities are almost endless, and these directions will help you make them all, but angel food, pound cakes, sponge cakes, and chiffon cakes require different methods, so read up on those separately....

Enter the charcuterie wreath. Sometimes dubbed a “charcutewreath” (because, why not), this festive display of cured meats and cheeses is exactly what it sounds like—a charcuterie spread shaped just like a holiday wreath. Though you can’t fasten this edible arrangement to your front door or hang it above a fireplace, you can use it as a cute and clever way to welcome revelers into your home this winter. While charcuterie wreaths aren’t brand new (they began popping up on TikTok and other social media platforms about a year ago), they are certainly having a moment in 2021 amid the larger holiday hosting comeback....

“This color just screams happiness to me. It’s cheerful, warm, and inviting,” says Brittni Mehlhoff, Designer and DIYer at Paper and Stitch. “I have a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting and drawing, so I’ve always loved experimenting with different materials and supplies. When I saw BHG’s 2023 Color of the Year, Canyon Ridge, I immediately wanted to play with the tonal range for an art piece.” “Canyon Ridge is one of those colors that can work in nearly any home,” says Brittni....

Ideal for topping a wide variety of coffee shop favorites, our DIY cold foam can hold its own atop your go-to coffee drink or tea; slowly seeping down to infuse it with just enough richness and vanilla flavor. Prepare to save time and money by skipping the drive-through or coffee shop line. Ahead, we’re spilling all of the details about how to make DIY cold foam right in your own kitchen....

How to Make Salsa The most popular types of salsas are pico de gallo, salsa fresca, and salsa cruda. These are chunky, uncooked sauces with a fresh tomato base. They are quick and easy to make and are at their best when tomatoes are in season. To make homemade salsa, combine the ingredients below in a bowl and serve, or cover and chill for up to three days. Peppers: When it comes to choosing the best peppers for salsa, it all depends on your preferred spice level....

Read on for your complete guide to the best Thanksgiving air fryer recipes to pair with your turkey. But first, we’re dishing up a few general tips about how to utilize your air fryer to make holiday hosting no sweat. 4 Air Fryer Thanksgiving Strategies to Save Time and Coveted Oven Space Its small size means the heat can circulate around the food at a more rapid clip, which often translates to a slightly shorter cook time than in a regular-sized oven....

To go beyond the basics of getting your 401(k) or enrolling in healthcare, you’ll need to do a bit of sleuthing and have a touch of gumption. Financial planning experts—Tennessee-based certified financial planner Brenton Harrison and accredited financial planner Tiffany Grant, MBA—agree that the long-term wins are worth the extra studying or the awkward conversation with your boss, human resources officer, or employee benefits manager. Employee perks can truly be life-changing when you know how to use them....

How to Make Melted Chocolate These methods work for melting chocolate chips, chocolate bars, and squares. For best results, coarsely chop bars and squares before following these melting chocolate methods: How to Melt Chocolate On the Stove This method is easy and convenient. Place the chocolate in a heavy saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly till the chocolate begins to melt. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and stir the chocolate until smooth....

Step 1: Trim Fat from Chops Keep dinner lean and free of unpleasant fatty bites by trimming visible fat from pork chops before cooking. Simply use a sharp knife to cut off excess white fat around the edges of the chops. Step 2: Dry and Season Pork Chops For the best sear and to help seasonings adhere to pork chops, pat the pork chops with paper towels. It seems like most recipes are improved by the addition of a little salt and pepper....

But packing lunches for little ones—and for you—doesn’t have to add to your seasonal stress level. According to Mary Ellen Phipps, MPH, RDN, LDN, founder of Milk & Honey Nutrition (and proud mom to two girls), picking out and preparing healthy foods to pack can be easy. Here are expert tips for making sure everyone is well-fed in the most frantic season of all—le fall. Keep Things Simple Nutritionally, that is....

The FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is based on the idea that if you aggressively save and invest 50 to 75 percent of your income, you can retire early and become financially independent within 10 or so years. The method stresses frugality, looking for extra income, and making your extra money work for you. FIRE picked up in popularity in the early 2010s with financial bloggers such as Mr....

“Writing helps us because it gives us an outlet for our feelings rather than keeping them bottled up, which makes us subject to them in unanticipated ways,” explains Laura Lewis Mantell, M.D., a physician specializing in pain and stress management, and a personal and professional coach. “Writing lets us process our internal experiences before we share them with others, and if we write about our feelings and thoughts, we can begin to make meaning and sense of what’s happening to and around us....

The Worst Spot for Milk in Your Fridge The worst spot for temperature swings? Your refrigerator door. It’s the warmest spot in your fridge, after all. Just think: Every time you open the fridge door, you’re dragging everything stored there into what’s likely the hottest room in your house. Warmer temperatures and frequent fluctuations can put food at risk of spoiling, especially milk and cream. Although a gallon or half gallon of milk may fit perfectly in the fridge door bins, the warmer temperatures may make the liquid curdle before you can drink it....

Get the ball rolling with these conversation starters, based on the position your parents seem to be in. Make sure your own finances are squared away—you want to be prepared if the conversation comes around to your situation—gather your support team (spouses and siblings are a good place to start), and start talking. “I have a 40/70 rule, meaning if you’re 40 or your parents are 70,” says Jody Gastfriend, vice president of senior care at Care....

What You’ll Need: Gentle detergent formulated for silkMesh laundry bagDistilled white vinegarClean white towel Steamer or steam iron (optional) Decide whether or not you have the time and resources to hand- or machine-wash your silk pillowcases and sheets. Wash silk with like colors to avoid discoloration in case the dyes run. You can also test an inconspicuous spot with cool water and a tiny amount of detergent before washing the entire item....