In this handy guide, you’ll learn: The differences between the most common types of creams used for cookingHow to decode the nutrition labelsThe best half-and-half and heavy cream substitutesHow to use each type of cream Heavy Cream Heavy cream and whipping cream—think they’re the same? Think again. These seemingly similar varieties of cream contain different amounts of milkfat, which can create very different products. Heavy cream is a common ingredient found in both sweet and savory recipes....

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So in short, yes: Moisturizer and lotion do expire. When it comes to body moisturizer, throw away unfinished containers that have been open for more than two years. (If you’re using a lotion on a regular basis, though, odds are you’ll need to replenish it before it expires.) An expired lotion doesn’t hurt or damage skin, but the product won’t lock in moisture or hydrate as thoroughly. (In the case of cooling lotions or other specific-use items, they probably won’t work as well....

If you already know the magic of your trusty slow cooker, but you’re not sure how to return the love by way of a thorough cleaning, don’t fret. Here’s a step-by-step guide to cleaning your slow cooker so it’s prepped and ready for making those delicious meals. How to Clean a Slow Cooker You might be tempted to treat stuck-on stains with harsh cleaners, but all it takes to clean a slow cooker are a few simple household ingredients that you likely already have on hand....

Read on for the step-by-step how-tos, or click here to see the video tutorial for the Half-Up Twist. Related Video

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Test Kitchen Tip: If you don’t have a lot of space in your freezer, canning peaches is a great alternative. Selecting the Best Fruit for Freezing Peaches The first step to learning how to freeze peaches is to know how to choose the best fruit. When freezing peaches, always choose fruit at its peak of maturity. When ripe, peaches should be intensely fragrant and yield to light pressure at the stem end....

Are Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs Harmful? Numerous stink bug species are native to the United States, but brown marmorated stink bugs originated in Asia. They made their way to the U.S. in the 1990s and were first discovered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1998. Since their arrival, they’ve spread across the country at a rapid rate, and have been spotted in nearly every state. They don’t have many natural predators in North America, so their population has exploded in the 20-plus years since they arrived....

How Do I Get Rid of Slugs? The best bet in reducing slug numbers is to get rid of places they like to hide. They like damp, dark areas under boards, rocks, garden debris, and flowerpots. Any of these items work as lures. Check under them each day and get rid of any slugs you find. Repeat daily until the slugs are gone. Adding some decaying fruit underneath a board in a damp area will also draw in slugs so you can remove them....

Best Storage Onion Varieties Properly stored, onions can last for months. The best storage onion varieties have a high sulfur content—they’ll really make you cry—and they have a strong flavor. Mild-flavored or sweet onion varieties will likely only keep for a few weeks. ‘Stuttgarter’, ‘Yellow Globe’, ‘Copra’, ‘Patterson’, ‘Redwing’, and ‘Ebenezer’ are a few storage varieties. Check with your local cooperative extension office to find out which varieties will grow best in your area....

Renee Erickson James Beard-nominated chef-owner of The Whale Wins, Boat Street Café, The Walrus and the Carpenter, and Barnacle—all in Seattle, Washington—and author of the cookbook, “A Boat, a Whale & a Walrus: Menus and Stories.” Prep: “One of my favorite side dishes is roasted Brussels sprouts with lemon and mint—but I always make sure to parboil the sprouts first. That’s because 1) undercooked Brussels sprouts are the worst. And 2) when you roast them afterward, the centers get so soft they’re like little creamed cabbages....

Are Chrysanthemums Annuals or Perennials? One of the first questions people have about mums is whether they’re annuals or perennials, and the answer is both! Mums generally come in two types: Florist mums (also known as cutting mums) and hardy mums (also known as garden mums). Both types come from the same original parent, a golden-yellow daisy-like mum from China. Today’s hybrids in both categories result from endless crosses between several species from China and Japan....

Hydrangea is toxic to cats and dogs. It’s also toxic if ingested by people. Where to Plant ‘Berry White’ Hydrangeas ‘Berry White’ performs best in full sun (six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day) or part shade and well-drained soil, though it can also tolerate some drought. It’s hardy in Zones 3-8, so it’ll survive the winter in almost any part of the country. Once the plant matures, it can reach up to 6 or 7 feet tall and about 5 feet wide....

There are plenty of ways to make regifting glamorous—whether it’s hanging on to a fashionable gift that doesn’t fit you but is just what your sister loves, or pairing eco-friendly gift wrap with personalized embellishments that breathe new life into old finds. Ahead, gifting and etiquette pros share a few easy tips to make save time and money this holiday season by simply giving gifts you already have. First, check for a gift receipt....

Before you clean the moss off your roof, you’ll need to consider how you want to kill the plants and remove the dead layers. After cleaning, you’ll also need to put some defensive measures into play to prevent the moss from growing back. Experts recommend that you save roof-moss removal for a cloudy day. This is because roof-cleaning products, which should be left to absorb into the moss for at least 20 minutes, will not evaporate as quickly as they might on sunny days....

Depending on the type of stain, and how deep it is, you might be able to easily fix the spot. Follow these steps for tips on how to remove stains from wood floors, including how to remove water marks and what kind of stain removers to use. Before you know it, your hardwood floor will look as though it’s never had a stain. Before Getting Started To remove wood floor stains, first determine what the ring or watermark looks like....

The good news? We have some easy tips and tricks to extend the life of your favorite wines, starting with knowing why wine goes bad in the first place. Wine requires a delicate balance of oxygen exposure, which is crucial in the fermenting process. Once opened, oxygen can boost the flavors and aromas of a wine, but too much exposure will turn your wine into vinegar. (This process is how we make red and white wine vinegar....

While we’ve seen some pretty close replicas of burgers and barbecued meat dishes, there hasn’t been a good plant-based pick for the unmistakable texture and feel of seafood—until now. As it turns out, the perfect replacement for flaky, fresh seafood grows on trees and is a by-product of banana production. It’s true! If you’re looking for the next innovative, plant-based swap to fish and seafood, get ready to meet the mighty banana blossom....

How to Tell When Pumpkin Pie Is Done—3 Different Tests Here are three surefire tests for telling when pumpkin pie is done. Note that if your test determines an undercooked pumpkin pie, return it to the oven and bake a few minutes longer before testing it again. The Knife Test The classic knife test is the easiest and most foolproof way to tell if your pumpkin pie is done. Simply insert a knife near the center of the pie....