How to Hard-Cook Eggs (aka How to Hard-Boil Eggs) on the Stove You’re not technically boiling the eggs so hard-cooked eggs is the more accurate term, but you are bringing water to a boil. Whatever you call it, here’s how to do it: Test Kitchen Tip: Do not stack eggs, this will alter the cooking time and could result in eggs being cooked to different levels of doneness. How to Make Steamed Hard-Boiled Eggs This is the technique getting all the praise....

More Easy Ways to Boost Curb Appeal What You Need Tape measure1×4 cedar boards1×6 cedar boards1×2 cedar boardsCompound miter sawHammer drillKreg K4 Master System1 1/4-inch coarse Kreg screwsHand sander and 120-grit sandpaperBrad nailerPaintable caulkOil-base primerExterior paintMasonry bit3/16×1 3/4-inch masonry screwsLevel Step 1: Measure and Cut Gather materials. Measure the height and width of your window. For a classic look, the shutter width should be about half the window width. (We used one 1×4 and two 1×6s to make a 14 1/2-inch-wide shutter for our 28-inch-wide window....

Follow our instructions on how to clean a fireplace to clear away harmful buildup and ensure you’re ready for cozy nights around the fire. We’ll also walk you through how to inspect a fireplace for damage, tips for removing creosote buildup, and what to know about cleaning a chimney. A bit of fireplace maintenance can help keep your home safe and tidy all season long. Before Getting Started Wait 24 hours after your last fire before cleaning a fireplace to ensure it’s completely cool....

While an occasional display of irritation isn’t a bad thing, experts say being consistently bent out of shape can harm your relationships, pummel your self-esteem, and contribute to things like high blood pressure and heart disease. And anger itself is just the tip of the iceberg. “It’s almost always being driven by another emotion, such as fear, resentment, or insecurity,” says Carlos R. Todd, a licensed counselor and a certified anger-management facilitator in Charlotte, N....

If you need to cool off your house (or yourself), try these cooling strategies—though if temperatures rise too high, it’s best to seek out an air-conditioned location, like libraries, movie theaters, and cooling stations, near you. How to Keep Your House From Getting Hot The old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” definitely applies when it comes to keeping your house cool. These strategies can help you keep your house cool without air conditioning—or help reduce the amount of energy you need to keep it cool if you do have an air conditioner....

How to Get Rid of Bugs in Your Garden You can use IPM to eliminate bugs on flowering plants, trees, shrubs, and vegetables. Just follow these steps with each type of garden bug you encounter, going in order until you reach the control level effective for dealing with the problem. 1. Decide on Acceptable Pest Levels What is the acceptable level of aphids or Japanese beetles in your garden, for example?...

Another bonus: Because their rich, dark meat stands up so well to bold flavors, thighs are the perfect blank canvas for trying out the wide world of bbq rubs, marinades, and spice blends. Not sure how to handle them? Remember these rules of thumb. In general, free range methods produce thighs that are more petite than their industrially-bred counterparts. Larger pieces of meat will require more seasoning and longer cooking times, so know what you’re working with before you fire up the bbq....

Supplies Required Wheelbarrow or large plastic tubRubber glovesFace maskPortland cementPerlite or vermiculiteSphagnum peat mossPolypropylene fiber (available online or building supply retailers)Mold of your choiceSheet plastic or plastic garbage bagsDowelsKnife or chiselWire brush Step 1: Create Mixture In a wheelbarrow or tub, while wearing rubber gloves and a face mask, mix 2 parts portland cement, 3 parts perlite or vermiculite, 3 parts sphagnum peat moss (sift or break up clumps with your hands), and a handful of polypropylene fiber, which helps strengthen the planter....

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On the flip side, to make sure you don’t overcook them, remove your potatoes from the boiling water when they’re al dente, meaning just fork tender. For a vinegar-based dressing, mix potato chunks with the vinaigrette while they’re still warm to fully infuse the flavors. Related Video

Not only does a chest freezer with bonus space to store frozen foods and meals make event prep easier, but it can also save you some money. You’ll be able to take advantage of sales, knowing that you’re not cluttering up your regular freezer. However, a disorganized chest freezer can lead to food waste. While we might think they’re safe to sit in the freezer for a long period of time, frozen foods do go bad after a while....

What Is a Frost? When weather forecasters issue a frost advisory in late spring and early fall, that’s your heads-up to protect annuals and other vulnerable plants. You might think temperatures have to get to the freezing point (32˚F), but a frost can occur between 36˚F and 32˚F. Also, frost can be light or hard; a light frost around the upper end of that temperature range might kill the tops of tender plants, but the lower parts remain green....

1. Understand Why Squirrels and Chipmunks Dig As exasperating as squirrels and chipmunks can be, there are several things we can do to coexist on more friendly terms. First of all, think about why these creatures do what they do. They eat nuts, leaves, berries, roots, and seeds. Generally, there is enough food for them in our backyard habitats, and they don’t become pests. Squirrels spend much of their day burying little stashes of food in multiple places around their territory....

8+ years as a professional writer and editorFounder of the travel site justpacked.comBachelor’s degree from the College of William & Mary After transitioning to an in-house content role at a fashion brand, she entered the world of freelance writing, focusing mainly on travel and eCommerce. From there, she founded the travel website justpacked.com, which publishes packing lists and product recommendations. Lydia’s writing has appeared on several of Dotdash Meredith’s sites (including: Travel + Leisure, Brides, InStyle, Real Simple, Shape, and PEOPLE) as well as those outside the company (including: Condé Nast Traveler and Garden & Gun)....

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Essential Cocktail Ingredients for Every Home Bar Just as you can’t make an incredible dinner recipe without a pantry staple starter pack, you can’t make a delicious cocktail or mocktail recipe without essential ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of the basics you’ll need for mixing drinks. Liquor Whether you’re aiming to host guests or just like to have all the cocktail essentials in stock on your bar cart, head to your local liquor store or an online retailer to stock up....

This last-minute Mother’s Day gift is guaranteed to make her smile and can even be a fun Mother’s Day activity to do together. The adorable book of heartfelt coupons is one of our favorite Mother’s Day gift ideas because each coupon is personalized and can be hand-colored before assembling the book. And the best part: you know she doesn’t already have this gift! How to Make a Mother’s Day Coupon Book Supplies Needed Printable couponsWhite paperScissorsMarkers, crayons, or colored pencilsHole punchString, twine, or ribbon...

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Tonight’s trigger? Olivia wasn’t making eye contact with me. I tried to connect, but they were looking at their sister while answering my open-ended questions. (I’d planned them!) I felt that familiar tingle of despair and thought, “Liz, don’t take it personally.” I reminded myself that, developmentally, it was normal for teens to pull away from moms. I was alarmed by the intensity and rawness of my reaction. These weren’t the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when everyone was stressed, scared, and sad....

Founded on a mission to connect people over the intimacy of a home cooked meal, L.A.-based Our Place delights in making mealtimes fun. Accordingly, the Always Pan currently comes in six vibrant colorways: sage, a dusky pink, gray-blue, charcoal, soft purple, and a berry pink (developed in collaboration with Selena Gomez). To buy: $99 (was 145); fromourplace.com. The Always Pan is lightweight at only 3 pounds, making its versatility even more impressive....