A specialty from the region of my ancestry, Fuzhou, at any other time, they’d be—at worst—innocuous. But on this, the ultimate of feast days, the Reunion Dinner that takes place on the eve of the Lunar New Year: On this night, the Golden Eggs are thieves of joy. These eggs remind me of how my family has celebrated the holiday in China and beyond, including all the dishes and their symbolism for the year ahead....

How to Quickly Chill Cookie Dough If you start whipping up a cookie recipe only to realize you have to chill the dough for a longer amount of time than you have, there’s a trick for speeding up the process: freezing the cookie dough. That’s right, you can freeze it for a bit to shave quite a bit of time off the chilling suggestion in the recipe. Here’s what our Test Kitchen recommends when quickly chilling cookie dough in the freezer:...

Not all roses need deadheading, and some need a little more care than just snipping off the old blooms, so follow the tips below for the variety you’re growing. Other than knowing which type of rose you’re working with, all you need for the job is a good pair of gardening shears. Deadheading Hybrid Tea Roses The general rule for deadheading hybrid teas is to find the top set of five leaflets, then cut the stem below that at the second set of five leaflets....

Well, don’t worry—whether you’re hosting guests for the holidays or just trying to perfect the art of Christmas tree decorating for your own holiday cheer—we have some tips to help guide the way. For advice on decorating a picture-perfect Christmas tree, we talked to Macy’s State Street designer, Kim Garner, who spearheads the Great Tree lighting at the Chicago store. While Garner’s prized tree is a grand 45-feet tall, adorned with more than 1,500 ornaments, and more than 6,600 sparkling lights, her tips can apply just as well to a humble living room tree....

Keeping a lawn in tip-top shape often means applying an organic fertilizer twice a year, aerating periodically to discourage thatch buildup and soil compaction, watering regularly, and properly mowing it. But even if you do everything right, you can still end up with bare, thin, or weedy patches here and there. One of the most important parts of lawn repair is figuring out what has caused the problem. Sometimes an accident, such as a fertilizer spill, creates a bare spot in the lawn....

That bronzed, dewy complexion is always a good look on anyone and one of the best ways to show off your vacation to your friends. In reality, your quarantine skin may be looking dull and pasty, but your lack of travel doesn’t mean your skin has to show it. You can still impart that post-vacation glow without stepping outside your house—with a little help from our fave skincare and makeup products, of course....

This phenomenon is called “brain fog” and it can be nerve-racking, creating a mental cloud of anxiety that can have you frantically searching Google for answers. The good news is that it’s usually just temporary, and with the right lifestyle changes, you can get your brain back on track. We talked to experts to learn what you can do to get rid of brain fog and improve your mental clarity....

Fruit flies and gnats are both extremely hard to get rid of. But if you use a multiphase plan of attack, you should be able to spare not only your produce and plants, but our sanity as well. Not only that, but you can also prevent them. Here’s everything you need to know if you have a gnat or fruit fly problem. Where Do Fruit Flies Come From? Fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs at a time near the surface of fermenting (ripening) foods or other organic materials like the soil in your houseplants....

What Are Sprouts? Sprouts are the first growth that is produced from a germinated seed. These tiny plant shoots have high levels of key vitamins and minerals. Plus they add a crisp texture to sandwiches, salads, and stir-fries. Unlike most vegetables that often take weeks or months to grow, sprouts mature in 3 to 5 days and don’t need soil, fertilizer, or sunshine to grow. They do, however, need plenty of your attention if you’re going to grow them safely from your home—make sure you follow the cleaning, rinsing, and draining steps outlined below....

Over-exfoliating happens to the best of us. From increased sensitivity and irritations, it can be uncomfortable dealing with this skincare woe. Fortunately, it’s possible to get your complexion back on track with a few changes to your routine. We spoke with skincare experts for advice on treating over-exfoliated skin and preventing it from happening altogether. What are the signs of over-exfoliated skin? Irritated, sensitive skin commonly signals over-exfoliated skin. “One of the first signs of any skin irritation, including over-exfoliation, is that your skin will burn or sting when applying lotions to it,” says Robert Finney, M....

Pomegranate seeds are touted for their protective antioxidants, are an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin K, and are a good source of dietary fiber and folate. Use the seeds in desserts, salads, and more; drink the pomegranate juice or use it in dressings or sauces. Yes, pomegranate fruits look daunting, but once you remove the pomegranate seeds (aka arils), making homemade pomegranate juice is easier than you might think....

We’re ready to move on to more advanced carbs, which is why we consulted Paul Baker, the master baker and co-founder of St Pierre, America’s fastest-growing European Bakery brand. He provided us with tons of helpful tips on baking brioche, croissants, popovers, and French baguettes. First step? You should probably start stocking up on butter. Balance Your Ingredients. Nailing the balance and ratios of ingredients is key to avoiding brioche that’s either too crusty or over-enriched....

Here’s everything you need to know to put together a perfect one. RELATED: You’ve Been Serving Champagne All Wrong—Here’s How to Do It Right Related Video

If you have diet plans, store your tighter clothes elsewhere and bring them back after you reach your goals. The act of swapping out larger sizes for smaller ones might even make you feel more accomplished. To store those aspirational pieces you’ll soon be wearing, pick up a few durable storage containers like the MISSLO Oxford three-piece set. Its durable design—with metal zipper and airtight closures—means no dust, dirt, or mold can enter while your goods are stored....

Going from mayhem to organized isn’t as difficult as you may think. Whether your space is teeny-tiny or awkwardly large, you just need to nix the clutter, create a spot for everything, and focus on pragmatism above all else. To become a pro at laundry room organization, start with these expert tips. Remove Everything & Declutter Before starting your reorganization project, take stock of everything in your laundry room and remove anything that isn’t working in your favor....

Give all your utensils a proper place to rest when they’re not hard at work with the following ideas for organizing a utensil drawer. And never misplace your favorite spatula again. 1. Personalize Your Utensil Organizer This might sound obvious but you most likely already have something to corral your everyday utensils. But are you using one that really works for you? For example, if you have seven types of utensils in regular use but your organizer only has five or six slots, a couple of them are might not have a home....

How to Peel Garlic Follow our Test Kitchen’s best way to peel garlic so you’ll always have fresh garlic cloves for your recipes. Step 1: Remove the Garlic Cloves from the Head Remove the number of cloves you need from garlic bulb. The remaining cloves won’t dry out as quickly when stored as part of the bulb. To remove the garlic cloves, peel enough of the outer layers of skin to be able to grab a side of one clove....

Furniture “Just because a price tag displays a certain number doesn’t mean it’s final,” says Nicole Lapin, a financial expert and the author of Rich Bitch. You can research online prices and ask if a store will match that—or try for a discounted floor sample. What to do: Strike up a conversation with a friendly salesperson, and lead with a compliment: “I love your store and really want to buy this piece....

One Week Before Thanksgiving: Plan Your Menu and Secure Your Turkey By the Thursday before Thanksgiving you should have planned your menu, cleared out your fridge, and have a turkey on the bottom shelf. Knowing which Thanksgiving sides and other dishes you want to serve will help save you time at the store—cue the grocery list—and with preparing and serving your menu. Need help plotting the feast? “Think about making things that you can reheat and it won’t affect the quality,” Matijevich says....

Selling belongings online or IRL isn’t just a great way to declutter and avoid landfill waste—it’s also big business. Partly spurred by the trend of bypassing fast fashion (and retail prices), the resale market is valued at a whopping $35 billion, and that figure is expected to more than double by 2026, according to a report from ThredUp, an online resale store. The RealReal, a luxury consignment site, has seen a 36 percent increase in first-time buyers since 2020....