Columbus, OH

A-Z-Animals

Hummingbirds are very fast animals. Their wings beat 80 times per second, and their heart beats up to 1,260 beats per minute. But their wings and circulatory systems aren’t the only things that are speedy. Hummingbirds have one of the fastest metabolisms of any animal on the planet. In fact, their metabolisms are over 75 […]

4 Foods You Can Feed Hummingbirds Other than Sugar Water

I love growing tomatoes. When it comes to tomatoes, I find that container gardening works best for me. And the results are the best! Fresh-picked tomatoes are one of the most delicious vegetables out there, but if you’re anything like me, you find that you just can’t eat all the tomatoes you grow before they start going bad.

How To Store Tomatoes To Make Them Last

As someone who doesn't have a smokehouse and is almost always too lazy to barbecue, but who absolutely loves that home-grilled flavor, liquid smoke has become a favorite go-to for easy cooking. It has been called the "instant coffee of barbecue" for a reason. This ingredient comes in clutch when used in homemade jerky, Kalua pork, and ribs. You can add it during baking and slow cooking, or brush it onto dishes afterward for a smokehouse finish. And if you use a gas grill rather than charcoal, it is perfect for helping to make up some of that missing smoky flavor.

What Is Liquid Smoke And Why Should You Care?

Every once in a while, you may run into a restaurant that serves house-made potato chips as a side, rather than the more traditional option of french fries or mashed potatoes. In fact, potato chips were first introduced in the high-end dining scene in the mid-1800s when a chef served a customer fried thin potato slices after they complained that their french fries were too thick. So, what if we wanted to bring back that same feel? We aren't talking about making the snack with a raw potato and advanced temperature hacks or even the microwave method. Instead, you can elevate your already-made potato chips with a working oven and a few minutes.

Elevate Your Store-Bought Potato Chips With A Trip To The Oven

Focaccia is one of the easier homemade breads to bake, making it great for beginners — or anyone who wants delicious bread in a hurry. To make this process even quicker, there's a secret shortcut we'll let you in on: store-bought pizza dough. Focaccia dough is similar to pizza dough, so this swap doesn't mean you have to sacrifice taste or texture, and it couldn't be any easier. Whether you want to stick with the classic rosemary and olive oil or get creative with toppings like tomatoes, olives, or caramelized onions, this simple shortcut lets you enjoy fresh, homemade focaccia without a long wait.

Store-Bought Pizza Dough Is The Secret To The Easiest Focaccia Of Your Life

Fall is right around the corner, which means it is time to start incorporating one of the most versatile autumnal flavors into your recipe rotation. No, we are not talking about pumpkins. We are talking about caramel. From caramel apples to a warm, salted caramel latte, the popular ingredient is soon to be everywhere.

Turn Olive Oil Into Caramel Topping With One Extra Ingredient

Much care and attention go into the exterior of a cake — spreading perfectly smooth icing, creating delicate petal-like decorations, using intricate frosting patterns and colors. There's nothing quite as impactful and wow-inspiring, though, as a surprise delight on the inside, revealed only upon cutting into the baked confection. Whether you're making a just-because treat or a birthday celebration stunner, level up from plain Jane interiors next time with a gorgeous cherry blossom design that's actually far less complex to pull off than you'd think.

Make Your Cake Look Like Cherry Blossom Trees Inside With A Simple Trick

Gardening Know How

High summer is synonymous with deadheads and straggly growth, so it’s tempting to reach for the cutters. But here are the plants you should not prune in summer – and why

Don’t Trim These Plants Before Fall: 7 Plants You Should Not Prune In Summer

Grapes are a perfect fridge staple—a handy item to have on hand for a fruit salad, a lunch you’re packing for school or work, or just something to snag a quick handful of when you need a snack. But whether they come straight from the farmers market or...

PSA: You’re Probably Washing Your Grapes Wrong—Here’s the Right Way

Another day, another inventive, surprisingly delicious recipe creation from TikTok. The social media site has churned out some, if not controversial, food creations in recent months and years — looking at your viral fluffy Cokes and bizarre-sounding pickles plus Dr. Pepper. And we're not even close to quitting trying out the creative concoctions dreamed up by internet foodies.

Ditch Your Puff Pastry For Gluten-Free Rice Paper Croissants

Nothing hits harder than a big mug of hot chocolate on a cold, winter day. You can top the decadent drink with marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or caramel sauce to bring additional comfort, but what matters the most is the quality of the chocolate drink itself. From Starbucks to Swiss Miss, we tested some of the most popular brands of hot chocolate mixes to figure out which delivers the best results.

The Best Store-Bought Hot Chocolate Mix Isn't Starbucks Or Swiss Miss

Have you ever wondered why restaurant steaks always taste better than the ones you cook at home? It's not just because the professionals can access better meat products and kitchen equipment. Savvy chefs also have numerous tricks up their sleeves and use special techniques to achieve juicy, flavorful steaks and top-notch sauces and sides. The good news is you can also use those cooking techniques to create steakhouse-worthy meals at home.

14 Steakhouse Secrets That Will Make Your Food Taste Better

There’s something special about taking that first juicy bite of a sweet, homegrown watermelon after waiting patiently for harvest. Although the summertime favorite is a fairly easy plant to grow, knowing when to harvest can be tricky if you don't know what to look (or listen) for. Unlike other...

When to Harvest Watermelon for the Juiciest, Most Delicious Fruit

Imagine a garden that effortlessly renews itself year after year with minimal intervention. This dream can become a reality with self-seeding plants. These remarkable plants have the ability to drop seeds that sprout into new plants, ensuring a continuous and beautiful display without the need for replanting. Not only do...

10 Self-Seeding Plants You’ll Never Have to Plant Again

August is the ideal time to plant many cool-weather vegetables that can be harvested through fall and into winter. Get sowing with our essential planting guide.

15 Vegetables To Plant In August – For An Abundant Fall Harvest

Coconut milk — specifically the canned variety — is a versatile addition to any kitchen or pantry. You can use it in everything from desserts and smoothies to savory crema recipes, soups, or even in your coffee. Its thick, rich texture forms when ripe, shredded coconut meat is puréed with water until the mixture is completely smooth. Though it's easy enough to make at home if you can find fresh coconuts, the canned variety is readily available in the Asian food section of most grocery stores.

What To Do With The Cream In Canned Coconut Milk

North Carolina State

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Town Talks

Biscuitville, a North Carolina-based chain, has been named the No. 1 fast-food breakfast spot in the nation by USA Today's 10Best. This accolade comes after a month-long voting period where people across the country chose their favorite breakfast destinations.

North Carolina-based chain ranks No. 1 in the nation for fast-food breakfast. Here’s why

U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) scientists have developed a high-quality and inexpensive pectin that can successfully gel in low-sugar products and still be scalable for commercial production. Pectin, a soluble fiber used mainly for gelling food products like jams and jellies, is naturally found in fruits...

Improved Pectin From Orange Peels

Cooking With Maryann

I love macaroni salads, and this is truly a special one. It's got something for all of the tastebuds and textures. Soft, crunchy, chewy, sweet, savory, tart, creamy, and oh so fresh! Here's what you'll need to make 8-10 side servings:

Amish Macaroni Salad

Making coffee or espresso drinks can be as simple or complicated as you'd like it to be. It's easy enough to load coffee grounds into a drip coffee maker, takes a bit more effort to grind your own beans and work a French press, and greater proficiency is required to start steaming milk for lattes or flat whites. Lattes also open new avenues to the trickiest knack of all: latte art. This unique form of expression is made by skillfully and deliberately pouring steamed milk onto the espresso to form patterns and designs. In time, you'll be showing off your artistic talent, however, if you're just starting out, your latte art is more likely to resemble a Rorschach test than a tulip.

A Coffee Expert's Advice On Making Latte Art For Beginner Home Baristas

NewsBreak

The Fastest Hack To Ripen Fresh Peaches

Summer not only brings longer days and cozy thunderstorms, but also the promise of fresh, ripe peaches. Between May and mid-July — depending on where you...

The Fastest Hack To Ripen Fresh Peaches

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