How to Make French Fries by Frying Go ahead and gather the ingredients (potatoes, oil, and salt is all!) and follow these simple steps to make four servings of crispy french fries in minutes. Prepare the Potatoes It doesn’t take much, just some straight-as-possible cuts for fries that will fry evenly. Start with 4 medium baking potatoes (or sweet potatoes), or about 1½ pounds total. Peel potatoes if desired. To prevent peeled potatoes from darkening, immerse them in a bowl of ice water....

Editor’s Tip: To make this arrangement last longer, place flowers in a vase of water that fits snugly within the gourd. Editor’s Tip: To press leaves, place them between layers of newspaper and under a heavy stack of books. Let the leaves dry for a couple of days. Then, to enhance their color, iron the leaves between pieces of waxed paper, using a pressing cloth to keep the wax off the iron....

4 Easy Ways to Get Started with Smart Lighting If a state-of-the-art whole-house automation makeover is outside your comfort zone or budget, don’t worry. There are still small ways you can try smart-home technology. Use these simple steps for integrating smart lighting into your home. 1. Choose an Assistant 2. Start with Smart Lightbulbs Switching out a lightbulb is the easiest way to dip your toes into smart-home options. Screw a smart bulb, such as the Philips Dimmable Connected Bulb, $11 at The Home Depot, into an existing fixture, connect it to your Wi-Fi network, and start experimenting with using the app to control the light....

Instructions: Pack solid vegetable shortening or butter into dry measures to eliminate air spaces. Level the top with a knife blade. Measuring spoons should be dry when used. Scoop your ingredient to overflowing, then level with a table knife. Narrow spoons that fit easily into spice jars are a wise choice. Measure flour by gently spooning it into your cup. Don’t pack down the flour. Slide a knife blade over the rim to level, letting excess fall back into the bag....

All you need is a happy color palette, a neutral canvas upon which to build, and these tips from Better Homes & Gardens stylemakers and sisters Niña Williams and Cecilia Moyer. Follow their helpful tips to step out of the box and refresh your bedroom this spring. 1. Swap Out Sheets Trade neutral bedding for cozy, breathable cotton sheets in a soft pastel shade to add a layer of color to your bedroom....

Wavy decor was recently called out by Etsy as a top design trend for 2021. The company reported a whopping 28,236% increase in searches for wavy candles and a 5,296% increase in searches for wavy mirrors over the past three months, compared to the same time last year. “As shoppers increasingly look for creative additions to their homes, these wavy decor pieces are eye-catching conversation-starters and add a touch of playfulness to any home,” says Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy’s trend expert....

To protect your home this holiday season, start by hanging or displaying all of your decorations using safe, damage-free methods. And when it’s time to take them down, do so slowly and carefully. These holiday decorating tips will show you how to make your home feel festive and bright without creating a giant mess or inflicting permanent damage on your flooring, walls, windows, woodwork, and more. 1. Protect floors from your Christmas tree....

First, it’s good to know which sort of bug you’re up against. There are a few different types of roaches that like to invade our homes. They include German cockroaches, which get about half an inch long and are a brown color with two darker stripes behind the head. Another common one is the American cockroach, which gets up to 2 inches long and has a reddish-brown color with a yellow patch behind the head....

Test Kitchen Tip: To get this creative hot dog recipe on the table a tiny bit faster, prepare a box of mac and cheese instead of starting from scratch. Test Kitchen Tip: Line your baking sheet with foil, then stack on a wire baking rack if you have one handy. This will allow the bacon grease to drip away, yielding crispy (not greasy) results.

3 cup shredded lettuce 1 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained ½ cup chopped red sweet pepper (and/or yellow sweet pepper) ¼ cup sliced green onions 1 8 ounce carton dairy sour cream 2 finely chopped jalapeño peppers 1 teaspoon shredded lime peel 1 8 ounce jar (1 cup) chunky salsa ½ medium avocado, peeled and coarsely chopped ⅔ cup shredded cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese ⅓ cup chopped pitted ripe olives 1 tablespoon snipped fresh cilantro or parsley (optional) 16 ounce tortilla chips or Homemade Tortilla Chips...

Buy It: Crock-Pot Slow Cooker ($50, Bed Bath & Beyond)

Women and men ages 19 to 50 need 1,000 milligrams a day, according to the Dietary Reference Intake, which is published by the National Academy of Medicine. Recommended amounts for women over 50 years old vary between 1,200 and 1,500 milligrams per day depending on age and whether the woman is menopausal and on hormone replacement therapy. Gidus says she recommends people always try to get calcium through food first, because it is absorbed better by the body....

As you tackle your chore list, slow down and consider whether your strategies could be improved for better results. Avoid these cleaning mistakes that could make your home dirtier, and follow these fixes instead for a safer, more effective routine. 1. Using Dirty Cleaning Tools Your cleaning routine is only as good as the supplies you use. Before you begin, ensure your cleaning tools themselves are in good order to avoid spreading bacteria, dirt, and dust all over the house....

Instead of hanging Christmas stockings from your holiday mantel, showcase them cascading down your staircase instead— just be sure to use sticky hooks or stocking hangers so you don’t damage the bannister. Keep the look understated with a voluminous, simple Christmas garland on your staircase railing, or decorate simple greenery with lights, ornaments, and bows for gorgeous display. We’ve rounded up our favorite Christmas staircase decorations to help inspire your own holiday decorating this season....

How to Decorate a Bathroom for Fall Many of the same fall decorating concepts that apply to other areas of the home also work in a bathroom. Bring in seasonal elements like pumpkins and gourds, incorporate nature-inspired accents and materials, and add spots of fall color. Do-it-yourself fall decor and crafts also add a personalized touch. Since bathrooms are typically small and lack as much display space as a living room or dining room, keep fall bathroom decorating ideas focused and impactful....

Manufactured in 1954 at a converted aircraft factory in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the trailer typifies the mobile-home boom of the post-war period. Companies such as Spartan and Airstream marketed these trailers as affordable, fully furnished homes that offered a modern version of the American Dream. When Julia purchased hers a few years ago for $13,000, she took care to keep or restore as much of its original character as possible. Step inside the 24x8-foot trailer and you’ll find original elements, including birch wood paneling alongside a variety of retro-style furnishings Julia either collected or built herself....

John sets up distinct gathering areas in the garden so guests mingle away from the kitchen. Encouraging people to kick back is as simple as pulling furniture into a group and putting out snacks and games. A vibrant bar scene doesn’t need to involve a vine-covered arbor. Set up a folding table in any nook, cover it with printed fabric, and add tall flowers or branches in a big copper bucket....

Then: Strawberry Floating Island A Strawberry Floating Island, according to the BHG recipe, consists of poached meringues and strawberries floating in custard. Alexis starts by beating egg whites, sugar, and a pinch of salt, until stiff peaks form. The salt acts as a binding agent here. “Hang them over your head, and if they don’t drop, you’re good,” she says while demonstrating. She then cooks the meringue by poaching it in milk—a method she deems “fascinating....

1 cup shortening 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon almond extract 4 cup powdered sugar 3 tablespoon milk Chocolate Butter Frosting ¾ cup softened butter ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 cup powdered sugar ½ cup milk 2 teaspoon vanilla 6 cup powdered sugar Milk