How to Make Crispy Bacon Without the Grease Splatter
Sunday mornings in my house used to mean bacon — and then twenty minutes of scrubbing grease off the stovetop, […]
What to Do With All Those Fallen Leaves Instead of Bagging Them
I raked and bagged leaves for three autumns before my neighbor — the same retired chef who taught me about […]
How to Install a Shelf on Drywall That Actually Holds Weight
I installed a floating shelf in my living room using the plastic anchors that came in the box. It held […]
How to Prevent Pipes From Freezing During a Cold Snap
The year we bought our house we got hit with a cold snap in February — single digits for four […]
How to Tell If an Avocado Is Ripe Without Squeezing It
I watched a guy in the produce section methodically squeeze about twenty avocados last week. By the time he found […]
How to Cover Up Ugly Floor Tiles Without Replacing Them
My bathroom had pink tiles. Not a charming vintage pink. The kind of pink that was clearly a mistake even […]
The Painters Tape Trick for Perfectly Straight Caulk Lines Every Time
My first caulk job looked like a toddler had squeezed the tube with both fists. Thick in some spots, thin […]
Why Your Car Battery Dies More in Winter and How to Prevent It
Four winters ago I walked out to my car on a 12-degree morning, turned the key, and heard that noise. […]
The Best Way to Store Fresh Basil So It Lasts Two Weeks
I used to treat basil like flowers. Literally. Glass of water on the counter, the whole thing. And every single […]
How to Grill Vegetables Without Them Falling Through the Grates
I lost an entire sliced zucchini to the grill gods once. One by one, the rounds slipped through the grates […]