Don’t you dare tell her I told you. As okra grows larger throughout the summer, it becomes less and less tender. Opt for tender pods from younger plants for the best fried okra. Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox I realize this may be a controversial declaration. Perfectly crispy okra also depends on what it’s dredged in. Our favorite recipes use more cornmeal than flour. Credit: Photo: Hector M. Sanchez; Food Stylist: Marian Cairns; Prop Stylist: Caroline Cunningham...

Homemade hamburger patties are completely customizable. Read on to learn how to season, shape, and cook your patties to perfection. Meat is naturally a purplish-red color. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox That’s a natural occurrence due to a lack of oxygen reaching the inside of the meat. Don’t usefully brown or gray meatto make hamburger pattiesdispose of it instead. Here are a few pointers for how to craft your own patties....

Caramel sauce is an incredible treat. Take it slow to get it right with each batch. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox When I first startedbaking professionally, I was afraid of caramel. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Then, a few weeks in, Lauren handed me a whisk. It was my turn to make the caramel. Lauren stood right beside me, delivering calm, sage advice as I panicked internally. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox...

For breads, muffins, pie, and more. Homemade pumpkin puree is surprisingly easy to make: You need just one ingredient and some patience. Here’s how you’re able to get started: What Is Pumpkin Puree? Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Pumpkin puree is cooked pumpkin that has been blended or milled into a smooth, thick pulp. you could steam, saute, or roast pumpkin to turn it tender enough to make into a puree....

Skip the long lines at the shop and make an iced coffee drink yourself. Proper iced coffee is far from stale. It should be refreshing, sweet (without added sugars), and slightly less acidic than hot coffee. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox What’s the Difference Between Iced Coffee and Cold Brew? While you may have heard these terms used interchangeably, iced coffee is not cold brew coffee. The difference lies in the extraction process....

If you’ve never made French macarons, this guide will help you make batch after batch successfully. Macarons, Not Macaroons This recipe is for French macarons, notcoconut macaroons. The extra O makes a big difference. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Macarons are delicate sandwich cookies. They’re usually brightly colored and come in a variety of flavors. Coconutmacaroons, on the other hands, are little balls of chewy coconut goodness. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox...

Our method for making hard boiled eggs is so easy, they practically cook themselves. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Discover the best way to hard boil eggs. While it isn’t exactly difficult, boiling eggs isn’t quite as foolproof as one might think. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Then, gently pull away the shell from the white. Running water over the eggs as you peel can also help. Either way, theyll keep for up to one week in the refrigerator....

Achieve perfectly saucy eggs over easy every time. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Eggs are a tough culinary lesson to crack. Learn how to make over-easy eggs so you’re free to achieve that perfect, saucy yolk. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox (And remember: We’ve all broken some yolks in pursuit of the perfect over-easy egg.) What Is An Over-Easy Egg? Unlike their sunny-side up brethren, an over-easy egg is flipped mid-cook so both sides get some heat....

Leave behind the bag, and learn how to make popcorn on the stove for the freshest possible pop. Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Making popcorn at home is an easy upgrade for movie night. Once you learn how to make popcorn on the stove, you wont go back to the bag. Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Ingredients for Stovetop Popcorn You need just three ingredients to make stovetop popcorn....

Silk tie Easter eggs will become a forever favorite. Consider this your introduction to silk tie Easter eggs. Annette Browningis a fiber artist and creator of theFiberArtsywebsite. Credit:Courtesy of FiberArtsy Annette Browning What Are Silk Tie Easter Eggs? To learn more about this technique, Browning filled us in. The Kentucky-based crafter explains that she found this style of decorating while doing research for her website. Credit:Courtesy of FiberArtsy Annette Browning...

It’s just a few ingredients, but every step matters. When it comes to Southern sweet tea, nothing tastes as good as the fresh brewed stuff. It’s like being served a glass with someone else’s lipstick still on the rim." Credit: Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist Christine Keely What Is Sweet Tea? Each of the three key components in Southern sweet tea matter greatly. Iced green tea is delicious, but it’s an entirely different drink....

If you have marble in your home, you know how hard it can be to keep it stain-free. Try these methods and tips for removing and preventing marble stains. Getty Images Marbleis a key in of stone known for its durability and elegant appearance. Credit:Getty Images As such, its commonly used for countertops, flooring, and other high-traffic surfaces. But if you react quickly with the proper cleaning techniques, its possible to remove stains without damage....

Go from basic to next level with these frosting upgrades. Sometimes the shortest path betweenmaking cakeand eating cake is opening a can of ready-made frosting. Canned frosting is quick and easy, but most can benefit from additions that bring them closer to homemade. Credit: Tetra Images/Getty Images It may be all you better do. How to Get the Right Consistency Any additions might change the frosting’s consistency. Tothicken the doctored frosting, beat in sifted powdered sugar, 1/4 cup at a time....