If you hit links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shop my top picks, including a Craftsman reel mower, Scotts seed spreader, and Fiskars shovel. With these tools and gadgets, youll have a magazine-worthy lawn in no time. Credit:Southern Living Onefive-star shoppershared, This little tiller is more powerful than you would think! I also used it to loosen soil in thin areas of my lawn before overseeding. This’ll last me for decades....

This back-of-the-box recipe is legendary Family recipes are an essential part ofThanksgiving. And the recipe holder becomes just as legendary as the recipe. That’s not just a casserole; That’sAuntie’s Casserole. Credit: Jessica Furniss But isn’t it funny how the most famous family recipes sometimes come from the most unassuming places? So is the case with my mom’sMint Oreo Trufflesthat are consistently the star of theThanksgiving dessert sideboard. “How are you?”...

The good news is the ingredients go a long way, so making another batch is no big deal. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Dessert is a hot topic for my family. So when our last big gathering came, I chose to not even ask for feedback on mydessertplans. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox I decided what I was going to make and followed through. Thankfully, my choice was well received....

Dont let the word souffle deter youthis recipe is far more like a comforting casserole. While many of the meals we prepared alongside him were not the mostkid-friendly, his carrot souffle was. He used to give me the “easy” tasks: crushing the saltine crackers or grating the cheese. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox But now I see just how easy the whole recipe is. My family’s not-so-secret carrot souffle recipe has been a crowd favorite for as long as I can remember....

And it’s a no-cook recipe, too. Getty Images My family can’t tell you the best wine for Thanksgiving dinner. We don’t drink it. Credit:Getty Images And there are no arguments about stuffing or dressing. We’ve only ever eaten cornbread dressing, and we only ever will. But we will put up a fight about pickles. Credit:Kimberly Holland/Southern Living She’s been gone 40 years now, but we still eat her pickles at every Thanksgiving....

This Santa Fe soup recipe is budget-friendly, quick and easy. It does its job by serving a crowd. Need we say more? Credit: rudisill/Getty Images A Season for Soup There is a tangible difference in the atmosphere these days. I can enjoy a cup of coffee outside at daybreak without blindly swatting at swarms of biting no-see’ums. As the temperatures change so do my weeknight dinner choices. Multiple cans of a variety of beans, i....

Anyone can follow this plan. Over the last 28 years, Ive moved 18 times. As a naturally introverted person, I used to find taking the initiative to introduce myself intimidating. Credit: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Whats the neighborhoodor complexculture like? What if I meet someone unfriendly? Does anyone even care? Credit: Laurey W.Glenn I needed someone else to make the first move, and I was always so grateful when they did....

And everyone asks for the recipes. Southern cooks are not shy with the spice cabinet. In my family, that’s my grandmother. Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman To learn from a cook like her, you have to watch and ask questions. Now I do, too. It even pulls out ahead of her other favorite, Lawry’sGarlic Salt. Credit: Slap Ya Mama Slap Ya Mama is a Louisiana-made blend that captures the characteristic flavor of Cajun cooking....

If you love bacon, then praise the lard! Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Southerners love butter. But the one ingredient we prize above all others isbacon. Credit:Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely You might even say our love for this pork product borders on biblical. Be safe and keep it cool and follow theseexpert tips. Bacon Grease Is Kind That liquid gold is kind to cast-iron skillets....

She’s definitely going to haunt me for writing this. For most cooks, dry turkey is the ultimate nightmare of preparing Thanksgiving dinner. And by-and-large, theyve all delivered approximately the same results. Credit: Photographer- Alison Miksch / Prop Stylist- Kay E. Clarke / Food Stylist- Mary Claire Britto On the contrary, she says that my turkey is TOO moist. I like dry turkey, she says. Frustrated, I asked her why in the world she prefers her bird drier than the Sahara Desert....

If you select links we provide, we may receive compensation. Including cookie cutters, cookie sheets, mixing bowls, and loaf pans. Did we mention it also has a chemical-free non-stick coating? Credit:Southern Living Plus, its BPA-free and safe to put in the dishwasher for an easy cleanup every time. A finalfive-star customershared, This canister is perfect for storing cookies or other treats. I love the way the lid closes. Credit:Amazon I have similar ones from 40 years ago and this one is just fantastic....

If you punch links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shop curtains, lamps, bedding, and more for as little as $5. Shop the picks below, with prices as low as $5. Credit:Southern Living / Francesca Fasciglione They have also held up through multiple washes and are the perfect statement piece for my mid-century-inspired office. Shoppers say its as functional as it iscute, calling it a nice accent to the kitchen....

Here in Space City, fancy steak houses sit comfortably beside soul food canteens and Japanese soba dens. Grocery stores carry Chinese snacks, Indian spices, and Mexican produce. It’s a colorful, sprawling culinary landscape. Credit: Cedric Angeles It’s my aunt, our family’s designated crawfish master, obsessing over the perfect amount of spice. It’s loud conversations, sticky hands, burning lips, and heaps of discarded shells. About Crawfish Crawfishare known as mudbugs for a reason....