Polish your best serving platter and grab your favorite pita chips, crackers, and other dippers, because you’ll want to start savoring these cheese balls immediately. How to Make Apple-Shape Cheese Balls Presentation is important, but it’s really all about the cheese. Before you start decorating your fall cheese balls, make sure you have a delicious cheese ball recipe to use as a base. We love these bacon cheddar cheese balls (you can never go wrong with bacon), but there are dozens of options to choose from....

If you’re looking for the best options for how to marinate chicken, our Test Kitchen pros swear by these two options: A dry marinadeA wet marinade This guide for how to marinate chicken explains when to choose one or the other, how to make both, plus we’re sharing some essential food safety tips that will help keep you and your family safe. (First things first, if you’re washing your raw chicken, please stop!...

Fly Frugally The more flexible your dates and destination, the better the deals you can score. To stay updated on the latest bargains, sign up for alerts on the website Scott’s Cheap Flights, which sources domestic and international routes from your nearest airport, claiming an average savings of 60 percent. (For access to even more deals, upgrade to the $49 annual premium membership.) When that nonstop flight to Paris lands in your inbox for just $300—run, don’t walk....

“Every mom is different,” says Kristen Chase, publisher of Cool Mom Picks. “She may want a day with the baby or without the baby.” So, think about what the new mom in your life would appreciate most, and try to plan a gift or activity around that. If you need some inspiration, take a look at some foolproof Mother’s Day ideas below. Chase recommends putting the baby’s handprint or footprint on the card, since it is, technically, from them....

Snapdragons are one of the few flowers that come in almost every color. As a result, they make a great addition to any garden, even in the winter in regions where it doesn’t freeze. Where to Plant Snapdragons Plant snapdragons in well-draining soil in full sun for the best blooms. Although they can tolerate partial shade, the amount of blooms is reduced. They can also be grown in containers and moved outdoors in the spring....

Large eggs—opt for free-range, if you can—work best for this technique, but depending on your microwave strength and egg preparation preference, any size can work. How to Poach an Egg in the Microwave: As you’ll see, microwave poached eggs yield a slightly runny yolk. If you prefer your yolk to be more solid and cooked, just leave the egg in the warm water for a few extra seconds so it can firm up....

Turning your house upside down and addressing home remodeling costs is stressful enough, but doing so while bickering over every last detail with your partner? Now that’s a headache. Maybe that’s why a study from Houzz found that 12 percent of couples considered separation or divorce mid-remodel. Sure, certain DIY projects are known for causing arguments, but that statistic is still pretty surprising; we’ll be the first to admit life offers far more challenging hurdles than selecting a backsplash or conquering that enormous kitchen remodel cost....

Additionally, make sure to check hours, regulations, and closures, as many parks have made special accommodations to their typical rules to ensure the safety of their visitors. While at the park, you will also want to avoid high-traffic spots, busy peak hours, and public use areas like barbecues, restrooms or picnic tables to reduce contact with any possibly contaminated surfaces. Lastly, if you do not feel fully comfortable with heading to a public outdoor space, you can always transform your backyard into the picnic outing of your dreams!...

According to the American Kennel Club, the average annual cost of dog ownership ranges widely—from $14,480 to $93,520. That price tag includes food, treats, dog toys, beds, leashes, and routine veterinary care, among other things. Cats, meanwhile, cost about $634 annually, or about $53 per month, according to the ASPCA. Much like with dogs, this estimate considers the cost associated with cat food, medical expenses, treats, toys, and more. The reality, however, is that the expense associated with pet ownership can vary widely; for the savviest owners, there’s a long list of money-saving hacks to use throughout the year....

Indeed, fall is fleeting enough as it is, and we’d rather not waste a single piece of that precious fruit that you just hauled back from your apple picking adventure. You have far too many apple pies, crumbles, cider cocktails, and other apple recipes to tackle. The secret? Your refrigerator’s crisper drawer. Remember that step one in wasting less fruit is avoiding storing certain types of produce too closely together....

How to Store Whole Beets To properly store whole beets, begin by chopping off all but a stub of the beets’ greens, keeping the bulb intact. Discard the extra beet greens, or save them to sauté in garlic and olive oil for a simple side dish. It’s best to keep the skin on, which protects the interior and keeps the beet fresh for longer. Avoid washing the beets, no matter how ruddy they are, as the moisture will cause them to rot more quickly....

How to Store a Whole Onion Whole onions don’t need to go in the refrigerator—in fact, it’s actually not a good place to store them. The fridge is a cold and humid environment, which can cause onions to soften and spoil. The best place to keep whole onions is somewhere dark, cool, dry, and well-ventilated. A perforated basket or bin in a kitchen cupboard checks all the boxes and would be an ideal location in which to store onions....

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How to Tell if Pecan Pie Is Done Jiggle vs. Wobble There’s an easy art to learning how to tell if pecan pie is done: It’s simply the difference between a little jiggle and a full-on wobble. When you check your pie for doneness, gently and carefully hold it by one edge, then give it a little shake back and forth. If the filling is flowing in a wavy movement from the center to the edge, your pie isn’t set quite yet....

How Long to Bake Pumpkin Pie We suggest 60 to 70 minutes as seen in our (delicious) recipe for maple pumpkin pie. To avoid a soggy crust or overdone pumpkin custard, blind baking is your friend, says Valerie Luck, founding partner and chief executive pie officer at Honeypie Cafe in Milwaukee, Wis. “I recommend baking pumpkin pies on a lower setting than most recipes call for and for a little longer—so 300 to 325 degrees for maybe an hour or more,” she says....

The best way to avoid a completely filthy bag is upkeep: Take wet gym clothes and any food garbage or leftover lunch out of the pack as soon as it gets home, and gently clean stains with mild dish soap as soon as you notice them. Wipe down the bag regularly, and keep it dry on the inside to avoid mold. Before you give it a thorough wash, check the care label, likely located in the main compartment....

When removing potential pesticide residue from blueberries, aim to prevent smashing and bruising in the process. Timing is also important. We tapped experts in New Jersey, a state that grows some of the most renowned blueberries in the country, for their best tips. Here’s everything you need to know. Why You Need to Wash Blueberries Unlike bananas or citrus fruit, blueberries don’t have a peel to protect them. They are fully exposed to the hazards of growing, harvesting, shipping, and storing....

How to Wear Ankle Boots With Jeans Wearing ankle boots with jeans is a great way to ease into the bootie trend if you’re just not sure what to pair them with. Whether you are dressing your jeans up or down, there are different types of ankle boots you can wear to stylishly assist in the process. Cropped jeans and ankle boots are a match made in heaven. Cuff the hems—instead of tucking them into the boots—for some major ankle action....

Hydrangeas are one such bloom that can wilt over time. Fortunately, it’s possible to extend the life of seasonal hydrangeas with a simple trick that will leave your flowers looks refreshed in a matter of minutes. Avoid Using a Fridge to Keep Blooms Cool In general, most cut hydrangeas prefer cool environments—but don’t be tempted to put flower arrangements in the fridge to keep cut stems cold. “This is one of the first things we advise against,” says Christina Stembel, the CEO and founder of Farmgirl Flowers....

For the longest time, I was an apartment-dweller, and aside from a glorious three-month period where my cat learned to use the toilet, I’ve always battled the litter box smell. These days, I’ve upgraded to a house with a laundry room dedicated to the litter box. I’d finally found a pellet litter good for neutralizing urine odors, and life was good. RELATED: The Cat Scratching Post That Saved My New Couch From Being Shredded But the addition of a second cat had me second guessing everything....