How to Slice Flank Steak Whether you’re slicing flank steak before cooking to quickly stir-fry or have finished making a smoky grilled flank steak recipe, you’ll be cutting flank steak the same way. To cut across the grain look at the whole flank steak to determine which direction the muscle fibers are running, then line up your knife perpendicularly (you’ll be cutting through the fibers not parallel to them) to that and slice....
Alder, willow, cottonwood, apple, pear, peach, pecan, walnut, elm, and maples are most susceptible to fall webworms, but these pests are known to make their nests in more than 90 different species. And don’t be fooled by their name. Fall webworms often start spinning webs and eating foliage in June. These summer infestations are smaller than the extensive colonies that form in late summer and fall. So if you begin dealing with fall webworms in summer when you first notice them, you’ll avoid a more significant infestation in fall....
How to Make New Year’s Poppers We’ll show you how to create your own confetti poppers using upcycled toilet paper tubes. Customize your poppers with sequins, metallic confetti, or glitter for a little extra sparkle. What You Need Extra-fine crepe paper or tissue paperSequins (optional)Toilet paper tubesCracker snaps Ribbon Adhesive dots Scissors Step 1: Prep Materials If desired, make your own confetti by cutting some of your crepe paper into tiny squares....
What are figs? The common edible fig belongs to the genus Ficus, which includes hundreds of species throughout the world, with most originating in the tropics like popular fiddle leaf fig houseplants. Common figs, however, are native to the Mediterranean and Western Asia, where they have been grown for their sweet fruits for thousands of years. Coming from more temperate climates, deciduous common figs can grow much further north than their tropical cousins and thrive in USDA Zones 7-10....
So what do you do if your weed trimmer comes without string or you’ve run out of string during a job? How exactly do you restring it? Just follow these simple steps to get back to whipping your yard into shape. Step 1: Remove Existing Spool Whether you’re starting with a pre-strung spool or you’re going to restring your existing spool, you will first need to remove it from the motor housing....
Garden Pests That Eat Hostas Before you declare war on slugs, confirm they’re the ones making holes in your hosta leaves. Besides hail, cutworms could also be the culprits; their signature is chewing the soft parts of the leaves and avoiding the veins. Slugs will munch anywhere on the leaves, right through the veins. Deer and rabbits will eat hostas, too, but they don’t leave holes behind. Instead, you’ll likely see bare stems with maybe a ragged piece of leaf left behind....
The best part? We made it ourselves by starting with an inexpensive faux evergreen wreath! So take a look at the steps below to make your own DIY Christmas wreath. Or, for more inspiration, check out our ideas for personalizing evergreen Christmas wreaths. How to Make a Classic Evergreen Wreath What You Need Evergreen wreathMagnolia leavesScissorsFloral wireHot glueBerriesBells Step-by-Step Directions Bring timeless style to your outdoor Christmas decorations with this easy wreath idea....
Either a yellow or spice cake mix works for this homey loaf. The yellow yields a more vibrant color; the spice mix lends a deeper flavor. Related Video
Heather Goerzen, design editor at online interior design company Havenly says it’s all about balance. “The designer rule of thumb is that every space should have two to four additional sources of light beyond overhead can lights. We call it ambiance,” says Goerzen. “They add visual interest to a space, helping draw the eye upward.” To find the best floor lamps we researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind dimensions, material, switch styles, and maximum wattage....
Of course, the best gardening tools for you might be different than the best gardening tools for your neighbor. When you’re looking for gardening tools, consider how tall you are, how much you can lift, and what chores you do regularly. If you have limited mobility, you might want to choose one of the many ergonomic tools on the market. If you have trouble bending and kneeling, long-handled tools and a kneeling pad might be good to have on hand....
“Always read the reviews when shopping online. [An item may seem great], but reading the reviews and looking at pictures is so important,” said Lindsay Roberts Schey, creator of the gift recommendation website The Gift Insider. Quality is another vital aspect to consider, even more so when working with smaller budgets. To ensure you’ve picked out one of the best cheap Christmas gifts, you’ll want to research it beforehand. “Holiday shopping isn’t the time to test out a [brand or retailer] you’ve never used before,” Schey says....
“With laminate flooring, mops are suitable, but use caution,” explains Kathy Cohoon, operations manager at Two Maids & A Mop. “Wring the mophead out until it is slightly damp and be sure not to over saturate flooring [and cause damage].” What’s more, since some laminate floors can be scuffed easily, it’s important to choose a mop that’s soft enough to wipe up any spills without leaving any damage behind. To help find the best option for your needs, we researched a handful of options on the market, factoring in each pick’s weight, handle length, maintenance, and material....
We researched a variety of cleaning products and their ingredients to come up with this list of the best grout cleaners for floors, showers, mold problems, and more. We considered the type of cleaner, its recommended use, whether it’s a spray, paste, or liquid concentrate, and consulted Debbie Sardone, Founder of Cleaning for a Reason and owner of Speed Cleaning, for her expertise on shopping for the best grout cleaners....
To find the best hose reels, we put 26 picks to the test at our lab in Des Moines, Iowa. There, our testers used a pre-determined methodology to evaluate each pick based on six categories: setup, design, ease of use, portability, durability, and value. They were not aware of each pick’s price beforehand. We also consulted with Warren Eley, vice president of sales and marketing of Eley Hose Reels, to learn more about what consumers should look for when shopping for a hose reel....
Weight: 7.04 pounds | Suggested Use: Floors | Type of Pet Hair: All Weight: 3.7 pounds | Suggested Use: Floors, furniture | Type of Pet Hair: All Weight: 0.25 pounds | Suggested Use: Furniture, clothes | Type of Pet Hair: All Weight: 7.8 ounces | Suggested Use: Directly on your pet | Type of Pet Hair: All Weight: 4.7 ounces | Suggested Use: Directly on your pet | Type of Pet Hair: Dogs, cats, horses Weight: 5....
“Robotic cleaners are pricier but are also the easiest pool cleaners to use,” says Stewart Vernon, COO, and founder of America’s Swimming Pool Company (ASP). “They use software to determine how to clean your pool.” To find the best robotic pool cleaners, we put 19 of the best pool cleaners to the test. Over two weeks, our testers tried out their given styles in their pools right at home. Using a pre-determined methodology, they evaluated each model based on four categories: design, ease of use, effectiveness, and value....
The little yellow, orange, and white treat is an icon among holiday candies and has a legacy that goes back more than a century. Get the background on how candy corn came to be, discover fun candy corn facts, and learn all about how candy corn is made. Try our candy corn recipes and some sweet Halloween decorating ideas that feature the striped treat. Where Was Candy Corn Invented? According to oral tradition, George Renninger, a candymaker at the Wunderlee Candy Company in Philadelphia, invented the revolutionary tricolor candy in the 1880s....
Buy It: OXO Apple Corer ($12, Target) Buy It: Fox Run Leaf Cookie Cutters ($9, Walmart) Related Video
With paper, decoupage medium, and some hot glue, you can turn the plastic eggs into a gorgeous spring decor piece—and no one will know you made it with dollar store items. It’s an easy DIY that lets everyone know you’re excited about the arrival of the Easter bunny. Working an egg at a time, use a small paint brush to lightly coat one section of the outside with decoupage medium....
As the beauty and fashion director at Better Homes & Gardens, I met with brands, experts, and even a few celebrities from my bedroom office. I began feeling self-conscious about my background. From where I sat, my bed, dresser, and “beauty closet”—the console where I store many products to test—were all visible. I never got around to hanging art, and the unfinished backdrop didn’t reflect my job and interests or feel work appropriate....
