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Preparation No matter your home’s size, model, or age, certain pests always manage to find their way in. As for mice? These rodents can be one of the more difficult types to spot, says Kari Warberg Block, a pest prevention expert and the founder and CEO of EarthKind. But have no fear—there are still ways to make sure mice can be detected and removed from your house. Warberg Block shares what to do if you see mice in your home—and how to prevent them from entering in the future....

Preparation The next time you’re busy prepping a pumpkin for carving or cooking, make sure you don’t toss those seeds! Roasted pumpkin seeds are an addictive, crunchy, and healthy snack that make sticking your hand inside a pumpkin well worth the hassle. Pumpkin seeds are not only delicious, they’re healthy, too. A good source of magnesium, which is important for bone formation, they also contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber, which have benefits for the heart and liver....

Preparation Serving cocktails at a baby shower—where, in most cases, a pregnant guest of honor chooses not to drink—may feel awkward at first, but offering a variety of boozy beverages is perfectly appropriate, say our experts. “Is it okay to serve alcohol at a shower? Yes!” says etiquette author Myka Meier, who runs an online finishing course through Beaumont Etiquette. “Just because the parent-to-be may not be drinking does not mean their guests aren’t!...

Preparation With warm weather comes a bunch of exciting things—think backyard barbecues, beach days, and picnics in the park. However, there’s one aspect of the season no one enjoys: mosquitoes. The bloodsuckers pop up during summer and leave itchy bumps on the skin of their victims. Coined “the world’s deadliest animal” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mosquitoes are responsible for spreading a variety of diseases, including malaria and yellow fever....

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A well-seasoned cast-iron pan will last for a long time, even through generations. When it comes to durable cookware, cast iron stands above all with its convenient upkeep and durable build. It’s dependable for stovetop and oven cooking and has been used by professional cooks for centuries. The best thing about cast iron cookware is, you can easily season it to prevent rusting. Seasoning Cast Iron with Olive Oil Seasoning a cast iron pan helps to extend its lifespan and to avoid damage and rust....

Preparation Whether you want to make an evenly blended smoothie or make a toasted flatbread, KitchenAid will help you get the job done. And right now, you can shop some of their most popular products for up to 25 percent off at Crate & Barrel. Scoop up the KitchenAid Matte Black Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine ($359.99, originally $399.95, crateandbarrel.com) to make a delicious cup of coffee at home each day. When it comes to making treats, like pies and cakes, the dry and wet ingredients will need to mixed well before popping them in the oven to bake....

Preparation If you’re looking to upgrade your cookware essentials, you’ll want to put Williams Sonoma’s Presidents’ Day Sale on your radar. As part of the event, shoppers can take up to 50 percent off top pieces of cookware from brands such as Le Creuset, Staub, and All-Clad. The Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Deep Skillet (from $152, originally from $190, williams-sonoma.com) is a classic piece every kitchen should have. It has deep sides that allow you to cook without worry of spills, and it can go from the stovetop to the oven to complete any recipe....

6 cups green tea, or strong black 1 cup granulated sugar 1 can frozen lemonade concentrate 4 cans juice 2 ½ cups pineapple Juice Mix the sugar in the tea while still warm, and add the other ingredients. Serve over ice or you can freeze the mixture and serve as a slush. Sugar: 113g : Calcium: 27mg Calories: 490kcal Carbohydrates: 125g Fat: 1g Fiber: 1g Iron: 1mg Potassium: 402mg Protein: 1g...

1 cup tomatoes, peeled, diced ⅓ cup fresh parsley ¼ cup yellow bell pepper, chopped 2 tbsp Greek olives, pitted 2 tbsp fresh lime juice 1½ tbsp capers, drained 1½ tbsp olive oil 1½ tsp fresh basil, chopped 1 tsp balsamic vinegar dash cayenne pepper dash black pepper Mix ingredients. Put in refrigerator and cover for 1 hour to enhance flavor. Sugar: 1g : Calcium: 5mg Calories: 34kcal Carbohydrates: 2g...

Preparation Everyone needs a vacation from time to time—it’s an ideal way to unwind and de-stress from everyday life. However, if you’re a pet owner, you know how hard it can be to say goodbye to your furry friend for days, or even weeks, at a time. But who says you have to? The days of worrying about your four-legged pals while you’re away are over, thanks to All About Cats’ new list of the best destinations in the United States to vacation with your pets....

Preparation Have you noticed more and more bottles of mezcal and tequila on the shelves of your local liquor store lately? It’s not your imagination—Mexico’s home-grown darlings have risen to the top of home bar shopping lists. Sales of both are growing rapidly—in fact, together they were the second fastest-growing spirit category in 2021, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. And yet many people still wonder: What exactly are mezcal and tequila, and what’s the difference between them?...

Preparation Shopping for an array of fruits, vegetables, meats, and more will help you craft delicious meals for the week ahead. Before you get to cooking, however, it’s important to identify where to best store these ingredients when you bring them back from the grocery store—especially if you won’t be using them immediately. Luckily, deciding which items you can safely freeze is easy: “This refrigerator and freezer storage chart, provided by the Food and Drug Administration, includes safe storage times for many widely used foods,” says Tamika Sims, PhD, senior director of food technology communications at the International Food Information Council (IFIC)....

Preparation If you’re feeling nervous about the first dance at your wedding, know that you are far from alone—this is one wedding moment that so many couples feel anxious about. “Especially if you’re not used to performing or being in front of a crowd, it can be nerve-wracking!” notes Shimkiri Sawian-Figar, owner of Jersey City Ballroom, in Jersey City, New Jersey. “That’s why some sort of dance lessons can be helpful—to give brides- and grooms-to-be a chance to perform in front of others and gain some experience with being the center of attention....

18 oz cheese tortellini, refrigerated 3 tbsp butter 1 tbsp garlic, minced 3 tbsp flour 3 cups milk, or heavy cream salt and black pepper, to taste 1½ cups pasta water, reserved ½ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for optional topping parsley, freshly chopped, for topping Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add tortellini. Boil for 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove from the pot or strain and reserve the pasta liquid for later....

Eggplant parmesan is a thing of beauty. Layers of eggplant, marinara sauce, and cheese, baked to perfection — I’ll give you a second to let all that decadence sink in. If you’ve never tried this Italian classic before, you might think — no meat? How can that be any good? The key is in the eggplant. Thanks to its earthy flavor and creamy texture, you won’t miss the meat at all!...

Stop the search, all the best options are right here! From creamy dips to fresh salads to warm pita, I’ve gathered up the best flavor combinations. Before we get into the tasty finds, let’s talk falafel for a second. Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern food made with chickpeas or fava beans. They’re the perfect base for a whole smorgasbord of food pairings. The crunchy dense texture coupled with the bold herbs and spices makes them a favorite for meat eaters and vegans alike....

Whether you put a dab on your steak or spread some over a warm biscuit, I know you’ll fall in love fast! Compound, or just flavored butter, is as easy to make as blending good quality butter with something flavorful. For example, I’ve been on a bit of a “chicken butter” kick these days. You take crispy, flavor-packed chicken skin and blitz it with salted butter for something truly irresistible!...

Dates are an intensely sweet fruit with a chewy, jam-like texture. Think of them as big, caramel-flavored prunes. Despite their decadent flavor, dates are surprisingly healthy. Sure, they’re highly sugary, but they’re also packed with fiber, antioxidants, and nutrients. They’re delicious on their own, but they also make a great natural sweetener for smoothies. They’re fantastic for folks on Paleo! So for today’s roundup, I’m featuring 10 date smoothie recipes that show how great the fruit is at replacing sugar....