Better Homes and Gardens March 2021
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in this issue
editor’s letter
Hand-Me-Downs When we were planning this, our annual food issue, I asked our editors what was trending for our readers. Without missing a beat, food editor Jan Miller replied, “Grandmothers.” I got it immediately. During troubled times, the word evokes memories of warmth, comfort, and a longing for simplicity—especially when so many are missing spending quality time with elderly relatives during the pandemic. Not having my grandparents around very long as a child, I understand that longing. By my early teens, all four of them had passed. I mainly remember my paternal grandmother, Clarice, who lived with us for a while when I was around 6 or 7. I’ve written about her here before, about her famous dinner rolls and her cast-iron pan I still treasure. I carry strong memories of getting…
bhg.com what’s trending online
REIMAGINE YOUR YARD Outdoor spaces are more important than ever—as getaways, entertaining spots, and creative outlets. Our updated garden plans hub is full of the inspiration and tools you need to make your yard an oasis. BHG.com/GardenPlans SWEEPSTAKES Win $25,000 to design the kitchen of your dreams. Enter at BHG.com/25kWin for a chance to win. Details on page 111. Storage Solutions Check out 16 creative ways to maximize storage in your living room. Repurpose a bedroom dresser as an entertainment center, make your coffee table work harder, or DIY a stylish table skirt to hide the clutter. BHG.com/StorageFurniture SWEEPSTAKES RULES DAILY SWEEPSTAKES No purchase necessary to enter or win. Subject to Official Rules available online at BHG.com/25kSpring. The $25,000 Sweepstakes begins at 12:01 a.m. E.T. on 1/1/21 and ends at 11:59 p.m. E.T. on 6/30/21. Open to legal…
sweet luck
St. Patrick’s Day might not be a major holiday—call it a “small-iday,” if you will—but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth celebrating full tilt. If you can’t decide between a pint of stout and a sweet treat, consider these cupcakes: A cup of Guinness plays up the fudgy chocolate flavor, and a splash of Irish cream liqueur spikes the caramel buttercream. (For kiddos, swap in a caramel-flavor coffee creamer instead.) POT O’ GOLD GUINNESS CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES Recipe by Alissa McGeehan, the blogger behind Artfully Alissa. After baking, use the large end of a pastry tip or a melon baller to remove a plug of cake, and fill with festive sprinkles (a ready-made blend or your combo of green jimmies, nonpareils, and decorating sugars). Cover the hole with a bit of the removed cake,…
meal prep mastery
THE FULL PLATE by Ayesha Curry $30; readvoracious.com Like a lot of us, Ayesha Curry’s plate is indeed full. Three kids; four international restaurants; a new lifestyle magazine, Sweet July (published by our parent company, Meredith); and as she puts it in the introduction to her latest book, a desire “to nurture her family through food.” And that’s where she’s coming from in the subtitle’s promise: Flavor-Filled, Easy Recipes for Families with No Time and a Lot to Do. While people might reasonably argue about whether all the recipes are easy or quick in their family’s particular circumstances (the struggle is real and varied), what Curry delivers without fail is big-time flavor. Her recipes feature surprisingly simple ways to pump up and change up the flavor equation, making often familiar dishes taste new…
sunny side
“This is a great example of how you can use colors that are vibrant but don’t read as jarring.”ANN LOWENGART, DESIGNER 1 FOUNDATION White walls (Benjamin Moore Simply White) and wood floors flow from the kitchen into the breakfast nook. Thanks to the neutral backdrop, bold colors don’t overwhelm. 2 PRIMARY COLOR The pure primary yellow is the exact shade of her client’s favorite teapot. “It made her happy every time she saw it, so I took it as a sign,” Lowengart says. 3 BROAD STROKES Lowengart used solid yellow for the banquette cushions to define the area. Although bright, the upholstery created a stable base for accents. 4 DETAILS Splashes of yellow on the window woodwork, pendant light, and chairs pull the color around the room. Green (yellow’s neighbor on the color wheel) shows up in patterned…
design a cleaning routine
“With Everyone at Home All the Time (making Messes), I Need a More Efficient Cleaning Routine.” LESLIE, New Jersey Work basic cleaning tasks into the daily schedule, prioritize the big jobs, and get everyone on board. CONTROL THE MESS Reduce what gets dirty by leaving shoes at the door, limiting food to the kitchen and dining room, and assigning craft projects to one spot. SNEAK IT IN Spruce up as you go, making cleanup an extension of your usual activities. For example, squeegee the shower stall at the end of a shower. Wipe the faucet, sink, and countertop after you brush your teeth, and wash wastebaskets whenever you take out the trash. ENLIST THE TROOPS Everyone in the house can help, even young children. Make household chores as much a part of the daily family…
