Better Homes and Gardens March 2022

did we invent the TOSSED SALAD? “Crisp, crinkly, and delectably cool—there’s something about a salad bowl tossed at the table or borne in all glistening from the kitchen that’s turned even salad-hating husbands into lusty rooters for green toss-ups,” wrote cookbook author Meta Given in her July 1938 article for BH&G titled “Toss That Salad.” Now in our 100th anniversary year, we editors still enjoy the timeless simplicity of an easy salad. But did Better Homes & Gardens invent it, as we’ve often bragged? That’s hard to prove, but we did repeatedly promote the idea of tossing greens in a maple bowl with wooden salad tongs. We pride ourselves on being trend leaders. We introduced the chef’s salad in 1949, promising that the addition of hearty proteins would please the men in…

Start Crafting Ready to pick up a new crafting hobby but not sure where to begin? We break down the costs and supplies you’ll need to take up knitting, embroidering, quilting, and more. BHG.com/CraftCost [FOLLOW US] TikTok We’re kicking off our centennial with throwback gardening hacks, DIY videos, and more on TikTok. Click here to follow BH&G on TikTok. Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day Snack and play your way through the most Irish day of the year with our holiday-themed ideas. Embark on a scavenger hunt, craft Irish-inspired decor, or try our recipe for mint shamrock shakes. BHG.com/StPats PHOTOS: (CRAFT CLOSET) KIM CORNELISON, (MILKSHAKES) CARSON DOWNING…

LUCKY CHARMS On waxed paper, roll air-dry clay to ⅜" thick; cut shapes with a craft knife. Arrange small plants on cutouts and lightly press them into the clay. Remove plants and insert a skewer about ½" into bottom of each shape. Let dry overnight, flip, and dry again. For color, dab on a 2:1 mix of craft paint and Mod Podge. Once totally dry, seal with finish spray and reinforce picks with superglue. Click here for more St. Patrick’s Day crafts. BY: ELLA FIELD; PHOTOS: CARSON DOWNING; CRAFTS BY: KIM HUTCHISON; PRODUCED BY: SCOTT J. JOHNSON…

[HISTORY LESSON] 1957 BH&G first featured the newfangled idea of a kitchen island in a 1944 home story called “Tomorrow, You Can Live Like This.” By 1957, we’d worked out a few kinks and presented the ideal version, above. Meet “the ‘living’ kitchen: Where friends gather for a snack and teen-agers entertain a crowd for burger parties at the new ‘island.’” Our 2022 review? 10/10, no notes. 1 LAYOUT The overall concept: “Parked in the center of the room, the island separates work areas so an army of kibitzers could lend a hand without getting in each other’s way.” 2 SPECS The “eat bar” is low—30" (table height)—for comfortable dining. It’s plenty deep, too (at least 15"), so it can become a buffet and accommodate serving dishes. 3 SURFACES The cooktop is surrounded by stainless…

Soil to Studio After 13 years working in finance, Swati Bansal returned to her roots—she grew up surrounded by block printers and weavers in the cultural hub of Udaipur, India—launching Soil to Studio, her own textile atelier. Based in Brooklyn, Bansal paints intricate designs referencing classical Indian motifs that are then handcrafted into pillow covers, table linens, curtains, and throws by artisans in India whose skills span generations. “I want to create a sustainable livelihood for families, so their kids can believe in their family’s craft and continue to carry forward the tradition,” she says. ● soiltostudio.com Ixöq On a visit to Guatemala, Katie Leary Sebastian and Becky Smith saw shoppers carrying baskets that were handwoven from recycled plastic—sturdier and more stylish than the typical tote. This local staple inspired the Takoma Park,…

Scent events can be sudden—think a spritz of perfume or, for our purposes here, the discovery of last week’s unemptied lunch box. But malodors—sour and pungent smells—are often indicative of a more serious home hygiene issue like unwanted moisture or germs. These offensive odors tend to develop over time, such as when the scent molecules from our bodies or pets get trapped around the house. When scents build up gradually, it’s easy not to notice them. “Our brains are trained to notice new scents,” says Emily Calandrelli, a science expert and host of Emily’s Wonder Lab on Netflix. “When there’s a lingering scent—even a bad one—your nose treats that as white noise; you don’t notice it anymore.” Here’s how to destink common problem areas right under your nose. AIR IN, AIR…