A good rhizome will be about as thick as your thumb, have healthy roots, and have one or two leaf fans. Large, old rhizomes that have no leaf fans can be tossed out.

How to Calculate the Right Measurements for Hanging Curtains Before you start hanging curtains, make sure the panels are wide enough to cover your home’s windows. You don’t want to be rudely awakened by a beam of sunlight that the curtains don’t block, so measure your window dimensions before purchasing or making your curtains. The total width of your curtain panels should add up to about two times the window’s width....

Some whirlpool tubs or spas have a finished side or two, so framing and finishing the side panel are not required. Rectangular models install much like a standard tub, except that a GFCI electrical receptacle is required. Triangular whirlpools fit into a corner. If the whirlpool has an integral spout, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for running supply lines to the unit. Large whirlpools are heavy when filled with water, so you may need to strengthen the floor by adding joists....

While spending more time in our kitchens than ever, the folks at Ninja hired Gillean Barkyoumb, RDN, as its first-ever smoothie bowl sommelier. (Yes, you read that right.) What does a smoothie sommelier do, exactly? She says her job is all about creating “inventive, indulgent, and drool-worthy smoothie bowl recipes” and providing “fellow smoothie bowl enthusiasts the confidence they need to perfect their smoothie bowls.” Sounds like my kind of job!...

Editor’s Tip: Always spray paint in a well-ventilated area, like an open garage, or outside. If you must work indoors, open a window for better airflow.

How to Make a Fabric Knot Bag Once you’ve created your pattern and cut your fabrics, this handmade fabric pouch comes together in a snap! Supplies Needed Paper (to create the template)PencilScissorsQuilter’s pins½ yard print A (bag)¾ yard print B (lining)18 x 44-inch thin quilt batting or crafts fleeceSewing machineThreadIronIroning board Finished Reusable Bag Tips To make a template of our Japanese knot bag pattern, trace it onto a large sheet of paper and cut it out....

Learning how to make French toast is almost as easy as making regular toast. Whisk together a four-ingredient egg batter for a super simple French toast that cooks to a luscious golden brown in minutes. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can move on to learning how to make stuffed French toast and kid-friendly French toast sticks for even more impressive breakfasts. We’ll take you through the four-step process for basic French toast, plus a few fun variations like cinnamon French toast and French toast without eggs (yes, vegan French toast does exist!...

Before we dive into how to make grits at home, it’s helpful to keep in mind that when cooking grits, they have a very mild corn flavor and taste best with a little salt. They are often served with milk or cream (or butter, of course, because everything’s better with it!). If you’re not a purist, stove-top, quick-cooking grits, and slow cooker grits can be customized with a variety of flavor-boosters including:...

Use the ornaments as fun gift toppers for holiday or birthday gifts, string them into a fun garland, or simply hang the ornaments from a Christmas or Easter tree. This at-home craft is easy enough for the whole family to make! How to Make Salt Dough Ornaments Supplies Needed FlourSaltWaterRolling pinCookie cuttersBamboo skewerCookie sheetAcrylic paintString or ribbon Step-by-Step Directions Follow these easy how-to instructions to make your own salt dough ornaments at home....

Read on for your complete guide to the best Thanksgiving air fryer recipes to pair with your turkey. But first, we’re dishing up a few general tips about how to utilize your air fryer to make holiday hosting no sweat. 4 Air Fryer Thanksgiving Strategies to Save Time and Coveted Oven Space Its small size means the heat can circulate around the food at a more rapid clip, which often translates to a slightly shorter cook time than in a regular-sized oven....

Test Kitchen Tip: Our original recipe calls for mozzarella, but any of your favorite cheese styles could certainly be substituted for—or added alongside—the mozz.

Buy It: Williams Sonoma Tart Pan with Removable Bottom ($25, Williams Sonoma) Buy It: Wilton 9x5-Inch Nonstick Loaf Pan ($9, Target)

High-protein: Made from hard wheat varieties, flours in this category have between 12% and 14% protein.Lower-protein: Made from soft wheat varieties, these types of flour have between 5% and 8% protein.Gluten-free: Made from grains that contain zero wheat proteins, these types contain rising agents from other ingredients in the recipe or flour blend. More protein creates more gluten, which in turn, yields a stronger, more voluminous, and chewier result. More isn’t always better though—yes, even if you’re not gluten-intolerant....

When faced with a big job like holiday dish cleanup, applying a strategy and breaking it down into distinct tasks will make it less overwhelming. 12 Tips for Holiday Dish-Washing In addition to the sheer volume of pots, pans, serving pieces, utensils, and glassware used to prepare and serve holiday meals, there are delicate and specialty pieces that require careful handling. And pans used to cook and reheat dishes often result in stubborn stuck-on messes....

Test Kitchen Tip: Trade supermarket rotisserie chicken for grilled chicken, if you like, to beat the heat in your kitchen. Test Kitchen Tip: Pour cava, Champagne, or sparkling wine if you prefer those to Prosecco.

Almond Milk After soy milk, almond milk quickly rose to the top of popular nondairy milks. (Though we did recently find that production of this nut milk could be harmful to our honey bees.) You can buy almond milk at the store, but you can also make your own by soaking almonds in water, then blending them into milk with more water. High in vitamins and low in calories (but also low in protein), it tastes nutty, a little sweet, and creamy, so it’s tasty from the glass or over cereal....

Growing Conditions: Full sun in moist, well-drained soil Size: To 4 feet tall Zones: 5-9 Buy It: Midnight Bluebeard ($19, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun in moist, well-drained soil Size: To 10 feet tall or more Zones: 5-9 Buy It: ‘Miss Molly’ Butterfly Bush ($30, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil Size: To 8 feet tall Zones: 5-9 Buy It: Carolina Allspice Plants ($12, Etsy) Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil Size: To 10 feet tall and wide Zones: 4-8 Buy It: ‘Limelight’ Hardy Hydrangea ($33, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun in well-drained soil with regular moisture Size: To 10 feet tall, depending on species Zones: 10-11 Buy It: Pink Oleander ($37, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun in dry to moist soil Size: To 3 feet tall Zones: 3-7 Buy It: Gold Drop Potentilla Shrub ($30, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Part shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil Size: To 5 feet tall Zones: 5-9 Buy It: ‘Endless Summer’ Hydrangea ($24, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun in well-drained soil on the dry side Size: To 5 feet tall Zones: 8-10 Buy It: Rock Rose ($10, Etsy) Test Garden Tip: When shopping for rose of Sharon, look for sterile varieties, such as ‘Minerva,’ that won’t fill your garden with a ton of weedy seedlings....