The good news is that there are a number of methods for cleaning the messes left behind from Yuletide greenery. But there also are some common pitfalls to avoid, as well as oddball tricks that can help take the frustration out of this seasonal chore. Ahead, we’ve rounded up 12 tips that make cleaning sap and needles a cinch. How to Remove Sap 1. Use Oils to Remove Sap from Skin There are many ways to remove sap from just about any surface it gets on, but the critical thing to consider is what will be safe for the item in question....

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven The best way to cook bacon for a crowd is on a baking sheet in the oven; it’s effortless and hands-off (no flipping necessary!), and can yield a large amount of perfectly crispy bacon at once. You don’t have to use a rack on your baking sheet, but we recommend it in order to crisp up both sides of the bacon. How to Cook Bacon in the Air Fryer When the goal is crispy food, the air fryer tends to be a good bet, and bacon is no exception....

We love lentils in everything from soups and stews to salads, dips, and side dishes. Clearly, learning to cook dried lentils is a kitchen skill worth mastering. This guide covers how to cook lentils, how to prepare them, and a roundup of the different types available. Types of Lentils There are a variety of lentils on the market, each with its own flavor profile and texture. Often, how you cook them is based on the type you choose....

But having options creates confusion. How do the various cuts of pork (and styles of ribs) differ, and what’s the best way to prepare each? And if anyone is able to make sense of all those labels you’ll find on pork packaging, that’s news to me. To help us better understand pork, we consulted Michael Billings, head of procurement at ButcherBox (and a member of the National Pork Board) and Yankel Polak, head chef at ButcherBox....

How to Shop for Ribs When shopping for ribs, you first need to decide whether you’re opting for pork or beef. Pork ribs are smaller, and beef ribs are bigger, which translates to different cooking times. Beef ribs are also fattier than pork ribs, which yields an intense, beefy flavor when the fat renders. Since pork ribs have a lower fat content, the flavor is milder, so if you want to highlight a punchy marinade, it’s best to go with pork....

Well, don’t worry—whether you’re hosting guests for the holidays or just trying to perfect the art of Christmas tree decorating for your own holiday cheer—we have some tips to help guide the way. For advice on decorating a picture-perfect Christmas tree, we talked to Macy’s State Street designer, Kim Garner, who spearheads the Great Tree lighting at the Chicago store. While Garner’s prized tree is a grand 45-feet tall, adorned with more than 1,500 ornaments, and more than 6,600 sparkling lights, her tips can apply just as well to a humble living room tree....

My problem is, I tend to drink the way I shop and write: fast. Of the three, drinking fast is the only one that gives me trouble. Shopping fast gets you a good white shirt in under 20 minutes, but swigging drinks makes it harder to realize when your slight buzz is turning into an “Oops, I’ve overdone it.” I don’t abuse alcohol, but I have had vague thoughts about whether I should reframe my relationship with it....

If, like 6-year-old me, you or your kids are curious about how to clean coins, follow the simple steps below to get dull coins sparkling using a slightly acidic solution that will eat away at the brown oxidation on the coins. Bonus: A perfectly clean penny will be the ideal candidate for pressed penny souvenir machines. Should Coin Collectors Clean Their Coins? This article comes with a significant warning from coin collectors and appraisers worldwide....

Sometimes, a simple paint upgrade is all it takes to freshen up a space in your home and increase its value. “You could paint your front door, add new house numbers, buy a new doormat, and even replace your mailbox if yours is outdated,” says Tyler Forte, CEO of Felix Homes, an online home buying and selling platform. Of course, envisioning home renovations can be exciting, but you have to figure out how to fund them, too....

How to Freeze Herbs To start, make sure your herbs are clean. Give herbs a good wash under cool water, then pat them dry. Spread clean, dry herbs (leaves and stems) in a single layer on a cooking tray ($13, Walmart), and put the pan in the freezer for about one hour, or until frozen. (This is known as flash freezing and works well on other fruits and veggies, too.) Put the frozen herbs into labeled, sealed containers....

To make matters worse, pimples share some similarities with cold sores (especially in terms of appearance), which could easily elicit confusion in someone who’s suffering a breakout. The good news? Pimples and cold sores actually have very little in common, making them pretty easy to distinguish from one another once you know exactly what to look for. And although battling blemishes around your mouth might seem like an uphill battle, there are methods you can take to tackle the nasty buggers along your lip line....

“These effects can last for as little as a few minutes or stretch on for a few hours,” says Marina Peredo, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Fortunately, you can expedite the process of getting rid of those swollen, puffy crying eyes. For Immediate Relief To get rid of puffy skin, run your fingers under icy-cold water (or rest them on top of a few ice cubes)....

So if you’re already in the beginning stages of learning how to monetize your Instagram account, or are just plain interested in doing so, here are some steps you can take to build your platform, establish your brand, and grow your following so you can make money on Instagram as an influencer. All you need to start is WiFi. Building Your Brand Before you even begin to think about monetizing your social media platform, ask yourself: Why do I want to break into the influencer marketing industry?...

Lopez took a classic nail trend—the French manicure—and added her own modification for a fresh, yet timeless look being dubbed “milky nails.” The final look, done by her longtime nail stylist Tom Bachik, was a soft, almond-shaped nail painted with an opaque, milky-white finish. So, what are milky nails? To be honest, it’s not too far from the glazed donut nails that are also trending on TikTok. “The milky nails look falls in between an opaque and a sheer white hue, with a creamy, translucent finish,” says Rachel Apfel Glass, founder of GLOSSLAB....

No matter the method, it’s important that the ground circuit provides an unbroken path to the earth. Ground wires must be firmly connected at all points. And if conduit or sheathing is used as a ground path, connections must be tight. If you’re not sure if your outlets are grounded, a receptacle analyzer will tell you. We’ll show you how to install grounding in outlets, fixtures, and switches. These tips will help you properly ground electrical wires to help keep your home safe....

Ricotta gnocchi aren’t new, but this old-school version has gained recent popularity, partly because they’re easy. Boiling, peeling, and handling hot potatoes is the hardest part of making gnocchi; but with ricotta, you start with something cool, flavorful, and easy to handle. With just ricotta, flour, and 20 minutes; you can make the perfect ricotta gnocchi—so long as you follow these six simple steps. RELATED: Gluten Is Seriously Misunderstood—Here’s Why...

To personalize your spuds, see the add-ins and seasoning ideas for your fried potato recipes below. Before getting started with any fried potatoes recipe, wash the potatoes with cool tap water and scrub them with a produce brush ($8, Target). How to Pan-Fry Potatoes Using Raw Potatoes Any kind of potato will work using this method for cooking fried potatoes. If you use potatoes with thicker skin, such as russets, you may want to peel them first....

Whether you’re cooking boxed noodles or rolling pasta from scratch, use these seven tips for a better lasagna. And if you’re in search of some delicious recipe inspiration, check out our 10 easy lasagna recipes here. Treat Your Pasta Right Are you using boxed pasta or fresh pasta? If boxed, you have two roads: the no-boil noodle and the more traditional boiled noodles. No-boil will save you some time, but boiled noodles lead to a better result....

Our Test Kitchen’s top tips on how to make scrambled eggs are simple: Use medium heat, have a little patience, and utilize the lift and fold technique. Stick to those pointers and cook light, fluffy scrambled eggs every time. So grab a skillet and the five basic ingredients, and get cracking! How to Cook Scrambled Eggs on the Stove The five basic ingredients are ones you likely already have on hand: eggs, milk, butter, salt, and black pepper....

One particular video—#tortillawrap—went viral for an excellent reason. It’s genius! The tortilla is cleverly separated into four quadrants, each containing its own ingredient. These range from traditional additions like shredded cheese, guacamole, and black beans to scrambled eggs, ramen noodles, hamburger patties, and sweet renditions with Nutella (because, TikTok). The idea is simple: Instead of layering all your ingredients in one big pile atop a tortilla, put each one in its own quadrant....