If you grew up in a Southern household, chances are you know some passed-down culinary secrets. Test Kitchen Pro @ivyodom is setting the record straight on a few of the cooking mistakes a Southerner would never make, and we’re sharing our full list (there’s 23, y’all!) at the link in our profile.
Remember when everyone told us to put away our so-called clutter, that minimalism was in and here to stay? It was around the time that every wall became ship-lapped and interiors were a sea of beiges, whites, and greiges. For those with the foresight to stick through the décor drought, knowing the tides would soon turn back to the knick-knacked, layered, and perfectly composed design that Southerners are famous for, well, your time has come. While everyone is jumping aboard the trend that has many names (maximalism and grandmillenial among them), down South we’re still sitting pretty in our surroundings that we continued to add to while the rest of the country was paring down. Call it trendy if you must, but for us it’s just who we are. Join us at the link in our profile to learn about the 2023 interior design trend that Southerners have long perfected, and why the rest of the country is jumping on board. 📷: @laureywglenn ; 📝: @patriciashannon ; styling: @lizstrongstyle ; design: @heatherchadduck ; architecture: @historicalconcepts ; builder: @myriversidehome_custom ; paint colors: @sherwinwilliams Classic Light Buff (SW 0050) on the walls and trim and Pure White (SW 7005) on the ceiling
There’s more than a little magic in Hope Floats. The romantic comedy is the perfect combination of heartbreaking and heartwarming with enough romance to make it fun. Much of that electric butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling is due to the incredible chemistry between the film’s two leads, Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick Jr. Personally, we can’t imagine anyone but Connick in the role of Justin, and at the link in our profile, we’re sharing the real story of how he ended up starring opposite Bullock in the film. 💐 📷: 20th Century Fox Film Corp./The Everett Collection
Southerners are unapologetic about their fondness for Hashbrown Casserole. Let's face it, no other dish can transition so seamlessly from a country club breakfast buffet to a potluck church supper. At the link in our profile, we’re sharing our recipe for the timeless dish we’ll never quit. 📷: @caitbensel ; food styling: @tcizzle
Ranch Water is one of our favorite Southern cocktails, and Test Kitchen pro @ivyodom gave the classic refresher a fruity, tangy update just in time for February gatherings like Super Bowl watch parties and Galentine's get-togethers. Visit the link in our profile to save our all-new Pomegranate Ranch Water Recipe! 📷: @antonisachilleos ; food styling: Ruth Blackburn; prop styling: @cmariekeely
“From the 1940s to the 1960s, restaurants in the South became high-profile focal points for the Civil Rights Movement because activists understood the powerful effect that desegregating White-owned eateries would have on the public's imagination,” writes author Adrian Miller, also known as the @soulfoodscholar . “After all, restaurants are places where people from different walks of life gather for nourishment, social interaction, and an opportunity to belong to a community. These things go to the heart of what it means to be American.” "African American eateries throughout the South gave life to the Civil Rights Movement in ways both seen and unseen. Black culinary entrepreneurs realized the beauty of a simple truth: People power movements, and food powers people. During the Jim Crow era, Black restaurants were part heaven and part haven—places where African Americans could get a taste of the good life as well as the basic rights denied them at White establishments. Black-owned restaurants exemplified what it meant to be a community resource by feeding civil rights workers (often for free), offering a safe space for organizers and strategists to meet, and providing additional support.” At the link in our profile, Miller shares about five establishments that were pivotal in the South and can still be visited today. 📷: Courtesy The Historic New Orleans Collection/Christopher Porché West; 📍: @dookychaserestaurant
We love the Gilliam House Plan (SL-1936), and you will, too. Designed by Beaufort, South Carolina-based @allisonramseyarchitects , this house is the perfect blend of farmhouse and lowcountry cottage, with a layout that says “forever home.” Visit the link in our profile for all the details on this house plan that's full of charm. #SLHomes
Before you fry up the chicken, there’s a better way to open that bottle of champagne. Follow @ivyodom ’s go-to method and visit the link in our profile to shop her classic ice bucket. ✨ #champagne #wine101 #bubbles #cork #southernliving
How did it happen this time? Did your child mention, on his way out the door, that it's your turn to bring goodies to the class party this afternoon? Or is it late at night, and you suddenly remember the office potluck is tomorrow? You may not have time to make cupcakes or a layer cake from scratch, but you can still whip up a delicious plate of almost homemade chocolate brownies. Growing up, our moms relied on boxed mix cakes for a reason—they are budget-friendly, quick, easy to make, and if you choose a good brand, mighty tasty. So, don't panic. Grab that boxed brownie mix (that you bought for an occasion like this) and visit the link in our profile for a few suggestions on making a boxed brownie mix taste homemade. 📷: @antonisachilleos ; food styling: @alibramee ; prop styling: Christine Kelly
We couldn't imagine a better place to spend a Tuesday morning. ✨ Join us at the link in our profile for a peek inside this dreamy Florida cottage. 📷: @hectormsanchezphoto ; design: @cbrandoningram ; ceiling paint color: @sherwinwilliams ' Waterscape; floor paint color: @sherwinwilliams ' Samovar Silver
When the Hummingbird Cake was first submitted to Southern Living in 1978 by Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina, we had no idea it would become our most popular Southern cake recipe ever. Without a doubt, the cake is a beauty with its moist layers topped with cream cheese frosting and pecans; but it's the taste that really keeps us coming back. Join us at the link in our profile to check this treasure off your baking bucket list. ✨ 📷: @fredhardyphoto , food styling: @emilynaborshall , prop styling: @christinabrockman_
Sometimes a new plant doesn't require a trip to the garden shop, but a quick visit to a friend's yard or even your own. Growing plants from clippings is a super simple way to make the most, quite literally, of what you have. (Or, what your generous neighbor has.) For species that are not cold-hardy, this can be a great way to ensure you have a plant to enjoy next year, regardless of what happens this winter. It's also an excellent way to keep your kitchen stocked on herbs or boost your houseplant game. At the link in our profile, we'll walk you through the propogating process and share some of our favorite plants to pass along. ✨ 📷: @robbiecaponetto ; styling: @kathleen_varner ; 📝: @katherine_owen ; wallpaper: Peterazzi in Pale Indigo by @peterdunhamtextiles