Wilson and Cullen’s Acre on Austin’s Greenbelt

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You know the feeling you get when you have a problem in your home — a stain, a crack, an annoyance or a mundane task of some kind — and realize, with relief and a bit of relish, that you have the means on hand to fix it immediately? That’s the feeling I get when I look at this list of kitchen items that pull double-duty around the house: I don’t have to buy anything new or special to fix this thing I’m dealing with, because I can just use this other thing that I always keep in my kitchen. Yes.

Here are the top 10 kitchen things we use to solve problems all over the house.

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As an author of slow-cooker cookbooks, I often get reader questions about ingredient substitutions. I’ll hear comments groaning that certain family members “don’t like beans” or other common ingredients in slow-cooker recipes — and that’s okay! My very favorite thing about slow cooking is how customizable the recipes can be to fit your food needs and preferences.

Here are five tips for adapting non-slow-cooker recipes, as well as sizing up any slow-cooker recipe and making the necessary changes to fit your preferences.

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How To Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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The grilled cheese sandwich is a classic. Perfectly melted and oozy cheese, sandwiched between two golden, crisp, buttery slices of bread — it’s simple, comforting, and utterly timeless. It’s one of the first things we learn to cook, and one we carry with us through the years.

But as basic as this sandwich is, there are a few hang-ups that could stand between you and the grilled cheese of your dreams. Don’t let it happen to you.

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With shorter days and crisper temperatures heading our way, having a warm, home-cooked dinner waiting for us when we walk in the door is such a comfort. With the help of a slow cooker, the prep and cooking don’t have to happen at the last minute, which frees you up to focus on other important tasks, like pouring that glass of wine!

From comforting soups to hearty braises, there’s plenty to choose from with these 15 recipes. Bonus: These recipes also make plenty of leftovers — perfect for lunch the next day!

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I Followed My Mom Around Costco and This Is What I Learned

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I’ve been a Costco shopper for over 20 years. I’m not sure if that makes me really old or simply infatuated with grocery shopping in bulk. Either way, I really loved Emma’s recent tour of Costco with her mom; I can totally relate! As a longtime Costco shopper, I know she’s right on the money with her recommendations of great products; I buy the same pasta, jam, and salad mixes. I also have some tried-and-true reasons for continuing to give Costco my business.

But can shopping at Costco (and other club stores) really save you money?

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Allow me to present the humble broccoli — beloved steamed side dish with lemon and butter, faithful team player to quick stir-fries, virtuous add-in to any number of cheesy pasta dishes. Broccoli is the vegetable we reach for when we need a little something extra to round out a meal. Here’s how to trim it down to bite-sized pieces, along with five ways to cook it up.

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I think we can agree that crispy, smoky bacon is one of life’s greatest pleasures. However, standing over a hot stove dodging sputtering bacon grease is not. Here is how we can have the best of both worlds: a hands-free, hassle-free method for cooking perfect bacon, all in the oven.

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How many times have you found yourself in desperate need of pancakes, but without the requisite buttermilk in the fridge? Or there’s the other scenario: You want to make a recipe, but you’re reluctant to buy an entire carton of buttermilk when you only need a half-cup. For either situation, I have a solution: It’s easy to make a very quick buttermilk substitute in less than 10 minutes.

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