Blog Posts by Country Living

Fire up that grill! For the ultimate no-fail hamburger that delivers delicious flavor in every bite, follow these tips and tricks from some of America's best chefs.

Plus, get more tips on building the perfect burger.

Classic Hamburger
For Michael Romano, the former executive chef of New York's Union Square Cafe and Shake Shack, it's all about the bun. His choice: a soft, compliant brioche. "I've never been a fan of putting burgers on English muffins...too stiff upper lip. To me, that's like putting starch in your sheets," Romano says.

If you don't want the bun to get soggy, he says, don't leave the meat on it too long before eating. Romano also includes yellow Cheddar for "bite and the iconic look it gets when it melts."




Michael Romano's Ingredients

• Brioche or other soft hamburger bun, brushed with butter and toasted
• Raw red onion
• Ketchup
• Fresh tomato
• Sharp yellow Cheddar
• Fresh ground chuck (80 percent lean, never frozen)

Need instructions, too? Brush up Read More »from 5 Perfect Memorial Day Burgers

Even though jetsetting of to an exotic locale may be appealing, sometimes it's just not possible. If you can't make it to a white sand beach or a secluded mountain retreat this year, follow our tips to have a "staycation" that you'll never forget.

If you can escape for a week or two, check out our favorite historic hotels, inn, and B&Bs.

Host A Wine And Cheese Tasting

Don't fret if you can't make it to Napa Valley this summer! Peruse the wine and cheese aisles of your local market for exciting regional finds. Make a complete tasting platter with four or five cheeses of varying firmness and pungency.

Create A Cozy Bed

Spend the day reading in the comfort of your own bed. With the right sheets, blankets, and pillows, you might never want to leave - and you might even forget that you're at home!

Follow our guide to make the most comfortable bed.

Relax In The Tub

Pick out your favorite bath salts and books, pull the curtains tight, and relax in a cool bath. Add Read More »from No Budget For A Summer Vacation? Stay Home (And Have A Blast)

School is out and fun is in! In between summer vacations and trips to the beach, get rid of summer boredom with our fun summer crafts that anyone can do. These easy crafts are a great way to beat the heat and discover a little summer creativity.

Plus: Make it a picnic with these delicious summer sandwiches.


1) Turn paper doilies into drink umbrellas.

Dress up your lemonade with blogger Olivia Kanaley's adorable accents. To re-create these, you'll need card stock, a glue stick, doilies, and wooden skewers - and of course, a pitcher of your favorite summer refreshment.

See the rest of the instructions here.



2) A piñata that will leave party guests abuzz.

Add some buzz to your party with crafter Kirsten Field's irresistible papier-mâché hive. Made for just $10, including bees, this honey-sweet project is sure to be a hit.

See complete instructions here.



To populate your hive with bees, hot-glue a one-inch black pom-pom to a two-inch yellow pom-pom.

Cut 2 two-inch-long pieces of

Read More »from 4 Kid-Friendly Summer Crafts

Timing is everything, according to Mark Di Vincenzo, who literally wrote the book on seasonal sales: Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon.

Check out more great deals- all under $50! Here's what he says you should shop for this month (besides ketchup) and beyond:

What to Buy in May

Replace your fridge. Since new appliances often debut in the summer, you'll spend hundreds less toward the end of spring, when stores clear their stockrooms of older models.

Bonus: Get inspired with our ultimate guide to kitchen decorating.

What to Buy in June

Build up the toolbox. During the weeks before Father's Day, hardware chains tend to offer promotions on drills, saws, and more to lure gift-shoppers. Get Dad started with these DIY ideas.

What to Buy in July

Swap out your sofa. As retailers make way for fall furniture, discontinued styles go for a fraction of their original costs. Want a real steal? Opt for a floor sample. Can't afford a new couch? See how our editors

Read More »from Secrets to Summer's Best Sales

Celebrate Mom with breakfast fit for a queen: egg-and-sausage casserole, garlic potatoes, just-baked scones- even mango mimosas.

Don't have a gift yet? Make one of these last-minute DIY presents.

Breakfast Casserole with Turkey Sausage, Mushrooms, and Tomatoes

By using egg whites and turkey sausage, plus low-fat milk and cheese, in this hearty breakfast casserole, you save 129 calories, 14 grams of fat, and 137 milligrams of cholesterol per serving.

Get the Recipe: Breakfast Casserole with Turkey Sausage, Mushrooms, and Tomatoes

Garlic Potatoes

Make a better brunch side dish: Slices of potato are roasted until crispy and golden, then topped with garlic and parsley infused butter and salty pecorino cheese.

Get the Recipe: Garlic Potatoes

Make brunch extra special with this one-of-kind table setting for Mother's Day.

Mango-Avocado Bruschetta

Here creamy avocado is quickly charred on the grill for another layer of texture and flavor. Combined

Read More »from Best-Ever Mother’s Day Brunch

Cookbook author Virginia Willis takes delicious liberties with her family's old favorites, serving ham flavored with lavender, simple roasted sweet potatoes, and citrus-spiked strawberry shortcake. (The biscuits, however, are completely classic.)

Plus: Move over Peeps! Celebrate Easter with these recipes and decorating ideas for festive bunny cakes, fruity desserts, and other yummy treats.

Horseradish-Buttermilk Dip

To keep everyone's stomach from grumbling before dinner, Virginia sets out a horseradish- buttermilk dip along with crunchy 'Watermelon' and 'Cherry Belle' radishes.

Get the recipe: Sliced Radishes with Horseradish-Buttermilk Dip

Steamed Asparagus with Tangerines

Simplicity's the way to go with asparagus, says Virginia, who steams the spears, then tops them with tangerines.

Get the recipe: Steamed Asparagus with Tangerines

Bonus: Find out what Paula Deen has to say about her American Dream.

Lavender Herb Ham

"It surprises

Read More »from The Easter Dinner You’ll Never Forget

Let your little ones celebrate the holiday with these creative projects. Plus: Plan your Easter menu with help from Cookbook Queen Virgina Willis.

1) Play it by Ear

To stitch up one of these kid-friendly accessories, you'll need a child-size headband ($3.99; drugstore.com) and 11⁄2 yards of 1⁄2-inch-wide double- fold bias tape. (For a range of prints, from $9.50 for three yards, visit etsy.com/shop/pollydangernotions.)

See instructions here!

2) Feather your nest with papier-mâché

Take a page from the grade-school activity book with these delicate candy dishes, made using shredded brown lunch bags and sheets from an old dictionary. See instructions here!

Plus: Craft Ideas That'll Keep Kids Entertained

3) Easy-to-Dye Easter Eggs

The secret to these mini masterpieces? Foliage and flowers gathered from the garden. Blogger Sonia Bauer (bigsislilsis.com) of Oceanside, California, simply positioned a blossom or a leaf facedown against each

Read More »from 4 Adorable Easter Crafts for Kids

Didn't get an invite to the Royal Wedding? Thanks to knitting genius of author Fiona Goble, you can stitch together your celebration. Buy her book here!

Like many strokes of genius, this book started as a joke. The engagement photo of Will and Kate had just been released and Goble's publishers had a hunch the book would be a hit- even across the pond. Feeling crafty? Try out one of these adorable DIY projects.

Check out more pictures of the knitted Royal Couple here!

Although Goble admits this book isn't for beginners, she encourages more experienced knitters to give these royal dolls a shot. "If you've knitted baby booties then I don't think you'll have trouble. Take your time and make them your own," she says.

The trick is focusing on the distinctive features (like the Queen's hair or Harry's rosy cheeks) without making the dolls look like characters. Kate was most difficult because she's very pretty, Goble said. There's no official word on the royal wedding dress,

Read More »from Knit Your Own Royal Wedding Party