Blog Posts by Oprah.com

Photo: ThinkstockBy Lynn Andriani

Southern Fried Chicken-from the Oven

There is a way to get crackling chicken skin without deep-frying (or shaking and baking). The trick is to preheat the oven with a pan in it--so when the chicken hits the hot metal, it instantly forms a golden crust. Crank the oven up to 375 degrees and place a dark roasting pan or rimmed cookie sheet inside. Bread drumsticks, breasts and thighs--a mixture of Ritz cracker crumbs and Parmesan cheese gives you a wonderfully crunchy and salty exterior--and then carefully remove the hot pan from the oven. Slowly drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil around the pan and carefully lay the chicken down; when the meat hits the pan you'll hear a sizzle. Bake for 20 minutes, flip, squirt with lemon juice and bake another 20 minutes.

Photo: ThinkstockA State Fair at Home

We aren't about to give you a recipe for no-mess fried Twinkies, but crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside fried dough is well within a home cook's reach--and it

Read More »from Simple Shortcuts for Amazing Fried Food

Photo: Alison GooteeBy Kate Rockwood

If the very mention of the holidays has you overwhelmed--decking the halls, shopping for 82 family members, stocking up on boxes and bows--O's organizing wiz, Peter Walsh, is here to help you breathe a little easier. "Set aside the question 'What do I need for this holiday?' and instead ask yourself, 'What do I want from it?'" suggests Walsh. "The answer is usually family, warmth, relaxation, reconnection--not things." Here are some easy ways to de-clutter this season and make room for what really matters to you.

De-Decorate

"When I'm in someone's garage and I see endless storage boxes filled with strands of lights and garlands and ornaments, my first thought is always 'Are you kidding me?'" says Walsh. "I'm not Scrooge, but for many of my clients the collecting has gotten out of control." Part of the problem, he says, is that we amass more decorations each year, yet we rarely (if ever) filter out what we no longer use or appreciate. "People just shove

Read More »from 5 Secrets for a Clutter-Free Holiday

Photo: ThinkstockBy Laura Berman

At O You! 2012, Laura Berman knocked our socks off with her straight talk about love and sex. Here are our favorite takeaways from her session.

Healthy Relationship Requirement #1: A Strong, Healthy Body

I'm talking about muscle strength. You have got to do your kegels--several hundred a day. Walking around in high heels is also good for your pelvic floor--a group of muscles that holds up your reproductive organs. Having muscle strength there can do wonders for sexual response.

Healthy Relationship Requirement #2: A Creative Spirit

What's so powerful about 50 Shades of Grey? It's not that it's inspiring the libido, it's that it's inspiring women to action by exercising our fantasy muscle. One of the things that's most erotic about the series is the idea of surrender. So many of us are alpha women: We're working so hard outside and inside the home--we're overtaxed, overstressed and we don't know how to give up control. There's a frustration and a desire we Read More »from The 3 Things You Need for a Rock-Solid Relationship

Photo: Greg KesslerBy Val Monroe

Q: My biggest makeup problem? How to wear it. I need help!

A: When I asked readers online about makeup, this is how most of you responded. So I e-mailed the terrific makeup artist Matin Maulawizada for an easy routine. You'll need a tinted moisturizer, a cream blush, a neutral eyeshadow base, an eyelash curler, black mascara, and a sheer lipcolor. I'll wait while you get them. You back? Great! Now position yourself in front of a mirror with your tidy stash and follow these directions. It's as easy as 1-2-3 (4-5-6). Let me know how you did.

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1. Smooth on the tinted moisturizer to even out your complexion. Apply it the same way you apply untinted moisturizer; a dime-size amount should be enough to dot on cheeks, chin, and forehead. Then blend it in, being sure to smooth it under your jawline and over your neck. (Try Dr. Dennis Gross All-In-One Tinted Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 15, $44, DGSkincare.com.)

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2. Apply the cream blush. Dab a little on the back of

Read More »from 6 Steps to a Perfectly Made Up Face

Photo: ThinkstockBy Kelly Mickle

Don't be surprised if you feel tension taking over as the holidays approach: Nearly half of all women experience increased stress during this season. Luckily, regaining your calm doesn't have to take long. Whether you've got ten minutes or an hour, the right activity is all you need.

10 Minutes: Chew a Stick of Gum

Researchers from Australia and England found that in moments of stress, gum chewers felt less anxious and had 18 percent less cortisol (the stress hormone) in their saliva. "Chewing increases blood flow to the brain--which may make us feel more alert--and it may also distract us from stressors," says study coauthor Andrew Scholey, PhD, director of the Centre for Human Psychopharmacology at Swinburne University.

Photo: Thinkstock12 Minutes: Brew Some Black Tea

People who drank four servings of black tea a day for six weeks were able to de-stress faster and had lower levels of cortisol after a stressful event, according to a study from

Read More »from 7 Ways to Relieve Stress in Under an Hour

Photo: Getty ImagesBy Corrie Pikul

The Move: Side Plank Variation

The Pro: Mari Winsor, one of the originators of Pilates-style workouts, has Pilates-ized half of Hollywood.

Core Clients: Winsor says that Miley Cyrus particularly likes this move, and has been known to rope fiancé Liam Hemsworth into doing it with her.

The Steps: 1. Sit on the floor, leaning sideways on your right hip, with your right arm on the mat supporting your body. Your legs should be slightly bent, with the left foot slightly in front of the right.

2. Use your core to lift your body up to a side plank.

3. Extend your left arm over your head.

4. With your abs pulled in tight, lower your hips (but don't let them touch the floor!) and your left arm, then press back up to the side plank.

5. Repeat this same lower and lift 6 to 8 times, then switch sides.


Photo: Getty ImagesThe Move: Plank Push-Ups

The Pro: Teddy Bass, celebrity trainer for over 19 years and creator of the Rock Bottom Body lower-body sculpting program.

Core Client: Christina Applegate

Read More »from The Best Ab-Moves from Celebrity Trainers

Photo: ThinkstockBy Corrie Pikul

Sports-Bar Food

Research shows that high-fat indulgences such as french fries, potato chips and mozzarella sticks can not only throw off the scale, but they can also disrupt sleep cycles.

A better sleep snack: Edamame (boiled soybeans in the pod, served sprinkled with salt) is high in magnesium, which has been shown in some studies to improve the quality of sleep of insomnia patients.

Crudité

Raw broccoli, cauliflower and carrots will make you feel full quickly...but will still be moving uncomfortably through your digestive system long after you pull up the covers.

A better sleep snack: Bananas contain sleep-inducing tryptophan and magnesium as well as (bonus!) potassium...which can prevent a middle-of-the-night charley horse.

Cured Meats

Bacon, pepperoni and sausage contain high levels of tyramine, an amino acid that boosts the secretion of the brain stimulant norepinephrine.

A better sleep snack: A turkey sandwich on whole

Read More »from 6 Foods that Are Keeping You Up at Night

Photo: ThinkstockBy Amy Shearn

"It's not okay that you're always late."

Things happen. Lives are complex. Of course, your life is particularly so (everyone's is), which is why it's difficult to get to brunch on time (every time), which is not your fault, exactly, because there was nowhere to park, and then before that, there was a line at the drugstore, and before that, there was the argument with your 5-year-old about whether you could take your purse he was using as Lego storage and...she knows. Your friend has too much on her plate too, which is why she would never say anything about your tardiness. But perpetually making her wait sends the message that other things are more important than she is. That, in fact, almost everything is more important than her. No one wants to feel that way. Isn't that part of why we maintain friendships, to matter to someone, to have someone matter to us? Your friend matters to someone. She matters to you. So show your love: Leave 15 minutes earlier.

Read More »from 9 Things Your Friends Secretly Want to Tell You