It has been said that Southerners will fry just about anything. Why not? A fear of frying stops most people from attempting the task. Hot, splattering oil can be dangerous, and the food can be overly greasy, but with our tips you'll soon be frying like a Southern pro. 
Fried chicken, chicken-fried steak, fried green tomatoes-the options are endless once you learn how to fry.
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Avoid Splattering Oil
Make sure your pots and pans are completely dry before adding oil. One little drop of water can explode just to escape the heat. Pat dry whatever you're frying (i.e. chicken, pork, shrimp) before dredging in flour or dipping in batter. Water is the enemy! You can also use a splatter guard.
Cut Down on the Grease
If fried properly and at the correct temperature, the food absorbs very little oil. If you want, you can press each fried item between two layers of paper towels to soak up any extra flavor (we meant fat!), or you can just enjoy fried items with a big green healthy salad. It really cuts
Blog Posts by Southern Living
There's No Place Like Home...Until Now!
By Southern Living | Work + Money – Thu, Mar 17, 2011 5:40 PM EDTIt may seem like a challenge to make your guests feel at home, but the key is a little hospitality, a welcoming persona, and if you want, a few extra touches here and there to make your guests feel special. Here are our tips for being the perfect host for your overnight guests.
Make your guests feel at home with our tips for being the perfect host.
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A Home Away from Home
Improve the bed. Make sure you have nice, clean sheets, plenty of fluffy pillows, and extra blankets and comforters. Sometimes sheets on guest beds can start smelling stale when they go unused so it's not a bad idea to wash the sheets before your guests arrive.
Provide current magazines. A small collection of magazines or even a book of short stories will make your guests feel welcome. Plus, it will give them something to read in case they're early risers or night owls.
Have snacks and drinks in the room. Leaving a couple bottles of water and granola bars is an extra special touch. Read More »from There's No Place Like Home...Until Now!Beer comes in literally hundreds of varieties. It can be confusing to choose between a stout, ale, or lager. Use this guide to decipher the beer menu the next time you go out.
Read More »from A Girl's Guide to Beer
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Stout: (such as Guiness)
Dark, thick, and nasty; outstanding stuff. Most stouts have a roasted barley addition that infuses a rich flavor such as coffee.
Stout
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Basic English Ale: (such as Bass)
Typically more hearty than lagers, sometimes bitter and strong. A good one melts in your moth and leaves a pleasant aroma that hovers in the air. I try to pair bold ale with a barstool and an empty afternoon.
Basic English Ale
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Hefeweizen: (such as Paulaner)
These beers have a cloudy appearance due to unfiltered yeast and the addition of malted wheat. Make sure to get every last drop; that's where the flavor is.
Hefeweizen
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Medium-BodiedFaced with a project beyond your expertise? Arm yourself with some great advice from Keith Johnson, a tried-and-true handyman, and find the perfect man for the job so you can cross off your to-do list.
Read More »from Get the Right Handyman for the Job
Handymen can do anything from tiling a bathroom to building a room addition.
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Do You Need a Handyman?
Generally handymen are used for projects that are too small for large contractors and too difficult or time-consuming for the homeowner. Depending on their skills, handymen can perform a wide range of tasks from tiling a bathroom and mending leaky roofs to building a room addition.
Where Can You Find a Handyman?
Other than looking in the Yellow Pages, you can check with your local hardware store. Often they have their own workforce that they will recommend as part of their in-house services.
There are also several Web sites that network customers to handyman companies based on your location. Check Handyman USA or Service Magic for local handyman companiesBeer isn't just for drinking anymore. With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, learn to embrace the beverage for baking, marinating, frying and more.
Read More »from Beer: The Secret Ingredient
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Beer-Cheese Spread
Beer-Cheese Spread
Ingredients
1 (2-lb.) block sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 small onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground rep pepper
1 (12-oz.) bottle amber beer, at room temperature
Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish: thyme sprig
Preparation
Beat together first 5 ingredients at low speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until blended. Gradually add beer, beating until blended after each addition. Beat at medium-high speed 1 minute or until blended and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and chill 2 hours. Garnish, if desired. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.
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Cheddar Chive Sweet Beer Bread
Cheddar-Chive Sweet Beer Bread
Ingredients
3Save Money With Homemade Cleaning Products
By Southern Living | Work + Money – Fri, Mar 11, 2011 5:44 PM ESTMixing up cleaning concoctions is inexpensive and simple. You'll never run out of supplies if you stock these staples.
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These multi-purpose items double as healthy cleaning supplies.
White Vinegar
To clean windows, fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar. Add a splash of lemon juice. Full-strength vinegar sanitizes wooden cutting boards. Pour 1 cup white vinegar and a sprinkle of baking soda into the toilet bowl to clean.
Baking Soda
Use it to scrub sinks, tile, and tubs. Sprinkle it in the garbage can, disposal or sink drain, and litter box to freshen.
Salt
Remove rust spots with a paste of salt and lemon juice. To clean tarnished brass or copper, use a paste of salt and vinegar.
Lemon
To remove odors, rub a lemon half on a wooden cutting board or run peels and ice (to sharpen the blades) through the garbage disposal.
Article by Leigh Anne Montgomery
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HomeBacon and...What? (Surprising Bacon Recipes)
By Southern Living | Work + Money – Thu, Mar 10, 2011 4:33 PM ESTBacon on sandwiches, bacon and eggs, bacon in pasta--these are all normal recipes with bacon, but bacon and chocolate? Bacon and bourbon? We show you how you can use this tasty ingredient in surprising ways.
Read More »from Bacon and...What? (Surprising Bacon Recipes)
We show you how to use this tasty ingredient in surprising ways.
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Bacon-Peanut Truffles
Bacon-Peanut Truffles
Ingredients
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup honey-roasted peanuts
8 thick bacon slices, cooked and divided
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
Parchment paper
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
Preparation
1. Process first 3 ingredients and 6 bacon slices in a food processor 20 to 30 minutes or until finely ground. Stir together bacon mixture and peanut butter in a small bowl until smooth. Cover and chill 2 hours.
2. Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of bacon mixture into 3/4-inch balls. Place on parchment paper-lined baking sheet; chill 1 hour.
3. Chop remaining 2 bacon slices. Microwave chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl onDon't shy away from crawfish because of how hard it might look to get to the meat. We show you how to snap, peel, and tug those tasty morsels out of their shell in just 4 easy steps.
Read More »from Crawfish 101: Do You Suck the Heads?
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Step 1: Grasp Hold crawfish on both sides of the tail joint, your thumbs on one side of the shell and your index fingers on the other.
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Step 2: Twist and Snap With a twisting motion, snap the head away from the tail. (Optional step for diehards: Suck the juice from the crawfish head.)
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Step 3: Peel Use your thumbs to peel away the shell from the widest part of the tail, pulling back from the center, just as you would peel a shrimp.
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Step 4: Tug Hold the tip of the tail and gently tug out the tender meat. Enjoy!
Now that you've mastered getting the shell off your crawfish, try some of ourLegendary New Orleans Recipes for Your Mardi Gras Party
By Southern Living | Work + Money – Fri, Mar 4, 2011 11:48 PM ESTYou don't have to visit the Big Easy to enjoy its legendary Cajun and Creole flavors. Plan a Mardi Gras Party with our suggestions for appetizers, the main course, and of course, desserts.
Read More »from Legendary New Orleans Recipes for Your Mardi Gras Party
Related Video: How to Make Jambalaya
Appetizers
Shrimp and Okra Hush Puppies
Easy Mini Muffulettas
Fried Oysters with Spicy Rémoulade Sauce:
Fried Oysters
Dip 1 quart fresh oysters, rinsed and drained, in 1 lightly beaten egg, and dredge in 1 1/2 cups saltine crumbs. Place on a pan, and chill 2 hours, if desired. Stir together 1 cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon horseradish, and if desired, 1/8 teaspoon hot sauce; chill. Pour Canola oil to a depth of 1 inch in a Dutch oven; heat to 350°. Fry oysters, in batches, 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately with sauce.
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Main Course
Chicken-Andouille Gumbo
Cajun Shrimp Casserole
Crawfish Étouffée:
Crawfish Étouffée
Melt 1/4 cup butter or margarine in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 1 chopped medium onion, 2Mardi Gras Appetizers: Mini Muffulettas
By Southern Living | Shine Food – Fri, Mar 4, 2011 6:17 PM ESTA New Orleans specialty, muffuletta sandwiches originated in 1906 at the Central Grocery. This easy version calls for traditional Genoa salami, provolone cheese, and an olive salad topping.
Read More »from Mardi Gras Appetizers: Mini Muffulettas
Easy Mini Muffulettas
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Traditional Mardi Gras King Cake
Ingredients
1 (32-oz.) jar Italian olive salad
12 small deli rolls, cut in half
12 thin Swiss cheese slices
12 thin deli ham slices
12 thin provolone cheese slices
12 Genoa salami slices
Preparation
1. Spread 1 Tbsp. olive salad evenly over each cut side of roll bottoms. Top each with 1 Swiss cheese slice, 1 ham slice, 1 Tbsp. olive salad, 1 provolone cheese slice, 1 salami slice, and 1 Tbsp. olive salad. Cover with roll tops, and wrap sandwiches together in a large piece of aluminum foil. Place on baking sheet.
2. Bake at 350° for 14 to 16 minutes or until cheeses are melted.
Want to make your own olive spread? Use our recipe for Muffulettas to find our Olive Salad
