A flavorist explains how your favorite fruit drink gets that taste. But what exactly goes into making these natural flavorings, and what does natural flavors mean? or animals (meat, dairy products, eggs, etc.) Credit: istetiana/Getty Images via a method of heating, with its primary function in food being flavoring not nutritional. What Is Flavor? Before we get to the natural flavor ingredient makeup, its important to know what makes a flavor....

But have you tried drinking okra? So what is okra water, why are some people drinking it, and should you? We spoke with a couple of dietitians for the inside scoop on okra water. Credit:bhofack2 / Getty Images BHG / Abbey Littlejohn What Is Okra Water? Okra is rich in folate, fiber, and vitamin C,says Duke. Cucumber water is stronger tasting to me. Credit:BHG / Abbey Littlejohn This is the first time I am seeing okra water," says Werner....

This alternative to chlorine bleach has plenty of uses around the home, especially in the laundry room. We’re breaking down everything you should probably know about this versatile cleaning agent. Oxygen bleach is different fromchlorine bleachthough the two are easily confused because of their similar names and functions. Credit:Getty Images / Михаил Руденко Learn more about how oxygen bleach can be used in laundry and forhousehold cleaningjobs. What Is Oxygen Bleach?...

Most pavlova recipes will have a similar meringue base. Place it marked side down on a baking sheet. This serves as a guide for shaping your pavlova. Credit: Andy Lyons (Ahand mixeris also perfectly fine to use here. It just might take a few more minutes to complete this step.) Add in lemon juice and any additional extracts or flavorings the recipe calls for before gently folding in cornstarch. Credit: Blaine Moats...

Psst…basil is not required! Since thats the case, you might be feeling more inspired than ever to make big batches on repeat. What Is Pesto? Credit:Carson Downing Translated from Italian, pesto means to pound. Technically, anything you smash in a mortar and pestle could qualify as pesto. You need not stick firmly to that script, though. We like to expand the answer of what is pesto? So what does pesto taste like?...

What is pool coping, and is it necessary? Heres all you oughta know about this important part of your pools anatomy. If youreplanning to buildor renovate a pool, you may have come across the term pool coping. Credit:Cavan Images / Robert Niedring / Getty Images Essentially, it is the edge around the pool perimeter. Here are the basics on the various types, materials available, and installation costs. Pool coping is the cap or edging surrounding aswimming poolstop perimeter....

Hot dogs, bacon (yes, even turkey), and deli meat all qualify. We asked nutrition pros to school us about the flavor and health pros and cons. Just heat, stir, and add sauce. Credit:Better Homes & Gardens Cabbage andcauliflower steaksare now mainstays on many restaurant menus across the country. And of course we cant forget aboutplant-based meat alternatives. What is processed meat, exactly, and what makes it different? What Is Processed Meat?...

Contrary to popular belief, the brightly-colored, cocoa-flavored dessert is not just red-dyed chocolate cake. So what is red velvet cake? What isred velvet cake? Credit:Carson Downing It’s one of the most common dessert-related questions. While it’s widely regarded as red-dyed chocolate cake, red velvet cake is its own unique confection. So what exactly is the crimson-colored dessert, and why is it such a vivid hue? In the dessert world, this was initially called a “mahogany cake....

A look at the potential benefits and challenges of rightsizing, plus how it differs from downsizing. The first is typically a small, affordable home you start with before you grow into a larger home. Eventually, most homeownersdownsize, buying a smaller home for later stages in life. Credit:(L) Laurey Glenn, (R) Caitlin Atkinson But have you heard of rightsizing? Rightsizing a home does not define increasing or decreasing the size of your home....

Rooting hormone is the secret ingredient to successful propagation. Here’s how to use it in your garden. Trying to grow new plants from thecuttings of your existing plants? Credit:Dean Schoeppner Break out the rooting hormone. Rooting hormone is usually a substance that you apply to plant cuttings. This hormone speeds the growth of roots that turns your cutting into a new plant. Credit:Marty Baldwin Think of it as a secret weapon in plant propagation....

It has a subtly sweet, hard-to-pin-down flavor and is a natural food dye. Mohammad Salehiis the owner ofHeray Spice, a Chicago-based company that sources hand-harvested saffron. BHG / Alexandra Shytsman What Is Saffron? Credit:BHG / Alexandra Shytsman Native to southwest Asia, the flowers are somewhat temperamental and prefer a dry, semi-arid climate. Why Is Saffron So Expensive? So, what makes saffron so pricey? Credit:Owen Franken/ GETTY IMAGES To put it plainly, its an incredibly labor-intensive crop to harvest....

If you select links we provide, we may receive compensation. Master the spartan, nature-inspired aesthetic of Scandinavian interior design with advice from seasoned experts. Scandinavian interior designis an aesthetic rooted in simplicity. Credit: Sara Medina Lind It features subtle textures, a soft color palette, and sparse styling. For Sigurd Hadland, founder ofFJRN Scandinavianin Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, Scandi environments are also at one with nature. “Natural materials are the driving force,” he affirms....

Unopened boxes last much longer without refrigeration, and heres how. In Europe, shelf-stable milk is a staple in many grocery stores and markets. Shoppers are used to seeing the boxes, often stacked nearcontainers of mueslifor a hearty breakfast option. Credit: andresr/Getty Images But what is shelf-stable milk, and how does it work? The experts atMaple Hill Creameryfilled us in. What Is Shelf-Stable Milk? Why Doesn’t Shelf-Stable Milk Need Refrigeration? Pasteurizationand sterile packaging allow for the shelf-stable storage of milk....