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Including bacon-topped casseroles and lobster mac! In case you need convincing, we’ve put together our most delicious macaroni and cheese recipes. Using cream cheese and half-and-half transforms this recipe intonoodle soup. Credit: Carson Downing Top each bowl with cheddar crackers to add crunch (and a little more cheese) to every bite. Bake until it’s golden brown, then savor every last bite. Just combine the classic ingredients in a mug, stir, microwave, and dig in....

Transform your miniature pumpkins into festive decor that lasts all season long. Grab a paint brush and try one of these minipumpkin painting ideas. Plus, the design couldn’t be easier. Credit:Carson Downing Cauldron Creatures Jason Donnelly These charming critters make the perfectporch decor for Halloween. Green-painted mini pumpkins affixed with googly eyes fill an inexpensive plastic cauldron. Partially fill the caldron with rocks or foam so that the pumpkins can rest on top....

Antique finds and fresh finishes are lively additions to any modern farmhouse exterior. Clean lines, aged wood, and neutral backdrops add to the impact. These examples of farmhouse style each have a unique twist on this all-American aesthetic. Credit: James Nathan Schroder Read on to be inspired to revamp your farmhouse exterior for an inviting home. Tall, wood-cased windows and apitched metal rooftoppedwith a cupolacreate an unmistakable country look. Theblack front doorand window trim deliver modern contrast against whitewashed brick and board-and-batten siding....

If you press links we provide, we may receive compensation. These easy, no-carve pumpkin ideas are safe for the whole family. Try these easy no-carve pumpkin ideas to avoid injuries and create perfect pumpkins without carving. Credit: Carson Downing These easy pumpkin designs will have the whole family NOT carving this year. To get the look, start with a white pumpkin (natural or painted). Cut a variety of large geometric shapes from colorful tissue paper, but don’t worry about perfection....

These stunning hellebore varieties will brighten up your winter and spring landscape with their colorful flowers. Carson Downing Hellebores' graceful flowers announce spring before the season has even started. In recent years, plant breeders have responded to increased demand from home gardeners by producing ever-more-interestinghelleborehybrids and varieties. Credit:Carson Downing Here are some of the most stunning hellebores to grow in your garden. Its unusual apricot tone with red accents looks especially romantic....

It has beautiful clusters of small purple flowers in mid to late spring. Bugleweed is perfect for moist, shaded areas where grass will not grow. Bronze Beauty and Chocolate Chip have striking dark foliage. Credit:Grant Webster Its leathery, dark-green foliage is evergreen in most climates. is tolerant of both deep shade and drought. It grows best in well-drained, sandy soils and is drought-tolerant and deer-tolerant. Credit: Marty Baldwin Blue Chip has silver-blue foliage, and Bar Harbor has bright green needles....

Add privacy while elevating your outdoor space with a new set of patio curtains. Edmund Barr Spruce up yourbackyard patiowith new curtains just in time for the warmer months. The two are a classic interior pairing that translates well to an outdoor space. Credit:Edmund Barr Arrangedining and lounging furnitureto benefit from the shade the curtains provide while keeping views as a focal point. Colorful Patio Curtains Werner Straube Create an inviting outdoor space with colorful buffalo check curtains....

Grow these perennials in a cutting garden so you’ll always have something to snip for fresh bouquets. Cutting gardens are for more than just annual flowers. This sturdy, drought-tolerant perennial adds a vertical accent to a garden, and the cut bloomseven dry well. Credit: Marty Baldwin This easy-to-grow native perennial isn’t picky about soil. It grows in poor, shallow, chalky, or dry conditions. Plus, it draws pollinators and resists deer....

Fewwall decor optionscompare to picture ledges. Wall decor that allows for constant evolution, picture ledges have a unique balance of versatility and flexibility. Ready to bring picture ledges into your home? Credit: Edmund Barr Read on for 20 smart ideas for applying picture ledgesand arranging art on themin any space. Experiment with Color Contrast Create drama and dynamism through color contrast. The white-on-black contrast makes the artwork pop and enlivens the dark interior....

Dusty Miller As a general rule, gray or silver leaves mean rabbit and deer-resistant container plants. Dusty milleralso maintains its leaf color right up until frost. You might try growing thisdeer-resistant plantalong the edges of your pots and planters to help discourage curious nibblers. Credit: Peter Krumhardt Whats more, the foliage has a strong sagefragrance that deer and bunnies avoid. Try mixing it withpurple and golden sagein the same container for a fun look....

Take a look at these stunning rock gardens for a wealth of color and design inspiration. To create a picture-perfect scene, experiment with wildflowers in an array ofcomplementary hues. For a layered look and all-over color, combine mounded plants andgroundcoverwith various sizes of shrubs for vertical interest. Boulders, Mexican pebbles in a dry creek bed, and awinding brick pathwaylend natural texture and additional drama. Best of all, the yard looks vibrant all year and never needs mowing....

Try one of these easy slow cooker dinners tonight! Come home to a comforting hands-off dinner with our array of Italian slow cooker recipes. Spicy Turkey Lasagna Give lightened lasagna complex flavor with dried oregano and crushed red pepper. Credit: Blaine Moats They flavor the layered pasta’s lean ground turkey and rich cheesy filling. Here, the slow cooker does all the “stirring” for you. Arborio rice is short and plump so develops a creamy texture as it soaks up the chicken broth....

They may not reach towering heights, but small trees can still pack a big punch in your landscape. The following list includes varieties that offer beautiful flowers, attractive fall foliage, and even colorful fruit. Even small landscaping trees shouldn’t beplanted too close to your house. Credit: Bill Stites Crabapple Add spectacular seasonal flair to your landscape withcrabapples(Malusspp.). Many also offer attractive orange, gold, red, or burgundy fruit. ‘Prairifire’ is a standout variety that has dark pink flowers, reddish-purple foliage, and great disease resistance....