Latest news with #backyard
Fox News
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Serve up summer fun with these kitchen gadgets, from ice cream makers to pizza ovens
The right kitchen gadgets can upgrade your next summer gathering. Forget basic appliances; think margarita makers for instant frozen cocktails, countertop pizza ovens for a taste of Italy in your own backyard and ice cream attachments for custom frozen desserts. Shop these kitchen tools, appliances and gadgets that take summer entertaining to the next level. Original price: $202.99 This 36 oz frozen drink machine from Margaritaville is designed for parties, delivering resort-style slushies and alcoholic beverages with the flick of a switch. Don't forget these margarita mix packets for bar-quality drinks at a moment's notice. Plus, if you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today. With this portable pizza oven, you can whip up artisan-style 12-inch pizzas in just 60 seconds. The oven (which works with wood, charcoal or gas) heats up to 950 degrees and has a glass door that lets your guests savor the show. Blackstone also makes a solid version that's powered by propane, if you prefer that. Whether you're baking, air-frying, dehydrating or roasting, this Ninja indoor/outdoor multicooker handles 10 cooking functions in one sleek unit. Its oven‑style design includes racks for pizzas, kebabs or roasted veggies and an air-fry setting to give a crisp crunch without adding extra oil. Compact yet versatile, it's excellent for poolside cooking. Don't forget this extra-large nesting cutting board, which also doubles as a serving platter. This classic attachment transforms your stand mixer into an ice cream parlor. Just freeze the bowl, attach and let the paddle churn out two quarts of your favorite frozen treat — homemade ice cream, gelato or sorbet. Choose your own mix-ins and watch it churn, making it a fun interactive dessert station at barbecues or parties. Original price: $229.99 The Ninja Creami takes ordinary ingredients and turns them into custom frozen treats. Easily create your own personalized ice cream, sorbet or milkshake to delight guests with a refreshing, cool dessert tailored to their tastes. Cuisinart's Fast Freeze ice cream maker works similarly. One of the most versatile prep tools on the market, Cuisinart's 13-cup food processor handles chopping, slicing, shredding and puréeing with ease. Pull it out for quick pico de gallo, coleslaw, salsas or homemade dips in seconds. The large 13-cup bowl is ideal for batch preparation and the included small bowl is perfect for pesto or serving slivers. Stainless steel blades and discs make cleanup simple, so you're not tied to the prep stage all day. Ninja also makes its own version. This Blackstone griddle kit includes everything you need to elevate taco night into an experience — taco racks, a tortilla warmer and a topping tray. Just heat tortillas on your griddle or stove top, stack them neatly in the racks and let guests fill and fold without the mess. The tortilla warmer keeps shells soft and pliable, so they don't crack during assembly, while the topping tray keeps all fixings in one spot—ideal for easy replenishment and a clean serving area. Consider buying the Rice Robot for a perfectly cooked rice side dish. Original price: $699 This countertop electric smoker from GE allows you to enjoy the flavor of real wood-smoked food indoors, without filling your home with smoke. It converts smoke into warm air, minimizing odors and preventing smoke alarms from triggering. It boasts five adjustable settings, six preset programs (including options for brisket, ribs, chicken and salmon) and a built-in temperature probe, all controllable via Wi‑Fi. For this one, you'll need wood pellets, so don't forget to pick some up. For more deals, visit Ideal for crafting homemade snacks that guests can enjoy throughout the day, this Cuisinart food dehydrator transforms fruits, vegetables and even herbs into flavorful, shelf-stable bites. Dried mango, pineapple chips, salted kale chips and homemade jerky are just a few fun possibilities. It's especially handy for prepping ahead, leaving you more time to enjoy the sunshine when guests arrive. Beyond snacking, dehydrated ingredients can add flair to cocktails, salads or charcuterie boards — think citrus spirals or herb sprigs. If you're a novice to the dehydrating game, be sure to pick up this food dehydrator cookbook.
CNET
a day ago
- General
- CNET
Ditch the Hot Oven: The Ultimate Summer Cooking Hack Is Sitting on Your Counter
I love grilling as much as the next backyard warrior, but standing over open flames in 90-degree heat feels less like cooking and more like slow-roasting myself. And firing up the oven indoors? That just turns your kitchen into a sauna and your living room into a convection zone. Not to mention, using a gas range with the windows shut is basically inviting bad air to dinner. That's where the air fryer swoops in. These compact countertop dynamos crank out crispy food fast, without turning your house into a hotbox. Sure, they blow a little warm air, but it's more like a light summer breeze compared to the furnace blast of your wall oven. Best of all, most air fryer recipes take less time than it takes to preheat your oven -- or sweat through another tongs-in-hand grill session. But don't take my word for it, I ran tests to see how much an air fryer would warm my kitchen compared to cooking them same food in an oven. The results cemented the air fryer as one of the best summer kitchen tools, right up there with ice makers and blenders. The numbers don't lie A heat wave requires creative thinking to keep the home cool and an air fryer is my ticket to getting through those sweltering summer spells without starving. To see if air fryers belong in the summer cooking hall of fame, I ran tests to see how much the oven heats up the kitchen versus an air fryer. Trendy air fryers are all they're cracked up to be, especially when it's hot out. David Watsky/CNET I ran tests to see how much hotter an oven would make the kitchen The air fryer turns out juicy chicken thighs in under 20 minutes. David Watsky/CNET To find real-world differences, I roasted chicken thighs in my KitchenAid wall oven (less than 10 years old) and a 4-quart Dreo air fryer, according to two popular recipes from a well-known cooking site. I tested the temperature before, during and after to see how much of a difference each machine makes. My Brooklyn apartment kitchen is on the small side, but it's not enclosed and opens up to the rest of the apartment. I kept the windows closed for the test, although it's worth noting that recent studies show cooking with natural gas in an enclosed kitchen can be a health risk. I'm finding fewer and fewer reasons to turn on the big oven these days. David Watsky/CNET The standard oven recipe called for the chicken to be roasted at 375 degrees for 30 minutes in the oven. Because of its smaller chamber, the air fryer recipe only required 20 minutes of cooking at the same temperature. The air fryer requires only about a minute to come to temperature, while the oven takes more than five. An ambient thermometer is all I needed to test how much hotter a gas oven can make the kitchen. David Watsky/CNET I placed a standard ambient thermometer in the middle of the kitchen -- about 5 feet from the stove -- at counter height. I took a reading before the oven or air fryer was turned on. I took another reading halfway through the cooking time and the last one at the end of the cooking time. Between the two sessions, I waited for the kitchen to return to a resting temperature before starting the next one. Ovens may have more capacity but they warm the kitchen far more than an air fryer. Getty The oven made my kitchen 10 degrees hotter than the air fryer Midway through the recipes (15 minutes), the oven raised the temperature of my kitchen by 15 degrees from 71 F to too-hot 88 F. After 10 minutes of cooking with the air fryer on 375 F, the temperature in my kitchen had gone up only 5 degrees F, from 72 F to a pleasant 77 F. You can feel heat emanating from the air fryer if you stand close enough, but it's not enough to significantly change the temperature of the kitchen. Read more: Here's How to Keep Your Kitchen Cool (and Lower Your Energy Bill) During a Heat Wave Not only did the air fryer cause less of a temperature spike, but I only needed to have it running for roughly 20 minutes with one minute of preheat time. The oven took 30 minutes to cook the chicken and 6 minutes to preheat. Using the air fryer will cut down on energy bills Even modern ovens use significantly more energy than an air fryer. Mary King/CNET During a heat wave, your air conditioner is already working hard. Heating the kitchen up with your oven will only require them to work harder, using more energy to bring the room back down to your desired temperature. For the AC to make up the difference for one 20- or 30-minute cooking session with an oven, it may not be a total budget-buster. Spread that out over time or for longer cooking sessions and using the oven during hot months can have real fiscal ramifications. For more on this, read my breakdown of exactly how much more an oven costs to run than an air fryer. What can you make in an air fryer? Roasted chicken in the air fryer is dynamite and takes less time than in the large oven. David Watsky/CNET An air fryer can do almost any cooking job that an oven can, although air fryers are typically smaller than wall ovens so you can't cook as much in one go. I've been tinkering with the air fryer a lot this year. I discovered the joy of cooking whole chickens in the air fryer, filets of salmon and even bacon cheeseburgers. The air fryer goes well beyond its reputation for cooking crispy wings and french fries. You can make dinner party-level recipes in the air fryer without breaking a sweat, literally. Here are seven foods that I only make in the air fryer now not just because they keep my kitchen cooler but because the results are as good or better than other methods. Here's our complete guide to air fryers, everyone's favorite new kitchen appliance. FAQs How much energy does an air fryer save when compared to a wall oven? An air fryer uses 50% less total energy than a wall oven does, according to calculations performed by CNET's resident kitchen home tech expert, David Watsky.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Walmart is selling a 'comfortable' $750 patio set for only $155 that adds 'warmth and elegance' to any backyard
TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Walmart is selling a 'comfortable' $750 patio set for only $155 that adds 'warmth and elegance' to any backyard originally appeared on TheStreet. Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors by lounging in the backyard. That's a whole lot harder if you don't have comfortable patio furniture. As luck would have it, Walmart sells some of the best patio furniture on the internet. In fact, one of its most attractive and comfortable sets is currently on sale at a huge discount, and we think you should take a look. The WestinTrends Bistro Patio Set is available right now for only $155. That's an amazing 79% off the regular price of $750. This furniture isn't just beautiful, but it's also a great way to keep some extra cash in your pocket for more summer fun. WestinTrends Bistro Patio Set, $155 (was $750) at Walmart This set offers the perfect balance between comfort and looks. It includes two ergonomic armchairs and a small bistro table. Each piece of furniture is made from powder-coated stainless steel that's rust-resistant and lightweight. It's then wrapped with hand-woven rattan wicker for the perfect rustic accent. The wicker is all-weather and should last for years to come. A shatterproof tempered glass top covers the table, giving it an elegant touch and ensuring that spills are easy to clean. This table and chairs set is available in four lovely color options, so you should have no trouble finding an option that suits your personal shoppers instantly fell in love with this patio set. One shared, "This is a truly unique and stunning piece. It's well-made, modern, and amazing to look at. The seating is comfortable, and it adds a certain warmth and elegance to my backyard." Another customer called it an "awesome little bistro set," before adding, "Setup was super easy, and it's exactly the look I was going for." The WestinTrends Bistro Patio Set can turn your backyard or patio into the most inviting gathering place in your home. That's quite a feat for something that costs just $155 at the moment. Get yours now, or you may be kicking yourself when the price goes back up. Walmart is selling a 'comfortable' $750 patio set for only $155 that adds 'warmth and elegance' to any backyard first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 21, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Washington Post
9 sweet and savory grilling recipes for backyard cookouts
After years of living in upper-floor apartments, my partner and I recently moved into a first-floor unit that came with some welcome advantages: We no longer have to lug groceries up and down flights of stairs, and, even better, we have access to a shared backyard with a grill. Since the beginning of the summer, we've been tossing around the idea of hosting a cookout with our new neighbors, and now that it's July, it's time to finally get the plans — and the grill — fired up.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Maximize Your Yield With Square Foot Gardening
Do you own a small backyard and dream of growing enough food for your whole family? Square Foot Gardening (SFG) might be your best friend. It is a method of dividing your garden into small, manageable squares, allowing you to pack in more plants without the chaos. Experts say that home gardens using this method can produce significantly more food than traditional row planting in the same space. While the exact increase in produce depends on your crops, climate, and maintenance, a 20-30% increase per square foot compared to row gardening is a realistic ballpark estimate. Mel Bartholomew first introduced square foot gardening, which has changed how people think about growing vegetables. Because this method is incredibly low-effort and requires less space, you can easily do it even as a beginner with a small yard. You don't need to dig long rows, bend over for hours pulling weeds, or haul heavy tools around. The raised beds and defined grid make everything easier on your back and knees. Here are 14 expert tips to maximize your produce with SFG. 1. Plan Your Layout Before planting, it's important to sketch out your garden like a puzzle. Square foot gardening divides your raised bed into 1x1-foot squares, and each of those little boxes has a specific purpose. Planning your layout (and which plants will do best) helps you avoid overcrowding and makes sure every plant gets the space, sunlight, and airflow it needs. Think about what you love to eat, what grows well in your area, and how tall each plant gets. When everything is spaced just right, your plants grow better, and you can fit more in a small area. 2. Use Raised Beds for Better Results To make Square Foot Gardening work effectively, opt for a raised bed. These square-shaped plots are usually 4'x4' and 6-12 inches deep and give you control over the soil, drainage, and spacing. Raised beds can produce 2–4 times more produce than in-ground beds due to improved soil quality and drainage. They also make it easier to reach your plants without stepping on the soil, which keeps it fluffy and full of oxygen. Additionally, raised beds warm up faster in the spring, allowing you to start planting earlier and extend your growing season. 3. Stick to the 'Mel's Mix' Soil Formula Mel Bartholomew recommended a mix of 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 compost, called 'Mel's Mix.' This combo is lightweight, holds moisture well, and is packed with nutrients. This blend boosts plant growth as compared to regular garden soil. This mix also reduces the need for constant fertilizing. It's easy to work with and helps plants grow strong roots, which means more fruits and vegetables from each square. Refresh your soil each season by adding compost to maintain fertility and avoid heavy clay or sandy soils, as they either drown roots or dry out too quickly. 4. Follow Proper Plant Spacing Guidelines Overcrowding leads to competition for nutrients, resulting in stunted growth. Stick to Mel Bartholomew's classic square foot spacing, for example, one plant per square (tomatoes), four plants (lettuce), or 16 plants of radishes. Correct spacing can increase productivity and lower the risk of plant diseases caused by poor airflow. Neat spacing also makes harvesting easier and keeps the garden looking tidy and healthy. 5. Rotate Crops Each Season Just like in big farms, rotating crops helps prevent soil exhaustion and pest buildup. When you plant the same veggie in the same spot every season, it uses up the same nutrients and attracts the same bugs. Rotate plant families—like moving tomatoes after planting leafy greens. Crop rotation can reduce soil-borne diseases and increase long-term production. It's an easy habit that makes a big difference. 6. Water Deep, Not Often Watering deeply encourages strong root growth, whereas frequent shallow watering can weaken plants. Watering when the top inch of soil feels dry and soaking it to at least 6 inches deep is usually recommended. Use a watering can or drip system to keep the water near the base of each plant. Early morning watering helps avoid mold and mildew while saving water by reducing evaporation. This way, you'll grow plants that are more resilient, productive, and efficient with water, which is crucial for maximizing yields in your square-foot garden. 7. Add a Trellis to Maximize Vertical Space Trellises are perfect for square-foot gardens because they allow you to grow plants like peas, melons, or squash upward. This method saves ground space for shorter crops and improves airflow, which helps prevent disease. Use strong materials like metal mesh, bamboo, or wooden stakes. Trellising reduces fungal infections and enhances air circulation, promoting healthier plants and higher yields. 8. Companion Plant to Boost Growth Some plants grow better when paired with the right neighbors. For example, planting basil near tomatoes can enhance flavor and reduce pest infestations. Marigolds also repel insects when planted alongside veggies. This is called companion planting. Companion planting improved yields by 15–30% in certain combinations. It's a smart way to keep your garden healthy without chemicals. 9. Use Mulch to Lock In Moisture A thin layer of mulch—such as straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves — keeps the soil cool and moist. It also stops weeds from growing. Mulching can reduce water loss significantly. This is especially crucial in square foot gardening, where soil can dry out quickly in tightly planted beds. Mulch also helps prevent soil from getting onto leaves, which can spread disease. Just make sure it's not packed too tightly around stems, so air can still circulate. For container square foot gardens, cocoa hulls or pine needles are lightweight options that won't compact over time. 10. Start from Seed When Possible Seeds are cheaper, offer more variety, and give plants a stronger root system from the start. Seedlings grown directly in the garden adapt better to their environment than store-bought transplants. You can start early indoors or sow seeds directly into your garden. Direct seeding reduces transplant shock and saves a large amount of costs compared to buying nursery plants. 11. Harvest Often to Encourage More Growth The more you harvest, the more your plants will keep producing, especially for crops like lettuce, beans, and cucumbers. Letting food over-ripen on the plant tells it to stop growing. Keep a harvest basket handy whenever you visit your garden - you'll be amazed how much more food you'll gather with this simple habit. In square foot gardening, frequent harvesting is a crucial technique to maximize every inch of your space. 12. Track What Works (and What Doesn't) Keep a small garden journal or use a garden app to record what you planted, how much it produced, and any challenges that arose. This info helps you make better choices next season. Keep a simple garden journal noting which varieties performed best, germination rates, and planting dates. Over seasons, you'll develop a customized planting guide perfectly suited to your microclimate and gardening style. With practice, seed starting becomes one of the most rewarding and economical skills in the Square Foot Gardener's toolkit. 13. Extend the Season with Row Covers & Cold Frames Row covers and cold frames are great tools to stretch your growing season, especially in cooler climates. They protect plants from frost, wind, and sudden temperature drops, giving you extra weeks of growing time in spring and fall. Row covers are lightweight fabric sheets you drape over your plants, while cold frames are like mini greenhouses made of glass or plastic. Both trap heat and create a warmer microclimate for your crops. This means you can plant earlier, harvest later, and even grow cold-loving veggies like spinach, kale, and lettuce all winter long in many zones 14. Feed Your Soil, Not Just Your Plants Healthy soil is the secret behind every thriving square foot garden. Instead of just adding fertilizers, focus on improving the soil by regularly mixing in compost. It provides essential nutrients, supports beneficial microbes, and enhances water retention. You don't need fancy store-bought compost—kitchen scraps, dry leaves, and garden clippings work just fine. When you enrich the soil each season, your plants will grow stronger, resist pests more effectively, and yield a more abundant harvest with less effort. Solve the daily Crossword
