Good Housekeeping July/August 2020

We are constantly testing in the GH Kitchen Appliances Lab, from baking pans and ranges to air fryers and toasters, to help you find the best for your home. Each of these blenders wowed our experts. And there are more top-tested options to meet any of your specific needs — best compact, best budget, best for baby food and more — at goodhousekeeping.com/bestblenders. GH KITCHEN APPLIANCES LAB TRIED + TESTED BLENDERS TOP PERFORMER This blender whipped up creamy milkshakes and effortlessly crushed ice to an even, snow-like consistency. It also aced one of our hardest tests: blitzing coffee beans. Its jar is easy to clean thanks to a preset 30-second option. KITCHENAID K400 VARIABLE SPEED BLENDER, $249, KITCHENAID.COM MOST VERSATILE One 64-oz blending pitcher and two sizes of personal to-go…

Silhouette art, which became popular in the 18th century, can add a personal touch to any modern decor. Dallas-based interior designer Courtney Warren offers this simple how-to: Position your subject perpendicular to a blank wall and snap a photo in profile. Add a black-and-white filter to the picture and print it out at 4" x 6" or 5" x 7". Then glue the image onto black card stock and cut out the silhouette. Flip it over and place it in a frame on a white mat or patterned paper. Or send a side-profile photo to an online art retailer like Minted.com, which created the art above.…

TANGY RELISH Whisk ¼ cup olive oil, 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar, salt and pepper; stir in ½ small red onion (thinly sliced). Toss with 3/4 lb stone fruit (cut into ½-in.-thick wedges); fold in ½ cup chopped basil. Serve over chicken or fish. SWEET + TART SIDE Toss 1 lb stone fruit (cut into wedges) with 1 Tbsp oil; grill until lightly charred, 1 to 3 min. per side. Toss with 1 Tbsp each rice vinegar and grated fresh ginger, 1 scallion (finely chopped) and 1 tsp thyme leaves. SMOKY DESSERT Halve stone fruit and lightly sprinkle cut sides with sugar. Grill, cut sides down, until lightly charred and beginning to caramelize, 1 to 2 min. Flip and cook, covered, 1 to 2 min. more. Serve with ricotta and…

REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE, you’ll need to figure out its sun and wind exposure before heading to the garden center, advises Penn State Extension Master Gardener Nancy Knauss. Then choose plants ideal for that environment, keeping size in mind. Compact shrubs won’t need constant pruning, climbing plants grow up instead of out and containers give you big bang for the buck. Also, think about how much time you have to devote to your plants. Hanging baskets and small planters may need daily watering, as there’s not much soil in them. Add some fun to your garden with one of these ideas—no green thumb required! FAIRY GARDEN Craft some whimsy in a pot. Small plants, pebbles and doll furniture create pint-size magic. PLANT PALLET Use steel ties…

If you’ve been wondering whether the keto diet is right for you, our 14-day Keto Meal Plan, reviewed by experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute, offers a delicious way to dive in. The comprehensive guide explains the basic principles of ketosis, a metabolic state that helps you burn fat for fuel and can lead to weight loss for some people, as well as common pitfalls of keto eating plans, and there’s even a detailed shopping list. But the pièce de résistance is more than 30 delicious, keto-friendly recipes and snacks (Coconut-Lime Cheesecake Bombs, anyone?). The plan comes complete with two weeks of high-fat, low-carb meals that will satisfy even the pickiest eaters. Download the PDF at goodhousekeeping.com/keto ($10).…

To read about Alicia’s role in The Baby-Sitters Club, including behind-the-scenes secrets and reflections on her teenage years, go to goodhousekeeping.com/alicia-silverstone.…