Evaporated milk is like regular milk, but more concentrated because it’s heated up to reduce the water in it by up to 60%. This makes it sweet and thick, perfect for sweet and savory dishes. Southern chefs have been talking about this “secret ingredient” for mashed potatoes for ages. According to Christy Jordan, who’s all about Southern cooking, they love using it because it lasts longer in those hot climates and won’t spoil as quickly as regular milk or cream.

Food Director Julie Miltenberger says to swap out the regular milk or heavy cream in the recipe for the same amount of evaporated milk. You should also melt the butter and mash it in with the potatoes before adding the milk. The fat in the butter coats the starch, keeping the spuds from turning sticky, which can happen if you dump in the milk first. The result is a fluffy, lump-free mash that steals the spotlight at dinner. Here are two recipes you can try out using evaporated milk.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes
• ¾ cup evaporated milk
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ cup melted butter
• ¼ cup minced scallion
• chives (optional for garnish)

Directions:

1. Boil the potatoes until tender, then mash them up in a pot.
2. Add in melted butter, and mash again. Finish it off with evaporated milk, garlic powder, and scallions.
3. Sprinkle with some salt and pepper, transfer to a serving bowl, and if you’re feeling fancy, garnish with chives.

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs peeled sweet potatoes
• 4 tbsp melted unsalted butter
• ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
• ¼ cup evaporated milk
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ⅓ cup chopped glazed pecans

Directions:

1. Spray a 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Cut sweet potatoes into 1-inch pieces.
2. Toss the potatoes in the slow cooker with water, cover, and let it cook on high for 4 hours until tender. Drain.
3. Mash them up in the slow cooker, and stir in butter, brown sugar, evaporated milk, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
4. Transfer to a serving bowl and top it off with glazed pecans.

People who have painted a room are probably familiar with a common mishap when using color swatches – when paint looks drastically different once it’s on the wall compared to when it was picked from a handheld cardstock square. Despite this being inconvenient, there are ways to overcome the problem.

When faced with color swatches, choosing the perfect color can seem daunting. However, there is an easy process to select the ideal hue for all walls. Firstly, multiple variations of colors should be chosen from the swatches and taken to the area where the painting is going to take place. This is done to assess the colors in the natural lighting of each room. Secondly, they should be compared to the existing decor in the room, including the upholstery fabrics, wall art, and curtains. Finally, the selection of colors should be narrowed down to two or three colors that complement the existing interior.

All colors on a paint strip are variations of the same formula, meaning that they share the same undertones but with different intensities. The bottom color gives the best idea of the undertone and color family. Two color swatches being compared next to one another can also be problematic because they might look similar on paper but have different hues when standing alone. So, if one has to compare similar colors, it must be done on larger sections on the wall.

To easily compare two colors, one should ask for sample amounts of their favorite colors. Most companies have small containers available for that purpose. When considering several paint colors, this can be pricey, but it is worth it.

Nothing is as helpful when choosing a color as being able to see it applied to a wall. To use these samples in a room, one has to brush them on broad sections of the wall, and it is also important to do so at eye level. The larger the section, the better it is for evaluating the color. These test plots can later be painted on, so that shouldn’t be something to worry about. The best way to evaluate the test areas is to let them dry, put some furniture or art next to them and stand in the back of the room to consider them. One should also consider how the colors look at night or in the glow of a lamp.

People who have difficulties with colors can always refer to a professional painter for recommendations. Once the preferred colors have been chosen, an expert can point to the one that has a better sheen and is best for surfaces like drywall, plaster, or panels.