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Shiplap, used indoors or out, introduces texture to rooms. It offers a rustic, relaxed alternative to smooth, unadorned walls; it can be painted nearly any color and used on a ceiling, as an accent wall (if you believe they’re still in style), or as an all-wall covering. And anything shiplap can do, board and batten can do, too. Courtesy of Ashton Woods Like shiplap and other siding styles—think beadboard and tongue-and-groove—board and batten is a relatively simple wood construction that can be added to any preexisting wall (good news for remodelers and renovators)....

Chef’s Knife While chopping large or very firm vegetables, a good 8- to 10-inch chef’s knife throws its weight around―literally. If you use it properly, its heft does most of the work for you. “A big hammer lets you put a nail in a beam with fewer strokes,” says Norman Weinstein. “The same principle applies to a chef’s knife.” Best for cutting: potatoes (regular or sweet), onions, carrots, peppers, celery, meat...

Yes, getting sick is the worst, but what’s more, the fewer flu patients this year, the less strain on the healthcare systems working hard to treat and fight other viruses. So staying healthy is a double win. Here’s what you and your family should know to stay one step ahead of seasonal cold and flu viruses, which typically peak during cold-weather months. In the past 35 years, peak flu season has most commonly occurred between October and May, and has most frequently peaked in February....

Migraines hit when the brain sends signals out to the nerves that cause inflammation of the blood vessels and sensitivity of nerve endings. The nerves then send electrical signals into the brain. What patients end up experiencing is a sharp, often one-sided pounding that lasts for hours or even days and a bevy of associated problems, such as queasiness, sensitivity to light and sound, and, in 20 to 30 percent of sufferers, an aura (a transient sensation, like flashes of light or tingling in one arm)....

Many other disorders of the digestive system (which includes your mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines) can also cause nausea. Examples include Crohn’s disease and gastroparesis, a condition that slows down stomach emptying. “If you’re experiencing long-lasting nausea, [especially with] symptoms such as bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation, visit your doctor to find out the cause,” says Dr. Kelley. On that note, is nausea a sign of a COVID-19 infection? In some cases, yes (but don’t panic)....

When shopping for chicken breasts, you have a few main options to consider: boneless or bone-in, and skinless or skin-on. Boneless breasts cook the fastest, but are easy to overcook and dry out if you’re not careful. On the other hand, bone-in breasts take longer to cook, but more reliably yield succulent meat. As for the skin, chicken skin contains a lot of flavor, holds in moisture, and can get nice and crispy with the right technique....

We also know that a happy gut is a healthy gut. Although constipation can be linked to more serious medical conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it’s often our diet that is the culprit. The good news is, it’s not too difficult to start adding in the foods you need to keep things moving. Give it some time. “If you can make a consistent lifestyle change for two weeks, you’ll likely start to see some changes,” says Sanaa Arastu, MD, a gastroenterologist with Austin Gastroenterology....

Make Ahead Dip can be made up to 2 days in advance; cover and refrigerate.