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Cranberry Dutch baby will make you forget about plain pancakes

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Cranberry dutch baby

The best part is how easy they are too. Just throw all the ingredients into a blender, blend, pour and bake. No standing over the stovetop, flipping away pancake by pancake. You can make one big one in a 12-inch skillet, a few smaller ones or even individual Dutch babies in small ramekins. Totally up to you.

Cranberry dutch baby

One bite in, though, and you'll never want a "normal" pancake again.

Cranberry Dutch baby recipe

This German pancake is baked in a skillet, resulting in crispy, puffy edges and a soft center. Top it with whatever you like, but it's the perfect use for leftover Thanksgiving cranberry sauce.

Serves 2

Prep time: 15 minutes | Bake time: 15 minutes | Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2-3 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup leftover cranberry sauce

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  2. To a blender, add the eggs, flour, salt, sugar, milk and vanilla. Blend until smooth, and set aside for 10 minutes at room temperature.
  3. Once the oven is heated, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of butter to a 10-inch oven-safe skillet. Place the skillet into the oven until the butter has melted.
  4. Remove, and swirl the butter around the entire bottom and sides of the skillet.
  5. Pour the batter into the skillet.
  6. Spoon the cranberry sauce in dollops on top of the batter, and place the skillet back into the oven.
  7. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the edges have risen up the skillet sides and started to turn golden brown.
  8. Remove from the oven, top with any additional cranberry sauce, and garnish with powdered sugar.

More Thanksgiving leftover ideas

Creative uses for Thanksgiving leftovers
Turkey cranchiladas

Leftover turkey shepherd's pie


This baby black bear cuddle fest is here to save your day (VIDEO)

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Baby black bears cuddle up

Baby black bears cuddle up

See? It could totally happen! These four 10-month-old bear cubs are purring up a storm, gently caressing one another and sucking at one another's ears. That would all sound totally wrong if we were talking about humans, but with these cubs, it's a totally legit — not to mention adorable — look. They're so sweet with one another, and we. Cannot. Handle. It.

If you need us, we'll be over here, just reevaluating our lives and seeing if bear cubs are available for adoption. Love is love, y'all!

More bears we love

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The impossibly adorable panda slide (VIDEO) 

I will never stop forcing my family to do family game night

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You know what I absolutely adore? The shrill whining of my child and husband as I gather them 'round the hearth, forcing them to spend time with one another. After a long day of work, school-related activities, driving an hour away to get my kid to roller derby on time, folding a few loads of laundry and making a dinner everyone will either shovel, grunting, into their mouths, or pick at petulantly, nothing warms the cockles of my cold heart more than hearing my darling family talk about how badly they want to me to leave them alone so they can relax.

That's when I whip out Settlers of Catan, Quirkle, or Sorry! and glare at the beloved fruit of my loins and love of my life until they shut up and choose a game piece. If I'm feeling particularly petty, I might grab Monopoly off the shelf and ask, innocently, why everyone is looking at me like that.

I will use my dying breath to force my family to spend time with each other, because I think it's important. Also, because I find it funny to watch them get all huffy about it. It's the jerk part of me. It's a large part.

In all seriousness, I do it to offset my extensive bad parenting habits. What's an hour of TV here? A dinner of popcorn and Kool-Aid there? How much damage can a few hours of Xbox really do? I could compensate for my dismal parenting in other places. I could, for instance, sign my kid up for an activity each day of the week and ensure she's too exhausted to complain about dinner or take us all to the art museum, an activity exactly one of us (me) would enjoy.

Or, I could muscle through the initial complaints to get to the part where we're all sitting, coffee and cocoa in hand, fighting over who gets to be the dog, laughing about some silly move that my husband makes. I can pretend to be vastly affronted when my daughter and my husband join forces against me in some benign alliance to take over Catan.

I'm aware that our time together is limited, and dwindling, even now. There will come a time that my daughter won't even want to hang out with me, let alone haggle for possession of St. James Place.

I don't have a particularly exciting legacy to leave my kid. I do laundry. I check reading assignments. Sometimes I write things for the internet, but since the internet will hopefully be broken into a million pieces by the time she gets to use it, she might never read them. She won't remember that time I made subpar chicken marsala or drove her to derby or hounded her to pick up her stupid socks from every conceivable nook and cranny. She won't remember the plot of that extra episode of SpongeBob I let her watch because I had work to finish.

Hopefully, she'll remember game night. Maybe she'll have kids of her own one day and force them to play Zingo and Trivial Pursuit and drown out their whining and force them to bond, dammit. I'll force my family to play games together for as long as it's feasibly possible to do so, because I hope they'll look back and pick out this one good thing.that their dorky mom/wife made them do.

Also, when the internet is broken in Futureland, think about how useful it will be to know all of the rules to Risk. You're welcome, family.

More on game night

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The new Fifty Shades of Grey poster gets seductive (PHOTO)

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Has Dakota Johnson found her own Mr. Grey?

The new poster shows a black and white image of Johnson biting her lower lip in a gesture that would no doubt unravel Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan).

The film's tagline is displayed below her mouth, "Mr. Grey will see you now."

Fifty Shades of Grey Poster
Photo credit: Universal Pictures

Of course, anyone who's read the book knows that this small gesture from Anastasia Steele is a mere tease of what the story holds.

Jamie Dornan and his wife welcome a new baby

Based on the worldwide best-selling book of the same name, Fifty Shades of Grey follows the life of Anastasia Steele and her romance with sexy billionaire, Christian Grey, who introduces her to some darker sexual pleasures.

Don't worry if this poster isn't enough of a tease for you, Universal Pictures also released a 15-second teaser for you to feast your eyes on. In the clip, Christian Grey is getting dressed in his iconic suit.

Fifty Shades of Grey teaser trailer

Fifty Shades of Grey teaser trailer

Still not enough? Well, you're in luck, because another full-length trailer will be released this Thursday sometime during the new episode of Scandal.

Unfortunately, if that still doesn't do it for you, you're going to have to wait until Valentine's Day to see the full movie. And, even then, you won't be seeing it all.

5 Things about Fifty Shades that probably left Charlie Hunnam reaching for Xanax

Dornan recently opened up about stripping down for the film and answered one question all fans have been dying to know: Will there be full-frontal nudity in the film?

"You want to appeal to as wide an audience as possible without grossing them out," Dornan told the Guardian. "You don't want to make something gratuitous, ugly and graphic."

Dornan continued, "There were contracts in place that said that viewers wouldn't be seeing my, um..." Todger (British slang for penis), the Guardian asked, filling in the blank. "Yeah, my todger," Dornan concluded, laughing.

Which scene are you most excited to see in Fifty Shades of Grey?

Adults taste '90s snacks and the results may surprise you (VIDEO)

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90s snacks video

90s snacks video

While most adults probably wouldn't consider watery corn, fun-shaped (whatever shape that is) nuggets and an undefinable (but so chocolaty) brownie dessert a gourmet meal, I'd bet the mac 'n' cheese from my Kid Cuisine (obviously the best part) that if they're 25 to 35, then they wouldn't hate it. The nostalgia alone is worth some taste points, right?

Take a trip down memory lane, and revisit some of your beloved foods from the '90s. You might be surprised how well most of these favorites fared among taste testers. Warning: It could prompt a grocery store run for Push Pops and cans of Beefaroni. Because "Thank goodness for Chef Boyardee!" amirite?

Chef Boyardee GIF

GIF credit: Giphy

Which snack from your childhood do you crave the most?

More food fads

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Food trends from decade to decade
15 Food trends that have been pinned to death

Matt LeBlanc cheating rumors: Why we think they may be true

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The Friends alum was reportedly caught cheating on his girlfriend of eight years at a masked bash in Austin, Texas, on Halloween night, and the incident went down right in front of three In Touch Weekly reporters.

Courteney Cox recalls the first Friends episode (VIDEO)

According to the magazine, the actor "hooked up with several scantily clad women."

The magazine also claims that "he maintained a low profile earlier in the night, but around 1:30 a.m., he started getting very flirty with the bottle service girls." And the reports get even more gross, because the Joey star then "ended up calling two of them over and proceeded to kiss one, the other — and then made the two girls kiss each other. And he did it in front of three In Touch reporters!"

Dean McDermott's confession has us actually cheering him on

The debauchery on the night did not end there. Apparently, after the actor was done with those two women, he moved on to another one, of whom the site has pictures.

The magazine reports, "He moved onto another woman getting very friendly — and handsy— after he'd just crowned her the winner of the costume contest for the My Yacht Club event. He finally called it quits close to 3 a.m. as the party got progressively more wild, with half-naked girls making out all around him!"

Of course, LeBlanc's rep denies these claims and insists that no cheating went on while he was at the party.

Lisa Kudrow feels "too old" for Friends reunion

The actor's rep told In Touch Weekly that he "arrived alone, wasn't seen leaving the party with any women." That doesn't mean nothing happened while he was at the party, though, does it? LeBlanc's rep also told E! News, "That absolutely did not happen. Fans were coming up to him all night asking for pictures."

However, if you look at LeBlanc's past, there could actually be some truth to these claims, because he has previously been caught red-handed. According to Radar Online, in 2005, the actor apologized for "irresponsible behavior" with a stripper while he was still married to his former wife, Melissa McKnight. The pair then divorced one year later, so the actor's cheating could have caused trouble in paradise.

There are also reports from 2010, when actress and model, Holly Magrath, claimed that she had been seduced and then dumped by LeBlanc. According to the Daily Mail, Magrath revealed at the time that she had a fling for three weeks with the actor and spent two nights together in his hotel suite while he was in London.

LeBlanc is now with Anders, and whether the phrase "once a cheater, always a cheater" applies here, we can't know for sure. But in the boozy pictures, LeBlanc doesn't seem to mind this random woman hanging all over him.

Tell us what you think: Do you think these cheating claims are true? Or could it all be false?

3 Big-batch cocktails to get your family buzzed this fall

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These big-batch cocktails will make handling your creepy uncle, your narcissistic sister and your nagging mother-in-law so much easier. Or you'll just be drunk, so then you won't care! Even better, right?

1. Bourbon-cranberry jingle juice recipe

Bourbon, cider and juice — what's not to love? This holiday-inspired cocktail is the perfect big-batch drink for any family gathering.

Serves 8

Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 16 ounces cranberry juice
  • 32 ounces apple cider
  • 12 ounces bourbon
  • 2-3 cinnamon sticks
  • 1-1/2 cups fresh cranberries
  • 2 apples, sliced
  • Ice

Directions: 

  1. In a large pitcher, mix the cranberry juice, apple cider and bourbon.
  2. Stir in the cinnamon sticks, sliced apples and cranberries. Serve over ice.

2. Sparkling pomegranate and rosemary spritzer recipe

Did you know you can put rosemary into a drink? Because you can, and it'll be a game changer. This spritzy cocktail is a dream for any Christmas or New Year's party and will surprise all your guests.

Serves 8

Total time: 8-10 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cups mixed berry juice
  • 1 cup pomegranate juice
  • 2 bottles Champagne
  • 3 sprigs rosemary
  • 1/3 cup pomegranate arils
  • 1 pint blueberries

Directions: 

  1. In a large pitcher, mix together the juices.
  2. Before serving, add in the Champagne, rosemary, pomegranate and blueberries.

3. Spiced red wine sangria with fall fruit recipe

Sangria isn't just for summer, friends! This amazing sangria is perfect for wintertime and is full of fall vegetables like figs, cranberries and pears. You'll want this while you're under the mistletoe, trust me.

Serves 12

Total time: 8 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 2 bottles dry red wine
  • 1-1/2 cups orange juice
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 cups ginger ale
  • 2 cups club soda
  • 2 cups cranberries
  • 1 pear, sliced
  • 1 apple, sliced
  • 6 figs, sliced
  • 1 lemon, cut in half

Directions:

  1. In a large pitcher, mix together all the ingredients.
  2. Serve chilled.

More fall cocktail recipes

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3 Hard apple cider cocktails to delight you this season
3 Candy-inspired cocktails

Best and worst places to live if you're making minimum wage

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Minimum wage map

Description

Photo credit: Michael Jester/Wikimedia

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1.6 million Americans earned the federal minimum wage of $7.25. An additional 2 million Americans earned less than the federal minimum wage, which together accounts for 4.7 percent of all hourly paid workers.

States with the highest minimum wages

The state of Washington currently ranks number one for highest minimum wage at $9.32 per hour as of 2014. Other states with above-average minimum wages include Oregon at $9.10 per hour; Vermont at $8.73 per hour; Connecticut at $8.70 per hour; Illinois, New Jersey and Nevada at $8.25 per hour; and Colorado, California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York at $8.00 per hour. But just because the hourly pay may be higher than the federal minimum wage doesn’t mean you won’t be spending all your money on rent.

To see where your state stands, click here


States with the lowest minimum wages

Almost all states in the Southeast region of the U.S. pay minimum wage with the exception of Florida, which pays $7.93 per hour. Utah, Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and most of the states in the Midwest also pay the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour.

According to USA Today, four states have a state minimum wage level below the federal minimum wage level: Arkansas, Georgia, Minnesota and Wyoming. By law, though, the states must pay whichever minimum wage rate is higher. Like anything, of course, there are exceptions to the rule.

Comparing cost of living with minimum wage

More so than what you make is where you live. If you’re making minimum wage in San Jose, California, for example, it’s going to be much harder to get by than if you were to live in a city with a lower cost of living, such as Oxford, Mississippi.

States with the highest cost of living include Hawaii, where the average home costs more than $400,000, New York, Connecticut, Alaska, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Oregon. While their minimum wage rates are above the federal guideline, if housing and groceries cost you twice as much than in a less expensive state, you’ll have a much harder time surviving than if you were to live in a cheaper area.

States with the lowest cost of living, not surprisingly, include Mississippi, which is ranked number one, Tennessee, Idaho, Oklahoma, Utah, Arkansas, Kentucky and Michigan. These states all pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 or slightly higher. The median home value in Mississippi, though, is $112,000, so even if you could be making $8.00 an hour in New York, you can stretch your dollars much farther in a less expensive state.

The best state to live in if you’re making minimum wage

Based on cost of living and state minimum wage rates, the most affordable place to live in the U.S. is the state of Washington, according to Forbes Magazine. The state’s cost of living is only 2.5 percent higher than the national average, whereas other states that offer higher paying jobs cost 20 percent more. Washington also does not have a state tax, so those that are making minimum wage get to keep more of their checks for living expenses.

Choosing a state with a booming economy will also help your chances of making a salary above the federal or state minimum wage. The average salary in Washington is more than $50,000 per year, giving those that do make minimum wage the chance to move up in their careers and provide them and their families with a better way of life. Smaller towns, such as those in Mississippi or Idaho, may not provide you with the economic means that it would take to make more money.

Of course, when deciding where to live, other factors outside of wages and cost of living should be factored in, too. Do you like the climate? What types of outdoor activities do you enjoy? Do you prefer cultural events or nature? Where does your family live?

Tell us: Could you survive in your state making minimum wage? Share in the comments below!


More on salaries

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4 Killer How to Get Away with Murder theories

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Shonda Rhimes dominates Thursdays


1. Wes

The murder happened right as Wes came into the school. As the misfit of the class, Wes doesn't come from a background of privilege. And we're wondering just exactly how he's affording those hefty law school bills.

We really don't know a lot about his background. Is it just coincidence that he ended up in the apartment he did or is there more to the story than we know? It is a little interesting that right when Wes moved in is when Lila went missing.

We're already seeing that Wes isn't as innocent and naive as everyone initially assumed, given the way he handled things with Annalise. We can't help but wonder if there's even more to him than meets the eye. Perhaps he's our cold-blooded killer after all.

Dear critics: Shonda Rhimes isn't angry, she's just black


2. Annalise

Well, now that it's been confirmed that Lila was pregnant (and it's almost certainly Sam's baby), Annalise had a pretty solid motive to want her dead. Aside from jealousy, she could have been trying to protect her husband by killing Lila. She's already gone out of her way to protect Sam multiple times in the episodes so far because she claims she loves him and can't live without him. Maybe at this point, though, she's also protecting herself.

As the lady who knows how to get away with murder, perhaps she's trying to get away with her own after killing Lila in a fit of rage.

Are two more stars poised to leave Grey's?


3. Bonnie

It's been established multiple times that Bonnie is in love with Sam. Though she idolizes Annalise, did that stop her from pursuing a relationship with her boss's husband? Sometimes they give each other those flirty eyes that suggest there's so much more between them than casual flirtation. How deep does this story go? We're just going to have to keep watching to find out. But if it does, in fact, run any deeper, there's a good chance Bonnie was eliminating the competition and starting with Lila. She definitely seems like the jealous type.

According to an interview with TV Guide, Liza Weil, who plays Bonnie, revealed that "everything is going to change between [Annalise and Bonnie]" following this week's episode.

How to Get Away With Murder premiere: Is it worth the hype?


4. Nate

While he seems like the honorable guy who just got caught up in the affair, Nate's gotten a lot more complicated as the season has progressed. He lied to Annalise and seems really spiteful now that she's protecting Sam against looking guilty in Lila's murder. Not that we blame him for his emotions, necessarily — we're just saying those emotions could have spurred him to some rash actions. We don't think he killed Lila, but we do think there's a good chance he's been watching Sam for a lot longer than Annalise thinks.

Of course, you'll notice we left the obvious suspects (Sam and Rebecca) off this list because, well, they're too obvious. If How to Get Away with Murder has taught us anything so far this season, it's that nothing is what it seems on the surface. And truths are very often manipulated. We're taking that as a pretty clear-cut sign that neither one of them is guilty. Instead, it's someone who's still on the inside, but not the obvious killer just yet.

Who do you think killed Lila?

Dad sings a heartbreaking final lullaby to his dying son (VIDEO)

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Father sings dying newborn a lullabye

Father sings dying newborn a lullabye

Chris and Ashley Picco were happily expecting a baby boy they planned to name Lennon, when disaster struck. She was forced to deliver their infant when she was only 24 weeks pregnant, and she didn't survive his birth. Unfortunately Lennon's prognosis wasn't good, and his grieving father knew their time together was limited.

Their friend reports that during her pregnancy, Ashley noted that their baby seemed to enjoy when music was played nearby. Chris asked if he could bring in his guitar and serenade their little boy during his final hours — a wish that was granted. One of the songs he played, a Beatles song called "Blackbird," was recorded, and his friend uploaded it to YouTube.

Chris reported that little Lennon sadly passed away just a day after this video was made. "My little fighter, Lennon James Picco went to sleep in his daddy's arms late last night," he wrote. "I have been so blessed and honored to love him before he was formed, to cherish him while mommy carried him, meet him face to precious face, and hold his perfect little body while we said 'goodbye for now.'"

Family and co-workers have established a fund for Chris to help him out financially as he goes through this difficult time.

More parenting in the news

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Confessions of a selfish Thanksgiving host

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Maybe I'm not as smart as I think. Maybe my extended family and in-laws are on to me. They are just playing along by agreeing to meet in the most central location with the largest dining table: my house. It makes sense.

Traveling with two toddlers on a holiday is torturous, so I figure I can get away with my homebound excuse for a few more years. My husband and I brought the first grandchild into his side of the family, followed quickly by a sibling and cousins. Since we have the kids and are located in the middle of all family members in the area, we have the upper hand. For now.

It may seem counterintuitive to offer to host Thanksgiving if you have small children, but I promise you that this plan is brilliant. If you have yet to mastermind an elaborate Thanksgiving meal on your turf, you might think it tedious and laborious. It isn't. It is effortless and kind of manipulative — if you play your cards right.

Since everyone in the family has agreed to come to us (and I always make sure to ask if anyone else would like to host just to play nice), I am automatically in charge of divvying up the Thanksgiving menu. Potluck style, what else?

My husband has become obsessed with deep-frying turkey in the backyard — cliché, but delicious. I really like making my grandmother's stuffing recipe and mashed sweet potatoes. I again nicely ask everyone in the family what dish they would like to bring, with the exception of my single brother-in-law who has proven time and again that he can destroy a deceptively simple dish like green bean casserole. (Burnt and topped with cheese? I do not understand.) 

The response? No one cares. Their emails are laced with gratitude at our generosity for hosting. So, I assign all the unwanted or complicated dishes that I don't want to deal with like the Thanksgiving tyrant I am. Rustic roost vegetables for mother-in-law? Check. Store-bought pumpkin and pecan pies for my dad? Check. Premade rolls and Cool Whip for hapless brother-in-law? Check, check.

I am a selfish jerk genius. I make one or two easy dishes on Thanksgiving and get to kick back and enjoy the fruits of my devious delegation. Everyone in my family thanks me for hosting, and I never have to leave the house.

More on holidays

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Turkey crafts for Thanksgiving
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This DIY watercolor canvas makes crafting look easy (VIDEO)

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Here are the supplies you'll need and instructions on how to do it. It is so simple, you could even have the kids help you or give them there own mini canvas to make their own creation. The canvas would make a great addition to an empty hallway or bathroom.

Supplies:

  • Faber-Castell Gelatos
  • Stipple brush
  • Spray bottle
  • Canvas
  • Spray dyes
  • Craft sealant

Instructions:

  1. Use the Gelatos to create your basic layout.
  2. Use the stipple brush to move the medium around the canvas.
  3. Spray water onto the medium.
  4. Use the stipple brush to move the medium around.
  5. Layer in spray dyes.
  6. Seal
  7. Embellish

More simple crafts

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The 10 most hysterical comments on Food.com's ice cube recipe

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And since this is the internet, I'm sure you can imagine how people responded. The recipe comments perfectly parodied the 10 types of people who review recipes online.

Below are our 10 favorite reviews of "Ice Cubes" on Food.com.

1. The morally superior chef

"I harvest my own free-range water, so the idea of putting it in a plastic tray and a commercially made electricity-wasting freezer disgusts me. I prefer nature's method, waiting until the temperature outside drops below freezing." — donquix66

2. The dissatisfied customer

"This recipe is horrible! Maybe I should have left them in longer than two minutes (the recipe doesn't say how long to leave them in the freezer so I just kind of guessed) but mine came out all watery. I won't be making these again." — Chef #1408275

3. The lazy cook

"I was wondering if you had a crock-pot version for this recipe. I work long hours and I just don't have the time to invest in this kind of hands-on cooking, but they really look yummy." — hollyluya

4. The displeased substituter

"I made a few adjustments...... used a pot instead of trays. boiled instead of freezing. Added salt, potatoes, carrots and beef to the water. It turned out more like soup instead of ice cubes. Next time I will make a few more adjustments to try and get this recipe to work for me." — Carambola

5. The happy substituter

"It looked a bit thin so I added some kidney beans (half of a 15 oz. can) and some chicken stock. Try it, you'll like it!" — Everbody

6. The one they'd been waiting for

"I wish I had found this recipe over the summer. My iced tea and lemonade were so warm. I just knew something was missing. TIP...you have to carry the tray to the freezer VERY SLOWLY so you don't spill any water. Thank you SO much for posting! My family loved it, so this one's definitely a keeper!" — Zoesmama

7. The international input

"Thank you for your recipe. We make something very similar in Guatemala. Our version is called hielo, and instead of water we use agua." — elgordo111

8. The worrywart

"I will be going out of town for about a week. Do you think it will be OK to leave these in the freezer while I am gone? I love these and don't want to do anything to mess them up while I am gone!" — TansGram

9. "That guy"

"Way to much water taste for my family! Terrible recipe, avoid at all costs" — tferrara

10. The clueless cook

"wow! I don't know what I am doing wrong. I have tried this recipe 2 times now and i just don't see what all the fuss is about. I will have to read the reviews and see what people are doing differently. I did leave out the 2 cups water because my kids dont care for water, but aside from that I followed it exactly." — hidenken

Do you think you'll be tackling this difficult recipe any time soon?

More food humor

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9 Predictions for Supernatural's Clue-themed episode

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Now that Dean is human again and the boys have hunted some werewolves and been to a musical about their own lives, it's time for the boys to have a new adventure. The next episode, titled "Ask Jeeves," promises lots of hilarity as the boys find themselves in a situation that could end up looking very much like the movie, Clue.

Exactly how you'll feel at a Supernatural convention — in GIFs

Here's the official episode synopsis from the CW:

Dean (Jensen Ackles) is surprised when he checks Bobby's cell phone and hears a message that says Bobby or his next of kin have been named as a beneficiary in an heiress' will. Hoping that means extra money, Dean talks Sam (Jared Padalecki) into hitting the road to claim their fortune. However, what they encounter at the house is far from a treasure chest. John MacCarthy directed this episode written by Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder.

Based on the synopsis and the photos from the episode, we're predicting there will be a few scenes reminiscent of the famous whodunit.

1. The cops will show up

Just take a look at the photo below. The guy in the suit (not the tux) is definitely a cop of some kind. We'd bet our lives on it.

Supernatural - Ask Jeeves

2. Sam will try and hide the crime

If there's a cop snooping around, chances are it's because a crime has happened. If it's supernatural-related or not, the boys will still need to hide it from the real authorities. We think Sam will be the one to do that. Doesn't he look a little shady in this photo?

Supernatural - Ask Jeeves

3. Dean will suspect the rich wife

An inheritance, a mansion, a crime that needs to be hidden — all of these add up to a suspicious, wealthy wife. Did she kill her husband to get his money and is now trying to keep Sam and Dean from getting it? We don't know, but we do know that Dean looks awfully suspicious of the woman in this photo.

Supernatural - Ask Jeeves

9 Supernatural 200th episode pics that gave us a fangirl meltdown

4. The maid will sleep with Sam or Dean

Poor Dean probably needs a little relaxation after coming from being a demon. But take a look at the photo below and see how the maid is eyeing Sam. So, she could end up going for either one of them.

Supernatural - Ask Jeeves

5. A dead body will have to be hidden

One of the best scenes in Clue came when the group had to hide a dead body from the authorities. They went through all kinds of shenanigans to keep the secret and we can't wait to see Sam and Dean do the same thing.

Clue gif - body

GIF credit: Giphy.com

6. Everyone will get split up and go flying around the house

Talk about hilarity. Can you imagine Sam and Dean splitting up into separate groups and each one tearing all over the house looking for the murderer or monster? So can we, and that's why we want to see it.

Clue gif - crazy

GIF credit: Giphy.com

7. Sam will be Mrs. Peacock

In Clue, Mrs. Peacock always tried to keep the peace and act appropriately in any given situation. But when things got crazy, she also lost her mind a little bit. We can so see Sam stepping right into that role.

Clue gif - Mrs Peacock

GIF credit: Giphy.com

8. Dean will be Mr. Green

Through most of the film, Mr. Green walked around like he had no idea what was happening. But underneath his clueless demeanor, he was actually a guy in complete control. That definitely sounds like Dean to us.

Clue gif - Mr Green

GIF credit: Giphy.com

Proof the new Supernatural will rock, thanks to Jensen Ackles

9. Someone, we don't care who, will talk about flames on their face

Because this scene just has to happen. We don't care how or when or to whom.

Clue gif - flames

GIF credit: Giphy.com

Check out how many Clue references end up in the next episode of Supernatural, which airs on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 9/8c on the CW.

Delicious baked peppers stuffed with quinoa, black beans and cheese

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This dish has become a healthy staple in our home starting in the fall and throughout the winter. My baked stuffed peppers recipe has quinoa and black beans for some healthy protein and plenty of vegetables for extra taste. Hope you enjoy!

Prep Time:

  • 15 Minutes
  • Cook 30 Minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 can of black beans (Eden Foods are the best)
  • 1/2 cup chopped onions
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1 cup chopped mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 1-1/2 cup sliced tomatoes
  • Coconut oil
  • Shredded cheese

Photo credit: Ambitious Kitchen

Directions:

  1. Cook quinoa, one cup of quinoa to two cups of water. Boil the water and add the quinoa and bring to a simmer. Add in a spoonful of coconut oil to give the quinoa a little bit of sweetness.
  2. Cut the tops off of the peppers (you can use any color you like!) and set chopped peppers aside.
  3. Chop up all of the veggies, including the tops of the peppers, and place into a skillet with a spoonful of coconut oil. Cook until veggies are tender. Add in tomatoes, black beans (make sure you rinse the beans or buy low sodium) and quinoa once the veggies have been cooked.
  4. Reduce heat to low, cover skillet and simmer for about 10 minutes.
  5. Spoon everything into the peppers and place them into an 8 x 8-inch baking dish.
  6. Add the shredded cheese to your liking. You don't have to put any if you want to keep it extra healthy.
  7. Bake in the preheated oven until the peppers are tender.
  8. Serve and enjoy.
Photo credit: Ambitious Kitchen

Interstellar: 8 Burning questions you'll have after watching

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I think it's safe to assume that if you're reading this article, you've seen the movie and have questions, too. If I'm wrong about that, I should probably warn you about spoilers. Obviously, this article has a lot of them.

Let's dive in.

1. Why didn't NASA know about him?

Photo credit: Giphy.com

Matthew McConaughey's character, Cooper, is introduced as a farmer who is also an engineer, a pilot and an astronaut. Conveniently, he lives within driving distance of NASA's secret hideout, yet no one at NASA knows this until his daughter's mysterious room "ghost" leads him to their door. For such a desperate time, it seems strange that NASA didn't recruit him for this mission on their own, especially since he was already trained and happened to live so close.

2. Why didn't Cooper listen when Murph's "ghost" spelled out "STAY"?

Considering this "ghost" had just given him the coordinates to NASA's hidden facility, you'd think Cooper would have listened when it warned him not to go on this dangerous mission... but, no.

3. Who the hell are "They," and why do they care about us?

In the film, NASA has detected a mysterious wormhole near Saturn that is believed to have been put there by an advanced civilization that the characters refer to as "They." But who are "They," exactly?

For the answer to this question, I turned directly to a producer of the film, theoretical physicist Kip Thorne. In his book The Science of Interstellar, he explains, "'They' are actually Us. They are future descendants of the human race that have evolved beyond our 4-dimensional universe (3 space dimensions, and 1 time dimension), into the 5-dimensional universe 'They' occupy."

But wait... that leads to my next question.

4. Isn't there a time paradox in here somewhere?

If "They" are us, and we are "Them," then would we really have been in this situation to begin with? I mean, isn't that basically saying we already figured out how to survive this major catastrophe on our own, without "Them" helping us?

5. Where did that tsunami come from?

Once the crew begins exploring space, almost everything you see seems make-believe, but most of it is actually backed by some incredible science.

Thorne explains that the massive waves you see when the crew visits Miller's planet are caused by the tidal pull of Gargantua (the black hole), as well as the position and speed of the planet's orbit, how it rotates, its centrifugal force and even its deformed egg-like shape. Pretty much everything that could be factored in, was. And, according to the math, these tsunamis would rock this planet approximately once per hour.

6. What's that you say? An ice cloud?

Photo credit: Giphy.com

Yes. According to Thorne, the clouds you see in the atmosphere of Mann's planet are presumably frozen carbon dioxide, or dry ice. He imagined this planet had an extremely elliptical orbit around Gargantua, which caused it to move a great distance away (freezing the CO2 in the atmosphere), then pass extremely close to the black hole when it came back around. As the planet heated, the frozen CO2 would then vaporize.

What I couldn't find, however, was an explanation for what kept those huge chunks of ice in the air when the planet wasn't warm.

7. How could Cooper survive falling into a black hole?

Photo credit: Giphy.com

Thorne claims that Gargantua's mass was 100 million times bigger than the mass of our sun, but that recent science has discovered that not all black holes contain the extreme singularity that we often associate with them. Some actually have what he calls a "gentle singularity" and because of that, he says that it's possible that Cooper could have survived this.

Personally, I'm calling BS. You can't say a "gentle" lion is the same thing as a kitten, and you can't say a "gentle" black hole won't kill a human. You just can't.

Thankfully, Thorne also presents the explanation that "They" rescued Cooper from his almost certain death. Which brings me to my next question.

8. What the hell happened in that black hole? My head is spinning

Photo credit: Giphy.com

Inside the black hole, rather than being turned into human spaghetti, Cooper finds himself in what the film calls the "tesseract." The tesseract is a 3-dimensional representation of space created by "Them," the 5th dimensional beings. In it, Cooper's place in space-time is "docked" to the bookcase in Murph's room, across an infinite period of time, which gives him access to every slice of time that took place in that room.

Weird? Yes. A little creepy? I think so. But the main point that is ultimately revealed is that Cooper was, in fact, Murph's ghost. This in itself generates hundreds of questions, but my primary question is this: Rather than spelling out the message "S-T-A-Y," why didn't Cooper just send the quantum data back to himself through Morse code? Couldn't he have then taken that information to Professor Brand back on Earth and solved the entire dilemma?

Even though watching this film left me with so many questions, that was exactly what I loved about it. Even more, it's precisely the reason I will be watching this film again.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler is mourning the sudden death of her brother

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Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Cutter Dykstra are brand-new parents

Adam was in the hospital and remained in a coma after suffering a hemorrhage on Tuesday when Jamie-Lynn posted a photo on her Facebook page of herself with her older brother. Friends and family posted messages of well-wishes and commented on the photo, which depicted Jamie-Lynn and Adam beaming for the camera.

"My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Jamie," someone wrote on Jamie-Lynn's Facebook wall. This accompanied a slew of other comments that told the actress how much they are all thinking about her and her loved ones.

Celebrity deaths of 2014

According to sources, the hemorrhage was a total shock as Adam was in perceived good health before the ill-fated incident. "He was engaged. He was such a funny, amazing man. He was an incredible uncle who was loved by all his friends and family. He will be greatly missed," an insider told Us Weekly.

Adam, who had a strong resemblance to Jamie-Lynn, was the oldest of three siblings, including middle brother Brian. He was not in show business like his sister and held a job as a stockbroker.

Celebrity Death Rule of Threes: 6 Times this actually happened

"Adam was always so happy and inspired Jamie to be a better person every day," another source said. "She loved him dearly and will miss him more than anyone can ever imagine. The family was with him every second he was in a coma and was surrounded by his entire family when he passed."

Why I’m against the no-homework policy that schools are adopting

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And I must say that I'm a bit old-school; I still think kids should be respectful, have manners, work hard, and be challenged to go above and beyond what we expect them to do. I want to raise scholars. I have five kids, four at home, and there's nothing more that I want than for them to be excellent at math and science, able to figure out algorithms with ease, pen amazing prose and become well-rounded students in every subject they're introduced to.

I want my brood to be academic beasts, slamming the SAT like it's an elementary test and later offered full-ride scholarships because they've scored and soared so high. All so I can kick back, put my feet up and bask, brag and boast about how my kid's achievements are better than yours. (Isn't that what all parents want to do?)

A full scholarship means that I can keep my pockets intact and don't have to pinch pennies to ensure they can afford it. My husband and I want to be proud knowing that our children have been fully prepared in school. And getting them ready starts right now with ensuring that their curriculum is aligned with rigorous state standards and that their teachers are helping them meet challenges in the classroom and touch on every standard they have in that grade.

But meeting the needs of the Common Core in Georgia is difficult and hard when there is no homework. And many schools these days are opting for a no-homework policy.

Having no homework is a contentious debate among parents; those who want their kids to be very scheduled, driven and ambitiously focused at school are the ones who want their kids to do homework and learn necessary life skills that will help them advance. And then there are the parents who want a more child-centered life with their kids, who want their kids to be able to explore different aspects of themselves, and they want their kids to have free time.

There is no right or wrong answer to this. It actually depends on what outcome you want for your kid.

Somehow I think many parents don't understand how competitive this world is and what's required of kids in order for them to meet the challenges ahead. Many parents feel frustrated because of the hours of homework their child is doing. Other reasons parents are against homework include:

  • Their children are overwhelmed, trying to cram homework in between their busy after-school schedules.
  • Parents don't know the material and confuse their kids when they try to help them.
  • Bonding between parents and children is often compromised by homework battles.
  • Parents feel the time the child should be allowed to spend with family and rest and play is compromised by the looming responsibility of performing hours of homework drudgery.

But when a child has a good teacher and does not receive busy work, but instead receives work that reinforces what's done in the class, homework, in my opinion, works.

Photo credit: woodleywonderworks/flickr

Here are my top reasons why homework works:

  • Common Core is daunting. Doing homework will prepare students for the big end tests. There's so much material to cover in Common Core and doing homework helps to reinforce learning. Without doing homework, many students will not retain info.
  • Teaching Responsibility. Let's be real: Parents sometimes enable their kids. If you come to your child's defense all the time and do everything for them, are they really learning responsibility? Unless you want them to live with you until they are 35, then you need to let go of the reins a bit and allow them to learn to meet the challenges of doing homework. And your kids will learn to be punctual by turning in their work on time.
  • Study Habits. It helps your child develop positive study skills and habits that will serve him/her well throughout life.
  • Managing Time. Homework encourages your child to use time wisely.
  • Reinforcement. We all know kids are good at saying they've forgotten something they've recently learned. Doing homework helps them to become more familiar and eventually helps them to master the content with a greater understanding of it.

My kids get homework from their teachers, and as a teacher I know just how much their time and instruction in the classroom is limited. There is no way I'd opt for no homework especially since I truly want my kids to excel and get offers from Harvard, Yale, Brown and other top Ivy League schools. Do you think the students at those schools spent their evenings in their childhood riding their bikes every day and playing with play dough? Or do you think they spent their evenings doing research and reading books? And after my kids do their homework, we still have plenty of time to sit around and talk and laugh and enjoy time together. And if they do have anxiety about homework, that's where I kick in and teach them coping skills, not cop-out skills.

In my opinion, if my kids did not do homework, they would not be the strong students they are. My game plan is to set my kids apart from the others. And when they are up against other students who don't put in as much time as they have, they always rise above them. Mission accomplished. Hey, it's competitive out there. But make the choice that's best for what you want your child to achieve.

Photo credit: Voyagerix/iStock/360/Getty Images

Mama June admitted to dating and having a child with another sex offender

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Honey Boo Boo cuddled in bed with sister's molester and 9 more accusations

In case you missed it, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo matriarch Mama June Shannon sparked outrage when rumors emerged that she had rekindled her romance with her old flame Mark McDaniel, who happens to be a convicted child molester. He is also the same man that her eldest daughter Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell claims molested her when she was just 8 years old.

There have been a lot of disturbing stories emerging since the news first broke about Mama June and her sick taste in men, but the latest news will undoubtedly shock you: McDaniel was not Mama June's first relationship with a sex offender.

In a bombshell interview with Entertainment Tonight, Mama June revealed that she has also dated another registered sex offender named Michael Anthony Ford. Ford served time for sexual exploitation of minors after being caught on To Catch a Predator in 2005, Entertainment Tonight reports — and he's her daughter Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon's real dad (as well as her older daughter Jessica's father).

"I have nothing to hide, I have nothing to lose," Mama June told the outlet. "I just want, honestly, to tell my side of the story and let's move on."

Pumpkin was raised believing that McDaniel was her father, and after her sister Anna opened up about the abuse, there has been tension between the two siblings. Now, Mama June is finally willing to reveal who her second-youngest daughter's real father is.

Anna Cardwell exposes the horrible, full extent of Mama June's betrayal

"Since 2 months to almost 6 years, she knew nobody but him," Mama June explained. "She was starting to resent Anna and she was starting to ask me questions. I can't answer those questions for Pumpkin."

Mama June claims that she met up with McDaniel to allow her daughter Pumpkin to get closure about the whole situation.

"I was sitting right there with 12 other people," she told the outlet. "It was a conversation that she wanted her answers: what happened, why did he leave, you know, if he was her real father. He admitted to her, no. I had already told her that but, you know, she wanted to hear from both sides of the story."

Speaking of Pumpkin and her other 18-year-old daughter Jessica's father, Ford, Mama June said, "Jessica and Pumpkin have the same dad, but Jessica's dad has had nothing to do with her over the years. So, why the hell would I open up that can of worms until today? I lied to my family and told them it was somebody else."

We have a feeling this is not the last bombshell that is revealed about Mama June and her sick choice in men.

8 Fab photos of Richard Simmons that prove we need him back in our lives

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The fitness guru has been keeping a super-low profile for most of the year (although he is active on Facebook and frequently posts photos there), and TMZ claims he has fallen into a deep depression over the looming necessity of a second knee replacement surgery. That's devastating for his legions of fans who have gained nothing but joy and inspiration from his wild antics.

We hope Simmons sees these photos and remembers how incredibly awesome he is.

Richard Simmons

Photo credit: Mr. Blue/WENN.com

Because nobody does a leg lift in Beetlejuice pants quite like him.

Richard Simmons with Miley Cyrus

Richard Simmons with Miley Cyrus

Because anyone who's a friend of Miley's is a friend of ours.

Richard Simmons

Photo credit: Ryan/WENN.com

Because "Elton John at the gym" is his preferred style of workout gear — and it's fabulous!

Richard Simmons

Photo credit: WENN.com

Because he'll stop at nothing to protect this hedge from the prying eyes of the paparazzi. Nothing.

Richard Simmons

Photo credit: WENN

Because this is his idea of going nude, and it's better than most of Hollywood.

Richard Simmons

Photo credit: Dominic Chan/WENN.com

Because was twerking way before Miley and TSwift.

RIchard Simmons

Photo credit: WENN

Because forget the Black Swan — he is the Orange Swan and he wears the shit out of those pearls.

Richard Simmons

Photo credit: Carrie Devorah/WENN

Because this is what happens when he visits Congress.

9 Other dudes in tights besides Richard Simmons

Obviously, a man who brings such joy to his public deserves a little joy in return. Post your favorite Richard Simmons moments on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #SaveRichard and we'll make sure he sees them.

Richard, we hope that if something is bringing you down, you'll feel the love from #SaveRichard and let it bring you back up!

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