If you want to add a little protein to the dish, feel free to add in some leftover chicken, or throw in some cheese when making the stuffing. The additions could be endless (and delicious).
Image: Brandy O'Neill/SheKnows
Roasted butternut squash filled with homemade stuffing recipe
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the butternut squash lengthwise, and remove the seeds.
Rub the insides of the squash with olive oil, and season with kosher salt and pepper.
Roast the squash for about 40 minutes or until tender. The size of the squash will determine how long it has to roast.
Once the squash is soft, remove most of the squash insides, and combine it with the dried seasoned stuffing mix and 1/2 cup of vegetable stock. Stir to combine, and let sit for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, check to see the moisture level of the stuffing. If it needs more stock, add it in now.
Stuff the stuffing into the butternut squash halves, and roast for another 20 minutes, until browned on top.
But a new study indicates that, for healthy women, that degree of abstention is unnecessary, and most healthy women could actually benefit from a light meal during labor.
According to new research presented at the 2015 annual meeting of anesthesiology, the recommendation against eating or drinking anything during labor was made in the 1940s due to the concern that the woman might inhale food or drink into her lungs, which can lead to pneumonia. Improvements in anesthesia in the decades since then have made occasions of aspiration virtually nonexistent in laboring women.
In fact, researchers say there was only one case of aspiration during labor between 2005 and 2013 in the U.S., and that woman was reportedly experiencing a high-risk pregnancy with a complicated birth. In healthy mothers with low-risk pregnancies, the order to abstain from everything but ice chips seems unwarranted.
On top of all that, labor is very hard work to do on an empty stomach.
"The energy and caloric demands of laboring women are similar to those of marathon runners," said study co-author Christopher Harty.
You wouldn't tell a marathon runner to fast during a race, and according to the researchers, it looks like telling laboring women to fast actually has the potential to make labor last even longer.
"Without adequate nutrition, women's bodies will begin to use fat as an energy source, increasing acidity of the blood in the mother and infant, potentially reducing uterine contractions and leading to longer labor and lower health scores in newborns," the study says.
Not being allowed to eat or drink also adds another layer of stress to an already excruciating experience, and the recommendation against all eating and drinking is not universal either. I delivered my baby in Germany and I was given plenty of water during labor. Nobody ever told me to stop eating either, and I had a backpack full of granola bars with me, pretty much just like a marathon runner.
According to the researchers, eating and drinking during labor is not recommended for everyone. High-risk patients with factors that can increase the risk of aspiration — including eclampsia, pre-eclampsia, obesity and the use of opioids to manage labor pain — are still advised to abstain from all eating and drinking.
For healthy, low-risk pregnancies, however, being allowed to eat a light meal looks like it can improve maternal comfort and energy. Given the physical drawbacks of fasting during labor and the near total lack of risk of aspiration in low-risk deliveries, it seems silly to make healthy, laboring women follow outdated medical advice from the 1940s. Healthy women who feel hungry should ask their doctors if it would be safe to have a snack during labor.
To date, we had seen gratuitous girl kisses between characters on both Roseanne and L.A. Law, placement for shock value aimed at ratings rather than considered cultural education. Before that, we were limited to Liberace, whose musical grace allowed him the freedom of comic caricature — and to veiled, slightly bitter references made by Paul Lynde and Truman Capote in the course of Merv Griffin's late show couch.
Stereotypes were either mincing or menacing depending on the movie of the week, like Making Love (1982), starring Kate Jackson. Even 1982's motion picture, box office hit Victor/Victoria relied heavily on stereotype in order to be palatably presented to the public.
Ellen's coming out party
The year before Will & Grace debuted, Ellen Degeneres took a huge step. "The Puppy Episode" was a metaphoric title deliberately leaked by series producers for what we all guessed would be a coming out party. It was high time.
Having already built a standard audience, in 1997 Ellen gave LGBTQ folks a nervous grin of acknowledgement that sent North American queers into clubs, bars and houseparties around the centerpiece of television for the big night. Shored up by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Demi Moore, Melissa Etheridge and k.d. lang, the big beans finally got spilled.
Ellen, bless her heart, got the ball launched, but then seemed to get swept up in her own avalanche of long-muted subject matter. The show's weekly themes became one-note, and fans of all identities missed the easy comedic flow of the original series. Ellen Degeneres paid a heavy price professionally, but the television screen door she crashed through would never be able to close again.
Will & Grace proved queer relationships were a lot like hetero ones
Along came Will & Grace — leavened by a straight woman lead character pre-destined to learn the finer points of relationships, business and how to throw a great brunch through her sexually-non-threatening BFF who happens to be a gay man. It was a good start, and
Over time, the show took on storylines about Will's struggles with romance. The writers didn't resort to limp-wristed foppishness — unless the character was deliberately making fun of himself. In Will's character development, we finally got to go beyond the frothy whipped topping — and the teeth-cringing chew of tinfoil wrapping — to some of the full flavors of a queer relationship sundae. Dates made mistakes. Hearts got broken. Eye candy and innuendo were no longer enough.
Will and Grace's love lives were revealed to have much more in common than not, and TV viewers finally got the point. Having a pop-culture reference in common made supper table coming-out conversations between family members a lot easier. By 2001, we were all ready for Queer as Folk — well, maybe we were almost ready.
While most of us would love a dedicated home office, the truth is, not all of us have the space. In fact, many of us have to rely on cramped quarters or a desk shoved into the corner of our bedroom for work space. No matter how your work area is set up, there are a few things you can do to make it more comfortable, better organized and easier on the eyes — all of which can improve focus and motivation.
1. Avoid traffic
If you don't have a dedicated office space with a door you can close, definitely set up your space well out of the regular flow of household traffic. For starters, you don't want to be constantly distracted by the comings and goings of your family members or pets, but you also want to set up a home office that inspires you to work, and stay working. If it's simply part of your home, you may feel more like you're hanging out at home than putting in time and paying the bills, and it can also cause other family members to feel like you're not "really" working — which of course we know is not true.
The walls that surround you as you work are a canvas that you shouldn't ignore. Many traditional outside-the-house offices have walls that are painted white, and even the walls of your home may be bathed in shades of alabaster. If so, consider changing it out to a soothing, cooler color — studies have shown that white walls can increase errors and erode your productivity. Not up for painting your whole office or room? Buy some posterboard on a cool color like light green or blue (and a couple of cheap frames) and hang them up on the walls you face for an easy productivity boost.
3. Strive for natural light
Natural light is best on your eyes and your mental state (if you've stared at a monitor for hours on end, you know what we mean). If you absolutely have no windows in your home office, use mirrors to channel some sunlight into your work space — even a series of them if you have to.
Most of us who work from home have a variety of devices that need to be charged. A USB hub is the logical choice — one device uses a single plugin for several charging cables — but even setting that up can be a nightmare. Designate a single surface for this purpose (for example, the top of a bookshelf or filing cabinet) and tuck excess cables back out of sight.
5. Add another surface
Available surface space is one of the most common complaints of those who work from home (and let's face it, even those who work in a traditional office), so pick up one or two small side tables to give yourself more room to spread out. We love these inexpensive side tables from Ikea, which are small enough that they don't take up tons of room but can really ease your cramped-up, stressed-out mind when you need to go through multiple documents.
Forget about buying yet another storage container for just that one purpose — get a label maker and convert all your storage to usable, organized space. Label makers for the home can be pretty darn fancy (and editable), which can make your efforts far easier. Having clear labels will help motivate you to actually keep things where they need to go, which can result in less clutter and less distraction.
The time came for me to overcome my fear. Maybe I could make them in a different, tastier way than Mrs. Huxtable. It was time to experiment in the kitchen. I knew I was on to something when my husband, another self-proclaimed Brussels sprout hater, yelled out "Mmm! Something smells good!"
When it came time for the taste test, we were both a little nervous, but they smelled amazing. So, we mustered our nerve and took a bite. Wow, what have I been missing all my life? Not only do Brussels sprouts look like adorable, little heads of cabbage, but they also perfectly pick up the flavor of what they are cooked in. In this recipe, Brussels sprouts are sautéed in olive oil, shallots and dried cranberries. They are sweet, savory and keep you coming back for more. I know Rudy Huxtable would have had a different opinion of Brussels sprouts if she would have tried these.
For me, Halloween was all about one thing and one thing only — candy. I loved making treat bags to hand out at school, doling out handfuls to the kids that rang our doorbell and creating a stash just for me.
Flash-forward to about fifteen years later. I still don’t dress up, and I certainly don’t go trick-or-treating, but I’m as obsessed as ever with Halloween candy. You should see my pantry — or maybe you shouldn’t.
A lot of candies go quickly. Since I’m allergic to chocolate (I know), sour gummy pumpkins are like gold in my house. They disappear without warning. One candy that I know sticks around in houses across the country, and probably across the world, is candy corn.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a couple pieces of candy corn now and then, but more than that and even my sweet tooth can’t handle it. So, what do you do with all that leftover candy corn, staring at you, nearing its expiration date (do you even still have some from last year, just like me)?
You make Butterfingers.
I know, more candy; but homemade candy is a real treat. Plus, it’s fun to make with kids. You can make them now and stash them in the freezer to use as holiday gifts — or snack on when the craving strikes.
The magic starts with candy corn and peanut butter. It really is kind of like magic how these two ingredients taste just like the inside of a Butterfinger. They have a great peanut flavor with a bit of chew and plenty of sweetness thanks to the candy corn.
Now, it’s time for the coating. Like I mentioned, I’m allergic to chocolate, so I used carob chips to coat my homemade candy, but you can use white, milk or dark chocolate — whatever sounds good. I think dark would work best since the base is rather sweet, but experiment if you like.
Now, you’ll be buying extra candy corn just so you can make more Butterfingers!
Image: Laura Dembowski/SheKnows
Homemade Butterfingers recipe
Ingredients:
3 cups candy corn
1-1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
About 24 ounces dark, milk or white chocolate or carob chips
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
Directions:
Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the candy corn in 30-second increments on high, stirring in-between until it is almost fully melted.
Add the peanut butter and stir to combine.
Continue to microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in-between, until the mixture is fully melted and combined.
Pour into the prepared pan and smooth into an even layer. Work quickly because it hardens fast.
Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
Once the base is firm, cut it into bite-sized pieces using a sharp knife, serrated works best since it is difficult to cut through.
Melt the coating of your choice — carob, white, milk or dark chocolate chips — with the shortening in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between.
Once melted, coat the pieces of the candy.
Set on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Once all the candies have been coated, place the sheet in the refrigerator until they are firm, about an hour.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze, wrapped in plastic and foil and placed in a zipper bag for up to 3 months.
Tanay Jackson may not be one of the Jacksons, but she's definitely made a name for herself. And that was before her "brothers" came knocking at her door with a camera crew in tow. By all accounts, Tanay has been a part of the fam — or at least has claimed to be — for years now. So why the sudden interest in shutting her down? Jealousy? Drama? Ratings? Yes, yes and yes. The thirst is real. And it's starting to look like 3T's trying to sip on some of Tanay Jackson's fame.
The DNA test results revealed on The Jacksons: Next Generation were supposed to put a stop to what appeared to be a crazed (yet clever) fan taking advantage of the Jackson family name. But when the episode aired and the fan didn't stop, those test results became less and less of a factor in this whole equation. Because, clearly that meant we were dealing with someone with some serious mental issues, right? And if that's the case, it's a little sad and scary, right? So why are Taj, TJ and Taryll doing so much laughing out loud with their fans and calling Tanay crazy all over social media? Why did Taj, TJ and Taryll seek her out to come on the show? Why are we listening to Taj, TJ and Taryll?
1. Who knows what?
If we're not mistaken, it wasn't long ago that the guys were crying over a box of memorabilia. It was TJ who shared that most of what he knew about his childhood and the pictures that he had of himself with his family, he found online. That doesn't really give them a strong leg to stand on when it comes to confirming or denying anything related to the Jackson family.
What they couldn't deny were the things Tanay told them about her relationship with their father. They also can't deny that "any smart person" would repeat the test, which is what TJ said he was going to request — if it came back positive.
To their father, the boys requesting a test at all was ridiculous (ditto Tito), because he told his sons from the start that he didn't have a daughter. So, that should've been enough for them, right? But there was still at least a little shred of her story that made them go, "Hmm."
2. Two words: Stevanna Jackson
There's no denying that she's a member of the Jackson family, but for years inquiring minds have wanted to know if Stevanna is the daughter of Randy Jackson, as they claim, or born to a young Janet Jackson when her career was just starting to take off in the early '80s. While not many people would find the scandal surprising, knowing the lengths that Joe Jackson went to to ensure his children's success, what would be a shocker is actually having someone in the family talking about it at length in an interview —- or on a reality show. Why? It's just not the Jackson way. It's why a 24-year-old Stevanna managed to graduate with her master's from Harvard this year, and still no one can say whether Janet was a proud mom or aunt that day.
And no one expects to know anytime soon. The Jackson family is infamously private and secretive. It's the reason the media makes up stories and speculates. The Jacksons don't talk. Janet Jackson was married for almost a decade before the world found out. Michael Jackson kept his children in masks and draped under cloths for years. And we won't go into all of the abuse scandals. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Poppa T has some splainin' to do, but just isn't ready to do it yet.
3. Tanay Jackson is already Tanay Jackson
OK, so maybe Tanay Jackson isn't a Jackson — at least that's not the legal name that was revealed on the DNA test results. But since she was raised by her mother, who allegedly had an affair with Tito while he was married, it makes sense that she wouldn't be documented as a Jackson even if she was one.
That's the story she should be sticking to, but it appears that Tanay has done several interviews in the past where not only is her birth name different, but she talks about the difficulty of growing up and then launching a career with the Jackson name. (C'mon Tanay! We're tryin' to help you out.)
Whether there's truth to any of it or not, what's overlooked is that, yes, Tanay Jackson has made it as a Jackson and is already sitting pretty on hip-hop and R&B music charts, a little higher than her "Aunt Janet." So a star on the rise who's been using the Jackson name doesn't really gain much by voluntarily going onto a reality show where she knows that her DNA is going to be tested. As the boys admitted themselves, she gets a lot of press. It's not like she needed any more... and definitely not anything that would knock her hustle.
Numerous interviews under her belt. Concerts. Chart-topping songs. Like any star, there were a lot of years in the making of Tanay Jackson. Many years that Tito Jackson knew about her. Years that Tito's sons knew about her. They were already told that she wasn't their sister, so if the real concern is protecting the family name and keeping Tanay from continuing to profit from it, where are the years spent taking legal action against her? Why is it that it's Tanay who took Tito to court... even if she didn't show up?
It was during those years that Tito told her that if he were her father, he'd be there for her. So...
5. A picture is worth a thousand words
We're not sure what "being there" means to him, but it sure looks like Poppa T has been somewhere pretty close to Tanay Jackson at least a couple of times... and not in the, "Hey, stay away from my family and stop all of this craziness" capacity that he describes on the show.
Is Photoshop another one of Tanay's many talents, or is Tito not telling us something?
Image: Tanay Jackson/Twitter
Do you believe that Tanay Jackson is Tito Jackson's daughter? Do you think the family is using her to draw attention to the show?
The wedding took place at the Shanghai Exhibition Center, where the inside was adorned with purple lighting, monograms of their initials, flowers and chandeliers. Yeung and husband Huang Xiaoming also had holographic castles and a 10-foot-tall wedding cake.
Angelababy wedding
Angelababy wedding
Her dress, which took four months to make according to Forbes, was made by Dior and constructed with 115 feet of organza, tulle and size and adorned with almost 100 Chantilly lace roses cut by hand. She topped off the look with a $1.5 million Chaumet ring made of a 5-carat pear-shaped center stone and .5-carats in brilliant cut rocks surrounding it.
The wedding comes after the actress was forced by a judge to prove that she didn't have plastic surgery. Yeung -- who is suing a Chinese magazine for saying she had enhancement — had her husband defend her "purity."
"I'm not an idiot. I definitely can tell she hasn't had plastic surgery. Sometimes she doesn't put on makeup, and she really looks like those ugly pictures of her," he said. A doctor later confirmed she was "authentic."
This soup gives you all the traditional chicken soup flavor, but instead of noodles, I threw in some wild rice, and to add a depth of flavor, I opted to add in a Parmesan cheese rind. After it cooked all day, I served it in a big bowl with a little extra sprinkling of shredded Parmesan just to add even more flavor.
Image: Brandy O'Neill/SheKnows
Slow cooker chicken, Parmesan and wild rice soup recipe
64 ounces chicken stock (possibly more may be needed)
Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
Shredded Parmesan cheese, for topping
Directions:
To the slow cooker, add the carrots, celery, garlic, onion, wild rice, thyme leaves, Parmesan rind and chicken stock. Stir to combine.
Top the mixture with the chicken breasts, and submerge them under the chicken stock. If the stock does not cover the chicken, add more.
Cover the slow cooker, and cook on high for 4 hours. Remove the lid, and take out the chicken breasts. Either cut into cubes or shred the chicken, and add it back to the slow cooker.
Cook for another 2 hours. If the mixture becomes too thick, add more stock.
Jamie Higdon Randolph has a lot to say about leggings, primarily the fact that people wear them as pants and they are see through and that creates an issue. See below:
leggings rant
leggings rant
Randolph makes a point that many people have made before. And she does it in a very funny way, no doubt. Her personality and accent make the rant all the more shareable. That said, I just don't agree with her.
The problem with leggings isn't so much that they are being worn as pants. The problem is that they are being worn by women who don't buy the right size. When cheaply made cotton leggings stretch, they show underwear. And sometimes even skin. Those leggings are not meant to be worn as pants. But then there are much more expensive kinds of leggings. Think Lululemon yoga pants. Now, generally speaking, these are not meant to be see through. So wearing them as pants is perfectly logical.
The reality is, what Randolph is talking about is size. If you are larger and you wear leggings, you have to buy them in the right size. Period. If you are embarrassed, don't be. People come in all shapes and sizes, but if you are plus size, you need to buy leggings that are made to fit you. The same goes for those of us who are not plus size, but also a little curvy. A pair of jeans might stretch to fit us in a flattering way, but in leggings, I would probably buy myself a medium rather than risking the small stretch factor. No stretch? No problem.
I will likely always remain the kind of woman who chooses to wear long shirts over my leggings. I like to cover my butt. But I won't tell other women how to dress. It's not a hard and fast fashion rule. There really aren't any. Buying the right size and being honest with yourself are really the only rules when it comes to shopping.
According to a new book by Dr. Kat Van Kirk called The Married Sex Solution: A Realistic Guide to Saving Your Sex Life, beer could be your answer to a somewhat stalled love life. Now before you get all excited, know that most of this is conjecture on her part. However she does cite one particularly interesting Italian study that shows how men can last longer if they've had a beer, or two, or three.
She does explain the science behind how beer can increase a man's stamina though, and it seems to make sense. According to the site AskMen.com she says that the phytoestrogens from the alcohol in beer work to delay ejaculation in men. This goes against the popular notion that drinking a lot of alcohol can increase a man's risk of erectile dysfunction, but her claim is actually backed by science, although she doesn't reference it.
A 2009 study conducted by Western Australia's Keogh Institute for Medical Research found that 1,580 Australian men who drank a moderate amount had 30 percent fewer erectile dysfunction issues than abstainers. This directly supports research Dr. Van Kirk does cite that states beer drinking can improve men's heart health.
Researchers at Italy's Fondazione di Ricerca e Cura looked at a data set of over 200,000 people, and found that moderate beer drinkers have a 31 percent reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. This is equal to the benefits previously noted for moderate wine drinkers. That means that men who drink beer moderately have healthier hearts overall, which suggest they can have better physical stamina in bed. They will also have lower risks of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes, but those are just secondary benefits.
However, all these perks go away once you cross the beer drinking threshold. It is difficult to determine an average for this since everyone's alcohol limits are different, and it doesn't always have to do with body size and weight. Augusto Di Castelnuovo, the head of the Italian research, says once they increased alcohol intake, all the cardiovascular benefits went out the window. This is also when erectile dysfunction can come back into play.
One claim Dr. Van Kirk makes which is somewhat dubious is that the iron in darker beers can increase a man's libido and give him more intense, long-lasting erections. Sure, there may be higher counts of iron and even vitamin B in dark beers like Guinness, but their effects on the human body take time to develop. It's not like what happens when you take Viagra — 30 minutes later you're hard as a rock. Vitamins need to build up in your system, and one beer, no matter how large, is not going to turn you into Popeye the Sailor Man, sexually speaking.
There is just something about scratch cooking; it can be extremely Zen to measure and mix and whip things up, plus there's a little bit of satisfaction in the braggadocio that cooking from scratch can provide.
"Wow, you make your own bread?" people will exclaim. And you'll say, "Of course. It's no big deal, really." But it is a big deal. You know it, they know it. You are the master of your kitchen, goddess of scratch cooking.
There are other times when it's cheaper to make something from scratch. I remember the time I figured out how easy it was to make whipped cream — and how cheap it was — and I never, ever looked back.
But the fact is, sometimes scratch cooking just isn't worth it. We looked at eight common pantry staples and judged them by three criteria: cost, time and taste.
When it comes to cost, there are a lot of moving parts. For this post, I went to Kroger, which is a common grocery store in the South, and wherever it was possible, I looked for ingredients that were store brand to keep costs low across the board. That's why cost can vary so greatly; your local food might be more (or less) expensive, or you may be loyal to a certain brand, or you might want to choose ingredients that are whole and organic — a common reason people cook items from scratch is to control what goes into them. I also chose to scale scratch-cooking recipes up or down to match the store-bought quantity. For instance, you can make a small batch of butter relatively cheaply, but getting to a pound of butter is going to cost a little more. Also, I didn't factor in supplies, like containers for steeping or pasta-making attachments, because that's just pedantic and obnoxious.
Then there's time. Just because something costs less, if it's time prohibitive, it may not be worth the effort, and there's no way around that.
Finally, does it taste better homemade? Well, that's also going to be relative, but whether the scratch-made food tastes much more superior than its grocery store counterparts — or if the difference is negligible — will definitely factor in.
So, should you buy it or make it? Find out what it takes to make common pantry items from scratch.
A pound of butter costs about $3.30, without any bells and whistles, while the breakdown for the ingredients you'll need to make your own looks like this:
Cream: $8.64
Salt: $0.06
Total: $8.70
Time to make: Minimal
No churn required. Making butter takes about 15 minutes if you have a handy stand mixer, which is fractional compared to some of the other items on this list.
Taste: Amazing
Scratch-made butter will ruin you for stick butter, it's so rich. Plus, the add-ins you can mix in are practically limitless, from sweet honey to savory herbes de Provence.
Verdict: Make it from scratch, but stick to small batches. If you need a lot of butter for something, get some from the store.
So for me, pancakes were the big shock of the day. I just always assumed that Big Pancake Mix was scamming us or something and that if we weren't all so lazy, we could just make our own pancakes pretty much any morning for way cheaper. That's why I was surprised to find that pancakes from scratch cost double what pancakes from a box do. A 32-ounce box of mix will run you about $2.20 and make approximately 40 pancakes. Here's what you'd need to spend to make that many flapjacks from scratch:
Flour: $1.08
Sugar: $0.13
Salt: $0.12
Eggs: $2.25
Butter: $1.60
Milk: $1.19
Baking powder: $0.56
Total: $6.93
Time to make: Longer than most recipes indicate
Seriously. Most recipes say pancakes will take you 20 minutes to mix and make, but it has never taken me less than 45 minutes to prep and cook pancakes from scratch, for two big reasons: 1) It's usually in the morning, so the maths and measures section in my brain is typically nonfunctioning, and 2) it's a bad idea to stir scratch-made pancakes too much once you add the baking powder, lest you junk up the whole endeavor. And I always mix it too much, so...
Taste: Meh
I say these taste better scratch made, but no one in my family can tell the difference, so it could just be that I tell myself they're delicious since they require such a serious commitment.
Verdict: Buy it
For convenience, for price — take your pick — it will never be worth it to make scratch-made hotcakes exclusively. Save those for when people you need to impress spend the night.
One ounce of crappy vanilla extract will cost you about $2.88, with prices going way, way up from there. But you only need vodka and vanilla to make your own, and then you'll never stop.
To be clear: You cannot make 1 ounce of vanilla extract at a time like you'll find at the store. You should make at least 8 ounces — a cup of liquid, which will cost more on the front end (a fifth of vodka is about $20, a handful of OK-quality vanilla beans, about $5). But when you break it down to ounces, it looks like this:
Vodka: $0.08
Vanilla bean: $0.36
Total: $0.44
Time to make: Extremely prohibitive, but labor non-intensive. It takes eight weeks.
You need to give your vanilla-vodka infusion about two months to fully mingle, so make sure you make your extract long before you need it.
Taste: Better than store-bought by multiple delicious miles
Everyone says so, and while I'm usually not picky about processed food, I think this does have to do with the fact that a lot of cheaper extracts say "pure" but have corn syrup in them for sweetening purposes. If you let your batch sit long enough, you don't need to add anything to amp up the taste.
The store-bought, store-brand version of this condiment will run you about $3 for 32 ounces. I was surprised to find that when I scaled up the recipe to hit 32 ounces (usually you'll make only about 9 ounces at a time), it was still miles cheaper to make at home:
Egg: $1.00
Salt: $0.06
Sugar: $0.02
Lemon: $0.26
Vinegar: $0.46
Oil: $0.19
Total: 1.99
Time to make: Very minimal
Ten minutes, and you're getting on with your life.
Taste: Amazing
You may have a moment, if you've never had homemade mayonnaise before, where you wonder what it is that you've been eating all your life, because it definitely doesn't qualify.
Verdict: Make it
Stick to small batches, because there aren't tons of preservatives in this to keep it shelf-stable, and also because you may ruin mayonnaise for yourself if you make too much of it at one time. Also, always, always use pasteurized whenever a recipe calls for raw eggs.
It'll take you about a half a loaf of bread, toasted or stale, to make 14 ounces of breadcrumbs. A canister of the same amount of dry, powdery crumbs will cost $1 at the store versus scratch-made:
Bread: $0.50
Oil: $0.01
Total: $0.51
Time to make: Barely even worth measuring
Five minutes with a fork for shredding, two with a food processor. I'm guessing, here, but c'mon.
Taste: OK
They're breadcrumbs, not a slow-roasted coq au vin.
Verdict: Make them as you need them.
I'm a hypocrite. I constantly buy bags of panko and Italian breadcrumbs and then make room for them in the pantry by tossing out stale half-loaves of bread. Don't be like me. You can always store them in an airtight container if you need more later.
Pasta is already pretty cheap, which is why I love it so much. A 16-ounce pack of fettuccine noodles can run you about $1 or less, while 16 ounces of pasta costs much more:
Flour: $1.80
Eggs: $2.00
Water: $0.00
Oil: $0.04
Total: $3.84
Time to make: Borderline not worth it
An hour, probably longer if you don't have a pasta machine and are as rolling pin impaired as I am. For plain noodles, this might not be worth the effort.
Taste: Better
I think homemade pasta is much better than store-bought, but again, things that require half an afternoon to make typically do.
Verdict: Buy it plain, make it fancy.
Where it gets interesting is that when you buy pasta in the store, the regular old pack-o'-carbs is really cheap, but if you want pasta with spinach, sun-dried tomato, herbs, etc., it's like the noodles are made of platinum, and suddenly you're staring at a grocery bill that borders on extortion. So if you want the fancy stuff, the cost will typically even out to the cost of making it from scratch anyway.
Boxed mixes are incredibly cheap. Kroger usually puts them on its 10-for-$10 racks, so one box of chocolate cake is going to cost about a dollar. A homemade chocolate cake, on the other hand, is a little over double that:
Butter: $1.00
Sugar: $0.60
Flour: $0.24
Salt: $0.03
Milk: $0.22
Cocoa: $0.30
Total: $2.39
Time to make: Not that bad
A homemade cake doesn't take too long to whip up and bake, about the same amount of time as a boxed cake — 45 minutes.
Taste: Meh
I'm not a fan of homemade cake, but that's mostly because I'm not a fan of cake. But what I dislike about scratch-made cake — it's typically much too dense for me — is what other people, especially people who didn't grow up on boxed Betty Crocker, love about it.
Verdict: Buy it from the store for yourself, scratch-make it for your mother-in-law.
If you need a cake for a birthday or a potluck or whatever, go with the boxed stuff. If you want to make a little something special once in a while, experiment with scratch-made cake.
Cheap store-bought bread is about $1, sometimes less when it's on sale. Scratch bread will cost you about 50 percent more:
Milk: $0.04
Flour: $0.43
Sugar: $0.02
Salt: $0.03
Yeast: $0.86
Butter: $0.20
Total: $1.58
Time: Extremely prohibitive
You have to let dough rise, punch it down, double it again, knead it and then bake it forever. So it's going to take you right around three hours, which means it's only really possible to make on the weekends, for most people.
Taste: Better than anything else in the entire world
Verdict: You should probably buy it, but make it anyway.
There are ways you can make the cost of scratch-made bread worth it: buying in bulk, applying coupons, just stealing stuff, whatever. But forget about cost for a second. There is nothing — nothing — that compares to a home that smells like baking bread, and a good loaf of English toasting bread will help you understand why toast used to actually make a semidecent breakfast.
And this seems to be proving difficult. According to Caroline Nokes MP, head of an all-party group on body image, several agencies didn't respond to her invitation to discuss the fashion industry's position on thin models — and nor did Victoria Beckham.
"I have written to a number of model agencies including Wilhelmina, Models 1 and Storm and also to Victoria Beckham, whose show at New York Fashion Week drew such attention to this already concerning problem," said Nokes. "Sadly, I have received no response from any of them and I think this is a real shame. Having been given the opportunity to take part [in the inquiry] I very much hope those who have declined to take part will not criticise its conclusions."
Beckham, 41, was criticised for parading a "show of skeletons" at her recent show at New York Fashion Week, despite a pledge she made in 2010 to ban unhealthily thin models from her catwalk.
The designer's decision to use 17-year-old Peyton Knight to close the show triggered an outpouring of concern from her Instagram followers.
"You need to feed this girl… Please give her some food," commented one, while another demanded furiously: "Jesus, why don't you just get a motorised skeleton to walk down your catwalks and release these poor girls from this bloody torture of having to starve themselves for a job."
Beckham didn't respond directly to the criticisms but did say after the NYFW show: "It's a collection for all shapes and sizes — I always say it, but I just want women to feel like the best versions of themselves."
A recent petition calling for fashion week health checks received 30,000 signatures, leading to the parliamentary investigation into whether legislation is needed to protect young models from feeling under pressure to become dangerously thin.
"Legislation should be a last resort, but I'm conscious the fashion industry isn't responding to calls for change," said Nokes, as reported by The Guardian. "We would prefer a code of conduct, if we could feel confident it would be adhered to."
If designers like Victoria Beckham and other top players in the industry won't even respond to requests for consultation what options do the Government have? It's great that Beckham designs her clothes for all shapes and sizes. So let's see her put them on the catwalk.
The Christian vloggers who've made a lot of headlines this year just shared news that they're expecting their third child with the world. But before they broadcast the good news, they surprised their mothers with a sneaky little trick, and their eldest daughter, Symphony, with a scavenger hunt. And, of course, being that they're vloggers, they captured the whole thing on tape.
In the video titled "Son Shocks Mom With Pregnancy Announcement," the couple has both their mothers check inside their oven, where — you guessed it — there's a bun. The grandmas have very different reactions, but they're both naturally so, so happy.
Here, see the video for yourself, and check out their — and sweet Symphony's — touching reactions.
sam and nia
sam and nia
Love them or hate them, you have to admit it's pretty cute.
Most of the comments on the couple's YouTube page are positive, but unsurprisingly there certainly is a fair share of "haters," so to speak. Sam spoke to People after posting the video, saying they just found out that Nia is pregnant "a couple of weeks ago." He also says that they're not 100 percent sure how far along she is. They're "estimating eight weeks." Being that the last time Sam and Nia announced that they were expecting it resulted in a painful miscarriage that they then had to share with the world, people are wondering why they've chosen to announce things again so early.
One would hope it all turns out OK, but after one miscarriage, it's not unusual to be more nervous to share such news so early on. They're not even out of the first trimester, and statistics show that anywhere from 10 to 25 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage — typically within the first 20 weeks.
That said, to each their own. In a way, what this couple is doing is incredibly important, whether it was intentional or not. They opened up a national dialogue about pregnancy loss, and if they made one couple feel less alone, nothing was in vain. And you have to respect the fact that they're choosing to not "edit" their lives, but are instead sharing the good, the bad and the ugly. (The "ugly," FYI, includes Sam getting caught in the Ashley Madison hack.)
Here's to hoping that everything goes perfectly throughout Nia's pregnancy. Many people — including little Symphony and two excited grandmas — will be very disappointed if it doesn't. And no doubt Sam and Nia will be keeping us updated on how things go.
Last year the company celebrated the spookiest day of the year with the green tea Franken Frappuccino, but this year's concoction is a little bloodier.
The Frappula Frappuccino is inspired by vampires, which is easy to see with its oozing red raspberry syrup topping. The Frappuccino itself is made with white chocolate sauce, milk and ice, and is poured on top of mocha sauce and topped with whipped cream. Red raspberry is the perfect spooky topping, as the crimson color seeps into the drink below like blood spreading through water.
Now there's the Halloween Frappula, and pumpkin spice is still going strong, but all this Frappuccino innovation just has us excited to see what their winter holiday offerings will be. Which we're guessing is exactly what they hoped. Congrats on nailing your target audience, Starbucks.
"What the Daily Mail calls an eyesore I call a damn dream, @marahoffman," Dunham said in her caption. "This onsie takes me from @traceyandersonmethod to brunch to fetal position and I couldn't feel more heroic. Was so literally psyched about the paparazzi photo so I would have evidence of it #thanksforthehelpcreepyguyintruckerhat #OnsieNation"
People summed up the look best by calling it an "athleisure feel." Dunham paired her jumpsuit with a gray zip-up sweatshirt, a Nike knit pair of trainers, and a mini ponytail to complete her makeup-free look.
And fans seemed to agree that Dunham should ignore the hate.
"Not usually one to post a paparazzi shot but this one fills me with pride," Dunham said in her photo caption. "Basically my whole life I have hated running and run like a wounded baby Pterodactyl. It was embarrassing and honestly I did not trust myself to escape a burning building or even move briskly towards a buffet. @jennikonner is directing the season finale of Girls and decided that as Hannah evolved so would her run, so she got me a training session with Matt Wilpers from Mile High Run Club. Within an hour I had a different relationship to this formerly torturous activity. I felt strong, swift and proud. I'm not about to embrace that triathlon life but it's a true joy to continue getting more connected to my body and its powers."
So all we really know is that the album is called Blackstar and that it will released on Bowie's 69th birthday — Jan. 8, 2016. The first single has the same name and is released on Nov. 20.
"Blackstar" continues an ongoing "star" motif in Bowie's repertoire, joining tracks like "Star," "Starman," "Ziggy Stardust," "Lady Stardust," "The Prettiest Star," "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)," "New Killer Star" and "Shining Star (Makin' My Love)."
Comments on Bowie's Facebook post show just how high the levels of excitement are. "The news of this new album is giving me manic, uncontrollable joy," posted one, adding later, "That man will be a panty melter until the day he dies."
"A new Bowie album is always a cause for celebration," wrote another.
It's not the first time Bowie has chosen his birthday to release new music. On Jan. 8, 2013 he released the single "Where Are We Now" and announced his forthcoming album The Next Day.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with fonts, letters and words — maybe because I am a writer! In any case, when I found this recipe for monogrammed pumpkin cookies from Bake at 350, I was sold! This double-decker cookie is perfect for a class party or to share with neighbors.
This jack o' lantern stuffed peppers recipe from Laura’s Lean Beef is so creative and fun! I love how simple this dish is to make, serve and display. Your guests of all ages will love that Laura’s Lean Ground Beef is lower in fat and cholesterol than conventional ground beef — and free of added hormones and antibiotics. The jack-o-lanterns are made with orange bell peppers stuffed with lean ground beef and seasonings like garlic, cumin and onions, which makes for a delicious and satisfying scary-licious entrée.
Growing up, my mom would make fun desserts from popcorn. When I found this recipe for pumpkin popcorn balls from Somewhat Simple, it was reminiscent of my childhood. I love how they used Tootsie Roll minis for the stems and green candy for the leaf.
Using saffron, curry powder, ginger and cayenne pepper to color the dough, these pumpkin dinner rolls from Flour Arrangements are so creative. Pale orange in hue and using pecan slivers for stems, the warm rolls are perfect for this time of year as the temperatures begin to cool down. They are so beautiful that you can use them as a decorative piece at your Thanksgiving Day dinner table!
This is a really fun, sweet treat that your kids will love. The chocolate covered pumpkin pretzels from High Heels and Grills use tiny twist pretzels and are dipped into an orange colored white chocolate. The green M&M's create the stem on this adorable and perfectly festive Halloween treat!
Meatballs are the perfect finger food at any dinner party, so when I came across this recipe of buffalo meatballs pumpkins, I just had to share it with you. The perfect appetizer, this recipe uses fully cooked beef meatballs and a sauce made with butter, pumpkin purée, ranch dressing and buffalo sauce. The stem is a pretzel rod and a parsley leaf completes the look! #Yummy!
A delicious mixture of cream cheese, chives and cheese is what you will find in this recipe for a cheddar and chive pumpkin cheeseballs from Jam Hands. You can make this recipe the night before a Halloween or holiday party to save time. Served with crackers or vegetables, this is a hearty appetizer your guests will love!
I like the versatility of the recipe for jack o’ lantern cake pops from The Nest because you can actually use any flavor cake for the filling. Your kids will love decorating and making different faces on their treats. You can even have your guests design their own pumpkin face using an edible marker!
Timing is everything! Keep these 5 party planning tips in mind as you create your wonderful dinner gathering:
1. What to have ready vs. what can be in progress when guests arrive:
The things you want to have ready before your guests arrive:
Candles (or other lighting) & decor.
Drinks.
Clean dishes.
Initial appetizers.
Make something, like a Marie Callender's Pot Pie, and break it into smaller appetizer sized portions. It's so much easier than cooking/prepping several single-serve recipes. Comfort food always wins, especially during the holidays. Serve a full sized pot pie in appetizer sized cups and your guests will happily and eagerly dig right in!
Image: Kelly Dixon/SheKnows
You don't have to have everything ready when the first guest walks in the door. There are some things you can have in progress so that people can mingle and start up conversations as they arrive.
Don't worry about having these few things done and ready to serve right when the party starts:
The main course
Salad
Dessert
2. Ambiance
The main course will be cooking when then guests arrive. So, pick food that smells good! People love the smell of food they are familiar with. It makes guests excited and puts them in a relaxed mood. Additionally, have candles, lighting, and decor compliment the ambiance. Pick out clothing that matches the energy you are aiming for.
3. Avoid fussy food, appetizers, or drinks
When it comes to holiday dinner parties, people enjoy good food and good company. Don't worry about making things that look too perfect. Your guests don't want you stuck in the kitchen the entire time! Pick out easy options, get creative with how it is served, and enjoy your time with your guests as much as possible. Not everything needs to be made from scratch. Pretty trays, plates, and glasses add an entertaining flare to easy-to-cook meals.
4. Expect some unexpected things
Go with the flow as a host. It's ok if a guests suddenly cancels, if some food falls on the floor, or if your timing doesn't work out perfectly. Unexpected things are bound to happen, so stay positive and stay focused on a wholesome happy gathering. Sometimes the unexpected events make for the most memorable and funniest stories.
5. Keep the clean-up simple
Have napkins, utensils and trash cans easily available for guests as they are eating appetizers. Once the main course is over, spend that time enjoying everyone's company. Rushing to the kitchen to clean dishes will make your guests feel like they need to help out and it puts an abrupt ending to an easy going evening. Chances are, you'll be pretty tired by the end of the evening. Prewash the necessary items in the kitchen when your guests leave, and worry about the details the next day.
This post is part of a collaboration between SheKnows and Marie Callender's Pot Pies
