Candied ginger and whiskey make this candy super flavorful without being overpowering. The white chocolate in this dessert helps balance out the spicy sweetness of the ginger, while the whiskey adds just the right amount of boozy flavor.

Serve this sweet candy during the holidays on your dessert table, or wrap up a batch in some fun holiday paper, and gift it to a neighbor, friend or family member.

Candied ginger-whiskey fudge recipe

Yields 24 pieces

Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 5 minutes | Inactive time: 2 hours | Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients:

•  1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
•  1/4 cup brown sugar
•  4 tablespoons unsalted butter
•  1 (12 ounce) package white chocolate chips
•  4 tablespoons whiskey
•  2 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger
•  1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

1. To a medium-size pot, add the sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar and butter. Heat the mixture over medium heat until it begins to bubble, about 2 to 3 minutes, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
2. Add in the white chocolate chips, and stir constantly until the white chocolate melts and the mixture is very smooth and thick, about 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Finally, add in the whiskey, ginger and sea salt, and mix very well. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and let chill for 2 hours or until firm and solid.
4. Remove the fudge from the pan, and cut it into desired size pieces. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for several days.

More easy fudge recipes

Chocolate cheese fudge
Black bean fudge
Christmas beer fudge

In Utah, you can get a dirty soda. With a large Mormon population that abstains from alcohol and coffee, Utah has become a hotbed of creativity when it comes to virgin drinks, and so-called "dirty soda" is the most popular (and definitely sweetest) of those creations.

Customers can enjoy concoctions like the Your Mom (Dr Pepper, coconut, blackberry), Eagle Scout (root beer, toasted marshmallow, chocolate) or the Extra Dirty Second Wife (Mountain Dew, fruit syrup and half-and-half) — all in enormous, health-defying quantities. Honestly, most of them look pretty good — the Eagle Scout is like a drinkable s'more, and who wouldn't want that? Dirty soda is basically a sweet tooth's dream come true (and every dentist's nightmare!). But where Utahans get their favorite dirty soda is becoming a big point of contention, as is using the word "dirty" to describe the beverages at all.

More: Man confesses 'I drank so much soda they thought I was having a seizure'

Two of the largest dirty soda shops are currently entangled in a legal battle over whether the term "dirty soda" is protected under trademark.

Swig, founded in 2010, claims it trademarked the "dirty" in dirty soda back in 2013. But another chain, called Sodalicious, argues that "dirty" has been used to describe beverages with flavor added for years (dirty martini or dirty chai, anyone?). Dirty soda is also a name for soda mixed with codeine cough syrup, often referenced in hip-hop music. Both chains seem to be blissfully unaware of that connotation.

More: 15 Bizarre fancy sodas you must try (at least once)

In spite of the legal uncertainty, numerous other dirty soda chains have opened up, and the trend seems here to stay. They're not yet nationally available, but if you don't live in Utah, you can always try making your own — starting with homemade soda and adding flavor syrups and half-and-half until you've come up with the ultimate sweet and fizzy creation.

More: Strawberry soda recipe

SheKnows: You were pushing people hard to play the game of Survivor. You kept urging them to make big moves. How frustrating was it for you to be in that situation?

Ciera Eastin: It was extremely frustrating. I just wanted people to play for first place and make whatever their best move was to benefit themselves to take full advantage of that second chance. I definitely feel like people were squandering their second chance and not taking full advantage of playing the game. When I say big moves, that doesn't necessarily mean going to rocks and doing anything so crazy, it just means making sure you're fighting for first place. I felt like a lot of people weren't fighting.

SK: When I interviewed Andrew Savage a few weeks back, he argued that your push to have people make big moves was only because they were playing better than you. What's your response?

CE: [Laughs] Andrew and I play extremely different games. Very different. Andrew is like the bro-down. He's like, "Let's keep the tribe strong. Let's stay loyal until five." Whatever. I play a very different way, and strictly because I'm a different person than he is. I have to do what's best with my game. I'm not a challenge beast. I'm not the leader in the tribe. My strategy is extremely different than his. To say that I was saying "let's play the game" because I'm on the bottom possibly could be true. I would still be making big moves had I not been on the bottom. I probably just would not have been as vocal about it. Clearly, his gameplay was not better. He did get idol'd out before I did. I don't know. I just think Andrew's extremely sensitive and emotional. I think he is a good player if you're playing Andrew's game, but I don't think he's very good at adapting. I don't think he knows how to play any other way. I think that I showed that I was extremely good at being able to adapt and play with different types of people and move myself around a little bit better than he did. He was very stuck in his ways and how he was gonna play.

More: Survivor's Andrew Savage reveals his game-ending mistake

SK: When I also asked Savage who he did not believe still deserved to be in the game at that point, he said you and Abi-Maria Gomes. Do you take any offense to that?

CE: No. In order to take offense to something, I'd really have to care what his opinion was. Honestly, who crowned Andrew king of determining who deserves a chance and who doesn't? I didn't even remember him or his season. In the group of people to be in the show, I didn't even recognize him. I didn't know anything about him or his gameplay. Clearly, he didn't know a lot about mine because he threw my name out pretty early, and he should've probably known better than that. No, I really honestly don't take much offense to that at all.

SK: Just for clarification, had you actually seen Savage's season before competing with him?

CE: Never seen his season. Didn't remember him. I know he was on Pearl Islands, but the only reason I knew that was because I played with Rupert [in Season 27]. I had never seen his season and I didn't even remember him at all.

SK: Are you on good terms now?

CE: I don't hold any resentment or hard feelings toward anybody. I definitely think there is that for Savage. Like I said, he is so emotional and sensitive. I think he might hold a little bit of resentment toward me. Me for him? No. It's not like I'm gonna be having him over to my house and he's gonna have me over. But honestly, I'm really looking forward to meeting him and his family at the finale. I wish him nothing but the best. We're just two different people who play two drastically different games.

SK: What was your end-game strategy? Did you have an ideal final three?

CE: This sounds kind of cocky, and I don't mean it cocky, but there weren't many people I didn't feel comfortable sitting next to at the end. Jeremy was one of those people I did not want to be sitting next to. I felt like I could really go with anybody at that point. My strategy moving forward was really to break up that foursome. I needed to get rid of Joe for challenge reasons, and then Jeremy because he's a big threat. From then on out, the people left in the game, I felt pretty comfortable and confident going to the end with any of them.

More: Survivor: 5 reasons Jeremy Collins should win it all

SK: Walk us through that moment in which you were eliminated. You didn't look angry because you seem to be a player that respects a good blindside. How did you feel right then?

CE: Nobody wants to go home. That sucks that it was me. At the same time, I felt like I did what I came to do. I stirred the pot and people were making moves. We pulled Stephen, Jeremy and Spencer in to get rid of Wigles, and that really made huge cracks in that alliance because Joe and Tasha didn't know about it. Then the next time comes along, and I pull in Joe and Tasha to get rid of Stephen. That actually would've worked had Jeremy not played his idol. I left kind of reassured, like, "Hey, you did what you're supposed to do. You can't help that he played an idol. You kind of stirred up the season enough that hopefully people are ready and recognizing they need to play harder." That makes for a more entertaining season.

SK: There has been a lot of genuine surprise by the contestants regarding the hidden idols this season. Was there any real belief that there were no hidden idols in play before Kelley Wentworth used hers?

CE: OK. This just shows how Andrew Savage and I play very differently. He was very confident there were no idols. I knew there was. I had no doubt in my mind that there were. Andrew — and I don't know if this is old-school players — but he thought for sure there were none. So did Kelly Wiglesworth. Some of the older players thought that there might not be any. But they were shocked to find out when she pulled it out that there were.

SK: At this point, who do you think is the most underrated of the remaining eight castaways?

CE: I'm rooting for my girl, Kelley Wentworth, but I wouldn't say she's underrated, because she definitely is getting some respect as being a player. For underrated, I would maybe give that to either Keith or Kimmi. Kimmi is playing to her strengths. She's not gonna be some big challenge threat. She's not gonna be the leader, but she's adapting really well to the vote. She's extremely helpful around camp. She's just a great person. Even Keith, he is incredible at these challenges. If Joe wasn't there, Keith would be sweeping. He's so good and he always gives Joe a run for his money. More than that, if he can claim his game as, "Hey, I wanted to play under the radar and attach to somebody who was bigger than I was and go with the flow." If he explained that, I definitely think Keith could have a shot at winning.

SK: Would you ever play this game again?

CE: Oh, yes! I love playing. I love this game. I would just keep playing until I finally won.

More: Survivor's Stephen Fishbach reveals why he never wants to play again

What are your thoughts on Eastin's comments in this interview? Do you think she played a better game than Savage? Do you agree with her that she could've beaten most of the other castaways in the final tribal council? Join the conversation by leaving a comment now.

But this Christmas doesn't have to mean another proliferation of Mega Blocks, Barbies, and Little People. There's no shortage of great gift ideas that are 100 percent toy-free, and still lots of fun for the kids waking up with big expectations on Christmas morning. Let's take a look at our top 10...

More: 10 'Harry Potter' gifts every muggle kid needs

1. Books.

It's our firm opinion that a person can never have too many books, and that goes doubly for kids. Open up a window in their imagination with one of your childhood favorites, or check out some of the newest offerings out there.

2. Art supplies.

Sketchpads, easels, colored pencils, paints, clay... the possibilities are endless.

3. Passes and memberships.

The museum, the gym, the botanical garden, the zoo — where would your kids enjoy the chance to spend some time this year? (And where would you be willing to take them without losing your mind?)

More: 7 Places I have tried to hide my kids' Christmas gifts

4. Wagon.

Got toddlers? My 2-year-olds love wending their way through the farmers' market or picking their way through the apple orchard via their sweet red ride.

5. Plants.

An indoor herb garden or tomato-growing kit can be just the thing to stave off the mid-winter blues if you live somewhere snowy.

6. Magazine subscriptions.

Getting stuff addressed to you in the mail is still fun for kids these days, right? There are tons of options out there for readers of all ages: Ranger Rick, Highlights, Stone Soup, and all the fiction and non-fiction offerings from Cricket Media (Ladybug, Cricket, Spider, Cicada...)

7. Kid-sized garden or kitchen tools.

Got a little one who likes to help out, but is still too small in the hand-ular region to use a regular hoe or spatula? Shop around for pint-sized equivalents that will let him pitch in in the kitchen, or work hard in the garden.

8. Tickets.

Whether it's something big, like tickets for a theatrical production or sports game, or something small, like gift certificates for a movie showing, kids can enjoy the experience of going out instead of having just another thing.

9. Clothes.

Not socks, preferably. Well, maybe if they're really cute socks. But if there's an item that was outside the usual back-to-school shopping budget, maybe it could show up instead as a special treat on Christmas morning.

More: 10 Common household items your toddler would rather have for Christmas

10. The gift that keeps on giving.

Making a donation in a child's name is a great way to help them remember that Christmas is about something bigger than this year's haul of loot. Choose something based on your child's interests and experiences! What do they care about most? Giving money to a local zoo, to UNICEF, to Heifer International can make the toys Santa brought (or didn't bring) seem like the least important thing about the holiday.

1. The drama is an adaptation of the young adult fantasy series, The Mortal Instruments

Since 2007, author Cassandra Clare has written and published six books in the series: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire. After City of Bones was released, it reached #8 on The New York Times’ list of bestselling children’s chapter books. The popularity of the series flourished over the years, with City of Bones being adapted into a feature film in 2013, prior to the development of the forthcoming television series.

More: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones review — hot dudes in eyeliner

2. More than anything else, Shadowhunters is a coming-of-age story

When Clare began work on City of Bones, she conceived of the story as adult fantasy featuring teenagers, rather than as young adult lit. But she explained on her website that when she was asked by an interested publisher to make the characters older, she realized that the teenage characters and audience were key to her story: “I wanted to tell a story about characters at that crucial life stage just between adolescence and adulthood, where your choices determine the kind of person you’re going to be rather than reflecting who you already are.”

3. There's a war going on

Here’s the basic premise of the series: After a night of dancing at Pandemonium nightclub in New York City, 18-year-old angel/human hybrid Clary Fray (Katherine McNamara) stumbles upon a group of teenage demon fighters — the Shadowhunters. She teams up with them and learns to “kill the demons, protect the humans.” The chaos that ensues once Clary takes this new path in life will dramatically alter the course of her life — including, presumably, her art school plans.

More: Miss Once Upon a Time? Read these five books this summer

4. The battles will be fierce — and dark

Make no mistake, the new trailer is action-packed. Though there are sure to be love stories and philosophical musings on growing up and the transition from youth to adulthood, the emphasis in this preview is on the fighting. The monsters are ugly, the swords are sharp and glistening — there’s even a bedroom literally on fire, for some reason. Clary and their friends are going to have to take safety seriously.

5. They're called seraph blades, not lightsabers

Notice those glowing swords? They look a lot like what we’re expecting to see when The Force Awakens opens in a few weeks, but they’re a little different. This key battle instrument in the Shadowhunters universe is called a seraph blade. Like lightsabers, they illuminate brightly when active. The hunters use them to kill demons, and as the name suggests, the objects harness the powers of angels.

6. 'Lucelyn' is the couple to watch

Fans of Shadowhunters won’t just be shipping the teen characters. Keep your eyes peeled for Lucelyn — Luke Garroway (Isaiah Mustafa) and Jocelyn Fray (Maxim Roy). Jocelyn is Clary’s mother and Luke her stepfather, and both have ties to the Shadowhunters. If the sweetness they’re displaying on Twitter is any indication, they’ll be a major reason to tune in each week.

More: Interview with Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Kevin Zegers of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

7. The premiere is airing on Jan. 12

Set your DVR to Freeform at 9/8c that Tuesday.

8. But you can whet your appetite with the preview event Beyond the Shadows: The Making of Shadowhunters on Dec. 6

Can’t wait ‘til next year? Want to see the behind-the-scenes scoop to learn about the stunts, the cast and the drama? Tune into the preview special next Sunday at 9:30/8:30c.

The first bit of big news? The baby's oh-so-trendy name.

More: Instagram baby names are #hot, #hot, #hot

Meet Max Zuckerberg:

The couple, who will be taking two months together to get to know their new baby (and yes, they've expanded paternity leave overall at Facebook, so this is not just a perk for the founder), have hopped right on the "boys names for girls" bandwagon with Max.

The little girl will be in good company, too, with the likes of Maxwell Drew (daughter of Jessica Simpson), Frankie (daughter of Drew Barrymore), Wyatt (daughter of Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis) and a whole long list of other celebrity kids whose parents weren't afraid to peruse pages through the baby name book.

Oh, and speaking of unafraid, they might be new parents embarking on the biggest adventure of their lives: Zuckerberg and Chan aren't afraid of taking on huge challenges even with a lot of sleepless nights ahead. While announcing their baby news, they also spilled the beans on their brand new venture: the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a huge fundraising effort to change the world for kids across the globe.

More: The baby names guaranteed to land on Santa's naughty list

Just check out the adorable parents talking about their new baby girl... and helping every baby girl (and boy) out there: 

More: Hottest baby-naming trends, revealed

More: Miranda Lambert reveals the heartbreaking way she's dealing with divorce

That's pretty much what Lambert has to say to fans who continue to weigh in on her recent divorce from fellow country music superstar Shelton. As politely as possible, Lambert is asking everyone to mind their own dang beeswax. And who can blame her?

Lambert and Shelton have been divorced for five months now, and in a new interview with Cosmopolitan, Lambert continued to open up about the affect the split has had on her life.

"We are real people with real lives and real shit," Lambert told the magazine. "We’re both very honest. This is what it is now, and we’re moving forward. We don’t need all the opinions. We just need y’all to be supportive, and nobody pick a side — because there ain’t a side."

Shelton has mirrored Lambert's comments in the past, telling the Bobby Bones Show in September that he and Lambert were keeping their split amicable.

"Our whole thing was, we are going to be cool about this," he said at the time. "It is what it is. We're buddies."

More: Blake Shelton's simple tweet about his late brother will make you cry

Shelton has moved on quickly from the divorce, which was finalized in July, already coupling up with his fellow Voice coach and divorcée, Gwen Stefani, who announced her split from her husband of 13 years, Gavin Rossdale, in August. That news came about a month after the announcement that Shelton and Lambert were calling their four-year marriage quits.

As amicable and Lambert and Shelton seem to be, though, the Cosmo interview revealed there's one thing Shelton might want to be worried about: the ladies in Lambert's family.

"We will offer you a sweet tea and hug and love you to death, but we will not put up with your shit," she said.

More: Blake Shelton isn't the only one dating again — Miranda Lambert is, too

Do you think Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton's divorce is as easygoing as they claim? Sound off down in the comments.

“Many people cling to the memories of the holidays being all holly jolly, but adult realities end up creeping in with a lot of stress and threaten to ruin the whole season,” says Dr. Jamie Turndorf, author of Kiss your Fights Goodbye. “However, with a few mindful tricks and seasonal stress busters, you can keep yourself in a happier space all the way until the new year.”

More: 5 Energy-healing exercises that cure stress almost immediately

With that in mind, these expert tips will help you banish your inner Grinch, so you can start 2016 unscathed from temporary seasonal insanity.

1. To cure a bad holiday attitude, cultivate gratitude

Even when you’re exhausted, overwhelmed and dealing with family drama, you probably have a whole heck of a lot to be grateful for right? Time to stay present and take note of that! “Write down all the people, experiences and things you’re grateful for, and make it a point to tell each person on your list what you wrote about them and what they mean to you,” says Dana B. Myers, founder of The Booty Parlor. “This will fire up your holiday spirit and reduce your stress faster than a cup of eggnog.” 

2. Do more bonding rather than buying

You've probably heard the saying "money doesn't buy love," but it actually rings even truer around the holidays when sharing time with friends and family should be the greatest gift. “When you're lying on your deathbed, you are not going to be thinking about who you forgot to buy what… all you remember, and all you will be remembered for, is how well you loved,” says Dr. Turndorf. “So, this holiday make it a point to sit with another person, look into his/her eyes, and truly listen to that person. Listen with the ears of your heart. Listening is love in action.” In other words, put away your credit card and pull up a chair next to someone you care about — the return on investment will invariably be higher.

More: 8 Surprising foods that help you stress less

3. Remember it's deck the halls, not your relatives

When the weather outside is cold and you’re all trapped inside together, it’s quite easy for things to get, ahem… heated. However, this is not the time to air grievances. “Mind your mouth and don't let your holidays become hollerdays!” says Dr. Turndorf. “Remember, your words and actions are fully under your control! You'd never whip out a forked tongue at a cop, right?” With that in mind, Dr. Turndorf suggests the following tricks. When you feel like blowing a gasket, get up, walk to the bathroom and splash water on your face. The cold water is a wake up call to chill out. Or, when you start losing your temper: stop, take three deep breaths and ask yourself, "Will I even remember this moment five years from now?" If your answer is no, then let it go.

“No matter how short you think your fuse, I promise you, you can walk the other way and do these techniques,” says Dr. Turndorf. “You can choose to only say and do what you know is loving and supportive."

4. Take a hot cocoa time-out; it's scientifically proven to change your mood

Scientists say grabbing a cup of hot cocoa when your demeanor is nosediving can help put you back on the happy track. According to Dr. Alan Hirsch — neurological director of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago — both the aroma and the chemicals in chocolate have mood-altering qualities. “Chocolate raises mood-boosting serotonin levels in the brain, so chemically it has a tendency to put people in a positive mood,” says Dr. Hirsch.

5. Fill your friend’s mailboxes, not their email inboxes

Time to get out your pen and buy a real box of holiday stationary. A Penn State study has shown that receiving Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's cards really does make people happy. Researchers found that on average the respondents in the study reported receiving 5-10 cards from close friends or relatives. The rest of the cards were from more distant contacts whom the recipients hadn't seen for a year or more. The nature of the relationship between the sender and receiver, however, did not matter. Recipients still felt pleasure from the cards. In fact, the higher the number of cards received, the greater the enhanced feelings of well-being. So, keep the tradition alive and actually post some greetings this year — and hopefully your mailbox will overflow with happiness in return.

More: 5 Important ways to protect yourself from stress

6. Stop taking selfies and do something selfless

Studies show that volunteering for those less fortunate can decrease depression and anxiety, reduce stress and increase a person’s feelings of joy almost more than those to whom the time/energy was given. What’s more, it can help you live longer.

Not sure where to start? Trying matching your volunteering efforts to your personality. For example, if you love kids, hunt for some toy bargains for toy drives. If you are a foodie, canvas your friends for holiday food donations for your local food pantry or serve some time at a food kitchen (i.e., it’s tough to feel sorry for yourself over relatively minor crises when you meet people who don't know where their next meal is coming from).

Not only does it feel good to give back, it will remind you of the spirit of the season and isn't that what it should truly be about?

More: Mary-Kate Olsen's wedding reportedly had an unusual decor

In honor of Olsen's surprise wedding to French banker Olivier Sarkozy, a number of her former Full House castmates have been sending her sweet tributes through social media. Predictably, though, no one can top Uncle Jesse.

Stamos shared the sweetest throwback snap of himself, Olsen and her twin, Ashley, way back in Full House's mid-'90s glory days. All three of them are rocking shades and making hammy faces for the camera.

"'In the blink of an eye.' Congrats MK. X," Stamos wrote alongside the photo, which he posted Monday night to commemorate Olsen's big day.

Olsen reportedly tied the knot with Sarkozy on Friday in a small, intimate ceremony in New York. It appears that none of her Full House castmates were invited to the proceedings. She worked extra-hard to keep the wedding out of the public eye, but her famous TV dad, Bob Saget, spilled the happy news on the Today Show on Monday.

More: Our theory on Mary-Kate Olsen's 'new look' — and it's not plastic surgery

"I was not invited, but I'm very happy and I sent a mazel tov text," Saget said.

And Dave Coulier also chimed in, telling Entertainment Tonight that he is "sending my love" to Olsen and Sarkozy.

The Olsen twins are the only regular Full House cast members who will not be returning for the series' Netflix reboot, Fuller House.

More: 11 Things you didn't know about Mary-Kate Olsen's fiancé

Do you love all the Full House tributes to Olsen on her wedding day as much as we do? Sound off down in the comments.

I simply baked these bite-size bites instead of deep-frying them and served them up with fresh tomato and cucumbers and a creamy dip made up of fresh lemon, garlic and tahini paste.

If you aren’t a fan of tahini, then try using mashed eggplant with a little bit of olive oil or plain yogurt with grated cucumbers and fresh dill for a tasty alternative to dunk these falafel balls into.

Easy baked falafel balls with lemon-garlic tahini recipe

Serves 4

Prep time: 25 minutes | Bake time: 20 minutes | Total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

For the lemon-garlic tahini sauce

• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1-1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or agave
• 1/2 cup tahini
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Lemon slices and fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

For the falafel balls

• 1/4 cup garbanzo bean flour
• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 cup sweet onion
• 1 small handful fresh parsley
• 6 garlic cloves
• 1-1/2 teaspoons cumin
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 whole egg and 1 egg white

For garnish

• Chopped tomato
• Chopped cucumbers
• Lemon slices
• Fresh chopped parsley

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the tahini sauce. Mix well, and set aside.
3. To the bowl of a food processor, add all the ingredients except for the egg.
4. Process on high for 2 to 3 minutes or until the mixture is very finely chopped. Add the egg and egg white to the mixture, and mix very well until sticky.
5. Using a small cookie scoop, form the falafel balls, and place them in a single layer on the baking sheet. Once all the falafel balls are prepared, bake them uncovered for about 18 to 20 minutes or until the outsides start to turn golden brown.
6. Place the baked falafel balls on a serving plate with fresh tomato and cucumbers, and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve with the lemon-garlic tahini sauce for dipping.

More falafel recipes

Easy falafel wraps
Easy falafel cakes
Falafel pitas with cucumber dip

More: Kyle Richards breaks silence on Yolanda Foster "faking" Lyme disease

In the midst of failing health and rumors that she's been faking her Lyme disease diagnosis, the 51-year-old The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star has just announced that she and her husband, David Foster, will end their four-year marriage.

"Sadly we have decided to go our separate ways," the couple said in a joint statement. "We've shared nine beautiful and joyous years together. During that time we experienced love, friendship and the inevitable challenges that come with managing a marriage, careers, blended families and health issues."

The announcement came as Yolanda is due to return to film Season 6 of the hit reality series, and rumors that she's faking her serious illness, like Brooks Ayers, have been plaguing her, sure to become central to the plot of upcoming episodes. Now, add a divorce to the mix, and it looks like the upcoming season could be the most contentious yet for Yolanda and her family.

"We are grateful for the years we've spent together and believe wholeheartedly that we did our best," the couple's statement continued. "I hope that we can pave the road ahead of us with all we've learned and with the love and respect we will always have for one another."

At their wedding in 2011, David told Yolanda, "Tonight, I'm the luckiest man on the planet."

Their split comes after one major clue that their marriage was coming to an end: They recently put their Malibu mansion up for sale. At the time, however, neither star hinted that the sale was happening because their marriage was ending.

"Beautiful ending to a beautiful chapter of our life," Yolanda captioned a photo on Instagram of herself and her husband at the house.

More: Brandi Glanville slammed for wearing offensive shirt around Kim Richards (PHOTO)

How do you think this divorce will affect RHOBH? Let us know down in the comments.

After all, the number of new infections has declined 35 percent since 2000. That doesn't mean there is not still an HIV/AIDS epidemic. Today is World AIDS Day, and it's a good time to think about how far we've come in beating this disease… and how far we still have to go.

The reality is that, right now, it's a very present threat. Especially in young people.

HIV/AIDS still continues in young Americans — why?

We know how to prevent the spread of HIV, which is why it's alarming to hear that so many young people are still getting — and spreading — the virus.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of all young people with HIV in the U.S. aren't aware they're carrying the virus. Five years ago, 13 to 24-year-olds comprised 26 percent of all infections in the U.S.

In 2013, 9,961 young Americans were diagnosed with HIV infection — that's 21 percent of the people diagnosed that year. And 81 percent of those diagnosed that year were people from 20 to 24 years old, which represented the highest number of HIV diagnoses of any age group.

Dr. Michelle Cespedes, M.D., an associate professor of infectious disease with the Mount Sinai Hospital, said a lot of things are driving HIV/AIDS to continue in younger populations.

"People have a misconception that they are not at risk," she said, adding that most people think only men and drug addicts can have it. People who don't know their status are more likely to transmit it, she added.

People think, "'I'm not really at risk — I know my guy's straight,'" she said.

More: Spreading HIV through manicures: Facts to know about the risk

Meanwhile, UNAIDS reports that more than 100 million new sexually transmitted infections (STIs), excluding HIV, occur each year among young people under 25 years of age. STIs can facilitate HIV transmission between sexual partners, so preventing and treating them can stop infections from spreading.

So, young and uninformed... or young and invincible?

After all, today's youth wasn't around to witness the outpouring of coverage that occurred when the disease was in the media spotlight during the 1990s.

Dr. Bill Schaffner, M.D., a professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said that could be part of the reason why young people are still contracting HIV/AIDS.

"People who are younger than age 25 think they're immortal," Schaffner said. "They don't always take precautions." And Schaffner often hears from people who say HIV/AIDS is a thing of the past.

"The traditional risk factors are still out there and we can't think by any means that AIDS has been conquered in any way," he warns. "I'm concerned that if we become complacent, we'll have a splurge of cases once again."

"The virus is unforgiving," Schaffner added.

Take action

One way to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS is to get tested. Healthvana has a free solution to help you find an STD clinic and get results via the platform. In fact, 80 percent of those tested receive their results in a day, according to the company.

"Everyone is at risk and everyone should know their status," Cespedes said. "Getting tested is an act of love."

Here's what you can expect from Season 17.

1. They all mean business

"The big challenge was, how much do you value your health?" explained contestant Hope Wright, who is on the ranch competing with her husband Colby Wright. "Do you value your health enough to be here? And so all 16 of us stayed."

"[Bob] offered us $25,000 to leave," Colby revealed, echoing his wife's statements. And none of the contestants took the offer. Instead, they started the season with a trial run.

2. There is a reality TV team

Survivor: Borneo winner Richard Hatch and The Voice Season 2 semi-finalist Erin Willett will both be joining the show. And, as luck (or, more correctly, producers) would have it, the two are partners this season on The Biggest Loser.

"As much as your life can be crazy and there can be a lot of things in your way, you have to take the time to focus on yourself," Willett said. "If you don't put yourself first then nothing's going to be able to change."

3. They're all about getting healthy

The skinny standard is out the window.

"Be healthy," best friends and partners Whitney Clay and Felicia Buffkin said almost immediately in unison when asked what advice they would give young girls.

"Focus on health and then the outward will fix itself," Buffkin added.

4. There are former athletes

Husband and wife team Jacky and Stephen Kmet both come from athletic backgrounds.

"That's one of my toughest things," Jacky revealed, "How did I let this happen to my body? The difficulty level."

Jacky played softball and basketball in college at a D3 school while Stephen played ice hockey in college.

"One of the things that even led us here was that we lost our athletic backgrounds," Stephen explained. "I want my son to see me play ice hockey. And he's a great athlete now and my daughter's a great athlete. But my son has never seen me play ice hockey and that bothers me."

5. There are big challenges for some

Father/daughter duo Sarah Gilbert and Rob Kidney experienced their fair share of struggles after only the first week.

Kidney admitted movement was his biggest hurdle, "I'm the oldest guy on the show. I'm 56 and I came in with having been a cancer survivor and several other things. Our whole story is a story of addiction. We consider what we do with food an addiction just like an alcoholic uses alcohol."

As for Gilbert, she has a tight IT band, which causes her knee cap to shift when she walks. Luckily, the show has been carefully monitoring it and taping her knee in order to avoid the movement.

6. There's plenty of inspiration

Mother/daughter duo Vicki and Lauren Clark really showcased the emotion on the show when discussing their experience with the pressure to look a certain way.

"I just don't want little girls growing up to be like me and getting to be an adult and having treated themselves so poorly when they were little," Lauren revealed between tears. "To be an adult and look back at pictures of themselves when they were little, and think, 'I wasn't even that big. I was never that ugly. Why was I so mean to myself?' So just be kinder to themselves and give themselves a break and don't listen to what everyone else says because a lot of the time it's just their own insecurities coming out.

7. There's tons of liberation

Vicki revealed that the ladies have been taking it off.

"Hope started it," she said with a laugh. "We're out there working out in our bra."

And while she lamented at the loss of her modesty some, it also seems entirely freeing and fabulous. We say take it off!

8. Their families are on board

Gilbert's husband was probably the most inspiring.

"Both of them are pretty healthy," Gilbert revealed of her and Kidney's respective spouses. "But my husband, just since we've been gone, has already lost 12 pounds. And he really doesn't have that much more to lose. He's really excited for me and wants to be as healthy as possible so that when I come back we can both be in the same gear."

9. There's already competition

After the first team challenge, Jacky of the husband and wife team revealed that the competitiveness had started to settle in.

"The hard part is, because we're all living together, we really bond with our team as well as the other team, so honestly, first and foremost, I do want to win. I want to win," she said.

Her husband, Stephen, agreed, "Everybody's got their game face on."

The Biggest Loser premieres Monday, Jan. 17 on NBC.

Variety reported that, alongside Brent Montgomery, CEO of reality television company Leftfield Pictures, Frankel announced today that she and Leftfield have signed a deal to develop and produce television projects together. Frankel’s work with Leftfield will be under the banner of her newly launched production company, B Real Productions.

More: RHONY's Jill Zarin admits she misses Bethenny Frankel

For those following the RHONY star’s recent career moves, this announcement should come as no surprise. Her newest television program, Food Porn, premieres on FYI this Thursday, Dec. 3 at 9/8c. Hosted by restaurateur Michael Chernow, the show will follow the restaurants, chefs and diners behind the delicious meals represented under Instagram’s #foodporn hashtag. Frankel is Food Porn’s executive producer.

It is fitting, then, that the first two shows that B Real and Leftfield will coproduce operate under similar branding. Closet Porn is likely to look at fashion trends through the lens of social media, while Cocktail Porn will presumably do the same for bars and mixology. It remains to be seen how many more of B Real’s shows will fall under the same branding, though they will all certainly remain within Frankel’s general areas of lifestyle interest.

More: Bethenny Frankel says she's sleeping with Eric Stonestreet (VIDEO)

Frankel celebrated the news on Twitter this afternoon, and her fans are already sharing in the excitement.

Excited to see where the reality television superstar will be taking her porn empire next? You won't have to wait too long to find out! Be sure to tune into Food Porn when it premieres on Thursday on FYI.

If you were born in 1965, so did you. I wasn’t alone. Champagne bubbles practically emanated from Facebook as countless friends and “friends” celebrated in all kinds of ways.

But, for some, it was also a year of tremendous loss. Some of my close friends said their final goodbye to a parent.

This all hit me around July, as I found myself once again with a heavy heart, coordinating the delivery of yet another shiva platter from yet another distant kosher deli. Or flowers. Or ordering more wine.

Then, only weeks later, there I was, writing a toast or a card for a friend turning 50, happy memories floating through my head.

2015. A year of marking milestones. For some, a year of saying goodbye.

With birthdays, I could just feel some of the celebrations. Then, the bubbles popped. I would see a post from an old high school classmate with the news of a devastating loss. Comments like “Happy Birthday” and “Welcome to the club” were then followed with “Sorry for your loss,” “No words” or something similar. Tears replaced bubbles. The collective “celebrating” was farcical, yet wonderful. The collective grief was palpable.

We were celebrating as if we were one, my fellow 50-year-olds and me. A group 50th. A group milestone. We were also mourning collectively — even for those thankfully not saying goodbye in the same way. We all — the 1965 collective, the 1983 high school graduating class, the ones who went to college without laptops or cell phones — felt the passing of time. Of course we celebrated — some publicly, some privately. We reflected, we made changes, we considered changes and we delayed changes.

We all know that big birthdays are milestones. That goes without saying. We may be struggling, we may not. We may be a mess as hormones dip or waistlines expand and children grow up. We may be in a really great place, euphoric even — like “50 is the new 40“ bullshit. It doesn’t matter. We shared in this milestone. And, of course it’s a great one — but also: WTF and OMG.

And for anyone in this group fortunate enough to still have parents or a parent, we are all still feeling these goodbyes in the pit of our stomachs. It comes with our anchors disappearing, whether it’s in the same year as reaching this important milestone or just in other, quieter ways.

A collective consciousness.

Collective mourning.

A collective party.

A collective holy shit.

A collective meltdown.

A collective appreciation of life.

A collective sense of unbearable loss.

The passing of time.

It can be easy to forget to take time to mark the moment by yourself, especially while saying goodbye symbolically, metaphorically or literally. But I say to the other 1965-ers: Don’t forget the bubbles. It’s important.

And, to my friends who didn’t quite want to celebrate yet, even if they turned 50 — for any, any reason, keep a bottle on ice. Take your time. And remember: As you freak about silly realizations like The Rocky Horror Picture Show turning 40 and Back to the Future turning 30 and how James Spader looks now versus how he looked in all those great 80s movies (I still love him), I have one thing to say — even Jon Cryer, aka “Duckie,” is turning 50 this year! We are in good company. And, thankfully, I no longer want that DeLorean from the movie. It’s too low to the ground anyway…

Happy Birthday. Sorry for your loss.

Over the past few years, there has been growing concern about the connection between hair dye and an increased risk of certain kinds of cancer. The majority of women in the United States will use hair dye at one time or another, which means there is a good deal of exposure — and potential risk — to a large amount of the population. But does hair dye actually increase cancer risk?

First, identify the hair dye treatment you want to use. First, there are temporary dyes. These dyes will usually last for one or two washes and will not take much time to leave the hair. While they may cover the surface of the hair, they do little to penetrate deeper into the hair follicle.

Semi-permanent dyes are a bit stronger. These dyes will penetrate into the hair follicle. The benefit of this is that they will last for far more washes — typically only coming out after five to 10 washes total.

The final category is permanent hair dye treatments. These dyes are responsible for causing long-term chemical changes to the hair follicles and are of primary concern to those studying the potential link between cancer and hair dye. These permanent dyes can sometimes contain amines and phenols, as well as stronger agents that help to change the hair color. Additionally, particular hair dye colors may prove to increase cancer risk in some individuals.

What do studies show?

There is a great deal of speculation regarding the connection between increased cancer risk and hair dyes. Thankfully, some scientific research has been done that helps to better explain this relationship. The connection was first made when hairdressers and barbers began reporting higher-than-average levels of certain kinds of cancer, in particular bladder cancer, breast cancer, leukemia and lymphomas. While hair dye does not directly cause cancer, it does seem to increase the risk of developing cancer, especially if you are already prone to the kinds of cancer listed above.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer as well as the National Toxicology Program both suggest that some of the chemicals used in hair dye products may be carcinogenic to people. In studies done with people, bladder cancer and breast cancer risks were often increased if the person worked in an industry where hair dye was applied regularly. It should be noted that those studies showing a connection to breast cancer are not conclusive and require far more research before their findings can be considered definitive. In addition, the studies available have shown contradictory findings in whether or not leukemia and lymphoma rates were higher among constant hair dye users and professional hairdressers. Again, more research has to be done into these populations before definitive results can be found.

Many of the effects of hair dye and increased cancer risk are those where individuals were hairdressers for decades. Since the 1980s, there have been dramatic changes in the kinds of dyes used, decreasing the exposure to harmful dyes and reducing the chance of future hairdressers from developing cancer. While that does not mean that hair dyes may or may not be cancerous, it does mean that many of the earlier findings may not be indicative of what is currently happening.

In addition, as all of the research has clearly illustrated, only those who have had constant or near-daily contact with hair dye application showed signs, symptoms and eventually an increased risk of cancer. For the average man or woman, the levels of exposure are typically not high enough to raise concern. So, if you are looking for a hair color that matches your skin tone or any other kind of hair dye and you are an infrequent customer, then you probably have nothing to worry about.

Should I limit my exposure to hair dyes?

We began this article with the truthful statement that every day we are exposed to minor risks on our health. For those who do not frequently dye their hair, then the findings from the National Toxicology Program as well as other organizations would suggest that infrequent dyes are not dangerous. That being said, it is important to be wary while we wait for future research to come out. If you are very concerned, then you can still dye your hair while taking measures to reduce the amount of exposure you have to the materials.

Anyway... this is the time of year that I like to do my yearly assessment. It's my way of checking what goals I have achieved.

So, I'm flipping through my calendar and, atop each page, I see my handwritten note: Be productive — don't waste today! I determined from my assessment that I had wasted many days. I did have a few extenuating circumstances that prevented me from achieving some of my goals. However, the fact of the matter was I believed I had more wasted days then productive ones.

Feeling defeated, I began to smell my stinking thinking and the stench was nauseating. My thoughts were talking to me, saying that once again I was a failure. I heard me saying that I should have, but that I will never be able to. Those negative self-talks kept playing over and over in my head. In an instant, I had become the judge and jury — and the verdict was guilty of failing to prosper.

Whoa, Angie! Stop and listen to what you are saying to yourself!

If you don't turn the switch towards positive thinking, you are going to activate the "negative monster." The negative monster is all-powerful, and if allowed to roam freely, it will gobble you up. Negative thinking starts with an activating event or trigger. The trigger leads to you having a thought about the event, which produces a feeling, then an emotion, which prompts your behavior.

What I have learned about me is I still have a negative mindset. It reared its ugly head while I was assessing my goals. It was necessary for me to slay this monster before it had taken a big bite. I refused to feed it with self-pity or self-defeating behaviors. I changed my perspective as I took another look at my calendar.

This time I saw that I had, in fact, accomplished many goals. In the past, I was apprehensive to attend networking events. I was overweight and didn't feel comfortable in my own skin. This year, I made a point to attend business launch parties, networking events, book signings and meet-ups. I increased my visibility on social media, became a blogger for BlogHer and SheKnows Experts. I was elected to a seat on the board of education, wrote a grant and it was funded. I have been hired as a consultant, and I have a new location for my public speaking business!

Just writing about my accomplishments makes me smile and tap dance around my living room. I feel awesome about me! Why? Look what I have accomplished! I did it!

You see, this is what positive thinking does for the spirit. It builds your confidence, raises your self-esteem and releases your creative energies. Sometimes you have to be your own positive cheerleader, brag about you and shout it from the rooftops. This is what I have done, and I say, "Go Team Angie!"

How did I decide not to feed my negative monster? First, I had to acknowledge the monster's existence. You can't change what you fail to recognize. I started keeping a journal to write down my triggers, my thoughts and the feelings associated with it. Journaling can be great because it increases your self-awareness.

Realize that it begins and ends with you building a positive fortress that does not allow negativity. There will be those times that negative triggers, such as toxic people, invade your home, office or even while you're shopping. You have to establish boundaries and not allow them to steal your joy. Make sure that you surround yourself with people who are living on purpose, have connected with their passion, have a spirit of gratitude and believe in giving back to their community. When the negative monster attacks, you can turn to them, and they can support and encourage you. Just as a party pooper can rain on your parade, positive people bring sunshine on a cloudy day.

Create a plan to take care of you. It should include healthy eating, exercise and healthy relationships. Remember you have a choice to live with a positive or negative mindset. I choose positivity, and to maintain it, I wear my headsets when I'm out. I enjoy my music — it brings me peace and pleasure and it keeps the negative monsters away. If I forget my headset, I quietly hum a favorite tune. You have to find your little space here on this earth and make it your private heaven. You then can choose who enters your pearly gates.

Thank you for reading my post, I wish you a positive holiday season!

More: Mariah Carey reveals the status of her sexy new love life (VIDEO)

Just months after their divorce, the two say their split doesn't have to affect the holiday season at all — as long as they put their kids first.

In a new interview with E! News, Carey explained that the family may be in different houses, but it won't stop them from spending the holidays together, letting their long-standing holiday traditions live on.

"Santa Claus comes every year and real reindeer are there, of course, as well," she revealed. "[We have] too many traditions to name! We go on a two-horse open sleigh and spend Christmas in Aspen, usually, so I can have a white Christmas, so it's really nice."

She said she and Cannon plan to continue to co-parent through Christmas, and that they're just keeping things laid-back.

"I think we're all just learning as we go," she added. "We're doing the best we can, and it's all about the kids. That's it!"

More: Mariah Carey's new Game of War promo is cracking everyone up (VIDEO)

If Thanksgiving was any indication, it sounds like they'll have no problem figuring it out. Cannon revealed in a recent interview of his own that the family spent that holiday together.

"[I see them] all the time. We're in the same city together," he explained. "My house is more in the suburbs, and they're in the city. We hang out all the time."

He continued, "You know what's really cool, and I love this, and my daughter will be like, 'I don't want to sleep here! I want to go sleep at my other house.' So we'll just put her in the car and drive her to Mom's house. Like even Thanksgiving, it was really cool because we all had Thanksgiving together… At the end of the night my son was like, ‘Yo! I want to go with you!' And my daughter was like, ‘I'll see you tomorrow! Come pick me up in the morning.' So we had a boys' night."

More: Mariah Carey's boyfriend is practically Australian royalty (PHOTO)

Do you think Cannon and Carey are handling their post-divorce holiday season the right way?

More: Wales kick-starts organ donation law 'revolution' in the UK

Rather than opting to terminate the pregnancy, Emma carried baby Hope to term, and last week she was born two minutes before her twin brother, Josh, at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. Although she died after only 74 minutes, Hope's tiny body will help others, as she has become Britain's youngest organ donor.

Hope's parents made her kidneys and liver cells available for transplant, the BBC reports.

"There's an adult lady out there who is doing very well, so a lot of good has come out of it," said Mr Lee.

More: 5 Ways building a business is like having a baby

Speaking of Hope's fatal diagnosis, Mr Lee said, "It was a very sad time, but our whole family is signed up for organ donation."

He continued, "We had time to plan everything we wanted to do and the hospital was able to put into action the transplant of the kidneys and some liver cells were taken as well."

Although the story is heartbreaking, it has managed to provide the family with a little bit of closure, Mrs Lee revealed to The Mirror.

More: Mom gets a 'ticket' for ignoring her kid (PHOTO)

"When we found out Hope wouldn't survive, knowing Teddy [Houlston — who lived for just 100 minutes]'s story made me confident doctors could do the same thing," she said. "Today she is still living on inside someone else and it helps with the grief. It's taken some of the pain away."

Our thoughts are with the Lee family during this sad time.

More: 5 Best moments from Emma Watson's interview with Malala (VIDEO)

Thankfully, she ignored the request and used it anyway.

In an interview with Porter magazine, Watson revealed that she was discouraged from using the word "feminism" in case it alienated people.

"I was encouraged not to use the word 'feminism' because people felt that it was alienating and separating, and the whole idea of the speech was to include as many people as possible," she said. "But I thought long and hard and ultimately felt that it was just the right thing to do. If women are terrified to use the word, how on earth are men supposed to start using it?"

Watson features as one of seven "global role models" in Porter's first ever 100 Incredible Women list, celebrating women around the world who have had an impact on our lives and made us think differently in the past 12 months.

The word feminism shouldn't need to be redefined: The meaning has never changed. But unfortunately, it has, over the years, become synonymous with negativity, with women and men battling each other and so-called "femi-Nazis" providing the world with (ridiculous but sadly unforgettable) sound bites like "all men are rapists."

More: Emma Watson talks to designers about equality in fashion (WATCH)

Rather than be seen as what it should be — a positive movement for equality that will, ultimately, benefit both men and women — the word "feminism" has represented to many people nothing more than a bad attitude.

But really, is the word "feminism" the issue? Surely it's the perception of feminism we should be concerned about — and that won't change even if we decide to give it a different label. Coming up with a new word is easy — changing the views of those who don't fundamentally believe in gender equality is a hell of a lot harder.

The word feminism isn't going anywhere anytime soon. So let's focus on re-educating the public on what it really means. And be grateful that we have public figures like Watson who don't shy away from using that particular F-word.

More: Emma Watson faces online criticism for her comments about male feminists