
Get the Google Pixel Watch for its lowest price ever as Prime Day sales continue
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2023-10-13 00:50

Three Christmas sides you can cook in an air fryer
“This one goes out to all the lost carrots over the years that have been just cut into rounds and boiled,” says chef Poppy O’Toole, who goes by Poppy Cooks on social media. “I’m sorry you went out like that. We will do better. Here’s to more carrots being roasted in honey and going out in style. They deserve it.” To make this dish vegan, replace honey with maple syrup and use a dairy-free alternative to butter – and you can boost the flavour even more by adding a crushed garlic clove to the honey and butter mix. Honey roast carrots Serves: 4 Ingredients: 4 carrots, peeled and sliced in half lengthways Vegetable oil, for spraying 2 tbsp runny honey 1 tsp butter Salt and ground black pepper Method: 1. Heat the air fryer to 180C/350F. 2. Get the carrots in the air-fryer basket and spray them with the vegetable oil. Then cook them for 10 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, in a microwaveable bowl, melt the honey and butter together for about 30 seconds, until liquidy, then season well. 4. When the carrots have been in the air fryer for 10 minutes, tip them into the honey and butter mixture and mix well so that they are all coated, then pop them back into the air fryer for a further 10 minutes, until sticky, glazed and tender. Depending on the size of your carrots, you may need to cook them for a little longer, so cook in five-minute intervals until tender. Roast potatoes “Believe it or not, I’m no stranger to a roast potato or two (or seven), and I’ve made it my life’s work to ensure you have the best potatoes on your plate every time,” says O’Toole. “With an air fryer, the process is much quicker, which means potato gets to your mouth in half the time – always a good thing. “For me, the perfect roast potato has a crispy exterior while still maintaining a beautifully fluffy interior, and this recipe does exactly that.” Serves: 2-4, depending on greed Ingredients: 4 Maris Piper, russet or red skin potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters 2 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tsp fine salt Method: 1. Heat the air fryer to 160C/325F. 2. In a mixing bowl, toss the potatoes in the oil and salt, and tip them into the air-fryer basket. 3. Cook for 30 minutes, giving them a proper aggressive toss every 10 minutes, and even poke them with a fork if you want to fluff up the insides further. 4. Increase the heat to 200C/400F and cook for a further six minutes, until golden and crispy. Chestnut and bacon sprouts “Sprouts are underrated and can be such a delicious vegetable side. When they are cooked right, and not pure mush, they add texture, flavour and colour to any dish,” says O’Toole. You can easily customise this dish to your guests’ dietary requirements – skip the bacon if anyone is vegetarian, and swap out for vegan butter if necessary. Serves: 4 Ingredients: 50g butter, melted 500g fresh or frozen Brussels sprouts (if fresh, cut in half) 100g bacon lardons 50g pre-cooked chestnuts, chopped Sea salt flakes and ground black pepper Method: 1. Heat the air fryer to 180C/350F. 2. In a large bowl, mix the butter with the sprouts, season with salt and pepper and place in the air-fryer basket. Just chuck over the bacon lardons. 3. Cook for five minutes then add in the chestnuts. Cook for another five to 10 minutes, checking at five-minute intervals until cooked to your liking. ‘Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious Air Fryer Cookbook’ (Bloomsbury Publishing, £20). Read More Beauty advent calendars 2021: Our guide to this year’s top treats 13 best tech gifts to spoil a gadget geek this Christmas 10 best luxury Christmas crackers for dressing up your dining table Why restaurant influencers have just ruined your dinner The Independent high street Christmas sandwich and drink taste test Seasonal affective disorder: Can you eat to improve your mood?
2023-11-27 14:53

Woman sparks debate with claim she’s discovered the best month to get pregnant
A woman has sparked a debate with her recent claim that she has discovered the best time of the year to get pregnant. Lily Scott shared a recent video about the topic to TikTok, where she claimed she knows she is “right” in her belief that February is the best month to get pregnant. According to Scott, who outlined a number of reasons for her claim, the first is because Valentine’s Day takes place during the month. “You guys go all in, have the best time of your life,” she said. “Obviously you can’t pick if you ovulate, so anytime, Valentine’s Day or after, that’s when you’re doing said deed.” The mother, who’s based in Washington, DC, then claimed that February is a perfect time to get pregnant because women would most likely feel a “little sick” during the months of March, which she said is a “throwaway month,” April, and May. As noted by the Mayo Clinic, many people experience morning sickness during the first three months of pregnancy. In her video, Scott explained that by June, women who’d gotten pregnant in February would reach their second trimester and start to feel better, “just in time for summer”. “Maybe you do it European style, have a glass of wine one or two days a week, you get to travel still, you’re feeling good,” she continued of her reasons why the timing would be perfect. “There’s no pressure to look good, because you have a bump at this point.” She went on to explain that pregnant women would then reach their third trimester by fall, which she said is “fine” because of the opportunity to get “cosy”. She also claimed that, because of the colder weather, women would be able to layer up if they wanted to cover their growing baby bump. “You’re in your third trimester so everyone know’s to pull back when asking you to do things,” she alleged. “You don’t feel super confident in your skin because now you’re going from cutely pregnant to completely massive. That’s okay. Here’s a sweater. Put on a scarf, another scarf. Nobody cares. You’re getting cosier and cosier.” @thelillyscott Clearly I’ve thought this through. And yes, I absolutely acknowledge that this is ideal and concieving doesnt always just happen! Just having fun with a hypotjetical here!! #besttimetobepregnant #pregnancy #pregtok #pregnanttiktok #preggo #familyplanning #secondpregnancy @Lillyscott ♬ original sound - Lillyscott She noted that once a woman is 40 weeks pregnant, it’ll be around Halloween time and it will be “chilly” weather outside, which can be beneficial to women who find they are getting “really hot” at this point in their pregnancy. In the video, Scott then included astrology as another benefit of a February pregnancy, as she noted that the child would likely be a scorpio, the astrological sign for people born between 23 October and 21 November. She also claimed that the mother would then be on maternity leave during Thanksgiving, and that her family could help her out with different chores around the home. The TikTok user then suggested that a six-week maternity leave would end right around Christmas, when many people receive “time off anyway”. “And your partner is probably going to get off during that time, so you’ll get extra help,” she alleged. She also explained the benefits of having a one-month old baby around this time of the year, continuing: “Your baby’s a month old, it’s the holidays. No one’s going to ask you to get a present for them, no one’s going to ask you to wrap anything. People are going to bring you gifts.” By April or May, the hypothetical mother would be recovering after giving birth, and could have finished breastfeeding, according to Scott. As noted by the World Health Organization, it is recommended that babies are exclusively breastfed until they’re six months old. When they are six months old, they can start eating solid foods in addition to being breastfed. In her TikTok video, Scott also predicted that, when the baby is six-months old, mothers would have more opportunities to travel again while caring for their child, as these travel plans would be happening in the summer months. Scott’s video, which she captioned: “Clearly I’ve thought this through. And yes, I absolutely acknowledge that this is ideal and conceiving doesn’t always just happen. Just having fun with a hypothetical here,” has since been viewed more than 5.7m times, with many viewers divided by the TikToker’s controversial claim. According to some skeptics, February is the not the best month to get pregnant because it would mean being pregnant during the summer months. “Pregnant during the summertime? Never,” one person responded, while another said: “But then you have to carry a baby during the hot summer.” “Having three pregnancies, two of which being through summer...I highly recommend NOT being pregnant through summer…Start in July or August,” a third individual added. Others were unconvinced by the suggestion due to the astrological sign associated with the due date. “But I don’t want a Scorpio as a baby,” one person wrote. “Or you end up being born on Thanksgiving and it kills your birthday vibe forever,” another viewer claimed. One viewer pointed out another downside to giving birth in November, writing: “I didn’t like being postpartum in the winter. No sun, days short and miserable lol.” However, others agreed with Scott’s advice, with some revealing they’d be welcome to their babies being born around November or December. “Watching this four months pregnant in June and you could not be more right,” one person wrote, while another added: “Currently living this and can confirm it all.” Speaking to Today, Scott revealed that she came up with the theory while thinking about when she wants to have her next child. “I’ve been thinking about when I want to get pregnant again - the second you have your first baby, everyone asks when the next one is coming,” she said. “We all know it can take time to get pregnant.” She also clarified her comments about Scropios and the month of March, adding: “There are so many different perspectives [about astrology]. I wasn’t saying that March babies are unwanted - they’re special and amazing! I love Scorpios.” The Independent has contacted Scott for comment. Read More Mother sparks viral debate for ‘shaming’ parent who refused to give her daughter a slice of cake Woman sparks debate for refusing to be a bridesmaid in future sister-in-law’s wedding Mother sparks debate after admitting to calling in sick to take kids on term-time holiday
2023-06-23 01:45

Greek island healthcare in desperate need of revamp
When Maria's nephew had a car accident last month, the family had to wait around 40 minutes for the only operating ambulance on the Greek island...
2023-08-05 13:49

Pub grub: Three recipes from Tom Kerridge’s new cookbook
These warming and hearty pot pies are filled with succulent chicken, chestnut mushrooms and artichokes in a delicious creamy sauce flavoured with mustard,” says Tom Kerridge. “The filling takes a bit of time, but it’s well worth it once you break into that crispy pastry topping and see all your efforts inside!” Chicken and mushroom pot pies Serves: 4 Ingredients: 750g chicken thigh fillets 500ml chicken stock 5 black peppercorns 4 sprigs of thyme 2 bay leaves 2 tbsp olive oil 200g baby chestnut mushrooms, halved 2 banana shallots, finely diced 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 150g chargrilled artichoke hearts, quartered 50g butter 50g plain flour, plus extra to dust 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp wholegrain mustard 1 tbsp tarragon, finely chopped 100ml crème fraîche 1 tbsp sherry vinegar 500g packet ready-made puff pastry 1 large free-range egg, lightly beaten with a pinch of salt Salt and freshly ground pepper Method: 1. To cook the chicken thigh fillets, put the chicken stock, peppercorns, thyme and bay leaves into a medium saucepan over a high heat and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken thighs, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is tender. 2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a frying pan, add the mushrooms and cook for two minutes. Add the shallots and garlic, stir and cook for three to four minutes or until softened. Remove from the heat, stir in the artichokes and set aside. Remove the chicken thighs from the stock and set aside on a tray. Strain the stock. Leave both to cool slightly. 3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour and cook for two minutes. Now gradually whisk in the chicken stock and continue to whisk over a medium heat until the sauce thickens. Stir in both mustards, the chopped tarragon, crème fraîche and sherry vinegar, then the mushroom mix. 4. Cut the poached chicken into bite-sized pieces and fold through the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste and leave to cool slightly. Divide the pie filling between four individual pie dishes and place in the fridge to chill. 5. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a 5mm thickness. Cut out four rounds, two centimetres wider than your pie dishes. Brush the edges with egg, then lay a pastry round, egg-washed edge down, over each pie dish. Brush the tops with egg wash and rest in the fridge for 20 minutes. 6. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut a couple of slits in the top of each pastry lid, to let steam escape during cooking. Bake the pies for 30 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and deep golden brown. Let stand for a few minutes before serving, with a green veg and mash on the side if you like. Paneer and pea fritters “These spicy, rustic-looking nibbles are my take on South Asian fried street food,” says Kerridge. “Flavoured with chaat masala (a slightly tangy spice blend), the fritters are made with protein-rich paneer and gram (chickpea) flour, which adds a nutty, earthy flavour. They need little else other than mango chutney for dipping, and a cold drink to wash them down!” Makes: about 24 Ingredients: Vegetable oil, to fry 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 onion, finely chopped 150g frozen peas, defrosted 1 green chilli, deseeded and finely sliced 175g gram flour 1 tsp chaat masala 3 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves 250g paneer, coarsely grated Salt and freshly ground pepper To serve: Mango chutney Method: 1. Heat two tablespoons of oil in a small frying pan then add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle for a few seconds before adding the onion. Cook for five to seven minutes until the onion is softened, then remove from the heat and leave to cool. Preheat the oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. 2. Once cooled, tip the onion and cumin mix into a bowl and add the peas, chilli, gram flour, chaat masala and chopped coriander. Stir to combine and season well with salt and pepper. Pour in 200 millilitres of water and mix well. Add the grated paneer and stir through gently. 3. You will need to cook the fritters in three or four batches. Heat a 4-5cm depth of oil in a sauté pan to 180C (check with a thermometer). When it is hot, drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the hot oil, spacing them apart. Cook for two to three minutes on each side or until golden and crispy. 4. Remove the fritters from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Keep warm in the low oven while you cook the rest. 5. Once they are all cooked, season the fritters with a little extra salt and serve with mango chutney and lime wedges on the side. Sticky date and banana pudding “This naughty, boozy pud is one of our pub classics,” says Kerridge. “Sticky, caramelised bananas shine alongside a sweet date pudding, and the easy-to-make toffee sauce served alongside takes it to another level of indulgence.” Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 tbsp softened butter, to grease the dishes 100g plain white flour, plus 1 tbsp to dust 100ml dark rum 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 150g pitted dates, chopped 85g vegetable suet 85g soft dark brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 large free-range eggs For the toffee sauce: 200ml double cream 100g soft dark brown sugar 75g butter A small pinch of salt To finish: 2 small bananas 2 tbsp demerara sugar Method: 1. Brush four individual ovenproof dishes (250 millilitre capacity) with the softened butter and dust lightly with flour, shaking out any excess. 2. Pour the rum and 100 millilitres of water into a saucepan and bring to the boil, then take off the heat and add the bicarbonate of soda and dates. Pop a lid on the pan and leave to stand for 10–15 minutes to allow the dates to soak up the liquid and cool down. 3. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. 4. Tip the dates and liquid into a large bowl and add the flour, suet, brown sugar, vanilla extract and eggs. Beat until evenly combined. Spoon the mixture into the prepared dishes and bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. 5. Meanwhile, to make the toffee sauce, pour the cream into a saucepan and add the brown sugar, butter and salt. Place over a low heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved, then bring to the boil. Simmer for two to three minutes, then remove from the heat. 6. Peel and thinly slice the bananas. Once you’ve removed the puddings from the oven, arrange the banana slices, overlapping, around the edge of each dish. Sprinkle the banana slices liberally with demerara sugar and run a cook’s blowtorch over them to caramelise the sugar. 7. Serve the date and banana puddings with the toffee sauce in a jug on the side. ‘Pub Kitchen’ by Tom Kerridge (Bloomsbury Absolute, £27). Read More From Nepal to Tibet: Eight warming dishes from the coldest places on earth Obsessed with Boursin? It’s the perfect way to elevate your leftovers Two seasonal stews to keep the chill off this autumn Farmers’ markets in autumn are a cornucopia of colour Spice up your life: Three recipes from Nadiya Hussain’s new book that bring the heat Budget Bites: Three one-pan recipes that minimise on washing up
2023-10-18 13:50

Secret ‘James Bond’ Tunnels May Become a Tourist Attraction
A warren of tunnels beneath central London, once used by the spies who inspired the creation of James
2023-09-25 12:59

Now You Can Block Instagram From Tracking Your Web Activity
Meta has rolled out a new way to control how Instagram tracks your web activity.
2023-10-22 03:59

Game of Thrones star Thor Bjornsson announces ‘unbearable loss’ of baby after stillbirth
Game of Thrones star Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson has announced that he and his wife, Kelsey Henson, experienced the “unbearable loss” of a stillbirth. In a joint Instagram post shared on 10 November, the actor - known for his role as “The Mountain” in the HBO drama series - revealed that his daughter Grace Morgan Hafthorsdottir was delivered at 21 and a half weeks. “It is with great sorrow that we announce the birth of our daughter, Grace Morgan Hafthorsdottir born Nov 8th at 21 1/2 weeks gestation,” the couple captioned the post. “After a noticeable decrease in movement we found out her heart had stopped beating,” Björnsson and Henson continued. “Words cannot describe our pain of this loss or our happiness at being able to spend time with our daughter. She is absolutely beautiful, with blonde lashes and brows and a little smile for mom and dad.” “The love we feel for her is overwhelming. The grief we feel will be with us forever but so will the love. All of our hopes and dreams for her have been taken away from us but I know I will be with her again,” they added. “Her spirit lives on through us and her siblings. We ask that you respect our privacy at this time as we grieve this unbearable loss. Thank you all for any kind words and support.” Björnsson and Henson shared several photographs from the hospital, including images of baby Grace. The 34-year-old professional strongman could be seen lying with his wife in the hospital bed, as they looked down at their daughter wrapped in a white cloth. Another image showed the couple’s three-year-old son, Stormur, sitting alongside his mother and holding baby Grace. Many friends and followers took to the Instagram comments to share their condolences for the couple. “So sorry for your loss,” wrote actor Terry Crews in the comments. “My heart goes out to you both and Stormur,” said fellow athlete Martins Licis. “I’m sorry for your loss, and can’t even begin to imagine what you’re going through. May you guys find peace at whatever pace needed by your hearts.” “Thor, I am so sorry. We all love you big man,” added filmmaker Christopher Bell. In October, the pair announced they were expecting another baby with a sweet Instagram post. Their son could be seen standing in front of his parents, wearing a black T-shirt that read "brother” and holding pictures of Grace’s ultrasound. “Life is precious and I couldn’t be happier to announce that our family is growing bigger,” Björnsson captioned the post. “Kelsey is 19 weeks pregnant with a healthy child who we cannot wait to meet!” Björnsson and Henson tied the knot in October 2018 in the actor’s home country of Iceland. In addition to son Stormur, Björnsson also shares daughter Theresa Líf with ex-girlfriend Thelma Björk Steimann. Read More Nicki Minaj opens up about navigating parental anxiety after birth of her son How much water should we be drinking in a day? Irina Shayk reveals how she and Bradley Cooper make co-parenting daughter Lea ‘work’ Nicki Minaj opens up about navigating parental anxiety after birth of her son How much water should we be drinking in a day? Irina Shayk reveals how she and Bradley Cooper make co-parenting daughter Lea ‘work’
2023-11-11 02:47

'May December' review: The Netflix movie that side-eyes Netflix true crime
Todd Haynes has made a gorgeous, elegant, and darkly funny movie for Netflix, and it's
2023-10-18 17:18

A Week In Coastal Maine On A $62,000 Salary
Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.
2023-09-13 23:48

TikTok users in Europe will be able to opt out of personalized feeds
In Europe the For You Page is about to be a little less for you.
2023-08-07 01:21

Dish Wireless: We’ll Meet June Deadline to Cover 70% of Americans With 5G
Dish remains on course to build the US’s first new nationwide wireless network in decades
2023-05-20 06:26
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