Get ready to giggle—in a ghastly, ghostly way! The Ghostbusters: Afterlife trailer is here and it’s filled with some sinister sweetness, courtesy of mini marshmallow men.
The iconic over-sized Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is one of the most memorable characters from the 1984 original Ghostbusters. Now that the ghoul-gathering franchise is back, the geniuses behind Ghostbusters: Afterlife have turned the mega marshmallow man into a bag-full of minis.
In a recently released trailer for new flick features Paul Rudd and his new “friends.” As Rudd shops in your average grocery store aisle, he comes across an adorable teeny tiny marshmallow man. Rudd reaches out to touch the sweet little guy—just as the mini Stay Puft marshmallow bites his finger.
The clip continues to showcase the minis as they play in a devilishly delightful way. Afterwards, the puffy pals roast each other over and grill and one snuggles inside a s’more as his marshmallow mates toast the chocolate with a torch.
Even though you can catch the trailer right now on YouTube, you’ll have to wait for the theatrical debut. Ghostbusters: Afterlife’s big screen premiere is set for Nov. 21!
Actor Wilmer Valderrama and fiance model Amanda Pacheco recently welcomed their first child on Feb. 15!
Valderrama recently posted pics of the pair with their newborn daughter on Instagram. The photo followed a sweet Valentine’s Day post, in which the actor wrote to his love, “Don’t worry about giving me Chocolates, you’re giving me a little miracle Chimichanga!”
The new dad recently turned the big 4-1 and celebrated with a sweet IG toast post to his fiance, “Now THIS is 41.. thank you to absolutely everyone who posted and send me such beautiful messages and wishes.. by the look of these pics.. some of those wishes came true.. I love you all mucho! Thank you Amanda for my last bday gift before becoming a papa… you.”
Along with the newborn photos of his baby daughter, Valderrama announced the birth with a sweet sentiment saying, “Life is an ever evolving journey, and for all those times when our path needs a light.. often angels are sent to show us the way and that we can be more.. straight out of heaven we welcome our first daughter…” and added the hashtag #ItsJustUs3Now.
Celebs such as Eva Longoria, Gabrielle Union-Wade, and Mandy Moore flocked to IG to congratulate the couple on the birth of their new daughter!
This one-pan meal from Catherine McCord of Weelicious is the perfect weekend brunch dish. Catherine says, “Shakshuka has existed in mediterranean countries for centuries and you will find different variations on it depending on where it’s served.” With eggs, spices, cheese and veggies, your kids will go wild for this dish.
2-3 servings
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 red, orange or yellow bell pepper, diced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, roughly chopped (whichever you prefer)
4 large eggs
1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
bread or pita, toasted for serving
avocado, sliced for serving
Preparation:
1. Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes or until becoming translucent. Add the bell pepper, garlic and salt and continue sautéing for 3 more minutes or until vegetables have softened.
2. Add the smoked paprika, cumin and coriander and sauté for 1 minute to toast the herbs. Add the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes and stir the sauce until combined. Simmer the sauce over medium low for 15 minutes to med the flavors.
3. Using the back of a large spoon make 4 indents spaced out in the sauce and gently crack eggs into these “wells”. Cook the eggs and sauce for 5-6 minutes or until the whites are set and the eggs yolks are still jiggly. If you want your egg yolks fully cooked through cook for a total of 8-9 minutes.
4. Serve in bowls with toast and sliced avocado if desired or eat right out of the skillet like we do.
Catherine McCord is the co-founder of One Potato and the founder of the popular Weelicious brand, a trusted content resource synonymous with family and food. She has written three cookbooks including her latest Smoothie Project. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.
What could make Taco Tuesdays even more magical than they already are? A unicorn taco holder, of course!
Whether your kiddo is all about tacos, totally into unicorns or loves them both equally, Amazon has a stand that holds two tacos—and it’s a pink unicorn.
photo: Amazon
The unicorn taco holder sells for just under $19, is dishwasher safe and is 100 percent BPA-free. Don’t worry if your finicky eater suddenly shuns tacos. According to the product description, the unicorn awesomeness can hold toast or sandwiches too.
Along with the unique unicorn, Amazon also sells a camel taco holder ($14.79). Both the unicorn and camel taco holders come in packs of two. If you want a variety, Amazon also has a multi-pack (one Ultrasaurus and one Triceratops) for just under $19.
Thin Mints or Samoas? Grab a box of each because Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) just kicked off the 2021 cookie season nationally. This year girls are selling in creative, socially distant and contact-free ways to keep themselves and their customers safe.
Last year, due to the pandemic, girls were faced with challenges which forced them to quickly pivot their sales methods. From running virtual cookie booths on social media to setting up drive-through locations to facilitating orders that ship directly to customers’ doors, girls as young as five years old are continuing to embrace their entrepreneurial spirits, stay connected to their communities, and have fun by participating in the cookie program. And, the proceeds from each and every purchase stay local with the troop and its council to power Girl Scouts’ essential leadership programming.
“We’re proud of the resourceful ways Girl Scouts are running their cookie businesses safely and using their earnings to make the world a better place,” said interim GSUSA CEO Judith Batty. “This season, our girls will continue to exemplify what the cookie program taught them—how to think like entrepreneurs, use innovative sales tactics, and pivot to new ways of doing business when things don’t go according to plan. The cookie program is what keeps Girl Scouts thriving in communities across the country and is proven to build girls’ leadership skills and help them become successful in life.”
This season, GSUSA is collaborating with food ordering and delivery platform Grubhub so girls have another way to facilitate contact-free cookie orders. In select markets, with additional markets added throughout cookie season, consumers can order Girl Scout Cookies for pickup or delivery on Grubhub.com or the Grubhub app. A hands-on experience in managing e-commerce, local Girl Scouts will track and fulfill orders, manage inventory, and more, all using Grubhub’s back-end technology. As always, the proceeds benefit the troop and council while providing another innovative way to safely run the cookie program virtually. GSUSA is grateful to Grubhub for waiving all fees for the organization to make this new delivery option feasible for sales without reducing troops’ and councils’ proceeds. To kick off the collaboration, Grubhub is offering free delivery on Girl Scout Cookie orders through Feb. 14 with a minimum purchase of $15.
GSUSA is making it possible for all consumers nationwide who don’t already know a Girl Scout to purchase Girl Scout Cookies online for shipment to their doors. Beginning Feb. 1, customers can enter their zip code into the Girl Scout Cookie Finder to find a local troop to purchase from through the Digital Cookie platform for direct shipment or donation to local organizations. This additional contact-free method supports local girls while keeping their safety and skill building top of mind.
“Like other people running small businesses, Girl Scouts are growing their cookie sale online to connect to consumers who may be harder to reach during the pandemic, all while staying resilient and learning skills such as money management, goal setting, and customer service,” said Batty. “We are excited to open virtual cookie booths beginning February 1 to customers who don’t know a Girl Scout so they can still support girls during this challenging time for all of us.”
This year, Girl Scouts in select areas will offer the new Toast-Yay! cookie, a French toast–inspired cookie dipped in delicious icing and full of flavor in every bite. Toast-Yay! gives consumers a new way to celebrate moments of joy alongside other favorites, like Thin Mints and Samoas/Caramel deLites. And though social distancing measures may keep families and friends apart, cookie customers can share joy and stay connected this season through a gift-box option that ships directly to others via the Digital Cookie platform.
Move over Instant Pot, the air fryer is the newest appliance on the block! Known for giving that fried food texture without all the excess oil and fat, air fryer ovens are a great option for staying cool this summer while in the kitchen. From space-saving options to family-sized cookers, we’ve rounded up the best options for starting your air fryer journey. Keep scrolling to find the perfect option for your family.
The Budget Fryer
Chefman TurboFry 2
This customer fave is the perfect option for trying out air frying for the first time, or for small spaces. It won't take up tons of room, and is great for the office, an RV or even a dorm room! People love the two-quart BPA-free, non-stick, removable and dishwasher-safe basket which makes for super easy cleaning. This fryer comes with manual temperature controls and a 30-minute integrated timer, cool-touch exterior and auto shut-off feature.
If you're looking for a lightly larger fryer, Secura's 3.4-quart basket is great for a main entree or batch of snacks. It comes with a 60-minute cooking timer with auto-shut, heating and power indicator lights and variable temperature control that ranges from 180° to 400°F.
Trying to avoid another appliance in the kitchen? Instant Pot has your back. The Air Fryer Lid currently works with the six-quart cooker and is compatible with all stainless steel inner pots. It offers one-touch preset cooking programs, overheat protection, automatic shutoff and comes with accessories! You'll get a multi-level air fryer basket plus a protective pad.
This workhorse is a customer fave and with good reason. The four-quart ceramic basket is nonstick and dishwasher safe, as well as the multi-layer rack and crisper plate. Fit up to two pounds of french fries and cook creatively with the temperature range that goes from 105 to 400 degrees. Did we also mention you can use the Ninja to dehydrate your own chips, snacks and fruits?
This family-sized fryer may take up a decent amount of counter space, but it's great for larger cooking. The six-quart basket allows for larger portions, comes with an auto shut off feature and can heat up to 400 degrees. We love that you can choose from red, white, black and teal so this device can be a mainstay in your kitchen.
This number one best-selling air fryer can be controlled via WiFi! Tech-savvy families will love the large 5.8-quart basket that can be controlled using an app, or even your Alexa-enabled device. The dishwasher safe basket can fit food up to an entire rotisserie chicken, and the appliance even comes with a recipe book filled with 100 ideas.
This 9-in-1 fryer is about to change your kitchen. The 360 oven boasts five different heating elements that can toast, bake, air fry and even cook a spinning rotisserie chicken! It comes with an LCD digital menu, 12 different cooking functions, as well as a pizza rack, rotisserie spit, drip tray, crisper tray and a baking pan.
Ninja Foodi Digital Fry, Convection Oven, Toaster, Air Fryer
The Ninja Foodi does it all: dehydrate, toast, warm, air fry, bake and air roast! The large size allows for cooking a 13-inch pizza, six chicken breasts or nine pieces of toast at a time! Next to cooking, the best part about this appliance is the ability to turn on its side to take up 50% less space when storing it!
Let me preface this by saying that my kids (well, at least half of “my kids”) now have children of their own, so it has been a while since we were teaching them how to cook.
However, my granddaughter recently wanted to help baste the turkey (she’s three), and I realized we are definitely at an age where she can help out around the kitchen.
This realization has led to a walk down memory lane, dragging out old photo albums featuring my son in a miniature chef’s hat and my daughter incredibly proud of her very first pretzels.
This brings us to today and this article. If you are trying to figure out which cooking skills your child (or grandchild) is ready to adopt, I’m hopeful I can help out.
1. Keeping the Kitchen & Their Hands Clean. We all know just how important cleanliness is when cooking. Washing our hands often, making sure we don’t leave a mess behind as we go, and tidying away after cooking are integral parts of being a good cook. Kids can learn how to keep the kitchen clean and the importance of washing their hands very early on—you can engage them in the cleanup as young as 2 or 3, and they’ll be more than happy to contribute.
Pro Tip: Get a special soap they get to use and a set of kitchen cloths with an appealing design to ease the process along.
2. Washing Fruits & Veggies. Along the same kinds of lines, there’s washing all that glorious food you are preparing. This can also be their task from a younger age.
Explain the differences between different kinds of fruits and vegetables: what needs to be peeled, what needs to be washed, what can be cooked with the skin on, and so on. This is also the perfect time to explain what each item is, where it is grown, and what it is used for. Because, remember, our kids might not know as much about food production as we had hoped.
3. Making a Simple Breakfast. This can mean boiling an egg, making toast using a toaster, making porridge—something they can whip up for themselves.
Putting together a sandwich is often the first thing you can teach them, as it does not have to involve turning on the stove, using any kind of appliance for that matter, or the use of a knife.
When they learn how to read, you can create a little recipe book that houses all these simple recipes, and illustrate the steps with their own drawings.
4. Understanding Basic Measurements. As your kids begin to learn basic math, you can easily apply the principles they are working with in school in the kitchen.
Teach them how to measure liquids, how to use kitchen scales, and how to measure in cups and spoons. Let them actually do the measuring—and if they get it wrong, they learn they need to be more careful in the future.
5. Using Appliances. Make sure the appliances you have around the home are safe for your children—auto-offs, timers, doors that close firmly, all will come in handy when working in the kitchen with your younger kids. If you need a bit of help using and choosing them, you can check out some of my pointers on The Confused Nester.
When they can understand the basic concepts of heat, electricity, and cooking, teach them how each appliance works, what it is used for, and how they can turn it off in case of an emergency.
Now you can then move on to actual recipes!
6. Meal Planning. Planning meals is another important aspect of working in the kitchen. It involves knowing which items from the fridge and pantry need to be used first, what goes with what, and how much time you have to prepare a meal. Portion sizes will also come into consideration.
This is a skill you should definitely work on with your older kids. Take them to the store with you and have them join you as you map out a meal plan for the week. Explain the logic behind buying certain items, and watch as they start to get a hang of the usual meals you make and what needs to go in them. You can also use handy sheets and lists to help you out.
7. Basic Knife Skills. When teaching knife skills, start with a plastic knife. Use it on bananas and other soft foods, until your kids know how to handle the knife with confidence. You can then move up to using a duller kind of knife for the rough chopping—fruits and veggies that don’t need to be finely diced. Finally, you will graduate to a real metal knife and work on fine motor skills—onions are your best friends here.
8. Seasoning & Other Flavors. Finally, you can work on adding extra flavor to your dishes and teach your kids the importance of spices and seasoning.
The most fun, but perhaps not the most appetizing way to do this will be to make a lot of mistakes. Use spices one by one and teach your children what they actually taste like and what they go with nicely. Of course, make sure you read up on the use of spices yourself first, if you are not already a pro when it comes to the use of the spice rack.
Most kids will be happy to join you in the kitchen and will enjoy working on different aspects of a dish with you. Don’t push them out with the excuse of “you’re too young, you’ll hurt yourself.” Teach them the skills they need so they don’t injure themselves in the kitchen, and you will be nurturing their love of cooking and food alike.
Mother of two and an aspiring star baker, Joyce started blogging during the 2020 pandemic. She is still unsure about her voice (which is why she writes under a pseudonym), but is aiming to overcome her fears and write as much as she can.
It’s that time of year when it’s time to start watching all your holiday favorites, including classics like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. The iconic childhood fave is practically a Turkey Day staple—and here’s where and when you can watch it with your fam this year.
In case the details are fuzzy, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving features the turkey day tale of Peppermint Patty, crashing a festive holiday dinner, in her own special way. After inviting herself and her friends to “Chuck’s” for Thanksgiving, Charlie Brown and his BFF’s have to come up with an impromptu dinner menu. And oh—what a menu!
Photo: Apple Tv+
Instead of the traditional turkey and lumpy mashed potatoes, Charlie Brown and friends serve up buttered toast, jellybeans, pretzels and popcorn. Hey, now that’s a menu any mama who’s spent too much time in the kitchen can totally appreciate.
You can catch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on PBS and PBS KIDS on November 22, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. local time/6:30 p.m. CT. The special will also start streaming on Apple TV+ Nov. 18 and will be available for free from Nov. 25 through Nov. 27.
In addition to the Turkey Day fave, A Charlie Brown Christmas will air on PBS and PBS KIDS on Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. local time/6:30 p.m. CT and start streaming on Apple TV+ Dec. 4 and available for free from Dec. 11 through Dec. 13.
Our dinners out with the kids start so optimistically; walking out together with an unopened bottle of $9 wine in hand, basking in the satisfaction of having gotten three kids dressed and out the door. But, sometimes these evenings end in frustration, and an unfinished bottle of wine.
For a while my husband and I feel like adults, and maybe we even start to talk about adult things on the way out to the car. “Did you see what Donald Trump tweeted today?”… “I heard the most interesting thing on NPR!” We affirm that we are rational people, and others may be misguided, or out of control.
But, things can deteriorate quickly. Maybe the kids won’t just sit and buckle their seat belts. Then there’s the intrusion of personal space, whining, and at worst a few punches are thrown, and someone is left crying. (Maybe even one of the kids!?)
A warning is given as we exit the mini-van in the restaurant parking lot. “If you guys don’t get your act together…” (um, what?) What leverage do we have? “You’ll sit out here… in the car!” Seriously?
Anyway, if all goes well, we’ll throw out a few more empty threats, distribute food, tell stories, laugh, and walk our youngest daughter to the bathroom just as our meals arrive. (Every time!) It’s a uniquely boisterous bouquet of frustration and exultation.
Now it’s getting late, so we signal for the check and I inspect the perimeter of the table for forgotten articles. Along with a glove and two markers, there’s a quarter of a bottle of wine left. Hmmm…
We usually have the misguided idea that maybe we’ll split this last glass of wine when we get home, but that doesn’t happen.
Instead, we’ll probably end up exhausted, laying prostrate in front of a Netflix show with chamomile tea for an hour, and then call it a day. Maybe I’ll even be a little angry with myself for being so hard on the kids as I pour out the leftover wine into the sink with a sigh.
Maybe Having Kids is kind of like sharing a bottle of wine?
Yes, I AM going to turn this whole thing into a metaphor.
So, your high expectations for dinner with the kids didn’t work out exactly as planned? Think of your time with them like sharing a bottle of wine. It’s a communal experience; special and complex, but imperfect. It’s a a spectrum of sweet and savory, with bitter notes and lively acidity that should leave you slightly intoxicated.
Know that the moment you open a bottle of wine, oxidation goes to work, simultaneously “opening up,” and “breaking down” its components. Now the wine has become more “present,” and nature has turned her hourglass over and placed it on your table.
So, pour it out mindfully, and raise your glasses for a toast. Just don’t leave a drop in the bottle, because wine has to be enjoyed in the moment, and it won’t keep.
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I'm Missy, a mother of three and a middle school drama teacher at a private school. I'm obsessed with my Vizsla (dog), traveling, and the musical Hamilton. I also enjoy writing and sharing fun parenting stories, which is what brought me here.
Get excited for cookie season. Today the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) kicked off a countdown to the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie season with the announcement of a new cookie in select areas. Toast-Yay!, a French toast–inspired cookie dipped in delicious icing and full of flavor in every bite.
Amid challenging world events and a global pandemic this year, Girl Scouts created moments of joy by donating cookies to thank frontline workers and using the cookie earnings to support their communities. When Girl Scout Cookie season returns, Toast-Yay! will give consumers a new way to celebrate these moments alongside other favorites, like Thin Mints and Samoas/Caramel deLites. And though social distancing measures may keep families and friends apart, cookie customers will be able to share joy and stay connected this season through a giftbox option that ships directly to others via the Digital Cookie/Smart Cookie online platforms.
Consumers will be happy to know that each cookie purchase is an investment in girl leadership in their own community. With every sale, the Girl Scout Cookie Program teaches girls how to think like entrepreneurs as they run their own small businesses and learn skills like goal setting, people skills, and decision making. Girls can also decide how to use their portion of the proceeds for unforgettable leadership experiences and community projects, while councils are dependent on the funds to deliver life-changing Girl Scout programming to 1.7 million girls.
As the COVID-19 pandemic became widespread during the 2020 cookie season, many girl entrepreneurs quickly changed their emphasis to virtual sales as they experienced the same challenges as other businesses. GSUSA also offered a new national online platform, Girl Scouts Cookie Care, that enabled customers to safely order cookies for home delivery or to donate cookies to first responders, volunteers, and local causes. Thanks to their customers, Girl Scouts donated millions of cookie packages last season. In the 2021 season, Girl Scouts will again embrace their entrepreneurial spirit by selling cookies through online platforms and innovative “virtual cookie booths” on social media (with parental supervision). Many girls will offer socially distant or contactless sales and delivery options. If local guidelines allow, in-person sales may also be available in certain areas, keeping girls’ safety top priority.
Although the start of cookie season is recognized nationally in January, timing and product availability varies locally, so contact your local council for more information about sale dates and specific cookie availability.
