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Rare coin hidden for decades to fetch eye-watering sum

Three sisters from the US who inherited a dime coin kept it in a bank vault for more than 40 years, and while they know it had some value, they didn't know just how much until a few years ago. The rare coin, struck by the US Mint in San Francisco in 1975, could be worth more than $US500,000 ($748,000), according to Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections, the auction house selling the coin. What makes the coin depicting President Franklin D. Roosevelt so valuable is that it is just one of two coins missing the "S" mint mark for San Francisco. The other dime sold for $US682,000 (over $1 million) at a 2019 auction and then again months later to a private collector. While avid coin collectors have known about the existence of these two extraordinarily rare coins, their whereabouts had remained a mystery since the late 1970s. “They were hidden for decades,” Russell said. “Most major collectors and dealers have never seen one.” The three sisters from Ohio, who want to remain anonymous, inherited one of the two dimes after the recent death of their of their brother, Russell said. They told Russell that their brother and mother bought the first error coin discovered in 1978 for $27,225, which would amount to roughly $135,000 today. Their parents, who ran a dairy farm, saw the coin as a financial safety net, and it was only until last year that one of the sisters saw the coin first-hand. Russell also said that their brother had reached out to him about seven years ago and told him about the coin, but he too kept it a secret. When Russell told one of the sisters about the potential value of the coin, she told him: “is that really possible?”. The coin, known as the “1975 ‘no S’ proof dime,” will be displayed at a coin show beginning on Wednesday in Tampa, Florida, and before <a href="https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1655587" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the auction</a> closes late next month, Russell said. The current highest bidder has offered $US250,000 ($374,000). Images: Great Collections/ Professional Coin Grading Services

Money & Banking

Woman “bullied” on plane over budget seating trick

A young woman has recalled a flight from hell when she was “bullied” by a couple who were trying to utilise a seating hack that went viral on TikTok. The solo traveller took to Reddit to recount the story and ask social media users if she was in the wrong for her action. The woman began by saying she usually pays more to select her plane seat ahead of time, but a medical emergency on another plane had her waiting on standby and left with no option other than to sit in a middle seat. When she was finally able to board, she was greeted by a couple who had purchased both the window and aisle seats in a bid to have more space, utilising a travel “trick” that has been popular on TikTok. The method, which has been dubbed the 'poor man's business class', usually leaves travellers with an empty middle seat and more space, and few travellers opt to pick a middle seat. “When I got to my row the man and woman were chatting and sharing a snack... it was obvious they were together. I mentioned to the man that I'm in the middle, and he got up to let me in,” the unsuspecting traveller wrote on Reddit. “I asked them if they would prefer to sit together, I said I was totally okay with that. The woman reacted rudely to this and said ‘you're not supposed to be sitting here anyway’.” After noticing how the plane was full, she offered to show the pair her new ticket with the correct seat number on it. “She flicked her hand at my ticket and made a disgusted sound. I offered again if they wanted to sit together to which she didn't reply, her partner said it's okay and... made some small talk,” she continued. The man’s girlfriend then interrupted their conversation to ask,”'Did you use one of those third party websites to book your flight? It's so frustrating when people cheap out to inconvenience others.” The American woman explained that she had booked her flight directly and she had been placed on standby like everyone else and didn't choose the middle seat - she was assigned it. She then tried to keep the peace by refusing to engage with the furious woman. “I was so done with her attitude, I put my headphones on and attempted to do my own thing,” she explained. But the “entitled” girlfriend wasn't letting it go, as the woman explained, “This woman kept reaching over me and tapping her partner and trying to talk to him in a way that was super intrusive.” “I could tell even her partner was trying to engage her less so that she would hopefully stop, but she didn't.” “I think they tried to pull that tactic where they don't sit together on purpose...hoping no one will sit between them. But on full flights it doesn't work. And even so - it's not the other person's fault.” The traveller's post was met with hundreds of comments slamming the girlfriend’s behaviour, as one person wrote, “It's like a toddler having a tantrum.” “She was disappointed and a total a**hole. Gross entitled people,” another added. Another person applauded the traveller’s level-headed behaviour, writing, “Wow! You are my hero for keeping it classy - I’m afraid I would not have been as kind as you.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Vinegar and baking soda: a cleaning hack or just a bunch of fizz?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-kilah-599082">Nathan Kilah</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> Vinegar and baking soda are staples in the kitchen. Many of us have combined them in childhood scientific experiments: think fizzy volcanoes and geysers. But people also frequently mix vinegar and baking soda to produce a reportedly effective household cleaner. Unfortunately, the chemistry behind the bubbly reaction doesn’t support the cleaning hype. The fizzy action is essentially <a href="https://theconversation.com/six-surprising-things-about-placebos-everyone-should-know-220829">a visual “placebo</a>”, formed by the combination of an acid and a base. So, how does it work, and is it worth using these chemicals for cleaning? To understand all this, it helps to know a little more about chemistry. <h2>What’s an acid?</h2> Foods with a sour taste typically contain acids. These include citric acid in lemon juice, malic acid in apples, lactic acid in yoghurt and <a href="https://theconversation.com/kitchen-science-everything-you-eat-is-made-of-chemicals-56583">phosphoric acids in soft drinks</a>. Most vinegars contain around 4–10% acetic acid, the rest is water and small amounts of flavour chemicals. There are other naturally occurring acids, such as formic acid in ant bites and hydrochloric acid in our stomachs. Industrially, sulfuric acid is used in mineral processing, nitric acid for <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-ammonium-nitrate-the-chemical-that-exploded-in-beirut-143979">fertiliser manufacturing</a> and the highly potent hydrofluoric acid is used to etch glass. All of these acids share similar properties. They can all release hydrogen ions (positively charged atoms) into water. Depending on their potency, acids can also dissolve minerals and metals through various chemical reactions. This is why vinegar is an excellent cleaner for showers or kettles – it can react with and dissolve mineral deposits like limescale. Other common acidic cleaning ingredients are oxalic acid, used for revitalising timber decks, hydrochloric acid in concrete and masonry cleaners, and sulfamic acid in potent toilet cleaners. <h2>What’s a base?</h2> In chemistry, bases – the opposite of acids in many ways – can bind, rather than release hydrogen ions. This can help lift and dissolve insoluble grime into water. Bases can also break apart fat molecules. Baking soda (also known as sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or bicarb) is a relatively weak base. Stronger common bases include sodium carbonate (washing soda), sodium hydroxide (lye) and ammonia. <a href="https://theconversation.com/spill-at-a-nuclear-facility-shows-potential-burn-risks-from-a-household-chemical-112763">Sodium hydroxide</a> is a potent drain cleaner – its strong base properties can dissolve fats and hair. This allows blockages to be broken down and easily flushed away. <h2>Mixing a base and an acid</h2> Mixing vinegar and baking soda causes an immediate chemical reaction. This reaction forms water, sodium acetate (a salt) and carbon dioxide – the fizzy part. The amount of carbon dioxide gas that is produced from baking soda is remarkable – one tablespoon (around 18 grams) can release over <a href="https://www.chemedx.org/JCESoft/jcesoftSubscriber/CCA/CCA8/MAIN/8/06/2/4/movie.html">five litres of gas</a>! But only if you add enough acid. Reactions in chemistry often use equal quantities of chemical reagents. A perfect balance of acetic acid and baking soda would give you just water, carbon dioxide and sodium acetate. But the majority of vinegar and bicarb cleaner recipes use a large excess of one or the other components. An example from TikTok for a DIY oven cleaner calls for one and a half cups of baking soda and one quarter cup of vinegar. Crunching the numbers behind the chemical reaction shows that after the fizz subsides, over 99% of the added baking soda remains. So the active cleaning agent here is actually the baking soda (and the “elbow grease” of scrubbing). Ovens can be cleaned much more rigorously with stronger, sodium hydroxide based cleaners (although these are also more caustic). Many modern ovens also have a self-cleaning feature, so read your product manual before reaching for a chemical cleaner of any sort. <h2>What about the sodium acetate?</h2> Devotees of vinegar and baking soda mixtures might be wondering if the product of the fizzy reaction, sodium acetate, is the undercover cleaning agent. Unfortunately, sodium acetate is an even weaker base than baking soda, so it doesn’t do much to clean the surface you’re trying to scrub. Sodium acetate is used in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vABpel-11Nc">crystallisation-based heating packs</a> and as a concrete sealant, but not typically as a cleaner. Fun fact: sodium acetate can be combined with acetic acid to make a crystalline <a href="https://theconversation.com/busting-the-myth-that-all-food-additives-are-bad-a-quick-guide-for-label-readers-82883">food additive</a> called sodium diacetate. These crystals give the vinegar flavour to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0hEutu_goY">salt and vinegar chips</a> without making them soggy. <h2>Sorry to burst your bubbles</h2> There are a few rare cases where mixing vinegar and baking soda may be useful for cleaning. This is where the bubbling has a mechanical effect, such as in a blocked drain. But in most cases you’ll want to use either vinegar or baking soda by itself, depending on what you’re trying to clean. It will be less <a href="https://theconversation.com/visually-striking-science-experiments-at-school-can-be-fun-inspiring-and-safe-banning-is-not-the-answer-195362">visually exciting</a>, but it should get the job done. Lastly, remember that mixing cleaning chemicals at home can be risky. Always carefully read the product label and directions before engaging in DIY concoctions. And, to be extra sure, you can find out more safety information by reading the product’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-new-tiktok-trend-has-people-drinking-toxic-borax-an-expert-explains-the-risks-and-how-to-read-product-labels-210278">safety data sheet</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225177/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-kilah-599082">Nathan Kilah</a>, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/vinegar-and-baking-soda-a-cleaning-hack-or-just-a-bunch-of-fizz-225177">original article</a>.

Home & Garden

Stuffed baked potatoes

A steaming-hot baked potato makes perfect comfort food and doesn't need lashings of butter and cheese to be delicious. This tasty vegetarian filling combines marinated mushrooms and zucchini for a healthy filling. Other fillings are limited only by your imagination. Serves: 4 Ingredients: <ul> <li>4 baking potatoes, about 300g each</li> <li>2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil</li> <li>200g small open-cup mushrooms, about 5cm in diameter</li> <li>1 large zucchini, about 170g, sliced</li> <li>1 teaspoon red wine vinegar</li> <li>1 teaspoon dijon mustard</li> <li>Salt and pepper</li> <li>⅓ cup (10g) chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley</li> </ul> Preparation: <ol> <li>Preheat the oven to 200°C.</li> <li>Push a metal skewer through each potato or push the potatoes onto a potato roasting rack. (Pushing a metal skewer into the potatoes helps to conduct heat through to their centres so that they cook more quickly.</li> <li>Place the potatoes directly on the shelf in the oven and bake for 1½ hours or until tender.</li> <li>Make the zucchini and mushroom filling when you first put the potatoes in the oven so that it has time to marinate.</li> <li>Alternatively, it can be made just before the potatoes are cooked and served hot.</li> <li>Heat a large ridged chargrill or frying pan.</li> <li>Drizzle half the oil over the pan and cook the mushrooms and zucchini slices for 10-15 minutes or until they are well-browned in places and softened and have released their juices.</li> <li>Transfer the vegetables to a bowl with all their juices and add the remaining oil, the vinegar and mustard.</li> <li>Season to taste, mix well and leave to marinate until the potatoes are cooked.</li> <li>Split open the baked potatoes, then press gently to part the halves, keeping them joined at the base.</li> <li>Stir the parsley into the marinated vegetables, then pile them into the potatoes.</li> <li>Serve immediately.</li> </ol> This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.co.nz/recipes/stuffed-baked-potatoes">Reader’s Digest</a>. Images: Getty

Food & Wine

“Grandma meant Elmo”: Cake-maker reveals hilarious baking blunder

An American baker has left the internet in stitches after misreading her customer’s custom cake request, instead delivering a baking blunder for the Sesame Street history books. In a video posted to her TikTok account, Brianna Romero - who is known professionally as Brinni Cakes - confessed her mistake to the world, recounting the story of how a recent order from a grandmother had led her to the creation of her new friend ‘Emo Elmo’. “So my worst nightmare happened,” she said, with audio playing over a timelapse of Brianne constructing another cake. “Last week a lady DMed me and asked me if I could make her an emo cake, and I was thinking ‘yes, of course, I love emo and I love goth, and I know I’ve been perfecting my black frosting so I’m ready for this’.” Brianna went on to explain that she’d gotten all of her customer’s information, and set to work. However, an hour before she was set to deliver the cake, she decided to offer the woman a number candle - an offer that was soon accepted. “She said ‘yes, the cake is for my granddaughter and she’s turning four’”, Brianna explained in the clip. “And I thought that that was a little bit weird, ‘cause I don’t know an emo four year old.” After trying to understand the weird request, Brianna figured that the little girl must just be a fan of something like Netflix’s Wednesday series. Unfortunately, this was not the case. “Something felt wrong,” she noted, before describing how she’d reach out again to ask what the theme of the party was, only to find out it was Sesame Street. “So my heart sinks a little bit because this is now making sense to me,” she said. It was then that Brianna returned to the original exchange between herself and her customer, and had her worst fears confirmed. “I misread emo,” Brianna admitted, “and it said an Elmo cake.” Luckily, Brianna was a quick thinker in her time of stress and rushed out to find an Elmo topper for her cake, before offering the cake for free. <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610.266px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7212109376436391210&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40brinnicakes%2Fvideo%2F7212109376436391210&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Fe19d4562cc04495c8778154678f1d382_1679200086%7Etplv-dmt-logom%3Atos-useast5-i-0068-tx%2F1ad8d307d5f74948880bf2e0f91228f3.image%3Fx-expires%3D1683669600%26x-signature%3DCxdjPe36YRrx4SrRRwvAPwRsevY%253D&key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> Brianna’s audience were obsessed with her tale, and the video shot to viral heights, with over 11.7 million views to its name. “As soon as you revealed it was for a 4yr old I was like ‘oh no, grandma meant Elmo’,” one follower wrote. “Praying it’s Elmo with a side bang,” said another. Her misfortune drew in over a thousand comments, but there was a recurring thought that stood out among the chorus, and that was a request to see the baked blunder. And while Brianna admitted in an update that she hadn’t had the time to snap pictures on the day of delivery, she did her best with her follow-up video, sharing photos of cakes that looked “almost exactly” like her own, to the delight of her worldwide audience. “This is so funny,” someone said. “Elmo with a side bang has me in tears.” Meanwhile, another commenter wanted to know what the recipients had thought about their unique goods. “She tried to pay still but I told her everything that happened and we just laughed it off,” Brianna said. “It was just for a small family party anyway.” Images: TikTok

Food & Wine

10 vintage baking tips that are still worth using

When it comes to baking, some techniques remain relevant no matter what decade you’re in. These tried and true baking methods are worth remembering today. 1. Add two tablespoons of vinegar to one cup of milk to create soured milk 2. Make whipping cream a breeze by adding a dash of lemon juice. 3. Place a bowl of water in the oven while baking for moist fruit cakes. 4. A pinch of salt in the bottom of a bowl will keep ingredients from sticking. 5. Heat a bowl up with warm water, empty, and place your butter in the still-warm bowl for softer butter. 6. Measure butter post melting, not before to get the perfect measurement. 7. Adding a tablespoon of jam to your biscuit dough keeps them softer for longer. 8. Substitute whipped cream for a slice of banana beaten with an egg white until stiff. 9. When separating eggs, if you get egg yolk in your whites, wet a cloth and touch the yolk, which will then stick to the cloth. 10. Prevent the curdling of custards by adding half a tablespoon of flour and half of sugar. Image credits: Getty Images

Food & Wine

Broccoli and cheese pasta bake

An easy, satisfying dish that the whole family can enjoy, this cheesy, vegetarian broccoli pasta bake is sure to be a hit. Ingredients: <ul> <li>1L of milk</li> <li>2 garlic cloves, crushed</li> <li>2 bay leaves</li> <li>500g of pasta</li> <li>350 g of broccoli, cut into small florets</li> <li>75g of butter</li> <li>75g of flour</li> <li>1 teaspoon of mustard powder</li> <li>A few parsley leaves, chopped</li> <li>200g of grated Italian cheese mix</li> </ul> Method: 1. In a small saucepan, bring milk, garlic and bay leaves to a boil. Remove from heat and let sit. 2. Boil pasta until al dente. Add broccoli during the last two minutes of boiling. Drain. 3. In a pan, heat butter. Add flour, stirring for about one minute. Strain milk mixture. Add to pan in small portions at a time, stirring constantly. Let simmer for one to two minutes, forming a sauce. 4. Remove sauce from heat and stir in mustard powder and parsley as well as ¾ of the cheese. 5. Mix together with pasta and broccoli in a casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top. 6. Cook under grill on high for two to three minutes or until top becomes golden. Let cool and serve. Images: Getty

Food & Wine

“The stuff of nightmares”: Baked to imperfection

Some people are destined for the kitchen, while others may be better suited to a career in comedy, if these cake decorating disasters are anything to go by. Even armed with a visual guide and the world’s best intentions, some bakers are just in for a wild time - and thanks to some good-natured social media posts, we can all enjoy the colourful consequences right along with them. Lucy was one such baker to face a betrayal from her cake. Posting to the Facebook page Woolies/Coles Mudcake Hacks, she shared her experience trying to follow professional baker Tegan ‘Tigga’ Maccormack’s Bluey birthday cake tutorial. Needless to say, their end results weren’t exactly mirror images. "Enjoy this absolute abomination - it looked easy on TikTok," Lucy wrote, attaching a picture of her hilarious creation. Fellow Facebook users loved her attempt, with some even trying to make Lucy feel better. One informed her that although it was nothing like the inspiration picture, it was “very cute”. “OMG I genuinely love it!” another declared. “It made me smile, thank you for sharing.” Meanwhile, one mum wrote that her seven-year-old encouraged Lucy to “keep trying!”, before stating that “it looks so bad she should probably eat the whole thing.” On Reddit, someone had another unfortunate cake story to share - though this time they weren’t the baker responsible, simply the customer who got something they certainly hadn’t paid for. “The ice cream cake we ordered vs what we received,” they wrote, sharing the image of two monkey cakes. One, the ‘expectation’ image, was a smoothly iced monkey head. The second, the ‘received’ product, was at least discernible as a monkey, even if the ‘smooth’ icing job left a lot to be desired. “This was an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins," it was explained. “They usually come out exactly as pictured online, but this time was truly spectacular." And while many thought this particular approach to replicating the vision was hilarious, most were of the opinion that this had not actually been a failure, but instead an improvement. According to the majority in the comments, “frosting tastes much better than fondant” anyway. Another Reddit user referenced a tweet they’d seen of another cake disaster, this time of a Minnie Mouse cake that someone had purchased for their niece, and the nightmare they’d gotten in return. “I saw that it was posted in Arabic on Twitter, and it was pretty funny,” the Reddit user said, “so I just wanted to share it with a wider audience!" “The cake's shininess is the stuff of nightmares,” was all one had to say about it. “I would not have paid for that abomination,” another said. Thankfully for the individual who had dealt with the cake firsthand, they were able to return it for a full refund. "The cake was for my sister for her birthday," they told TODAY. "In the beginning, it was a horrible shock for us, but after I posted the picture on Twitter, I was laughing because of people's reactions." Images: Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, Shutterstock

Food & Wine

Recipe: Cheesy potato bake

The perfect accompaniment to any meal, everyone needs a great potato bake recipe in his or her repertoire and this one is delicious (and simple). Serves: Six Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: One hour 30 minutes Ingredients: <ul> <li>60g of butter, plus extra for greasing</li> <li>2 ⅓ cups milk</li> <li>400ml cream</li> <li>2 cups of cheese (tasty or parmesan work well), grated</li> <li>1½ kg potatoes (Sebago, Desiree, or similar), peeled and thinly sliced1 onion, finely chopped</li> <li>3 garlic cloves</li> <li>1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves</li> <li>Salt and pepper to season</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Preheat oven to 180 °C or 160 °C for fan forced. Lightly grease a seven-cup ovenproof dish. </li> <li>Melt butter in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Slowly add milk and cream, stirring constantly until well combined. </li> <li>Add one and half cups of cheese. Stir to combine. </li> <li>Layer one third of potatoes over base overlapping slightly. Top with half the onion, garlic, thyme and one third of cheese sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat two more times. </li> <li>Brush a sheet of foil with oil and place oil-side down over the potato. Seal tightly. Bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and brush top with melted butter. Cook a further 45 minutes until tender and golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining cheese for last 15 minutes of cooking.</li> </ol> Image: Getty

Food & Wine

Mum left devastated after no guests attend her daughter’s party

A US woman has been left devastated after none of the 27 invited guests showed at her daughter’s third birthday party. Mum-of-three Breanna Strong had planned a massive celebration for her daughter, Avery, at KidsTopia Playground, a “jungle-themed indoor playground”, and had catered with pizzas, a Frozen-themed cake, and plenty of goodies for the kids. But, she was left devastated for her daughter when none of the kids turned up. Taking to TikTok, the 27-year-old shared her heartbreak in a clip that quickly went viral and prompted a flood of love to be sent Avery’s way. “We invited 27 kids to Avery's third birthday party. Not a single one of her friends showed up,” she wrote in the video, which showed the empty party room. “Money and time wasted. Breaks my momma heart so bad. Literally going to go home and snuggle my babies.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/mum-bday-party1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Images: TikTok The video also included footage of Avery sitting alone eating pizza, before Strong took the rest and threw it in the bin, as well as a clip of Breanna holding back tears while driving home. “I wish I was making this up,” she added in the caption. She later explained in the comments that she had sent out virtual party invitations through Facebook, and while seven families had initially said they would come, some messaged her at the last minute to let her know they couldn’t make it - and the rest stood her up without explanation. But Strong said she was more upset than her daughter was, who was too young to fully understand what happened and had fun at the indoor playground. “She got everything she wanted. Pizza, Frozen cake, and jungle gym. She didn’t know any different rather than having fun. Just shattered my heart,” Strong explained. Commenters were quick to share their support for the young girl, with some sharing that they had similar experiences with their children. “Let’s have a redo. I’ll travel and got a bunch of kids who loves to make friends,” one suggested. “This is a rule at my house. If we are invited, we’re GOING!” another wrote. “We have been the only one that shows up. So sad this happens, I’m so sorry,” a third said. “This happened to one of my daughters. Now I make sure we show up to everyone’s party we are invited to. I never want to see that pain for any child,” one parent shared. Image: TikTok

Family & Pets

Baked rice custard

As featured in the Over60 cookbook, The Way Mum Made It, Patricia Smith says of her recipe, “I used to make this for my three daughters and then I started making it for my five granddaughters and five grandsons — they all love it and request it whenever they come over to my place.” Serves: 4–6 Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 cups milk</li> <li>2 egg yolks</li> <li>300 ml cream</li> <li>1½ cups cooked rice, rinsed, drained</li> <li>½ cup caster sugar</li> <li>½ teaspoon cinnamon</li> <li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract pinch of nutmeg, plus extra to sprinkle</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Preheat the oven to 180°C.</li> <li>Combine the milk, egg yolks, cream, rice, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg in a bowl.</li> <li>Pour the mixture into a ceramic ovenproof dish. Stand the dish in a baking dish with enough water to come halfway up the sides. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes, or until the custard is set.</li> </ol> Remove from the oven and set aside for 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm. Image: Getty

Food & Wine

4 beauty uses for baking soda

Not just for baking or cleaning, this pantry favourite can also be used on your body as an inexpensive beauty treatment. Here’s how. Dry shampoo Heard of dry shampoo? It's a great way to hide oily hair inbetween washes. But it's just another beauty product to buy. Step in baking soda. All you have to do is simply prinkle a pinch or two onto oily hair, leave it for a minute and then brush it out and style as normal. Deodorant For a natural alternative to harmful spray deodorants, use baking soda instead. All you have to do it mix it with water - to make a paste - and then apply and voila, homemade deodorant. Cuticle softener Instead of using tools that can be painful to remove your cuticles, why not try a baking soda paste to soften them first. Just add some water and baking soda together in a small dish and either soke your fingertips in the dish or rub the paste onto your cuticles. Now your cuticles can easily be removed. Body exfoliator Using baking soda in the showe is not only a gently way to remove dead skin cells, it's natural too. Image: Getty

Beauty & Style

Bargain rental is “spacious” but missing key features

A studio apartment up for rent in Birmingham, England, for less than $850 a month isn’t unusual just for its cheap price - it’s missing some crucial amenities. <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126124685#/?channel=RES_LET" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listed on Rightmove</a> for £425 ($NZ 810) a month, the studio’s shower is located in an unlikely spot, directly opposite the bed. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/cheap-uk-flat1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The prime location of the shower in relation to the bed could be a perk for some, but it's clear screen makes for a lack of privacy. Image: RightMove To make matters worse, the shower is encased in a clear cubicle, with no toilet in sight. The kitchen, located on the other side of the room, seems to consist of sink and cabinet underneath, a fridge, an oven, and another cabinet above a tile splashback. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/cheap-uk-flat2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The rental's kitchen boasts an oven, two cabinets, a fridge, a sink and a bench (plus an overflowing bin). Image: RightMove The apartment, described as “spacious” and “part-furnished”, also includes a single mattress crammed in one corner, with a lounge chair stationed right next to the oven. Though it is just a single room, the listing agent described it as a “great home for single working professionals”. It comes just months after a similar apartment in Australia sparked outrage, with many slamming the renovated rental as “real-life satire”. Like its British counterpart, the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/property/real-estate/greedy-and-despicable-rental-renovation-causes-outrage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Adelaide studio apartment</a> featured a bathroom with a clear casing - though it does come with a toilet and a shred of privacy in the form of selective frosted glass - but differed in its hefty price amid the city’s worsening rental crisis. Image: RightMove

Real Estate

How to bake your pup a birthday cake

This recipe makes one dog cake and can be served as a full meal (based on a medium size dog 10-25 kg), however, we encourage sharing amongst other furry friends or cutting a slice as a treat only. <h4 dir="ltr">Dog cake recipe</h4> <h4 dir="ltr">What you'll need</h4> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Chopping board </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Knife </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Cake stand </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Bowls </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Spoon </li> </ul> <h4 dir="ltr">Ingredients</h4> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 300 g Glow Raw Adult Australian Kangaroo dog food (or any preferred flavour) </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 4 salmon skin dog treats </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 9-12 mixed berries (mixture of raspberries, blueberries and strawberries) </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 10 strawberry yoghurt drops </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 tsp melted coconut oil </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 tsp pumpkin seeds </li> </ul> <h4 dir="ltr">Method</h4> <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Create three 1cm thick patty slices out of the Glow Raw Adult dog food. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Melt the strawberry yoghurt drops. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Place one patty slice on a cake stand. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Top with two crumbled salmon skin dog treats. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Place second patty slice on top. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Top with another two crumbled salmon skin dog treats. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Place third patty slice on top. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Drizzle the melted yoghurt drops over the top and sides of the cake. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Top with mixed berries. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Drizzle over melted coconut oil. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Sprinkle over pumpkin seeds. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Serve. Enjoy! </li> </ol> Image: Better Homes & Gardens AU

Family & Pets

From a series of recipes designed by Xali: Baked Barramundi with lemon and assorted greens

Baked Barramundi with lemon and assorted greens Xali is Australia’s first training, dietary and wellness program to cater to women going through biological changes with a focus on perimenopause and menopause. As women go through menopause they often experince tummy bloating from a change in hormones. Pickled foods are great to help reduce bloating, as fermented foods nourish the lining of your stomach. This recipe was designed by award-winning clinical nutritionist, Samantha Gowing to help woman reduce symptoms of tummy bloating as they are going through menopause. Prep: 20 mins Cook: 15 mins Yields: 1 serve Ingredients: 2 tsp macadamia, olive or peanut oil ½ bunch asparagus, trimmed  1 cup spinach ½ cup silverbeet 200 gram Barramundi, or other white fish Salt Cracked black pepper ½ lemon, cut into wedges Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 170 C. 2. Line a small baking dish with baking paper. 3. Place asparagus, spinach and silverbeet on the baking dish, top with fish and drizzle with oil and season. 4. Bake for 15-20 minutes, check fish is cooked through by flaking gently with a fork. 5. Transfer to a serving plate and serve with wedges of fresh lemon. Image: Supplied

Food & Wine

Prince George holds bake sale for charity

Prince George’s first efforts to help save the planet have come to light, after it was revealed he organised a bake sale for Tusk, a charity that his father is a patron of, during the UK’s Covid lockdown. Charlie Mayhew, the chief executive of Tusk, was the first to speak of George’s fundraiser. Though he wouldn’t disclose how much the young royal raised, Mayhew said the funds were accompanied by “a very sweet card” in which George expressed his concern for endangered animals in Africa. “Prince George very sweetly did a little cake sale to raise money for Tusk during lockdown and wrote a very sweet card about it, clearly demonstrating his concern fro Africa’s wildlife,” Mahew told GB News. Conservation work has been an important part of life for George’s family, with Prince William, Prince Charles, and Prince Phillip all championing environmental causes. The Duke of Cambridge has previously spoken about passing on his passion to his children, which seems to have been a success with George’s first fundraising venture. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Baking cakes for the local community in Cardiff to enjoy at a Platinum Jubilee street party taking place today! 🎉 We hope you like them! 🧁 <a href="https://t.co/lK9QkaGugB">pic.twitter.com/lK9QkaGugB</a> — The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1533359456376987649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2022</a></blockquote> It isn’t the only time George has shown off his baking skills either, after Kate Middleton and the Cambridge kids baked some sweet treats for a Platinum Jubilee street party in Cardiff. “Baking cakes for the local community in Cardiff to enjoy at a Platinum Jubilee street party taking place today!” the Cambridges tweeted, along with a montage of cute snaps. “We hope you like them!” Image: Getty Images

Family & Pets

Royals hit the red carpet at Bond world premiere

Daniel Craig’s final appearance as James Bond has received a royal debut, after Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William, and Kate appeared at the film’s world premiere in London. No Time To Die, the 25th in the series of movies depicting the British spy’s heroics, was initially due for release in April 2020. But, after multiple delays due to the pandemic the long-awaited moment has been met with relief by Craig. “A year ago, this was just a dream,” he told reporters on the red carpet at the Royal Albert Hall. “It didn’t look like we would get here. But we have and I’m just happy that we’re here and we can celebrate with everybody,” he said. Lea Seydoux, who reprises her role as Dr Madeleine Swann, echoed the same relief. “It’s been such a crazy time for all of us,” she <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/human-interest/royals-join-cast-of-bond-film-for-premiere-c-4096628" target="_blank">said</a>. “And now to celebrate, you know, with this film, to reunite. And it’s great. I’m really happy.” Appearing onstage before the screening, the 53-year-old dedicated the film to its cast, crew, producers, and frontline workers. “Just look at us and where we are,” Craig said. “To amazing cast and crew, MGM, Universal, [producers] Barbara [Broccoli], Michael [G. Wilson]. A lot of front-line workers here. [It’s] an honour for us - we’d like to dedicate this film to you this evening.” To thank them for their work during the pandemic, healthcare workers and members of the UK armed forces were also invited to Tuesday’s premiere. No Time To Die features Craig’s last appearance as 007, and when asked how he felt about leaving the role, he said: “I’m good. I’m really good about it.” As for his potential successor, Craig abruptly said: “Not my problem.” Also appearing at the star-studded event were official songwriters Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, composer Hans Zimmer, screenwriters Neal Purvis, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Robert Wade. The stars stunned with bold outfit choices, including Lashana Lynch in a bold yellow off-the-shoulder gown with a wide skirt, Craig in a pink velvet dinner jacket, and Rory Kinnear in a blood orange suit jacket with a black shirt and tie. Prince William arrived in an appropriate tuxedo and matching black tie, with Kate dressed in a sheer-panelled gown with gold sequin detailing. Other A-list guests included Ronan and Storm Keating, Jason Momoa, Paralympian Hannah Cockroft, and Olympian Mo Farah. Rami Malek, Naomie Harris, Ben Wishaw, Ana de Armas, David Dencik, Dali Benssalah, and Jeffrey Wright were also among the cast members who walked London’s red carpet. Images: Getty Images

Movies

No Time to Die will FINALLY be released here in November

The latest James Bond movie, No Time to Die, was ready to be released in May of 2020 but with COVID lockdowns in place in many parts of the world, its release was delayed again and again but now finally, it will be released in Australia and New Zealand on the 11th November. The date for many other parts of the rest of the world is early October but unfortunately the movie is further delayed for Australia and New Zealand because of the continuing lockdowns we've been experiencing. While other movies ended up being released on streaming platforms such as Disney+ and Netflix, this wasn’t possible for the latest James Bond film because the movie cost over $400 million Australian dollars to make and it’s reported it needs to take in US $900 million just to break even – making it the most expensive Bond movie ever made. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BIhNsAtPbPI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Daniel Craig stars again – many say this will be his last Bond movie No Time to Die is the 25th film in the James Bond franchise, making it the largest and most well-known film series ever. Daniel Craig stars again in this latest Bond movie but it’s been said this will be his last stint as the infamous 007 agent so it will be interesting to see how the film plays out. In a nod to the changing times, No Time to Die features two tough, kick ass female agents and who knows where this is going to lead for the future of James Bond. Some have even touted the next James Bond will be female. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pcYuPU8MP1w" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Blade Runner 2049 star, Ana De Armas appears alongside Daniel Craig as a ‘Bond Girl’ while Captain Marvel’s Lashana Lynch joins the cast. In interesting news, Rami Malek of Bohemian Rhapsody fame is playing the main Bond villain. Director, Cary Joji Fukunaga, has said: “We aimed to do something extraordinary with this one.” <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c2b5075361e44ebe8973c61ec4ff443c" />Movie starts with Bond having left active service The story line for the film starts with Bond having left active service and he’s enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology. Theme song by Billie Eilish <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BboMpayJomw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> You may have heard the theme song for No Time to Die is performed by Billie Eilish. The 18-year-old wrote the title song with her elder brother, FINNEAS. This makes the duo the youngest artists in history to write and record a James Bond theme song. Billie Eilish has been quoted as saying: “It feels crazy to be a part of this in every way. To be able to score the theme song to a film that is part of such a legendary series is a huge honour. James Bond is the coolest film franchise ever to exist. I’m still in shock”. Her brother FINNEAS adds: “Writing the theme song for a Bond film is something we’ve been dreaming about doing our entire lives. There is no more iconic pairing of music and cinema than the likes of Goldfinger and Live And Let Die. We feel so so lucky to play a small role in such a legendary franchise, long live 007.” In reference to the film’s theme song, director Cary Joji Fukunaga said: “There are a chosen few who record a Bond theme. I am a huge fan of Billie and FINNEAS. Their creative integrity and talent are second to none and I cannot wait for audiences to hear what they’ve brought – a fresh new perspective whose vocals will echo for generations to come.” Release date The 25th 007 film will be released in Australia and New Zealand on 11th November. Where cinemas are open, No Time to Die will be playing. Images and Video: YouTube and No Time to Die

Movies

Barty fumes as match suspended

Barty was well on her way to victory against Vera Zvonareva with some sizzling tennis in the first set which she won 6-1. But in the second set, the match was briefly suspended after the controversial electronic line-calling system crashed on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the centre court at the Flushing Meadows venue in New York. The 25-year-old spoke to the umpire after the annoying delay was announced and was heard on court microphones asking if human line judges could be brought onto court to replace the electronic system. Her request was denied as a result of the tournament not using any line judges this year. Barty was left shaking her head as she sat down waiting for a resumption of play. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Play has been suspended on Arthur Ashe due to an issue with the electronic line-calling system. Ash Barty is shaking her head & asking if they can bring out, you know, the humans that used to do it? The answer, unsurprisingly, is no. <a href="https://t.co/RvCBxMMlXA">pic.twitter.com/RvCBxMMlXA</a> — The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) <a href="https://twitter.com/TennisPodcast/status/1432782740886331397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2021</a></blockquote> In the end she was only forced to wait a few minutes and quickly broke her opponent’s serve minutes later. However, the match took several more dramatic turns from there with Barty failing to serve the match out before it headed to a tiebreak. Barty prevailed 9-7 in the breaker, but had to defend set points in a very nervous few minutes at the end. More relaxed after the match Later, when Barty was interviewed on the court after her match, she seemed much more relaxed and talked about her recent winning streak. “It has certainly been really enjoyable right from the start,” she said. Barty will now play 18-year-old Clara Tauson in the second round. The world No. 1 is chasing back-to-back grand slam titles after her historic win at Wimbledon. She is in fine form after also winning a WTA title two weeks ago at Cincinnati. Image: Getty Images

News

How I mastered baking a yeast bread from scratch, and saved money doing it

By Jeanne Sidner My introduction to baking started with the home-kitchen classic that cracks open the oven door for so many – chocolate chip cookies. It was the 1970s, and most of the mums in our largely Catholic neighbourhood were busy raising big families. For the girls in my house, that meant our mother made sure we knew our way around the kitchen. At the flour-dusted table, Mum taught eight-year-old me how to make the cookies perfectly chewy with a crispy exterior. (The big secret: Always chill your dough.) So from a young age, I was crystal clear on the power of a baked-to-perfection cookie to make people happy. Baking cookies – then brownies, cakes and pies – became my hobby and a tasty form of social currency. First I used my skills with butter and sugar to impress a series of teenage boyfriends. In time, the fresh goodies were left on doorsteps to welcome new neighbours and set out in the break room for co-workers. Baking was my superpower. A few years ago, I became the content director for Taste of Home, Reader’s Digest’s sister magazine and website that celebrates the treasured recipes of home cooks. I’d never been more excited for a new job, but privately I worried that my baking chops wouldn’t measure up. Why? I had a secret as dark as an oven with a burned-out light bulb: While I had baked sweets my whole life, I’d never made a yeast bread from scratch. Still, this was no time for excuses. I was a baker, now one with Taste of Home attached to my name. I may have been intimidated by bread, but it was time. I wanted in. Getting started, I found Instagram to be a friend. A basic no-knead bread was the one I was seeing online overlaid with dreamy filters. People described it as easy, and to be honest, the thought of removing even one intimidating variable – kneading – was enough to get me to buy two kilograms of bread flour and dive in. I gathered everything I’d need (“be prepared” is the first rule of any baking), including my mum’s trusty Pyrex. It had seen me through my first days as a baker, so I was counting on it to work its magic. I had an easy Taste of Home recipe all set on my iPad. I mixed the flour, salt, and yeast and made sure the water temperature was just right – 38 to 46 degrees – before pouring it in. And then it happened – or didn’t happen. I followed the instructions to the letter, but my dough didn’t rise. Somehow, impossibly, it looked smaller. Sludgy, gooey, wet with a few bubbles. Sad. Three hours later, after I’d resisted the urge to keep checking on it like a nervous mum with a newborn, a puffy dough filled the bowl. I hadn’t killed it; it was just … sleeping. A quick fold, a second rise, and then my bread went into my Dutch oven and off to bake. Thirty minutes later, I took it out. Sure, it was slightly misshapen, but in my eyes, it was golden-brown, crusty perfection, right down to the yeasty-sweet hit of steam coming from its top. Naturally, the first thing I did was grab my phone and hop on Instagram, positioning my beautiful bread just so in a shining stream of daylight on a wooden cutting board. No one needed to know it was my first yeast bread ever – or how close it came to getting scraped into the garbage can. The online reactions started almost immediately – heart emojis and comments like “This looks DELISH!” from my friends. Finally I cut into that lovely brown crust and doled out slices to my husband and kids. Those slices led to seconds, then thirds, each piece slathered with softened butter and a little sprinkle of salt. I made my family perhaps happier with slices of warm, buttered homemade bread than I had with all the sweets combined. At last, I was a bread baker – despite yeast’s best attempts to intimidate me on this first try. No more feeling inferior or afraid. Now I make bread and homemade pizza crust regularly. And I have enough confidence to start thinking (and stressing!) about my next difficult baking challenge: homemade croissants. Image credit: Shutterstock This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/home-tips/how-i-mastered-baking-a-yeast-bread-from-scratch-after-years-of-failure" target="_blank" title="Mastering yeast bread">Reader’s Digest</a>.

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From a series of recipes designed by Xali: Baked Barramundi with lemon and assorted greens

Prince George holds bake sale for charity

Royals hit the red carpet at Bond world premiere

No Time to Die will FINALLY be released here in November

Barty fumes as match suspended

How I mastered baking a yeast bread from scratch, and saved money doing it