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Articles by Laura Willcox
13 Clever Ways To Use Leftover Cornbread
Is there anyone who doesn't love good cornbread? Cornbread is a simple dish with humble beginnings. Traditionally made with ground cornmeal and water, it was a dish of necessity.
Ina Garten Was Never The Same After Barefoot Contessa
Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa, has graced our TV screens for over two decades, welcoming us into her gorgeous East Hamptons kitchen, bringing us along with her as she visits her local mushroom farmer for fresh mushrooms or preparing yet another gorgeous luncheon for her bridge club. After purchasing The Barefoot Contessa specialty foods store in the Hamptons in 1978, she eventually published her first cookbook, aptly named "The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook" (via Insider).
The Untold Truth Of Now And Later
Chances are, you've tried a Now and Later candy at least once in your life. Now and Laters are taffy-like, mega-chewy candies that have been around for decades (via Old Time Candy). They're known for their signature texture, which starts off kind of hard and then becomes softer the longer you chew it. They're also known for their bright, bold, and fruity flavors. Now and Laters belong within the ranks of other classic chewy candy varieties like Starburst, Laffy Taffy, and Hi-Chew.
15 discontinued cookies you'll never eat again
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.It's like a bad dream. You're in the cookie aisle of your local grocery store, ready to stock up on your favorite cookies, only to discover ... they've been discontinued! All good things must come to an end, and sadly that's also true for some of our favorite baked goods.
13 Clever Ways To Use Leftover Cornbread
Happy_food_photo/Shutterstock By Laura Willcox|Jan. 13, 2023 1:54 pm EST Is there anyone who doesn't love good cornbread? Cornbread is a simple dish with humble beginnings. Traditionally made with ground cornmeal and water, it was a dish of necessity.
The Ultimate Ranking Of The Chuck E. Cheese Menu
Michael Gordon/Shutterstock By Laura Willcox|Jan. 7, 2023 12:15 pm EST Let's be real here: If you've found yourself about to dine at a Chuck E. Cheese, chances are you're there for a kid's birthday party, possibly even against your will. Chuck E. Cheese is best known for its animatronic, mouse-fronted band, arcade games, and cheap plastic prizes that can only be won by painstakingly accumulating tickets. In other words, it's a children's paradise.
9 Of Reddit's Wildest Food Conversations
Bernardo Emanuelle/Shutterstock By Laura Willcox|Dec. 26, 2022 1:15 pm EST Ah, the internet. We all know it can be a place that breeds darkness and encourages people to be their worst selves. But the internet is also full of delight, wonder, and community. In fact, Reddit proves that no matter how specific and weird your interests are, you can find like-minded people, and that is especially true when it comes to food lovers.
15 Creative Egg Gadgets That Will Make Breakfast Way More Fun
By Laura Willcox|Dec. 16, 2022 11:27 am EST We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The humble egg is one of the most versatile foods out there. There's no right or wrong way to cook an egg, be it fried, poached, scrambled, boiled, folded into a perfect omelet, or whipped up into a stiff, sweet meringue. A classic breakfast staple, eggs can be easy enough to make depending on your preferred preparation.
Nine Ina Garten-Approved Ways To Elevate Your Holiday Meals
Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock By Laura Willcox|Dec. 7, 2022 1:05 pm EST While the holidays can be a magical, special time to gather with family and loved ones, they can also be pretty stressful. Between buying and wrapping gifts, insane holiday travel, and spending time with those same family members we love so much, it can be a lot. So when it falls on you to host the big holiday meal, it's easy to see how that can feel extra daunting.
Fast Food Breakfast Items That Horrified The Internet
By Laura Willcox|Nov. 10, 2022 6:56 pm UTC There is something so deeply satisfying about a fast food breakfast. Maybe it's the low price, the convenience, or the comfort of eating something sure to be delicious (albeit not always healthy). Fast food breakfasts are unpretentious, filling, and they value great taste above all else.
Mistakes Everyone Makes With Homemade Waffles
Inna Vlasova/Shutterstock By Laura Willcox/Nov. 5, 2022 7:38 pm EST The waffle is essentially the pancake's more elevated, textured, and nuanced cousin. While there's nothing wrong with buying a box of frozen waffles and popping those in the toaster, or going out and paying (roughly) a billion dollars for waffles at some fancy brunch spot, there is something so satisfying about making waffles in the comfort of your own home.
The Best Espresso Machines Under $100 In 2022
Bondar Illia/Shutterstock By Laura Willcox/Oct. 11, 2022 5:01 pm EDT We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. If you're an espresso lover, then you likely already know espresso machines can produce some lovely drinks but also tend to get very, very pricey. This is because, unlike a cup of brewed coffee, espresso elevates your drink by brewing it with high water pressure. This process creates a uniquely silky, thick, and crema-topped espresso shot (via Serious Eats).
The Untold Truth Of Now And Later
karenfoleyphotography/Shutterstock By Laura Willcox/Oct. 1, 2022 9:09 pm EDT Chances are, you've tried a Now and Later candy at least once in your life. Now and Laters are taffy-like, mega-chewy candies that have been around for decades (via Old Time Candy). They're known for their signature texture, which starts off kind of hard and then becomes softer the longer you chew it. They're also known for their bright, bold, and fruity flavors.
Every Ring Pop Flavor Ranked Worst To Best
By Laura Willcox/Sept. 26, 2022 2:14 pm EDT We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Any true child of the '90s is intimately familiar with Ring Pops. The "juicy jewel of flavor" came onto the scene in the 1970s but really took off in the following decades (via Candy Favorites.) An elegant spin on the classic lollipop, it's a sucker you can wear for as long as you want. Are there potential issues that could come from wearing a half-eaten, sticky lollipop on your hand all day?
10 Best Flavored Bourbons Of All Time Ranked
By Laura Willcox/Aug. 24, 2022 4:28 pm EDT You may have heard the adage, "All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon." Before you take another sip of bourbon, we'll break it down for you: Basically, whiskey can only be classified as bourbon if distillers follow strict rules.
Ina Garten Was Never The Same After Barefoot Contessa
Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock By Laura Willcox/Aug. 24, 2022 3:36 pm EDT We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa, has graced our TV screens for over two decades, welcoming us into her gorgeous East Hamptons kitchen, bringing us along with her as she visits her local mushroom farmer for fresh mushrooms or preparing yet another gorgeous luncheon for her bridge club.
The Best Coffee Liqueurs For Espresso Martinis
Maksym Fesenko/Shutterstock By Laura Willcox/June 21, 2022 3:55 pm EDT The espresso martini is really having a moment right now. But legend has it, this boozy, caffeinated drink has been around since 1983, when a supermodel walked into the Soho Brasserie in London and asked for a drink that would simultaneously wake her up and get her sufficiently drunk (via Galliano).
The Best Desserts We've Seen On Diners, Drive-Ins, And Dives
Scott Dudelson/Getty Images By Laura Willcox/June 7, 2022 2:57 pm EDT We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. It feels like anytime you turn on Food Network, a new episode of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" is playing. That's probably because the show has been running for a whopping 15 years and has become one of the flagship shows of the network, according to The New York Times.
15 Discontinued Cookies You'll Never Eat Again
RichartPhotos/Shutterstock By Laura Willcox/April 28, 2022 12:32 pm EDT It's like a bad dream. You're in the cookie aisle of your local grocery store, ready to stock up on your favorite cookies, only to discover ... they've been discontinued! All good things must come to an end, and sadly that's also true for some of our favorite baked goods.
We Finally Know Why Olive Garden Is So Cheap
Bloomberg/Getty Images By Laura Willcox/Feb. 28, 2022 12:28 pm EST Who among us doesn't love a free, warm, straight from the oven breadstick or a bowl of pasta that seemingly never ends? That kind of homecooked, comfort food is exactly what has made Olive Garden the successful chain it is today. Sure, it's not exactly "authentic" Italian, but there's a reason it's become an iconic part of American culture, even warranting its own "Saturday Night Live" parody.
The Untold Truth Of Costco's Kirkland Brand
melissamn/Shutterstock By Laura Willcox/Jan. 19, 2022 11:54 am EST Chances are, if you love Costco, then you love Kirkland Signature. Named for Kirkland, Washington, the original home of their corporate headquarters, Costco's in-house brand Kirkland Signature is a multi-billion dollar company and their wild success has many other big box stores like Walmart feeling the pressure (via Business Insider).
Lendwithcare and Rotary: Aunty Nancy is a shining light in Malawi
It is a registered Savings and Credit Cooperative run by 14 experienced and committed solar entrepreneurs. Lendwithcare’s partner, SunnyMoney Malawi, has worked with entrepreneurs to build a network of super agents who help provide access to solar lights across the country.
Lendwithcare and Rotary: The answer lies in the soil
She lives in the village of Sudlon II in Cebu province along with Jennifer Timbal, and they have been working as farmers since they started living together 13 years ago. Bernadeth Cabusog is a farmer and mother-of-two who has received loans from Lendwithcare Bernadeth plants crops on three different plots of land. She is lucky to have an area with an abundant source of water nearby which lets her continuously grow crops without a problem during the dry season.
Rotary clubs lend £1.3 million to Lendwithcare, and counting
Hundreds of Rotary clubs across Great Britain & Ireland have been supporting Lendwithcare since 2011. They have raised funds to make small loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries allowing them to start and expand their businesses and work their way out of poverty. Lendwithcare is a revolutionary way to help people in low income countries to work their way out of poverty with dignity.
Polio champions recognised with People of Action Polio Awards 2021
Despite the past year being a challenging one for us all thanks to a global pandemic, it has highlighted how quickly a virus can travel across the globe, the importance of vaccinations and the importance of the polio eradication programme. In 2020, after decades of work across 47 countries on the continent, the World Health Organization certified the Africa region wild polio free.
Combatting climate change starts with you
Rotary’s Areas of Focus encompass some of the world’s most critical humanitarian needs, providing an opportunity for members to transform the world through their volunteering and service projects. Over recent years, the effects our lifestyle is having on the environment have become more evident. Climate change is an increasing threat to our planet, and action needs to be taken now.
Is printing Rotary Magazine sustainable?
Climate change and the environment is a big ticket concern for many. Today, we are all making careful lifestyle choices based on the impact which our everyday actions are having on the planet. So it was no surprise when Rotary International announced last year that protecting the environment would become its seventh Area of Focus. Rotary has always been conscious of its impact on the planet, considering the environmental impact of everything it does, whilst encouraging Rotarians to do the same.
Students tackling the problems of tomorrow today
The Rotary Young Environmentalist Competition showcases the unique solutions to environmental problems from participants. The aim of the competition is to encourage participants to explore and increase their awareness of issues the world is facing and think about ways they can help to overcome them. Supported by their local Rotary clubs, 2020 featured a wide variety of projects tackling numerous environmental issues.
Volunteering Rotarians at the heart of Covid clinics
The NHS is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people most at risk from coronavirus. It is being given to: People aged 80 and over Some people aged 70 and over Some people who are clinically extremely vulnerable. People who live or work in care homes Health and social care workers. Currently, more than four million people have been given the first dose of the vaccine.
Stroke risk for UK adults could be reduced through starting one small change
Rotary Great Britain & Ireland have partnered with The Stroke Association to help launch a national campaign inspiring people to pledge to make one small change to reduce their risk of stroke and stop stroke being the fourth biggest cause of death in the UK. Today is ‘Stroke Prevention Day’ and this year The Stroke Association is looking to raise awareness of the risks of strokes, and encourage people to make ‘One Small Change’ to their lifestyle.
Little Faces Global Grant Project
Rotary member Sally Searle has led a project to raise funds and transform the Little Faces School in Kenya. On holiday in Mombasa in 2011 she met Mary Atieno, the Head of Little Faces, in one of the most underprivileged areas in Kenya. After seeing the school facilities and environment, Sally knew she had to do something to help. She said: “The school was a rusty tin shack, just 35 children and one teacher. Little Faces School, Kenya.
Unpaid carers save UK state £530 million every day of the pandemic
Today is Carers Rights Day. Every year this day helps to raise vital awareness of the work of unpaid carers and their needs, ensures carers are aware of their rights and lets carers know where to get help and support. With every day of the COVID-19 pandemic that passes, unpaid carers are saving the UK state £530 million in the care they provide, new research by charity Carers UK shows.
Irish Rotary Club hasn’t let restrictions stop them from fundraising
This year has been difficult for many, with lockdowns and social distancing affecting the way we live our lives. These factors have also made fundraising very difficult, as the demand on services provided by charities has significantly increased. Foodbanks are under more pressure to provide food to those who can’t afford it. Mental health charities have seen a surge in people reaching out to them for support as lockdown and lack of social interaction takes its toll.
Colchester Anti Loo Roll Brigade flushed with success
The CALRB was set up by last March at the start of the pandemic by Peter Dutch, the son of Rotarian and previous Assistant Governor, Tony Dutch. The community group was launched on Facebook to help those who were locked in or who were shielding. The need was there, and many acts of kindness have been performed in helping the isolated and vulnerable in Colchester over the past eight months.
Rotary Receives Global Humanitarian Service Award from ShelterBox
ShelterBox has honoured Rotary International with the Global Humanitarian Service Award, in recognition of their outstanding partnership throughout the years. CEO of Shelterbox Sanj Srikanthan presented the award to John Hewko, General Secretary of Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation, at the award ceremony which took place during ShelterBox USA’s first-ever virtual event: An Evening to Experience ShelterBox on the 12th November.
It’s never too early to mention Christmas, especially when it comes to the Rotary Shoebox scheme
As Christmas this year fast approaches, Rotary members up and down the country have turned their attention to the Rotary Shoebox scheme. Fareham Rotary club, along with many others, are busy preparing and collecting shoeboxes full of gifts for the Rotary Shoebox Scheme. Originally started by North West Rotary clubs in 1994, the Rotary Shoebox Scheme was intended to provide children of Iasi, in north-east Romania with Christmas gifts.
Rotary Club supports local estate one brick at a time
The Chiswick & Brentford Rotary Club are supporting Chiswick House Estate raising vital funds to continue running after COVID-19 forced them to cancel events throughout the year. Due to Covid-19 the estate has lost half of its annual income of £1m because its cash-raising events had to be cancelled. In spite of the expense, the gardens have been kept open during lockdown, and have continued to provide a welcome haven of peace and tranquillity for the local community.
Reduced services see unpaid carers pushed to the limit - and desperately worried about winter
Family carers are going without crucial services, whilst providing many hours of additional care for loved ones with increasing needs, new research by Carers UK reveals. This is at a critical point in the Covid-19 pandemic when more restrictions are being put in place, and many expect life to become more difficult over the winter months.
World Polio Day Activities 2020 – The Best of Social Media - Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland
For over 30 years, Rotary has been at the forefront of the End Polio Now campaign, to eradicate polio from the globe. With the help of countless volunteers and organisations we are so close to completing our mission. This World Polio Day Rotary members, campaigners, vaccinator’s supporters, and volunteers from all over the globe came together with many sharing their support on social media.
Giving hope with the Global Mercy
When launched next year, the Global Mercy will become the world’s largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship – and Rotary can be proud to play its part in the latest addition to the Mercy Ships’ fleet. Earlier this summer, Rotary Great Britain and Ireland announced that the largest Rotary Foundation Global Grant of $1.125 million has been approved after little more than a year’s fund-raising.
A milestone for Africa
After decades of work across 47 countries on the continent, the World Health Organization (WHO) certified the Africa region polio-free on August 25th. This was a significant milestone in the battle to eradicate the disease worldwide. Certification comes four years after Nigeria, the last polio-endemic country in Africa, recorded its final case of wild polio.
Rotary Young Photographer 2020: The national results
Rotary Great Britain and Ireland is delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Young Photographer competition. Young Photographer is one of many competitions where Rotary is involved in developing skills of the future generation. Learn more about other Rotary Youth competitions here. The aim is to encourage young people to experiment with different techniques and express their ideas through the medium of photography.
Rotary Young Environmentalist 2020: The National Results
Rotary Great Britain and Ireland is delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Young Environmentalist competition. The aim of the competition is to encourage participants to explore and increase their awareness of issues the world is facing and think about ways they can help to overcome them. Young Environmentalist is one of many competitions where Rotary is involved in developing skills of the future generation. Find out more about Youth Competition here.
Rotary Young Writer 2020: The national results
Rotary Great Britain and Ireland is delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Young Writer competition. Rotary is committed to many matters, however, developing skills of the future generation is a high priority. Through various youth competitions, Rotary clubs across Great Britain and Ireland are building fundamental skills like writing, speaking and cooking. Learn more about other competitions here.
Rotary Young Artist 2020: The national results
Rotary Great Britain and Ireland is delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Young Artist competition. Rotary is committed to many matters, however, developing skills of the future generation is a high priority. Through various youth competitions, Rotary clubs across Great Britain and Ireland are building fundamental skills like writing, speaking and cooking. Learn more about other competitions here.
Rotary Young Filmmaker 2020: The national results
Rotary Great Britain and Ireland is delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Young Filmmaker competition. Young Filmmaker is the newest edition to the Rotary Youth Competitions where Rotary is involved in developing skills of the future generation. Learn more about other Rotary Youth competitions here. The aim is to encourage young people to experiment with different techniques and express their ideas through the medium of film. Rotary Young Filmmaker 2020 is proudly sponsored by Into Film.
Cleaning up the community after lockdown
On the 7th of August Cockermouth Rotary members organised a Street Sign Clean in different areas around the town all whilst adhering to new COVID rules. Armed with buckets, brushes and cloths, they headed through town transforming dirty street and road signs.
A record-breaking Rotary Foundation Global Grant will fund vital medical equipment on the world’s largest purpose-built charitable hospital ship
Rotary Great Britain and Ireland are delighted to announce that the largest Rotary Foundation Global Grant of $1.125 million has been approved. This grant will enable Rotary and Mercy Ships to fund a brand new, state of the art CT scanner, and other vital equipment onboard the Global Mercy, which launches next year. The Global Mercy is the largest purpose-built NGO hospital ship. It will double the impact of Mercy Ships on healthcare systems throughout West Africa.
It's official: the WHO region of Africa has been declared wild polio-free
Today, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Africa region, has officially been certified free from wild poliovirus, signifying a major milestone in the battle to eradicate the disease worldwide. This certification has come four years after Nigeria, the last polio-endemic country in Africa, recorded its final case of wild polio and is an incredible public health achievement for Rotary members, the African region, and Rotary’s partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
ShelterBox to close Truro visitor centre
Since opening three years ago, the charity has run a thriving visitor experience at their headquarters in Truro. In that time, the charity has welcomed over 20,000 visitors through the doors, including many Rotary clubs. Shelterbox first began as a millennium project by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard, in Cornwall, in 2000, and with support of Rotary members and clubs around the world, ShelterBox grew and in 2012 became Rotary’s Project Partner in Disaster Relief.
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