This Is The Trick To Reheating French Fries - Tasting Table

If you are lucky enough to have one of the trendiest kitchen appliances of the last few years — that would be an air fryer — then you are in the perfect position to reheat your leftover french fries. According to Kitchn, the air fryer is quite possibly the fastest and best way to reheat fries. That's because it is equipped to do just what the reheating process really needs — crisping those fries up again without using any extra oil.

To reheat french fries in an air fryer, set the kitchen appliance to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then place the fries in a single layer inside the basket for just three to five minutes. Unlike a microwave, reheating fries with the air fryer keeps them crisp. The only trouble with using an air fryer, as The Spruce Eats points out, is that you will have to work in batches if you have a lot of leftover fries, since air fryers tend to be small.

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The Best Air Fryer Recipes and Air Fryer Meals to Make Right This Second - Glamour

Air fryers are one of the best gifts the culinary gods have given us in recent years. So when it came to rounding up the best air fryer recipes, we took things very seriously. There are, oh, zillions of air fryer recipes on the internet, so we had to find the ones that are truly worth your air-frying energy. The qualifications? They have to be simple, healthy, and—most importantly—absolutely delicious.

So, what can you cook in an air fryer? Better to ask what can’t you cook. From versatile chicken recipes to easy breakfasts and desserts, we’re sharing 43 of the very best easy air fryer recipes out there. And sure, you can make most if not all of these recipes in a regular oven, but there’s no beating the air fryer when it comes to convenience. If you’re looking for a tried-and-true model, you can check out our favorite air fryer review here. (Holiday wishlist, anyone?) Now focus, get your hands on one of our best cookware sets, and start meal prepping with the best air fryer recipes we could find.

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Retirement Tips from World-Famous Authors to Live Happily Ever After - Kiplinger's Personal Finance

This is a story about dreams and money.

After all, financial planning starts with one personal question: What is your vision of an ideal life? To rewrite that question in more affecting way: What would you most regret not having done if you were to die tomorrow?

In the book The Top Five Regrets of Dying, Bronnie Ware writes the most common regret of patients she has spoken with was: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

What story do you ultimately want to tell about your life? What events and characters would make up your idea of a “rich life”?

Maybe you’ve dreamed of visiting every continent or opening your own business after you retire. Or maybe you dream of finally sitting down to write that book you’ve been thinking about for years.

You might be on to something there, because there’s a lot we can learn from the habits of notable authors who excel in the craft of telling stories. Read on to discover 10 quirky writing methods famous authors are known for and see how following their lead can help you build your wealth and craft a happy retirement.

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1. Commit to a Consistent Schedule

When working on a novel, the author Haruki Murakami wakes at 4 a.m. and writes for five to six hours every day. Ernest Hemingway was a morning writer, too, toiling at his standing desk until he could put 500 good words down on the page. Stephen King aims for 2,000 words.

What separates good writers from bad isn’t so much talent as it is consistency. Good writers show up to work whether inspiration strikes or not.

E.B. White put it this way: “A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.”

The moral of the story: There are no shortcuts. Consistency is also a necessary part in creating the financial conditions for pursuing your dreams. You can’t just bank on a large financial windfall to become financially independent and time rich.

Taking consistent financial steps is the only proven method that works for everyone. Consider that Americans who follow a financial plan have almost double the savings than those without a plan ($460,000 average savings vs. $239,000), according to TD Ameritrade’s Goal Planning Survey.

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2. Make It a Priority

It’s not a coincidence many household-name writers worked in the morning. They prioritized writing over all other daily distractions. Mark Twain, for example, woke up early, ate a large breakfast and then worked without interruption until dinner. Should his family need something, they blew a loud horn to call him.

The moral of the story: Whatever you’re passionate about should be relatively nonnegotiable. Of course, that’s challenging when you have a family, full-time job, other interests, etc.

The trick is to prioritize. Track how you spend your time and money, then reallocate them based on what matters most to you. That could even mean adjusting your lifestyle — driving a less fancy car, moving closer to your office or switching to a more flexible job.

Such a calculated approach allows you to focus your finite resources on the things you truly value, which can lead to an improved quality of life. In a study from the University of Arizona, people who followed a budget and were more conscious of their spending reported higher levels of happiness and less stress.

Simply put, what you value and genuinely know makes you happy is worth making a priority.

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3. Optimize Your Efforts

With any big dream, it helps to have some luck. But taking care of the things you can control goes a long way toward success.

In every city Maya Angelou lived, she rented a hotel room nearby for the sole purpose of writing in an undisturbed space. Neil Gaiman, as told on the Tim Ferris podcast, works under a self-imposed rule that he can sit down at his desk and write or do nothing else other than stare out the window. Eventually writing becomes more attractive than watching grass grow.

Paradoxically, restrictions often unleash your creativity. It’s all about implementing controls that put you in the right mindset and keep you focused.

The moral of the story: Whatever your dream, think of ways you could optimize your efforts. And apply the same tactics to your money. One method is taking yourself out of the equation by automizing your finances. For example, automatic deductions from your paycheck into a retirement account and/or savings account.

One study compared 401(k) participants and found target-date investors could potentially realize up to 50% more retirement wealth relative to non-target date investors over a 30-year time period. Essentially, being restricted in their investment decision-making kept target-date investors from making costly mistakes, such as choosing the wrong asset allocation at the wrong time. 

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4. Don’t Start Without a Story Idea

Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, speaking of her writing process, said, “I always know the ending; that’s where I start.”

When you know where you want to go, you can develop the actions to get you there. In a novel, it’s the characters, scenes, themes, etc., that all lead to your catharsis and conclusion.

The moral of the story: The story you want to tell about your life should guide your choices. How else can you make the right decisions if you don’t know what outcome you’re working toward?  

Which is why you shouldn’t make financial decisions without first establishing financial goals. They determine how much money you need, when you need it, how much risk you can take, and so on.

Open-ended conclusions are acceptable in literature, but not so much when it comes to your money.

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5. Keep It Simple

You won’t find many books about writing that don’t include Mark Twain’s famous rule: Don’t use a five-dollar word when a fifty-cent word will do.

Good writing is clear and concise. Yet many aspiring writers think they must write flowery prose on the level of Shakespeare or Proust. This notion of perfection though can do more harm than good.

The moral of the story: Take it from American novelist Anne Lamott, who said: “I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won’t have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren’t even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they’re doing it.”

It is a relevant metaphor for many things we do.

Case in point: investing. Who wouldn’t want a perfect portfolio that earns a maximum return every time? The problem is that chase for perfection, unless you can predict the future, will inevitably set you up for failure.

A Morningstar study found the average investor underperformed the funds they invested in over multiple 10-year periods. It was a result of chasing performance. Many investors succumb to greed and fear, buying high and selling low. Whereas, setting a diversified asset allocation and just sticking to it can produce better results over time.

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6. Develop Your Own Voice

One of the most important qualities of a writer is their voice. It encompasses the way you put words together and your outlook of the world. It is what makes your writing stand out.

A writer’s voice is wholly unique. So, it’s not worth trying to write in the same voice of another writer.

It’s equally as unproductive to compare your success to others. Prolific short story writer and novelist Joyce Carol Oates put it this way: “Writing is not a race. No one really ‘wins.’ The satisfaction is in the effort, and rarely in the consequent rewards, if there are any.”

The moral of the story: You may share dreams or goals with others, but all our situations are unique. If you are constantly comparing your life to others, you could find yourself on the dreaded hedonic treadmill. Always striving for bigger and better to keep up.

Consider that personal savings rates remain lower than a few decades ago. A paper from a team of economists posits one significant contributor is the propagation of media. We are now more exposed than ever to how other people spend money. Subsequently, we spend more and save less.

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7. Be Patient

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s great American novel, The Great Gatsby, took 2½ years to write. J.K. Rowling worked on the first Harry Potter book for six years. Meanwhile, J.R.R. Tolkien spent 16 years writing The Lord of the Rings.

Rarely are masterpieces created in a day. So be patient and use your time wisely.

The moral of the story: Time is a powerful tool, especially when working toward long-term goals. Your skills can improve, your habits can sharpen. For building your financial resources, the effect of compounding cannot be overstated. The money you invest can earn and return, and that return can earn and return, and so on. This snowball effect can produce exponential growth over time, if you remain patient and disciplined with your portfolio.

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8. Never Think It’s Too Late

Raymond Chandler was 51. Annie Proulx was 57. Frank McCourt was 66. These are the ages each respective author published their first book. The point is that it’s never too late to get started.

If you have a dream, there are ways to make it possible.

The moral of the story: Even people who are behind on saving for retirement can get there. You can delay Social Security, work a few years longer and start maxing out your retirement accounts. Hypothetically, you could start saving at age 50, maximize your 401(k) with catch-up contributions and end up with more than $1 million by age 70 (assuming an 8% annual return).

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9. Live a Life Worth Writing About

Some writers are known to carry around pocket-sized notebooks or index cards to write down daily observations that could be used in a story. Life is rich with inspiration, if you know where to look. 

It could be argued then that the more enriching your personal experiences, the greater the material you’ll have for writing a book. Essentially, your well-being is improved by what you do rather than what you own. Research suggests people feel more satisfied and happier when spending money on experiences than material things.

The moral of the story: Pursuing experiences that are worth writing about is money well spent.

Listen to writer Colum McCann: “Step out of your skin. Risk yourself. This opens up the world. Go to another place. Investigate what lies beyond your curtains, beyond the wall, beyond the corner, beyond your town, beyond the edges of your own known country.”

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10. Remember What’s Really Important: Relationships

Writing is a solitary endeavor. But publishing a book is a group effort. To make it all possible, you generally have to rely on the efforts of a publisher, editor, publicist, booksellers and, of course, readers. Not to mention supportive spouses and family who give you the space to chase your dreams.

Whatever you dream of doing, don’t neglect the people around you. It is through the company we keep that we find the most meaning in life.

As Lydia Denworth, author of the book Friendship, told The Wall Street Journal about a major Harvard happiness study tracking the lives of men from age 20 to 80: The best predictor of their health and happiness by age 80 was not their wealth or careers. It was their relationships at age 50.

The moral of the story: The fact is time with your loved ones is a limited resource. You can never earn it back. All the books you’ve written, accolades you’ve received, places you’ve gone, will mean little without the people you love.

Ultimately, creating a plan can increase the chances of turning your dreams into reality. And the things you do in your financial life can help facilitate that.

Part of the financial planning process is to put your dreams to paper. 

So, what would you most regret not having done if you were to die tomorrow?

Now, start writing.

This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.

Manager of Investor Education, Advance Capital Management

Jacob Schroeder is the Manager of Investor Education at Advance Capital Management (www.acadviser.com/). His goal is to help people make more informed financial decisions and live happier lives. He is also the creator of the personal finance blog Incognito Money Scribe (incognitomoneyscribe.com/), exploring the mystery and meaning of money.

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The holidays can be overwhelming. Follow these self-care tips to relieve stress - CNN

Sign up for CNN's Stress, But Less newsletter. Our six-part guide will inform and inspire you to reduce stress while learning how to harness it.

(CNN)What's supposed to be the happiest time of year can quickly turn into a stressful flurry of holiday activities and endless shopping lists, even in the best of times.

Many people spread themselves too thin trying to make this time of year perfect, which can lead to burnout. And in a pandemic? It's asking the impossible.

It's not easy to switch gears, but it really doesn't have to be this way. With an arsenal of our Life, But Better tips at your disposal, you can relax as the season comes to a close and the new year begins.

Prioritize your tasks

Some people may think they need to do everything to have a happy holiday season, but that isn't the case, said Sarah Clark, a research scientist in the department of pediatrics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Families should communicate with each other what the most important activities are so they know what traditions can be cut, she said.

"You don't have to do it all, but you can't expect to read everybody's minds," Clark said.

Baking to connect with others

Baking can be a therapeutic activity that brings people together, said baker Eric Pallant, author of "Sourdough Culture: A History of Bread Making From Ancient to Modern Bakers."

His specialty, sourdough bread, takes plenty of love and care for a great loaf. It also allows people to take a break from the hustle and bustle of life and reconnect with each other, he said.

"That you've taken the time to make it and make it with your hands and share it with somebody else, what could be more wonderful?" Pallant said.

Running out of ingredients because of supply chain issues? Try these easy baking hacks to substitute ingredients.

Take a walk

Walking is a great way to reduce anxiety and lower stress, especially outside in nature.

It can also help increase your energy levels, giving you more stamina to complete the tasks on your list or having fun with loved ones.

Other forms of exercise will certainly offer similar health benefits, but walking is a great option for those not accustomed to exercise, said Evan Matthews, associate professor of exercise science and physical education at New Jersey's Montclair State University.

"It is likely a familiar movement, removing the learning curve that occurs with a new form of physical activity and the intimidation factor many feel when starting out," he said.

Put the phone away

Scrolling through hundreds of social media posts is one way people take a break during a busy day, but it actually increases stress, said Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation at the American Psychological Association.

"It's probably reflective of individuals that are not establishing boundaries as well as they could be," she said.

Wright recommended blocking out times during the day where you turn your notifications off. If you need someone else to hold you accountable, take a walk with them without any electronics (including a smart watch).

Take a power nap

With all the activities going on, getting enough sleep is often one of the first things that is cut, despite it being one of the most important parts of your health. While adults should get at least seven hours each night, a quick nap might be a holiday solution.

Taking a short afternoon nap can leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the day, according to Dr. Rajkumar Dasgupta, associate professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC in Los Angeles.

The nap length should not exceed 20 minutes because anything longer could put your body into a deeper stage of sleep, he said.

If you sleep for longer than that, you could wake up feeling more tired than when you went to bed, which is called sleep inertia, Dasgupta said.

Call a loved one

It's easy to feel out of control when you're overwhelmed and stressed, but a short call to a trusted family or friend can remedy that, according to research published earlier this year in JAMA Psychiatry.

Talking for only 10 minutes on the phone with a loved one can make you feel less lonely, said Maninder "Mini" Kahlon, associate professor of population health and executive director of Factor Health at The University of Texas at Austin's Dell Medical School.

The key is to make sure the person on the other end of the call is an empathic, active listener, she said.

Other people in your life may need a good listener during this time, so reach out to loved ones and be that listener for them, too.

"Prioritize just listening to them in their words and where they prioritize their interests," Kahlon said.

These simple but meaningful activities can go a long way in helping you de-stress, so take some time to incorporate a few of them into your routine.

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Why do Indian recipes always have to come from some mythic grandmother? - The Guardian

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With new car prices skyrocketing, follow these tips to buy one you can afford - CNET

Read through our tips and advice before taking those new car keys.

Thianchai sitthikongsak/Getty Images

If you're car shopping, you probably realize how expensive new cars are these days. It's a pretty recent development as prices rise due to high demand and way too little supply. It could take awhile before prices start to come back down amid supply chain problems. That's OK, though because the tips we have for you work for any new car market. Even if you can finance a big-dollar car, read on to make sure you make a good choice when pulling the trigger on a new vehicle.

It takes more than looking at a car's MSRP to understand if you can afford it, though. Most of us plan budgets monthly, so we'll walk through how to see if a car payment works for you. Read on for our tips and advice to make sure you don't overspend on a new or used car. That way, when you sign the papers, you can drive home with your new car knowing you made the best decision possible.

Setting a monthly number

It might seem obvious, but the first step to figuring out how much you can spend on your new car is to calculate your monthly budget. Add up all your monthly income, subtract expenses (everything from rent or mortgage payments to food and healthcare), and see how much is left. For your benefit, the Federal Trade Commission even offers a sample budget sheet online.

But don't dedicate every last penny of disposable income to a car. Instead, experts have developed some guiding rules for how much is reasonable to spend.

In the past, advisers sometimes recommended what was called the 20/4/10 rule: make a 20% down payment, have a loan lasting no longer than four years and don't let payments exceed 10% of your gross income. But those figures aren't realistic for today's shoppers. In part that's because car loans last much longer: In March 2020, the average auto loan surpassed 70 months, according to Edmunds research.

Today, experts generally recommend spending no more than 15% of your monthly take-home pay (that's how much you receive after taxes and other deductions). Depending on your budget, spending closer to 10% might be a more reasonable guideline.

Based on those rules, somebody with a take-home income of $3,000 per month might consider a payment of $300 to $450 per month, figures that represent 10% and 15% of their take-home pay, respectively. If you're not looking at a fancy SUV or pickup truck, that's generally a good number when shopping for more affordable new cars.

However, it's important to note that you're responsible for more than just the car payment. Factor in insurance costs, too, when figuring out your total monthly car expenditure. Don't let the combined cost of insurance and the car's payment exceed the rule you've set for yourself, whether that's 15% or some other value. For that reason, picking a base car payment closer to 10% to 15% of your take-home income is a safer rule to ensure you won't blow your budget.

For this reason, many advisers instead recommend setting a limit for how much your total car expenses will be per month. For instance, you might decide to spend no more than 15% of your total take-home pay on your loan payment, insurance and gas costs combined. That can be an especially important rule for buyers who already have other debts.

Your monthly payment can vary significantly depending on your credit score, the length of your loan and the size of your down payment.

Audi

Calculating the monthly payment

Once you know how much you can afford to spend, it's time to work out how much you'd pay for the car you want. New car ads and review sites generally list only the total MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price), so you'll need to convert that to a monthly figure. Most carmakers offer a loan calculator on their consumer websites. Simply input data like your potential down payment and interest rate, and the site's calculator will tell you approximately how much the loan would cost per month.

We've also got a loan calculator available on the Roadshow website. Enter how much you want to pay per month, as well as details like your expected loan length, interest rate and other details, and our calculator will help you figure out how much car you can afford to buy. You can also go the other way with our basic loan calculator, inputting a car's sale price and other data to figure an approximate monthly payment number.

Bear in mind that interest rates will vary considerably based on your credit history, down payment, and whether you finance through a carmaker directly, or through your bank or credit union. Rates remain generally low right now, but obviously, this can vary significantly from person to person.

You can use online calculators like this one from Roadshow to get an idea of how much you can spend per month.

Jake Holmes/Roadshow

Other things to consider

There are more costs to owning a car than just the payment and insurance. You should also budget for how much you'll need to spend on gas and maintenance -- although a new car should be covered under warranty for most of a new-car loan period.

Also consider the length of your car loan. While longer loans will, in general, give you a lower monthly payment, you'll be paying more overall in interest charges. In addition, longer loans increase the amount of time you're "underwater" on the new car. That's the situation, known more formally as negative equity, when you owe more on your loan than the car is worth if it was sold. And that can make it more difficult to sell or trade-in the car.

Finally, don't forget that these guidelines can and should vary depending on your situation. If you don't drive very much, or spend a lot of your income on housing costs, you may prefer to spend less per month on your new car. If you're a car enthusiast, or need a very specific vehicle for your job or commute, you might want to stretch your budget a little higher. Overall for most people, spending 10% to 15% of your monthly take-home pay on a new car loan is a good guideline.

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New Year's resolution tips - WBRC

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Goals like joining a gym, finding a new job, going to therapy are just a few resolutions people are setting for 2022. Crystal Mullen-Johnson, therapist and owner of Strive Counseling, is urging us all to try a new approach this year.

As the new year approaches and we enter the second year of the pandemic, it can be a stressful time. A survey shows 43% of people give up on their resolutions less than a month into the new year. Johnson recommends ways we can accomplish goals & not feel overwhelmed, by setting smaller resolutions that can be completed over time. We can use things like vision boards to add ideas and pictures.

Johnson says the end of the year is also a time for self reflection and to remember the things you accomplished in 2021.

“Recognizing the resilience you’ve developed over the year. It has been tough. It seems like we skipped a year,” says Johnson. “Recognize those strengths. Go from there. Just develop your goals and those goals that you have not yet accomplished align yourself some time to do that. The world has changed so you may not feel like you’re on track but you may be right where you need to be.”

She shares you should make yourself a priority. Focus on your health and learn from previous mistakes. She says it’s best to be patient and consistent as you work toward your goals for 2022.

For more details on Strive Counseling, visit https://www.strivebhm.com/

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