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Let this Ritz-and-gravy squash casserole be your Thanksgiving’s savory savior https://ift.tt/2Fvf6eY I’m from the South, so the vegetables I ate growing up were usually covered in something creamy—cheese, butter, bacon fat—and there was usually a gravy boat around somewhere. While I now top my greens with just a little salt, I make an exception at the holidays—primarily for my squash casserole. I’ve been making the same squash casserole for more than a decade. The vegetables are mixed with a white sauce similar to the gravy I used to put on my breakfast biscuits (minus the sausage), plus there are crackers inside and on top. Eating it feels like lying on a sofa under a blanket. It is very hygge. It would sound better if I said it as an old family recipe, passed down for generations, but it’s just something I altered from a recipe online. Advertisement I started making it for Thanksgiving because I wanted to contribute, but I didn’t want to make something complicated. After a couple years, some of my family members started requesting the casserole and were legitimately disappointed if I didn’t make it. I think what people love so much is that it’s a savory counterpart to the sweet-potato casserole and cranberries it’s sandwiched between. And because it’s not sugary, that means it’s healthier… just kidding. But it is a delicious warm mix of softness and crunch. Don’t worry about messing up the recipe. As long as you use the ingredients somewhere in the vicinity of the original measurements, it’ll taste good (though don’t go overboard with the salt). Pro-tip: I use Wondra flour in the white sauce. It’s not necessary, but it does mix easier than all-purpose, which tends to clump. Ritz-and-gravy squash casserole
Slice the squash either in whole or half circles—don’t dice them into tiny pieces. Cut up the onion however you like. Steam the squash and onion lightly, until they just start to get tender. Mix the milk, flour, margarine, basil, and salt until it becomes a thick sauce. (If you use all-purpose flour, make sure you stir or whisk continuously to break up any clumps.) Put the steamed squash and onions in a bowl and stir in one sleeve of crushed crackers. Pour the white sauce on top and mix it all together. Advertisement Transfer everything into a lightly greased 8x8-inch casserole dish. (Double the recipe and put in a 9x13-inch dish if you’ve got a big crowd.) Top with the rest of the crushed crackers. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes, or until it bubbles and the top is golden brown. Gadget News via Lifehacker https://lifehacker.com November 19, 2018 at 12:03PM
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NASA selects a landing site for its Mars 2020 rover https://ift.tt/2TrghPy NASA has announced where its next Mars rover will be heading. The agency has chosen Jezero Crater from dozens of potential candidates in part for its potential to have preserved signs of past microbial life. "The landing site in Jezero Crater offers geologically rich terrain, with landforms reaching as far back as 3.6 billion years old, that could potentially answer important questions in planetary evolution and astrobiology," Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said in a statement. "Getting samples from this unique area will revolutionize how we think about Mars and its ability to harbor life." The Mars 2020 rover mission will not only look for habitable conditions, but will also collect rock and soil samples that may be able to be retrieved sometime in the future. Both NASA and the European Space Agency are exploring ideas for a future retrieval mission that could bring the samples back to Earth for study. The diversity offered by Jezero Crater makes it appealing scientifically, but it also makes for a difficult landing environment. And the region has been off limits in the past because of these challenges. However, recent advances in technology have now opened Jezero Crater up to a rover mission. "The Mars community has long coveted the scientific value of sites such as Jezero Crater, and a previous mission contemplated going there, but the challenges with safely landing were considered prohibitive," said Ken Farley, a project scientist for the mission at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "But what was once out of reach is now conceivable, thanks to the 2020 engineering team and advances in Mars entry, descent and landing technologies." The site proposal still has to be assessed in order to make sure the mission is set up for success, and a final report on the plan will be presented to the agency next year. The rover mission is currently scheduled to launch in July of 2020. Gadget News via Engadget http://www.engadget.com November 19, 2018 at 11:48AM
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Google Photos for iOS adds portrait depth editing https://ift.tt/2BiAEaJ In early October, Google rolled out a depth-editing feature for Google Photos on Android, allowing users to adjust the bokeh intensity of their portrait photos. A month later, that same feature has now come to the iOS version. For any portrait images you’ve taken, you can adjust the blur and also tap to change the focus area of those shots. Google seems to be doing its own processing when you move the depth slider around; the results are noticeably different — in some cases, better — than what I get with Apple’s Photos app. There are several other camera and photo editing apps that can utilize the depth data from the iPhone to increase or decrease bokeh. Tapping an area of the photo to change the focus didn’t make a huge difference in my short time testing that feature. Dialing back the blur basically does the same thing. But I do like the Color Pop option that’s also new (on iOS) with this update. Tap on your main subject and it will remain in color, but the rest of the photo will be desaturated to black and white. It takes some tapping around to hit the right spot if you want the whole subject to be in color. Color Pop was previously something that the Assistant section of Google Photos would apply to some shots automatically, but now you can do it manually for any portrait image you want. Both depth editing and Color Pop should be available now if you’re running the latest version of Google Photos on your device. Open up a portrait shot, tap the edit button (you’ll see Color Pop appear as the first filter option), and then hit the edit button a second time to get to the depth slider, which is beneath the existing bars for light and color. Gadget News via The Verge https://ift.tt/1jLudMg November 19, 2018 at 11:44AM
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Alexa can now make Skype calls https://ift.tt/2PByX0w Starting this week, you'll be able to make Skype calls on your Alexa devices. Basically the entire line of Echo devices will have the ability to make voice calls via Microsoft's VoIP platform. The Echo Show and its tablet-style screen will also be able to make and receive video calls. In addition to calling your Skype contacts via Alexa, users will also be able to call mobile numbers and landlines using SkypeOut. The feature allows you to call existing contacts or a new number on Skype. You'll get 100 minutes of free calls per month for two months when you link your Skype account with Alexa. In order to set up Skype for Alexa, open the Amazon Alexa app on your Android or iOS device. Go to Settings > Communication > Skype. You'll be prompted to login with your Microsoft account. Once you've successfully entered your username and password, you'll be able to make and accept calls from Skype through Alexa. The integration of Skype and Alexa, which was promised earlier this year, is just the latest example of Amazon and Microsoft teaming up. The companies announced a partnership last year to make Alexa and Microsoft's voice assistant Cortona work together and earlier this year, Xbox One and Windows 10 got Alexa apps. Source: Skype Gadget News via Engadget http://www.engadget.com November 19, 2018 at 11:42AM
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Amazon's sale on GE smart devices covers outlets, light switches, and more https://ift.tt/2QTKPaX Load up on all you need for a better and smarter home. Every light switch and appliance should be connected to your smart home, and Amazon's sale on GE smart home and smart lighting devices is the way for you to ensure that's the case. The deals include smart control dimmers, grounded outlets, and more. If you plan to use any of these in your smart home setup, you will need a Z-Wave or ZigBee compatible hub like the SmartThings Hub, Wink Hub, or other device. Once connected to SmartThings, you can use an Alexa-enabled device like the Echo Dot to control these devices with your voice. Even if you don't want voice control, you can control all of these wirelessly with the associated app and your smartphone. Some of the devices on sale are Z-Wave, some are ZigBee, and some are Z-Wave Plus. The Plus lineup includes greater wireless range, faster processors, and more energy efficiency than regular Z-Wave devices. Here are a few of the deals in this sale:
There are a ton of other devices on sale, too. Gadget News via iMore - Learn more. Be more. https://www.imore.com/ November 19, 2018 at 11:39AM
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Twitter redesigns iOS app to de-emphasize follower counts https://ift.tt/2zcr4Vh Twitter has made follower counts appear less prominent on its iOS app by making the font size smaller in a new redesign effort, according to a Twitter spokesperson. The change comes after CEO Jack Dorsey repeatedly said that he wants to rethink how the company could prioritize “meaningful” conversations over numbers like retweets, likes, and follows. Follower counts are just one piece of information that has been de-emphasized by way of this redesign. A Twitter spokesperson told The Verge that other details like locations, birthdays, join dates, mutual follows, and following counts have been made smaller as well. The type and spacing sizes have been changed to prioritize some pieces of information on user profiles over others, the spokesperson said. The change is subtle, but it’s part of Twitter’s plans to rehash some of the features of the platform. By decreasing the font sizes, users’ eyes aren’t drawn to the number nearly as much as when it’s larger. In past interviews, Dorsey has repeatedly noted that he would like to make follower counts a less important feature on user profiles. By emphasizing an account’s number of followers, Dorsey believes it incentivizes individuals to post more polarizing content that has the potential to go viral and attract more followers, creating a more divisive and toxic discourse on the platform. In an interview in New Delhi, Dorsey said that when developing the platform, he and his team initially “made the [followers] font size a little bit bigger than everything else on the page. We did not really think much about it and moved on to the next problem to solve. What that has done is we put all the emphasis, not intending to, on that number of how many people follow me. So if that number is big and bold, what do people want to do with it? They want to make it go up.” Follower counts are one part of Twitter’s rethinking of some of the core aspects of its platform. Rumors arose last month that the company was deliberating whether to remove the “like” feature for tweets as well, but it never confirmed those reports. Some of these changes appear to be on Android already, like the follower account font size, but other pieces of information, like join date, still appear larger. Gadget News via The Verge https://ift.tt/1jLudMg November 19, 2018 at 11:37AM
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Facebook donates £4.5 million to help train UK newspaper reporters https://ift.tt/2qTlvqf Facebook is extending another olive branch to the news industry in the form of a £4.5 million ($5.8 million) donation to subsidize 80 trainee journalists at local newspapers in the UK. It's the first time Facebook has offered such a pledge, which it's making as part of its new Community News Project. It's donating the funds to the National Council for the Training of Journalists -- the charity will divvy up the donation among publishers. The pledge will help fund formal training for journalists and their employment at local papers as part of a two-year pilot. Facebook, which is also partnering with Newsquest, JPIMedia, Reach, Archant and the Midland News Association on the project, says "the goal is to encourage more reporting from towns which have lost their local newspaper and beat reporters." It's not clear where the trainees will be based, though the project will place an emphasis on recruiting from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. The application process will open early next year, and trainees are likely to focus on community journalism rather than specialist beats during the pilot period. The journalists will have access to the NCTJ's training program to help them work towards the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism. Those who already have that qualification will receive training towards a new National Qualification in Journalism for community journalists. Facebook will also provide training to bolster the trainees' digital newsgathering skills. Local newspapers were hit hard by the move to online news, as many advertisers switched from print to online, including on Facebook, which made it difficult for papers to afford enough reporters to fully cover their communities. However, Facebook and Google in particular can drive large volumes of traffic to newspaper websites, so the relationship between publishers and tech giants is complex. Facebook has rolled out other initiatives to help publishers, including a way to let readers sign up for newspaper subscriptions through its app. Google, meanwhile, has its own $300 million News Initiative project, which offers free G Suite subscriptions to local and smaller publishers as part of an effort to combat fake news. Gadget News via Engadget http://www.engadget.com November 19, 2018 at 11:36AM Gadgets https://ift.tt/2PBcYqC
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The best speakers and DJ gear to give as gifts https://ift.tt/2DxeKBK There are people who like music -- and then there are folks who can't get enough of it. For the latter, the standard speakers and gear just won't do. Luckily, our holiday gift guide has the equipment the music-obsessed person in your life needs. The Sonos One shows that smart speakers aren't just for voice assistants -- they can be for audiophiles as well. If you know a music lover who is always on the go, the UE Boom 3 and Megaboom 3 Bluetooth speakers offer top-notch sound that can travel. For people more interested in making music than listening to it, the Traktor DJ app for iPad is a professional-grade DJ app that doesn't require the pricey equipment, or you can set them up to sample just about anything with the PO-33 K.O! from Teenage Engineering. Find all that and lots more in our full guide! All products recommended by Engadget were selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company, Oath. If you buy something through one of our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Check out the full list of selections in our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide here! Gadget News via Engadget http://www.engadget.com November 19, 2018 at 11:06AM
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Join our Discord and talk about the newest deals, Black Friday, and more! https://ift.tt/2Flj7md Help us build a deal-centered community. Our team at Thrifter spends all day sorting through deals, writing about new products, and sharing our favorite price drops on social media. We spend a lot of hours and put forth our best work to help make your online shopping experience a little better and a lot more informed. Everything we do is for you, our readers and followers, so it makes sense that we continue to explore new ways to engage with you. That's why we are setting up a Discord server called "Thrifter Deals and Shopping." We want to interact with you in real-time, answer your questions, and help you find your way through the minefield that is online shopping. With Black Friday right around the corner, this is just another way for you to get to the heart of the internet's real and exciting deals. Join us on Discord using this link. We will have open channels for a variety of different subjects, including regular deal hunting, Black Friday shopping, and more. We'll even pop into the voice channels from time to time to answer your questions. What is Discord?Think of Discord like an old-school chatroom with modern tech. It's an online watercooler for all of us to gather around and talk about the goings-on of the day. It is a free VoIP application you can use on any platform, including your mobile devices and both Windows and Mac computers. You don't even need to download anything if you don't want to because it is accessible through your web browser. Why is Thrifter on Discord?Primarily because we can. Deals are not always black and white. Black Friday is chaos. Twitter only allows for limited communication. Our purpose is to find new ways to engage with you, learn about the sort of deals you like, answer questions you might have, and grow our community. Our one server will have multiple rooms for both text-based chatting and voice-based communication. You'll be able to share links, ask questions, drop in funny GIFs, and communicate with our team here at Thrifter in ways you never could before. How do I get it?In order to join Discord you will need to create a username for it. This is a simple process done on the Discord homepage and requires only your email, a nickname, and a password. Once you've done that, click on our invite link to join the Thrifter server. Using the Discord homepage, you can download the Discord app to your computer or mobile device or just use the application through your browser. We recommend the software though because it's very easy to use and helpful for navigating between servers and channels. How do I join your server?It really is just as easy as clicking on this link. Once you do that, and you've accepted the invite from James, you'll find the Thrifter logo popup on the left-hand side of the Discord user interface. If it hasn't opened by default, click on that Thrifter logo. You'll see a variety of channels open up, including a place for #deals-discussion and a voice channel for shopping help. Feel free to say hi or start asking questions right away. On the right hand side of the app, you can see who is online. Who are the Thrifter people on Discord?There will be a variety of people from all across the Mobile Nations sites using the Thrifter Discord server. If you want to talk to someone specifically who works for Thrifter, look for our names under the Team Thrifter category. Our team names are: DannyDeals, jareddipane, JDatThrifter, Louryn, and ThrifterAlex. Plus, we'll always be logged in with the main Thrifter account. Look on the right-hand side of the Discord app for a list of users in the Thrifter server, including those who are online at any moment. Thrifter on Discord is just one of the newer initiatives we are taking for the Black Friday holiday shopping season. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and sign up for the Black Friday newsletter for all the other information we have coming out. Gadget News via iMore - Learn more. Be more. https://www.imore.com/ November 19, 2018 at 11:03AM |
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