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Made with just two simple ingredients—water and vital wheat flour—vegan “chicken,” also known as seitan, can be transformed into things like vegan nuggets or a barbecued “brisket” sandwich in just a few steps. To experiment with making this plant-based alternative myself, I turned to TikTok to discover what the hype was all about. With over 560 million views for videos tagged “seitan” on the app, users from all around the world have tested making this meat alternative, and their reactions are priceless....

We get it. Overly sweet drinks are anything but refreshing. But here’s the thing: the Aperol Spritz doesn’t have to be the syrupy, saccharine mixture that it’s being depicted as. The secret to blending a light, effervescent spritz is simple: Avoid adding too much Aperol. Don’t mix in any type of sweet Prosecco. And there you have it. If you avoid having a heavy hand with the liqueur, you’ll end up with a cocktail that has a lot less ready-to-give-you-a-mega-migraine sugar....

How to Make a Crispy Pizza Crust The pizza police will not come after you for using store-bought dough. Well, they might…to give you an award for brilliance! The fresh stuff in the refrigerated section and the frozen balls in the freezer aisle are very good and super-convenient. Your favorite pizzeria may also sell dough—just ask. Whatever kind you use, let the dough (thawed if frozen) sit at room temperature for up to an hour before you stretch it into shape, to give the gluten time to relax....

However, mastering the perfect temperature for reheating leftovers doesn’t have to be a guessing game, according to TikTok user @howdoesshe. In a recent video posted on her account, she explains that you should completely reconsider the formation in which you microwave your food. It’s easier than it sounds. This hack requires no special tools or kitchen utensils—all you have to do is avoid placing foods in the center of your dish where the radio frequency microwaves that warm the food have difficulty reaching....

All of those ages can work, as long as you’ve done the research to make sure they’re a fit for your current savings and investments. Experts say that choosing the right age for retirement requires that your diverse retirement portfolio aligns with the realities of certain assets, such as Social Security and Medicare. Choosing the right age then depends on factoring all of these things into your own personal situation....

Fly Frugally The more flexible your dates and destination, the better the deals you can score. To stay updated on the latest bargains, sign up for alerts on the website Scott’s Cheap Flights, which sources domestic and international routes from your nearest airport, claiming an average savings of 60 percent. (For access to even more deals, upgrade to the $49 annual premium membership.) When that nonstop flight to Paris lands in your inbox for just $300—run, don’t walk....

Now that you’re sufficiently disgusted, there is hope—and learning how to sanitize your toothbrush is less complicated than you think. With a little care and consideration, you can feel confident about your oral care tools. How to Properly Store Your Toothbrush How you store your toothbrush has everything to do with its potential to harbor bacteria. Warm, moist environments help germs thrive. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends letting your brush air-dry completely, upright, without touching any other toothbrush heads....

Taking temperatures isn’t rocket science, but there are a few things you should know to get the most accurate reading possible. Get a baseline temperature for the whole family. A true fever is a reading of 100.4 or higher, but we all have a slightly different baseline temperature. Sure, 98.6 may be average, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only normal temperature reading. Genetics, time of day, physical activity, and even food and beverage can impact a temperature....

Start by making sure that your bed and bedding are as cozy as possible. Haley opted to replace the duvet cover and add comfy touches like a plaid throw and a fuzzy bolster pillow to make the room feel warmer. Small additions, like a carafe of water on the nightstand, a few snacks, and toiletries (in case they left things behind), and a robe and slippers help your guest room feel more like a luxury hotel stay....

Reader question: “What is the right way to use a jade roller?” —Paula Shelton If you think face rollers are all hype, consider this: Dermatologists and aestheticians agree that these tools deliver some seriously legit skin benefits. And hey, even the biggest roller skeptics can’t deny that it feels pretty heavenly (read: highly addictive). Although face rollers have become fairly mainstream in the skincare world, here’s a quick explainer. Face rollers are usually made of “healing stones”—jade, rose quartz, and amethyst being the most common—that have been smoothed and attached to a convenient handle....

When it comes to choosing air fryers, most people look out for wattage, size, presets, noise, and how easy it is to clean—and the TaoTronics air fryer scores A’s in pretty much all of these categories in my book. It’s compact enough not to crowd the countertop of my small kitchen, the 1,750-wattage specs and deep 6-quart basket cook a whole chicken in less than half an hour, and the basket is even dishwasher-safe, so cleanup is a total breeze....

I was one of those people who would feel faint whenever the topic of money came up. It was like the specific anxiety was hard-wired into me, shooting out white-hot alarm signals as soon as a bill—any bill—showed up in my mailbox. In addition to my chronic anxiety, I also suffer from a specific type of mental health phenomenon known as mathematical anxiety (yes, it’s a thing). This caused me, for example, to feel panic swell in my chest and tears spring to my eyes during every math class at school—as I stared down a sheet of hieroglyphics that I, for the life of me, couldn’t decipher....

Luckily, we won’t have to wait until September to start working these design pros’ ideas into our homes. We asked each designer to share their top tip for refreshing a room when its style feels stale. Let this inspire your own mini home makeover. Whether it’s adjusting the lighting in your living room or introducing some greenery to your space, these mini moves make a big difference. Take a Virtual Tour of the 2022 Real Simple Home Here!...

With a 400-thread count and high-quality cotton fibers, the sheets are designed to last. The brand promises they won’t pill, shrink, or fade over time. Instead, the sheets will only get softer with each wash, so you can enjoy wrapping yourself up in them night after night. To buy: From $45; amazon.com. Prices start at just $45 for a three-piece twin-sized set and go up to $65 for a four-piece California king set—that’s much less than what similar sets go for from luxury bedding brands....