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The Gooey History of the Fluffernutter Sandwich
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Open any pantry in New England and chances are you’ll find at least one jar of Marshmallow Fluff. Not just any old marshmallow crème, but Fluff; the one manufactured by Durkee-Mower of Lynn, Massachusetts since 1920, and the preferred brand of the northeast. With its familiar red lid and classic blue label, it’s long been a favorite guilty pleasure and a kitchen staple beloved throughout the region.
This gooey, spreadable, marshmallow-infused confection is used in countless recipes and found in a variety of baked goods—from whoopie pies and Rice Krispies Treats to chocolate fudge and beyond. And in the beyond lies perhaps the most treasured concoction of all: the Fluffernutter sandwich—a classic New England treat made with white bread, peanut butter, and, you guessed it, Fluff. No jelly required. Or wanted.
There are several claims to the origin of the sandwich. The first begins with Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere—or, not Paul exactly, but his great-great-great-grandchildren Emma and Amory Curtis of Melrose, Massachusetts. Both siblings were highly intelligent and forward-thinkers, and Amory was even accepted into MIT. But when the family couldn’t afford to send him, he founded a Boston-based company in the 1890s that specialized in soda fountain equipment.
He sold the business in 1901 and used the proceeds to buy the entire east side of Crystal Street in Melrose. Soon after he built a house and, in his basement, he created a marshmallow spread known as Snowflake Marshmallow Crème (later called SMAC), which actually predated Fluff. By the early 1910s, the Curtis Marshmallow Factory was established and Snowflake became the first commercially successful shelf-stable marshmallow crème.
Although other companies were manufacturing similar products, it was Emma who set the Curtis brand apart from the rest. She had a knack for marketing and thought up many different ways to popularize their marshmallow crème, including the creation of one-of-a-kind recipes, like sandwiches that featured nuts and marshmallow crème. She shared her culinary gems in a weekly newspaper column and radio show. By 1915, Snowflake was selling nationwide.
During World War I, when Americans were urged to sacrifice meat one day a week, Emma published a recipe for a peanut butter and marshmallow crème sandwich. She named her creation the “Liberty Sandwich,” as a person could still obtain his or her daily nutrients while simultaneously supporting the wartime cause. Some have pointed to Emma’s 1918 published recipe as the earliest known example of a Fluffernutter, but the earliest recipe mental_floss can find comes from three years prior. In 1915, the confectioners trade journal Candy and Ice Cream published a list of lunch offerings that candy shops could advertise beyond hot soup. One of them was the “Mallonut Sandwich,” which involved peanut butter and “marshmallow whip or mallo topping,” spread on lightly toasted whole wheat bread.
Another origin story comes from Somerville, Massachusetts, home to entrepreneur Archibald Query. Query began making his own version of marshmallow crème and selling it door-to-door in 1917. Due to sugar shortages during World War I, his business began to fail. Query quickly sold the rights to his recipe to candy makers H. Allen Durkee and Fred Mower in 1920. The cost? A modest $500 for what would go on to become the Marshmallow Fluff empire.
Although the business partners promoted the sandwich treat early in the company’s history, the delicious snack wasn’t officially called the Fluffernutter until the 1960s, when Durkee-Mower hired a PR firm to help them market the sandwich, which resulted in a particularly catchy jingle explaining the recipe.
So who owns the bragging rights? While some anonymous candy shop owner was likely the first to actually put the two together, Emma Curtis created the early precursors and brought the concept to a national audience, and Durkee-Mower added the now-ubiquitous crème and catchy name. And the Fluffernutter has never lost its popularity.
In 2006, the Massachusetts state legislature spent a full week deliberating over whether or not the Fluffernutter should be named the official state sandwich. On one side, some argued that marshmallow crème and peanut butter added to the epidemic of childhood obesity. The history-bound fanatics that stood against them contended that the Fluffernutter was a proud culinary legacy. One state representative even proclaimed, “I’m going to fight to the death for Fluff.” True dedication, but the bill has been stalled for more than a decade despite several revivals and subsequent petitions from loyal fans.
But Fluff lovers needn’t despair. There’s a National Fluffernutter Day (October 8) for hardcore fans, and the town of Somerville, Massachusetts still celebrates its Fluff pride with an annual What the Fluff? festival.
“Everyone feels like Fluff is part of their childhood,” said self-proclaimed Fluff expert and the festival’s executive director, Mimi Graney, in an interview with Boston Magazine. “Whether born in the 1940s or ’50s, or ’60s, or later—everyone feels nostalgic for Fluff. I think New Englanders in general have a particular fondness for it.”
Today, the Fluffernutter sandwich is as much of a part of New England cuisine as baked beans or blueberry pie. While some people live and die by the traditional combination, the sandwich now comes in all shapes and sizes, with the addition of salty and savory toppings as a favorite twist. Wheat bread is as popular as white, and many like to grill their sandwiches for a touch of bistro flair. But don’t ask a New Englander to swap out their favorite brand of marshmallow crème. That’s just asking too Fluffing much.
October 7, 2016 – 11:00am
11 Horror Film Festivals You Can Attend in October
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Film festivals are always fun, and in autumn that means horror films! You have plenty of them to select from for a frightfully good time.
1. SHRIEKFEST // LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Shriekfest Horror Film Festival via Facebook
The Los Angeles Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival & Screenplay Competition is a long name, so you can just call it Shriekfest. Now in its 16th year, Shriekfest will feature four days of feature films punctuated by dozens of horror shorts, submitted by filmmakers around the world. Prizes are awarded for movies and screenplays separately, for both short films and features, in the categories of horror, science fiction, and thriller. The festival runs October 6-9.
2. SITGES FILM FESTIVAL // SITGES, SPAIN
The International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia is better known as the Sitges Film Festival, as it takes place in the coastal resort town of Sitges, about 25 miles from Barcelona. An international jury recognizes the best in horror and fantasy films from around the world. This year’s slate of films contains hundreds of classics, competition features, and short films. Guests to be honored this year include Christopher Walken and Max von Sydow, and the festival will pay tribute to Star Trek during its 50th anniversary year. The 2016 festival runs October 7-16.
3. ATLANTA HORROR FILM FESTIVAL // ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Atlanta Horror Film Festival
This will be the 10th year of the Atlanta Horror Film Festival, so they’re throwing a huge anniversary party. The festival awarded 23 prizes last year, for everything from Best Feature to Best Short Short, with awards in horror, animation, horror comedy, thriller, science fiction, and foreign films, plus special awards for best local, experimental, and zombie submissions. This year’s festival will run October 13-16.
4. TORONTO AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL // TORONTO
Toronto After Dark Film Festival via Facebook
The Toronto After Dark Film Festival showcases horror, sci-fi, action, and cult films. The festival will screen a total of 19 features and around 30 short films, selected from over 800 submissions from around the world. The festival will run October 13-21.
5. TELLURIDE HORROR SHOW // TELLURIDE, COLORADO
Approximately 25 features and 50 shorts will be screened at this year’s Telluride Horror Show. They promise to be “an eclectic mix of horror, suspense, thriller, fantasy, sci-fi and dark comedy.” This year’s festival will run October 14-16.
6. BROOKLYN HORROR FILM FESTIVAL // BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival boasts that it’s for “badass genre films,” regardless of classification, although all are independently produced. The festival will include a concert, art show, and storytelling contest in addition to the schedule of three feature film premieres, a dozen in-competition features, and lots of shorts, shown at half a dozen different theaters. Some events are limited to those over 21. The festival will be October 14-16 this year.
7. FEAR FETE HORROR CON & FILM FESTIVAL // BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI
The Fear Fete Horror Con and Film Festival is a festival that grew to become much more. Movies will be presented in themed blocks of two shorts and a feature, tracking themes of traditional horror, sci-fi and fantasy, paranormal, religious/occult, comedy horror, and psychological horror. Other events will include zombie laser tag and a zombie pub crawl. The accompanying Gamer Fete brings video game fans together for gaming and cosplay. A slew of celebrities from the horror and gaming industries are expected to appear. Fear Fete will run October 15-16 this year.
8. SCREAMFEST // HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
Screamfest—“America’s largest and longest running horror film festival”—lets Hollywood movers and shakers get to see what’s new from up-and-coming filmmakers. It’s where Paranormal Activity, The Grudge, The Human Centipede, and other features were first screened. If you’re going as a spectator, you’ll get to watch along with producers, directors, and actors. This year’s festival will be held October 18-27.
9. FREAK SHOW HORROR FILM FESTIVAL // ORLANDO, FLORIDA
FREAK SHOW Horror Film Festival via Facebook
This will be the 11th year for the Freak Show Horror Film Festival, which will showcase at least 30 independent and international films, with Q&A sessions with some of the filmmakers. A full schedule of featured movies will be available soon. The 2016 Freak Show will be October 21-23.
10. SAN ANTONIO HORRIFIC FILM FESTIVAL // SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
The San Antonio Horrific Film Festival’s theme for 2016 is “Aliens, Monsters, and Heroes.” Twenty features and shorts will be competing for the Chainsaw Awards in various categories, as well as the Johnson Family Awards for writing in different horror categories. Horror film celebrities will be there, and attendees are encouraged to come dressed for the cosplay competition and costume party. Participants in horror or sci-fi costumes will get a discount on day passes. The Horrific Film Festival will be held October 21-23.
11. BRAM STOKER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL // WHITBY, ENGLAND
Bram Stoker International Film Festival via Facebook
What better way to celebrate Halloween than to watch horror films at a festival named after the author of Dracula? The Bram Stoker International Film Festival will feature around 35 independent feature films, plus documentaries and shorts from around the world. In addition to the movies, the festival has an art show, live dramas, concerts, lectures, and the annual Vampire’s Ball. Performers include daredevils, magicians, a mind reader, a Gothic belly dancer, and various other sideshow and cabaret acts. The festival runs October 27-30.
October 7, 2016 – 10:00am
Belgian Supermarket Plans to Sell Produce Grown on Its Rooftop
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iStock
When shopping at the supermarket, it can be hard to know how far food has traveled before ending up on the shelf. But soon, shoppers at one Belgian grocery store will be able to rest easy knowing that part of the produce selection was cultivated just above their heads. Beginning in the summer of 2017, the Boondael location of the Delhaize supermarket chain will sell fruits and vegetables grown on the building’s rooftop, inhabitat reports.
The store is setting aside 3444 square feet for a rooftop greenhouse and open-air plot that will supplement their own inventory. Foods like greens, cherry tomatoes, and eggplants will be grown on site and sold for a lower price than the organic produce that’s also available. (Since the store-grown vegetables are being raised on a rooftop and not in natural soil, they don’t get the “organic” label.) Thanks to the greenhouse, the store will be able to continue the initiative into the winter months.
Delhaize will become the first supermarket in Belgium to sell its own roof-grown produce when the plan goes into effect next summer. A few grocery stores stateside have already experimented with the idea: After Whole Foods opened a location in Lynnfield, Massachusetts with a rooftop farm in 2013, it took two seasons for the setup to produce three tons of food.
[h/t inhabitat]
Know of something you think we should cover? Email us at tips@mentalfloss.com.
October 7, 2016 – 9:00am
The Weird Week in Review
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MOOSE FIGHT IS A DRAW THANKS TO FENCE
On Sunday, two bull moose encountered each other from opposite sides of a chain link fence on Raspberry Road in Anchorage, Alaska. They went at each other with their antlers, as moose do during mating season, but could not connect through the fence. The attempted battle raged on for hours, as a crowd of officials and drivers gathered, until one moose’s antlers got tangled with barbed wire. It then decided to wander away and rest a while. At that point, a biologist was able to approach the moose and tranquilize it long enough to remove the barbed wire. There was no winner in the battle between the two moose, but the fence was wrecked.
TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY RESPONDS TO SIGN
The construction project on Anthony Henday Drive in Edmonton, Alberta, is finally finished. A programmable sign says so (link contains NSFW text). The photo of the sign went viral yesterday, although we don’t know whether anyone actually complained. Transportation ministry spokesperson Aileen Machell issued a statement.
“Two thousand people worked very hard to bring this project to completion, and there’s obviously a lot of pride in that work,” Machell said in a statement Sunday. “It seems someone changed the sign as part of the celebrations; however, the wording is not the kind we would use and we had it changed immediately.”
It is not clear who programmed the sign in the first place, or if that person could face disciplinary action.
The Edmonton ring project was started in the 1970s. The final phase of construction, on Anthony Henday Drive, has been going on since 2000.
NORWAY’S PRIME MINISTER CAUGHT PLAYING POKEMON GO AT WORK
News photographers caught pictures of Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg playing Pokemon Go on her phone while a debate was going on in parliament. At the time of the incident, Trine Skei Grande, the leader of the opposition party was speaking. While it may seem rude to play video games during parliamentary session, both women are known video game fans. Solberg had previously played Pokemon Go during a state visit to Slovakia, and Grande was caught playing the game during a government committee meeting.
FAKE COP TRIES TO PULL OVER UNMARKED POLICE CAR
The man impersonating a police officer did not, at first, realize that he was pulling over an unmarked police car. He positioned his Ford Crown Victoria behind the car and turned on his lights and siren. Then he thought better of the idea and sped away. The targeted car was a police vehicle with a Montgomery County (Maryland) Police detective inside. The detective turned the tables by then pulling over the Crown Victoria.
“On the exterior of the car, the detective observed red and blue grill lights, a push bumper, and multiple antennas. The detective also observed that the interior of the vehicle replicated a police car and contained items that included a center console with radio microphone, emergency lights and switches, a camera affixed to the windshield, siren, Stop Sticks, and flex cuffs,” Montgomery County Police stated in a press release.
The detective arrested 51-year-old John Vincent Angelini of Baltimore on charges of impersonating a police officer.
MASS BRAWL BREAKS OUT AT CHUCK E. CHEESE RESTAURANT
A fight broke out Saturday at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in Miami, Florida, in which several parents from different families threw punches at each other. A 16-year-old who recorded the fight on her phone said that it all started when one diner objected to another diner looking at them. Police arrived about ten minutes into the fight and dispersed the combatants. Police have not yet released a statement on the fight.
DENZEL WASHINGTON STRANGLES ARETHA FRANKLIN
Denzel Washington (no, not that Denzel Washington) appeared in court Wednesday in Manhattan to accept a plea deal in a case in which he was accused of strangling his mother, 52-year old Aretha Franklin (no, not that Aretha Franklin). Washington was accused of wrapping his hands around Franklin’s neck and causing bruising. In the deal, he pled guilty to harassment and must complete an anger management program and stay away from Franklin. Meanwhile, Denzel Washington the actor and singer Aretha Franklin are good friends.
October 7, 2016 – 9:00am
11 Memorable Facts About ‘Cats’
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Noam Galai/Getty Images for CATS
“It was better than Cats!” Thirty-four years after Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famed musical opened on Broadway on October 7, 1982, this tongue-in-cheek idiom remains a part of our lexicon (thanks to Saturday Night Live). Although the feline extravaganza divided the critics, it won over audiences of all ages and became an industry juggernaut—one that single-handedly generated more than $3 billion for New York City’s economy. In honor of the production’s current run on The Great White Way, let’s take a trip down memory lane.
1. THE WORK THAT IT’S BASED ON WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO INCLUDE DOGS.
Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, published in 1939, is a collection of feline-themed poems written by the great T. S. Eliot. A whimsical, lighthearted effort, the volume has been delighting cat fanciers for generations—and it could have become just as big of a hit with dog-lovers, too. At first, Eliot envisioned the book as an assemblage of canine and tabby-related poems. However, he came to believe that “dogs don’t seem to lend themselves to verse quite so well, collectively, as cats.” (Spoken like a true ailurophile.) Ultimately, according to his publisher, Eliot decided that “it would be improper to wrap [felines] up with dogs” and barely even mentioned man’s best friend in the finished product.
For his part, Lloyd Webber has described his attitude towards cats as “quite neutral.” Still, the composer felt that Eliot’s rhymes could form the basis of a daring, West End-worthy soundtrack. It seemed like an irresistible challenge. “I wanted to set that exciting verse to music,” he explained. “When I [had] written with lyricists in the past … the lyrics have been written to the music. So I was intrigued to see whether I could write a complete piece the other way ‘round.”
2. “MEMORY” WAS INSPIRED BY A POEM THAT T. S. ELIOT NEVER FINISHED.
In 1980, Webber approached T.S. Eliot’s widow, Valerie, to ask for her blessing on the project. She not only said “yes,” but provided the songwriter with some helpful notes and letters that her husband had written about Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats—including a half-finished, eight-line poem called “Grizabella, the Glamour Cat.” Feeling that it was too melancholy for children, Eliot decided to omit the piece from Practical Cats. But the dramatic power of the poem made it irresistible for Webber and Trevor Nunn, the show’s original director. By combining lines from “Grizabella the Glamour Cat” with those of another Eliot poem, “Rhapsody on a Windy Night,” the two men laid the foundation for what became the powerful ballad “Memory.” A smash-hit within a smash-hit, this showstopper has been covered by such icons as Barbra Streisand and Barry Manilow.
3. DAME JUDI DENCH LEFT THE CAST WHEN HER ACHILLES TENDON SNAPPED.
One of Britain’s most esteemed actresses, Dench was brought in to play Grizabella for Cats’ original run on the West End. Then, about three weeks into rehearsals, the performer was going through a scene with co-star Wayne Sleep (Mr. Mistoffelees) when disaster struck. “She went, ‘You kicked me!’” Sleep recalls in the above video. “And I said, ‘I didn’t, actually, are you alright?’” She wasn’t. Somehow, Dench had managed to tear her Achilles tendon. As a last-minute replacement, Elaine Paige of Evita fame was brought aboard. In an eerie coincidence, Paige had heard a recorded version of “Memory” on some local radio station less than 24 hours before she was asked to play Grizabella. Also, an actual black cat had crossed her path that day. How spooky.
4. TO FINANCE THE SHOW, WEBBER ENDED UP MORTGAGING HIS HOUSE.
Although Webber had previously won great acclaim as one of the creative minds behind Jesus Christ Superstar and other hit shows, Cats had a hard time finding investors. According to choreographer Gillian Lynne, “[it] was very, very difficult to finance because everyone said ‘A show about cats? You must be raving mad.’” In fact, the musical fell so far short of its fundraising goals that Webber ended up taking out a second mortgage on his home to help get Cats off the ground.
5. WHEN CATS CAME TO BROADWAY, ITS VENUE GOT A HUGE MAKEOVER.
Cats made its West End debut on May 11, 1981. Seventeen months later, a Broadway production of the musical launched what was to become an 18-year run at the Winter Garden Theatre. But before the show could open, some major adjustments had to be made to the venue. Cats came with an enormous, sprawling set which was far too large for the theatre’s available performing space. To make some more room, the stage had to be expanded. Consequently, several rows of orchestra seats were removed, along with the Winter Garden’s proscenium arch. And that was just the beginning. For Grizabella’s climactic ascent into the Heaviside Layer on a giant, levitating tire, the crew installed a hydraulic lift in the orchestra pit and carved a massive hole through the auditorium ceiling. Finally, the theater’s walls were painted black to set the proper mood. After Cats closed in 2000, the original look of the Winter Garden was painstakingly restored—at a cost of $8 million.
6. CATS SET LONGEVITY RECORDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC.
The original London production took its final bow on May 11, 2002, exactly 21 years after the show had opened—which, at the time, made Cats the longest-running musical in the West End’s history. (It would lose that title to Les Miserables in 2006.) Across the pond, the show was performed at the Winter Garden for the 6138th time on June 19, 1997, putting Cats ahead of A Chorus Line as the longest-running show on Broadway. To celebrate, a massive outdoor celebration was held between 50th and 51st Streets, complete with a laser light show and an exclusive after-party for Cats alums.
7. ONE THEATERGOER SUED THE SHOW FOR $6 MILLION.
Like Hair, Cats involves a lot of performer-audience interaction. See it live, and you might just spot a leotard-clad actor licking himself near your seat before the curtain goes up. In some productions, the character Rum Tum Tugger even rushes out into the crowd and finds an unsuspecting patron to dance with. At a Broadway performance on January 30, 1996, Tugger was played by stage veteran David Hibbard. That night, he singled out one Evelyn Amato, an unemployed office worker, as his would-be dance partner. Mildly put, she did not appreciate his antics. Alleging that Hibbard had gyrated his pelvis in her face, Amato sued the musical and its creative team for $6 million.
8. THANKS TO CATS, T. S. ELIOT RECEIVED A POSTHUMOUS TONY AWARD.
Because most of the songs in Cats are almost verbatim recitations of Eliot’s poems, he’s regarded as its primary lyricist—even though he died in 1965, long before the show was conceived. Still, Eliot’s contributions earned him a 1983 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. A visibly moved Valerie Eliot took the stage to accept this prize on her late spouse’s behalf. “Tonight’s honor would have given my husband particular pleasure because he loved the theatre,” she told the crowd. Eliot also shared the Best Original Score Tony with Webber.
9. THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY RUN USED OVER THREE TONS OF YAK HAIR.
Major productions of Cats use meticulously-crafted yak hair wigs, which currently cost around $2300 apiece and can take 40 hours or more to produce. Adding to the expense is the fact that costumers can’t just recycle an old wig after some performer gets recast. “Each wig is made specifically for the actor,” explains wigmaker Hannah McGregor in the above video. Since people tend to have differently-shaped noggins, precise measurements are taken of every single cast member’s skull before he or she is fitted with a new head of hair. “[Their wigs] have to fit them perfectly,” McGregor adds, “because of the amount of jumping and skipping they do as cats.” Perhaps it should come as no surprise that, over its 18-year run, the first Broadway production used a whopping 3247 pounds of yak hair. (For comparison’s sake, the heaviest actual yaks only weigh around 2200 pounds!)
10. A RECENT REVIVAL INCLUDED HIP-HOP.
In December 2014, Cats returned to the West End with an all-new cast—and some upgraded music. “The Rum Tum Tugger,” a popular Act I song, was reimagined as a hip hop number. “I’ve come to the conclusion, having read [Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats] again, that maybe Eliot was the inventor of rap,” Webber told the press. Let the record show that this take on the song does not appear in the current Broadway revival, which uses the original, fully-sung version instead.
11. THE CURRENT PRODUCTION FEATURED AN INTERNET FAMOUS FELINE—FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY.
Congratulations on a furocious Broadway debut, @RealGrumpyCat! We’re sure you hated every minute. #CatsBroadway pic.twitter.com/WJlyW2aEAC
— CATS on Broadway (@CatsBroadway) October 1, 2016
On September 30, Grumpy Cat made her Broadway debut in Cats, briefly taking the stage with the cast. Despite being named Honorary Jellicle Cat, she hated every minute of it.
October 7, 2016 – 8:00am
Health
| Questions: | 5 |
| Available: | Always |
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Health
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Thursday, October 6, 2016 – 11:41
Schedule Publish:
Toaster Bags Let You Finally Make Grilled Cheese in the Toaster
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UncommonGoods
A while back, a terrible “lifehack” circulated the internet about the perfect way to make a grilled cheese in a toaster. By turning the toaster on its side and then slipping slices of bread with cheese inside, you could theoretically make a grilled cheese without having to take out a pan and spatula. Then reality set in. Intrepid internet chefs attempted to try this method only to receive burnt bread and cheese-encrusted toaster. While many have given up trying to make grilled cheese in the toaster, it might not be entirely out of the realm of possibility. These toaster sleeves let you successfully make a grilled cheese without setting anything on fire.
Sold on UncommonGoods, these special reusable bags are coated in Teflon so they won’t burn in the toaster and cheese won’t stick to the bags. The pouches keep all the cheese from dripping to the bottom of the toaster, meaning you don’t have to turn the appliance on its side. They come with little handles so you can pull your cheesey creation out when it’s finished. Now you can prepare your sandwich, stick it in the toaster, and take care of other things in the kitchen while it cooks. It’s perfect for college kids and people with very little time to spare.
Each bag can be reused up to 50 times—that’s a lot of grilled cheese! They can also be used for other foods like leftover pizza and sandwiches. Just remember not to try out internet cooking hacks until a professional has tried them out first.
Know of something you think we should cover? Email us at tips@mentalfloss.com.
October 7, 2016 – 6:30am
8 Money Mantras That Financial Planners Always Follow
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Want to know how to really make your bank accounts grow? Copy what financial planners do. We grilled real financial planners to find out how they manage their own money.
1. PAY YOURSELF FIRST BY TRANSFERRING YOUR SAVINGS TO A DIFFERENT ACCOUNT.
“I always take my savings from my paycheck the day I’m paid and I transfer it to my savings account. The money is out of sight and out of mind. It is very rare to find a person who can’t spend more money if you give it to them. By taking the money out at first, you remove the temptation to spend those savings, and have a savings process in place.”
– Robert Finley, principal at Virtue Asset Management, a fee-only independent advisor serving the greater-Chicago area
2. PAY ALL YOUR BILLS EVERY PAYCHECK.
“I use credit cards to acquire the points from spending. By paying the credit cards off every two weeks [rather than once a month], I make sure I never forget a payment, and it helps keep my balances lower for reporting purposes. This process of paying bills every paycheck prevents missing bills or late payments. It also allows me to have a better handle on cash flow, because I am reviewing my financial picture every two weeks.”
– Finley
3. DON’T USE A DEBIT CARD OR ATM MACHINES.
“I use cash whenever possible, and I don’t want to have to pay the ATM transaction fees. I also believe I am in better control and am more mindful of my spending when I am using cash. Cash purchases make it feel very real.”
– Anne Brennan Malec, licensed clinical psychologist and financial therapist in Chicago
4. REVIEW ALL CHARGES.
“When I do use credit cards, I always review every charge to make sure no fraud has occurred and to bring an accountability to my spending—to make me aware of how much I spent in the last month on food, clothing, transportation. Awareness is the first step in the change process. I also review my Mint account to be sure I am spending within my budget.”
– Malec
5. SUBSCRIBE TO FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES.
“Food and dining expenses can quickly add up each month, and will-power is a muscle that can tire at the end of the day. It is not uncommon to have the very best intentions to plan to stop at the grocery store after work and pick up some items for dinner, but because you are tired and hungry, you decide instead to order in. In order to defend against this very human impulse, I began to subscribe to Blue Apron, Home Chef, and Hello Fresh. These allow customers to order meals in advance, and deliver the complete food kit to your home. The benefit is that you are no longer faced with the 4 p.m. dilemma of what to make for dinner.”
– Malec
6. PAY DOWN YOUR MORTGAGE BEFORE RETIREMENT.
“Not only is this one less payment to make, but it’s psychologically liberating.”
– Marianela Collado, certified public accountant with Tobias Financial Advisors in Florida
7. MAKE THE KIDS PAY.
“Kids should have some skin in the game when it comes to college funding. This enables college kids to be vested in their degree versus not really appreciating the cost going into their education. It creates a sense of responsibility on them to be focused, to finish on time, and to make sure they have a degree that will enable them to get a job to pay off student loans, or to pay while in school.”
– Collado
8. SEPARATE DISCRETIONARY AND FIXED SPENDING.
“We have a set amount of cash that we use every two weeks for what we call “discretionary items”—groceries, kids activities, entertainment, and gas. This helps us keep our spending in check because these are the areas where we can get into trouble. For these, we put the money onto our debit card, and [use our bank’s app to monitor the balance]. If the money isn’t available, we don’t go out to eat. All of my fixed bills (mortgage, phone, insurance, TV, etc.) are paid on the last of the month out of one separate account.”
– Paul Sydlansky, certified financial planner and founder of Lake Road Advisors in Binghamton, New York
October 6, 2016 – 2:00pm
Amazon is Running Some Great Thursday Deals
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amazon / istock
As a recurring feature, our team combs the Web and shares some amazing Amazon deals we’ve turned up. Here’s what caught our eye today, October 6.
Mental Floss has affiliate relationships with certain retailers, including Amazon, and may receive a small percentage of any sale. But we only get commission on items you buy and don’t return, so we’re only happy if you’re happy. Good luck deal hunting!
GADGETS
Thumbprint Security USB Reader for $11.99 (list price $39.99)
AmazonBasics Apple Certified Lightning to USB Cable – 6 Feet (1.8 Meters) – White for $7.99
Newmen P012 2.4 GHz Wireless Laser Presenter for $17.99 (list price $39.99)
Amco Rub Away Bar for $7.50 (list price $25.99)
Seiko Men’s SSC001 Alarm Chronograph Dress Watch for $149.18 (list price $325.00)
KITCHEN
Oggi Pro Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cocktail Shaker and Bar Tool Set for $31.99 (list price $39.95)
Tovolo Sandwich Shaper – Plane and Clouds for $4.49 (list price $4.99)
Buy 5 Select Prime Pantry Items, Get Free Shipping on Your Prime Pantry Box
Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 2-Quart Covered Saucepan for $18.42 (list price $50.00)
Lodge L8CF3 Covered Chicken Fryer, Black, 3-Quart for $23.49 (list price $34.84)
Fit & Fresh Classic Insulated Lunch Bag Kit with Reusable Containers for $18.92 (list price $29.99)
Wilton Trim ‘n Turn ULTRA Cake Turntable Rotating Cake Stand, 307-301 for $15.62 (list price $31.18)
Stoneware Ramekins – White, Set of 6, 5 oz. for $19.99 (list price $39.99)
Gourmet Stainless Steel Santoku Chef Knife Set 3 Piece for $17.99 (list price $37.99)
Chef Vinny Professional Silicone Baking Mat (Set of 2) for $13.50 (list price $19.99)
3M Aqua-Pure Under Sink Water Filtration System – Model AP-DWS1000 for $212.16 (list price $582.80)
Cuisinart DFP-14BCWN Food Processor, White/Brushed Stainless Steel for $170.00 (list price $189.95)
Oster 6811 6-Cup Glass Jar 12-Speed Blender, Brushed Nickel for $38.01 (list price $49.99)
Hamilton Beach 25478 Breakfast Sandwich Maker with Timer, Silver for $29.00 (list price $34.99)
Magic Bullet Blender, Small, Silver (11 PIECE SET) for $37.98 (list price $49.99)
HOME
Winix PlasmaWave 5300 Air Cleaner Model for $139.49 (list price $199.99)
WE Furniture 35″ Glass Media Storage Tower, Espresso for $124.06 (list price $139.06)
Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow, Ivory for $48.99 (list price $69.95)
Dreamfoam Bedding Arctic Dreams 10-Inch Cooling Gel Mattress, Queen for $269.99 (list price $799.99)
John Louis Home Standard Closet Shelving System, Red Mahogany for $186.57 (list price $264.99)
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber, 4-Count (Pack of 2) for $11.48 (list price $21.01)
Altra Core Night Stand, Rodeo Oak for $34.00 (list price $44.15)
Fitueyes TT207001MB Swivel TV Stand and Mount for 32-65 Inch for $99.99 (list price $179.99)
HEALTH AND BEAUTY
John Frieda Salon Shape 1.5 Inch Hot Air Brush for $29.99 (list price $39.99)
Wahl Elite Pro High Performance Haircut Kit #79602 for $49.97 (list price $82.99)
Simply Straight Ceramic Hair Straightening Brush, Black/Pink for $29.90 (list price $39.99)
Infiniti Pro by Conair Curl Secret, Plum Purple for $79.99 (list price $119.99)
Revlon Pro Collection One Step Hair Dryer and Styler for $38.24 (list price $49.99)
Remington AC9096 Silk Ceramic Ionic AC Professional Hair Dryer, Red for $27.50 (list price $39.99)
Garnier Skincare Cleanser The Refreshing Remover Cleansing Towelette for $4.79 (list price $5.99)
Deva Curl Ultra Creamy Daily Conditioner, One Condition, 32-Ounces for $30.99 (list price $39.96)
OGX Conditioner, Hydrating TeaTree Mint, 13oz for $5.19 (list price $7.99)
It’s a 10 Miracle Volumizing Leave-in Lite Conditioner, 10 Ounce for $22.57 (list price $39.99)
Batiste Dry Shampoo, Clean and Classic, 6.76 Fl Oz for $8.95 (list price $9.99)
Dove Men+Care 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner, Anti Dandruff 12 Ounce for $3.59 (list price $5.39)
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo, 5.3 Ounce for $19.50 (list price $24.00)
TIGI Bed Head Resurrection Shampoo/Conditioner (25.36oz) Set for $18.69 (list price $24.99)
Old Spice Classic Scent After Shave 4.25 Fl Oz for $7.90 (list price $9.99)
Mueller Fitted Right Wrist, Black, Small/medium for $12.97 (list price $16.99)
Kirkland Signature USP Ibuprofen, 2 Bottles 200 mg of 500 Tablets Each for $9.41 (list price $12.99)
OFFICE, SCHOOL, AND CRAFTS
AmazonBasics Twin Pocket Letter size Folders (25 Pack) for $6.29 (list price $7.49)
DYMO LetraTag Plus LT-100T label maker for $17.49 (list price $25.49)
Scotch Magic Tape, 1/2 x 450 Inches (104) for $1.99 (list price $3.49)
5.11 Tactical 1 Day Rush Backpack, Black, 1 Size for $110.39 (list price $163.05)
Texas Instruments TI-1795 SV Standard Function Calculator for $8.99 (list price $10.29)
12 Boxes Crayola® 4-ct. Crayon Party Favor Pack for $8.87 (list price $14.99)
Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted Tips, Pack of 3 (FRHBFMBP3) for $13.58 (list price $22.20)
Cross Edge Capless Gel Ink Pen, Jet Black (AT0555-2) for $22.99 (list price $47.00)
Avery Economy Binder with 2 Inch Round Ring, Black, 1 Binder (4501) for $2.99 (list price $10.95)
OUTDOORS, GARDEN, AND SPORTS
New Balance Men’s 311 Lifestyle Fashion Sneaker for $30.88 (list price $64.95)
Contigo AUTOSPOUT Addison Reusable Water Bottle, 24oz, Ocean for $9.99 (list price $19.99)
Coleman Soft Backpack Cooler for $27.24 (list price $29.99)
Hynes Eagle Vintage Canvas Leather Backpack Rucksack (Coffee) for $39.99 (list price $119.99)
Yard Butler IBPL-6 Bulb and Garden Planter for $24.99 (list price $32.83)
Black & Decker TR117 3.2-Amp Hedge Trimmer, 17-Inch for $33.24 (list price $49.99)
Great States 204-14 Hand Reel 14 Inch Push Lawn Mower for $50.52 (list price $87.90)
Kingcamp Lightweight 3-4 Season Envelope Sleeping Bag – Green for $29.99 (list price $59.99)
Mosquito Repellent Bracelets (Pack of 12) for $15.77 (list price $29.99)
Radiant Saunas BSA6310 Rejuvenator Portable Sauna for $172.89 (list price $181.99)
Repel 100 Insect Repellent, 4 oz. Pump Spray, Single Bottle for $5.59 (list price $10.40)
Coleman Guide Series Powerhouse Dual Fuel Stove for $129.99 (list price $179.99)
Coleman CM6007 Multitool (3.5-Inch Closed) for $9.39 (list price $17.99)
Weber 10020 Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill for $29.99 (list price $39.99)
Nike Mojo Double Dozen White Golf Balls for $24.98 (list price $26.00)
ELECTRONICS
(If you want to grab one of these Prime member deals, you can do it with a free Prime trial.)
Amazon Tap – Alexa-Enabled Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $99.99 (list price $129.99)
All-New Echo Dot (2nd Generation) preorder – Black for $49.99
Samsung CF591 Series Curved 27-Inch FHD Monitor (C27F591) for $279.00 (list price $349.99)
TOOLS
Armor All 2.5 Gallon, 2 Peak HP, Utility Wet/Dry Vacuum, AA255 for $34.87 (list price $49.99)
Bosch GMS120 Digital Multi-Scanner for $63.87 (list price $69.99)
Frost King V73/9H Indoor Shrink Window Kit 42-Inch by 62-Inch, Clear for $18.98 (list price $22.90)
Zinsser 98014 4-Inch Long-Handle Scraper Tool for $7.28 (list price $18.45)
Black & Decker BDCDMT1206KITC Matrix 6 Tool Combo Kit with Case for $149.99 (list price $191.58)
Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter [31-000699] for $8.03 (list price $9.81)
TP-Link Smart Plug, Wi-Fi, Works with Alexa, Control Your Devices from anywhere (HS100) for $29.99
Bagster 3CUYD Dumpster in a Bag for $24.19 (list price $29.95)
Gerber Suspension Multi-Plier [22-01471] for $22.05 (list price $49.32)
IRWIN VISE-GRIP Multi-Tool Wire Stripper/Crimper/Cutter, 2078309 for $12.57 (list price $19.56)
Sperry Instruments GFI6302 GFCI Outlet Tester for $7.99 (list price $13.99)
Black & Decker 71-081 Double Ended Screwdriving Bit Set, 10-Piece for $3.97 (list price $5.06)
Shop-Vac 5986000 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet Dry Vacuum for $62.99 (list price $107.95)
Dremel 7300-PT 4.8V Pet Nail Grooming Tool for $24.23 (list price $45.98)
October 6, 2016 – 12:41pm
Amazon Product Id:
B004ZCT1M2