Joey Logano has seen and heard it all when it comes to his NASCAR Cup Series championship win this season, the third of his career. “Not a true champion,” and “Mickey Mouse” are just a couple of things fired Logano’s way in the aftermath of his victory in the season finale at Phoenix. Despite winning four races, three coming during the 10-race postseason, Logano finished the season with an average finish of 17.1, the worst of any driver in a championship-winning season. The legitimacy of both Logano’s championship, as well as the playoff system, has come into question as a result. But at this point, Logano doesn’t give much of a you know what. Speaking with Kenny Wallace on the latest “ Kenny Conversation ,” Logano called out his critics, telling them to “kiss my a**.” The “ @Kenny_Wallace Conversation” with @joeylogano is up now on YouTube! The now 3-time #nascar cup champ told some awesome stories & defended his title vs some of the online “haters” pic.twitter.com/E4S6l2tnPw Joey Logano sounds off on those questioning legitimacy of NASCAR Cup Series championship “The playoffs are here because everyone complained about it being a full season for one and it wasn’t exciting enough,” Logano said. “... Now, we got a system which I think is like freaking awesome. I love it. As a race fan, it is intense, it is pressure packed, it is do or die, people are willing to do the craziest things to try to win and we’re gonna complain about that now too? C’mon guys. I don’t really know how to explain how frustrated I get when I hear some of the stuff. I’m on social media, I see it — not a true champion, Mickey Mouse all this stuff — bottom line is we won three of the last 10 races. Pretty solid. We had five wins on the season, I kind of count Richmond a little bit even though we didn’t win but that was pretty dang close. The guy that wrecked me didn’t win the race either, so I don’t know. “I look at that like that’s almost a six-win season. That’s solid. To say we’re not a true champion, you better get checked out. We showed up when it mattered the most and that is the same as any other playoff system in any other sport. ... You can have a great regular season, and it will set you up better for the playoffs. It definitely does, there’s no doubt. Win the regular season championship, you get 15 points. You win more races, you get five each one. You win a stage, you get one point. Joey Logano’s even year magic continues in 2024 “All of that matters a lot because there’s a three-race series. Those guys showed up. The 45 [Tyler Reddick], the 5 [Kyle Larson], the 11 [Denny Hamlin] — those guys showed up with like 30 more points than me in every round. We had to overcome that. We started behind all of them. The facts are that they didn’t have a good playoff. If they didn’t have those playoff points, they’re not getting to the Round of 8. The 45 barely made it in at the Roval. If he didn’t have the playoff points, he’s not in. “So, my point is, it helped them get all the way to the Championship 4 when they did not have a solid nine races before that at all. We beat all of them, pretty much. I’m not taking anything away from them, but my point is the regular season matters so much, and we had to play behind the eight ball the whole time. We still had the opportunity to win the championship even though we didn’t have a great regular season. But we got hot when it mattered, we won the races that mattered and we won the championship because of that. And if you don’t like that, you can kiss my a**. That’s how I feel about it.” Logano has simply mastered the elimination style playoff format, adopted back in 2014. He joined elite company with his latest triumph, becoming just the 10th driver to win three or more Cup Series championships. This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.
Article content Ahead of its launch here in North America, the Kia brand has hauled the covers off its facelifted all-electric EV6 GT — and it copies more than a bit of homework from its Hyundai cousin. Sharing some mechanicals with that sibling marque’s Ioniq 5 N , the new EV6 GT can reportedly wring 601 horsepower out of its dual-motor powertrain, and is able to boost that sum to 645 ponies on demand with a temporary boost function. If that sounds familiar, it’s because this is right on top of the N. Same goes for torque, rated at 546 lb-ft, or 568 lb-ft when the boost button is mashed. Also in line with its cousin, the EV6 GT adopts a Virtual Gear Shift system said to be “borrowed from Hyundai.” Whether it brings all the goodies from that brand – entertaining noises, manufactured but well-executed ICE-like harshness, modulation of torque – and incorporates them with Hyundai’s level of success will remain to be seen until we climb behind the wheel. While adding an ‘N’ to the Ioniq 5 brings a host of visual cues to distinguish it from workaday trims, choosing to append the ‘GT’ moniker to an EV6 creates a machine with less ocular drama. The wheels shown on this Korean-market example appear to be unique to the GT, as does the skiff of lime green paint on its brake calipers and interior trim. There is also a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it massaging of the GT’s front fascia — in addition to the revised headlamps which are present on all trims for this new model year. This writer prefers the expressive Hyundai over this relatively restrained Kia, though it is no secret that rafts of other customers do not feel the same way. (Your author also preferred the last-gen Honda Civic Type R with its outrageous details and boy-racer wing, so there’s that. Perhaps it is for that reason I am not always in charge of decorating decisions in my own home.) While the 2026 Kia EV6 GT is already available to order in its home market, it isn’t expected to show up on books in North America until sometime in the first half of next year. Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on Instagram , Facebook and X to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling
Funding fuels production ramp-up at U.S.-based facility, bringing advanced lead detection and smart home technology to market SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Notation Labs Inc. announced today the successful completion of a $2 million credit facility to scale up production of its innovative QwelTM smart home device. This funding provides the company with the financial flexibility and liquidity needed to expand manufacturing capacity and meet increasing customer demand as it prepares for market launch. The company has already initiated component procurement and manufacturing, including the order of 20,000 circuit boards from U.S.-based suppliers. Final assembly of the initial Qwel units will take place at the company's facility in Phoenix, Arizona . What Is Qwel TM ? QwelTM is a cutting-edge leak detection and prevention system designed to safeguard homes with advanced AI and machine learning technology. Its highly accurate sensors monitor critical factors like water pressure, temperature, flow rate and humidity to provide comprehensive protection. For more information about QwelTM or to stay updated on its release, visit https://www.qwel.io/ . About Notation Labs, Inc.: Notation Labs designs, engineers, and manufactures innovative smart water solutions to deliver high-quality products that empower homeowners. With a suite of advanced technologies, the company helps educate consumers on water conservation and equips them to make sustainable choices in their everyday lives. Driven by a mission to protect water resources for future generations, Notation Labs is at the forefront of water conservation efforts, leveraging breakthroughs in AI, machine learning, and Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The company is committed to making cutting-edge, water-saving devices that are not only highly effective but also affordable and accessible to households worldwide. By combining engineering excellence with a focus on sustainability, Notation Labs is redefining how consumers manage and conserve water. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/notation-labs-secures-2-million-credit-facility-to-accelerate-production-of-qwel-a-cutting-edge-lead-detection-and-prevention-system-302328185.html SOURCE Notation Labs, Inc.Putin’s regime may be closer to a Soviet collapse than we think
NEW YORK (AP) — Angelina Jolie never expected to hit all the notes. But finding the breath of Maria Callas was enough to bring things out of Jolie that she didn’t even know were in her. “All of us, we really don’t realize where things land in our body over a lifetime of different experiences and where we hold it to protect ourselves,” Jolie said in a recent interview. “We hold it in our stomachs. We hold it in our chest. We breathe from a different place when we’re nervous or we’re sad. “The first few weeks were the hardest because my body had to open and I had to breathe again,” she adds. “And that was a discovery of how much I wasn’t.” In Pablo Larraín’s “Maria,” which Netflix released in theaters Wednesday before it begins streaming on Dec. 11, Jolie gives, if not the performance of her career, then certainly of her last decade. Beginning with 2010’s “In the Land of Blood and Honey,” Jolie has spent recent years directing films while prioritizing raising her six children. “So my choices for quite a few years were whatever was smart financially and short. I worked very little the last eight years,” says Jolie. “And I was kind of drained. I couldn’t for a while.” RELATED COVERAGE Movie Review: Angelina Jolie is graceful and sharp as opera star Maria Callas in ‘Maria’ ★ ★ ★ ★ Angelina Jolie dazzles Venice Film Festival with ‘Maria,’ a biopic about opera legend Maria Callas But her youngest kids are now 16. And for the first time in years, Jolie is back in the spotlight, in full movie-star mode. Her commanding performance in “Maria” seems assured of bringing Jolie her third Oscar nomination. (She won supporting actress in 2000 for “Girl, Interrupted.”) For an actress whose filmography might lack a signature movie, “Maria” may be Jolie’s defining role. Jolie’s oldest children, Maddox and Pax, worked on the set of the film. There, they saw a version of their mother they hadn’t seen before. “They had certainly seen me sad in my life. But I don’t cry in front of my children like that,” Jolie says of the emotion Callas dredged up in her. “That was a moment in realizing they were going to be with me, side by side, in this process of really understanding the depth of some of the pain I carry.” Jolie, who met a reporter earlier this fall at the Carlyle Hotel, didn’t speak in any detail of that pain. But it was hard not to sense some it had to do with her lengthy and ongoing divorce from Brad Pitt, with whom she had six children. Just prior to meeting, a judge allowed Pitt’s remaining claim against Jolie, over the French winery Château Miraval, to proceed. On Monday, a judge ruled that Pitt must disclose documents Jolie’s legal team have sought that they allege include “communications concerning abuse.” Pitt has denied ever being abusive. The result of the U.S. presidential election was also just days old, though Jolie — special envoy for the United Nations Refugee Agency from 2012 to 2022 – wasn’t inclined to talk politics. Asked about Donald Trump’s win , she responded, “Global storytelling is essential,” before adding: “That’s what I’m focusing on. Listening. Listening to the voices of people in my country and around the world.” Balancing such things — reports concerning her private life, questions that accompany someone of her fame — is a big reason why Jolie is so suited to the part of Callas. The film takes place during the American-born soprano’s final days. (She died of a heart attack at 53 in 1977.) Spending much of her time in her grand Paris apartment, Callas hasn’t sung publicly in years; she’s lost her voice. Imprisoned by the myth she’s created, Callas is redefining herself and her voice. An instructor tells her he wants to hear “Callas, not Maria.” The movie, of course, is more concerned with Maria. It’s Larrain’s third portrait of 20th century female icon, following “Jackie” (with Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy) and “Spencer” (with Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana). As Callas, Jolie is wonderfully regal — a self-possessed diva who deliciously, in lines penned by screenwriter Steven Knight, spouts lines like: “I took liberties all my life and the world took liberties with me.” Asked if she identified with that line, Jolie answered, “Yeah, yeah.” Then she took a long pause. “I’m sure people will read a lot into this and there’s probably a lot I could say but don’t want to feed into,” Jolie eventually continues. “I know she was a public person because she loved her work. And I’m a public person because I love my work, not because I like being public. I think some people are more comfortable with a public life, and I’ve never been fully comfortable with it.” When Larraín first approached Jolie about the role, he screened “Spencer” for her. That film, like “Jackie” and “Maria,” eschews a biopic approach to instead intimately focus on a specific moment of crisis. Larraín was convinced Jolie was meant for the role. “I felt she could have that magnetism,” Larraín says. “The enigmatic diva that’s come to a point in her life where she has to take control of her life again. But the weight of her experience, of her music, of her singing, everything, is on her back. And she carries that. It’s someone who’s already loaded with a life that’s been intense.” “There’s a loneliness that we both share,” Jolie says. “That’s not necessarily a bad thing. I think people can be alone and lonely sometimes, and that can be part of who they are.” Larraín, the Chilean filmmaker, grew up in Santiago going to the opera, and he has long yearned to bring its full power and majesty to a movie. In Callas, he heard something that transfixed him. “I hear something near perfection, but at the same time, it’s something that’s about to be destroyed,” Larraín says. “So it’s as fragile and as strong as possible. It lives in both extremes. That’s why it’s so moving. I hear a voice that’s about to be broken, but it doesn’t.” In Callas’ less perfect moments singing in the film, Larraín fuses archival recordings of Callas with Jolie’s own voice. Some mix of the two runs throughout “Maria.” “Early in the process,” Jolie says, “I discovered that you can’t fake-sing opera.” Jolie has said she never sang before, not even karaoke. But the experience has left her with a newfound appreciation of opera and its healing properties. “I wonder if it’s something you lean into as you get older,” Jolie says. “Maybe your depth of pain is bigger, your depth of loss is bigger, and that sound in opera meets that, the enormity of it.” If Larraín’s approach to “Maria” is predicated on an unknowingness, he’s inclined to say something similar about his star. “Because of media and social media, some people might think that they know a lot about Angelina,” he says. “Maria, I read nine biographies of her. I saw everything. I read every interview. I made this movie. But I don’t think I would be capable of telling you who she was us. So if there’s an element in common, it’s that. They carry an enormous amount of mystery. Even if you think that you know them, you don’t.” Whether “Maria” means more acting in the future for Jolie, she’s not sure. “There’s not a clear map,” she says. Besides, Jolie isn’t quite ready to shake Callas. “When you play a real person, you feel at some point that they become your friend,” says Jolie. “Right now, it’s still a little personal. It’s funny, I’ll be at a premiere or I’ll walk into a room and someone will start blaring her music for fun, but I have this crazy internal sense memory of dropping to my knees and crying.”The social media industry is fiercely competitive. As President-elect Donald Trump nears his inauguration, could he sell his stock in Trump Media & Technology Group Corp DJT ? The Competition: Trump Media’s Truth Social faces competition from the usual suspects, Meta Platforms -owned Facebook and Instagram. It also is a competitor of Elon Musk ‘s X, formerly known as Twitter. Musk is a close ally and benefactor of Trump’s campaign. Bluesky , a newcomer on the social media scene, is making headlines. The Jack Dorsey -founded app saw a large influx of users following Trump’s win in November, apparently those displeased with Musk’s leadership of X in recent years. Could Trump Sell?: Trump is technically able to sell his stake in Truth Social ahead of his inauguration. The billionaire owns 115 million shares in the Sarasota, Florida-based company, placing his total position at around $3.9 billion. The company has 216,924,448 shares outstanding. Trump has denied the rumors of possible share sales, calling them “fake and untrue.” Shares of the company rose following Trump’s statement . While Trump Media has a market capitalization of $7.7 billion, it reported $1 million in revenue last quarter on a $19.2 million net loss. The loss includes $12.1 million in legal fees and $3.9 million in research and development spending, according to the company. The company has a book value of over $800,000,000; most of its assets are in cash and short-term investments, proceeds from issuing common stock. Also Read: Chinese Stocks Sink On Weak Trade Data Amid Rush ‘To Get Goods To The US’ Before Tariffs Photo via Shutterstock. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Stojakovic, Wilkinson lead short-handed Cal past Sacramento State, 83-77 in Cal Classic
Luigi Mangione had the whole world at his fingertips. Until, authorities said, he pulled out a 3-D printed pistol Dec. 4 and shot Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Health, and fled to Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he was arrested at a McDonald’s restaurant. Now, Mangione is sitting in an isolation cell in SCI Huntingdon , a state prison located in the heart of the Appalachian region in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. On Thursday, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections released an image of a cell “similar to” Mangione’s cell. Officials said the photo of an empty 15-by-6-foot prison cell shares a concrete wall with Mangione’s cell. It features a desk and stool; sink attached to a toilet; and an elevated concrete bed with a pad atop it. Suspect Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Janet Klingbeil via AP) AP He’s being held on a firearms and forgery charges after police say he provided a false identity to Altoona officers. He has been denied bail as authorities work to get him back to New York to face murder charges in connection with Thompson’s death. He is fighting extradition, meaning he could be a guest of the Commonwealth for at least two more weeks. Mangione has been confined to his cell but will eventually get time outside his cell, according to Maria Bivens, department of corrections spokesperson. “That plan is being worked on right now. All state inmates are afforded time outside of their cells, even if they are [at] a higher custody level,” Bivens said. Mangione’s cell is situated in one of 14 housing units at the prison, according to the DOC. He is unable to see or interact with any other people incarcerated in his unit. Stories by Jonathan Bergmueller Dauphin County agency yanks contracts from political consultant after controversies Dauphin County polling place moved out of firehouse mired in theft, racial discrimination allegations What Luigi Mangione’s life looks like inside Pennsylvania prisonNITDA flags TikTok, X over tax fillings in Nigeria
Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trollingBashar al-Assad's government has been accused of carrying out torture, rape, summary executions and other abuses since since Syria's civil war started in 2011. UN investigators have said that accountability must be taken at the highest level after the downfall of the hardline ruler on Sunday. Here is what we know about the extent of the abuses committed: In 2013 a former Syrian army photographer known by the codename "Caesar" fled the country, taking with him some 55,000 graphic images taken between 2011 and 2013. The photos, authenticated by experts, show corpses tortured and starved to death in Syrian prisons. Some people had their eyes gouged out. The photos showed emaciated bodies, people with wounds on the back or stomach, and also a picture of hundreds of corpses in a shed surrounded by plastic bags used for burials. Assad's Syrian government said only that the pictures were "political". But Caesar testified to a US Congress committee and his photographs inspired a 2020 US law which imposed economic sanctions on Syria and judicial proceedings in Europe against Assad's entourage. In Germany and Sweden eight people suspected of crime against humanity were arrested in July in an operation codenamed "Caesar". Germany, the Netherlands and France have since 2022 convicted several top officials from the Syrian intelligence service and militias. UN investigators say they have lists with the names of 4,000 government officials and operatives responsible for abuses. Human Rights Watch (HRW) in 2012 spoke of a "torture archipelago" in which the "use of electricity, burning with car battery acid, sexual assault and humiliation, the pulling of fingernails, and mock execution" were practised in government prisons. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in 2022 more than 100,000 people had died in the prisons since 2011. In 2023, the UN's top court, the International Court of Justice, ordered Syria to stop "inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". In 2020, seven Syrian refugees filed a complaint in Germany saying that they had been victims of torture and sexual violence, including rape, electric shocks on the genitals, forced nudity or forced abortion between 2011 and 2013. The UN said in 2018 there had been systmatic rape and sexual violence against civilians by soldiers or pro-Assad militias. It said an investigation had found rebels had committed similar crimes, but fewer. On November 25, 2024, the Syrian Human Rights Network (SNHR) said there had been at least 11,553 incidents of sexual violence against women, including girls aged under 18, by the warring parties since March 2011. Some 8,024 could be blamed on the Assad government and the others mainly on the jihadist Islamic State. In 2016 UN investigators said Syrian authorities were responsible for acts which came down to "extermination" and could be compared to "crimes against humanity". It pointed to the Saydnaya prison outside Damascus, which was described in 2017 by Amnesty International as a human slaughter house carrying out a "policy of extermination". The United States said there was a "crematorium" at the prison which was used to dispose of the bodies of thousands of inmates. In 2022 the Syrian Observatory for Human Righs said around 30,000 people had been killed at Saydnaya, some of them after being tortured. In April 2020, the chemical weapons watchdog OPCW accused the Syrian army of chemical weapons attacks in Latamne in northern Syria in 2017. In November 2023 France issued international arrest warrants against Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher and two generals on suspicion of complicity in the chemical attacks in August 2013 near Damascus, which according to US intelligence left 1,000 dead. Assad's forces have also been accused of using sarin gas on the rebel town of Khan Sheikhun in April 2017, and also of chlorine gas attacks. Assad's government denied using chemical weapons. Israel says it has staged strikes on some chemical weapons sites this week to stop supplies falling into the hands of extremists. acm-lc/jmy/tw
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Gretchen McKay | (TNS) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PITTSBURGH — Many Americans consider social media a scourge, but for a home cook, it can be a fun and informative place to get help deciding what to eat. Sure, some of the recipes would-be influencers recommend are in fact pretty abominable — check out @chefreactions on TikTok, Instagram or X for many, many examples — but I have stumbled across some pretty good recipes on many occasions, too. Related Articles Restaurants Food and Drink | In season: The universal joy of carrots Restaurants Food and Drink | Don’t shun pinot grigio! The good versions of wines you think are bad Restaurants Food and Drink | Quick Fix: Horseradish Crusted Snapper with Arugula Pasta Restaurants Food and Drink | 3 recipes to help you through the busy holiday season Restaurants Food and Drink | Roasted orange delivers big flavor in this smoky chicken traybake One that’s been going viral for a while and but only recently caught my eye shines a spotlight on the creamy, tomatoey dish known as Marry Me chicken. There are probably as many recipes for Marry Me chicken on social media as there are cooks. (Delish claims to have created the video recipe for the original dish, also known as Tuscan chicken, in 2016.) But in my opinion, the best variations hang their chef’s hat on a sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and cream. Yum! This rich and luxurious entree is a definite step above the “engagement” chicken that caused a similar stir when it made its debut in Glamour magazine in 2004. That proposal-worthy recipe — saved for posterity in the 2011 cookbook “100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know: Engagement Chicken and 99 Other Fabulous Dishes to Get You Everything You Want in Life” — featured a whole chicken roasted with lemon and herbs. Awesome for sure, but not nearly as swoon worthy. I’ve been married for a very long time, so I’m not looking for a dish that will get me engaged. But who wouldn’t want applause when they put dinner on the table? That’s how Delish’s original recipe made it into the latest installment of “Dinner for Four for $25.” Usually when I’m building these economical meals, I do all my shopping in one store. This time, I shopped over the course of a weekend at some of my favorite haunts to see if that made a difference. (And no, I didn’t factor in the cost of gas, but maybe should have!) First stop after downing my Saturday morning latte and Nutella mele at a street-side table at Colangelo’s in the Strip District: Wholey’s Market, where I found boneless chicken breast at the bargain price of $3.89 per pound. I then crossed the street and headed down the block to Pennsylvania Macaroni Co., where I found several varieties of sun-dried tomatoes to chose from. I went with a jar of Ponti sun-dried cherry tomatoes for $5.09 — a definite splurge when your budget is only $25, but an ingredient I knew would deliver plenty of flavor. At Aldi, I found a bag of five huge lemons for $3.89, or 78 cents apiece, and a nice package of fresh broccoli for $2.28. A bargain, considering I would only use about two-thirds of it. The German supermarket chain known for its low prices and no-frills shopping experience (you have to deposit a quarter to get a shopping cart) also had butter — a main ingredient in my sandwich cookie dessert — on sale for $3.99 a pound. A bag of powdered sugar was pretty cheap, too, at just $2.09 for a two-pound bag. “Shopping” my pantry for ingredients I always have on hand, including garlic, olive oil, spices, rice, molasses and vanilla, once again helped keep costs down. Total bill: $24.38, or 62 cents under budget. Not bad when you consider the homemade dessert recipe makes more oatmeal sandwich cookies than a family can/should eat at one sitting. Marry Me Chicken PG tested Sun-dried tomatoes could be considered a splurge item because even a tiny jar is expensive, but their concentrated, sweet and tangy tomato goodness add so much flavor to a dish! They are certainly the star of this chicken dish that has been making the rounds on social media platforms. Some say the entree is so good, you’ll get a marriage proposal out of it. At any rate, the Parmesan cream sauce that gets spooned on top of the chicken and rice will certainly make your diners swoon. This original recipe from Delish.com is a pretty easy dish to get on the table in quick fashion. Just remember to use a dry pot holder to take the pan out of the oven because it will be very hot; I very stupidly used a damp dish towel and now have another cooking scar. 4 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 3/4 cup chicken broth 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan Fresh basil, torn, for serving, optional Cooked rice, for serving Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Generously season chicken with salt and black pepper and cook, turning halfway through, until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate. In same skillet over medium heat, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Stir in garlic, thyme and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in broth, tomatoes, cream, and Parmesan; season with salt. Bring to a simmer, then return chicken and any accumulated juices to skillet. Transfer skillet to oven. Bake chicken until cooked through and juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a knife, 10-12 minutes. Arrange chicken on a platter. Spoon sauce over. Top with basil, if using, and serve with cooked rice. Serves 4. — delish.com Broccoli with Lemon PG tested Broccoli is a reliable veggie when you need a little something extra to round out a meal and don’t want to spend a fortune. Here, it’s blanched until crisp-tender and then tossed with lemon juice and zest and a pinch of red pepper flakes. I used lemon olive oil (already on hand) for an extra burst of citrus flavor. 1 large bunch broccoli, separated into florets 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter 1 clove garlic, minced Juice and zest of 1/2 lemon 1 pinch (or two) red pepper flakes Flaky salt and freshly ground ground black pepper, to taste Place broccolini in a large skillet with about 2 inches of water; bring to a boil and cook until bright green, 1-2 minutes. Drain. Heat olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic and cook until golden and fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Add broccoli; cook and stir until heated through, 2-3 minutes. Squeeze lemon juice and zest over broccoli and season with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Serves 4. — Gretchen McKay, Post-Gazette Oatmeal Cream Cookies PG tested Remember how if you were lucky when you were a kid you got an individually wrapped Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pie in your lunchbox? These soft and chewy oatmeal cookies sandwiched with vanilla buttercream taste exactly the same. Actually, they’re better because they’re not made with corn syrup and artificial flavorings, but rather real butter and brown sugar. It’s important to let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a rack. Otherwise they will fall apart. The icing is very sweet, so you might want to reduce the amount of powdered sugar. For cookies 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup packed light brown sugar 1 tablespoon molasses 1 large egg, room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt For filling 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 3 cups powdered sugar 2 tablespoons heavy cream 2 teaspoons vanilla Pinch of salt Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line two sheet pans with parchment paper. In stand mixer outfitted with whisk attachment add butter, brown sugar and molasses and beat on low speed until combined. Gradually increase speed to medium-high and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl with spatula, then add egg and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until combined. Add flour, oats, baking soda and salt and beat on low speed until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Use a 1/2 -ounce cookie scoop tor tablespoon measure to portion out equal amounts of dough. Roll the dough in your hands to smooth the edges, then place 2 inches apart on prepared pans. Bake until cookies have puffed up and are set and firm around the edges but still somewhat soft in the middle, 9-11 minutes. Remove sheet pans from oven and allow cookies to rest on the pans for 5 minutes, then use a metal spatula to transfer cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely. Once cookies have cooled, make filling. In stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter, confectioners’ sugar, cream, vanilla and salt. Beat on low speed, gradually increasing the speed to high, until creamy and fully incorporated, about 45 seconds. If filling is dry, add a small splash or two of cream. Assemble cookies. Using a small offset spatula or butter knife to spread about 2 tablespoons of filling onto the bottom side of one cookie, then place second cookie on top to sandwich. Repeat with remaining cookies and serve. Makes 16 sandwich cookies. —”Sweet Tooth” by Sarah Fennel (Clarkson Potter, $35) ©2024 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.