Author: openjargon

• Ukrainian forces carried out a large attack on Novorossiysk, a key city for Russian oil exports.
• Russia reacted to the attack by launching missiles at its own buildings, a Ukrainian security source said.
• The attack on Tuesday marked Ukraine's latest targeting of the Russian energy sector.

Russia fired surface-to-air missiles into its own residential buildings while responding to a large Ukrainian attack against an oil terminal on the Black Sea, a security source told Business Insider on Tuesday.

A source in the Security Service of Ukraine said that Kyiv attacked the port city of Novorossiysk, Russia's second-largest oil export center and a hub for its Black Sea Fleet, in the latest strike targeting the country's energy sector.

During the attack, Russian air defenses in Novorossiysk were active and struck civilian infrastructure, the SBU source said. They were only authorized to speak anonymously to discuss sensitive military developments.

Footage circulating on social media showed surface-to-air missiles launched from what was identified as a Russian Pantsir system striking residential buildings in Novorossiysk, the SBU source added.

It's unclear if there were any injuries or deaths during the incident. Russia's defense ministry and its US embassy did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Friendly fire incidents like this aren't necessarily unusual. Russia has reportedly accidentally bombed its own territory dozens of times throughout the war.

The SBU source said that long-range drones struck several military and logistics targets in Novorossiysk, including oil terminal infrastructure, and the locations of S-300/S-400 air defense systems. A landing ship was also damaged near the naval base, according to preliminary battle damage assessments.

Other units beyond the SBU, Ukraine's internal security agency, took part in the attack on Novorossiysk, including the country's GUR military intelligence agency, Special Operations Forces, and the Unmanned Systems Forces.

In translated remarks shared with Business Insider, the SBU source said that the security agency "continues to methodically reduce Russia's petrodollar revenues, with which it finances the war against Ukraine, as well as to weaken the enemy's air defense systems that protect key military and infrastructure facilities of the enemy."

Ukraine has been stepping up its attacks on Russian energy facilities since August, hitting a number of sites across the country with dozens of strikes, including against Novorossiysk. Kyiv has targeted the port city repeatedly throughout the war.

Russia's energy sector is a critical source of revenue for the country, helping fuel its war efforts in Ukraine. Kyiv's new campaign against oil and gas facilities reflects its efforts to put pressure on Moscow — which relies heavily on exports — and try to choke its main source of income.

The Novorossiysk attack came as the Ukrainian military said it also struck an aircraft repair facility on Tuesday in Taganrog, a city in Russia's southwestern Rostov region. The site is used to repair Moscow's airborne early warning aircraft and its strategic bombers.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said that Russia attacked the country with more than 480 missiles and drones overnight. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday morning that at least six people were killed and 13 more were injured in the Kyiv area.

• I'm an American Costco fan who's visited warehouses abroad in places like Australia and Mexico.
• The food-court menus at international locations vary greatly and often have regional favorites.
• Many international Costco locations sell local specialties, but I've also seen American products.

I like shopping at Costco — and I also enjoy traveling.

So, I love going to Costco whenever I'm in a different country and can find a location nearby.

It might seem strange to visit a chain that's famous for selling items in bulk while on vacation, but this can actually be a great way to gain insight into local culture and cuisine.

Though the retailer is based in the US, it has dozens of stores spread across other countries, from Sweden to Japan. Fortunately, I've been able to use my American Costco membership card at warehouses abroad for no extra cost.

Here are some of the biggest surprises I've encountered while shopping at Costco locations across the US, South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Mexico.

Costco's food-court offerings vary from country to country.

Trying different food-court items at Costco may be my favorite vacation activity. The offerings are always affordable, and I never know what local specialty or twist on a classic I might find behind the counter.

When I was at Costco in England, I found heaping scoops of gelato piled high into giant waffle cones and enormous loaded jacket potatoes topped with things like tuna, cheese, and beans.

Costco in Australia offered steak pies and mango boba smoothies at its food court, and the one in South Korea had soups on the menu.

However, I can always find a hot dog … though they aren't all the same.

At every Costco I've visited so far, I've seen a hot dog on the food court's menu. Sometimes, the dogs and toppings differ.

In Mexico, I found self-service stations where I could add jalapeño and onion to my hot dog. The Australian hot dog on offer is all-pork, unlike the all-beef option in North America and just about everywhere else.

The value of America's famous $1.50 soda-and-hot-dog combo also varies abroad — especially if you factor in the exchange rate.

The rate varies, but the combo costs £1.50 in England, which is about $1.96. In Mexico, the combo costs 35 pesos, about $1.91. It was a good deal when I was in Australia, and the 1.99 Australian-dollar price converted to about $1.29.

I can use my American Costco membership abroad, but some locations require an extra step.

In most countries I've visited, I've been able to easily scan my American Costco card to get access to the store.

So, I was surprised when the outdoor Costco food-court kiosk I visited in Mexico rejected my membership card.

Eventually, I learned that I needed to request a temporary membership card from the membership counter. It didn't cost me extra, but it was a bit of a hassle.

Once that was settled, I was able to use that printed card to order at the food court, gain entry to the store, and purchase groceries.

All that to say, be prepared to stop at the membership desk first in some countries — even if that gooey chocolate-chunk cookie is calling your name.

Each country has unique products and samples.

Costco works with a variety of suppliers, and its stores are typically stocked with the local market and regional shoppers in mind.

For example, I found Kirkland Signature mini cochinita bakes at a Mexican location, and kangaroo dog treats in an Australian one.

While shopping at Costco in South Korea, I was offered a sample-sized "Jäger bomb," which was Jägermeister mixed with a South Korean energy drink. It was just past 10 a.m., but I indulged anyway.

Still, I've found some American products and brands abroad.

It's always fun to see which American products are distributed to Costco locations worldwide.

In England, I was pleased to find ranch dressing imported from Johnny's Fine Foods, a brand based in Tacoma, Washington. I also spotted massive tubs of Red Vines, one of my favorite American candies that I usually can't find abroad.

Sometimes, products differ slightly. In Australia, I thought I'd found the American classic Kellogg's Rice Krispies — but they were actually a nearly identical-looking cereal packaged as Kellogg's Rice Bubbles.

Costco still feels immensely popular abroad.

Costco is one of the most popular retailers in the US, and it certainly feels like a hit in other countries.

Although I've braved many long lines on weekends at Costco back home, I was still unprepared for the crowded stores during my international visits.

Even midafternoon on a weekday in Mexico, long checkout lines weaved all the way to the back of the store.

Eventually, I took the advice from locals and stayed in line, slowly moving alone while my partner retrieved items to add to our cart. All in all, we waited 40 minutes to check out.

Some of the crowds may be attributed to the fact that there are relatively few Costco locations in some countries abroad. There are hundreds in the US, but fewer than 50 in Mexico, Australia, and South Korea.

For me, visiting Costco while overseas will always be a fun and surprising experience.

Truly, there's nothing like shopping at Costco on vacation.

I love that my membership card gives me access to large aisles of massively sized goods all over the world, and I still have many locations on my bucket list.

And with the retailer continuing to expand internationally, I know there will always be opportunities to try new warehouses around the globe.

• Sydney Wiseman is cofounder of Playhouse MD.
• She designed Fingerlings, small toys that sold millions of units.
• Now she's partnered with her sister, a pediatrician, to make fun medical tools.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sydney Wiseman, cofounder of Playhouse MD. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Everyone in my immediate family is a doctor, except me. My brother, sister, and dad are physicians, and my mom was a vet. Luckily, my parents could tell from an early age that med school wasn't for me, and they were supportive. They say they could tell from the rapt way I watched commercials that I was made for something else: toys.

My mom's two brothers own a toy business, so the idea of inventing and producing toys wasn't so unusual in our family. My uncles would show me everything they were working on, like robotic Power Ranger gloves. I was more of a Polly Pocket girl myself, but I was absolutely enthralled with the magic of toys.

A picture inspired my toy-of-the-year design

Once I was old enough, I joined my uncles' company, WowWee. They mostly focused on robotic toys — we used to joke that they could literally make pigs fly. But I thought a lot of kids didn't want a flying pig: they just wanted a cute, cuddly pig.

In 2015, I saw a picture on Instagram of a tiny monkey clinging to people's fingers. My family and friends were used to me saying "That's a toy!" whenever I had an idea. When I saw that monkey, I knew it was a toy, for sure.

I created Fingerlings, a plush toy that clings to kids' fingers, just like that little money did. Fingerlings respond to kids with movement and noises, so there was an immediate emotional connection. The toys sold tens of millions of units and became Toy of the Year in 2017.

Fingerlings gave me status, but not money

Despite the success of Fingerlings, the toy didn't significantly impact my finances, largely due to the ownership structure. That highlighted for me the need to take ownership of the things I create.

However, Fingerlings gave me credibility in the toy industry. There aren't many young female toy makers. But suddenly, everyone knew me as the toy girl. I had standing, credibility, and experience in the industry. There was no monetary value to that, but it became incredibly important for my next venture.

My sister's experience inspired my next idea

My sister is a pediatrician and mom. She started wearing a Fingerling on her stethoscope. One day, she was treating a child with a broken femur, and she needed to put a mask on the boy. He was hysterical, so she got a neonatal mask and told the patient to put that mask on the Fingerling while she put one on him. It worked — he instantly calmed.

When she called to tell me about that, I knew we had stumbled upon something. Kids are so sensitive, and too often, scary medical procedures happen to them. Play has been incorporated into every aspect of kids' lives, except in healthcare. I thought we could use toys to make medical care a little less scary for kids.

My sister and I cofounded Playhouse MD, which makes medical tools that have the appeal of toys. We make a thermometer that's a giraffe, a nasal aspirator that's a cute narwhal, and medicine droppers that are shaped like butterflies, for example.

I have a new respect for my uncles

This year, Playhouse MD raised $5 million in seed funding. We've started a partnership with McKesson, the largest medical device distributor. The interest has been tremendous, and that's at least in part due to the success I had with Fingerlings.

I was emotionally invested in Fingerlings, but now that I'm running a company, I'm even more committed to it. I need to steer this ship because other people are depending on me. It gives me a newfound respect for my uncles and everything they put into running their business.

• Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is known for leading through long-form Slack essays that fuel debate.
• Engineer Sholto Douglas told "TBPN" they hold essay debates that shape the firm's strategy.
• Analysts told Business Insider a written-first style boosts transparency but risks slowing decisions.

Ever thought about leading your team with long essays on Slack?

At Anthropic, CEO Dario Amodei "frequently" uses this communication tactic to spark extensive written debates that shape Anthropic's culture and strategy, according to Sholto Douglas, a Member of the Technical Staff at the AI firm.

"Dario has a really, really cool communication style," Douglas told "TBPN" on Monday. "He quite frequently puts out these very, very well-reasoned essays. And then throughout Slack, we'll have giant essay-length debates with people about Anthropic."

The essays, Douglas said, don't just guide Anthropic's current decision-making — they also serve as a living record of the company's evolution.

"The essays are really nice because you can go back and read all the past ones, and it tells the history of Anthropic," he said. "In many respects, it will be one of the better things, a decade from now, to chart the history of AGI. We'll be reading this compendium of essays."

Amodei's habit of turning strategic discussions into written debates means Anthropic employees can see the reasoning behind major calls — and even challenge them directly.

"Whenever we're debating different things, he will lay out the pros and cons and how he's thinking about them, and you know why this one's a tension or why that one's a moral struggle," Douglas said. "People will write back big essays on why they think we should do X or Y, and he'll respond. It's quite a joy."

While "very recent," he added that this written-first approach gives Anthropic "a coherent sense of direction across the entire company," because "many people — or really the entire company — have a good model of how he's thinking."

The essay-driven culture, Douglas suggested, has become part of Anthropic's identity — a slower, more reflective counterpoint to Silicon Valley's often chaotic meeting culture.

A risky but bold model of leadership communication

Leadership analysts told Business Insider that Amodei's written-first approach offers rare transparency but risks slowing decision-making.

André Spicer, professor of organizational behavior at City, St George's, University of London, said that "leadership by essay has some upsides — it forces more careful deliberative thinking on the part of the leader and follower."

But, he warned, it can "act as a distraction from action" and "create a wider culture of analysis paralysis."

Written exchanges, he added, might "ignore practical realities," yet they encourage broader thinking.

Cary Cooper, a professor of organizational psychology and health at the University of Manchester's Business School, viewed the practice as potentially distancing.

"This seems to be a less confrontational approach by the CEO rather than a face-to-face dialogue," he said.

While it might reduce friction, he warned it could be seen internally as "an 'avoidance approach' rather than a dialogue."

Cooper said CEOs should still show their leadership through in-person town halls and live-streamed discussions.

By contrast, Grace Lordan, founding director of the Inclusion Initiative and associate professor at the London School of Economics, saw promise in the method.

She said it shows "a commitment to intellectual rigor and traceability," while promoting transparency and giving staff "a clear record" of leadership decisions.

Still, she said, "writing takes more time upfront" and can "risk excluding people who communicate better verbally than in text."

The best leaders, she added, combine "written pre-work for clarity and preparation" with "focused live meetings to pressure-test assumptions" and "concise written follow-ups" that document decisions and next steps.

Anthropic didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• To find the best stuffing recipe, I turned to Ina Garten, Paula Deen, Ree Drummond, Sunny Anderson.
• Anderson's recipe was my favorite because of its mostly savory flavor and easy preparation. 
• Both Deen and Drummond's stuffing required the extra step of baking homemade cornbread.

For many Thanksgiving menus, stuffing is a must — but the countless recipes and techniques can make this Turkey Day staple feel overwhelming. 

In search of the best stuffing recipe, I turned to celebrity chefs Ina Garten, Paula Deen, Ree Drummond, and Sunny Anderson. Here's how their recipes stacked up. 

Garten's herb-and-apple stuffing features plenty of fresh ingredients

Unlike the other recipes I tested, Garten's stuffing requires only one type of bread — baguettes — which made it easier to prepare.

I also appreciated the addition of fresh herbs, but was unsure how I'd like the apples and almonds combined with the savory onions and celery. This recipe yields a huge portion, so I cut it in half.

This stuffing was quite easy to make

Overall, the process was pretty simple. While the bread was drying in the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes, I sautéed the veggies, apples, and herbs in a saucepan with butter.

Once the mixture was combined, I poured it and the vegetable stock over the bread cubes.

This recipe calls for cooking the filling inside a turkey cavity for two-and-a-half hours at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

I wasn't making a turkey for this taste test, so I baked the stuffing at the same temperature in a shallow dish for an hour instead. 

I enjoyed the apples but not the almonds

The final dish was pretty crispy and golden on top, but its center looked less appetizing. 

The texture was OK, and the insides definitely seemed soggy. I probably could've avoided this by adding a little less broth than instructed. 

Next time, I'd definitely omit the nuts. I used slivered almonds, and their crunchiness, size, and shape threw off the dish's overall texture.

The crusty breaded exterior was delicious and added all of the crunch this dish needed. 

I could definitely taste the rosemary, and I actually enjoyed the apples, which added a slight sweetness to the stuffing that balanced the other savory flavors.

Deen's recipe calls for a lot of butter and homemade cornbread

In true Deen fashion, this stuffing recipe calls for a full stick of butter. 

I was also unsure about the mixture of carbs here — saltine crackers, white bread, and cornbread, which I made from scratch using Deen's recipe.

My stuffing mix ended up with too much broth, some of which I had to carefully pour out before baking

For the carbs, I started by making cornbread — a quick and easy process that resulted in a savory, slightly dense dish — and dried white-bread slices in the oven.

I then sautéed the veggies with the stick of butter and mixed all of the prepared ingredients in a bowl. 

When adding the vegetable stock, I stopped after about five cups because the mixture already looked far too soggy. I was shocked that the recipe asked for seven cups.

Still concerned about the texture, I poured out more broth before adding five eggs to the mix.

I then transferred everything into a shallow, glass baking dish. It took about an hour in the oven for the mix to really crisp up.

The flavor was fine, but the texture was disappointing

The top was slightly golden, but it didn't get as crispy as the other recipes I tested. 

When I took a bite, I found the interior was far too soggy — there was definitely too much broth, and the crackers turned mushy after absorbing the liquid. 

The flavor was OK — very savory and buttery — but the extra-soggy texture was not appetizing. 

If I made this again, I'd swap some of the crackers for more bread and use significantly less broth.  

Drummond's stuffing recipe requires 3 kinds of bread

The Pioneer Woman's recipe calls for a lot of bread — three different types, including homemade cornbread. Since I already had the ingredients needed to make Deen's cornbread, I used that option for this dish as well. 

In addition to a large amount of bread, this recipe also requires a lot of parsley.

The process involved making cornbread and carefully ladling broth onto the cubed carbs

I noticed a little too late that I was supposed to dry the bread out for one to two days, but I threw it in the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, and it still firmed up really well. 

In general, this recipe had a similar process to the other two, from making the cornbread and dehydrating the other carbs to sautéeing the veggies. 

The recipe instructed me to add six cups of broth to the sautéed vegetables, then ladle this mixture onto the tossed bread cubes until they were soaked to my liking.

I preferred this approach, as it was easier to control and prevent the stuffing from becoming soggy. 

My stuffing took about 40 minutes in the oven — not the 20 to 30 minutes the recipe called for — but the extra time helped it achieve a crisp, golden top.

The flavor would've been better with less celery

Although the stuffing was toasty on top, it still looked soggy inside.

However, upon tasting it, the dish's flavor and texture weren't bad at all. The center was slightly soggy but not overwhelmingly so, and the extra-crispy top helped balance the texture. 

My only issue with this recipe was that it had way too much celery. I'm not a fan of it in general, but I can tolerate it in moderate amounts — still, almost every bite tasted strongly of it. 

That said, the savory, herby bites with minimal celery were delicious. 

Anderson's stuffing recipe has 4 flavor combinations to choose from

Anderson's simple and quick recipe combines store-bought stuffing mix with sautéed veggies, broth, and herbs to make it taste homemade. 

I swapped turkey stock for vegetable broth since I wasn't eating meat products at the time, and I left out the thyme as a personal preference. 

Anderson also shared four add-on combinations to give the dish more flavor — sausage and bell peppers, oysters and hard-boiled eggs, walnuts and apples, and sautéed fennel bulb and dried apricots. I opted for the last combo. 

Most of the prep work involved chopping veggies

This recipe was quick to put together. For the base, I just dumped the stuffing mix into a bowl and added freshly chopped parsley. 

I got to work mincing the garlic and chopping the onion, celery, fennel bulb, sage, and dried apricots. Then I cooked the veggies, sage, garlic, salt, and pepper in a pan until the mix started to soften.

After combining the sautéed mixture with the boxed stuffing and vegetable broth, I added the dried apricots and pressed everything into a glass baking dish. 

I covered the whole thing with foil and let it bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, I removed the foil and cooked it for an additional 15 minutes at 400 degrees.

The stuffing turned out crispy and flavorful

I was worried this recipe would turn out too soggy since it's meant to be a wet dressing, but it actually baked up really well.

It came out of the oven with a soft, almost creamy center and an extra-crispy exterior. 

The sautéed veggies created a very savory flavor profile, and I couldn't even taste the celery. 

I was also a little unsure about the apricots, but they added a touch of sweetness and melt-in-your-mouth texture. 

Anderson's easy stuffing was my favorite, but all of these recipes would be worth making again with a few tweaks

If I had to choose a favorite, I'd go for Anderson's unique stuffing.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the fennel-and-apricot combination — it added an interesting twist to the dish but still felt traditional. Plus, this recipe was the quickest and easiest to make.

I also loved the flavor of Garten's herby stuffing with rosemary and apple, but next time, I'd leave out the almonds and use less broth.

Deen's recipe had an enjoyable savory, buttery flavor, but it needed far less liquid to fix the texture. I think adding more bread would also help. 

For Drummond's stuffing, I'd use slightly less broth for an even better texture and way less celery to help the flavor of the sautéed veggies and fresh herbs shine.

This story was originally published on November 19, 2020, and most recently updated on November 25, 2025.

• If your oven is full on Thanksgiving or simply out of commission, oven-free recipes can help.
• Salads, slow-cooker recipes, and pasta are all beloved dishes that don't require an oven.
• We've found 15 Thanksgiving dishes that are completely oven-free.

Whether your oven is crammed full of turkey or it's woefully small, sometimes baking and roasting isn't an option on Thanksgiving.

This week, people all over the country will be making multiple dishes for Thanksgiving dinner, using every available cooking surface they can, and spending an average of 9.6 hours in preparation for their guests, per 2025 WalletHub data.

Thankfully, there are plenty of Thanksgiving staples or updated versions of the classics that don't require any oven space at all. Even the precious turkey can stay out of that fateful appliance on November 27.

Here are the easiest foods you can whip up this Thanksgiving — no oven required.

If you want to use your oven for other dishes, you could use a deep fryer for your turkey.

Deep-frying a turkey is still serious business — one that can end in a fiery disaster.

Here's the best way to fry your turkey.

If your oven is full, you can leave soup simmering on the stove or in a slow cooker.

As part of Business Insider's ongoing taste-test series, we've tried the best canned chicken noodle soups. Any of these would be perfect to whip up on Thanksgiving.

If you're not into chicken soup, you can also check out these soups that will keep you warm during the cold weather, and these don't even require a stove, just a slow cooker.

Mashed potatoes can be made from a mix or in the slow cooker.

Instant mashed potatoes are polarizing but extremely simple. Here are the best instant mashed potatoes you can buy at the store.

If you're looking to make your mashed potatoes from scratch, these mashed potatoes hacks will take this classic dish to the next level.

Alternatively, you can make delicious, creamy mashed potatoes in a slow cooker. Business Insider's Erin McDowell called it "basically a set-it-and-forget-it dish."

Spinach casserole is another dish you can make in your slow cooker.

Casseroles are a favorite, especially on Thanksgiving. This slow-cooker spinach casserole is sure to be a big hit.

You could also use a slow cooker for your bird, freeing up oven space.

It's a great tool to utilize on Turkey Day.

Here are recipes for slow-cooking your turkey.

Cranberry sauce is a classic Thanksgiving side dish, and all you need to do is open a can.

Find out which grocery-store cranberry sauce was named our favorite.

And don't forget, you should always open your cranberry sauce upside down.

Stuffing is a Thanksgiving essential that doesn't need to spend time in the oven.

There's not one specific recipe for stuffing, and thus no one way to cook it. Here's an "everything" stuffing recipe that goes in the slow cooker, or a stove-top Thanksgiving stuffing.

Business Insider also tried an air-fryer stuffing recipe that was tasty, if not a bit time-consuming.

Sweet potatoes are extremely versatile, and all you need to do is stick them in the microwave.

Sweet potatoes are a source of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A once consumed.

All you need to do to successfully cook a sweet potato is to prick its skin with a fork and throw it in the microwave for 6 to 8 minutes.

You can make candied yams in an air fryer.

A Business Insider reporter tried out an air-fryer recipe recipe for candied yams and called it "ridiculously easy."

There are plenty of ways to make cheesecake festive without turning on the oven.

There are many different no-bake recipes out there, but here are some of our favorites: apple-pie cheesecake cups, caramel apple cheesecake, and pumpkin cheesecake.

Technically, we recommended Martha Stewart's no-bake cheesecake for summer, but it's a year-round dessert in our eyes.

Cauliflower, or any vegetable really, tastes great pan-fried.

Here's a recipe for pan-fried cauliflower.

Creamed corn turns corn on the cob into an autumnal side dish.

Creamed corn is corn that's scraped off the cob and combined with milk, cream, or even cream cheese, depending on the recipe.

We've included a classic creamed-corn recipe, which involves simmering the corn over a stove top, and a slow-cooker variation.

Salad is a tried and true side that involves no cooking at all.

Even though Thanksgiving is all about eating until your stomach gives out, that doesn't mean it has to all be unhealthy.

Salads are a solid way to consume something green this Thanksgiving. We've ranked the healthiest lettuces and leafy greens, and listed everything you need to make your salad as healthy as possible.

Green-bean casserole is another staple at the Thanksgiving table.

Green-bean casserole is even more popular than most casseroles on Turkey Day. Even though casseroles are generally baked in the oven, there are ways around that particular rule. Just check out this skillet green-bean casserole or this microwave version.

However, if you have oven space for a green-bean casserole, Business Insider ranked recipes from chefs Alton Brown, Ree Drummond, and Alex Guarnaschelli.

Everyone's favorite pasta dish, mac and cheese, only requires a pot and a stove.

Whether you're making boxed mac and cheese or working from scratch, this pasta side is always a hit with adults, kids, foodies, and picky eaters alike.

• The F-35s that participated in the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities flew deep into its airspace.
• The fighter jets escorted the B-2 stealth bombers and were the last to leave Iranian airspace.
• Commanders involved in Operation Midnight Hammer said the mission validated the F-35's capabilities.

The American F-35 stealth fighters that participated in the Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iran flew hundreds of miles deep into its airspace and were the last ones out, US military commanders revealed this week.

F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the Utah-based 388th Fighter Wing escorted the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers that dropped over a dozen heavy bunker-buster bombs on Iran's nuclear facilities in late June.

The F-35s suppressed Iran's air defenses and cleared the way for other combat aircraft, including the seven B-2s, during the complex nighttime operation.

"We flew hundreds of miles into Iran, escorting the B-2s the entire way," Lt. Col. Aaron Osborne, commander of the 34th Fighter Squadron, shared in a US Air Force story. "We employed weapons to great effect against multiple surface-to-air missile sites."

After the B-2s dropped a total of 14 bunker-buster bombs — 30,000-pound munitions called GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators — on Iranian nuclear facilities, the F-35s protected their exit from the attack zone.

The advanced US fighter jets were the last ones out of Iranian airspace, the 388th Fighter Wing said on Monday, sharing new details on the operation. US officials said Tehran did not fire at any American aircraft during Midnight Hammer.

The airmen of the 388th Fighter Wing, located at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, train nearly every day for suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) missions, the military said.

The F-35 pilots can use the jet's stealth, radar, targeting systems, and advanced sensors to detect surface-to-air missile threats, as they did in Iran.

The F-35 fighter, built by US defense giant Lockheed Martin, has been battle-tested against a wide range of threats in a mix of engagements since its first flight nearly 20 years ago — from Middle East wars to penetrating Israeli strikes inside Iran to the downing of Russian drones over NATO territory. The jet is flown by militaries around the world, including many NATO allies.

While the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is considered a top fifth-generation fighter jet, it is also the world's most expensive weapons program, with a lifetime cost of $2 trillion, and has faced sustainability and maintenance challenges in recent years, leading several Trump allies to publicly criticize the aircraft and its capabilities.

And tensions earlier this year between the Trump administration and some European allies have also raised questions about and even appeared to threaten future sales of the stealth jet.

However, Midnight Hammer commanders praised the F-35 and said that its participation in the operation highlights its combat prowess.

"The effectiveness of this strike validated all of the capabilities of the F-35 we've been talking about for years — stealth, lethality, sensor-fusion, being a force multiplier," said Col. Charles Fallon, 388th Fighter Wing commander.

He said the operation relied on the F-35 pilots and their aircraft to perform, "and both proved more than capable."

US forces struck three Iranian nuclear facilities — specifically Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — with 75 precision weapons during Operation Midnight Hammer, which came amid a broader war between Iran and Israel. American officials said that the munitions included the bunker-busters and dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Beyond the F-35s and B-2s, American F-22 fighter jets, as well as F-15s and F-16s, and dozens of aerial refueling tankers participated in the surprise operation, along with a US Navy missile submarine.

• Lamia Scott and her young son moved into her mother's home after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
• The third grader frequently helps keep his grandmother, 75, calm during her periods of agitation.
• Scott said caregiving is tough, but she is bolstered by the support of other people in her position.

This story is based on a conversation with Lamia Scott, 43, a flight attendant from Dallas, Texas. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I've always considered my mom, Marvia, my best friend because of her love, kindness, and intelligence.

We were so close that my son, Braxton, now 9, and I lived in an apartment complex right across the street from her home. We were in and out of each other's places, and she often babysat.

As a single mom, I was particularly grateful for the support. She doted on her grandson, and the feeling was mutual.

Mom began to get forgetful

She is a former softball coach who has always prioritized her health. But three years ago, she started to act out of character. She began to experience forgetfulness and become easily irritated.

There were a few times when she'd say, "Why don't you bring Braxton over? I want to see him." When I did, she'd ask, "What are y'all doing here?"

We'd go out to eat, and she'd get angry with the wait staff for no reason. Then she'd start crying out of the blue. She'd never behaved that way before.

I began to worry about her safety after smelling gas in her home. I'd come in through the garage, and it would hit me, but she was unaware that she'd accidentally put the stove on.

It wasn't easy persuading her to see the doctor because she insisted nothing was wrong. But she was referred to a neurologist who diagnosed her with Alzheimer's — later classified as Alzheimer's with agitation — in December 2023.

We moved in with Mom because it made sense

Mom was in denial, but the news confirmed my fears. My maternal grandmother had suffered from the disease, and Mom was her primary caregiver for 12 years while she lived with our family. I knew what that road looked like.

My son and I left our rental apartment and moved in with my mom just three weeks after her diagnosis. She was my priority, and it made sense for us all to be under the same roof.

Braxton was in heaven because he loved being around his nana. But he noticed the difference too, and would comment on how much she repeated herself. He'd also wonder why she sometimes yelled at him when she'd been so understanding before.

"Why does Nana hate me?" he would say. I had to educate him about Alzheimer's and explain about the agitation it caused. I told him that we were there to help. It made him proud to feel a part of her care team.

Braxton is good at redirecting his beloved nana

There have been times when I've gotten frustrated and said to Mom, "You said the same thing five seconds ago," when she repeats herself.

But Braxton will redirect her and say, "Nana, it's OK, you can ask me again, and let's try to figure it out." I'm really impressed with his grace.

One of the greatest challenges was managing Mom's tendency to wander. I'd come home to find her not there, and I'd call her cellphone. Then I could hear it ringing somewhere in the house because she'd forgotten it.

She'd get in the car and drive for miles without knowing where she was. We've now got a tracker app on her phone and a Ring camera, which helps us monitor her whereabouts.

I know I'm not alone in this situation

They say it takes a village, and our neighbors have been great. If they see her out and about and can't persuade her to return, they'll text or call. I also find support through the organization, Alzheimer's Agitation, which gives advice and connects me with other people in the same position, so I know I'm not alone.

Still, it's hard for me not to feel overwhelmed when I try to juggle caregiving, single motherhood, and my job. We use a care service when I'm working for an extended period, and I may occasionally take family leave through FMLA.

I'll sometimes feel guilty when I think about how Mom coped with the stress of caring for my grandmother with dementia without complaint. But I think I'm doing the best I can for the woman I love so much.

• My family of four spent 46 hours traveling from Chicago to Seattle in two Amtrak roomettes.
• The roomettes were small but comfortable, and we got to see lots of gorgeous views along the way.
• The rail trip was nice, but it ended up costing more than our first-class flights home.

I've always been a fan of trains. As a child, my favorite book was "The Little Engine that Could," and I've seen the Hitchcock classic "North by Northwest" at least a half dozen times.

So, when I saw that Amtrak offered cross-country train travel, I was immediately intrigued.

I'd taken a five-hour train ride from Detroit to Chicago before, but I'd never been on a longer journey by rail. It seemed like a unique way to kick off our annual family vacation.

We chose the Empire Builder, which travels from Chicago to Seattle over the span of 46 hours. Here's what the experience was like.

We booked roomettes, which also came with a few special perks

I did a lot of research before booking tickets for our group of four adults and settled on two roomettes directly across the hall from each other for $2,988. It felt like the best value.

On the day of our trip, we arrived at Chicago's Union Station about an hour before our train was scheduled to depart. Sleeper-car guests get complimentary access to a lounge, where we enjoyed comfortable seating and a buffet of snacks.

Our ticket also included priority boarding. When it was time to get on board, an employee escorted us through the terminal and to our railcar.

Before we left the station, our dedicated attendant stopped by to introduce himself, point out the restrooms and coffee station, explain the dining policies, and let us know how to reach him if we had any questions or concerns.

The roomettes felt small but comfortable

When we entered our roomettes, I was immediately thankful I'd done my research.

Some online reviews I saw had noted that the space was small — measuring 3 feet by 6 feet wide and 6 feet by 6 feet long — and didn't offer much room to store luggage.

We each only brought a small backpack into the space with us and were able to store our larger luggage on a rack near the door.

Although the quarters felt tight, I thought they easily accommodated two people.

During the day, the roomette had two seats that faced each other. At night, they slid together to make a bed with a portable mattress cushion. I slept here and thought it was surprisingly comfortable.

The upper bunk lowered from the ceiling, and carpeted nooks served as a ladder. My sons used those beds and thought they were uncomfortable, mainly because train travel is bumpy and the mattress felt thin.

When reached for comment, an Amtrak representative said that "depending on the size of the person in the upper bunk, adding a second mattress is a possibility."

Knowing this, I'd consider requesting another mattress if we were to book these rooms again.

Unlike Amtrak's bedroom car option, though, which would've cost about $1,000 more per room, the roomettes don't include private bathrooms.

Instead, each railcar has three shared facilities similar to airplane restrooms and one separate shower room.

However, I made an adventure out of it and decided that walking down the hall in my pajamas in the middle of the night to use the communal restroom would be like being in my freshman college dorm again.

There were a few downsides to the sleeper car

For me, the biggest downside of the roomette was that it only had one outlet, which made charging two devices inconvenient. Next time, I'd definitely bring an adaptor with me.

Plus, the walls seemed pretty thin. On the first night, we were laughing and got shushed by the man in the next cabin.

We also realized way too late into the trip that the PA system in our railcar didn't seem to be working properly.

Since we couldn't clearly hear station and stop announcements from our roomettes, figuring out when we could get off the train was a bit tricky.

We didn't notice this issue until our trip was just about over — otherwise, we would've alerted a staff member.

Several meals were included in the cost of our trip

As sleeper-car passengers, we each had two dinners, two breakfasts, and one lunch included in the price of our tickets.

Each afternoon, the dining manager visited our room to book our dining-car dinner reservations.

Unfortunately, by the time he got to us each day, the only time slots available were the first and last. Luckily, we prefer dining late, so this wasn't an issue.

Plus, the food in the dining car was surprisingly good. We chose omelets for breakfast, and burgers and salads for lunch.

For dinner, my daughter-in-law and I liked the pan-roasted chicken best, while my sons enjoyed the Amtrak signature flat-iron steak.

Entrées came with an appetizer or salad, side dishes like vegetables and rustic mashed potatoes, and dessert. The options were varied enough that everyone found something they liked.

However, we all agreed the best thing we ate was the chocolate cake.

One of the best parts about the trip was how many beautiful views we got to take in

On the first night, we drifted off to sleep while passing the St. Paul-Minneapolis skyline, and woke in North Dakota with open plains as far as the eye could see. Once we crossed into Montana's "Big Sky" country later that afternoon, rolling hills cut into the landscape.

Our favorite scenery was passing through Glacier National Park during dinner on the second night. Seeing the Rocky Mountains backlit by a beautiful sunset was breathtaking.

On our final day, we awoke to a view of Washington's thick forests and winding rivers, ending up in downtown Seattle a few hours after breakfast.

Overall, we had a nice experience, but probably wouldn't do it again

For my family, extended train travel is probably a one-and-done experience.

Although we had a nice trip and the views along the way were nice, I'd find it hard to pay more for a longer (and slower) travel experience again.

After all, our eight-hour one-way, first-class flights back totaled $2,118, which was less than what I paid for the Amtrak roomettes.

Sure, we could've saved money on train fare by booking standard coach tickets, which I've seen listed for between $560 and $2,060 for four adults on this route. However, we wouldn't have had access to actual beds.

That said, I'd definitely consider a solo journey on a different route, because an Amtak sleeper car is a pretty great spot to unplug, read, and write.