Brian Paquette, the head of culinary at Chili's, said the key to making a perfect burger is choosing the right ground meat.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Brian Paquette, the head of culinary at Chili's, shared his tips for making the perfect burger.
He said a great burger starts with the right kind of beef and a "really clean, really hot" grill.
He also shared how to replicate popular Chili's burgers at home.
Fourth of July weekend means cooking out, and the process of making the best burger for your guests starts in the grocery store.
That's according to Brian Paquette, the head of culinary at Chili's, who spoke with Business Insider about how to make a restaurant-quality burger at home, from the meat he buys to his best grilling hacks and go-to toppings.
Before becoming Chili's head chef, Paquette ran his own catering company for five years. His day-to-day work involves brainstorming new menu ideas and conducting quantitative and qualitative testing to get dishes on the menu.
One of Paquette's recent initiatives has been revitalizing the chain's burger offerings. The chain just dropped its first new burger in three years, the Big Smasher, a process that involved multiple rounds of taste-testing and getting customer feedback.
After grilling up some burgers alongside Paquette in the company's test kitchen in April, we asked him his biggest tips for making the perfect burger at home, his grilling hacks, and how to pay homage to some fan-favorite Chili's burger recipes at home.
Here are nine tips for making the perfect burger at home, according to Chili's head chef.
Opting for ground sirloin or ground chuck will make a burger that’s "juicy and flavorful."
A person grinding meat using a meat grinder.
Image Source/Getty Images
Paquette said the first step in making the perfect burger at home is choosing the right kind of meat, which often involves asking a butcher to grind up your preferred cut.
"A great burger starts with using high-quality beef," Paquette said, "so you should go for ground sirloin or ground chuck, to make sure you've got a burger that's juicy and flavorful."
Paquette also shared his preferred fat ratio when choosing burger patties.
"I'd stick to beef with an 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio," he said. "That will give you a nice juicy burger, and when you're grilling it, you'll see some of that juice drop through and vaporize, giving you more of that grill flavor," he continued.
Fresh meat is almost always better than frozen.
A person holding fresh burger patties in a grocery store.
Juanmonino/Getty Images
"We make and hand-smash all our burgers in-restaurant at Chili's and that's always my recommendation for people making burgers at home," Paquette said.
"That said, if you are buying a pre-made burger from the grocery store, I'd head to the meat case and buy the fresh pre-made patties there," he continued. "You'll get more flavor than you would from a frozen patty."
Make sure your grill is really clean and really hot before you put the burger patties down.
Burgers, buns, and sausages on a grill.
Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
"The grill not being hot enough or the charcoal not being ready is one of the biggest mistakes I see people making," Paquette told BI. "That temperature is so key to getting everything else right."
"If you're cooking for a big group, you are going to want to clean up the grill and get that temperature up to high to make sure you're consistently delivering great-tasting burgers," he said.
Season one side of your patty before grilling it, and then season the other side once the burger is on the grill.
Chef peppering burgers while frying them in the restaurant kitchen.
Guillermo Spelucin/Getty Images
Before you put the meat on the grill, season the side of the burger that is going face down, he said. Once it's on the grill, season the top of the burger, too.
"People often don't season their burgers enough, either. You want to make sure it has good flavor, which comes from both the fat and the seasoning," he said.
"Some of it will inevitably melt off on the grill, so use an ample amount," Paquette added, saying that Chili's cooks use four "shakes" of seasoning on each side of the burger.
Once the burger is on the grill, turn the temperature down to medium.
Burgers cooking on a grill.
vm/Getty Images
"This is going to give you those signature char marks," Paquette told BI.
Paquette also recommended only flipping the burger once "to keep the burger tender and juicy" and using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
"That's the only way to truly know your burger is cooked through and will help make sure you aren't overcooking and ending up with a hockey puck instead of a great burger," he said.
Don't overcook your burger just because you're afraid of it being undercooked.
Man using a meat thermometer while cooking burgers on a grill.
Wavebreakmedia/Getty Images
Paquette said that each side of the burger should take about three minutes, but you can also use a meat thermometer to ensure the perfect medium cook.
"Make sure your burger is at a safe internal temperature of 157 degrees," Paquette said. "People tend to keep cooking to ensure it's safe, but they overcook it and it loses flavor."
For smash burgers, make the patties about an inch wider than the bun you plan to put them on.
A classic smashburger with lettuce, pickles, and cheese.
Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald/Getty Images
"The burger will shrink a little and that's how you make sure you have those nice, charred bits hanging right at the end of your burger," Paquette said.
He added that if you're using a traditional grill with grates, never smash your burger with a spatula or other tool once it's on the grill, or else you'll lose all the juices. Instead, flatten it before you put it onto the grill.
"If you want to make a smash burger on your griddle, smash the burger as soon as you put it down to lock in those flavors, like we do every time at Chili's," he said.
When it comes to toppings, Paquette said he likes to keep things classic.
Fresh toppings for burger including lettuce, guacamole, onions, tomatoes and pickles.
Hillary Kladke/Getty Images
For burger toppings, he usually opts for tomato, lettuce, red onion, ketchup, and pickle. He added that choosing a great bun is key to ensuring your burger stays together and has solid flavor.
"At Chili's, we use a brioche-style bun, and I'd use a similar soft bun, like a brioche or potato roll, at home," he said. "Don't overlook toasting your bun, as well. You can add a little butter and put it on the griddle to take your burger to the next level."
However, you can also add more exciting toppings like jalapeños or Thousand Island dressing.
Chili's Alex's Santa Fe Burger.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
When we asked Paquette to name his favorite burger from Chili's, he picked the chain's new Big Smasher. To recreate it at home, you need American cheese, diced red onion, shredded lettuce, pickles, and Thousand Island dressing, he said.
After trying and ranking all of Chili's burgers recently, we also asked how to recreate our personal favorite, the Alex's Santa Fe burger, which comes with avocado, pepper jack cheese, red onion, jalapeños, tomato, pickles, cilantro, and the chain's spicy Santa Fe sauce.
"The key to recreating that flavor profile at home is roasted jalapeños," Paquette said. "While you're grilling your burgers, grill a jalapeño or two and use those to top your burger. You can also mix them with some ranch to create a sauce that's similar, but not exact, to our Santa Fe sauce."
"Another easy hack would be to pick up some fresh-made guacamole from the deli counter at the grocery store to top your burger, or you can use fresh sliced avocado on top," he continued.
The trunk of SpaceX's dragon capsule (left) was designed to burn up upon re-entry to Earth's atmosphere. Instead, it crash landed in North Carolina.
REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
In May, a huge chunk of space debris crash landed in the mountains of North Carolina.
After reviewing the incident, NASA confirmed that it came from a SpaceX Dragon Capsule.
This, and other accidents, highlight how difficult it will be to reduce the risk of falling debris reaching Earth.
NASA has confirmed that a hunk of space junk as big as a car hood found in North Carolina belonged to a SpaceX Dragon Capsule, according to an agency statement shared on X.
The Dragon Capsule is a reusable spacecraft that carries astronauts and cargo to-and-from the International Space Station. But a part of it, called the trunk, isn't reusable and is discarded just before the capsule returns to Earth.
That trunk is what ended up crash-landing on a trail at a mountaintop resort just outside Asheville in May. "It was just wild. It was crazy-looking," groundskeeper Justin Clontz who stumbled on the large debris, told Space.com.
No one was injured from the impact. But the space junk shouldn't have been there in the first place. NASA said in its statement that evaluations of Dragon's initial design showed that it should fully break up in Earth's atmosphere. That's not what happens every time though.
Debris from the Dragon Capsule landed in the middle of a train at the Glamping Collective, a mountaintop resort in North Carolina.
Photos by Brett Tingley, courtesy of the Glamping Collective
A similar chunk of Dragon trunk was found in Franklin, North Carolina in June. And another landed in a farmer's field in Saskatchewan, Canada in April.
It's not just SpaceX junk falling to Earth. A two-pound piece of debris slightly smaller than a soda can fell from the International Space Station in March, crashing through a family's roof in Florida. The family is now suing NASA over the incident.
These series of recent accidents underscore how difficult it can be to predict and model when space debris will, and will not, burn up in Earth's atmosphere. Improving these models is more important than ever.
Humans are launching more into space than ever before
The number of objects launched into space annually has increased dramatically in the last decade, and the US is the biggest contributor.
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Our World in Data
Space junk has been falling out of the sky since the 1960s, but humans are launching more stuff into space than ever before. According to the site "Our World in Data", in 2023, a record-breaking 2,664 objects, including satellites, spacecraft, landers, and more, were sent to, or beyond, Earth's orbit.
"Once those things die, then they're just abandoned. It's just like orbiting trash. And then it's up to mother nature to figure out how the thing re-enters," Moriba Jah, associate professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin, told BI.
Jah is referring to uncontrolled re-entries. It's when space debris free-falls toward Earth with no one controlling its course.
Modeling uncontrolled re-entires involves a lot of uncertainty and is, therefore, more complex than modeling controlled re-entries, which usually involve rockets that guide the debris' trajectory, ensuring it lands in a safe area, like the ocean.
An illustration shows satellites around the Earth in 2019. Each dot represents one satellite, and is not scaled to size.
NASA
"For uncontrolled stuff, all bets are off, because you don't necessarily know what the orientation of the object is as it hits the atmosphere, or how it's tumbling," Jah said.
Uncontrolled re-entry typically happens to smaller chunks of space debris that are expected to break up in the atmosphere before ever reaching the ground — like the Dragon Capsule's trunk.
Even though this space debris is relatively small compared to, say, car-sized satellites, it's not harmless. They're moving at thousands of miles per hour before impact.
If the piece of debris that crash landed outside Asheville, North Carolina in May had landed on a person, it would have certainly killed them, Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and leading space debris expert, told BI.
NASA plans to use information gathered from the debris recovery to improve their space debris models, according to the agency's statement.
Photos by Brett Tingley, courtesy of the Glamping Collective
While the chances of space debris hitting a person are astronomically low, a 2022 study published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature, estimated there's about a 10% chance one or more people will be struck within a 10-year period.
How to reduce the risk of falling space debris
NASA wrote in its statement that it'll use the debris recovered from the mountaintop resort in North Carolina to improve debris modeling.
Another option that NASA should consider, McDowell said, was to reduce the number of uncontrolled re-entries and use controlled de-orbit even for small space objects.
"Then you know exactly when and where it's gonna come down," McDowell said.
Right now, controlled re-entries are relatively uncommon. Roughly 200 to 400 objects big enough to be tracked re-enter Earth's atmosphere each year, and only a handful of them are controlled re-entries, according to The Aerospace Corporation.
Making controlled re-entry the status quo would require new laws, and federal funding to help NASA and companies like SpaceX clean up their junk, Jah said.
The Federal Government is responsible for approving space launches but doesn't hold launching entities like NASA or SpaceX responsible for disposing of objects safely. That needs to change, Jah added.
"Working in space always carries some uncertainty, but NASA works to ensure its operations are safe for the public, and it strives to continuously improve processes," NASA wrote in a statement to BI.
SpaceX did not respond to BI's request for comment.
I'm a Costco employee who loves finding the best items at the store each month.
This July, Costco is carrying a Kirkland Signature chipotle-chicken bowl with cilantro-lime rice.
Keep cool with the Jisulife portable neck fan or Reese's frozen peanut-butter dessert cups.
Just because I've worked at Costco for nearly 20 years doesn't mean I don't like browsing the aisles like the many customers I help each day. The store, which is the leading retailer in customer satisfaction, always seems to be offering a variety of snacks, personal-care items, and home-design products I haven't seen before.
I love searching for the best products to bring home each month, and this July, there are tons of cool summertime items to choose from. Here are 10 items I recommend checking out at Costco this month.
Prices may vary by location.
The Custom Made Meals bacon-wrapped carnitas jalapeño poppers will have guests asking for more.
The Custom Made Meals bacon-wrapped carnitas jalapeño poppers make a quick meal or appetizer.
Veronica Thatcher
These bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers are the ultimate party appetizer. The poppers are stuffed with cream cheese and savory carnitas to create a delicious bite.
This cook-and-serve meal can be made in less than 30 minutes in the air fryer, grill, or oven. A two-pack of the carnitas jalapeño poppers is $16 at my store.
The Simply Fresh caprese pasta-salad shaker makes a delicious, quick meal.
The Simply Fresh caprese pasta salad comes together in less than a minute.
Veronica Thatcher
The Simply Fresh caprese pasta-salad shaker is a convenient on-the-go meal that feels gourmet. The pasta salad, which even comes with a fork, features arugula, rotini, tomatoes, and mozzarella.
The best part is that the meal is ready in just a few seconds. Just snap the lid on, pour the toppings and dressing in, and shake to combine the ingredients.
A package of two Simply Fresh salad shakers is $14 at my Costco.
The Jisulife portable neck fan can keep you cool on the go.
The Jisulife portable neck fan is great during hot weather.
Veronica Thatcher
The Jisulife bladeless neck fan is handy during hot weather, no matter if you're home, outdoors, or at work. It features an ultra-light design, three speeds, and three to 16 hours of working time.
Each box contains two fans, so you can leave one at home and use the other on the go. My Costco sells the Jisulife bladeless neck fan for $50.
I love the La Vie Gourmand stuffed churro bites.
The La Vie Gourmand stuffed churro bites are the perfect sweet treat.
Veronica Thatcher
The La Vie Gourmand stuffed churro bites are the newest hot-selling item at my Costco.
This delightful twist on a regular churro is stuffed with chocolate-and-hazelnut and Bavarian-cream fillings. These heat-and-serve treats are also easy to make in the air fryer.
My location carries a box of two 16-ounce bags of churro bites for $14.
Bring the Hyperlite life vests to outdoor water activities this summer.
The Hyperlite life vests come in a variety of sizes, so adults and kids can wear them.
Veronica Thatcher
It's officially summer, which means more people are gathering at lakes and beaches — which is when the Hyperlite life vest could be useful.
This life vest, which comes in children's and adult sizes, is lightweight and US Coast Guard-approved. It's also available in various colors, so there's something for everyone.
The Hyperlite vests' prices vary according to size, but they range from $20 to $35 at my Costco.
The Kirkland Signature chipotle-chicken bowl with cilantro-lime rice is full of flavor.
My family of four enjoyed the Kirkland Signature chipotle-chicken bowl with cilantro-lime rice.
Veronica Thatcher
If you love Chipotle, I recommend bringing home this new deli item to make your own bowls, burritos, or tacos. Each container comes with grilled seasoned chicken, cilantro-lime rice, salsa, shredded cheese, guacamole, and lime wedges.
This tray feeds three to four people, which is perfect for my family of four. It's a fast and easy dinner item that costs only $5 per pound, which comes out to about $20 per container. You can find this item in Costco's deli coolers.
The French Toast polo is great for back-to-school season.
The French Toast polos are a great find for students who wear school uniforms.
Veronica Thatcher
If you're starting to shop for back-to-school supplies and clothing, you might want to grab a twin pack of collared polos. These polos, which come in colors like white, navy, and blue, are great for students who wear uniforms.
The brand makes several youth sizes, and many Costco locations also carry uniform skirts, shorts, and pants in twin packs in-store or online. The French Toast polo twin pack costs $15 at my location.
Reese’s frozen peanut-butter dessert cups are refreshing and sweet.
Reese's frozen peanut-butter dessert cups are a fun take on the classic candy.
Veronica Thatcher
Reese's frozen desserts — packed with peanut-butter flavor, like the brand's traditional candies — just hit the freezer department at my store. Each treat has a peanut-butter-swirled dessert base covered in a milk-chocolate-flavored coating.
A box containing 24 cups is $18 at my store, which means each portion is only $0.75.
Clean tough messes with the Shark WandVac Power cord-free handheld vacuum.
The Shark WandVac Power cord-free handheld vacuum can clean hard-to-reach places.
Veronica Thatcher
The Shark WandVac Power is one of the most powerful handheld vacuums I've seen. The vacuum is cord-free and weighs less than two pounds.
It features a boost mode to maximize suction power for tough messes and comes with cleaning-tool attachments to get to hard-to-reach places. The Shark WandVac Power is $100 at my store.
Don't pass up the cinnamon-apple raisin bread from the bakery section.
The cinnamon-apple raisin bread is a new selection in Costco's bakery section.
Veronica Thatcher
The cinnamon-apple raisin bread is a new item in Costco's bakery department. This loaf has tons of flavor from dried apples, cinnamon, raisins, walnuts, and pecans.
Microwave the bread for about 15 seconds before taking a bite, and you will be hooked. The 32-ounce loaf can be found in the bakery for $8.
The pressure on Biden to drop out only continues to grow each day.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Biden is vowing to stay in the race — but his political position seems untenable.
His polling is slipping. House Democrats are squirming. There's open talk of swapping in VP Harris.
Biden could stay in, but he may be irreparably weakened by now.
As of Wednesday, President Joe Biden is vowing to stay in the presidential race. But it's becoming difficult to see how he can do so without suffering a humiliating defeat in November.
But things began to change this week. Democratic politicians who don't hold elected office — including former Rep. Tim Ryan and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, both of whom ran against Biden in 2020 — called on Biden to step down. Two House Democrats have publicly joined them, while two others — Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington — declared that they believe Biden will lose in November.
Meanwhile, the White House — a relatively disciplined operation, especially compared to the chaos and backstabbing that defined the Trump administration — has become especially leaky, signaling internal discontent.
More broadly, elected Democrats have grown comfortable openly discussing the possibility of replacing Biden, even if they're not officially calling for it. Many are also expressing discontent with the way the Biden campaign has handled the whole effort, including its use of the term "bedwetters" for those who were calling for a change.
It's not out of the question that Biden would choose to stay, and that top party leaders would choose to bite their tongues and stand behind him. But all of these developments have done immense damage to Biden's candidacy, and are virtually impossible to reverse.
Biden's growing polling deficit seems unlikely to bounce back, barring something disastrous happening to Trump.
The number of lawmakers either calling for him to drop out or declaring that he won't win seems to grow by the day, and there are very few lawmakers who are vociferously defending him.
If Biden chooses to go on, he will likely be limping into the general election.
It's not inconceivable that at that point, Democratic senators and House members will seek to distance themselves from the president, pitching themselves as a check on an inevitable second Trump administration.
Dumping Biden brings its own risks — it's an unprecedented move, and any potential successor may have their own political weaknesses. Depending on what happens, Democrats could be looking at an open convention, a scenario that could bring chaos and infighting just months before the election.
But after the week that Biden's had, it's difficult to see him being reelected in November.
I recently came across this humorous insight: ‘My wallet is like an onion. Opening it makes me cry.’ This perfectly captures the challenges of managing expenses as living costs continue to rise.
Recent statistics show that inflation is eroding purchasing power, making it crucial to ensure your super balance is growing at a pace that will support a comfortable retirement.
This raises an important question: Is your superannuation balance growing fast enough to keep up with rising living costs?
How much has inflation impacted living costs in retirement?
In May, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) published the ASFA Retirement Standard report for the March 2024 quarter.
According to the ASFA report, the cost of funding a comfortable lifestyle rose 3.3% from a year ago to a record high of $72,663 per year for couples and $51,630 per year for singles.
ASFA CEO Mary Delahunty says:
Retirees continue to feel considerable cost of living pressure on their household budgets. Fortunately, in the past three months, we’ve seen the pace of price rises ease somewhat in key spending categories, namely food and fuel.
Here are the key points from the report by spending category:
Medical and hospital services increased by 2.3% in the March 2024 quarter, higher than the 1.2% rise in the previous quarter.
Insurance prices rose sharply by 3.7% from the previous quarter and 16.4% annually, driven by higher reinsurance and claims costs, marking the strongest annual increase since 2001.
Annual food costs increased by 3.8%, down slightly from 4.5% in the previous quarter. Bread and cereal prices rose by 7.3% annually, and dairy products by 4.1%, partially offset by a 0.7% decrease in meat and seafood prices over the quarter.
Automotive fuel prices decreased by 1.0% on average in the March quarter, with an average unleaded petrol price of $1.94 per litre.
Electricity prices rose moderately by 2.0% annually, but excluding Energy Bill Relief Fund rebates, prices increased by 17.0% over the period, impacting many self-funded retirees.
Domestic travel and accommodation costs increased by 1.3% in the quarter, reflecting sustained demand and elevated prices for domestic accommodation and airfares.
Investment returns in superannuation
The good news is that the average investment returns from superannuation funds have generally kept pace with inflation.
ASFA estimates that, based on historical data, superannuation funds achieved an average annual return of 7.4% over the last 10 years to June 2023. This comfortably exceeds the average consumer price increase of 2.8% during the same period.
Period (% pa)
Fund returns to June 2023
Real returns (vs CPI)
1 year
9.2%
3.0%
5 years
5.8%
2.3%
10 years
7.4%
4.6%
20 years
7.1%
4.3%
30 years
7.3%
4.5%
Super fund returns published in the September 2019 issue of Superfunds magazine and ASFA estimates.
These average returns include all asset classes, such as shares, bonds, and alternative investments. Interestingly, the average return is similar to that of the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), which delivered 7.85% per year over the last 10 years to May 2024.
While real returns, meaning the growth in purchasing power, are under pressure, the golden rules for a comfortable retirement remain simple: spend less, save more, and keep investing.
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The US is sending F-35 stealth fighters and upgraded F-15EX strike fighters to its forward-bases n Japan.
U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Kip Sumner
The US is revamping the aircraft at its bases in Japan, the Pentagon announced.
Dozens of F-35s will replace older aircraft, marking a significant upgrade.
The boost comes as the US reassesses how its airpower would fare in a conflict with China.
US airpower in the Pacific is about to get a major upgrade, as the Pentagon announced it will be replacing aircraft at some bases in Japan with dozens of F-35 stealth fighters.
The move comes as the US looks at the lethality and survivability of its Pacific aircraft and airfields in a potential conflict with China.
The US Department of Defense released information on its new modernization plan for aircraft based in Japan on Wednesday, noting that the effort will take several years and reflect "over $10 billion of capability investments to enhance the US-Japan alliance, bolster regional deterrence, and strengthen peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."
As part of the plan, the Air Force will replace almost 50 F-15Cs and F-15Ds at Kadena Air Base with 36 F-15EX Eagle II strike fighters. And at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, the number of F-35Bs jump jets — capable of takeoffs from short runways and amphibious assault ships — will be "modified" to further support the US' modernization plan, the press release said.
Perhaps most notably, the US Air Force's presence at Misawa Air Base is getting revamped with 48 F-35A stealth fighters replacing the current 36 F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighters, "leading to greater tactical aircraft capacity and capability," the release added.
A US Air Force fighter aircraft F-35 performs aerobatic maneuvers on the second day of the Aero India 2023 at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India.
AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File
Such a move would be a jump forward for the US' airpower in Japan, bringing fifth-generation fighter jets to bases directly in the line of potential conflict with China, adding to the capabilities ofthe F-22 Raptor fleet at Kadena.
It also signals, as the Pentagon's release said, "The Department's plan to station the Joint Force's most advanced tactical aircraft in Japan demonstrates the ironclad US commitment to the defense of Japan and both countries' shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region."
It's the most recent sign of how the US and Japan are working together to deter a clash with China.
Back in May, DoD announced the two were jointly developing a defense system to counter hypersonic missiles, which are thought to be nearly impossible for current missile-defense systems to defeat. China, as well as Russia, boast hypersonic missiles in their arsenals; the US is currently working on one of its own.
A Norwegian F-35 Lightning II receives fuel from a Maine Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker over the Arctic Circle.
Air Force Master Sgt. Andrew Sinclair
The US is also working on shoring up its bases in the Pacific against a potential Chinese missile strike, which could feature a massive bombardment that renders US and Japanese aircraft, airfields, and command and control centers useless.
A recent Congressional letter to the Air Force and Navy's top leaders said the US isn't doing enough to protect its Pacific forces from such an attack. Back in May, 13 members of Congress pointed out glaring vulnerabilities in the Pacific, demanding immediate changes.
"With its current strike capabilities," the lawmakers wrote, "China can attack all US bases in the region, targeting US service members from Okinawa to those on US territories of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands."
The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort are colorful, rustic, and a little modern.
Carly Caramanna
The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort offers a high-end twist on camping.
The Disney World property consists of 500-square-foot cabins that sleep up to six.
The one-bedroom cabins are about $550 a night and have full kitchens, patios, and other perks.
On Monday, Disney World opened the first phase of The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, a luxurious twist on traditional camping.
Fort Wilderness is one of the Orlando theme park's original lodging options, but the older log cabins have now been replaced with new, colorful ones. (Earlier this year, people could buy the old builds for just under $50,000 a pop.)
Although the property is surrounded by nature and has rustic decor, it also has modern touches and upscale amenities. Plus, it's just a short boat ride away from Magic Kingdom.
Each cabin is about 500 square feet, with one bedroom and one full bathroom. The space sleeps up to six and prices vary but are typically over $500 a night.
As a member of the media, I toured The Cabins before they opened to the public. Here's a look inside.
The Cabins property is located at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.
Disney's Fort Wilderness has a campsite.
Jenna Clark
The colorful new cabins are located at Fort Wilderness, a 750-acre property that's been open since the 1970s.
The outdoorsy resort is home to a more basic campsite, a lodge, five eateries, two pools, and a range of outdoor activities.
Golf-cart rentals are the easiest way to get around the property.
Golf carts can be spotted throughout the resort.
Carly Caramanna
Visitors can explore the Fort Wilderness property on foot, by shuttle, or by personal golf cart. The preferred way to get around the large property seems to be by golf carts, which can be rented for $70 a day.
They can be parked right outside of a cabin and at desired locations, like pools and restaurants. Each cabin is also equipped with an on-site electrical-vehicle charging station.
The cabins are nestled in residential-like streets.
The rows of cabins resemble a charming residential neighborhood.
Carly Caramanna
The cabins are located along a set of streets near the front of the resort. Each has a personal grill and parking space on its property.
Aside from color, the cabins look mostly the same on the outside.
The Cabins bring a refreshed glamping-style offering to Disney World.
Carly Caramanna
Each cabin's private patio has views of the surrounding woodlands and is furnished with a dining table and chairs complete with Mickey Mouse detailing.
Inside, the cabins have rustic but modern designs.
The entryway leads into the large common space.
Carly Caramanna
The cabin's main room includes a full kitchen, dining table, living room, and sitting area.
The living room has a TV, sitting area, and a couch that's also a queen-size Murphy bed.
Each kitchen has modern finishes.
The kitchen is fully equipped and features modern appliances.
Carly Caramanna
Although the cabins have a rustic style, they have modern appliances, including a dishwasher, large refrigerator, full-size oven, microwave, and coffee maker.
The kitchens also come with dishware and other essentials needed for preparing food.
The cabin's main focal point is the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The windows can let in natural light.
Carly Caramanna
The main living room overlooks the trees and patio through large floor-to-ceiling windows.
A queen bed and a bunk bed take up most of the bedroom.
The cabin's overall vibe is a modern twist on a wilderness theme.
Carly Caramanna
The main bedroom sleeps up to four with a queen bed and a bunk bed. It has a large TV and storage, including an armoire and drawers below the bunk bed.
The cabin's main bathroom is spacious.
The bathroom has a modern feel.
Carly Caramanna
The bathroom has a large walk-in shower, closet space, sink, toilet, and lit-up mirror.
Most, but not all, cabins also have a split sink.
Many cabins have two bathroom sinks.
Carly Caramanna
For convenience, most cabins have a second sink and vanity located outside the bathroom, making it possible for multiple people to get ready at the same time.
Disney also uses this split design on its cruise ships.
Artwork carries the theme throughout the space.
The décor is inspired by camping traditions.
Carly Caramanna
Artwork throughout the space honors camping traditions, like canoeing and archery. Guests will also find characters like Chip 'n' Dale and nods to Disney World's opening year, 1971.
Disney Easter eggs are scattered around the cabin, too.
River Country was a water park.
Carly Caramanna
The cabin contains fascinating Disney Easter eggs, like a nod to the former River Country, a water park near Fort Wilderness that closed in 2001.
Guests at The Cabins have access to a range of on-site activities and the theme parks.
Horseback riding costs extra.
Carly Caramanna
Guests at The Cabins have access to Fort Wilderness's complimentary on-site activities, such as the pools, fireside sing-a-longs, and nature trails. Fishing excursions, archery, and horseback riding are available for an added cost.
Although the resort feels removed, it has private boat transportation to Magic Kingdom and complimentary shuttle service to other parks and Disney Springs.
Overall, the property combines the great outdoors with some Disney luxury.
The Cabins are a glamping option for people visiting Disney World.
Carly Caramanna
Overall, with so much to do on-site and space to dine around the property (and within each cabin), this wilderness-inspired retreat is especially perfect for an untraditional Disney vacation.
The new cabins are available to book, but the property is still a work in progress. Once the full project is complete, the property is set to have 350 freestanding cabins.
The Cabins is also a Disney Vacation Club property, so members of that timeshare program can cash in points at this resort and receive priority bookings.
There are some must-see movies on Netflix in July.
"Uncle Buck," "The Sweetest Thing," "Easy A," and "Back to the Future" are all on the streamer.
There's also the Netflix original, "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F."
Here are the movies you should not miss this month on Netflix.
"American Psycho" (July 1)
Christian Bale in "American Psycho."
Lionsgate Films
Christian Bale gives a tour-de-force performance as Patrick Bateman, the main focus of Bret Easton Ellis' novel that looks at a shallow investment banker with a psychotic alter ego.
"Back to the Future" (July 1)
(L-R) Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox in "Back to the Future."
Universal Pictures
It's one of the greatest adventure movies of all time.
Michael J. Fox plays a kid who accidentally gets sent back in time and must help his parents fall in love or he has no future to go back to.
The visionary direction by Robert Zemeckis, the fantastic chemistry between Fox and Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown, the amazing score by Alan Silvestri — this is the closest thing to a perfect blockbuster movie.
And make a night of it and watch the sequels, which are also available.
"Big Daddy" (July 1)
Adam Sandler in "Big Daddy."
Sony
A year after his hugely successful comedy "The Waterboy," Adam Sandler returned with this movie in which he plays a guy who, after being dumped by his girlfriend for being unmotivated, tries to prove her wrong by becoming the guardian of a boy who is left on his doorstep.
Let's just say he's not the best influence for the kid.
"Call Me by Your Name" (July 1)
(L-R) Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Armie Hammer in "Call Me By Your Name."
Sony Pictures Classics
Watch the movie that showcased to all of us the incredible talents of Timothée Chalamet. Here he plays a teen spending his summer in Italy who forms a love affair with his father's intern (Armie Hammer).
"Easy A" (July 1)
Emma Stone in "Easy A."
Screen Gems
This just keeps climbing the charts for us as one of the best high school movies in recent memory. Emma Stone plays a clean-cut student who suddenly finds herself the center of attention after rumors spread about her being a floozy. But in reality, all she's doing is allowing guys to pay her to say they have hooked up with her.
"Magic Mike XXL" (July 1)
Channing Tatum and Amber Heard in "Magic Mike XXL."
Magic Mike Trailer/Warner Bros./YouTube
Marking the second movie in this trilogy, you could argue that it's the best of the three.
Most of the original cast returns, as Mike (Channing Tatum) takes the gang on a road trip to Myrtle Beach for one final performance for the ladies.
"The Sweetest Thing" (July 1)
(L-R) Christina Applegate and Cameron Diaz in "The Sweetest Thing."
Columbia Pictures
In one of the most unappreciated rom-coms of the early 2000s, Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate, and Selma Blair play three friends who are all in search of love in different ways.
Diaz's character, Christina, thinks she's found the one, played by Thomas Jane. But when she discovers he's left town, she and her friends set out to track him down.
It leads to a wild trip filled with laughs and self-discovery.
"Uncle Buck" (July 1)
John Candy in "Uncle Buck."
Universal
This wholesome John Hughes classic stars John Candy as a laid-back bachelor who spends his days at the races or bowling. Suddenly, his brother reluctantly asks him to babysit his rebellious kids, forcing him to become more responsible.
With a premise that could easily have gone down the wacky comedy road, Hughes's genius is that he kept the movie grounded and layered, leading to laughs but also a movie with a lot of heart that stays with you.
"Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" (July 3)
Eddie Murphy in "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F."
Melinda Sue Gordon / Netflix
Decades after the third movie, the "Beverly Hills Cop" franchise gets a "Top Gun: Maverick"-like relaunch with hat tips to the first two movies and a lot of R-rated laughs from Eddie Murphy.
"Bad Boys" (July 8)
(L-R) Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in "Bad Boys."
Sony
If you are looking for some more Will Smith and Martin Lawrence comedy after watching "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" in theaters, revisit the original movie. The 1995 movie introduces the duo as the wackiest detectives in The Magic City. Along with the comedy/action talents of Smith and Lawrence, there's also Michael Bay coming into his own as an action director. "Bad Boys II" is also available.
Pulled-pork sandwiches are an easy dish to make in a slow cooker.
Joshua Resnick/Shutterstock
If you're entertaining this Fourth of July weekend, set-it-and-forget-it dishes can be a lifesaver.
From ribs to pulled pork, these slow-cooker recipes are perfect for summer gatherings.
You can also make sides like potato salad and dips in a slow cooker.
From mouthwatering barbecue ribs to savory pulled-pork sandwiches, these slow-cooker recipes are perfect for any Fourth of July cookout.
Many of the cookout foods on this list are meatless, which might be good options this year amid rising grocery store costs. According to The Progressive Farmer, beef prices have risen 32% over the past five years due to inflation, making this summer barbecue season the priciest one in recent memory.
And, while grilling certainly captures the spirit of the holiday, slow cookers can make preparing sides and meats for all your guests a breeze.
Here are 14 easy cookout foods you can make in a slow cooker this Fourth of July weekend.
For your Fourth of July cookout this year, try making the potato salad using your slow cooker.
Potato salad.
ziashusha/Shutterstock
You might not know that you can parboil potatoes in a slow cooker. To do so, chop and cover the potatoes with water, a little salt and pepper, and butter and cook them until they're fork-tender, usually about six hours on low.
Then, mix the dressing for your potato salad as you normally would, such as mayonnaise, dill, whole grain mustard, and a splash of red wine vinegar.
Dips, such as this spinach-and-artichoke dip, are also easily made in a slow cooker.
Spinach-and-artichoke dip.
Damn Delicious
"I love to make spinach-and-artichoke dip in my slow cooker," Chungah Rhee, the author of the blog Damn Delicious, told Business Insider.
"You can just free up so much of your time by using a slow cooker and hang out with your guests instead of laboring in the kitchen," Rhee continued. "Especially for side dishes or dips. You put it all together, set the time and it comes out ready to go."
This set-it-and-forget-it corn-and-jalapeño dip is creamy and easy to make.
Buffalo-chicken dip is another quick and easy favorite you can make in a slow cooker.
Slow cooker Buffalo-chicken dip.
Erin McDowell/Insider
One of the benefits of making a slow-cooker Buffalo-chicken dip, like this recipe on Rhee's blog — or any other side dish in a slow cooker — is that it can be prepared well ahead of time and reheated when you're ready to eat.
Rhee's advice for someone using a slow cooker for the first time for entertaining is actually to start out with a dip or side dish.
"If for some reason it doesn't turn out, because we all know that can happen using an appliance for the first time, it's not detrimental to your dinner party being a success," she said.
Queso can serve a whole party when made in a slow cooker.
Slow cooker queso with red onion, cilantro, and sliced jalapeños.
Erin McDowell/Insider
This creamy queso dip from Martha Stewart uses ingredients like American cheese and pepper jack cheese, a can of evaporated milk, diced tomatoes with chilies, sliced jalapeños, red onion, and cilantro.
Brisket is perfect for feeding a larger family and can easily be made in a slow cooker.
Laidlaw's recipe for slow-cooked braised brisket includes garlic, onion, dry red wine, carrot, and chicken or beef stock, with a chimichurri sauce.
Pulled-pork sliders are another great way to use your slow cooker for a cookout.
Pulled pork sandwiches with barbecue sauce and coleslaw.
Joshua Resnick/Shutterstock
One of the best ways to use braised and slow-cooked pork shoulder is to make pulled-pork sliders, like this Damn Delicious recipe, with all that tender meat.
To elevate the dish, top the meat with barbecue sauce and slaw before sandwiching it between two fluffy brioche buns or potato rolls. You can also use the carnitas to make tacos.
You can also make barbecue ribs in a slow cooker.
Barbecue ribs.
David P. Smith/Shutterstock
Nothing screams an end-of-summer cookout like sauce-covered ribs, like Laidlaw's recipe as shared on Cooking by the Book. After cooking them in the slow cooker, place them on a baking sheet in your oven and broil them until they're slightly crispy.
To save space on your grill, you can also make slow-cooked sausages and beer brats in the slow cooker.
Bratwurst with sauerkraut and Dijon mustard on a bun.
Charles Brutlag/Getty Images
Brats with onions, peppers, and garlic simmered in the slow cooker with beer — like this recipe by The Magical Slow Cooker — are one way to use your slow cooker on the Fourth of July.
Top your brats with a bit of sauerkraut and put them on buns for a delicious summer dish.
Mac and cheese can also easily be made in a slow cooker.
A spoonful of Martha Stewart's slow cooker mac and cheese.
Erin McDowell/Insider
If you're looking to add some carbs to your menu, look no further than a piping hot pot of mac and cheese. Martha Stewart's recipe for mac and cheese in a slow cooker calls for evaporated milk, three kinds of cheese, and homemade breadcrumbs.
Garlic-and-herb mushrooms are a delicious side dish but can also be used as a burger topping.
Garlic-and-herb mushrooms.
Damn Delicious
"The recipe for slow-cooker garlic-herb mushrooms is divine and so easy," Rhee said. "Mushrooms made in a slow cooker are truly the best."
Shredded Buffalo chicken goes great on top of salads.
Shredded buffalo chicken.
from my point of view/Shutterstock
One of the best — and easiest — ways to use your Crock-Pot or slow cooker is by making shredded Buffalo chicken, such as this recipe by The Magical Slow Cooker.
Add seasoned chicken breasts to the slow cooker and cover with your preferred Buffalo sauce. Then add a splash of ranch dressing and a cube of butter, toss your chicken breasts in the mixture to coat fully, and cook until the chicken is shreddable. You can use it for Buffalo-chicken sliders, salads, or tacos.
You can even make Buffalo or barbecue chicken wings using a slow cooker.
Slow cooker Buffalo wings.
Erin McDowell/Insider
You can make any style of wings in a slow cooker, from Asian-style to barbecue and Buffalo wings. Add your wings to the slow cooker, add in your sauce of choice, toss to combine, and let them cook for a couple of hours on high.
To make them crisp up, add a cornstarch and water mixture to your slow cooker. After they're cooked through, broil them for a few minutes in the oven.
Meatballs make a great appetizer for guests and don't require cooking over a hot stove.
Meatballs and sauce in a slow cooker.
anewlifephotostudio/Getty Images
Meatballs make the perfect appetizer for parties big and small and are easy to make in a slow cooker.
Place your seasoned, raw meatballs into the slow cooker, top with sauce, and let the slow cooker finish them off, says one recipe by Spend With Pennies. Serve them on their own with toothpicks or stuff them inside toasted sub rolls for a meatball sandwich.
Bria Murphy (far left) and Eddie Murphy in "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F."
Melinda Sue Gordon / Netflix
One of Eddie Murphy's funniest lines in "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" was improvised.
In the scene, Murphy's daughter Bria plays a police officer who arrests him.
Director Mark Molloy told Business Insider that Murphy's improv skills enhanced the movie's humor.
Netflix's "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" is filled with laughs, but there's one joke in particular that was a family affair.
At the end of an action sequence in which Murphy's character Axel Foley is being chased while driving a police meter maid cart, Foley crashes on Rodeo Drive and is quickly apprehended by two female police officers. While being cuffed, Foley tells the officer it's "very embarrassing" what's happening. The officer, played by Murphy's eldest daughter Bria, responds, "You should have thought about that before your little joy ride."
Bria Murphy in "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F."
Netflix
But what Foley is embarrassed about is being thrown into their unusually small squad car. "Ya'll are the LEGO cops," Foley says.
It's a line that director Mark Molloy told Business Insider was completely improvised by Murphy.
"That's all Eddie," Molloy said.
That is a small police car.
Netflix
Molloy, who is making his feature directing debut with "Axel F," said that Murphy improvised several times, but it was often nothing more than little one-liners.
"He likes to get it on the page first," Molloy said. "We have to have something on the page first that really works, and then Eddie is going to take it from there."
Molloy said other improvisations from Murphy happened during the helicopter scene with costar Joseph Gordon Levitt and between Murphy and a valet played by comic Affion Crockett.
But how did Muphy's daughter end up playing one of the police officers?
Bria and Eddie Murphy at the world premiere of "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F."
John Sciulli/Getty
"Eddie mentioned that his daughter would love to be involved," Molloy said. "And there was talk that it was going to be for another role, but I told him, 'If she's going to be involved, I have the perfect role for her.' I think she should arrest you!' So he gets arrested by his daughter."
Bria, 34, is Murphy's eldest daughter from his marriage with ex-wife Nicole Mitchell. Bria has previously starred in movies "The Perfect Match" (2016) and "Amateur Night" (2016).
"Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" is now streaming on Netflix.
