Tag: Business

• Cook County, which includes Chicago, ran a two-year basic income experiment in 2022.
• During the pilot, thousands of residents received $500 a month to spend however they wanted.
• The county has now made that basic income program permanent in its 2026 budget.

Many American cities and counties have been experimenting with a novel concept: Giving financially vulnerable residents free money every month without expecting anything in return.

The goal is to let those people decide for themselves how best to spend the extra cash, rather than requiring them to spend it on certain kinds of food or other necessities.

When those programs end, many report largely positive results. Few, however, are ever made permanent.

Cook County in Illinois, which includes Chicago, is now an exception.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved its 2026 budget proposal on Thursday, and it includes $7.5 million for a guaranteed basic income program.

Cook County had earlier run a basic income experiment for two years. It provided $500 a month to 3,200 households during that time. The last payment went out in January.

"The County will invest $7.5 million to continue supporting the Guaranteed Income program, providing direct unconditional monetary support to help residents live healthier and more stable lives," the county's now-approved budget proposal says.

A guaranteed basic income is a social safety net program in which a government provides certain residents with recurring, no-strings-attached cash payments for a set period. Often, the eligible recipients fit specific criteria, such as having a household income near the poverty line.

A guaranteed basic income differs from a universal basic income, which is when a government provides all individuals in a population with recurring, no-strings-attached cash payments, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

AI leaders, such as Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have publicly advocated for basic income programs to mitigate the potential impact of AI on human jobs.

Governments worldwide have toyed with basic income programs. Ireland recently made its basic income for artists permanent, and South Korea is poised to launch one of the world's largest programs.

Cook County released survey findings based on responses from those who received cash payments between 2022 and 2025. The majority said the payments made them more financially secure, reduced their stress, and improved their mental health.

The top reported uses for the payments were food, rent, utilities, and transportation.

• I've been a stepmom for 20 years and am the second in three generations of stepmoms.
• My mom taught me to let my stepchildren guide the role they need me to play in their lives.
• For 20 years, I've tried to be a trusted adult and am now watching my stepdaughter do the same.

The first stepmother I remember was Lady Tremaine — the wicked stepmother, brought to us by Disney in the film "Cinderella."

Today, I'm the second in three generations of stepmoms. I'm a stepmom of three. My mom became a stepmom when I was in my teens. My youngest stepdaughter is now a stepmom, and I have a stepmom.

Throughout my teens and early 20s, I watched my mom as she navigated being a stepparent. This year, I've officially been a stepmom for 20 years. Now I'm watching my stepdaughter as she navigates her own stepparent journey.

Becoming a not-so-evil stepmom in the most magical place on Earth

Funny enough, I became a stepmom at a Disney World wedding. At the time, my stepson was 16, my stepdaughters were 13 and 8, and my son was 5.

The kids all joked that the second we said "I do," I was going to turn wicked and lock them in a tower.

My husband and I had dated for a few years before we got married. I had gotten to know the kids pretty well. My son was almost 3 when we met, and my future stepchildren knew me not just as Dad's girlfriend, but also Austin's mom.

I think being a mom myself helped my stepchildren see me in a different light. I wasn't their mom, but I was someone else's mom, and they liked that kid.

Our blended family grew to yours, mine, and ours

In 2008, our family grew from yours and mine. We added "ours," and now my stepchildren have a stepsibling (no shared parent) and a half-sibling (shares one parent).

One thing I learned from my mom is that siblings fight. When the kids would argue about whose turn it was to unload the dishwasher or fight over a special cup, my husband and I would smile. We both had similar arguments with our own siblings. It's what families do.

My favorite moments were being crammed around the table during dinner. The noise was deafening — everyone sharing stories, grabbing food, laughing. We couldn't do it often, but made it a priority when it was possible.

Despite a large age difference, the kids have relationships. They all dance together at weddings. The youngest, now 17, and the oldest play video games together. My son regularly goes to my stepdaughter for advice.

Being a trusted adult, not another parent

The role of a stepparent isn't usually the same as being a parent. I learned this from watching my mom. My stepsister had a mom, a very involved mom, and that wasn't the role my mom was going to play in her life.

My stepchildren have a wonderful, caring, engaged mom. I've tried to take the lead from my stepchildren on the role they need me to play.

That role was finding a great deal on a teenager's first car. To take them for their first pedicure. To know where to find cute prom dresses for petite girls. To offer advice, ideas, and another point of view. To be a break from their parents. Be the person on the phone when they didn't want to call mom or dad. To be there when life is harsh.

My stepmom came into my life in adulthood. She's kind, caring, a friend, and an adult I can rely on. My youngest stepdaughter, now a stepmom herself, said it best. The role of a stepparent is that of a trusted adult.

Like parenting, stepparenting is a mix of emotions

When my husband and I were still dating, we took my son and youngest stepdaughter to see "March of the Penguins." During a traumatizing scene involving a shark, she climbed into my lap to be comforted.

I had this mix of emotions: happy, sad, and guilt. Happy we had grown close enough that I was a comfort for her. Sad that it was so scary, and I couldn't fix it. And guilt because I know how I would feel if another mom were comforting my kid. This mix of feelings was telling for life as a stepparent.

I would see them do something amazing, but I'm not the first person they hug. They're sick, but the school didn't call me. On Mother's Day, I get a text, but I'm not the priority for brunch. I see them struggle with tough decisions; I'm there to listen and offer a perspective, but the final choice is one I don't have a say in.

Rationally, I know they have amazing parents, but emotionally, it was hard.

I am lucky to have these three caring, clever, funny people to love. To be there for birthdays, weddings, becoming parents, and just those occasional loud dinners full of laughter.

To this day, my youngest stepdaughter and I are close. We share a love of fashion, gymnastics, incredibly long, rapid-fire texts, and being not-so-evil stepmoms. Now I get to see her use her experience to help her stepchildren. To listen, understand, and be that trusted adult.

• Kraft's apple pie-flavored Mac & Cheese offers a surprisingly tasty twist on comfort food.
• The author recalls past unusual food pairings, like cheddar on apple pie, that exceeded expectations.
• Trying new, unconventional flavors can lead to delightful surprises and memorable experiences.

If you'd told me years ago that cheese and apple pie could go together, like Kraft's new limited-edition apple pie mac and cheese, I would've laughed.

I've never been the most adventurous eater, but over the years I've grown more curious about odd flavor pairings — the ones that sound ridiculous until you try them. So when I heard Kraft was releasing an apple pie-flavored mac and cheese for the Thanksgiving season, I knew I had to track it down.

I'm glad I did, because surprisingly, I loved it.

I bought it online at Walmart

Unlike when I drove around to multiple Taco Bells trying to find the Baja Blast pie without success, it was much easier to get a hold of the mac and cheese.

We were thankfully able to find it without having to hunt too much in stores. Kraft's apple pie-flavored mac and cheese is currently available via Walmart online. My friend found it, and we got six boxes delivered to his apartment the next day. We were both excited about trying it.

I also looked online about ways to make boxed mac and cheese better than simply the out-of-the-box standard. I bought a couple of apples, Greek yogurt, and some cinnamon sugar pretzel sticks. My plan was to try the mac and cheese as it said on the side of the box, and then try a second version with some of the additional ingredients.

It looked like regular mac and cheese

Opening the box, it looked the same. It was a box of dried noodles with a spice packet that looked nearly identical to the original packets. The apple one, however, smelled great. I was hopeful that it would taste as apple cinnamony as it smelled from the packet.

I started with the basic version, following the box directions exactly — boil the noodles, stir in the sauce packet, and wait. When I tore open the seasoning packet, the smell hit me immediately: it had tones of warm cinnamon and sweet apple.

Once it was mixed together, though, the flavor was far more subtle than the aroma promised. The cinnamon and apple were there, but just barely. If anything, it made the mac and cheese taste brighter and more layered, almost like what the regular version should be all along.

My friend and I kept taking bites, trying to decide if we actually liked it or if the novelty was just talking. We both agreed that we liked it and that if this were available all year round, we'd buy it over the regular Kraft mac and cheese. By the time we finished the bowl, we were already talking about ordering more.

We then experimented with new recipes

We then decided to try a different version with the extra boxes the web had.

We started with plain Greek yogurt, which completely elevated the flavor of the mac and cheese for us. The yogurt made the dish creamy and slightly tangy. The cinnamon pretzels, crushed a bit on top, gave the mac and cheese an additional crunchy and sweet texture to balance things out. This had tangy, sweet, and savory all in one meal that felt more filling than the bowl without it.

In the end, the whole experience reminded me why I love stepping outside my comfort zone — especially when it comes to food. What started as a silly experiment turned into something genuinely fun and surprisingly delicious.

• The Miss Universe competition was launched in 1952 to celebrate and empower women.
• The US has the highest number of competition wins at nine.
• Fátima Bosch won the 74th annual Miss Universe in November 2025, marking Mexico's fourth victory.

Miss Mexico has won the 74th annual Miss Universe pageant. Fátima Bosch, 25, took the crown after competing against 120 women from around the globe.

The Miss Universe competition has been a global event since 1952 and aims to "empower and inspire women to shape a better world," according to its website.

Many countries, of course, vie for the crown, but certain ones have produced more winners than others throughout the competition's history.

Here are the countries with the most Miss Universe wins.

The United States: 9

1954: Miriam Stevenson

1956: Carol Morris

1960: Linda Bement

1967: Sylvia Louise Hitchcock

1980: Shawn Weatherly

1995: Chelsi Smith

1997: Brook Lee

2012: Olivia Culpo

2022: R'Bonney Gabriel

Venezuela: 7

1979: Maritza Sayalero

1981: Irene Sáez

1986: Bárbara Palacios

1996: Alicia Machado

2008: Dayana Mendoza

2009: Stefanía Fernández

2013: Gabriela Isler

Puerto Rico: 5

1970: Marisol Malaret

1985: Deborah Carthy-Deu

1993: Dayanara Torres

2001: Denise M. Quiñones

2006: Zuleyka Rivera

Mexico: 4

1991: Lupita Jones 

2010: Ximena Navarrete

2020: Andrea Meza

2025: Fátima Bosch

The Philippines: 4

1969: Gloria Diaz

1973: Margarita Moran

2015: Pia Wurtzbach

2018: Catriona Gray

Sweden: 3

1955: Hillevi Rombin

1966: Margareta Arvidsson

1984: Yvonne Ryding

South Africa: 3

1978: Margaret Gardiner 

2017: Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters

2019: Zozibini Tunzi

India: 3

1994: Sushmita Sen

2000: Lara Dutta

2021: Harnaaz Sandhu

Matcha has become one of the most sought-after teas in the world, with the US now importing over 2,000 tons from Japan a year.

As more Western consumers demand ceremonial-grade matcha — the highest-quality and most expensive kind — Japanese farmers are struggling to keep up. Extreme weather, aging tea farmers, and labor-intensive production methods have all contributed to global shortages and record-high prices.

Meanwhile, the rise of cafes like Aoko Matcha in New York City and social media trends like #matchatok have fueled even more demand.

• A slow cooker or Crock-Pot can help you out on Thanksgiving Day.
• You can make classic side dishes in a slow cooker, from stuffing to cranberry sauce.
• You can even make dinner rolls and mashed potatoes in a slow cooker.

Everyone knows that when it comes to Thanksgiving food, the sides are the best dishes.

However, when your oven is busy cooking the turkey for hours on end, it can be challenging to determine exactly when and where to cook your side dishes.

Enter a Crock-Pot or slow cooker.

Slow cookers can help you prepare classic Thanksgiving side dishes, including stuffing, cranberry sauce, and dips.

"Making a side dish in a slow cooker saves room in the oven (which usually has the turkey or ham in it)," Sarah Olson, the blogger behind "The Magical Slow Cooker," told Business Insider. "Also, if you are traveling to another house for the holidays, the slow cooker will keep your dish warm at the party."

Here are 15 Thanksgiving sides you can make in a slow cooker.

Sweet-potato casserole with marshmallows can easily be made in a slow cooker.

Sweet-potato casserole topped with marshmallows is a Thanksgiving favorite, and numerous recipes are available that show how to make it in a slow cooker.

One recipe by Damn Delicious explains that the residual heat from the slow cooker is the perfect method for achieving gooey, melted marshmallows on top of your casserole.

You might be surprised to learn you can make mashed potatoes in a slow cooker.

Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple — the meal simply wouldn't be complete without them. However, mashed potatoes can be a hassle, from parboiling them to mashing and finding a space on the stove for them.

Don't fret: Mashed potatoes can easily be made in a slow cooker. Just make sure to add water to your pot, or you won't get the desired consistency for mashing.

"Mashed potatoes are great in the slow cooker, though it does take a bit of time for the potatoes to soften, so plan ahead," Olson said.

The potatoes can take about four hours to soften, so give yourself plenty of time.

Try making your stuffing in a slow cooker, rather than in the oven or inside the turkey.

Everyone has their preferred method of making stuffing for Thanksgiving. While some might opt for oven-baked stuffing or stuffing cooked inside the turkey, it's also possible to make it in a slow cooker. 

Olson said you can use either store-bought boxed stuffing in the slow cooker or homemade stuffing, depending on your preference.

Some people swear by mac and cheese on Thanksgiving.

While Olson's recipe for slow-cooker mac and cheese can be made on the regular, it lends itself perfectly for Thanksgiving. She uses cream cheese, milk, sharp cheddar, and white sharp cheddar to make her noodles creamy and flavorful.

Candied yams are an easy Thanksgiving recipe to make in a slow cooker.

"My husband adores southern-style candied yams, and I finally took the time to make them from fresh yams, from scratch," Olson wrote in her recipe.

For Olson's Southern-inspired candied yams, you'll need peeled thick-sliced red garnet yams, cornstarch, melted butter, cinnamon, cloves, salt, brown sugar, and molasses, among other ingredients. 

Turkey chili is an easy slow-cooker recipe to make on Thanksgiving or the next day with leftovers.

If you're looking to use your turkey leftovers the day after or simply want a hearty appetizer for the Thanksgiving football game, look no further than a delicious turkey chili.

Turkey chili, like this chipotle turkey chili by The Magical Slow Cooker, is easy to cook up in a slow cooker and leave simmering all day until you're ready to dig in.

Slow-cooked glazed carrots are delicious and unbelievably easy to make in a slow cooker.

The best part of this recipe is how easy they are to make. Toss the carrots into the slow cooker with a little salt, brown sugar or honey, and butter, and let sit for four to six hours, until tender.

Green-bean casserole is another Thanksgiving side dish that can be made in a slow cooker.

"My family can not go without the green-bean casserole. It's pretty much the best side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas," Olson said. 

A recipe for green-bean casserole by The Magical Slow Cooker is perfect for a large group.

Dinner rolls can also be made in a slow cooker or Crock-Pot.

You might be shocked to discover you can actually make warm, fluffy dinner rolls in a slow cooker. One recipe from I Heart Eating teaches you how to make the perfect dinner roll dough, then bake the rolls only using a slow cooker.

Another one of Olson's favorite slow-cooker dishes around the holidays is cranberry sauce.

Cranberry sauce in a can is undeniably nostalgic, but slow-cooked homemade cranberry sauce is just as easy to make. Olson's recipe for slow-cooked cranberry sauce requires only a few ingredients: fresh cranberries, marmalade, and brown sugar to taste.

Olson said that being prepared is one thing slow-cooker beginners should know if they're using their pot for the first time this holiday season.

"Plan ahead and stay on schedule. Slow cooker recipes need to be prepped and set to cook early in the day," she said. "Don't wake up late and forget to start the recipe or you'll have to cook said recipe on the stove or in the oven."

Meatballs make a great appetizer for guests while you're busy cooking on the stove.

There's nothing worse than having hungry guests hanging around the kitchen waiting for dinner to be ready. Meatballs are the perfect appetizer for parties of all sizes, and they 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.

Butternut-squash soup is a festive soup you can make in a slow cooker.

This butternut-squash soup recipe from Delish advises you to buy pre-cut butternut squash cubes, sautée your vegetables first, and use a low-sodium broth. The soup should take around four hours to cook, so make sure you start early so you can have it done by the first course.

Buffalo-chicken dip is a quick crowd-pleaser.

One of the benefits of making a slow-cooker Buffalo-chicken dip — 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.

Queso is another appetizer that can easily be made in a Crock-Pot.

Like a lot of other Martha Stewart slow-cooker recipes, this dip only required a few ingredients, which comes in handy if you're braving the grocery store during Thanksgiving week. Martha Stewart's recipe for slow-cooker queso includes pepper jack and American cheeses, red onion, and jalapeño.

You can make pumpkin pie in a slow cooker for a tasty side dish or dessert after the meal.

What Thanksgiving table would be complete without pumpkin pie? Olson's recipe for slow-cooked crustless brown sugar pumpkin pie is made using pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, eggs, brown sugar, and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom.

Olson suggests either scooping the pie out of the slow cooker and serving it warm with ice cream, or chilling the pie after it's done cooking and serving it in slices with whipped cream.

• I had surgery earlier this year and needed help from one of my siblings.
• To show my gratitude, I took her on a cruise to Alaska.
• We chose different activities, and we both enjoyed our time during the trip.

In January of this year, I had to have cervical spine surgery. Ironically, I wasn't worried as much about the surgery as I was about the post-surgery fallout.

For several weeks post-op, I wouldn't be able to drive (due to not being able to turn my neck), so I was trying to figure out how to get my kids to school, sports, clubs, and their various activities. Plus, my doctor warned me that it would be a good idea to get help with cooking, laundry, and any other activities that involved turning my neck (turns out that's just about everything).

Fortunately, I'm one of six children, and I turned to my sister, Rose, for help. She willingly flew from Chicago to New York to take care of me and my family for three weeks. It turns out that having her stay with me was incredible. Not only was she super helpful, but getting the chance to see her every day, when we rarely got to catch up outside holidays, was a treat.

I wanted to do something special with her to express my gratitude. My favorite thing to do is travel — specifically, adventure travel — and gifting her a trip to Alaska on an expedition cruise was something I figured we'd both enjoy.

We chose what to do

Hiking, kayaking, and exploring the great outdoors were activities I often enjoyed when traveling. The more active, the better. My sister, however, was prone to more relaxing vacations. So when we showed up in Juneau on our first day aboard Uncruise's Wild, Wooly and Wow with Glacier Bay itinerary, I think we were both wondering how this trip would work.

What's great about Uncruise is it's a choose-your-own adventure — each day we would be able to pick two activities for that day, and there was no obligation to stick together.

The first day, we were going to get up close to glaciers and icebergs. I immediately thought kayaking was the activity for us; Rose wasn't so sure. I convinced her to try it, and off we went. The scenery was amazing — giant icebergs floated around us — as our guide pointed to a spot in the far distance as our turnaround point. I was loving it. As the wind picked up and the rain started, Rose told me that she was glad she had done this, but she wanted me to know that it was a one-and-done type of activity. Her back hurt, and she was tired.

The next day, when the activity options were given, I immediately jumped at the chance to bushwhack. Bushwhacking was basically hiking up the Alaskan terrain without any paths, so literally bushwhacking our way through — climbing over roots, under fallen trees, and into some pretty muddy spots (I got stuck — and almost lost my knee-high boots — in several swampy areas).

We went off to do what we liked

I asked Rose what option appealed to her, and she said the skiff tour — a boat ride that gets close to shore and promises to see plenty of animals (no exercise required). That activity was at the bottom of my list. At first, I tried to convince her to go bushwhacking with me, but then I realized that this was her vacation, too. Yes, we were traveling together, but we also had very different interests and ideas of what constitutes a good vacation.

Rose went on her skiff tour and came back super excited — she saw tons of grizzly bears, humpback whales, otters, and even orcas. While I had not seen any animals, I was flying high on adrenaline from hiking up a mountain without a trail and taking in the most magical views from the top.

Rose quickly made friends with the other skiff riders, and I became good friends with my hiking and kayaking buddies. Each day, Rose and I did our own thing — no pressure on the other person to join. And it worked out beautifully. She saw tons of wildlife, and I got my active adventure.

Unlike when we were younger and felt strongly that we needed to do the same things, getting older allowed me to realize that accepting my sister and her choices — and not pressuring her to do what I thought was best — was the key to a happy relationship.

• I've lived in Florida my whole life and have spent time in every part of the state.
• Many tourists visit Orlando and Miami's South Beach, but I'd recommend a few other spots instead.
• St. Augustine has a ton of history and culture, and Vilano Beach is quiet and beautiful.

I was born and raised in Miami, then moved to Florida's Space Coast in my 20s.

It was supposed to be a temporary move to save money, but I ended up falling in love with Central Florida. Fifteen years later, I'm still here.

I've traveled all over the state and could honestly fill the rest of my days just visiting different towns and cities in Florida. There's no shortage of tourist destinations here, but parts of Orlando and Miami are home to tons of crowds … and traffic.

Instead, there are four lesser-known places I'd recommend for gorgeous beaches, culture, and history.

Visiting Coral Gables feels like stepping back in time

If you want to experience Miami like a local, I'd recommend staying in Coral Gables.

Founded in the 1920s and featuring historic landmarks like the Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables feels completely one of a kind. I always think of it as a town within a city — it's very different from the South Beach atmosphere that many people might imagine when they envision Miami.

Spending time in "the City Beautiful," as Coral Gables is dubbed, is like stepping into a version of "The Great Gatsby" featuring a modern, tropical backdrop. The public Venetian Pool, for instance, first opened in the 1920s and features waterfalls and cave-like grottos.

For those with young kids, Matheson Hammock Park has a family-friendly beach complete with amenities. There's also Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, an 83-acre botanic garden that opened in 1938 and is exactly as spectacular as it sounds.

Plus, when you're in Coral Gables, you'll eat at some of the best restaurants in the world — especially if you love a classic Italian spot. My favorite is Caffe Abbracci, which has been there since 1989.

I'll always recommend a visit to Alachua County

Alachua County is full of wide, open spaces and lots of horses. It neighbors the city of Ocala, which is known as "the Horse Capital of the World" for a reason.

If you enjoy being out in nature, this county has a plethora of hike-worthy nature preserves — including Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, where, if you're lucky, you might see wild-roaming horses and bison.

There's also Mill Creek Farm, a retirement home for horses that opens to the public on Saturdays, allowing guests to go for hikes while feeding rescue horses all the carrots they desire along the way.

Alachua County is also home to Gainesville, which is far more than just a college town. Home of the University of Florida, the city of Gainesville is a cultural hub and feels surprisingly family-friendly.

Here, you'll find tons of performing arts, museums, eclectic restaurants, and sporting events.

St. Augustine is one of my favorite places in Florida

I believe every American should visit St. Augustine at least once.

This city's history is tied up with America's, too. St. Augustine was founded in 1565, almost 42 years before the English settled in Jamestown, making it the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States.

Aside from its history, St. Augustine is a Florida beach town full of art galleries, architecture, local music, and restaurants, giving it an overall very European feel for an American city.

If I could live anywhere, it would be Vilano Beach

I've been to beaches up and down the east and west coasts of Florida, and Vilano Beach is my favorite so far.

When I close my eyes and envision being on a beach, it's this one — and I'm probably there with my pets, since it's dog-friendly.

This is a small town, mainly consisting of a beach and the local fishing pier. Even though there is a tourist presence, Vilano Beach feels like a quiet, local spot, and I get the impression those who live there really love it.

I understand them, though: If I lived there, I'd rarely ever leave. It certainly wouldn't hurt living just a short drive north of St. Augustine, either.

• I grew up eating mashed potatoes yearly on Thanksgiving, but secretly preferred scalloped potatoes.
• We've been making these cheesy scalloped potatoes and skipping the mashed potatoes for years now.
• The crispy cheese crust and creamy layers of potato make this one of my favorite recipes.

I've never been a fan of huge mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving or any other day.

Shirking what many would call a Thanksgiving staple, I've made scalloped potatoes — or potatoes au gratin — for the past five-plus years instead.

Thanksgiving purists may not believe me, but the texture and flavor are far superior to even the best mashed-potato recipe. Plus, with the average cost of hosting Thanksgiving this year reaching $431, according to a recent WalletHub report, I want to make every dish count. 

I've followed several different recipes, but Half Baked Harvest, run by cookbook author Tieghan Gerard, has a recipe for cheesy scalloped potatoes with caramelized onions that has become a go-to on practically every holiday.

Here's how to make it yourself.

I started by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and thinly slicing about six yellow-gold potatoes.

The recipe recommends either russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, but I opted for Yukon Gold potatoes. 

You can find the full Half Baked Harvest recipe and ingredient list here.

After thinly slicing a small yellow onion, I added 2 tablespoons of butter and the onions to a cast-iron pan.

I cooked the onions on medium-high heat until they became golden brown and caramelized. 

After about 10 minutes of cooking, and stirring frequently, I added a quarter cup of dry white wine to the pan.

The wine helped to speed up the caramelization of the onions, creating a heavenly scent in my kitchen.

Then I tossed in a clove of sliced garlic and a tablespoon of chopped fresh thyme.

I cooked the garlic, thyme, and caramelized onions together for two more minutes before removing the pan from the heat.

Next, I greased a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter and set it aside.

The butter ensures that your scalloped potatoes won't stick to the pan, of course.

I started assembling the scalloped potatoes by pouring a third of the milk mixture into the bottom of the pan.

The milk mix is made with 2 cups of heavy cream, 1 cup of whole milk, a pinch of cayenne, salt, pepper, and a ¾ cup of shredded Gruyere cheese. 

I followed the recipe's instructions on how to layer the potatoes, onions, and milk mix.

The first layer of potatoes should use up a third of the sliced potatoes, topped with half of the caramelized onions and garlic. Then, I added another third of the milk mixture, followed by another third of the potatoes, and then the remaining onions.

I then placed the remaining potatoes in an even layer and poured the remaining mixture over the top. 

I covered the dish in foil and cooked it in the oven for two hours.

After two hours, the potatoes were almost done cooking and the milk mixture was bubbling.

I finished the scalloped potatoes by layering about a cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top and popping it back into the oven.

You can grate your own cheddar or Gruyere cheese for this recipe, or opt for store-bought, already-shredded cheese to make Thanksgiving day easier. 

After another 20 minutes uncovered in the oven, the potatoes had developed a deep golden crust on top. I wish you could smell this dish.

I topped the finished scalloped potatoes with another tablespoon of fresh thyme.

These potatoes were a major hit with my roommates, and we all agreed they were better than any mashed potatoes we've ever had.

The potatoes had a delicious, savory crust on the top, and the caramelized onions added a lot of dynamic flavor to the dish.

The creamy layers of the potatoes complemented the crispy texture of the crust, creating a perfect balance of texture and flavor — something I've never experienced with grainy or bland mashed potatoes that, frankly, resemble baby food.

While I know some will never agree with my hot take that mashed potatoes have no place on the Thanksgiving dinner table, I'm perfectly content as long as I'm eating these scalloped potatoes.

• Living in a 193-square-foot tiny house has made me tidier and more organized.
• When designing my tiny house, I created built-in storage and plenty of open shelving.
• I'm now more strict about the items that make it into my tiny house.

Before I moved into my tiny house four and a half years ago, I was accustomed to living minimally as a semi-nomadic travel writer for 25 years. But building — and then moving into — my tiny house really awakened my inner minimalist.

To me, minimalism isn't really about stuff. It's a way of living that's calming. It's a way to simplify and streamline my life, while also helping me save money and live more sustainably.

My 193-square-foot tiny house has enabled me to do all this by designing a life that works for me.

Designing for a minimalist lifestyle

When I designed my tiny house, I intentionally built it with only a few storage spaces.

I created dedicated shelving for my indoor plants, my favourite books (I culled my book collection before moving in), and my bed linen (one set on the bed, the other in the wash).

I built a small alcove above my timber bench to display a few personal treasures and small artworks without cluttering up my walls and windowsills.

I have built-in storage spaces under the couch, the stairs, and the floor — where two bath-sized storage bins serve as a "she-shed" for old photos, love letters, home maintenance tools, and all my camping gear.

I also designed my kitchen cabinets to accommodate all my cookware so my benches wouldn't be cluttered with toasters, blenders, and other appliances.

When I moved into my tiny, I found that I love showering outdoors, in all weather, which allowed my indoor shower to become a bonus storage space for my guitar and a few extra books.

I've downsized most of my belongings

I work from home, so I don't need to wear office clothes. I don't wear makeup or own a hairdryer.

Living in subtropical New South Wales, Australia, also means I can wear shorts, T-shirts, sandals, and linen dresses for most of the year, which don't require much storage space.

But I've adapted to my tiny life, too. For instance, when I need a new household item or appliance, I "buy small" now. I have a small kettle, a hand-held vacuum cleaner, a heater that's half the size of a shoebox, a 32" TV in my lounge loft, and a lime-green watering can that fits snugly under my sink. I even have a pocket dictionary on my desk.

The beauty of living in a small space is that none of these things look quaint. They look right at home.

I've become much tidier and more organized since living in my tiny house

I now put my clothes away neatly as soon as I take them off. I wash the dishes every night so I can wake up to a clean kitchen every morning. I return books to friends or the library the day I finish reading them. I sweep, dust, or clean almost daily.

And I'm constantly decluttering; I no longer keep things "just in case." Clutter is kryptonite to minimalists.

It's surprisingly soothing to know that everything has its place, and I rarely misplace things. In a tiny house, there are only so many places a lost item can hide.

I'm strict about what items come into my tiny house now

I've never been much of a shopper, but like a nightclub bouncer vetting potential guests, I've become fiercely discerning about every new thing entering my home.

Do I need this? Will it last? Will it justify the space it's taking up? Anything that doesn't spark joy or pull its weight in a practical way doesn't make it past the door.

The other question I ask is: Will this simplify my life? Because, for me, simplicity and minimalism go hand in hand, working together in an endless positive feedback loop to clarify my life and make space for what really matters.