Hasta La Gadget!

Just about a year ago I wrote about a favorite early-summer dish: Pasta with peas. It was made with Italian speck and cream, it used the tiny dried pasta called perline, and it was – and is – delicious.

So far this season, Jackie and I have (repeatedly) been eating our peas just cooked à la française with spring onions, bacon, lettuce and butter, which makes the best of dinners with grilled bread or plain steamed new potatoes. That isn’t to say pasta has been neglected: we had a variant on peas-and-perline the other day, and it was different enough to merit a place in the summer repertoire.

For one thing, it used bow tie pasta – farfalle – made of fresh egg pasta. As you can see in this video from Mario Batali, these are easy to make but time-consuming. So you’d need to set aside half an hour for the task. You could buy them ready made, of course, or simply cut your fresh pasta into 1-by-2-inch strips (2.5 by 5 cm). Figure on 3 ounces (85 g) of pasta per person for a moderate main course.

And instead of using cream, which can be cloying, I made a light béchamel using 1-1/2 tablespoons (20 g) of butter, 2-1/2 tablespoons (roughly the same weight) of flour and 1-1/2 cups (350 ml) of milk, plus salt and pepper. Once you’ve made a flour-and-butter roux, start with 3/4 of the milk, then once the sauce has thickened add more if necessary to attain the consistency of heavy cream (or melted ice cream – a more appealing image at the height of summer). That quantity was for three portions, as are the photographs below.

The final difference was crucial: fava beans (broad beans) instead of peas. While still summery-green and fresh-tasting, favas have a nutty, even slightly bitter flavor and a more substantial texture than peas. They can be a nuisance to prepare – nowhere nearly as much fun as shelling peas. Get them out of their thick, cotton-lined pods however you can – some will pop open like pea pods, but they are usually more resilient and need to be torn open – then blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds and chill them in a bowl of cold water. Now you must skin them: pierce the tough skin with a thumbnail, then squeeze to extract the beautiful bright-green beans. That part is easy and enjoyable. Happily, you won’t need more than 1/3 cup (80 ml by volume) per person.

From here, proceed as for last year’s pasta and peas dish: take a small handful of smoked Italian speck cut into short matchsticks (or substitute prosciutto) and cook it gently in butter for a minute or so. Add béchamel and simmer for a minute or two to enable the speck to flavor the sauce, then turn off the heat while you boil your pasta. When this is halfway done, reheat the sauce and add the favas – they’ll need only a moment to finish cooking – then stir in the pasta. Adjust seasoning and consistency: if the sauce is too thick, it will get cludgy on the plate, so add a little milk or cream if necessary.

Fava beans are always worth the bother of shelling and peeling, but a bother it is; beyond its deliciousness, this dish has the advantage of not needing a huge pile of beans while unmistakably showcasing their unique flavor.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

This home invasion suspect picked the wrong people to mess with.

A group of friends was able to turn the tables on a suspected armed intruder after he allegedly broke into their Tennessee apartment late Sunday night, only to be subdued and beaten by a man inside.

The alleged victims, speaking to WRCB, said they had never met 22-year-old Calvin Carter III before he knocked on their Chattanooga front door around 11:30 p.m. and demanded to be let inside. 

“It sounded like he was messing with a gun,” 19-year-old Shane Feeney told the local news station. “So I came back and I was like, ‘I don’t know if he is, but it sounds like he’s messing with a gun. I’m going to call the cops.’”

As the men waited for police to arrive, one man tried to make a run for it out a back window. Carter got wind of the attempted escape, however, and forced the man back inside at gunpoint, according to a police press release obtained by HuffPost.

Once inside, Carter allegedly demanded one of the men’s cellphones. In the process, he was jumped by two people inside the home, who disarmed him and held him until police arrived.

“He kept wrestling with me,” Tucker Williams, who helped hold Carter down, told WRCB. “I was like, ‘You have one more chance, please stop.’ He wouldn’t stop and that’s when I punched him in the eye twice.”

During the struggle, police said Finney was shot in his leg. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment and later released.

Police, reached by HuffPost on Monday, declined to provide further details on the case, including Carter’s facial injuries, saying the incident remains under investigation. “We do not release details until the case is closed and a conviction is obtained,” the police said.

Carter was arrested on charges of first-degree attempted murder, aggravated assault, felony reckless endangerment and “especially aggravated battery.” Tennessee law defines the latter charge as felony that occurs when someone enters a building with the intent of committing a crime and that “results in any person lawfully on the premises suffering serious bodily injury.”

He’s being held on $1,750,000 bond with a court date scheduled for June 27, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. He is not listed as having an attorney.

type=type=RelatedArticlesblockTitle=Related… + articlesList=591a124ae4b07d5f6ba545c3,58d63dcde4b03787d358f8c3,58861894e4b0e3a7356a40bd,56e1dd4ce4b065e2e3d543de,57aec23be4b069e7e5057c9b

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Two men get into the Pride Month groove on the Los Angeles streets in this colorful music video that’s also a retro-inspired meet cute. 

Released by the DanceOn Network, the video stars dancers Derek Tabada and Will Johnston, who sport jewel-toned Paul Smith suits as they perform a playful, acrobatic routine to the tune of singer-songwriter Dylan Hyde’s “Clearly.” Eagle-eyed viewers may recognize Johnston, who also choreographed the number, from “The LGBTQAlphabet,” a similarly queer-inclusive video produced by Equinox in collaboration with the LGBT Community Center and released earlier this month. 

At one point, the dancers strut their stuff in front of Paul Smith’s West Hollywood storefront, which received a rainbow makeover earlier this month as part of an Instagram Pride Month initiative. 

DanceOn CEO Amanda Taylor told HuffPost her company hoped to “act as an ally and an advocate” for the LGBTQ community by releasing the video, which aims to “channel artistic expression for positive change.” Last year, the group produced a contemporary dance homage to Orlando’s Pulse nightclub tragedy that has since received over 2 million views on YouTube. 

The Paul Smith storefront, of course, is typically painted pink, and is known as one of the most photographed locations of its kind in Southern California. Unveiled June 7, the new paint job is one of five “rainbow walls” created by Instagram to “strengthen relationships through shared experiences,” particularly among members of the LGBTQ community. Visitors are asked to share images of themselves in front of the five walls, which will also appear in London, Madrid, Cleveland and Nashville, Tennessee, with the hashtag #KindComments so that others can use Instagram to find a “community of support.”

“For Pride, we hope the rainbow walls become physical structures that inspire kind comments and support,” Instagram’s Chief Operating Officer Marne Levine told HuffPost, “but equally create an opportunity for people to come together on Instagram to support the LGBTQ community.”

Take a look at some photographs from the June 7 rainbow wall debut below. 

Find ways to celebrate Pride by subscribing to the Queer Voices newsletter.    

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Men who wear man buns: you’ve officially been recognized.

The hairstyle made famous by Jared Leto ― and worn by every living, breathing hipster in Brooklyn ― has finally reached peak trendiness and landed itself on the cover of The New Yorker. 

The artwork shows a heavily tattooed man wearing a tank top, laser-focused on crafting a top knot for his long hair: 

Artist Peter de Sève, who created the cover, told the magazine about his muse(s) for the artwork: 

“Brooklyn’s eccentricities are an endless font of inspiration for a guy in my line of work,” de Sève said. “I live in Park Slope, and my covers are often inspired by a person or place a few blocks from my home—if not right outside my window.” 

Though the hairstyle took off a few years ago, this cover is proof the man bun’s popularity hasn’t slowed down one bit. At one point, Groupon even offered clip-on man buns for men who wanted the hairstyle but didn’t quite have the long locks to achieve it: 

Considering real man buns are believed to cause baldness, these fake buns might actually be the best option for men who wear the hairstyle often. 

What a time to be alive. 

The HuffPost Lifestyle newsletter will make you happier and healthier, one email at a time. Sign up here.

type=type=RelatedArticlesblockTitle=Related… + articlesList=5641f766e4b0307f2caedcb6,560d8a95e4b0af3706dff9a8,562f9013e4b0c66bae597196

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Natural oils applied topically used to have a bad reputation -– they tended to be associated with greasiness, clogged pores and unsightly spots. Fast forward and natural oils have flooded the beauty scene, and for good reason. Botanical oils have the ability to hydrate, moisturize, rejuvenate and purify while leaving your skin glowing and supple. If you’re patient enough, some of them even have the ability to repair damaged skin, soothe irritated skin and fade scars.

If you’re worried about applying oil to oily skin, don’t be. Certain oils are perfect for oily skin as they work to reduce sebum production (the sebaceous gland secretes oily matter) and help to rebalance your skin. The more good oil you put on your skin, the less your face will be inclined to produce its own.

For aging skin, the most important features to look for in natural oils are protection against free radical damage, firming, plumping and tightening of the skin, reducing the appearance of dark circles and age spots and stimulating cell regeneration and renewal. It’s also important to find which oil suits you best.

Don’t forget, quality is queen when it comes to natural oils. Look for products labeled as “100% pure,”“organic,”“cold-pressed” and “unrefined.” This ensures that you’re using the best, least refined oils that have all their natural goodness without any chemical toxins such as parabens, synthetic colors and fragrances, sulphates and unnatural preservatives.

Here are 11 oils to keep your eyes on.

Avocado Oil: If you can get past its thick consistency, avocado oil can do a world of good for your skin. The oil contains sterolins, which are known to help reduce the appearance of age spots and facilitate the softening of the skin. Studies have also found that unrefined avocado oil can increase the amount of collagen in the skin. 

Product pick: Antipodes Divine Face Oil Organic Avocado Oil & Rosehip, Diptyque Satin Oil for Body and Hair

Pomegranate Seed Oil: Pomegranate is incredibly fast-absorbing and is a known source of antioxidants that tackle free radicals and promote cell regeneration. For mature skin, pomegranate oil is great at preventing signs of aging and reducing wrinkles by promoting elasticity. Another bonus: it’s great for dry and irritated skin types.

Product pick: John Masters Pomegranate Facial Nourishing Oil

Rosehip Seed Oil: This oil, which is extracted from the seeds of the rose plant, is popular for a number of reasons. For one, it contains high amounts of Vitamin A, which aids scar reduction, and Vitamin C, a powerful, concentrated source of antioxidants which tackle skin dryness, fine lines and wrinkles. Victoria Secret’s Angel Mirander Kerr credits rose hip oil as the magic behind her glowing complexion.

Product picks: Trilogy Rose Hip Oil, Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil

Evening Primrose oil: Evening Primrose oil can be taken orally in capsule form to help with PMS, menopause and other related issues. Applied topically, Evening Primrose is a great nutrient for the skin and has plenty of essential fatty acids, mainly an Omega 6 fatty acid called GLA (gamma-linoleic acid). GLA helps improve the skin’s barrier function and can also decrease inflammation, which is useful for aging skin because inflammation can accelerate signs of aging, and often causes age spots, scarring and discoloration. The oil can also help with firmness and elasticity.

Product picks: Cowshed Evening Primrose Balancing Facial Oil, Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Sea Buckthorn Oil: This is a relatively unknown oil, even though it has a bunch of impressive nutritional qualities that can benefit your skin. For example, its Vitamin C content is twelve times higher than that of an orange, it has three times the amount of Vitamin A than carrots and its Omega 6 and Omega 7 content give the oil skin regeneration and repair properties. On top of that, Sea Buckthorn oil contains an important enzyme that works to prevent free radical damage, which is good news for aging skin.

Product picks: Belenos Therapy sea buckthorn Sea buckthorn Oil, Weleda Sea Buckthorn Body Oil

Raspberry Seed Oil: High in Vitamin E and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, Raspberry Seed Oil has properties that can condition and protect skin from environmental damage. The natural fruit oil also works as a broad spectrum UV protectant, which is great for protection against sun damage. 

Product pick: Cowshed Raspberry Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Oil

Argan Oil: Argan oil is no stranger to the beauty scene ― a 2015 study revealed that long-term use of this oil has anti-aging effect on postmenopausal skin, so its popularity comes as no surprise. The oil, which is extracted from a unique tree found only in Morocco, is packed with a lot of good stuff that your skin will love, including antioxidants, Vitamin E and 80% essential fatty acids. This makes it great for anti-aging because it works to protect your skin’s elasticity while promoting healthy collagen.

Product picks: Facetheory Calming Argan Oil O1, The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil, Meraki Pure Oil

Marula Oil: Native to the southern region of Africa, Marula oil has similar properties to Moroccan Argan oil but this exotic oil contains 60% more antioxidants than its North African counterpart. Marula has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties meaning it can help heal acne and related blemishes. Being rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Omega 9 fatty acids, Marula oil is great at improving the skin’s elasticity and helping to renew cells.

Product picks: Drunk Elelphant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil, African Botanics Pure Marula Oil

Prickly Pear Seed Oil: This is a somewhat new oil that has fabulous anti-aging properties. It’s ideal for dry and mature skin types because of its concentration of Vitamins E and K, Omegas 6 and 9 and essential fatty acids , all of which helps to soften skin, restore elasticity, tackle free radicals and help to brighten dark circles. 

Product Picks: Akhal Organic Prickly Pear Seed Oil, MUN Ayour Body Toning Serum, La Bella Figura Organic Barbary Fig Seed Oil/Prickly Pear Seed Oil.

Wheat Germ Oil: Wheat Germ oil contains excellent amounts of Vitamin E as well as other vitamins, proteins and essential fatty acids. Topically, it helps to form new skin cells and improve circulation, which is great for mature skin because it nourishes and revives dehydrated, dry skin. The only caveat is that you should avoid this oil if you are gluten-intolerant or allergic to wheat–make sure you do a test patch before using products containing this oil. 

Product picks: ESPA Regenerating Face Treatment Oil, Aesop Geranium Leaf Hydrating Body Treatment

Grapeseed Oil: This is in everything from face oils to body moisturizers. It’s an incredibly lightweight oil that doesn’t clog pores and it also works to firm and tighten skin.

Product pick: Fushi Grapeseed Organic Oil

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.