pasta

The Psychology of Comfort Food

Joanne Dickson

Baking has become a strong theme on social media. The #BakeCorona hashtag has taken off and #QuarantineBaking has over 65,000 posts. Research suggests there are likely benefits from engaging in cooking. The psychosocial benefits of baking have been shown to include boosts in socialization, self-esteem, quality of life, and mood. Cooking with children may also promote healthy diets. By providing and sharing food with other people, baking may strengthen social relationships and make us feel closer to our loved ones. This may explain why it’s become so popular in these times.

U.S. and China Prepare for a New Cold War

by Tony Walker

America now has the worst record globally in dealing with the pandemic. Things being equal, this will constitute a significant drag on Trump’s re-election prospects, hence his flailing about in search for scapegoats. Leaving aside American domestic politics – the Democrats will not want to be accused of being soft on China in a presidential election cycle – the much bigger question is the extent to which the pandemic will disrupt, even overturn, a globalizing world.

A Few Facts About the Original Margarita

by BPT

Did you know that the Margarita is America’s favorite cocktail? Since Nielsen first started conducting surveys to discover bargoers’ favorite drinks in 2016, the Margarita has been the number-one pick. In 2019 the drink edged out the Martini, the Old-Fashioned, the Mimosa and the Moscow Mule for the coveted first-place spot. The Original Margarita was created when Dallas socialite Margarita Sames mixed her two favorite spirits, Cointreau and tequila, together with lime juice while she was vacationing in Acapulco back in 1948.