Entertainment
A Really Good Five-Minute Dinner
A few months ago, I came home with my five-year-old after a very long Sunday of activities and schlepping. Both of us were cranky and in need of early bedtime, and I was in no way up for cooking. It was one of those nights where you really want to order takeout, but you just did that the night before.
In a last-ditch effort, I grabbed a can of beans in tomato sauce from the cabinet, then looked in the fridge for something to oomph it up a bit. Mozzarella? Sure. I threw the beans in a pot with a handful of shredded mozz, along with some spinach, warmed it up for two minutes, then scooped it onto a slice of sandwich bread. “Pizza beans!” I declared, because sometimes ya gotta sell it. And frankly, my cabinet concoction did not look particularly appetizing. Still, I figured it would taste okay, because tomato sauce and mozzarella usually do. Then I took a bite from the pile of mystery beans, and to my astonishment, it was PHENOMENAL. Savory and saucy and gooey. It was so much better than a can-of-beans-plus-the-first-thing-I-saw-in-the-fridge had any right to be.
I now make it regularly, even when I have more than five minutes to make dinner. It’s warm and filling and super flexible and tastes great with whatever leftover veg you have hanging in your fridge, like cauliflower or zucchini.
Five-Minute Saucy, Cheesy Beans
Serves 1-2
1 can of white or gigante beans in tomato sauce (I used these, but any brand works! Just make sure it’s savory sauce — not sweet, like Heinz baked beans)
1 scant handful of shredded mozzarella
1-2 cups of baby spinach, or chopped cauliflower, broccoli, or whatever chunky vegetable you have knocking around the produce bin
Pour beans into a small saucepan (make sure to scrape out all that yummy sauce!), and set it over a low heat. Scatter mozzarella over the top and stir until it melts and everything is warm and gooey. Stir veggies in for a minute, then turn off the heat.
Serve in heaping scoops over a slice of sandwich bread, or on its own in a bowl. This makes a very hearty serving for one — or two, if you’re sharing it with a five-year-old who’s more tired than hungry. The good news is it really does take five minutes max. Rather than make a big batch up front, I’d suggest starting with one and just leaving the pot unwashed until dinner is definitely over.
P.S. How to say goodbye at a party, and the killer hot chocolate you should make year-round.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
