Entertainment
An Easy Appetizer For Low-Key Hangs
What food do you set out when hosting friends? I’m a huge fan of friends stopping by, and stoop hangs, and parties of all kinds, but snacks can sometimes throw me — what’s easy but not boring? My hack: King Arthur Baking, our favorite flour company, makes a popular focaccia mix kit, and it’s very simple. Here’s what I made…
I’ve always been a sucker for focaccia. The bread is airy, crispy, and makes you feel like you’re sitting on the Italian Riviera. I’ve served the focaccia mix kits many times — sometimes plain, sometimes with toppings, all delicious. Once I topped the bread with cinnamon sugar (the boys went nuts). Another time I went with a savory combination of roasted broccoli, ricotta, and Parmesan.
This week, feeling inspired, I decided to make the focaccia mix kit two ways: 1. the traditional way, with olive oil and sea salt, and 2) topped with briny green Castelvetrano olives. The mix comes together in just around an hour and makes the whole house smell amazing.
Making the focaccia base is surprisingly simple. First, you stir together the focaccia mix and yeast in a bowl, then add 1 1/2 cups of hot water and two tablespoons of olive oil. Once everything is mixed, just let the dough rest, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Afterward, scoop the dough into a pan coated with olive oil and flip the dough over to coat both sides with oil. Then gently spread it to the edges of the pan. Let the dough rise for another 30 minutes and then drizzle it with two more tablespoons of olive oil. Finally, use your finger tips to “dimple” the dough. Bake the bread for 20 to 30 minutes, and top it off with sea salt right after it comes out of the oven. (Here’s the full recipe, if you’d like to see.)
The result? Airy, chewy bread you can’t stop munching on. The sea salt and olive oil focaccia would be the perfect side for any dinner; and I can’t wait to serve the olive version at our next games night. You could pair it with white wine, grapes and cheese for a tasty, low-key spread.
What toppings would you add to the focaccia? Any yummy combos? King Arthur Baking’s bread kits have become a staple in our home, and I can’t recommend them enough. Their soft pretzel bites are a huge hit as an after-school snack, and the pull-apart garlic bread is really fun to make. Find all their mixes here, if you’d like. xoxo
P.S. How to get kids to talk at dinner.
(Photos by Yossy Arefi for Cup of Jo. This post is sponsored by King Arthur Baking. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Cup of Jo.)
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.
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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
