🤔 Brainteaser of the day: I can be long or short; I can be grown or bought; I can be painted or left bare; I can be round or square. What am I?
Click here for the answer.
✅ Today’s checklist:
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- 10 cooking basics you should know
- Affordable swimsuits under $50
- The juicy podcast you need to listen to this week
- Pet of the week: Meet Miso
QUICK LINKS
⚡ Productivity: A 15 min podcast episode on 3 misguided productivity myths.
🔒 Cybersecurity: Check to see if your data has been hacked.
🏡 Home: The best silk sheets to buy this summer.
💼 Workplace: Millennial boss shows the reality of managing Gen Z.
📊 Economics: The fastest growing industry in the US isn’t what you think.
COOKING
10 Cooking Basics Everyone Should Know
Cooking is both an art and a science, and knowing a few fundamental techniques can transform your kitchen experiences.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to sharpen your culinary skills or a seasoned chef revisiting the essentials, these 10 cooking basics cover everything from using the right utensils to mastering the perfect steak.
1. Understanding Different Knives
Each knife serves a specific purpose in the kitchen:
- Chef’s Knife: Versatile and used for most chopping, dicing, and slicing tasks.
- Serrated Knife: Ideal for cutting bread without crushing it.
- Paring Knife: Perfect for peeling fruits and making precise cuts.
- Boning Knife: Designed to separate meat from bone with precision. Learn more about choosing and using the right knife from Knife Skills 101.
2. Mastering Knife Skills
Understanding basic knife skills can speed up your cooking and make your ingredient prep more precise. Learn how to chop, dice, and mince efficiently. Here’s everything you need to know about chopping onions.
3. Using Thermometers and Tests for Meats
Avoid cutting into meats to check doneness, as this can cause juices to escape. Instead, use a cooking thermometer or the meat doneness hand test.
4. Cutting Meat Against the Grain
When slicing meat, always cut against the grain. This breaks up the muscle fibers and results in a tender piece of meat that’s easier to chew. Learn how to slice meat against the grain here.
5. Choosing the Right Pans
Understand when to use different types of pans. Use non-stick pans for delicate foods like eggs and fish, and cast iron pans for searing meats and cooking foods that need high heat. Check out this handy pan guide.
6. Cooking Rice Perfectly
Never stir rice while cooking, as this can make it sticky. Let it cook undisturbed to achieve fluffy perfection.
7. Utilizing Different Types of Salt
Know when to use different types of salts. Table salt for cooking, sea salt for seasoning at the table, and kosher salt for marinating or preparing meats.
8. Using the Right Onions
Different dishes benefit from different types of onions:
- Sweet onions for frying and roasted veggies.
- Red onions for raw dishes like salads and guacamole.
- White onions for salsas and stir-fries.
- Yellow onions for general cooking.
- Shallots for dressings and as garnishes.
9. Handling Garlic
Learn how to crush garlic effectively to enhance its flavor and mix better in dishes. Use the side of your knife blade to press down firmly on a clove until it splits and the skin becomes easy to remove.
10. Making Your Own Salad Dressings
Create your own salad dressings with a simple vinaigrette ratio: one part vinegar to two parts oil. This method is easy, customizable, and healthier than store-bought alternatives. Learn the basic vinaigrette ratio here.
Whether you’re cooking a simple dinner or preparing for a lavish feast, these tips will help you achieve better results in the kitchen.
SKYROCKET PRODUCTIVITY
Stop feeling overwhelmed by your tasks
Don’t know where to begin with your task list?
Take a few mins to organize your upcoming work week with monday.com.
Perfect for professionals struggling to:
- Prioritize tasks and stay focused.
- Manage overwhelming project loads.
- Keep teammates aligned and productive.
- Optimize daily time management.
Customize your workspace, color-code tasks, set deadlines, and collaborate seamlessly.
Turn chaos into clarity and start loving your work week again.
AFFORDABLE SWIMSUITS
Swimsuits that won’t break the bank
Dive into summer with these stylish and budget-friendly swimsuits. Perfect for any beach or pool day, each piece combines comfort and flair at an unbeatable price:
- Bandeau $30: Rock a chic look with this Bandeau swimsuit that’s both stylish and supportive.
- Sporty Bikini Set $35: Stay active and trendy with this Sporty Bikini Set.
- Tummy Control One Piece $33: Flatter your figure with this Tummy Control One Piece.
- One Shoulder One Piece $36: Make a statement with this elegant One Shoulder One Piece.
- Colorblock Wrap One Piece $36: Add some flair with this vibrant Colorblock Wrap One Piece
- Crochet Triangle Bikini $29: Embrace boho vibes with this Crochet Triangle Bikini.
STAFF PICKS
Call Her Daddy
Originally popular for her candid tales about her sex life, Alex Cooper’s podcast Call Her Daddy is refreshingly honest and relatable for women. Her guests range from Kate Hudson to Jack Harlow, and her topics cover dating, sex, and millennial challenges.
You want to hate it, but it’s like eavesdropping on a juicy story in public — you know you shouldn’t be listening, but you can’t stop (like when she hooked up with a Red Sox player in college). Eventually, you find Alex endearing and respectable for embracing her authentic self.
Cooper’s no-holds-barred style in discussing dating, sex, mental health, self-care, and other topics creates a safe space for people to tell their stories.
For fans of: Girls Gotta Eat, Giggly Squad.
Pair it with: A glass of Paso Dragon red wine and a comfy blanket to fully enjoy the candid and often hilarious conversations.
GUILT-FREE INDULGENCE
Stock your office with delicious, healthy goodies your team will adore 😍
Keeping your workforce happy and healthy improves morale, increases productivity and heightens employee satisfaction.
That’s why SimpaloSnacks has made it their mission to supply healthy, yummy snacks to businesses all over the country.
And right now — they’d like to help YOU.
Choose from an exciting variety of snacks including well-known favorites and new and unique options you wish you would’ve known about sooner.
With Simpalo you’ll get unmatched customization options, personal branding, great pricing and FAST delivery.
You’ll also save time and money by not running to stores grabbing boring unhealthy snacks.
Placing your order is easy and stress-free.
Head over to SimpaloSnacks right now and customize your own box.
JUST FOR FUN
PET OF THE WEEK
Meet Miso
Meet Miso, a perpetual puppy! Maxing out at a mere 8lbs, people always ask how old she is, expecting an answer in months, but this little peanut is 3 whole years old.
Whether she’s throwing her bouncy ball down a flight of stairs, or attempting to conquer a ball that is twice her size, Miso is a master of play.
Beneath the fur and frolic, she’s a cuddle connoisseur, always ready to snuggle up into a pile of blankets, or lick the remaining dinner off your fingers.
💌 We’re huge pet lovers at The Assist and want to feature a pet each week — fill out this form for your fur baby to be featured!
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
🚨 Job Alerts
- Snowball is hiring for a Social Media Manager (West Palm Beach, FL).
- SHARE! The Self-Help And Recovery Exchange is hiring for a Mental Health Clinical Supervisor (Culver City, CA/Hybird).
- Zest Search is hiring for a Head of Product Design (New York, NY/ Remote).
- Softworld, a Kelly Company is hiring for a Software Engineer (Santa Clara, CA).
- Pyramid Consulting, Inc is hiring for a Technical Product Manager (Richmond, VA/Hybrid).
