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Sharpening your kitchen knives can feel like a chore. You know they’re getting dull when they can’t cut through things with ease, but we tell ourselves that one more dinner won’t hurt, or that this weekend you’ll make the time (but you don’t, do you?). Well, I’m here to provide some inspiration.

An Instagram post from dewclaw_knives is getting a lot of attention because of the mesmerizing way the person cuts a potato. Sure, that might not sound like the most interesting thing, but trust me — you need to watch.

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Over the past 10 years, Candystore.com has been recording the highest-selling jelly bean flavors per state in addition to tallying thousands of votes from individuals across America. (I know, right? We’re all in the wrong profession. We could have been candy counters all along!)

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Flower arranging is one of those skills that’s lost on many of us. Try as we might, our floral creations wind up all wonky and off-balance, with rotting leaves in the vase and petals that wilt before their time. Learn these basic steps, however, and you’ll get a prettier bouquet and more time to enjoy it.

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As an herbalist I believe that the human organism desires equilibrium. Working regularly with healing herbs and foods can help restore balance to our bodies and minds. Sometimes when I say this people hear “We don’t need doctors” and then they call me crazy. I am not opposed to Western doctors, but there’s nothing crazy about desiring the skills and knowledge to take care of ourselves and each other.

Herbalism and science are tools; they are neither in opposition to nor in competition with each other. Most of us already live a life that includes both tools: we go for annual checkups and prepare beautiful, healthful food for ourselves and people we love. Broadly speaking, herbalism is well-suited to promote healing through prevention, while conventional medicine is skilled at heroic interventions — we need both of them.

I have confidence that, for many of us, a commitment to a healthful lifestyle that includes long-term relationships with plants can mean less extreme medical interventions in the future. Every plant we ingest prefers a particular environment, has a special set of skills, and does different things in our bodies. The group of plants that are especially skilled at helping us cope with stress are called adaptogens: they’re relatively non-toxic in a normal therapeutic dose, they increase our ability to deal with stress no matter the source, and have an overall strengthening effect in our bodies. One of these plants, ashwagandha, is experiencing a resurgence right now.

Read more: Here’s What You Need to Know About Adaptogens

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A while ago, I confessed that I spent a small fortune on a trash can — and had no regrets about it. Commenters were split on whether this was a smart investment or an extravagance, and no wonder: A quick Amazon search reveals you can just as easily spend under $20 or over $200 on a trash can, with plenty of options in between. So why would you shell out the big bucks? Good question!

I probably spend more time than the average person thinking about trash cans. To be fair, it’s part of my job! But I do not spend as much time thinking about trash cans as Dave Wolbert, head of business development and R&D for SimpleHuman, the company behind my own pricey trash can habit. It’s almost all of his job! So I got him on the phone to discuss. (Note: I reached out to several other brands of similarly priced trash cans, but they didn’t respond by press time.)

Here’s why these premium trash cans are so darn expensive.

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Happy International Women’s Day! Since 1911, this has been a day to celebrate women and their achievements, and to press for gender parity around the world.

There are so many conversations and stories we could have about women in the kitchen (it’s been a place that has both weighed women down and launched them forward).

But for today we kept it simple: We asked our readers to tell us about women who have inspired them to cook and eat with joy. Joy — without fear or shame or the weight of cultural expectations — is a state of freedom. Here are a few inspiring stories from our readers of women who have freed them in the kitchen.

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Every mom knows that when you’re out and about with toddlers, you better bring some snacks. Toddlers have tiny tummies and attention spans, so loading them up with a filling meal before you leave the house isn’t always going to work.

And because we’re always looking for ways to add more fruits and vegetables to our kids’ diets, tucking a couple pouches of fruit and veggie purée in our bag seems like a smart move. These pouches don’t get bruised or need to be cut up, like fresh fruit. And if you don’t use them, no problem — they’ll keep for months until you crack them open.

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According to 2016 stats from the EPA, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds of trash a day, and the average family of four produces 17.4 pounds. At first it was a surprise to me that kids create just as much waste as adults do, but then I remembered all the diapers, single-serve applesauce packets, and “art” they bring home from school … the kids may be worse than I am! That being said, I feel like we might be on the low side of average: We recycle and compost diligently, buy relatively few things pre-packaged, and usually remember to bring our reusable bags to the grocery store. With all that, we (a family of four) have a 45-liter (12.5-gallon) trash can that we empty about once a week.

Of course, figuring out the best size trash can for you is about more than just how much trash you produce. It’s about your habits, tolerance, and space requirements. Here are the factors to consider in order to choose the best size trash can for you.

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Every day the Instant Pot seems to get more and more magical. I mean, what can it not do? The Instant Pot replaced rice cookers, slow cookers, and pressure cookers all over the country, and made millions of Americans think about making their own yogurt. You can even use an Instant Pot to make your own wine. (Yes, really.)

But there’s one simple, obvious-once-you-think-about-it trick that makes Instant Pots even more convenient: You can use the handles to hold the lid.

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There’s no shortage of ways to get your fill of tacos. Here’s how I get mine every year when chili season rolls around: I reimagine my favorite chicken tacos into a thick, chunky chili loaded with tender bite-sized pieces of boneless chicken thighs and a duo of beans, all topped with shower of cheddar and scallions. Just don’t forget the crunchy tortilla chips for dipping!

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