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Sweet cookies — French Macarons — for your sweetheart

Metro Valentine’s Day presents an opportunity to shower loved ones with special gifts, including treats. Dessert is a significant component of Valentine’s Day, as chocolates and cakes are given and consumed in abundance. French macarons are a great sweet for amateur bakers to add to their Valentine’s Day repertoire. Making macarons often is a labor of love, so offering a sweetheart a plate of these chewy, meringue-based cookies really shows you care. Vary the filling of choice depending on your beloved’s favorite flavors. Enjoy this recipe for “French Macarons,” which ...

Sexist comments are a dealbreaker

Dear Annie: This in in response to the writer who said she was only invited to the shower but not the wedding. This happened to me once. I figured that the invitation had gotten lost in the mail. I did not want to ask directly if this was the case, so instead I asked about the upcoming wedding, including where it was to be held and whether they had chosen a time for the event. It worked. My friend was startled. She said that she didn’t know –– hadn’t I received the invitation? When I said no, she immediately mailed another one to me! –– A Happy Guest Dear Happy Guest: I ...

NAC supplement curb cravings to smoke

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’d like to have your thoughts on what value the NAC supplement may have for reducing cravings for marijuana or nicotine? I’m 73 and have been smoking marijuana daily since I was 21. Now I’m quitting for health reasons. I’ve been taking 1,000 mg of NAC every morning, as I’ve read it helps with smoking cravings. It also seems to be used for anxiety and other mental health issues, lung and heart problems ... the list goes on. I’m not going to smoke anymore, but I’m just wondering what your take is on this, as I’m thinking of sending it to my 38-year-old ...

Readers weigh in about tipping issues

Today’s Sound Off features responses from readers about their opinions on tipping: Dear Readers: I asked for your thoughts on tipping for services when a reader complained about having to tip so many people these days. Here are some of the responses we received: “I won’t tip more than 10% of the bill. I know it angers some places, but I’m on a limited income, and that’s what I can afford.” –– Annie T., in Ohio “I usually pay by check rather than using the electronic gadget used for debit or credit cards. And I never tip more than 15%.” –– Roger M., in ...

Horoscope

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Nothing is a chore to you today, especially the sort of work that might normally be classified as such. Sweeping, cleaning, dusting is all an exercise in appreciation for all the bounty you have the privilege to maintain. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You have goals. Who is interested? It may be a source of stress. Many would like to be on Team You, though you have to make a bigger effort to connect with them. Make it your mission to find your supporters. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You get the feeling you’re drifting off track. This happens when the current is ...

Today in History

Today is Monday, Feb. 6, the 37th day of 2023. There are 334 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Feb. 6, 1952, Britain’s King George VI, 56, died at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England; he was succeeded as monarch by his 25-year-old elder daughter, who became Queen Elizabeth II. On this date: In 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, the United States won official recognition and military support from France with the signing of a Treaty of Alliance in Paris. In 1788, Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In 1815, ...