Meet Millet, the Pseudograin That’s Not Just for Bird Feeders

There’s a whole world outside of oats and wheat to nosh on. If you’ve already tried bulgur and added amaranth to your mix, check out millet. It can sometimes be mistaken for bird seed, but these small golden pearls are rich in antioxidants, contain about six grams of protein per cooked cup, and are a great gluten-free psuedograin (AKA seed that cooks like a grain) to add to your pantry.

Millet is a staple in Africa, Taiwan, and India and is considered the sixth most important grain in the world, as well as one of the oldest. While it can be sprouted or ground down into flour (used to make flatbread), you can eat hulled millet uncooked (it’s especially delicious in pancakes and muffins for extra crunch). For fluffed-up millet that boasts a buttery flavor, toast it dry over the stovetop.

Ready to give millet a try? Here are two simple ways to start cooking with this grain.

Toasted Coconut Millet

(Serves 4 to 8)

Instructions:

1. Melt the ghee or buttery coconut oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the salt and millet, stirring to coat and until the millet’s fragrant and golden, about 2-3 minutes.

2. Pour the water into the pot and bring to a boil. Cover and lower the heat to simmer for 18-20 minutes. Keep the lid on for 5 more minutes.

3. Remove lid. Fluff the millet with a fork. Garnish with toasted coconut.

Cherry Jam Millet Muffins

(Serves 6)

Ingredients:

  • nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/3 cup uncooked millet
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 Tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 3/4 cup almond milk
  • 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup cherry jam

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray down a standard-sized muffin tin with six wells with nonstick spray.

2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt for 30 seconds to combine well. Whisk in the millet.

3. In another larger bowl, whisk together the extract, oil, egg, almond milk, and maple syrup. Whisk in flour mixture until just combined.

4. Fill the muffin tin wells 3/4 of the way with batter. Dollop 2 teaspoons of cherry jam onto each muffin well. Using a toothpick, plunge and swirl the jam into and on top of the muffin batter.

5. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden, the top doesn’t jiggle / is dry, and the top springs back when touched.

6. Cool for 5 minutes in the tin. Then remove the muffins from the tin to cool for a few more minutes on a wire rack.

Find more healthy living inspiration on Pinterest.

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(Recipes and photos by Annelies Zijderveld / Brit + Co)

We are all about bubble tea and boba these days. It's sweet, it's creamy, and it also doubles as a nice snack, thanks to the starchy-sweet tapioca pearls. Thankfully, it’s so easy to prepare at home and you get to choose whatever flavors, teas, and milks you like! Stock up on tapioca pearls and take note: these bubble tea recipes might just inspire you to open your own drink stand.

National Boba Day is April 30, so get ready to celebrate with these sips!

Boozy Vanilla Chai Bubble Tea

Add an extra kick to your usual bubble tea order with a little bit of boozy Baileys! Cinnamon sticks and star anise up the cozy factor of this bubble tea recipe, which makes this drink perfect for chilly nights. (via Brit + Co)

Colorful Tapioca Milk Tea

As much as we love bubble tea, we wish some of the details were more colorful. So when it comes to making our own, you better believe we went crazy with *all* the rainbow accessories! (via Brit + Co)

Mango Boba

Mango nectar adds sweetness and a tropical essence to the plain black tea that makes up this infusion. Try soaking your tapioca in a vanilla simple syrup to give the pearls some flavor of their own! (via Sprinkle Bakes)

Matcha Boba Latte with Lavender Cold Foam

This heavenly boba tea recipe (that's low-key giving Starbucks' new lavender drinks) uses one of BOBABAM's convenient pre-made Matcha boba packs to craft the perfectly balanced sip. It's earthy and floral, and oh-so delish. (via BOBABAM)

Coconut Vanilla Boba

We’ve all had our fair share of bad bubble tea recipes at some point. When you make your own at home, you can adjust the sweetness to your liking and ensure that the tapioca balls are fully cooked every single time. (via Savory Tooth)

Bubble Cold Brew

You don’t always have to choose between your favorite frosty cold brew and boba. Combine the two, and you’ll be saving yourself a ton of cash and getting exactly what you want. (via The Movement Menu)

Thai Almond Milk Bubble Tea

Visit any Thai restaurant, and you’ll likely see a vat of bright orange Thai tea waiting to be sipped. Add some chewy tapioca balls to that, and you’ll get this insanely creamy and refreshing Thai bubble tea. Warning: it’s addicting! (via Love and Olive Oil)

Peanut Butter Banana Boba Shake

You just can't go wrong with peanut butter and banana. Plus, when boba's in the mix, every sip gets sweeter and sweeter. (via BOBABAM)

Horchata Boba

This homemade horchata boba is culinary fusion at its finest. The milky rice, cinnamon and almond combo may take some time to perfect, but once you do… your life will never be the same. (via Love and Olive Oil)

Marscapone Bubble Tea

The (not so) secret ingredient to making this bubble tea extra-creamy is Canadian mascarpone cheese. Finish with cranberry juice for a tart balance to the otherwise sugary taste! (via Dairy Goodness)

Pumpkin Spice Bubble Tea with Boba

Say “buh-bye!” to your daily PSL runs. This bubble tea packs the same seasonal flavor punch, but is way better for you. (via Honestly Yum)

Easy Red Bean Bubble Tea

Red bean tea is typically offered at bubble tea shops, but it’s deceptively easy to make at home. All you need is milk and red bean paste to go with your tapioca pearls and you can have one whenever you desire. (via Contemplating Sweets)

Royal Milk Tea with Boba

Sometimes, simplicity is greater than complexity. This black tea, milk and sugar concoction is mildly flavored and perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up. (via Hello Lovely Living)

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This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

Challengers is honestly just one giant tennis match. While we watch Zendaya's Tashi, Mike Faist's Art, and Josh O'Connor's Patrick play the game in a literal sense, we also see their personal relationship spiral, ricocheting back and forth as each character plays a different role every couple of years. And the crazy Challengers ending is a culmination of this intense emotional journey because it solidifies Patrick, Tashi, and Art's relationship — both to one another, but also to tennis itself.

What did the ending of The Challengers mean?

Image via Niko Tavernise/Amazon MGM Studios

There is a lot of tension between Tashi, Art, and Patrick throughout the movie, and it all builds to the titular Challenger match. It's Art vs. Patrick, and they're playing for way more than just the title and the money (though of course, they're definitely playing for the title and the money) — this is one final chance to prove themselves to Tashi, who's sitting court-side looking very unimpressed.

Both men lose their cool during different sets, but it's in the third and final set that everything comes to a head. At the end of the match, Patrick confesses to sleeping with Tashi using a tennis ball and racket signal only Art recognizes. For a split second Art is is complete shock, and I expected him to completely lose it. And, technically, he does, but in a totally unexpected way. Rather than jump the net and punch Patrick in the face, Art channels his emotions into his tennis, and the fury he feels actually allows him break through whatever slump he's been stuck in.

Unable to have a conversation about Patrick's secret, Art and Patrick talk with their serves and returns. And because Tashi doesn't catch the signal, for the first time in the whole movie, she's cut out of the conversation.

Did Tashi love Art and Patrick?

Image via Niko Tavernise/Amazon MGM Studios

Tashi's been pulling the strings ever since she met Art and Patrick, and she's never not been in control. After Patrick sends the signal, she knows something is going on between them, she just doesn't know what — and it unnerves her. Thanks to Zendaya's expert subtlety, the twitch of her eyebrow or the particularly anxious way she grips her hands are the only things that give her away. But her confusion, and the men's anger, quickly turn to pure joy in the final moments of the movie.

Patrick and Art end up playing so intensely that they meet at the net and embrace, prompting Tashi's iconic tennis yell before she gives one of her first genuine laughs of the film and the screen cuts to black. The first time I saw the movie, I thought "What?!" but the more I think about it, the clearer the Challengers ending is.

Patrick and Art (whose relationship begins six or seven years before the movie opens) haven't spoken since the big fight surrounding Tashi's injury, and their hug proves they're just happy to be playing together again. It's what they've always loved, and their fight over Tashi almost ended it forever. Tashi's pure elation shows she's happy to watch some good tennis, especially after she failed to help Art break out of his rut.

We've only seen Tashi scream like that once before, when she admits to a perfect tennis match. While Tashi does care for Patrick and Art, the end of Challengers proves the characters' true love was never really each other — it was always the game.

What did you think of the Challengers ending? After you rewatch the movie (and then rewatch it again), check out the other Most-Anticipated Spring Movies For 2024.

Lead image via Niko Tavernise/Amazon MGM Studios

Between work commitments, grocery runs, and coffee dates, it feels like we barely have time to even make it to the gym. So when we do actually get our gear and go amid all these responsibilities (hello, 2024 New Year’s resolution), who can blame us for simply wanting to skip straight to cardio, burn as many calories as we can in 30 minutes, and then bounce? Unfortunately, this is a super ill-advised way to exercise, because it means you’re skimping on an essential part of the workout routine: stretching. Although adding a warmupmight mean tacking an extra 20 minutes onto your workout (you can do it!), the numerous benefits should make integrating stretching into your gym time a no-brainer. Nichole Tipps — lead trainer for V Shred, a virtual fitness training program — offers us some insight about the importance of stretching.


Everything You Need To Know About Stretching During A Workout

1. Why to Stretch: It’s not just for gym rats. According to Tipps, all of us, no matter how athletically inclined, should be incorporating stretching into our schedules.

“Many people ignore stretching when working out or just as a daily routine,” she says. “Stretching has an array of health benefits that serve as building blocks for longevity and physical well-being.”

Stretching increases flexibility, which improves range of motion in addition to improving workouts, and it delays the effects of atrophy later in life. It also aids posture and relieves stress. In terms of exercising, stretching has advantages both pre- and post-workout.

“Stretching increases blood flow to the muscles and improves your circulation,” explains Tipps. Because of this, failing to stretch beforehand can result in injury, and neglecting to do it afterward can lead to enhanced soreness and a longer recovery period. You’re also making yourself more susceptible to pain, inflammation, and tension in general, Tipps warns.

2. When to Stretch: Most people are at least vaguely aware of the benefits of stretching, but a lot of confusion surrounds when to actually do it during a workout. Contrary to popular belief, the heavy-duty stretching should be reserved for when you’ve finished exercising.

“After your workout is a better time to stretch with more dedication,” Tipps confirms. “Your muscles are tense, and they are tired and stressed in a good way. So stretching can help relieve that tension and reduce the soreness that results from working a muscle.”

Allot 10-15 minutes for these post-sweat stretches. Before your workout, simply stretch lightly, keeping the time to less than 10 minutes.

“Ease your muscles into the idea that you will be challenging them to perform,” Tipps instructs.

3. What to Stretch: Both of these stretch seshes should always address your arms, legs, and back, regardless of what areas that workout focuses on.

“There are different parts to each of these areas, so concentrate on those that your workout calls for that day, but don’t neglect everything else altogether either,” advises Tipps. “Remember, a lot of workout routines include compound exercises, which are multi-joint movements that work several muscles at one time.”

Although stretching might initially seem like yet another chore to add to your to-do list, its benefits are invaluable enough to no longer ignore. As Tipps encourages, “Stretch regularly, and over time you will reap the benefits and maintain your mobility.”

How do you stretch when working out?

There are quite a few stretches you can do when working out depending on what your body needs. No matter what you end up going with, remember not to force it — stretching should, well, stretch your muscles, but it shouldn't be painful! Check out these Pro Tips To Reach Your 2024 Fitness Goals, The Best At-Home Workouts, and 9 Easy Stretches You Can Do To Exercise At Your Desk for more ideas!

Is it better to stretch during or after a workout?

Nichole Tipps recommends saving your more intense stretches for after a workout. But don't be afraid to do a few easy stretches beforehand!

What’s your favorite stretch during a workout? Let us know on social media!

This article has been updated.

All images via Brit + Co

It truly sounds like something out of a movie, but Scarlett Johansson met her husband, Colin Jost, 14 whole years before they got married. The duo first connected on the set of Saturday Night Live, but didn’t kindle a serious flame until about a decade later. Their story is definitely admirable when it comes to celebrity relationships! Scarlett and Colin now share a son and have been happily married since 2020. Let’s dive into their relationship timeline!

Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for American Cinematheque

January 2006: First meeting

Scarlett and Colin actually met for the first time behind the scenes on the set of SNL. Colin had been a writer for the show when Scarlett hosted.

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

May 2017: The relationship kicks off

Now let’s transport to nearly 11 years later! Though they’d known each other for a while, it wasn’t until May of 2017 that Scarlett and Colin had sparked rumors about their relationship.

Scarlett had guest starred on the SNL season finale and joined the cast and crew for a celebratory afterparty, in which Colin was in attendance.

According to Page Six, the duo were seen talking, flirting, and canoodling.

At the time, Scarlett was going through a divorce with a French journalist named Romain Dauriac, with whom she shares one daughter.

Amy Sussman / Getty Images

September 2017: No more rumors

Colin confirmed the rumors that he and Scarlett were dating at the 2017 Emmy Awards, telling Entertainment Tonight: "She's pretty cool… it's hard to have a lot of complaints, she's pretty awesome. I'm very happy. I feel very lucky."

They made their very first public appearance together that November at the American Museum of Natural History Gala in New York City.

Scarlett had settled her divorce and custody over her daughter with Romain Dauriac around this time as well.

Neilson Barnard / Getty Images

May 2018: Scarlett and Colin attend the Met Gala

Scarlett and Colin stepped out together to many events in 2018, but they looked exceptionally elegant at the 2018 Met Gala. The theme for that year was “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.”

Scarlett wore a Marchesa dress with a deep red gradient while Colin sported a classic black tuxedo.

Amy Sussman / Getty Images

May 2019: Scarlett and Colin get engaged

Scarlett’s publicist confirmed her engagement to Colin toAP in May 2019.

Scarlett herself later addressed the engagement during her sixth time hosting SNL, sharing: "This place means so much to me. I have so many friends here and I met the love of my life here.”

Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

October 2020: Wedding time

Scarlett and Colin kept their wedding party fairly small, as the effects of COVID-19 carried on into the fall of 2020.

Their ask for a wedding gift was that attendees and fans donate to Meals on Wheels America amid the pandemic. Meals on Wheels America shared the news in an Instagram post, the caption reading:

“We’re thrilled to break the news that Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost were married over the weekend in an intimate ceremony with their immediate family and loved ones, following COVID-19 safety precautions as directed by the CDC. Their wedding wish is to help make a difference for vulnerable older adults during this difficult time by supporting@mealsonwheelsamerica. Please consider donating to celebrate the happy couple by clicking the link in our bio.”

Arnold Turner / Getty Images for Netflix

August 2021: The couple welcomes their first child

Scarlett gave birth to their first son, Cosmo, in August 2021. The couple had kept the pregnancy quite private beforehand.

Several months later, the two were very happy to share more about their first child. Scarlett told Entertainment Tonight, "I feel very fortunate that I've been able to take this time to really enjoy the early stages of my motherhood with our son. It's been wonderful. I'm in a 'baby bliss bubble.'"

She later explained the name Cosmo on The Kelly Clarkson Show, saying that she and Colin had "just threw a bunch of letters together."

"It just seemed like a refreshing — it's so charming,” she said on the show. “Our friends all liked it.”

Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images

May 2023: The pair goes to Cannes

Scarlett and Colin attended the Cannes Film Festival in 2023, where her film, Asteroid City, premiered. The two looked stunning together, as Scarlett donned a pink gown and Colin wore a sleek tux.

Paul Morigi / Getty Images

April 27, 2024: Scarlett and Colin attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Scarlett and Colin pulled up to the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Colin hosted the event held in Washington, D.C., opening the event with a hilarious monologue, roasting members around the room. He sometimes faced a tough crowd with the jokes and jabs he made, though he finished on a sincere note, emphasizing the importance of the media's role in democracy.

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

April 29, 2024: Scarlett opens up about her life on the TODAY show

Scarlett hopped on the TODAY show to chat about what she’s currently doing, including her children and her new skincare line, The Outset.

She admitted her daughter, Rose, shares her love for skincare.

“My daughter comes on set sometimes,” Scarlett said. “She knew I was coming into The Outset office today – I think my daughter is more excited about The Outset, to be honest with you,” she joked.

Scarlett also opened up about being off of social media entirely.

“I think social media’s a great tool, it’s a wonderful way for people to connect, but I feel personally – I think I’m just too fragile for it,” she said. “It’s hard to look through other people’s lives and not compare your own.”

Scarlett said her personal struggles with skincare inspired her to create The Outset:

“I’ve just had this long road of struggling with acne and irritation and sensitivity forever, ‘till I was in my mid-20s. It was my own frustration that led me down the path of what has now become The Outset.”

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Lead photo by Paul Morigi / Getty Images.

Few books have made an impact on BookTok like Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us. The story follows a woman named Lily who is intrigued by a new relationship with Ryle, but an encounter with her first love Atlas — and the reminders of her past that Atlas carries — complicates everything. This movie based on a bookwill be one to remember.

We had high hopes for this summer movie, and when it was announced that Justin Baldoni would develop the film in 2019, we knew the story was in good hands. Baldoni won us over with his role as Rafael in Jane The Virgin, and his feature directorial debut Five Feet Apart made us cry our eyes out. If you're a Colleen Hoover fan, keep reading for everything you need to know about It Ends With Us. Check out the rest of this year's 2024 movies too!

When is the It Ends With Us movie coming out?

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

It Ends With Us will hit theaters August 9, 2024. With so much color, plus the fact Blake Lively's Lily runs a flower shop, a summer release is perfect! Because of the writers' strike and actors' strike, production on the film paused over the summer of 2023, meaning the movie got delayed from its original February 9 (then June 21) release date.

Who plays Lily in the It Ends With Us cast?

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni (who's also directing) are set to star in the film as Lily and Ryle, respectively. On April 20, 2023, it was announced that 1923 star Brandon Sklenar would join the duo as Atlas, and on May 1, Jenny Slate joined the cast as Ryle's sister Allysa. Hasan Minhaj joined the film on May 25 as Alyssa's husband Marshall.

Baldoni also posted a TikTok confirming that after an open casting call, they've found young Lily! Thanks to IMDb and some on-set TikToks, it looks like we'll be seeing Isabela Ferrer starring as the younger version of Blake Lively's character.

Fans were initially unhappy with Blake's casting, because in the book, Lily is supposed to be in her early 20s. But author Colleen Hoover explained a bit of the intention behind the casting with the TODAY Show, explaining that the "new adult" genre at the time favored characters in their early 20s — and that the point of the book is its message, not its cast or costumes.

“As an author, we make mistakes,” she says. “There’s no 28-year-old neurosurgeons, you know? You go to school for 15 years. And so to make corrections to what I messed up in the book, we aged the characters up somewhat...I love that there’s discourse surrounding it, I do. I think that people are going to be very pleased. I’m very pleased.”

What is It Ends With Us about?

It Ends With Us follows Lily Bloom after she moves out of her small town to start a flower shop in Boston. When she meets Ryle on a rooftop and quickly falls head over heels, it seems like fate. That is, until she comes face-to-face with her first love Atlas. It's a story of strength, deep-rooted relationships, and identity that made waves on social media.

Where was It Ends With Us filmed?

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

It Ends With Us has been filming in New Jersey. The first set images from It Ends With Us are from a scene that takes place between Lily and Ryle. While Baldoni is wearing a simple black sweater, Lively is wearing two different shades of pink over a brown dress. I love the way costumes highlight all the ways characters are different, and this is the perfect example!

On January 6, 2024, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni were finally spotted in Jersey City again. While the costumes have gotten some backlash, I really love the texture and visual interest in this patchwork jacket + jeans combo! It feels creative and bright — just like Lily :).

And on April 30 we FINALLY got the first official images from the movie and everything looks incredible! The colors are just as bright and yet still have some emotional weight behind them to match the story. I'm particularly obsessed with this Blake Lively outfit — I'm a sucker for a jeans + tank + cardigan combo.

What scenes have the cast filmed?

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

On January 15, 2024, a video of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni filming another It Ends With Us movie scene went viral on TikTok, and users are convinced they know which scene we're seeing in the video. Blake and Justin are walking around outside of a restaurant, which leads fans to believe this is Lily and Ryle's confrontation after they see Atlas in his restaurant for the first time.

Is Colleen Hoover making a movie out of It Ends With Us?

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Yes, we're getting a movie adaptation of It Ends With Us! Filming began in New Jersey the first week of May 2022 and is expected to wrap in early 2024. But after a recent leak from the movie set, one question that's top of mind is whether we're actually getting two movies. The scene, which features Blake Lively's Lily pushing a baby in a swing, doesn't take place in the original novel and fans are wondering whether the film will also use elements from It Starts With Us, the 2023 sequel Colleen Hover published.

"It Ends With Us doesn't have this scene," one TikToker wrote in the comments. "This is definitely It Starts With Us," another added. Now that there are two books, it's totally plausible that they've added elements to the end of the film that set up a sequel movie — and we are totally here for it!

Who else is working on the film?

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

According to Deadline, Lively, Baldoni, Hoover, Steve Sarowitz, and Andrew Calof are all serving as executive producers, while Alex Saks, Christy Hall, and Jamey Heath are producing. Hall is also penning the script for the film.

Follow us on TikTok and Twitter for the latest entertainment updates, and check back here for new info on It Ends With Us! Feel free to rewatch all of Blake Lively's movies too ;).

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Lead image from Savages via Universal Pictures/IMDb

This post has been updated.