Articles by Alice Sjoberg

Technology

Woman shares simple trick to make jacket potatoes extra fluffy and crispy every time

A woman has been praised after sharing her simple method for getting perfectly cooked jacket potatoes every single time. Jacket potatoes, also known as baked potatoes, are a staple in British homes, as they're both affordable and reasonably nutritious. The appeal of a jacket potato lies in its versatility - it can be topped with countless ingredients, each transforming it into an entirely different meal. Popular choices among jacket potato enthusiasts include baked beans, cheese, bacon, tuna mayonnaise, or simply some butter that melts beautifully into the fluffy inside. The combination of the soft, fluffy interior with the crispy skin is what many would claim makes the perfectly prepared spud. Yet achieving this ideal jacket potato often takes longer than anticipated. To assist, one culinary fan has revealed her straightforward technique for cooking jacket potatoes to perfection, while also reducing the waiting time significantly, as oven cooking can exceed an hour. Posting on TikTok , a woman dubbed 'The Airfryer Mum' has demonstrated her uncomplicated approach for preparing flawless jacket potatoes in less time. "If you want the best jacket potatoes, try these in the air fryer ," she advised her followers while displaying the freshly prepared potatoes. So what was her method? Firstly, she gave all the spuds a quick rinse under the tap, simply to remove any remaining soil. Then she patted them dry using a tea towel. Next up, wrap each of the potatoes up in aluminium foil before setting them to cook in an air fryer for 30 minutes at 200 degrees, or until they're soft on the inside. You can check this by simply inserting a fork or a knife into the potatoes. Then simply take them out of the foil package, add some oil and a sprinkling of salt before putting them back into the air fryer for five minutes at a time until they're done. "Now add some butter and whatever toppings you fancy," she advised her viewers. Viewers were quickly impressed by her straightforward hack, with many flocking to the comments section to express their opinions and share additional suggestions. "I've just tried this thanks so much they're insane," one viewer exclaimed. Another user chimed in: "Been doing this for years." "They look lovely," a third person complimented. Another person shared their own cooking method, stating: "15 min microwave 15 min air fryer NO OIL." Several people were also puzzled about whether or not you could use foil in the air fryer. However, with most air fryers, it's completely safe to use foil, as long as it's done safely to avoid blocking airflow or touching the heating element. However, you should check the specifications for your specific air fryer about this, just to be on the safe side.

Technology

Stephen King says chilling real-life experience inspired IT's Pennywise

Stephen King's spine-chilling novel IT has seen numerous adaptations over the years. What all of them have in common, however, is the way they follow the character of Pennywise, the terrifying clown. King began writing the creepy novel in September 1981 and finished it in December 1985, as he shares with readers at the end of the book. However, fans may be unaware that a 'creepy' encounter with a real-life clown inspired King to create the character. Ever since its publication, fans have been intrigued about what could have inspired King to create such a horrifying character like Pennywise . Some have speculated that the infamous serial killer and sex offender John Wayne Gacy , known for his clown persona and sentenced to death in 1980, might have been the real-life inspiration behind the fictional villain. However, King has never confirmed this theory. Instead, he has voiced his own views on clowns and their 'terrifying' appearances which often frighten children . After writing The Stand, King was crossing a bridge in Colorado when he imagined a troll akin to the one from the children's story Three Billy Goats Gruff, but living in a sewer system rather than under a bridge. He explained that the entire narrative "just bounced" into his mind, especially the idea that 'It' could shapeshift - often into a clown, a figure that even King finds terrifying. In a 2005 appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien , King shared his own childhood fear of clowns which helped create the idea of Pennywise. "Let's talk about it, because you were one of the first people who had the idea that a clown could be a scary figure," Conan said, referring to Stephen's hit book IT, which has later been adapted into films. "Did you find clowns scary when you were a kid?" Conan asked the horror author. King recalled his unsettling experience at the circus as a child, where he saw a dozen adults with pale white faces and 'blood red' lips painted on, before quipping: "What's not to like?" When asked if he'd had a personal encounter with a clown that left him frightened, the author recounted a 'creepy' incident involving a clown on a plane. While returning from Cleveland, Ohio - the last stop on his first major book tour - an unexpected passenger boarded the plane just as it was preparing for departure. "The door opens again and Ronald McDonald gets on the airplane," King remembered. "He's fully dressed [as a clown], sits down next to me, because I attract weirdness, you know? I'm like a weirdness magnet. "And I was so weirded out by that point, that I wasn't even surprised. Here he is, orange hair, orange shoes, the whole nine yards. He sits down next to me. Plane takes off, no smoking lights goes off, he pulls out a pack of kents [cigarettes], lights up." He then continued, recalling how the clown had ordered a gin and tonic, leading him to think: "And you think, what if this plane crashes? I'm gonna die next to a clown."