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How Long to Learn That Language? Here’s a Map for That

How the U.S. teaches foreign languages to its diplomats. <br>Read More

Marcus Samuelsson's Meatballs with Ragu and Ricotta

<b>Ingredients</b><p>Meat Sauce Ragu<p>1/3 cup chopped onion<br>• 1/4 cup chopped carrot<br>• 1/4 cup chopped celery<br>• 2 teaspoons olive oil<br>• 1/2 pound ground beef<br>• 1/2 pound ground pork<br>• 1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes<br>• 2 tablespoons tomato paste<br>• 3/4 cup chicken broth<br>• 1/4 cup dry white wine<br>• 1 (14.5-ounce) can crushed tomatoes<br>• 1/2 …

Easy Mole Sauce

Ingredients<p>1 tablespoon canola oil<br>• 1 cup sliced yellow onion (from 1 onion)<br>• 1 (28-oz.) can plum tomatoes, well drained<br>• 2 tablespoons all-natural …

A perfectly seasoned slow-roast pork tacos recipe

My parents left Tehran for San Diego on the eve of the Iranian revolution, shortly before I was born in 1979. The most delightful aspect of our home culture was the food – it brought us together. Rare were the nights when our extended family didn’t join us at the dinner table, which was always full …

How to Sew: Six Basic Hand Stitches

Hand stitching is sometimes seen as a lost art, and while that may be true, it’s not entirely accurate. Hand stitches are as useful and pertinent …

Classic College-Town Cuisine in Seattle's University District

With more than 40,000 students and 20,000 faculty and staff, UW is one of the biggest urban universities in the country. The University District, known more simply as the U District, functions like a big college town tucked inside a city, and the Ave (aka University Way) is its Main Street, where …

The secret's out and there's no schussing it: Seattle is a great ski town

Visitors to this port city might be inclined to turn their attention to the sea and not to the mountains that surround it.<p>Too bad. It turns out SeaTown is a pretty great ski town.<p>Several exceptional mountain day trips lie within easy driving distance of downtown, making Seattle, which has top-notch …

15 Colorful Scandinavian Decor Ideas for a Minimalist Spring Vibe

It’s no secret that Scandinavian decor is trending in the interior design world. From its minimalist vibes to the clean lines and uber-modern look, everything about it is simply stylish. If you’ve been meaning to add a touch of Scandinavian style to your home, this spring is the perfect time to …

The Best Dishes From Every Indian State And Their Authentic Recipes Are Right Here

The whole world sees India as a colourful country and one famous for food. Most of the international recipe shows are turning to India for a unique …

San Francisco's Best Running Routes, Mapped

20 Breakfast Bowls to Jump-Start Your Morning

With desk lunches becoming more and more common, it’s also increasingly important to unplug and find some time for yourself. There’s one way to do exactly that, and it’s so simple you’re going to want to try it right away. Want the solution? It’s breakfast! Here’s the deal: If you can make time at …

The best cycling torque wrenches

It’s a hand tool you probably see recommended plenty in manuals and maintenance articles – the torque wrench. Simply put, this device measures and …

The British Columbian Wilderness and the Baddest Water Filter Ever Built

300 miles north of Vancouver lies the Great Bear Rainforest. It’s a huge, rugged, chunk of land with ample diversity of scenery, and the best part is …

The simple and delicious way Italians make espresso

And while it is a vital morning ritual in Italy, taking pride of place over any other activity as the first thing to do after getting out of bed, it is also an after-meal ritual, a mid-afternoon ritual, and even, for some, a before-bed ritual.<p>It's a sign of good hospitality to offer guests—even …

Home Improvement Skills Every Adult Should Know

By: Alex Robinson<p><i>Credit: Shuttershock</i><p>One day you woke up, watched the news, put on a pair of pants, checked your bank account, and paid a bill. Then went to work. Congratulations, you're a grown adult.<p>There are certain privileges that come with being a grown adult, like eating cereal whenever you …

10 Great Platforms To Learn Languages For Free

I honestly feel quite insecure every time someone tells me that they can speak more than one language. One of the disadvantages of English being your …

The BMW E39 M5 Is the King of Sport Sedans

The perfect recipe for a sports sedan looks something like this: 300+ horsepower from a naturally aspirated engine, 50/50 weight distribution, …

The Best of the 2015 Tour de France by STRAVA

The Best Bike Ride in Every State

From climbs over majestic mountain passes to blissful Sunday beach cruises, truly great cycling routes can be found in all 50 states, from Maine to Hawaii. Make plans to ride as many as you can.<p><b>ALABAMA</b> <br>The Fort Morgan Ride<br>Start this rocking ride at Lulu’s, home of fried crab claws, then trace …

11 of the world’s best cities for coffee lovers

Sacramento made its way onto the list of Sprudge’s underrated coffee cities in the United States. Doing business in town requires wading through the …

Cycling to extremes: Heart health and endurance sports

There are 50 years of cumulative variables that would need to be considered to fully understand what went wrong on that cold, crisp day at Devil’s …

11 Ways to Brew Better Coffee at Home

At its heart, brewing better coffee is a straightforward task. You want to pour the proper amount of water at the proper temperature through the …

7 Drinks That Will Change the Way You Consume Coffee Forever

When Starbucks rolled out the Flat White earlier this year, it proved that a simple tilt of milk ratios can send the coffee-drinking public spiraling …

A 30-Minute Strength and Cardio Circuit to Challenge Your Entire Body

Ready to take your home workout to a new level? While you may have heard about interval training—trainers' dirty little secret for a stronger body …

Carbon road bikes: are they worth the money?

It has long replaced aluminium as the pro riders bike material du jour, but carbon fibre can be an expensive choice for enthusiasts… we test models from Trek, Colnago, Pinarello, Canyon, Planet X and Cube<p>You have to go back to 1998 to find the last non-carbon bike used to win the Tour de France, …

World's Best Hikes: Epic Trails

A truly great trail winds into the essence of a place, so when assembling this list of the world’s great hikes we kept an eye on more than the footpath. We looked for walks that travel deeper into a location’s history and culture. Sure, there’s outdoor adventure on each of these 20 hikes, but the …

National Geographic Travel

Long-Distance Hiking 101

One of the biggest misconceptions about long-distance hikes is that they are just like a regular backpack, only longer. Yes and no. Unlike a …

Free Things to Do in Vancouver

Canada's third largest city has plenty to see and do for visitors with all interests, from chic city-goers to outdoors enthusiasts. But visiting this eclectic city doesn't have to empty your pocket of Loonies. Check out our comprehensive guide to activities and attractions that are free all year …