Author: Jeremy Milliner

Nailing good scrambled eggs is like trying to brew the perfect cup of tea – you’ll likely fail time and time again trying to recreate that one perfect instance where you got it just right, where you happen to let the tea steep just long enough, add just that right amount of cream or sugar to achieve that singular spot-on experience.

You’ll wake up the next morning and enthusiastically try to brew that same cup of tea again, measuring out just the right amount, timing how long you steep, even using the same cup … but somehow it’s not right. The magic just isn’t there. Can anyone relate?

Maybe we’re just projecting …

Scrambled eggs are one of the simplest breakfast foods you can make, and yet – like that cup of tea or a really good steak – getting it just right each time somehow evades us. One of the biggest contributing factors is that since so many people prep their eggs differently it becomes easy to over-complicate the dish, adding too many ingredients, cooking them for overly long, or getting the wrong consistency.

Seriously, though, there are so many different takes on how to cook scrambled eggs:

You can even learn to scramble your eggs “the Gandalf way!”

If there’s a method for making scrambled eggs, we’ve tried it. We love what these guys showed us, and we’ve found a way of our own that we think is just right. Let’s get started!

How to make perfect scrambled eggs

What you’ll need:

2 eggs
butter (preferably stick)
olive oil
thyme
chives
salt
black pepper

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First off, it’s two eggs per portion. The fresher the better, and you can tell by checking out the membrane when you crack it. Alton Brown explains here just what that looks like:

Crack your eggs into a bowl (careful not to get any shell in there!) and it’s time to get your seasonings. All you’ll need is salt, black pepper, and – the often under-utilized – chives. Add just a pinch of the salt, grind in a couple cranks of black pepper, and then add the chives. The chives are going to add a light, delicate onion flavor, and it’s very easy to accidentally add too much, especially when you’re using fresh. Trust us, though, adding just about a teaspoon or less of chives will make a dramatic difference.

If you’re looking for more ways to use common spices, check out our article here.

Using either a fork or a whisk, vigorously stir the eggs in the bowl until it’s all one uniform golden color.

Next it’s time to get the skillet ready. Be sure to opt for a smaller pan, as it will help with the mixing and folding we’re going to be doing. Surface area is a factor here, and the less of it you have to deal with the better; you’ll get better-developed egg curds and you’ll have more control of the pan and cooking time.

Put in a half tablespoon of butter, then pour a touch of extra virgin olive oil over it. Dust the pan sparsely with thyme (fresh is better!) and get your spatula on stand-by. Once you turn up the heat, you’ll be done with cooking process in about 2-5 minutes. If you want toast with your eggs (yum), then pop it in the toaster now.

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Go ahead and turn the heat up to high. You can optionally throw in some minced garlic here, but it isn’t necessary. Once the butter and oil combination starts to lightly simmer, pour the mixture right into the bowl with your eggs! Give it a quick stir, then immediately pour that mixture back on the pan. Turn down your heat.

TIP: When you’re raising or lowering the heat, judge it by the size of the flame, not what the dial says.

Now comes the quick and delicate cooking process. If you want your eggs to have a heartier, more solid consistency just push the egg mixture around the pan, being sure to fold and move them about quickly – eggs cook extremely fast and you don’t want these to get overdone.

If you’re looking for smoother, richer, runnier scrambled eggs (like you’d put on toast), it’ll take slightly longer. Keep your flame very low from start to finish. The moment your egg mixture hits the pan, take the whole thing off the heat. Stir them constantly to keep the curds uniform in shape. Keep the pan off the stove top for a good 20 or 30 seconds, then return them to the heat, still stirring. Repeat this until your eggs achieve the desired consistency, then pour them directly over your toast.

Sprinkle a few more chives (or fresh parsley!) on top there you have it: Perfectly scrambled eggs. You might be surprised we didn’t use milk or cream at any point. It’s because you don’t need either one to get good, creamy eggs. It’s a common misconception. On the contrary, adding a dairy product like milk will actually leech the moisture from your eggs, resulting in making them come out more rubbery and dry. The best scrambled eggs won’t need milk or cream at all.

Agree with our method? Let us know any add-ons or changes you made in the comments below!

Spend a lot of time outdoors and you’re spending a lot of time in the domain of the animals. Unless you are inordinately unlucky, though, you probably won’t be on the receiving end of a hungry lion upon stepping out your front door! Depending on where you live, however, your likelihood of being threatened by some of the animals on this list will likely go up. While arm-wrestling a shark might not happen to you tomorrow, potentially dangerous animals like snakes, bears, or even dogs live in all parts of the world. Learning how to react to these encounters might just save your life.

Here’s our list of 10 dangerous animals you may encounter, and the best ways to ensure your safety:

How to survive encounters with these 10 animals

1. Dogs

Dogs are Man’s Best Friend, but if you encounter a feral stray with no one around, you could very easily become threatened. Dogs react to movement, as it triggers a chase instinct. This means that you’re more susceptible if running, jogging, or on a bike. Like some of the other animals on this list, dogs are territorial, and if you tread on what they consider to be their property, they may act defensively. First and foremost, do not try to run. It’s almost a guarantee you will lose a race against a dog, and even trying will just trigger their natural instinct to give chase.

If you slow your pace, avoid eye contact, and then stand still (preferably with your side facing the dog, as you’ll look thinner and less threatening), you’re no longer as imposing to him. Next, try not to look or act afraid; it’s not that dogs can ‘sense your fear’ as some people think – it’s that if they can get a rise out of you, they’ll be confident enough to keep pushing the attack. If you appear confident and in charge, the dog will reconsider attacking you, considering you too tough to mess with.

Distracting the dog is also a good bet – throw something away from you that the dog might consider a toy, or even just pretend to pick up and throw something. That way you’re taking the attention away from yourself. If you do get bitten, immediately rinse the bite area with cold water and wrap bandages around the open wound to stop the bleeding. Then see a doctor, even if you don’t think you need to; stray dogs can be rabid, and you may need shots.

2. Jellyfish

If you’re stung by a jellyfish, you’re due for a long period of discomfort. While there’s little way to prevent being stung (other than not venturing into the ocean), it’s a good idea to talk to lifeguards on duty before venturing in the water. They should be able to tell you how frequent jellyfish attacks have been lately. If you are stung, there’s an urban legend claiming that urinating on a burn will lessen the pain. This is not true.

Rather, salt water is actually the best thing for it. In all likelihood, you’re pretty close to salt water already! Avoid applying fresh water to the burn area, however, as it will actually make the situation worse. Lastly, you need a way to remove the jellyfish parts from your wound. Tweezers are best, but if you don’t have them, opt for a stick or even a seashell.

3. Snakes

Snakes may be the most dangerous animal on this list since they’re found all around the world and are very easily camouflaged. They are responsible for more than 100,000 deaths a year, but it’s largely because people don’t know how to act around them. The good news is that most snakes are not poisonous and 80% of bite incidents with snakes occur as a result of foolishly trying to catch them. Please don’t be that guy.

Stomping your feet will help as the vibrations in the ground will confuse the snake, while slowly stepping away from it. If you’ve been bitten, definitely don’t try to suck the poison out of the wound like they do in the movies; if you’re not a professional, you’ll likely end up ingesting the poison yourself. Instead, immediately call in an emergency. They’ll tell you to wash the bite with running water. Do so and if you know how to apply a tourniquet, do so and by the time you have it on, the ambulance will hopefully already be there.

4. Bees

Bees are dangerous because they can build a hive without you even knowing they did so. Most common in the spring and summer, keep your eye on wood crevices, low-hanging trees, old buildings, or abandoned cars as they are often good nesting grounds for these insects.

If you do find yourself near a bunch of bees DO NOT ATTACK THEM. Not only will it make them angry, but honeybees are in serious jeopardy of becoming extinct. Rather just run away from them, shake any baggy clothing to make sure they haven’t gotten trapped inside. Bees are also attracted to black, so try and wear white clothing if you’re going on walks through the meadows in spring or summer. And stay off that island from “The Wicker Man.”

5. Bears

Bear attacks are rare, but if you’re extremely unlucky they may still happen in some wooded areas. If you do encounter a bear, reading body language is vital to your survival. Do not try to run. First of all, you won’t be able to outrun it (bears can run up to 30 miles per hour), and second of all, it will only make you look like prey, similar to with the shark or lion.

It may be counter-intuitive, but your best bet is actually to play dead. Fall to the ground and curl into a ball, using your hands to cover your neck. The bear might try and play with your body for a little – it’ll be scary, but just let it. As long as it thinks you’re dead it won’t do any further harm.

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6. Sharks

If you watch Shark Week you might already know that out of 150 species of shark only 20 will actually attack humans. The odds are in your favor, as of all the animals on this list, it’s actually least likely that you’ll encounter a shark. If you do and if it’s one of the 20 species that attacks humans, even then they won’t acknowledge you unless they perceive you to be food.

To avoid seeming like food, do not bleed or urinate in the ocean, and you should remain out of their range of interest. Should you meet a shark face to face, don’t turn and swim away; you’ll just look like prey. Rather stay as motionless as you can, and if you are attacked aim for the shark’s eyes and gills, as they are the most sensitive areas.

7. Crocodiles (or alligators)

Alligators boast the strongest jaws of any animal on the planet. As the Crocodile Hunter exploited time and time again, however, that only accounts for when they’re biting down. If you can manage to keep their mouth closed, they won’t be able to get it open in the first place. Obviously, though, we hope it doesn’t come to you wrestling down an alligator!

Crocodiles (and lizards in general) are capable of extremely fast movement over very short distances, but they won’t be able to outrun you at length. They’re also not unable to consistently make sharp turns while pursuing, so running in a zigzag is a good way to keep them far away. If you’re swimming when you notice the crocodile, keep down the noise and movement as much as you can; splashing or shouting will just draw their attention.

8. Elephants

Elephants are generally friendly, but if a female elephant thinks you’re a danger to her young she can mess you up pretty bad. As with any animal on this list, reading body language is important – if the elephant has her ears pulled back and her trunk curled, she may try to trample you.

Running from an elephant is difficult given their massive size, so if it comes to it you’ll need to find something to put between the two of you, like a rock, log, or fence. Try and keep it between you and the angry elephant until she loses interest, grows tired, or help arrives.

9. Lions

As with sharks, maintaining eye contact is equally important when dealing with lions. Never turn your back on them. Remember that lions are essentially big cats, so if they perceive that they could get a sneak attack on you they’ll be enticed to try and do it. Like cats, lions also have a heightened fight or flight mechanism.

If you make yourself look big and loud, they’ll be confused and will generally want to avoid dealing with you. Lions (being cats) are also easily frightened by dogs. If you have a more vocal, protective dog with you, the lions won’t come close.

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10. Gorillas

While it’s unlikely that you’ll encounter a gorilla, accidents at the zoo could potentially happen. Gorillas are prideful creatures who are highly protective of their territory and their families. The best way to avoid confrontation with a gorilla is to play the obedient passive: Sit down to make yourself seem less large, and avoid eye contact and speak in a whisper to seem less of a challenge.

If the gorilla is provoked to hostility, however, do the same approach you did for the bear – drop, curl into a ball, and do not fight. Remember that gorillas are prideful and won’t attack someone who’s defenseless and weak.

Hopefully, this list will help you prepare should you find yourself in any of these scenarios. Be careful out there, and if there’s a chance you’ll run into a particular animal we covered, plan accordingly!

According to this 2018 survey, cats have risen up in the ranks as the second-most popular pet in the United States (number one being the freshwater fish). High among the list of reasons to own a cat is how easy it is to take care of one. We love dogs to pieces for a ton of reasons, and the reasons are vastly different from why we love cats: They’re known for their low maintenance and proud independence.

While it’s true there aren’t too many issues to worry about once a cat is settled into a new home, litter training is a pretty big one. Most of the time, a kitten will learn to use the litter box from her mother, but there are instances where this either is not the case, or where certain living conditions or habits change that might result in your cat no longer using their box.

Cats communicate with humans whether we can understand them or not, be it a head bump, a blink of the eyes, a swish of the tail, or a long stare. Refusing to use the litter box is the same thing, it’s just especially unpleasant. When a cat does this, the first thing to remember is that it is not malicious – it was not done to anger you or to “get revenge” from something you did.

We think that way. Cats don’t.

When a cat doesn’t use the litter box it’s almost certainly because they are trying to tell you something. Keep that in mind as we rattle off our five solutions (in no particular order).

How to make sure your cat uses the litter box

1. Try a different litter brand

This step should be your immediate go-to if you have a new kitten, or if you’ve purchased and are using a litter with which your cat is unfamiliar. There’s a reason there are so many brands of litter: you’re not just looking for one that suits you, but one that suits your cat. There are some cats who won’t care about the difference should you switch brands, but there are some who will. It’s a matter of texture, scent, and mostly familiarity. If it doesn’t smell or feel right, they may not use it.

Odds are, if you’ve been using the same litter since you first got the cat, this doesn’t need to change. While cats are often fascinated by new objects and places (unless they’re too scary!), with rudimentary facets of their lives like food, sleep, or people, a cat prefers consistency and repetition. Bottom line: if you change litter brands and your cat stops using her litter box, it’s likely because she doesn’t like the new litter.

2. Make sure she knows this is HER litter box

This is probably the most important point on our list. Just like you need to keep your litter brand and box recognizable, your cat needs to feel a sense of familiarity and ownership in a variety of ways. If you have more than one cat living under one roof, this becomes even more crucial. Laws of the jungle dictate there has to be an alpha in the pack, a Top Cat of the bunch. If you observe your cats regularly it should be pretty apparent who that cat is (hint: It’s probably the one that’s bigger or older).

When cats rub against objects or people it’s to mark territory. Every cat should own at least one scratching post for this exact reason. If you’ve ever wondered why your cat insists on tearing up your couch, for example, it’s because it likely carries foreign scents from outdoors, other guests, shoes, or bags. By scratching it, your cat is replacing the foreign scent with one that she’s familiar with.

You may not witness it firsthand, but if your dominant cat has claimed all the litter boxes (by urinating or spraying), your other cat won’t feel she has any other place to go! Clean both your litter boxes and keep them (and maybe even your cats) separated until each cat has used a different box.

3. Use the cat’s own scent

One of the best ways to encourage your cat to use the litter box is to make sure it smells specifically like her. The next time your cat urinates where she’s not supposed to, clean it up and deposit the soiled paper in her litter box. This way, you’re showing her that “this is where that belongs” and are more importantly making the box smell like her. Ideally, next time she has to urinate she’ll walk past the box, recognize her scent, and “re-use” it.

This method is especially likely to make a difference if, again, you have more than one cat. While it encourages your cat to use the box since it smells like her, it’s also deterring your Top Cat from claiming it; it’s already been claimed by someone else. In essence, you’re using the cats’ own scents to segregate who uses which box. It’ll make for a far less stressful environment for each of them.

4. Put the box where accidents happen

If your cat stops using the litter box in favor of another spot, odds are they will continue to use that same spot whenever they refuse to use the litter box. Logic took them their once; it’ll take them there again. Besides, like our last point explained, if a place smells like them, they’ll be more prone to re-use it. Your cat is telling you that “this is the place where I’m gonna go.”

If that’s the place she chooses to pee, then that’s where the box needs to move! Clean the box, make sure it smells like her, then move it to where she had her last accident. The triple-whammy should be enough to send the message: You’re putting the box “where she asked.” If you really don’t want the litter box to be in the spot she chose, then try slowly inching it back to where it was originally. If it’s done steadily enough, she should be okay with it.

5. Deter accident-prone areas.

Never try to punish a cat. It won’t work and it’s just mean. Furthermore, a cat won’t learn in the same way that a dog or a child might. Squirt a cat for misbehaving and she’ll just think you’re being awful for no reason. Instead, she’ll need to be taught in a different way:

If your cat frequents places she shouldn’t – maybe not even to pee – the best way to prevent them from doing so is to make the area undesirable to them, and not conducive to exploring. Try lining your countertops or “accident areas” with sticky double-sided tape, noisy aluminum foil, or even by spraying it with strong citrus scents like Lysol. Instead of thinking “this human sucks for squirting me with water,” your cat will think “this counter sucks because it’s sticky, noisy, and smells bad.”

Lastly, reward your cat when she behaves well. That doesn’t just mean slipping her a treat – even just positive reinforcement like petting, brushing, or praising her. It will go further than you think, and will help to solidify the positive relationship you have with your fuzzy friend. More gets conveyed than you might think, as cats are experts at reading body language and tone of voice. If you come across as angry and short-tempered, that’s how she’s going to see you. If you come across as assuaging and nurturing, then she’ll be less stressed which means fewer accidents and a happier home.