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Taste-Off: The best cream cheese in local markets — and the bad ones

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:14:59 GMT

It’s hard to think of a more versatile dairy ingredient than cream cheese. It’s mandatory for a proper bagel, and it’s an essential ingredient in all things party food: cheesecake, dips, cakes, casseroles.This fresh, i.e., non-aged, cheese made from cow’s milk and cream is buttery rich, with a mild, sour cream-like kick that’s delicious every which way — straight-up, mixed with herbs or stirred into eggs, pasta or soup. But what makes cream cheese such a go-to for home cooks is its thick consistency; it provides body and creaminess to everything from carrot cake frosting to spinach dip.Interestingly, as rich as cream cheese seems, it’s actually a nutritional step up from butter with half the calories and higher protein levels. Like butter, the high fat content means cream cheese can last for weeks in the fridge — and even longer in the freezer. Just note that the smallest introduction of bacteria can turn it into a package of mold.Great cream cheese is soft and creamy, with a delica...

The Golden Squirrel pub in Oakland becomes the Afghani Saffron Kitchen

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:14:59 GMT

There’s a newcomer in Oakland’s tony Rockridge strip, and it’s nothing like the old one: Saffron Kitchen Restaurant & Bar, an upscale joint serving Afghan food blended with the flavors of the Mediterranean and Silk Road.Saffron Kitchen takes the place of the Golden Squirrel pub, which sold its business this year. Golden Squirrel was a gastropub popular for its bar bites, trivia nights, stand-up comedy and NBA watching parties. It also held other, more unexpected events, like the author talk last spring with journalist Luke Russert, son of legendary newsman Tim Russert, to discuss his new memoir about grief.“I purchased Golden Squirrel and ran it for almost two months and realized the concept was a dying breed and needed to be changed,” says Akbar M. Arghandiwal, managing partner of Saffron Kitchen. “So we closed the place and worked on a complete facelift. We opened it only a few days ago quietly as a soft opening. The reception from our neigh...

Oakland schools’ newest leader already preparing for political clash with labor opponents

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:14:59 GMT

OAKLAND — Jorge Lerma’s election to a vacant Oakland Unified school board seat could prove decisive for the political and financial future of a district that’s been in a perpetual state of crisis.Lerma, a retired former principal who captured 57% of the vote in a special election that concluded last week, already is leaning away from the core priorities of the district’s robust faculty union, which spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to defeat him.The votes he will cast as a representative for District 5 — a largely Latino area that includes parts of East Oakland, including Fremont High and the Fruitvale neighborhood — could break a political deadlock that involves an increasingly hostile dynamic between the union and board President Mike Hutchinson.“My focus will be on bringing some healing, meeting with everybody,” Lerma said in an interview following his election victory. “There are a lot of people in the teachers union ...

San Jose to pay six figures after losing public records lawsuit

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:14:59 GMT

(BCN) -- San Jose is preparing to pay half a million dollars to San Jose Spotlight and the First Amendment Coalition, two organizations that prevailed in a public records lawsuit over the city.The San Jose City Council on Nov. 28 will consider a $500,000 payout to the organizations to cover attorneys' fees and costs accumulated over roughly 18 months of litigation."We think this was a hard fought victory that helped vindicate the public's right to know," Karl Olson, a First Amendment lawyer representing San Jose Spotlight in the case, said. "And we hope in the future it won't be necessary for parties to have to go to court to get public records." Verdict reached in San Carlos samurai sword murder trial San Jose Spotlight and the First Amendment Coalition, which protects and promotes a free press, sued the city and former Mayor Sam Liccardo in February 2022 for violating the California Public Records Act. This longstanding law requires public agencies to disclose information about ...

South Korea says North Korea has launched what appears to be its third attempt to put a spy satellite in orbit

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:14:59 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea says North Korea has launched what appears to be its third attempt to put a spy satellite in orbit.Source

Golar LNG: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:14:59 GMT

HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) — HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) — Golar LNG Ltd. (GLNG) on Tuesday reported profit of $92.5 million in its third quarter.The Hamilton, Bermuda-based company said it had net income of 87 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, came to 55 cents per share.The operator of carriers for natural gas shipping posted revenue of $67.3 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $66.6 million, which did not meet Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $67.4 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on GLNG at https://www.zacks.com/ap/GLNGSource

StealthGas: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:14:59 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — ATHENS, Greece (AP) — StealthGas Inc. (GASS) on Tuesday reported profit of $15.7 million in its third quarter.The Athens, Greece-based company said it had profit of 41 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, came to 31 cents per share.The ship owner serving the liquefied petroleum gas market posted revenue of $34.7 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $32.3 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on GASS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/GASSSource

Tsakos: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:14:59 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. (TNP) on Tuesday reported net income of $31.2 million in its third quarter.The Athens, Greece-based company said it had profit of 83 cents per share.The oil and gas shipping company posted revenue of $186.7 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $152.4 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on TNP at https://www.zacks.com/ap/TNPSource

New Hampshire man had no car and no furniture, but died with a big secret, leaving his town millions

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:14:59 GMT

HINSDALE, N.H. (AP) — Geoffrey Holt was unassuming as the caretaker of a mobile home park in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, where he lived a simple, but curious life. Residents would see Holt around town in threadbare clothes — riding his lawn mower, headed to the convenience store, parked along the main road reading a newspaper or watching cars pass.He did odd jobs for others, but rarely left town. Despite having taught driver’s ed to high schoolers, Holt had given up driving a car. He opted for a bicycle instead and finally the mower. His mobile home in the park was mostly empty of furniture — no TV and no computer, either. The legs of the bed went through the floor.“He seemed to have what he wanted, but he didn’t want much,” said Edwin “Smokey” Smith, Holt’s best friend and former employer.But Holt died earlier this year with a secret: He was a multimillionaire. And what’s more, he gave it all away to this community of 4,200 people.His will had brief instructions: $3.8 million to...

Jalen Hurts and the Eagles continue to find ways to win in latest victory over the Chiefs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:14:59 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — By their own standards, the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs wasn’t a masterpiece performance. But it was yet another masterclass in winning.Jalen Hurts overcame five sacks in the first half, the Eagles pushed aside some ineffective play on both sides of the ball and the result was a 21-17 comeback victory over Kansas City in a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl.“I’d trade winning last year for this one, but it feels good to get this one,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said.Sirianni was most impressed by his team’s intangibles in the victory that improved them to a league-best 9-1.“We have a bunch of guys who know how to win,” he said.The Eagles couldn’t protect Hurts before halftime when they fell behind by 10 points and didn’t look much better when they opened the second half with two consecutive three-and-outs. But there was no panic on the sideline.“There’s a calmness there,” Hurts said. “You have to truly remain in control. You want ...