The festive season might seem like to perfect opportunity to get snuggly with a significant other, but daters have been urged to look out for a toxic dating trend called “Scrooging” that could end in heartbreak. Modern dating is full of potential hurdles and pitfalls, as new dating trends like “phubbing” and the “penny dating method” come along. The latest trend that could make a budding relationship end in disaster is Scrooging and it is specifically linked to Christmas. Scrooging happens when a person dumps their partner right before Christmas to get out of buying them a present. Unsurprisingly, the name of the toxic trend gets its name from Ebenezer Scrooge – the grumpy character from Charles Dickens’ 1843 book A Christmas Carol – who hates Christmas. According to experts, people who are willing to dump someone over a gift may have other red flag traits that are best avoided. Times Now suggests Scroogers may do it because they don’t see anything long-term with their partner and therefore are unwilling to spend money on them. They may also display other selfish traits such as not wanting to meet their partner’s friends and family and being self-centred and unwilling to invest quality time. Scrooging may also be used as an excuse to start over in the New Year with a new partner that they are perhaps more interested in pursuing. So, in the lead-up to Christmas, if Scrooging is a concern in your relationship, it might be a good idea to pay closer notice to your partner’s attention levels to see if they are becoming distant. But, as is the case in all relationships, communication is key – if you suspect you’re about to get dumped at Christmas, communicate with them to see where you stand as a couple. How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The coconut is a truly tropical fruit, which spread on its own to tropic coastal zones all over the world. The flesh and milk from coconuts are widely used in African cooking in relishes, sauces, desserts – you name it,” says Maria Bradford, author of Sweet Salone. Braised beef short ribs in peanut and coconut milk Serves: 5 Ingredients: 5 beef short ribs 2 tbsp sunflower oil Steamed coconut rice or fonio, to serve Salt For the peanut and coconut sauce: 2¼ tsp cumin seeds ¾ tbsp coriander seeds 1 tsp West African Pepper Blend (see below) ¾ tbsp curry powder 3½ tbsp coconut oil 2½-3 large onions, finely chopped 25g garlic, grated 25g ginger, grated 1-2 Scotch bonnet chillies, seeds left in, finely chopped 45g tomato purée 250g fresh tomatoes, chopped ½ tsp coconut sugar 300ml coconut milk 3 bay leaves 3 thyme sprigs 100g unsalted smooth peanut butter (use one without palm oil) 500ml beef stock For the West African pepper blend: 2½ grains of paradise 2 tbsp black peppercorns 2 tbsp white peppercorns 1 tbsp cubeb pepper 3 tbsp allspice berries Method: 1. For the West African pepper blend: toast all the peppercorns in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant. Allow to cool, then grind in a spice grinder or pestle and mortar. Store in an airtight jar. It will stay fresh for up to three months. 2. Preheat the oven to 150C/130C fan/300F/gas mark 2. 3. For the sauce, lightly toast the cumin and coriander seeds in a hot, dry frying pan until aromatic. Grind in a pestle and mortar or food processor, combine with the West African Pepper Blend and curry powder and set aside. 4. For the short ribs, heat the sunflower oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Season the short ribs with salt and add to the hot pan, frying on each side until golden brown, turning regularly. The aim here is not to cook them but to sear them and add flavour. Make sure to brown them well all over, then remove and set aside. 5. For the sauce, heat the coconut oil in a large heavy-based casserole or Dutch oven (use one with a lid). Add the onions and cook gently over low-medium heat until caramelised and very sweet. This will take up to 30 minutes and it’s important not to rush this process. Add the garlic, ginger and chillies and cook, stirring, for five minutes more. Add the spices and cook for a further five minutes on low heat, stirring to prevent sticking. 6. Add the tomato purée, chopped tomatoes, coconut sugar, coconut milk, bay leaves, thyme sprigs, peanut butter and beef stock to the pan. Stir well to combine, bring to the boil then add the short ribs to pan, making sure they’re all covered by the sauce. 7. Cover with the lid and cook in the oven for four to five hours or until the meat is tender and falling off the bone. Remove from the oven, taste and add salt if needed. Serve with steamed coconut rice or fonio. ‘Sweet Salone’ by Maria Bradford (Quadrille, £30). Read More A week’s worth of summery recipes (even when the weather is dire) The dish that defines me: Frank Yeung’s prawn wontons Discovering Sierra Leonean flavours in South London How to make cassava chips How to make a traditional Sierra Leonean rich cake In Horto: Hearty, outdoorsy fare in a secret London Bridge garden

Formula One’s Fernando Alonso has reignited his alleged love of flowers ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, by uploading a video of himself to TikTok watering them at a restaurant. Just weeks ago the Aston Martin was caught sniffing flowers and now appears to be playing into the viral moment at any opportunity, branding himself as the ‘flower padre’. Alonso will start second behind Max Verstappen at today’s race (28 May), after losing out on Pole by 0.084s. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.

Thousands of 'Penis Fish' have been found on a beach… giving locals the willies. The rude-looking marine creatures appeared after a heavy storm. The pink wrigglers were about 10 inches in length. They freaked out locals in Río Grande, southern Argentina, on the afternoon of 17 July. The species are called Urechis Unicinctus, but they are also dubbed the 'Penis Fish' due to their phallic appearance. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Despite their nickname, the creatures are actually a type of spoonworm. Their other nickname is 'The Fat Innkeeper Worm'. They create U-shaped burrows in sand or mud that are then left for other animals to move into, hence the use of ‘innkeeper’ in its moniker. They are eaten by sharks and seagulls. They usually live underground but are brought to the surface during strong storms, leaving them exposed to predators. Evidence of their U-shaped burrows dates back over 300 million years. The worms, which can live up to 25 years, are a common delicacy in countries such as South Korea, Japan and China where they are eaten raw or cooked in a variety of different styles. They are said to have a chewy texture and are surprisingly sweet, often served with a savoury sauce made from sesame oil or vinegar with gochujang. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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Hugh Jackman has amused and confounded his followers after sharing a photo of his recent “cheat meal,” a plate of waffles topped with savoury mushrooms. Over the weekend, the Wolverine star took to Instagram to share photos of himself enjoying a meal at a waffle restaurant in England. The album began with an excited-looking Jackman holding up a fork, before including a photo of the menu at The Waffle House in Norwich. The post also included a photo of a plate of waffles topped with sauteed button mushrooms, and what appeared to be a red meat sauce and smoked ham cheddar cheese sauce. The dish was then garnished with herbs. The savoury waffles weren’t the only item ordered by the actor, however, as the post also included a photo of Jackman’s strawberry milkshake and one of his order of sweet waffles, which were topped with chocolate flakes, banana, peanut butter and powdered sugar. “Happy cheat meal to me! Nooo! I did not share. And I’m not sorry,” the actor captioned the photo album. However, in the comments, many of Jackman’s fans were confused by the first waffle combination, with some questioning the unique pairing. “MUSHROOMS ON WAFFLES? IS THIS THE WOLVERINE DIET?” one person jokingly asked, while another wrote: “Third pic is criminal.” “A cheat meal NEVER includes mushrooms,” someone else claimed, as another critic wrote: “Sweet waffle yes! Savoury, nooo!” Despite the concern from some of Jackman’s followers over the savoury-topped waffle, others said they’d happily indulge in the actor’s cheat meal. “OMG! I’ve never had a savoury-topped waffle but that looks delicious!! You deserve to enjoy all of your cheat meal so I’m glad you didn’t share,” one person commented, while another said: “Just give me those mushrooms and I’ll be in heaven.” The meal also prompted some to compare the savoury dish to chicken and waffles, with one viewer urging a critic to try the popular dish “with a side of mashed potatoes”. This is not the first time Jackman has shared insight into his unlikely “cheat meals,” as the actor previously told E! News that he enjoys “sort of weird simple stuff like lasagna”. “It’s sort of weird simple stuff like lasagna,” he said. “I like breakfast cereal at 11 at night, all that kind of easy simple stuff. In Australia, it’s meat pies.” Read More Hugh Jackman reveals he tested negative for skin cancer after undergoing two biopsies Child, 8, raises more than $37,000 to help his favourite Waffle House employee get a car Ditch Deliveroo – make these healthy, 30-minute pizzas instead The dish that defines me: Eddie Huang’s Taiwanese beef noodle soup Nutritionist explains how women can eat to help balance hormones

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