Batterlicious: The Sweetest

Tied up with the Cookie Dough Café, was the chocolate chip cookie dough from Batterlicious. This treat gained top marks for its super realistic cookie dough texture. Sure, it was creamy, but it also had a bit of that gooey factor that comes with the real deal dough.

In fact, one tester said, “this just seems homemade to me,” and really isn’t that the highest type of praise in an edible cookie dough competition? But beyond the realistic look and feel, we liked Batterlicious’s giant chocolate chips. Many folks also commented on how this brand was exceptionally sweet, and they even picked up on notes of butterscotch (which is different from caramel and toffee). For folks that love that sweet flavor, this brand is for you.

Edoughble: For Chocolate Lovers

Last but certainly not least was the “Chocolate Chip Off the Ol’ Block” flavor from Edoughble. Opening up the ice cream-like pint container, we marveled at how pretty this looked out of the box. It looked like the dough had been whipped—we knew this was going to be a tasty treat.

Indulging in the light, fluffy batter we really relished in this brand’s great balance of brown sugar. It had that light, caramel-y sweetness that makes chocolate chip cookies different than a plain old sugar cookie. What we also appreciated about this brand was the richness of the chocolate chips. Just from our small samples, you could tell it was a quality dark chocolate. After all, just because this is a silly snack, doesn’t mean you should scrimp on quality! And when it came down to going back for seconds (and thirds), we happily grabbed a few extra spoonfuls.

The Takeaways

Since edible cookie dough is a relatively new phenomenon and there aren’t a lot of household names out there in the market, it can be so hard to know what’s the best dough to buy. That’s why I think this test was so useful. We all walked away with a new brand to scout out next time we’re craving something exceptionally sweet and fun. Plus, we all have a new back pocket ingredient for our most decadent sundaes, milkshakes and all other manner of sweets.

Our Most Decadent Chocolate Desserts



Julie Meyers




When it comes to chocolate, more is always better! Check out our most decadent desserts.


Frosted Chocolate Cake

This recipe is my mother's oldest and most popular chocolate cake recipe. I always thought it should have a fancier name, but this is what she called it. Mom would say a fancy name would not make it taste better. —Beth Bristow West Plains, Missouri

Chocolate Truffles

You may be tempted to save these chocolate truffles for a special occasion since these smooth, creamy chocolates are divine. But with just a few ingredients, this truffle recipe is easy to make anytime. —Darlene Wiese-Appleby, Creston, Ohio

Slow-Cooker Chocolate Pots de Creme

Lunch on the go just got a whole lot sweeter. Tuck jars of rich chocolate custard into lunch bags for a midday treat. These desserts in a jar are fun for picnics, too. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado

Honey-Bourbon Hot Chocolate

My husband and I like to enjoy this grown-up version of hot chocolate on a cold winter evening. It's even better made with honey-flavored bourbon if you can find that in your local store. —Andrea Harvath, Duncannon, Pennsylvania

Chocolate Mint Brownies

One of the best things about this recipe is that theses mint chocolate brownies get moister if you leave them in the refrigerator for a day or two. The problem at our house is no one can leave them alone for that long! —Helen Baines, Elkton, Maryland

Chocolate Balloon Bowls

Enlist the kids to help create these DIY dessert bowls. It's a fun project, and an ideal make-ahead treat for holiday dinners and birthday parties. —Sarah Farmer, Waukesha, Wisconsin

How to Save Your Own Life in 12 Scary Emergencies



Pamela F. Gallin




From fires to bear attacks, experts reveal the tactics that will get you out alive.




Emergencies happen

While your odds of having a heart attack are much higher than those of finding yourself in most of these scenarios, strange things happen every day. For example, every 12 seconds, someone called a poison center for help in 2017. Each year an estimated 646,000 people die of injuries from falling. In 2017, search-and-rescue rangers in our national parks responded to more than 3,453 calls, including for people who were also sick or injured. In 2015 alone, more than 5,000 people died from choking in the United States. While 90 percent of people struck by lightning survive, about 27 Americans are killed by lightning strikes every year. How do you keep yourself out of the statistics? Besides calling 911, here’s what to do in life-threatening emergencies when no one’s around to help.

Lost in the wilderness

Before you head out on a hike, check the weather, take plenty of water, and make sure someone knows where you’ll be and when you’ll be back. Bring clothes to keep you warm when wet, like a water-repellent jacket, says Laurence Gonzales, author of Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why. Avoid cotton, which traps moisture. “The search-and-rescue people call it ‘death cloth,’” he says. Pack an emergency kit with items such as waterproof matches, a plastic tarp and cord for making a shelter, a blanket, a good knife, a flashlight, batteries, and snacks. Expect to get lost, says John Dill, a search-and-rescue ranger at Yosemite National Park in California. Check constantly to make sure you’re on the trail, and stop immediately if you suspect you strayed.

In general, people who try to find their own way out fare worse than those who stay put, says emergency medicine specialist Richard N. Bradley, MD. Find shelter before dark, and try to keep dry. If you’re stranded in your car, stay there: You’re more visible to rescuers, and the car provides shelter. Catch the eye of search parties by making a signal with colorful gear, making a big X out of rocks, or digging a shallow trench, says Dill. You can go several days without eating, so in most cases, you’re better off not foraging for food, since there are lots of poisonous plants in the wild, says Dr. Bradley. You need to stay hydrated, so if you run out of water, it’s usually better to drink from a stream with suspect water than to go without.

11 Ways to Be Your Own Bodyguard That Could Save Your Life



Joe Kita




A crash course in self-defense to thwart muggers, kidnappers, and other thugs.

Roger Dunn* thought nothing of it when a white pickup truck pulled alongside his sedan on an Illinois expressway—until the driver tried to run him off the road. With his wife in the passenger seat and his two kids, ages 11 and 7, in the back, Dunn was desperate to avoid a confrontation with a maniac. So he took the next exit. His antagonist did the same.

As the pickup tailed him, Dunn pulled over, hoping that the driver would pass him. Instead, he skidded to a halt, threw the gear into reverse, and tried ramming Dunn’s car.

“I thought this was it,” said Dunn. “My daughter and wife were screaming. My son was praying.”

Dunn drove off, weaving in and out of traffic. He took a turn too wide, lost control of the car, and spun it around, coming to a cold stop in an intersection. When the pickup flew over a curb, barely missing him, Dunn hit the gas again. This time, he noticed a police car outside a strip mall and turned in. Minutes later, the driver, who was drunk, was arrested. Dunn never did find out why he went berserk.

The frightening thing about this true story, which came from a Reader’s Digest reader, is that it can happen to any of us. We’re all potential victims of crime.

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, a former West Point psychology professor, has interviewed thousands of people who’ve survived life-and-death situations. The one thing they had in common was a game plan. “They had decided ahead of time what they were going to do—run, fight, or whatever it took to survive,” explains Grossman. “So at the moment of truth, they were not paralyzed.”
Grossman is not talking about living in fear. He’s talking about being smart. For example, if you’re taking a road trip like the Dunns were, program police stations and hospitals into your car’s GPS—the press of a button will direct you to safety.

Here are more tips for avoiding, defusing, and escaping threatening situations. It’s everything you need to know to become your own bodyguard.



We’re all potential victims

Maintain a circle of awareness

“Criminals are looking for easy victims, people who aren’t paying attention,” says Thomas Taylor, a security expert who has helped protect every U.S. president since Gerald Ford. So turn the tables on them. If you’re in a crowd, keep an eye out for anyone who “separates himself by his behavior, his dress, or his manner,” he says. “Ask yourself, who here gets my attention? Listen to your intuition.”

Taylor’s team actually assigns names to certain suspect types, like:
•The Organizer: Somebody who is reaching into a bag or a coat pocket, something most people wouldn’t do if they’re at a concert or watching a speaker. It might be something a robber would do right before pulling out a weapon.
•The Secret Team: Two or more nonadjacent people signaling each other through gestures or eye contact.
•The Grouch: Someone other people in the crowd are avoiding because of behavior, smell, or style of dress.
•The Inspector: Someone who is watching security instead of the event.

Carry “mugger’s money”



Tatiana Ayazo/Rd.com

Kathy Ortwein* was waiting alone at a Jersey City, New Jersey, bus stop when a gang of teenagers grabbed her purse and ran. Incensed, she chased after them, only to be hit over the head with a roll of coins and slammed against a car. She wasn’t seriously hurt, but she did learn a hard lesson. “The best way to defend yourself in a crime like this is to not defend yourself,” she says. “When the bus arrived, I should have just asked the driver to call the police.”

Tony Blauer, CEO of Blauer Tactical Systems, which specializes in personal-safety training, agrees. In fact, when you’re in an environment where robbery is possible (a sketchy neighborhood or a foreign country), carry “mugger’s money,” he says. Keep it in a wallet separate from other valuables or in an outside pocket where you can quickly access it. If approached, hand it over. If you get roughed up, step back onto grass or even sit on a bench to lessen the chance of injury in a fall.

“Usually, though, once you hand over that money,” Blauer says, “the mugger will be satisfied, and he’ll run.”

If you’re attacked, yell “Fire!”


Yell “Fire!” not “Help!” The instinctive reaction of most bystanders when they hear the word help is self-preservation. “They immediately think, I don’t want to get too close to that, because it sounds bad,” says Blauer. But the word “fire” triggers a much different response. Most people think they can do something about that, or, at the very least, their curiosity prods them to check it out. Either way, you get help.

During an attempted break-in, don’t turn on the lights

If you’re awakened in the middle of the night by a strange noise, don’t turn on the lights, says Mark Safarik, a retired FBI profiler. That will diminish your night vision. Plus, if you’re near a window, a potential intruder will be able to see in and instantly know where you are. Instead, dial 911 immediately, then press the panic button on your car’s remote entry device (most have one). It’s capable of triggering the alarm from a distance of some 30 to 60 feet, and the loud noise may well frighten the intruder away.

By the way, if you’re thinking of getting a gun for protection, make sure you really know how to handle one, says Safarik. If not, opt for getting a dog with a loud bark

When a stranger is at your door, demand ID

Because criminals often use a ruse to gain entry to a home, like wearing a uniform or saying they have a delivery, always demand identification, even if it’s the police. And make them show it to you through the peephole or a window, says Safarik. Still not satisfied? Ask for a phone number so you can verify that they’re actually from FedEx or FTD.

If you’re kidnapped, resist smartly

An abduction is one of the most dangerous situations, says Safarik, because “you’re dealing with a much more organized type of offender who has likely planned it out and is taking you to a place where you’ll be either seriously injured or killed.” To protect yourself:
•React with maximum resistance at the outset: “Do not let him gain control of you,” says Safarik. “Since it’s probably occurring in a public place, this is the most vulnerable time for the criminal and your best chance of survival. Scream, fight, do whatever it takes to get away.” If he has a weapon, weigh the risk of his using it against the importance of acting fast.
•If you’re driving, cause an accident: If you’re in a situation where you can’t fight back (he’s in the rear seat with a gun to your head, for instance), create a minor accident on a busy street. “When you hit another car, you have an immediate audience,” Safarik says, “and the guy will usually flee.”
•If you’re locked in the trunk, look for the release: Newer-model cars have a safety handle inside the trunk that unlatches it. If you can’t find one, break or kick out the rear taillight and wave your hand or foot to attract attention

During an attempted rape, trust your instincts

“There are no cookie-cutter answers when dealing with rape,” says Taylor. And anything you do could make a bad situation worse, so it’s important to always trust your instincts. But should you find yourself in such a circumstance, you might want to consider these tips:
•Note his disguise: “If he’s wearing a mask,” says Safarik, “he’s probably intent on leaving you alive because he doesn’t want you to be able to describe him to police.” If he’s not wearing a mask, then the situation might be more dangerous, and you should consider taking on more risk to escape, says Safarik.
•Resist passively with body language: Keep your legs together and arms crossed to give him subtle cues of opposition.
•Destroy his idealized girlfriend fantasy: “A lot of these guys have a fantasy about the rape that you need to destroy,” notes Safarik. “Bring them back to reality by saying ‘Your girlfriend wouldn’t like this,’ ‘I don’t like this,’ ‘You’re hurting me’—basically anything that will change his perception of what he thinks is a passionate situation

12 Items You Shouldn’t Carry in Your Purse



Marissa Laliberte



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If you’ve been dragging these items around, it might be time to clean out your handbag.

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Passwords


If you have trouble remembering passwords, you might be tempted to carry them with you in your bag. “Some people feel passwords are safer in their bag than at home because it’s always on them, but nothing could be further from the truth,” says Eva Velasquez, CEO and president of Identity Theft Resource Center. “You’re much more apt to lose your purse or wallet than have a break-in.” Memorizing all your login information is the safest, but if that’s not practical, she recommends storing your passwords in a passcode-protected smartphone app.