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Fast brisket? Let the Meat Teacher show you how with this ingenious method
Fast brisket? Let the Meat Teacher show you how with this ingenious method

Yahoo

time10 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

Fast brisket? Let the Meat Teacher show you how with this ingenious method

How Matt Groark went from a physical education teacher to a certified barbecue phenom with more than 5 million followers on TikTok and a book deal is a path that winds through tragedy, community, and hard work. For years, Groark was raising two young boys with his wife, Kristen Groark, while juggling several side hustles to make ends meet. But grilling was an obsession his wife encouraged him to follow, and he peppered his social media feeds with outdoor cooking tutorials. The tragedy was more personal. He and his wife suffered five miscarriages in seven years. As a gesture of goodwill, Matt Groark's class surprised the couple with tickets to a Philadelphia 76ers game. But Groark didn't want anyone left out. "I flipped it and turned it into a field trip, and I got ahold of the 'Sixers, and they gave me tickets in a suite to bring my whole class with me," Groark said. The story was then picked up by the local news outlets and Groark's social media pages started rapidly gaining followers interested in his grilling adventures. Soon, grill companies were sending him equipment to help fuel his passion. Ever vigilant for ways to help his community, Groark used it to throw barbecue fundraisers, raising money for charity with his students. Soon, he was on a life-changing course, cooking for crowds at festivals and shaking hands with Gordon Ramsay on Next Level Chef. All the while, Groark was documenting his adventures and continuing to grow his fan base. Now, Groark helms a successful barbecue brand called Groark Boys BBQ and has millions of followers. Even after all of the fame, he continues to teach — but now as a culinary arts instructor at his school. With such a packed schedule, Groark has developed a method that speaks to most modern Americans: How to make deeply flavorful food in a fraction of the time. "I think in part because having a full-time job, being a dad, being a husband, I don't necessarily have time to sit for 14 hours while brisket smokes," he explained. To that end, The Meat Teacher, as he's become known, has adapted a fast brisket recipe he learned on the barbecue competition circuit from five-time world barbecue champion, Myron Mixon. It cuts the time it takes to make brisket essentially in half to somewhere around five or six hours. "That's still a really great amount of time to be able to chill out in your backyard with some buddies and friends," he said. But it gets the meat on the table faster. That's a win-win. Find more fast barbecue recipes and vegetarian dishes in "The Meat Teacher Cookbook: The Ultimate Backyard BBQ Guide for an A+ in Pitmastery," and on TikTok @groarkboysbbq. Serves 15-20 There is something magical about the time spent smoking brisket in the comfort of your ownbackyard. I have made plenty of mistakes while learning how to cook a great brisket, and trust mewhen I say, I still do. However, this is the method I learned from Myron Mixon's BBQ CookingSchool, and it is the one I have been the most consistent using. 'Hot and fast' is the method, which means we are smoking at a higher temperature than the traditional low and slow. This is achievable using a trusty kettle grill or a convenient pellet smoker — the result will be the same. With a little know-how, patience, and some helpful tips, you will have a method you can go back to time and time again. One 15- to 17-pound whole beef brisket, packer-cut (with both the point and flat sections) 2 tablespoons yellow mustard 2 cups RubCity Texas Hat Hanger BBQ Rub and Seasoning (or 1 cup kosher salt and 1 cup freshly ground black pepper) 2 cups beef broth Trim excess fat from the brisket, leaving about 1/4 inch for flavor and moisture. Trim off any loose or hanging pieces to ensure even cooking and prevent any pieces from burning and drying out. Slather your brisket with the mustard as a binder and season with the rub. Make sure the brisket is evenly coated on all sides. If you're using a kettle grill: Set up your grill for indirect heat by placing an aluminum drip pan in the center and arranging charcoal briquettes on either side. Add a handful of wood chunks (I like to use hickory or oak) on top of the charcoal to create smoke. Preheat the grill to about 300 degrees. If you're using a pellet smoker: Fill the hopper with your preferred wood pellets. Preheat the smoker to 300 degrees. Place the seasoned brisket in the center of the grill or smoker grate. Close the lid and let the magic happen. Maintain a consistent smoking temperature of 300 degrees throughout the cooking process. This slightly higher temperature will help render the fat and speed up the cooking time. When the brisket probes at 165 degrees and has beautiful dark mahogany bark, you are ready to wrap. If you feel the bark needs more time, you can allow it to go to 175 degrees internal. Place your brisket in a full-size disposable aluminum pan and set it on a rack to elevate it. Pour the beef broth in the bottom and wrap the pan in aluminum foil tightly to seal. This helps retain moisture and speeds up the cooking process. Return the wrapped brisket to the grill or smoker and continue cooking until it reaches an internal temperature of to 205 degrees. Remove the brisket from the grill or smoker, keeping it wrapped, and let it rest in a prepared cooler or Cambro warming box for at least 3 hours. Resting allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a tender and juicy brisket. Put on heat-resistant gloves or mitts and carefully unwrap the brisket. Transfer it to a cutting board. Slice the brisket against the grain, starting from the flat section and working toward the point. Aim for slices that are 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Serve with your favorite barbecue sauce, pickles, onions, or other traditional accompaniments. Mackensy Lunsford is the editor of Southern Kitchen and senior dining reporter at The Tennessean. Reach her at mlunsford@ This article originally appeared on Southern Kitchen: Easy brisket recipe: How to get your barbecue to the table faster

2 ‘American Idol' contestants eliminated as Top 8 revealed: Who shined on ‘Ladies' Night'?
2 ‘American Idol' contestants eliminated as Top 8 revealed: Who shined on ‘Ladies' Night'?

Yahoo

time05-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

2 ‘American Idol' contestants eliminated as Top 8 revealed: Who shined on ‘Ladies' Night'?

Tonight on American Idol, country superstar Miranda Lambert mentors the Top 10 contestants as they celebrate iconic women in music. Following feedback from judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan, America votes live for the Top 8. After the Top 10 perform, host Ryan Seacrest "dims the lights" as two hopefuls are eliminated. More from GoldDerby 'Next Level Chef' recap: One chef goes up in smoke in 'Bad to the Bone' meat challenge 'The witches will see you now!' 'Wicked' stars reunite on 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10' as guest judges 'Survivor 48' recap: Mary's 'weird-ass motley crew' plots a path against Joe's 'core four' Lambert will also hit the stage to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her platinum-selling album Kerosene. The Grammy winner marked the milestone with a special vinyl re-release of the two-decade-old album on April 25, featuring the previously unreleased track "I Don't Love Here Anymore." Lambert earned a nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Kerosene's title track in 2007, but coincidentally lost to Carrie Underwood for "Jesus, Take the Wheel." That same year, Underwood also won Best New Artist, securing the first two of her eight career Grammys. The "Ladies' Night" episode of American Idol airs live coast-to-coast on Sunday, May 4 (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT). Follow along with our live blog below to see each performance. Plus, vote for your favorite in our poll once the entire Top 10 has performed! SEE 'American Idol' shocker: Filo is eliminated in the Top 12 after ironically singing 'I'm Not Going' 8 p.m. — Previously, on American Idol: The Top 10 finalists were announced on April 28 after celebrating "Iconic Idol Moments." Jamal Roberts ("Heal"), John Foster ("I Told You So"), and Gabby Samone ("A Song for You") won Gold Derby's poll as your favorite performers. Ché ("Dancing on My Own") and Filo ("And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going") were eliminated. John Foster Age: 18 Hometown: Addis, La. Performance: "Something to Talk About" by Bonnie Raitt Carrie's comments: "You are the one we have watched grow the most throughout this entire process. Every single time you step on the stage you feel more comfortable." Lionel's comments: N/A Luke's comments: "Your charisma meter is peaking off the charts right now." Kolbi Jordan Age: 26 Hometown: Tulsa, Okla. Performance: "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac Josh King Age: 24 Hometown: Charlotte, N.C. Performance: "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele Dim the lights! Based on America's vote, these two artists were eliminated on Sunday, May 4: SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Launch Gallery: 'American Idol' Season 23 cast: Meet the Top 24 finalists Best of GoldDerby 'The Masked Singer' spoilers: Who is Boogie Woogie? 'RuPaul's Drag Race' winners list: Every season, plus 'All Stars' Vote for 'Survivor 50': The 3 new questions center around design, survival, and strategy Click here to read the full article.

24 Things To Help You Whip Up Impressive Meals, Even If You Graduated From The Trader Joe's Academy Of Frozen Food
24 Things To Help You Whip Up Impressive Meals, Even If You Graduated From The Trader Joe's Academy Of Frozen Food

Buzz Feed

time04-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Buzz Feed

24 Things To Help You Whip Up Impressive Meals, Even If You Graduated From The Trader Joe's Academy Of Frozen Food

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. If you don't already have scissors to cut the gross bits off of chicken tenders... what are you even doing. 😩 1. A TikTok-viral floating pasta timer so you never under or overcook your pasta again. Al Dente, as he's known, sings a different song every seven, nine, and 11 minutes so you know exactly when you pull your farfalle. Check this dude out on TikTok. Promising review: "Fun little kitchen gadget — it really works. Bought this as a gift last January and ending up keeping it with the plan of buying several more to give as Christmas gifts this year." — KW Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 2. Some dried ramen topping — with goji berry, carrot, cabbage, corn, shiitake mushroom, green onion, shrimp, squid, and beancurd — you simply rehydrate and toss on top of noodles, pizza, salad, etc. You're basically a Next Level Chef contestant when you pull this from the cupboard! Promising review: "Love the taste and texture that this mix adds. It makes a plain bowl of Maruchan feel like a proper meal. A few people have complained about a fishy smell... but it's a seafood mix. I love it and will get a lot of use out of it." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $23.99. 3. A Himalayan salt block if you've been chomping at the bit waiting for grilling season to get here. A big ol' slab of steak and some veggie kebabs cooked to perfection on a hunk of salt??? Let's goooo. Amazon Promising review: "The meat came out with a nice salted crust and the salt block kept the meat juicy and moist. I wouldn't grill any other way if I could! I bought this for my father as a gift for his birthday and he LOVES IT. When it's not in use, it's a good table centerpiece in my opinion." — just someone Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in two sizes). 4. A veggie chopper so you can dice up an onion as impressively as former VP Kamala Harris. If you haven't seen it, I'm gonna need you to open another tab and promptly google "Kamala Harris and Mindy Kaling cook masala dosa," because, man, it is a thing of beauty. Fullstar is a small business established in 2017 that specializes in kitchen gadgets. Check out a TikTok of their veggie chopper in action. Promising review:" I was skeptical at first 'til I opened the box and found a very sturdy, very well-built kitchen tool inside. I read the pamphlet it comes with, and it explained all I needed to know when first using it. And, it was very easy to use. I bought it for a specific recipe I was going to make, and it called for lots of chopped onions and potatoes. It went through them like a champ and did exactly what I wanted. A very good deal and a good product. Would buy it again." — W.L. Shute Get it from Amazon for $24.95 (clip the $5 off coupon to get this price!; available in four colors). 5. A Thaw Claw that'll weigh down your meat in the sink and thaw it out seven times faster than if you left it on the counter. Now that you have to thaw your own meats, you understand why mom was royally PO'd every time you were so sucked into Sims 4 (recreating your neighborhood, naturally), that you totally forgot to take the chicken out of the freezer. Bonus: The ThawClaw is a small biz! Promising review: "I am a stickler for properly defrosting meat after working in food service for years and this makes that process super easy and surprisingly quick! I've even convinced my father — a retired rocket scientist — that this is the best way to defrost." — Sarah Get it from Amazon for $10.95. 6. Some bat-shaped kitchen shears you can use to chop up herbs and remove the creepy bits from your chicken tendies. Trust me, as someone with a weak stomach... it makes such a difference!!!! Amazon Promising review: "What is there not to like about bat scissors? These are durable, comfy on the hand when cutting, and they are sharp... Plus, they look awesome in my knife holder. 😀" — sharon skully Get it from Amazon for $14.20. 7. A breakfast sandwich maker that simultaneously cooks your egg, toasts your bread, warms precooked meat, and melts cheese so you can slap together the ultimate breakfast sammie without having to wait in line at Dunkin' or Starbucks. Promising review:"I am actually excited for my weekday breakfast now. These homemade McMuffins are so good! My favorite version uses sliced tomatoes, Swiss cheese, and precooked bacon (from Costco). So many options, so easy! My kindergartener and my teenager both love it. I may have to buy another one for our family. It's also easy to clean with a quick wipe-down." — Joolie Get it from Amazon for $32.99 (available in six colors). 8. Or a super easy-to-use egg bite maker so you can make lil' egg bebes that adhere to your keto/paleo/gluten-free/vegetarian lifestyle and *don't* cost $9 (plus the gas to get you to the drive-thru). Psst — a lot of folks also use these for pancake and protein pancake bites, too! Promising review: "I bought this in hopes of making egg bites similar to Starbucks, and I have not been disappointed. I chose this one after reading reviews on the smaller four-bite size. I have used it multiple times and have had excellent results each time. I followed the recipe in the booklet and used a tip from another reviewer that suggested to triple the cottage cheese amount. It's very easy to use and clean." — April124 Get it from Amazon for $32.60+ (available in three colors). 9. A neutral set of silicone-coated kitchen utensils so you can throw away the mismatched ones you've been using since college. Amazon The utensils can withstand temperatures of -40 degrees F up to 446 degrees F. Each set includes 24 tools and a holder. Promising review:"I don't normally write reviews, but I went out of my way to share this! I love these; they are super cute and really nice to cook with! I went through and threw away all of my plastic spoons and spatulas after using these. I'm definitely a fan!" — Patricia B. Get them from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in eight color combos). 10. A colorful pan — from BuzzFeed's Goodful line — that's not just cute, but has the ability to kick all of your other dented and scratched pots to the curb as it can pan fry, sauté, sear, boil, simmer, blanche, braise, poach, deep fry, stew... and more, but I'll stop myself there. Promising review: "I waited to write a review until I'd actually tested the pan and after using it for 2 months, I can honestly say that it is amazing! It's the best cookware product that I've ever used as it heats up evenly and cleans so easily (even the bottom of the pan still looks new). I am currently looking at other Goodful products to replace my other pots, so YES, I'd highly recommend this product!" — Johnny O Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in eight colors). 11. A silicone crab or witch utensil holder ready to triumphantly hold your spoon over its head so it doesn't melt on the side of your stove while you're cooking. Promising review: "Probably the coolest holder I have ever seen. Bought it for my wife and she loves it and thinks it's cute. I laugh when I look at it, just cool as all! Hangs on all of our pots and pans, stays cool. Easy to clean and looks awesome. Great addition to any kitchen. Works great, does exactly what it is intended to do!" — Logan E. Get it from Amazon for $13.95. 12. A Dracula garlic mincer because garlic powder simply doesn't compare to freshly minced garlic when you're whipping your own Olive Garden–inspired "Tour of Italy" (chicken parmigiana, lasagna, and fettuccine alfredo, obvi). PS: You can also use it for ginger! Promising review:"I purchased this as a gift for my friend who is a fantastic cook — she uses fresh ingredients almost exclusively — but pressing fresh garlic is a task usually delegated. No longer — Gracula is there for her. She uses him nearly every time she needs garlic (which is basically daily) and months later still makes a point of saying how much she enjoys the gift. Anyway, definitely recommended for people who cook with garlic and have a sense of humor." — L Get it from Amazon for $16.95. 13. Modular sheet pan dividers so you can make a one-pan meal without overcooking any of the elements. Sick of burning your butternut squash while you wait for your Brussels sprouts to finish? Well, now you can pull 'em out as soon as they're done without worrying about shuffling several hot pans. Amazon, Prep'd, the small biz that created these handy dividers, was founded in 2015 by two industrial engineers who believed cooking should be simple, easy, and ultimately fun. Promising review:"These are great for so many reasons. We're in a mixed gluten household (one person has celiac and is diabetic, but we are not all doing a gluten-free diet). We can portion control for carb counting and separate out gluten-free vs. none on one pan. Plus, cleanup is just throwing in the dishwasher!" — J Fans Get a set of four from Amazon for $32.99. 14. A pastel knife set with such an arresting design, one reviewer warns not to forget they're super sharp, too!!! Promising review: "I am a sucker for everyday use items that are effective at what they do and also super beautiful to look at. The pastels are just perfect. I agree with everyone, though, do not get comfortable and forget how sharp they are." — Ibric Family Get it from Amazon for $16.99. 15. A set of toaster oven bags if you're always craving a grilled cheese but don't want to pull out a pan. Just put together all your fixins, drop 'em in the bag, and let your toaster do the work for you. Amazon, You can also heat up pizza slices, chicken nuggets, and more with it, meaning you'll have dinner ready in a matter of minutes. Reviewers say these are also great for anyone with a gluten allergy who needs to keep their bread separate in the toaster. Check 'em out on TikTok here! Promising review:"This item is so cool and it real works. Makes a great sandwich and supper easy too use and clean up." — Flecia Young Get them from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in packs of 4, 6, and 10). 16. A foldable mushroom funnel so you can transfer your liquids without spilling them all over the counter. Think of how many paper towels this will save you!! Amazon To use it, just flip it inside out and stick the "stem" through your container's opening. Plus, it's dishwasher safe! Promising review: "I am obsessed with this funnel!!! I juice a lot of citrus and juices for cocktails, and this little guy is the perfect size for bottling. It's beyond cute and really great quality. I'm always hesitant about buying silicone items, as I don't want them to be too thin. This is perfect! Sturdy and cute! Can't get better than that! The perfect addition to any cottagecore kitchen!" — Abbey Klem Get it from Amazon for $13.95. 17. An Amazon Basics 6-quart Dutch oven that people compare to budget-busting versions from Le Creuset, Staub, and Lodge. Here you come, TikTok recipes! Promising review:" Le Creuset? Don't know her. I have always wanted one of these enamel-covered cast iron beauties, but even from the outlet stores, they were expensive. I saw this guy after finding a stew recipe that went from stove to oven, and I got it. I am DELIGHTED with this purchase! I've cooked in it several times, including a chili recipe tonight that had to reduce by half. It left a ridiculous ring on the inside, and that sucker wiped right out. I haven't burned or scorched any of my foods and it's pretty, too!" — HerRoyalHighness Get a 6-quart Dutch oven from Amazon for $47.84+ (available in two other sizes and 11 total colors). 18. A cactus measuring spoon set made from ceramic so they won't melt when oops! you accidentally leave them too close to the stove. Amazon Promising review: "The cutest measuring spoons I've ever owned. They feel high quality and look great in our kitchen. I love using them." — Ash Johnson Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in three styles). 19. An automatic spice grinder so you can top off every dish with a bit of spice and in the most ✨extra✨ fashion imaginable. Kayla Suazo / BuzzFeed BTW — this grinder is battery-operated, so make sure to get a few AA batteries, too! Promising reviews:"Nothing like freshly ground spices to add a little snap to your cooking. The pods snap on and off with ease and the grind size is very easy to adjust from barely ground to pulverized... The ability to group commonly used spices together in threes and carry them across the kitchen or outside to the grill just adds to the usability." — Todd Tittle Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in eight colors, comes with grinder and two interchangeable pods). 20. A pair of herb scissors if you just don't have the patience to finely dice your scallions when there's shrimp fried rice to be eaten. (And "you're telling me a shrimp fried this rice??" jokes to be cheesily told.) Amazon The scissors have five blades which do the work of 10 knives! They also come with a cleaning comb which makes it easy to get out every last bit of your herbs. Promising review: "We use HelloFresh which has a lot of meals with scallions. My uniform knife cutting skills are sketchy at best and I just knew there had to be a gadget out there that would make things easier. These herb shears are awesome! They make my life much easier. They are just like the description says, easy to use, easy to clean, and so far seem pretty durable." — Mike Taylor Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in three colors). 21. A versatile Ninja Crispi Air Fryer system that can air fry, bake, crisp, and reheat when attached to your choice of included 6-cup or 4-quart container. And anything you don't finish? Just slap a lid on it, store it in your fridge, and enjoy leftovers the next day! No extra dishes necessary. Amazon Each air fryer comes with the"PowerPod," two containers (a 4-quart and a 6-quart), and lids. The PowerPod has auto-shutoff and four modes: Max Crisp, Bake, Air Fry, and Recrisp. The "feet" are heat-safe, so you can prop it on any surface without worrying! Promising review: "I got my Ninja Crisper today and reheated some stuffed bread with feta cheese and spinach, and it did a wonderful job. I t was like it just came out of the oven the first time. Nice and crispy outside, but the inside heated just right. I love that the bottom glass can be covered with the lid it comes with. They come with a metal plate you can put in the glass bottom part, and it actually fits into the lid, so it doesn't get lost. The glass makes a difference in the taste, too. It is a great product and well worth it." — Jennifer Get it from Amazon for $159.99 (available in three colors). 22. A set of decorative trivets made to protect your table from the scorching heat of your latest creation: an over-microwaved Hot Pocket (AKA molten lava straight from Earth's mantle). Amazon Line + Arc is a small biz! Promising review: "This was a really hard purchase for me. I searched for quite a bit but couldn't settle on any trivets that also fit the aesthetic of my kitchen. These are perfect! Love the color, size, shape, dimensions… all of it. It was hard to press that purchase button though just because of the price (there are sooooo many cheaper options), but these seem like they will stand the test of time." — Anna Get a set of three from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in seven colors). 23. A leaf-shaped herb stripper if you're looking for a quick and easy way to strip fresh cilantro, rosemary, and even kale while cooking. Slide them through and leave behind that bitter stem! Amazon Promising review: "This is one of those random kitchen gadgets that you would never even think about existing, but it's brilliant! We grew kale in our garden, and I was spending way too much time cutting the leaves off the stems, then I stumbled across this tool being suggested on a blog. I immediately ordered one and was very impressed! It saves me so much time stripping those leaves. I also use it for rosemary, oregano, and other herbs." — Elaine S. Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 24. And an artichoke spoon rest to keep your counters sauce-free. Just be careful if you have pets because they may try to snatch it off the counter in search of a treat! avOKado Ceramic / Etsy avOKado Ceramic is a Ukranian small biz from Oksana Kadochnikova.

‘The Amazing Race': Melinda and Erika on their ‘doofus' mistake and regrets about not U-Turning Carson and Jack
‘The Amazing Race': Melinda and Erika on their ‘doofus' mistake and regrets about not U-Turning Carson and Jack

Yahoo

time26-04-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

‘The Amazing Race': Melinda and Erika on their ‘doofus' mistake and regrets about not U-Turning Carson and Jack

Leg 8 of The Amazing Race was the end of the road for Melinda and Erika Papadeas. After struggling to keep up with the pack and being tripped up by a tricky cypher puzzle, the mother-daughter duo was the last team to arrive at the Pit Stop and got eliminated by host Phil Keoghan. "It was really hard to watch it back knowing what we were going to see at the end," Melinda tells Gold Derby (watch the video interview above). "It was really difficult — but it was enlightening!" More from GoldDerby 'Next Level Chef' recap: A fan favorite cooks their last dish in 'Tapas In' 'Survivor 48' recap: Mary is 'willing to die' over her mistrust in Kyle and Shauhin 'The Masked Singer' recap: Pop-rock hitmaker unmasked as final 5 perform the 'Soundtrack of My Life' Erika interjects with a laugh, "It was more difficult for me because there was lots of hate on my reading abilities. That wasn't our favorite leg to watch. We're just really proud of ourselves for making it to the final six. There were 14 teams, we were the last female team, and my mom was the oldest cast member — absolutely amazing." While traveling through Sofia, Bulgaria, teams were specifically instructed not to take taxis, but to instead travel on foot or use the metro transit system. That information slipped through the cracks for Melinda and Erika, who hailed cabs throughout the leg. In the end, no penalty was assessed because they finished in last place anyway. After watching the race back on TV, both now realize it was all meant to be. "That whole leg of the race was a lot of running," Erika explains. "Ultimately, if we hadn't taken those taxis, I don't think we would have even seen people along the way as frequently as we did. Also, my mom would have been so exhausted. For my mom to have the energy to absolutely crush it for her last Roadblock — as much as misreading the clue was such a doofus thing to do, it did ultimately prolong us and allow us to enjoy that leg of the race." SEE 'The Amazing Race's' Pops and Jeff on their nail-biting elimination — and how Pops stays ripped at 65 years old After finding their clue at a klek shop near Russian Monument Square, Melinda and Erika had to travel to the library at Sofia University. There, teams had to translate two book pages from Cyrillic to English using a cypher before receiving their next clue. The most difficult part of the task was discovering the translation key was on the back of the cypher itself. After all the other teams had finished, Han and Holden Nguyen let Melinda and Erika in on the secret. "The fact that Holden came back, even though we were the very last team, was really cool to see," Erika says. "I hate to say it, but my mom would have probably been like, 'We can't help them!' To have them come back to help us — we're grateful." At the final Roadblock, Melinda crushed the Bulgarian dance routine, which she credits to her experience in Greek dance. "That really helped me," she explains. "The steps are a little bit it was a good challenge for me versus Erika. We got done pretty fast and we were able to see Han and Holden at the mat." When asked if they could re-do anything, Erika says she would have U-Turned Jack Dodge and Carson McCalley instead of Mike and Nick Fiorito during Leg 7. "I love them, but they are such good racers!" she exclaims. However, Erika also admits she had no idea Jack and Carson were behind them at the time, and felt like they had no choice but to U-Turn Mike and Nick in order to save themselves. "It was so hard and Erika hesitated," Melinda recounts. "I was like, 'No! You have to do it! It's do or die for us!' We really did not know anybody else was behind us." Melinda and Erika also share their favorite race moments, what we didn't see on TV, and who they're rooting for to win the $1 million prize. Leg 9 of The Amazing Race airs April 30 on CBS. SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby 'The Masked Singer' spoilers: Who is Boogie Woogie? 'RuPaul's Drag Race' winners list: Every season, plus 'All Stars' Vote for 'Survivor 50': The 3 new questions center around design, survival, and strategy Click here to read the full article.

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