| How to Order Wine Posted: 24 Sep 2019 05:00 PM PDT If you panic when the server hands you a wine list, you might feel overwhelmed or put on the spot, especially if you're trying to impress a date. While it helps to have some idea of varietals you enjoy, you should be able to read the list and narrow down the selection. Fortunately, the server or sommelier can help you find a wine that tastes great, matches your meal, and fits your budget. [Edit]Narrowing Your Choices - Read the wine list in advance if possible. You might feel more comfortable ordering wine if you have lots of time to decide before you get to the restaurant. Check the restaurant's website for a wine list or call and ask what's on offer.[1]
- If you can't read the list in advance, don't worry. It's perfectly fine to take several minutes reading through the selection, especially if it's more than a page long.
- Think about what food you'll be eating with the wine. If you're going out, consider what type of meal you're eating. For example, will you probably order a seafood dish, a meaty steak, or a light chicken dish? Maybe you're just going out for wine and appetizers or dessert. Try to pick the food before choosing the wine.[2]
- Keep in mind that wine from the region you're eating often pairs well. For example, if you're eating Spanish tapas, you might want a Spanish wine.
- Choose red or white wine. One of the fastest ways to narrow down a lengthy wine list is to decide if you're going to drink red or white wine. Keep in mind that there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pairing wine with food, so feel free to order your favorite type of wine.
- For example, if you never drink red wine, it's alright to just look at the whites, even if they don't traditionally pair with what you're going to eat.
- If you're ordering for the table, ask what the other people prefer to drink.
- Decide if you'll order a glass or bottle. Sharing a bottle of wine is a good way to save money if you and several people at the table all want to drink the same thing. If you're not sure what you like or you want to try a few different wines, start with just a glass.
- You may want to order wine by the glass if you'd like different varietals throughout a meal. For example, you might want a sparkling wine with appetizers, red wine with your main course, and a dessert wine to finish.
- Look for wines that are within your budget. Some restaurants might only have a handful of wines on their list while others have several pages of offerings. Scan the list to see which wines you feel comfortable paying for. This should eliminate some wines that might be too expensive for you.[3]
- If you're looking for the least expensive wine, check for the house wine selection.
[Edit]Choosing a Specific Varietal - Decide if you'll order a new wine or one you've already tried. You may be familiar with a few wines on the list because you've had them before. If you enjoyed them, you could play it safe and order one of these. If you feel like branching out and experiencing a new varietal, order something you've never tried before.[4]
- You don't have to order something completely out of your comfort zone. For example, if you know you like French Pinot Noir, why not try a Pinot Noir from the West Coast of the U.S.?
- Familiarize yourself with flavor profiles. Think about the characteristics of wine that you drink and choose a wine that matches those profiles. If you don't have time to learn varietal profiles, you should be able to describe the flavors you want. These are some popular flavor profiles and examples of varietals that meet them:[5]
- Light and fruity: Lambrusco, Primitivo, and Garnacha
- Light and earthy: Burgundy, Beaujolais, Riesling
- Bold and fruity: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz or Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Malbec
- Bold and earthy: Cabernet Franc, Bordeaux, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, or Chianti
- Order well-known wines if you want a familiar tasting wine. Even if you don't know a lot about wine, you probably realize that wines from France and the Napa Valley are in high demand. This makes them a safe choice to order, but it also means that they might cost you a little more. Consider sticking with one of these crowd-pleasing wines:[6]
- Merlot
- Cabernet
- Riesling
- Pinot Noir
- Chardonnay
- Select wine from a less popular region if you'd like to save money. Wine is grown all over the world, not just in the popular regions you've seen the most. Do your research or ask the sommelier to recommend an interesting and overlooked wine-growing region. These are great deals because they usually cost as much as wines from well-known regions. Try a wine from one of these overlooked regions:[7]
- South Africa
- Argentina
- New Zealand
- Chile
- Moldova
- Ask a sommelier for advice. If you'd like a few specific recommendations, tell the sommelier what you're planning to eat and give them a rough idea of your budget. It can also help to tell them what varietals you usually enjoy. Then, they should be able to give you at least a couple of suggestions.[8]
- Try to be specific when asking for information about the wine. Instead of saying, "What should I try?" you could say, "I'm interested in this wine and that wine. Which one is lighter and fruitier?"
[Edit]Enjoying Your Selection - Verify that the wine's correct if you ordered a bottle. The server should present the wine to you so you can see the label. Check to see that it's the right vintage and bottle that you ordered. If it is, the server will open it at your table and pour you a sample.[9]
- If the wine isn't exactly what you ordered, tell your server. They'll return with the correct bottle or let you know if they don't actually have the bottle you ordered.
- Smell and taste the wine to see if it's corked. Once the server pours a sample of the wine or brings your glass of wine, take a deep sniff of it. The wine should smell fragrant and delicious, not like wet newspaper or cardboard. Then, swirl the wine gently and take a sip. If the wine has corked, it will taste weak, dull, or astringent.[10]
- If the wine was bottled with a screw top or synthetic cork, the wine can't become corked.
- Approve the sample if you ordered a bottle. If you don't think the wine is corked, you can tell the server that the wine is good to pour. Then, the server will pour wine for everyone who's going to share the bottle.[11]
- If you think the wine is corked, let the server know. They'll bring a different bottle for you to sample.
- You should only return the wine if it's corked, even if the flavor isn't quite to your liking.
- Communicate your wine preferences to the server. If you plan on ordering another glass or bottle, you can continue to drink the same wine or choose a new one. Discuss the next wine you want to try with the sommelier. For example, you might say, "I enjoyed this Pinot Noir, but I think now I'd like a wine with a bolder body and bigger finish."[12]
- Let the server know if you'd like your wine chilled further if the temperature isn't to your liking.
- Remember your preferences so you can make a more informed choice next time. Don't be afraid to try new wines! You might find a wine that you really enjoy or you may drink one that you don't want to order in the future. Consider keeping a list of the wines you order and make notes about their flavor profiles so you can become an experienced wine drinker.
- Check your phone to see if you can download a wine tasting app. This can make it easier to track the wines you've tried.
- Go to wine tastings and festivals in your area so you can explore a variety of wines. You'll quickly learn which wines and wine-growing regions you enjoy.
- If you're trying to save money, avoid buying "showcase" wines. These are usually some of the most expensive or rare wines on the list.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Paint a Driveway Posted: 24 Sep 2019 09:00 AM PDT A fresh coat of paint not only gives your driveway a facelift, but also helps prolong its life by slowing down chipping and cracking due to weather exposure. To properly paint a concrete driveway, you must first ensure that it is completely cleared and clean. Next, fill any cracks, if applicable, so you can paint over them and give the driveway a nice even coat. Last but not least, make sure to use thick masonry paint that will withstand the expansion and contraction of the driveway. Avoid painting an asphalt driveway as the paint will chip and peel much more easily since asphalt is oil-based. [Edit]Cleaning the Driveway - Remove your vehicle and any other objects from the driveway. Park your vehicle somewhere that you can leave it for the next week while you complete the process of painting your driveway. Remove any other objects, such as planters or anything else you have on the driveway, and set them off to the side where you can leave them for at least 3 days.[1] during both the day and night.}}
- You will be able to walk on the driveway after 24 hours and you can place things back onto it after 72 hours. However, you need to avoid driving on it for a full week to ensure that you give the paint time to fully cure.
- Use a leaf blower or broom to clear loose debris from the driveway. Blow away loose debris like leaves and twigs from the driveway with a leaf blower or sweep them off with a broom. Blow or sweep them off the side of the driveway onto your lawn and rake them up later.[2]
- Make sure to wear eye and ear protection if you are using a leaf blower.
- Pressure-wash the driveway to remove all stuck-on dirt. Hold the pressure washer so the nozzle is pointed down at the driveway at about a 45-degree angle away from you. Turn on the pressure washer and spray the entire driveway down with the jet stream in a sweeping motion from side to side to clean it.[3]
- Wear protective footwear with a rubberized sole to prevent slipping, such as rubber boots, as well as protective eyewear.
- Be careful when operating a pressure washer to only spray it down at the driveway. Pressure washers can cause serious injury if aimed at people or damage things like paint if you spray the side of your home.
- If you don't have a pressure washer you can usually rent one at a hardware store or home improvement center. Alternatively, you can use a garden hose with a high-pressure nozzle to spray down the driveway and use a push broom to scrub any particularly dirty spots.
- Apply a degreaser to any oil or grease stains to get rid of them. Pour the degreaser onto the stain until it is completely covered. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes, then scrub the stain out with a stiff-bristled brush and water to clean it off the driveway.[4]
- Commercial degreaser products are sometimes marketed as garage floor cleaners, driveway cleaners, or patio cleaners. Look for them at your local home improvement center or online.
[Edit]Repairing Cracks in the Concrete - Brush cracks with a wire brush to remove any loose debris stuck in them. Hold the wire brush on the surface of the crack at one end. Shove it away from you with vigorous strokes along the length of the crack to sweep out any loose debris.[5]
- If there are any larger pieces of debris stuck in the cracks, like broken chunks of concrete, then you can use a hammer and chisel to loosen them or break them up before sweeping them out with a wire brush.
- Fill any cracks in with concrete or repair caulk. Use a caulking gun to squeeze a bead of repair caulk into the crack to fill it slightly higher than the top of the crack so you will be able to spread it out even with the driveway. This will work to fill cracks up to about in diameter.[6]
- For any large dents or holes, you may need to apply a concrete repair compound to fix them.
- Smooth the crack filler with a putty knife so it is even with the driveway. Press the filler down with the edge of the putty knife. Drag the putty knife away from the crack against the driveway to smooth the filler out with the rest of the driveway.[7]
- Try to blend the texture of the repair compound in with the driveway as well as you can so that when you paint over it you won't be able to notice where you repaired the cracks.
- Let the caulk dry for 24 hours before you paint the driveway. This is how long it will take for the concrete repair caulk to dry and cure completely. Don't paint over any wet repair caulk or it won't be able to cure fully and will end up cracking again.[8]
- You can apply more caulk to touch up the cracks as needed as soon as the first layer is dry to the touch.
[Edit]Priming and Painting the Driveway - Prime the driveway with water-based active etch primer. Mix some active etch primer into a bucket of water according to the manufacturer's instructions. Pour it onto the driveway and scrub it in with a stiff push broom. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wash it off with a hose and let the driveway dry completely before you start painting.[9]
- Active etch is a liquid that binds to concrete surfaces and roughens them so that paint will stick to them more easily. Look for it at a home improvement store, paint supply shop, or online.
- Choose masonry paint in a neutral color such as black or gray. Masonry paint is thicker than regular paint and won't crack when your driveway expands and contracts due to changes in temperature. Use a neutral color that goes with the exterior of your home.[10]
- Masonry paint is also called elastomeric paint. You can get it at a home improvement store or paint supply store.
- Tape off anything at the edges of the driveway that you want to protect. This includes the garage door and the sides of your home. Pull off strips of tape long enough to cover each edge you want to protect, then carefully stick them to the surface so the edge of the tape meets the surface of the driveway.[11]
- Blue painter's tape is the best way to cover and protect things while painting because it is easy to remove without damaging whatever it is stuck to. You can get it at a home improvement store or a paint supply store.
- Pour some of the masonry paint into a paint roller tray. Pour enough into the tray to fill the paint-holding section about halfway. Keep the can handy where you can easily reach it when you need to refill the tray.[12]
- Make sure to use a tray that is wide enough for the roller you are planning to use.
- Paint around any hard-to-reach edges with a masonry paintbrush. Masonry paintbrushes are stronger than regular brushes so they can withstand the rough concrete surface of your driveway. Dip the brush into the paint in the tray and carefully paint around the edges of your driveway where it meets things like the walls of your home or the garage door.[13]
- Anywhere you covered something with painter's tape is generally where you want to paint the edges of the driveway with the brush.
- Wear a face mask to keep yourself from inhaling paint fumes.
- A masonry brush is a good size to use for painting around the edges of the driveway.
- Roll on the paint with a nap roller on a long handle. A nap roller is a heavy-duty roller that can withstand rough surfaces like concrete. Start at a top corner of the driveway and work side to side in small sections of about . Overlap the edges of the sections and work your way down until you have coated the whole driveway.[14]
- Always start at the top of the driveway so you don't accidentally paint yourself into a corner.
- You can switch the direction you roll the paint in by 90 degrees to get good coverage if you see the paint is not getting into all the pores of the driveway.
- Let the first coat dry undisturbed for 16-24 hours. Don't walk across the paint or put anything on it while it dries. Keep pets and small children away from the driveway so they don't accidentally run over it.[15]
- It's a good idea to check the forecast before you paint to make sure it isn't going to rain while the paint dries.
- Apply a second coat of paint the same way you applied the first. Start at the top corner of the driveway again and roll on the paint in overlapping sections. Work your way to the bottom until you have completed the second coat.[16]
- Two coats are typically enough paint to cover your driveway. However, if the texture of your driveway is particularly rough you may need to apply a third coat to make sure it is evenly coated and you don't miss any spots.
- Wait 72 hours to park on the driveway. You can walk on the driveway after 24 hours, but don't drive on it for a few days so the paint has time to cure.[17]
[Edit]Warnings - Wear eye and ear protection when operating a leaf blower.
- Use slip-proof footwear and eye protection when operating a pressure washer. Never aim the jet stream at anybody.
- Wear a face mask when you are painting to prevent yourself from inhaling fumes.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Leaf blower or broom
- Pressure washer
- Degreaser
- Wire brush
- Stiff-bristled brush
- Concrete repair caulk
- Caulking gun
- Putty knife
- Push broom
- Active etch primer
- Painter's tape
- Paint roller tray
- nap roller
- masonry paintbrush
- Masonry paint
[Edit]References |
| How to Make Plum Cake Posted: 24 Sep 2019 01:00 AM PDT If you're looking for a light dessert or tea-time snack, look no further than the plum cake. Plum cakes have a light, fluffy texture and an irresistibly buttery flavor. To make your own cake, pit and slice a few ripe plums. Next, mix a decadently fluffy cake batter. Pour the batter in a pan, arrange the plum slices in an attractive pattern, and bake the cake for about forty minutes. [Edit]Ingredients For Method 1: - 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup butter (114 grams, or one stick), room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) white sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 pound (227 grams) ripe plums
For Method 2: - 2 tbsp red currant or seedless raspberry jam
- 3 tbsp brandy
- 1 lb Italian prune plums, halved and pitted
- 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cups sugar
- 1/3 cups slivered almonds
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 table salt
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, soft but still cool
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- Powdered sugar to top
- Serves 8
[Edit]Pitting and Slicing the Plums - Purchase some ripe plums. You will need ½ pound (about 227 grams) of ripe plums. Once pitted and sliced, you will have about 1 ¼ cups (313 milliliters) of sliced plums. Signs of a ripe plum include:
- A deep, even purple color
- Sweet, fruity-smelling skin
- Gives slightly when squeezed
- Smooth, wrinkle-free skin[1]
- Slice the plums in half. First, run a knife along the seam of the fruit until you feel the pit. Continue slicing along the pit until you have cut all around the fruit. Next, firmly twist the two halves in opposite directions to separate them from one another.
- Set the plum on a cutting board when slicing it in half. If you hold it in your hand, you may cut yourself.
- Remove the pit of the plum. When you separate the two halves, one half will still have a pit inside. If the plum is ripe enough, use your fingers to pull the pit away from the plum flesh. If it's firmly attached, scoop the pit out with a spoon.
- Discard any plum pits that you remove from your fruit.
- Slice the plums. Set each plum half flesh-down on your cutting board. Next, use a sharp knife to cut each half into small, even slices. Each half will yield about six slices.[2]
- If you prefer larger pieces of plums, you don't need to slice the halves. You will add them to the cake flesh-down when the batter is ready.
- Remember to practice knife safety when cutting fruit.
[Edit]Making the Cake Batter - Gather your baking ingredients. You will need 3 eggs, 1/2 cup (114 grams) of butter at room temperature, 1 teaspoon of lemon zest, 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour, and 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder.[3]
- To get room-temperature butter, leave a stick of butter on your counter for a few hours.
- Separate the egg whites from the egg yolks. First, set out two small cups or ramekins. Next, crack the egg over one of the ramekins. Allow the whites of the egg to fall into the ramekin. Gently pass the egg yolk between the two shell halves until all of the egg whites have separated. Place the egg yolk in the empty ramekin and pick out any pieces of shell that you see.[4]
- If you don't want to separate the eggs by hand, purchase an egg separator online or at your local gourmet grocery store.
- It's better to have a little bit of egg white in the yolk than to have a little bit of yolk in the egg white.
- Beat the egg whites. Use a hand mixer or a whisk to beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Start beating the eggs on a slow setting until they become foamy. Raise the speed slowly every thirty seconds or so until the egg whites are whipped.[5] To avoid over beating the eggs, keep a close eye on their progress.
- Stiff peaks will have a glossy appearance and stand up sharply on their own.
- Use a metal or glass bowl to beat the eggs. Plastic bowls can affect the whipping process.
- If you overbeat the eggs, they will start to look curdled. Throw them away and try again.
- Cream the butter with the sugar. Add the soft butter to a large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer or a whisk to turn the butter into a creamy paste. Next, add in the sugar. Continue mixing the sugar and butter mixture until it resembles light fluffy sand.[6]
- Make sure to use a very large mixing bowl, as you will be adding other ingredients to the butter mixture.
- Add the egg yolks and lemon zest to the butter mixture. Use an electric mixer or a whisk to incorporate the egg yolks and lemon zest into the butter mixture. When you first start mixing, the egg yolks won't mix well and the batter will look strange. However, the egg yolks will eventually become incorporated and the batter will look smooth and creamy.
- Once the egg yolks are incorporated, consider adding fragrant extracts to enhance the flavor. For example, add 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) of almond extract.[7]
- To further enhance the flavor, consider adding the zest of other citrus fruits as well. For example, add an extra teaspoon (5 grams) of orange zest.
- Sift the baking powder and flour into a bowl. Sifting will aerate the flour and remove any lumps in the baking powder.[8] First, hold a sifter over a large bowl. Pour in the flour and move the sifter from side to side. Once all of the flour has fallen into the bowl, pour the baking powder into the sifter and repeat the process.
- If you want a slightly spiced plum cake, add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the flour mixture.[9]
- After sifting, use a whisk to mix the baking soda and the flour together.
- Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Add about half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and blend it together. Once the flour is completely absorbed, add the rest of the flour mixture. Continue mixing until all of the flour has been incorporated into the batter.
- Fold in the egg whites. Add about a quarter of the whipped egg whites into the mixture. Use a spatula to fold the egg whites into the mixture. To do so, scoop batter from underneath the egg whites and gently drape them towards the center of the bowl. Turn the bowl slightly and repeat the process until the egg whites disappear.
- Continue folding in batches egg whites until all of the egg whites are incorporated. [10]
- Resist the urge to stir the mixture. If you do, the cake will flatten in the oven.
[Edit]Baking the Cake - Preheat your oven. Set your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, or 190 degrees Celsius. Many modern ovens will alert you when they're done preheating. If yours doesn't have this feature, preheat the oven for at least ten minutes to bring it to temperature.
- Grease and flour a cake pan. You can use two circular 8-inch (21cm x 5cm) cake pans, a nine-inch (23cm x 8cm) Bundt pan, or two 8-inch (23cm x 13cm x 6cm) loaf pans.[11] Rub the inside of the pan and dust it with flour to create a non-stick surface. Alternatively, spray cooking spray on the inside of the pan.
- Discard any extra flour leftover from greasing and flouring the pan.
- Pour in the batter. Gently pour the cake batter into the cake pans. Use a spatula to scrape the sides of the mixing bowl clean. If you're using two cake pans, fill them as evenly as you can. To do so, add a large dollop of cake batter to each pan until all of it has been used.
- Arrange the sliced plums. If you want to create a beautiful pattern, carefully arrange the sliced plums in a spiral formation. If you want to create a rustic, haphazard look, drop the plum slices into the batter in a random pattern.
- If you are using plum halves instead of slices, set the plum halves in the batter flesh-down and press gently.
- Don't press the plums too far into the batter. The batter will rise around the plums in the oven.
- Bake the cake for 40-45 minutes. When finished, the cake will have a golden-brown crust. To test whether or not your cake is done, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done baking. If it's covered in batter, let the cake continue baking for five more minutes and check it again.[12]
- Place the cake on a pastry rack to cool. Once the cake is done cooking, remove it from the oven. Slide the cake out of the pan and onto a wire baking rack to cool. If you let it cool in the pan, the bottom will become soggy. Allow the cake cool completely.
- While the cake is cooling, dust a layer of confectioner's sugar over the top to add visual excitement.
- Serve the plum cake. Once the cake has cooled, serve your plum cake with a hot cup of tea or coffee. Alternatively, make a caramel sauce and pour it over a slice of plum cake before serving it. Finally, if you have a strong sweet tooth, serve a slice of cake with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Refrigerate any leftover cake.[13]
- Eat the cake within three days of baking it.
[Edit]Another Way to Make Plum Cake (see "for Method 2" under "Ingredients") - Cook the jam and brandy in a skillet over medium heat for about 2-3 minutes, or until it is a thick syrup. Remove the pan from the heat and add plums, cut side down, into the syrup. Return the pan to the heat, and cook until the syrup is thick again. Be sure the plums don't stick to the pan. Cool the syrup and plums for about 20 minutes.
- Move the oven rack into the middle of the oven and pre-heat to 350 degrees. In the mean time, grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan.
- Put the sugar and almonds through a food processor until the ingredients are finely ground. This should only take a minute or two.
- Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Use the "pulse" setting on the food processor to mix the ingredients.
- Add the eggs, vanilla, butter, and almond extract. Process the ingredients until the batter is smooth. This should take under a minute. You may want to scrape the bowl with the spatula to keep it from sticking.
- Pour the batter into the pan that you previously greased. Using the spatula, smooth out the edges and the top of the cake.
- Return to the pan containing the plums. Stir them around until they are coated with the syrup. Place the plums evenly on top of the batter. Do not push them down in too far, let them rest at the surface.
- Place the cake in the pre-heated oven. Bake the cake for about 40-50 minutes, or until golden brown. Put a wooden skewer through the center of the cake and remove; the cake is ready when the skewer comes out with only a few crumbs of cake.
- Loosen the cake around the edges with a knife, and allow cake to cool for 30 minutes or so.
- Transfer the cake to a large platter. Lightly dust the cake with powdered sugar.
- Slice into eight triangular wedges and serve.
- You can replace the two tablespoons of brandy with one tablespoon of water.
- This dish goes well with vanilla ice cream.
[Edit]Things You'll Need For Method 2: - 10-inch nonstick skillet
- Oven
- Food processor
- Batter spatula
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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