| How to Bake Cupcakes Without a Cupcake Pan Posted: 06 Sep 2021 05:00 PM PDT If you need to make cupcakes but don't have a cupcake tray, it's still possible to bake those cupcakes. If you have cupcake liners, all you need to do is create stronger liners by stacking them on top of one another before placing them in a regular baking tray. If you don't have liners, you can make your own using square pieces of parchment paper and a cup. [Edit]Placing Cupcake Liners in a Tray - Create a stable structure using cupcake liners. If you're using paper liners, you'll need to use at least 2 or 3 stacked on top of one another so that they're able to stand on their own. Foil liners are the best choice as they're already very strong.[1]
- It's likely that you won't need to double or triple foil liners.
- Place the liners on a baking tray. When placing the liners, arrange them on the tray so that they sit close together, even touching. This will give them more support.[2]
- It's best if the tray has some sort of lip so that if the cupcakes do spill, you won't have a huge mess to clean up.
- Do not over-fill the cupcake liners.
- Set the liners in mason jar lids for extra support. If you want to be extra careful, take out the flat sections of mason jar lids and use the metal rings. Line the rings up along the baking tray and then place a cupcake liner in the center of each ring.[3]
- Fill the liners with the cupcake mix. Once your liners are all set, mix up your cupcake mix according to the instructions. Fill each liner ⅔ or ¾ of the way to the top, just as you would in a regular cupcake pan.
- Do not over-fill the cupcake liners, as this will weaken the liner's ability to sit and can result in tip-overs.[4]
- Put the tray into the oven and bake for the recommended amount of time. Place the tray in the preheated oven after all the liners have been filled. Move slowly and carefully when putting the tray in the oven to avoid spilling the cupcake batter. Follow the recipe to know how long to bake the cupcakes.
- Not using a metal cupcake tray should not affect the baking temperature given in the recipe.
- Set a timer to help you correctly time the baking of the cupcakes and prevent burning.
[Edit]Creating Your Own Cupcake Liners - Make your own cupcake liners out of a stiff, oven-safe material. If you don't have cupcake liners or a cupcake pan and still want to make cupcakes, you can make your own liners at home. You'll still need to double or triple the homemade liners so that they can stand up in the pan.[5]
- Parchment paper is the recommended material, but you can also use aluminum foil.
- The stiffer the paper, the more stable your cupcake liners will be.
- Cut the parchment paper into squares. Pull off a stretch of parchment paper and use a ruler to measure out squares. Use scissors to carefully cut out each measured square. You'll be doubling or tripling the liners for each cupcake, so cut out enough squares for this to happen.[6]
- Most normal-sized cupcake pans make 12 cupcakes.
- Find a cup with a base the same size as a cupcake liner. The sizing doesn't need to be exact, but try to find a glass or cup with a bottom similar to a cupcake liner. Most regular-sized cupcake liners have a bottom diameter of roughly .[7]
- Center the parchment paper over the bottom of the cup. Turn the cup over and place the square piece of parchment paper over the circular bottom. Try to align the paper so that all of the corners are equally spaced.[8]
- Press the paper over the cup to create 4 folds. Create a fold in between each corner of the piece of paper so that you create a mold of the cup. You should have 4 clean folds when you're finished.[9]
- When folding, try to press the folds as close to the cup as possible.
- Run your fingers along the entire edge of the liner. Once you've finished the folds, keep the liner on top of the cup. Press your fingers along the circular edge you've created so that you form a solid base. Now your liner is finished![10]
- Remove the liner from the cup and start placing your liners in the pan. Set up the liners on a baking tray just as you would if they were store-bought liners. Make sure they're placed close together to give them additional support.
- Double or triple the homemade liners to make them sturdier. Most materials that you use will need extra help to support the weight of the batter. Double or triple line your cupcake liners on the tray so that they won't spill.
- Try not to use tape to keep your homemade cupcake liners together — tape doesn't do well in the oven and you don't want it near your food.
- You can also use egg rings to create stable cupcake holders.
- Parchment paper cupcake liner can be purchased as well. It's more sufficient than regular cupcake liners or making one by hand.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Cupcake liners
- Baking tray
- Cupcake batter ingredients
- Mason jar lids (optional)
- Parchment paper or foil (optional)
- Cup (optional)
- Pen (optional)
- Ruler (optional)
- Scissors (optional)
[Edit]References |
| How to Handle Anxiety when Dating Someone New Posted: 06 Sep 2021 09:00 AM PDT It's normal to have some jitters early on when you're dating someone new, but if you have an anxiety disorder or you're especially jittery about this relationship in particular, it can feel like a big deal. While your feelings are valid, it's important to curb any unhealthy impulses and negative thoughts if you can—especially if they're inaccurate or unhelpful. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to soothe these early-relationship fears. We're here to walk you through some easy adjustments you can make so that you can feel better on your dates.
This article is based off an interview with licensed clinical psychologist and author, Chloe Carmichael, PhD. Check out the full interview here. [Edit]Acknowledge and respect the way you feel. - It's totally normal to feel a little jittery, so don't worry about it. In fact, it's a sign that you're in tune with the way that you feel and that you want the date to go well. Both of these things are good, and you shouldn't be upset that you're kind of anxious about the date. Even if this anxiety is a little unpleasant right now, recognize that this feeling will go away and that it's simply a sign you're emotionally intelligent.[1]
- Even if you do have a formally diagnosed anxiety disorder, the pre-date jitters are still perfectly normal. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do anything to curb these feelings (you should, and we'll show you how), but just know that you don't need to beat yourself up over feeling this way.
- If you're a bit on the younger side, you should know that this gets easier over time. Like anything else, dating gets easier and less stressful with practice![2]
[Edit]Remind yourself of the objective facts. - Putting everything into perspective may put you at ease. So, you've got a date lined up. That means something. Take a little bit of time to just remind yourself of everything that you know to be true. Reminding yourself of certain underlying realities may really help you cope with all of these nerves.[3] For example, you probably know the following facts:
- This person agreed to go on a date with you which means they think you're worth dating. Forget those insecurities about not being good enough![4]
- People don't date someone if they don't think they're attractive. If you're a little insecure about the way you look, you don't need to be. They're going out with you, so you have to be good looking![5]
- You're nervous/anxious. That means that you care about the outcome of the date, which means there's something to gain from all of this.[6]
- If this is a second, third, or fourth date, they like you! Nobody agrees to multiple dates unless they're actually interested in that person.
[Edit]Pick laid-back date activities. - Take the pressure off by skipping the intense, super romantic dates. Hit up an arcade, go see a movie, or just meet up for a coffee. Go to a cheap bar or diner instead of that fancy steakhouse. The chiller your date-night activity is, the less likely you'll be to put a ton of pressure on yourself. It's easy to make a big deal out of things when you're dressing up fancy or spending a ton of money, so just don't! Little romantic gestures mean just as much as big dates, anyway.[7]
- If you start out with a big, fancy romantic date on your first outing together, you may feel an unnecessary amount of pressure to outdo yourself on the second, third date, etc.
- If it feels like what you're doing isn't a big deal, you're more likely to feel like your anxiety isn't a big deal.
[Edit]Engage in some pre-date self-care. - Whatever it is that helps you center yourself, do it before your date. You could engage in some traditional mindfulness activity, like yoga or meditation, to settle your thoughts and relax. Alternatively, you could take a bath and light some candles, or go for a long walk to your favorite park. Whatever it is that puts your soul at ease, do that for an hour or two before you get ready for your date.[8]
- You might listen to some relaxing music and read a good book, or burn some incense and take a nap.
- If your anxiety tends to be at its lowest point when you're actively engaged in something, play some video games, talk to a good friend, or go play with your dog. Do something you enjoy that will keep your focus on something other than your date.
[Edit]Look your best. - If you look good, you're more likely to feel good. It sounds obvious but set aside plenty of extra time to pick your outfit, iron your clothes, and do your hair. If you wear makeup, set aside some extra time for that. Before you walk out the door, look at yourself and just say, "Wow, I look good!" Give yourself a compliment. Wink at yourself in the mirror. If you start the relationship feeling good about yourself, that momentum will carry you through any anxiety you're feeling.[9]
- It's easy to get up in your head about how you look when you just start dating someone. Always remember, this person agreed to go on a date with you, so they already think you're cute!
- Do not get ready 10 minutes before you need to get out of the door. Give yourself enough time to relax while you get ready, but not so much time that you're overthinking anything.
[Edit]Show up to dates a few minutes early. - Wherever the date is taking place, show up a few minutes ahead of time. If your date is at a restaurant, grab a seat at the bar or chill on a bench outside. If it's a movie theatre, get there early and hang out in the lobby. You can even walk around the block and just enjoy the weather if you'd like. This will give you some time to adjust your headspace, cool off, and gather your bearings.[10]
- If you're over 21, a pre-date drink is fine but don't overdo it. If you show up to a date with a buzz you might feel good, but your date might not be super happy about it.
[Edit]Focus on your partner. - Putting your energy into good conversation will soothe your woes. Ask your date questions, engage in conversation with them, and do your best to be present and focus on them. Anxiety is always an internal thing—it's an experience you have inside of yourself.[11] By putting all of your energy into your date and trying to engage with them as much as possible, you'll focus on something other than what's going on in your head.[12]
- This is also just a great way to ensure that the date goes well. If you get super in your head about whether you're coming off as anxious or not, you're not going to be fully present for your date.
[Edit]Lean on a simple coping strategy. - If your anxiety acts up, perform a relaxation exercise in the moment. Obviously, it isn't the right time to break out the yoga mat if you're in the middle of a dinner date, but you can still perform a simple coping exercise.[13] In the moment you might:[14]
- Challenge your negative thoughts. Just fight the bad thoughts and turn them into positive ones.
- Perform a breathing exercise. When your date isn't looking, breathe in through your nose slowly, hold it for a moment, and exhale slowly through your mouth.
- Take a time out. Excuse yourself and go to the bathroom. Cool off for a few minutes, and return to the date when you're feeling better.
- Count to 10 in your head. Focusing on a rote activity will redirect your focus. During a break in the date, just count slowly to 10 in your head.
- Identify, name, and give a color to objects around you. This will help recenter your energy and calm your anxiety.
[Edit]Open up to your date as things move along. - Be a little vulnerable and share things about yourself. Often, anxiety in a new relationship is tied to a fear of things going wrong. If you're nervous about how your date will act once they get to know the real you, share things about yourself as the relationship progresses. When you see how they don't judge you, it'll make it a lot easier for you to communicate with them, which should curb any catastrophizing you're doing.[15]
- Try admitting one thing that you're slightly embarrassed about. It could be some silly mistake you made at work recently, or a miscommunication you had with a friend.
- You could tell them about your fear of heights, or a weird quirk you have that's unique to you.
[Edit]Talk to your date about it. - Once you two have some momentum as a couple, tell them how you feel. In fact, your date may even be flattered that you think they're enough of a catch to trigger a bit of nerves. If the two of you have been on a few dates and you're ready to be vulnerable, telling them what you're experiencing will help your bond grow stronger. On top of that, your date will reassure you that things are going well and you'll feel much better.[16]
- Reverse the scenario and think about it that way. Imagine a cute guy or gal agrees to go on a few dates with you. At some point, they're blushing or jittery, and they turn to you and say, "I'm really happy we're going out, but it really gets my anxiety up. I can't believe this is going so well." How would you feel? Probably pretty good, right?
- This usually isn't a good move when it's the first date. If the two of you are still feeling one another out, this might be a bit too much to share.
[Edit]Remember these anxious feelings will pass. - This kind of anxiety usually goes away over time. Okay, so you're anxious right now. That's not fun, and it's okay to acknowledge it's not fun, but tell yourself, "It's also not the end of the world." It can only get better from here. Dating anxiety also gets easier the longer you're with your partner and the older you get, so don't assume this won't get easier.[17]
- It may help in the moment to remember that it's going to get a lot easier in the future. Sometimes, knowing that an intense feeling is temporary can make it go away entirely!
[Edit]References |
| How to Pull Weeds Fast Posted: 06 Sep 2021 01:00 AM PDT No matter how large of a yard or garden you have, weeds are almost always a problem. Pulling weeds might seem like an all day chore, but it doesn't have to be! With the right tools and techniques, you can pull weeds out of the ground quickly and stop them from sprouting again. - Try a scuffle hoe for new weeds. Scuffle hoes, also called hula hoes, are long metal tools with a small loop at the end. They're great for getting rid of small, leafy weeds in medium to large patches, and you can buy ones with long handles so you don't have to bend over. To use them, place the metal loop on the ground and go in a back and forth motion to scuffle the dirt and remove the weeds.[1]
- Scuffle hoes are not great for large, root-heavy weeds, like dandelions.
- Use a digger or a spade for small areas. If you are hand pulling large, rooty weeds, like dandelions, you'll need to use a dandelion digger or a spade to pull the roots out. This may require some bending and kneeling, so be sure you have knee pads as well.[2]
- If any of your weeds are prickly, grab some gardening gloves, too.
- Try a Hori Hori knife for long tap roots. Large, well-established weeds tend to have long roots. To make sure you get all the roots out, purchase a Hori Hori knife, or a long, pointed spade. It will help you dig out the roots quickly and save you some time.[3]
- Hori Hori knives also have one serrated edge to cut things with.
- Use a hoe for large areas. If you have a lot of weeds you need to take care of quickly, a hoe is your best bet. This long-handled tool with a sharp metal blade will stir up soil quickly so you can rake the weeds out of it. Hoes work best on soft, loose soil with small, leafy weeds.[4]
- If you have an extra-large area (like a farm), consider using a mechanical tiller.
[Edit]Technique - Pull weeds when they're small. Established weeds are much harder to pull than small, newly grown ones. As soon as you notice weeds starting to come in, grab your tools and get to pulling.[5]
- Most weeds grow very quickly, and some can even grow noticeably larger in just a few days.
- Wait until the soil is moist. Wet soil is much easier to work with than dry soil. If you have the time, wait until after it rains to start pulling your weeds. If you're working in a small area and it hasn't rained in a while, you can give the area some water with your hose.[6]
- It's totally possible to pull weeds out of dry soil, it just might be a little harder to do.
- Scrape your hoe or scuffle hoe along the dirt. If you're pulling weeds from a large area, grab your scuffle hoe or standard hoe and place the edge onto the soil. Move your arms back and forth to break up the top layer of dirt and remove the weeds. When you're done, use a rake to collect all of the leafy weeds and put them into the compost.[7]
- Try to work in a straight line so you can keep track of where you've already weeded.
- Push your spade or digger tool into the soil next to the weed. For large, rooty weeds, you'll need to use a Hori Hori, dandelion digger, or spade. Push the tool into the dirt next to the weed and angle it inward toward the roots. Gently wiggle the tool to loosen the soil before you start pulling.[8]
- If you are using a scuffle hoe or a regular hoe, you don't need to insert your tool into the soil.
- Pull the weed straight up. Grab the weed by the base and gently tug upwards. Don't shake the weed as you pull, since that could spread seeds. If you meet any resistance, stop and dig the root loose again. Keep pulling gently until you get the entire weed, roots and all.[9]
- If you leave any of the roots in the ground, the weeds will grow back very quickly.
- If the roots snap off, use a spade to dig into the ground and find them.
[Edit]Weed Prevention - Replace the soil once you pull out a weed. After you pull out a weed, tamp the dirt back down in the hole. Disturbed dirt makes a great habitat for new weeds, so it's important to do this after you pull them out.[10]
- You could even plant new, native plants or grass over the now vacant area.
- Put cardboard over the soil to prevent new weeds. A large patch of dirt is the perfect area for weeds to grow. If you want to keep them out of your soil, place a few sheets of cardboard over the soil to cover the dirt entirely. As the cardboard gets wet, it will start to break down slowly and dissolve into the soil. However, it will also create a protective barrier that stops new plants from growing in the area.[11]
- This is a great technique to use if you plan on starting a garden or growing crops in a big area.
- Mulch the area to prevent new weeds. If cardboard isn't your thing, add a layer of coarse-textured mulch to the area, like bark chips. Then, add of fine-textured mulch on top, like shredded leaves. The mulch will block the sunlight and keep weeds from growing in your lawn or garden.[12]
- Be sure to keep the mulch a few inches away from any plant or tree roots, as mulch can cause rot and disease.
- Add weeds to your compost pile. To kill weeds, don't just throw them in with your yard debris. Instead, add them to a compost pile and make sure the center reaches at least for at least 3 days. The high heat will kill the weed seeds so you can safely use your compost in your garden.[13]
- If you don't have a compost pile and you're dealing with invasive weeds, you can either burn them, bury them, or take them to a waste disposal facility in your area.
- Focus on highly invasive weeds that can spread quickly in your area.[14]
[Edit]References |
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