| How to Make a White Pizza Posted: 04 Jun 2017 05:00 PM PDT Classic pizza with tomato sauce and cheese is definitely delicious. But if you're looking for something slightly different for your next pizza dinner, white pizza may be the way to go. Instead of tomatoes, the pizza pairs a creamy white sauce and seasoned ricotta with mozzarella for a rich, cheesy taste that's just as good as a traditional slice. You can certainly add whatever toppings you like as well, but white pizza is especially good when served simply. EditIngredients - 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup (59 ml) heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon (½ g) minced fresh thyme
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 12 ounces (300 g) pizza dough
- Unbleached high-gluten or bread flour, cornmeal, or semolina flour, for dusting the peel
- 1 ½ cups (369 g) ricotta cheese
- ¼ teaspoon (1 g) salt
- ¼ teaspoon (¼ g) dried thyme
- ⅛ teaspoon (¼ g) coarsely ground black pepper
- 3 cups (339 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon (4 g) chopped fresh parsley
EditPreparing the White Sauce - Heat the olive oil. Add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of olive oil to a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Place the pan on the stove, and heat it over medium heat until it begins to shimmer, which should take approximately 5 minutes.[1]
- You can substitute vegetable oil for the olive oil, though you won't get the same flavor.
- Saute the onion until translucent. Once you've heated the olive oil, add 1 small yellow onion that's been diced to the pan. Cook the onion over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes, or until it becomes translucent.[2]
- Stir the onion regularly as you saute it to ensure that it cooks evenly.
- Mix in the garlic and cook until fragrant. After the onion has become translucent, add 2 cloves of minced garlic to the pan. Allow the mixture to cook for another minute or until the garlic becomes fragrant.[3]
- Stir the mixture as you cook it to ensure that it heats evenly.
- Stir in the cream and cook the mixture until it thickens. Once you've sauted the onion and garlic together, pour ¼ cup (59 ml) of heavy cream into the pan. Lower the heat to medium-low, and allow the mixture to cook down so the cream thickens up, which should take approximately 3 minutes.[4]
- Make sure to stir the mixture as it's heating so the cream doesn't burn onto the bottom of the pan.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and add the thyme. After the sauce has thickened, take it off the stove. Mix in ½ teaspoon (½ g) of minced fresh thyme immediately, making sure that it's fully incorporated.[5]
- You can substitute marjoram for the thyme if you prefer.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper and allow it to cool. When the thyme is fully mixed into the sauce, mix in some salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Set the sauce aside, and allow it to cool completely before adding it to the pizza.[6]
- If you want to give your white pizza a spicy kick, you can mix in a pinch or two of crushed red pepper with the salt and black pepper.
EditReadying the Pizza Stone and Dough - Preheat a pizza stone in the oven. To ensure that you're ready to bake the pizza when you've finished assembling it, it's important to preheat your pizza stone. Place it on the center rack of the oven, turn the temperature to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius), and allow it to heat fully.[7]
- If you don't have a pizza stone, you can use a pizza pan instead. Just make sure to lightly grease the pan with olive oil before transferring the dough to it.
- Shape the dough into a circle. For the pizza, you'll need 12 ounces (300 g) of pizza dough. Use clean hands to stretch the dough into a circle. It should be approximately 12 inches (30-cm) in diameter and ¼-inch (6-mm) thick.[8]
- You can use homemade pizza dough or purchase dough from the grocery store or local pizzeria.
- If you're having trouble stretching out the dough, you may want to use a rolling pin to help roll it out.
- It's okay if the dough is slightly thicker than ¼-inch (6-mm) along the edge of the circle. That will form a nice crust.
- Dust a peel with flour and place the dough on it. To transfer the dough to the stone, you'll need a wooden pizza peel. Sprinkle the surface lightly with unbleached high-gluten or bread flour, cornmeal, or semolina flour to prevent the dough from sticking to it. Next, carefully transfer the stretched out dough to the peel.[9]
- If you don't have a peel, you can put the dough on an inverted sheet pan and use it to transfer the assembled pizza onto the stone.
EditAssembling the Pizza - Combine the ricotta, salt, thyme, and pepper. Add 1 ½ cups (369 g) of ricotta cheese, ¼ teaspoon (1 g) of salt, ¼ teaspoon (¼ g) of dried thyme, and ⅛ teaspoon (¼ g) of coarsely ground black pepper to a medium bowl. Mix well until all of the ingredients are thoroughly combined.[10]
- You can substitute fresh thyme for the dried if you prefer.
- Spread the white sauce over the dough. When you're ready to prepare the pizza, apply the white sauce that you prepared previously to the top of the dough. Make sure to leave a ¼-inch (6-mm) border along the edge of the pizza.[11]
- You can use the back of a spoon to spread the sauce over the dough.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella over the sauce. Once you spread the white sauce over the dough, add 3 cups (339 g) of shredded mozzarella cheese over it. Distribute the cheese as evenly as possible so it covers all of the sauce.[12]
- You can substitute provolone for the mozzarella if you prefer. A combination of the two also works well.
- You may also want to add some grated Parmesan cheese over the mozzarella.
- Add dollops of the ricotta mixture over the mozzarella. After you've added the mozzarella to the pizza, place dollops of the ricotta mixture evenly all over the cheese. Aim for mounds of the ricotta mixture that are approximately 1 to 2 teaspoons (5 to 10 g) in size.[13]
- You can swap the placement of the mozzarella and ricotta mixture if you prefer. Spread the ricotta mixture over the white sauce and then sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over it.
EditBaking and Serving the Pizza - Slide the pizza onto the heated stone. Once you've assembled the pizza, transfer it from the peel to the preheated pizza stone in the oven. Slide the pizza carefully onto the stone by moving the peel back and forth gently.[14]
- Take your time when sliding the pizza onto the heated stone. You don't want to lose any of the pizza toppings in the transfer.
- Bake the pizza until the crust is crisp and the cheese is melted. When the pizza is on the stone, allow it to bake in the oven for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. You'll know that the pizza is done when the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted and bubbling.[15]
- Remove the pizza from the oven and garnish with parsley. After the pizza has finished baking, use the peel to transfer it out of the oven. Immediately sprinkle 1 tablespoon (4 g) of chopped fresh parsley over the pizza to garnish.[16]
- You can substitute basil for the parsley if you prefer.
- Allow the pizza to cool briefly before slicing. When the pizza is garnished with the parsley, let it cool for approximately 3 minutes. Next, use a pizza cutter or knife to cut it into 8 equal slices and serve while warm.[17]
- If you prefer a crispier crust, allow the pizza to cool completely for 15 to 20 minutes. Cut it, and place the individual slices back in the hot oven for 3 to 5 minutes or until the crust is as crisp as you'd like.
- While a traditional white pizza usually doesn't have any toppings besides the cheese, you can feel free to add whatever other toppings you like. Chicken, clams, roasted garlic, and vegetables, such as spinach or broccoli rabe.
EditThings You'll Need - Medium saucepan with heavy bottom
- Wooden spoon
- Pizza stone
- Wooden pizza peel
- Medium bowl
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Perform Aerial Yoga Posted: 04 Jun 2017 09:00 AM PDT Aerial yoga may look more like a circus act than an everyday workout, but it's actually been shown to have numerous health benefits. It facilitates spinal decompression, eases pressure on your joints, strengthens muscles, and can even sharpen mental focus and mindfulness.[1] Whether you're a yoga newbie or already a regular in floor-bound yoga class, you can try aerial yoga by purchasing a hammock or joining a class, warming up for the workout, dressing appropriately, and starting out with some basic aerial poses. EditGathering Your Supplies - Purchase a yoga swing or hammock. Unlike some other sports and workout regimens, aerial yoga requires only one piece of equipment: a strong strip of silk fabric—usually called a swing or hammock—that hangs from the ceiling. When selecting a yoga swing, check out online retailers and sporting good stores to compare prices and brands—a couple to look for are OmGym and Gorilla Gym—before investing. In general, you can get a quality swing for 50 to 150 dollars.[2]
- Among other things to consider, you should check out handle options on different swings. Some swings are just bare-bones drapes of fabric, but others include one or several sets of plastic or hard handles to use for your hand grips.
- Also check the weight capacity of the swings you're considering buying. Most swings claim a capacity of 300 pounds, but some specialty swings will bear more weight.
- Install your swing is a safe area. In order to practice aerial yoga effectively and safely, you'll need to hang your swing from a 4x4 or 2x6 ceiling beam. You'll also need to place it in an open area of your house or yard—many people prefer using a garage or home gym area—so that you have room to move around. That being said, every swing is different, so be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions included with your swing.[3]
- If you aren't too handy around the house, hire a contractor to assist with swing set-up.[4]
- Dress in long-sleeved shirts and pants. Due to the high-friction nature of aerial yoga, you should wear long sleeves and pants when practicing it. After all, armpit and inner thigh skin can be particularly delicate, and you don't want sharp pinches to keep you from working out.[5]
- Also be sure to take off any jewelry! Even small earring hoops can get snagged in the swing fabric and cause damage to you and the swing.
EditMaking Safety a Priority - Be mindful of food and drink. Like regular yoga, aerial yoga can put a lot of pressure on unaccustomed body parts and cause your body to release gas. In order to avoid an upset stomach or uncomfortable gassiness, stay away fizzy drinks for at least two hours before your session.[6]
- For similar reasons, you'll probably want to wait at least two hours after mealtime before beginning your session.
- Have a spotter or yoga buddy practice with you. Once you're a seasoned yoga flyer, you can do your workouts alone. In the meantime, though, you should always practice aerial yoga with someone else. At the very least, have someone in the room so that they can assist if you fall or find yourself in a precarious position.[7]
- That being said, don't be afraid of the yoga swing! For most moves, you'll actually only be about three inches from the ground, so even if you fall off, you won't have far to go.
- Find an aerial yoga studio in your area. If you're uncomfortable with trying out aerial yoga at home or you don't' have a place where you could hang your hammock, sign up for a class in a local gym or studio. In recent years, several schools of aerial yoga have emerged, including Air Yoga, AntiGravity Aerial Yoga, and Unnata Aerial Yoga.[8]
- When you find a studio offering aerial yoga, ask about their class offering so that you can find one catering to your level of yoga expertise and general fitness.
- Stretch before getting up on the hammock. Since your body isn't used to the motions and pressures entailed in aerial yoga, it's particularly important that you warm up your muscles before beginning your workout. Get limber and ready by stretching out all the main muscle groups—that is, legs, arms, and core—for at least 15 to 20 minutes.[9]
- Pay special attention to your shoulders, hands, and arms, as these are put under particular strain during an aerial yoga workout.
EditStarting Your Yoga Practice - Stand in the center of your mat and separate the sides of the swing. From this position, you can begin to do some of the most basic aerial yoga moves, such as the aerial lunge. You should be standing close enough to the swing that your face touches or almost touches the fabric, and the bottom of the swing's "U" should hit at pubic bone level.[10]
- If the swing hits higher or lower than your pubic bone, you should adjust it before mounting the swing.
- The aerial lunge improves quad strength and stretches out your hip flexors.
- Place your right leg inside the "U" of the hammock. In order to complete an aerial lunge, you need merely set your right leg into the hammock's U and bend it so that the swing sits on the lower surface of your leg above the knee. The swing should support your right leg while your left one remains firmly planted on the mat.
- Position your hands at hip level and lean forward. With your arms akimbo, you should lunge forward when inhaling. Keep your left leg planted as before and feel your left quad and hip stretch out.[11]
- Take care to lunge straight forward rather than leaning to either side. It might be difficult at first, but your balance will improve as you practice.
- Rock back to starting position when exhaling. Once you've leaned forward into lunge position, you should exhale and apply pressure to the hammock with your right leg. This will push you back into the starting position so that you can repeat the aerial lunge again.
- Once you've repeated this move several times, switch legs and do lunges with the left leg in the hammock.
- Try out slightly more complicated moves, such as the half boat pose. Once you've got the basic aerial lunge down, you can move on to other fundamental and generally accessible poses. The half boat pose, for example, requires you to rest your lower back in the hammock, lean back, and lift your legs. Holding the pose for five seconds, you'll engage your core and eventually develop core strength and awareness.[12]
- Other basic aerial poses to try are the child's pose and downward facing dog. For further guidance, check out a plethora of online video tutorials.
- Focus on fine-tuning learned positions. Like regular yoga, you should strive to improve and perfect all the positions you've learned. Seemingly small details, such as foot or hand direction, leg extension, or pointed toes can make a huge difference to the benefit and sustainability of a position. So take care to be mindful of the execution of every pose, even if you feel like it's getting to be old hat.[13]
- If you're having a hard time spotting problems in your technique, consider putting up a big mirror so that you can keep an eye on your workout.
- Be prepared for some aches and bruises. Aerial yoga is one of the most low-impact, therapeutic workouts you can do, but chances are it won't be smooth sailing at the start. Since you're working muscles in ways you haven't before and putting pressure on unaccustomed joints and skin, you'll experience some mild to mid-level discomfort during and after your initial workouts.[14]
- Most people find that aerial yoga workouts get easier and less painful after about two weeks of practicing.
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| How to Get Rid of Credit Cards Without Hurting Your Credit Score Posted: 04 Jun 2017 01:00 AM PDT Your credit score is partly based on your credit utilization, which is the percentage of available credit you are currently using. If you close an account, then your available credit drops and your utilization rate rises. However, it's possible to cancel a credit card while doing minimal harm to your credit score. Pay down the balances on your cards so that your utilization does not increase. Alternately, you can open a new card and transfer the balance. However, you should also consider other options. EditPaying Down Balances Before Closing - Calculate your current utilization rate. Take out all credit card statements and identify the credit limits. Add them together to get your total available credit.
- Then go through and add up all balances. Divide the balance amount by the available credit.
- For example, if your credit limit is $15,000 and your total balances are $3,000, then your utilization rate is 20% ($3,000 divided by $15,000 is 0.2).
- Pay down your balance in full. You can't close a card until you pay off the balance.[1] Accordingly, you should commit to paying off the balance as quickly as possible.
- Create a budget if necessary, and stick to it.
- If you don't have the money, you can call your card issuer and ask them to freeze the card. This will prevent you from making new charges.
- Reduce the balances on your other cards. In order to protect your credit score, you may need to pay down the balances on your other cards so that your utilization doesn't rise. To see why, consider the following example:
- Amy has three credit cards: A, B, and C. She wants to close A, which has a high interest rate. All three cards have a $2,000 credit limit, giving her $6,000 in available credit. Card A has a $500 balance, and Card B has a $2,000 balance. Currently, her utilization rate is about 42% ($2,500 divided by $6,000).
- However, if she closes Card A, her available credit will be $4,000 and her total balance will be $2,000. This gives her a utilization rate of 50%. Amy's credit score will decline as a result.
- Amy can keep her utilization rate from rising by paying down the $2,000 balance on Card B.
- Ideally, Amy should pay off all balances before closing any card.
- Redeem all rewards. If you have a rewards card, you'll probably lose the rewards when you close the card. Accordingly, you should redeem all of your rewards if possible.[2]
- Some cards make it difficult to redeem rewards. For example, you might only be able to redeem if you reach a certain threshold. Alternately, some cards allow you to redeem points only once a year. In these situations, you might need to delay closing your account if you want the rewards.
- Avoid cancelling all cards. Closing one card might hurt your credit score a tiny percentage, but closing all credit cards will hammer your credit score. This is a drastic way to manage your debt load, and you should consider alternatives, such as credit counseling.[3]
- Call to cancel. Find the number on the back of your credit card. When you call, ask the rep to confirm that the balance is zero. Tell the person that you want to close your account and ask that they report the account as "closed at the consumer's request."[4]
- The representative might ask why you are closing your account. You can tell them your reasons, or just say, "Oh, I don't need the card." It's your right to close an account, so don't let them dissuade you.
- Write down the name of who you speak with, including other details (day, time, substance of the conversation, etc.)
- Send a letter. It's a good idea to follow up with a letter in case the customer service representative makes a mistake. In your letter, request that the account be closed "at the consumer's request." Include your name, account number, and contact information.[5]
- Also explicitly ask that they send you a confirmation letter. You'll want something in writing.
- Mail the letter certified mail, return receipt requested, and keep a copy of the letter for your records.
- Confirm the account was cancelled. Wait about a month, and then pull a copy of your free credit report. Check to see the account has been closed and that it states your account was closed at your request.[6]
- If the account remains open, call the card issuer again. Send a follow-up letter and include a copy of your original letter.
- If there isn't a notation that the account was closed at your request, dispute the error with one of the credit bureaus.
- Postpone closing your card, if necessary. You may want to keep your credit score as high as possible because you are applying for a mortgage or a car loan. In this situation, you should wait before closing your account. Get your mortgage first, and then focus on closing credit cards.
EditUsing a Balance Transfer - Find a balance transfer card. Using a balance transfer is a great idea if you can't pay down the balance on the card you want to close. Shop around for a new credit card. Many card issuers offer balance transfer cards with an introductory 0% APR for 12-18 months.
- You'll need a good credit score to qualify for the best deals. Generally, your score should be 720 or higher, though people with lower scores might still qualify for a balance transfer card.[7]
- Compare offers. Look at what the APR will be once the introductory period expires. Also check if the card requires an annual fee.[8]
- Check the credit limit on the new card. You'll preserve your utilization rate if the new credit card has the same credit limit as your old card. If the limit is lower, then your utilization rate will increase, which will hurt your credit score.
- For example, you might want to transfer a $1,000 balance from Card A to Card B. Card A has a $5,000 credit limit, but Card B has only a $3,000 credit limit. In this situation, your utilization will increase.
- Also realize that you'll pay a small fee when you transfer your balance. The fee averages around 4% of the amount transferred, so your total credit usage will also increase slightly.
- Apply for the new card. You can apply online. You'll be asked to provide personal information, including your Social Security Number and information about your employment.
- Transfer the balance when you open the card. You'll be asked the balance you want to transfer and details about the card.
- Opening a new card will probably decrease your credit score slightly in the short term.[9] If you absolutely cannot let your score fall, even a little, then you should delay cancelling your credit card until you can pay it off in full.
- Close your card. Once the balance has been transferred, you can close your card. Call and confirm that the card now has a zero balance. Then state that you want to close the card and ask them to report the closure as "at the consumer's request."[10]
- Follow up with a letter, certified mail, repeating your request. Include all relevant information—name, address, phone number, and account number.
- Check your credit report to see that the card was closed and properly noted as closed at your request. If not, then dispute the notation.
EditChoosing Other Options - Ask for better terms. You might choose to cancel your card because the terms are no longer friendly.[11] For example, the interest rate may be too high or the issuer might charge an annual fee. If so, you can call and ask the card issuer to change the terms.
- Point to your history of being a good customer. Mention that you have never missed a payment.
- It costs lenders more to find new customers than to keep old ones, so don't be shy about asking for a break on your interest rate or fees.[12] All they can say is "no."
- Take the hit to your credit score. Sometimes, it's better to just bite the bullet and cancel the card. For example, you might want to cancel a joint credit card because you are getting divorced. In this situation, you can suffer a temporarily drop in your credit score.
- Credit utilization makes up 30% of your FICO score.[13] Accordingly, a small bump up in utilization will hurt your score, but you can take actions that will send your score higher. In particular, you should aggressively pay down your debt, which will lower your utilization.
- Freeze your credit cards in ice. Instead of cancelling, you can simply put your credit cards in a bowl of water and store it in the freezer. Focus on paying down your balances, which will also increase your credit score.
- To get spending under control, you might want to meet with a credit counselor. They can help you develop a budget and identify areas where you overspend.
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