| How to Make Turkish Tea Posted: 17 Feb 2019 04:00 PM PST Turkish tea is a great drink to enjoy as a mid-afternoon snack, to serve for guests, or to sip as a post-meal treat. To make it, you'll need black tea leaves and a Turkish kettle. If you don't own a Turkish kettle, you can use two stackable saucepans instead, one small and one large. With just a few ingredients, you'll be able to make and enjoy your Turkish tea in just a few minutes! EditUsing a Traditional Turkish Kettle - Purchase your favorite black tea leaves. If you don't have black tea on hand, head to a local grocery store, tea shop, or online supplier to get your tea leaves. Remember, the strength of your tea depends on how much water you add at the end, so feel free to select your favorite black tea as the base flavor!
- Turkish teas are divided into 3 main strength classes: strong dark teas known as koyu; medium deep brownish red teas called tavşan kanı, which means rabbit's blood; and weak light teas called açık.[1]
- Try dark tea leaves like Darjeeling, Assam, and Nilgiri for a nice strong base.
- Purchase herbal teas like mint, apple, rosehip, or lemon ginger if you prefer your tea with a stronger flavor.
- Boil of water in the bottom pot. If the two pots are attached, remove the top pot from the bottom pot and fill the bottom teapot with water. Place the top teapot back on top as you begin to boil the water. For the best taste, you should use filtered or bottled water if you have it.
- If you're going to use tap water, let it run on cold for about 10 seconds before filling up your pot so it absorbs heat faster.[2]
- Add 2 tablespoons (28.3 grams) of tea leaves into the top pot. Remove the lid from the upper teapot and carefully add the leaves into the empty pot. For a nice aroma, add an additional 1 tablespoon (14.3 grams) of loose flavored tea, such as Earl Gray or other black tea bases with flavors like orange, lemon, or grapefruit.[3]
- For the best flavor, store your Turkish tea in a sealed package. This will help prevent it from being affected by external odors and humidity.
- Pour boiling water from the bottom pot into the top pot. Carefully remove the top pot from the bottom pot, and pour some of the boiling water into the upper teapot. Stop pouring once the water is about from the top and place the top pot onto the heated element to replace the bottom pot.[4]
- Move the larger pot in a circular motion while pouring to ensure even consistency.
- Black tea must be steeped in very hot water, so double check that the water is boiling before pouring it over the tea leaves. [5]
- Add of water to the bottom pot. While the top pot heats on the element, add more water to the bottom one. Once you are finished, place the bottom pot onto a close-by element that is off and let it sit.[6] You want this water to still be hot when you serve the tea.
- Once you're done steeping the tea, you'll use the water in the bottom pot to dilute the tea, so it's important to have enough water in the bottom pot!
- Place the top teapot on the bottom pot when the tea starts to swell. Once you notice the tea swelling upward to the rim in the top teapot—which should take 30 seconds to 1 minute—lift it up and place it on top of the bottom teapot. Leave a small crack between the two pots so that steam can escape.[7]
- Cap the top pot with a lid after placing the bottom pot underneath it.
- Simmer the tea for about 10 to 15 minutes on low heat. Turn your stove to low heat, which is "Min" or "2" on your stove ring. This will keep the tea just below the boiling point while it continues to bubble. Once the tea leaves in the top pot start to sink to the bottom, the tea is ready to serve.[8]
- If you're unsure whether the tea is ready, temporarily remove the lid from the top pot and check on the level of the tea leaves.
EditUsing a Double Boiler - Buy black tea leaves from tea stores, big-box stores, or online suppliers. Turkish teas are classified by strength into one of the following categories: strong and dark (koyu); medium deep brownish red (tavşan kanı); weak and light (açık). But strength is determined by how much you dilute them with water, so choose your favorite base flavor for the best results!
- Try dark tea leaves like Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri if you prefer strong tea.
- If you prefer your tea with a stronger flavor, try herbal teas like apple, mint, rosehip, or lemon ginger.
- Choose a few different kinds and try them all out!
- Boil of water in a large saucepan. Turkish tea kettles are essentially double boilers, which can be made by stacking a small saucepan on top of a larger saucepan. Fill the bottom saucepan with water—filtered or bottled will give you the best taste.[9]
- Swap the smaller saucepan with a mixing bowl if you'd like.
- If you use tap water, let it run for 10 seconds before filling your pan so it absorbs heat faster.
- Copper, aluminum, and non-stainless steel are the best material choices for your pan or bowl.
- Add 2 tablespoons (28.3 grams) of tea leaves into the smaller saucepan. Rest the top saucepan onto a flat surface and scoop your tea into it. Add an additional 1 tablespoon (14.3 grams) of loose flavored tea like lemon, orange, or grapefruit.[10]
- Always keep your Turkish tea in a sealed storage container to prevent it from being affected by humidity and external odors.
- Pour of boiling water over the leaves in the small saucepan. Remove the small saucepan and place it onto the stovetop. Lift the large saucepan, tilt it to a 45-degree angle, and gently pour the boiling water around the top of the tea leaves in the small saucepan. Slowly move the large saucepan in a circular motion while pouring to ensure even consistency.[11]
- Stop pouring when the water is about from the top of the small saucepan or your run out of boiling water.
- Be sure the water is boiling before pouring it onto the tea leaves. Black tea must be steeped in water that is at least for active substance development.[12]
- Keep the saucepan on medium heat until you notice the water rising.
- Leave the pan without a lid while it boils.
- Add of water into the large saucepan. Add more water to the large saucepan as you wait for the tea to boil. Then, place the larger saucepan onto a close-by element that is turned off and let it sit.[13]
- You'll need to use this water when you serve your tea, so be sure you have enough in your saucepan.
- Place the small saucepan onto the large saucepan when the tea starts to swell. Once you notice the tea starting to swell to the rim of the smaller saucepan, lift it up and place the larger one underneath it. Maintain a small gap between the base of the smaller saucepan and the rim of the larger one so steam can escape.[14]
- Place a lid onto the small saucepan after placing the larger one underneath it.
- Simmer the tea for between 10 and 15 minutes on low heat. Turn the stove to low heat, which is typically "Min" or "2" on your stove ring. If you can select a precise temperature, set it to approximately . This temperature maintains the tea at a temperature just below the boiling point. Once the tea leaves in the small saucepan begin to sink to the bottom, the tea is ready to serve![15]
- Temporarily remove the lid from the small saucepan if you're unsure if your tea is ready. If the tea leaves have made their way to the bottom of the saucepan, it's ready to drink!
EditServing Your Tea - Fill your Turkish tea glass with tea and boiling water. Turkish tea is traditionally served with a portion of water in a Turkish teacup. Start by filling 1/4 to 1/2 of your Turkish tea glass with tea from the top pot. After filling the glass with tea, use the water in the bottom teapot to fill the rest of the cup. Pour it gently to avoid creating bubbles.
- Fill the glass 1/4 of the way full with tea if you prefer lighter açık tea, and as much as 1/2 full if you prefer your tea dark, called koyu. Anything in the middle is called tavşan kanı.[16]
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon (4.2 grams) of sugar in for taste.
- Drink the pot of tea within 30 minutes.
- Serve your Turkish tea with snacks like borek or sweet baklava. Both are baked pastries that make a perfect addition to your tea. You can also opt for lemon bars, tea cakes, and hot cross buns.[17]
- If you're drinking your tea with a meal, try smoked salmon on rye or chicken sandwiches.
- Drink your tea with sugar or lemon for some extra taste. If black tea doesn't sound to your liking, pair it with a lemon or add 1 to 2 sugar cubes. In Turkey, many people place sugar cubes under their tongue to dissolve while they drink their tea.[18]
- Milk is not traditionally serve with Turkish tea, but if that's your preference, give it a shot.
EditThings You'll Need - Flavored black tea
- Turkish teapot set (or a small and large saucepan)
- Turkish tea cups (or small glass cups)
- Tablespoon measure
- You can purchase a Turkish tea kettle and cup set from an online supplier if you don't own one.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Build Window Seats Posted: 17 Feb 2019 08:00 AM PST A window seat can make a quaint and cozy addition to any room in your home. You can easily build your own unique window seat using ready-made floating cabinet units as a base. Just choose a window with a pleasant view, build a frame for your base, then assemble the cabinets and add cushions, pillows, and other comfortable accessories. As a bonus, your window seat will double as an attractive storage solution! EditAssembling the Base Frame - Select a window in an unobstructed area to use as your window seat. Ideally, the window you choose should be recessed, as this will provide a perfect nook for the seat itself. Any window can work, however, as long as there's ample space in front of it.[1]
- If you go with a non-recessed window, your bench will project outward from the window a couple of feet. Keep this in mind while deciding on a location.
- Purchase two floating cabinet units to use as the seat base. Over-the-refrigerator cabinets will work best, as they're shorter and easier to maneuver than full-sized cabinets. For an average-sized window nook around in length, you'll need a pair of cabinets. Consider buying more units if you think you might want to add more storage.[2]
- Measure your window to the nearest and, if possible, shop around for cabinets that will fit this space exactly.
- Alternatively, you could find an open-faced bookshelf or vertical cabinet and turn it on its side to function as both base and bench.[3]
- Remove the baseboards from the wall around the window. Wedge the tip of a crowbar or trim puller into the space between the baseboard and the wall. Pull up gently on the handle of the tool to loosen the baseboard. Finish pulling the baseboard free by hand to avoid damaging the drywall.[4]
- You may also want to remove the molded stools from the bottom of the window if you think they might interfere with your space or clash with the look of your new seat.[5]
- Arrange 2x4 or 2x6 boards into a frame around the front of the window. Fit the boards together into a rectangular shape the length and depth of the window space you've chosen. This type of frame is known as a "toekick." When it comes time to assemble your window seat, you'll simply side your cabinets right inside your frame.[6]
- Use a circular saw to trim your boards to the necessary size.
- If you want, you can extend your frame enough on either side to make room for additional cabinets or bookshelves for extra storage space. Be sure to measure your cabinets or shelves in advance to guarantee a proper fit.[7]
- Fasten the toe kick using wood screws. Use 2 screws for each joint where the boards connect to ensure that your frame is secure. Once you've done that, anchor the toe kick to the floor by driving a screw into the floor or wall stud at each corner of the frame.[8]
- To save yourself some time and work more precisely, use a cordless power drill to drive your screws.
- When anchoring a toe kick to a concrete floor, you'll need to use a powder-actuated nailer or plastic screws instead of ordinary screws.[9]
EditInstalling the Cabinets - Fit your cabinets into place beside one another inside the toekick. Assuming you measured correctly, they should slip right inside without difficulty. Take a moment to make sure the units are centered and sitting perfectly flush with both the surrounding walls and one another.[10]
- Use a level to check the orientation of your cabinets before proceeding.
- If necessary, fill in any small gaps between the cabinets and the toe kick with wooden spacers cut from leftover boards.[11]
- Attach the cabinets using two drywall screws. Sink the first screw through the edge of the face frame at the top of one unit into the neighboring unit. Drive your next screw in the opposite direction through the face frame at the bottom of the other unit.[12]
- By sinking your screws in opposite directions, you'll increase the strength of the connection site, which is a good idea since you'll be putting weight on the cabinets.
- It may help to clamp the face frames of the cabinets together to hold them flush until you're ready to begin drilling.
- Install side cabinets or shelves and fasten them to the seat cabinets. As an optional step, you can put in 1-2 more floating cabinet units in the same dimensions on one or both sides of your bench. Fit these cabinets into your frame alongside your seat cabinets, then fasten them to their face frames using drywall screws.[13]
- Make sure you've measured and constructed your toe kick to accommodate any other cabinets you want to add on.
EditFinishing and Customizing Your Window Seat - Install molding along the bottom of the seat base to hide the toekick. Cut your molding to match the dimensions of the frame, then attach it using finishing nails. Space your nails apart and fill the holes with wood putty if desired.[14]
- Consider adding a thinner trim along the contour where your bench meets the wall as well to help the eye transition more easily.
- Once in place, the trim will cover the toekick and lend some decorative flair to the lower edge of your window seat.
- Use matching plywood skins to conceal the joints in stacked cabinets. If you opted to incorporate both cabinets and vertical shelves, you may want to cover their outer faces to give them a more seamless appearance. To do this, use a utility knife and straight edge to trim plywood skins so that they'll fit over the entire surface. Glue the skins directly to the cabinet using contact cement.[15]
- Plywood skins are available at any hardware store or home improvement center. You can also get them from the same company who manufactured your cabinet or shelving units to make sure they're a match.
- Contact cement dries and holds fast, so you'll need to work quickly and make sure your skin is lined up properly the first time.
- Paint your completed seat base if desired. Brush the bench top, cabinet doors, and surrounding molding with a coat of interior latex primer, then follow that up with 2-3 coats of interior latex paint. Allow each coat to dry completely before applying subsequent coats. When you're done, your new window seat will be one uniform color.[16]
- Most water-based interior latex paints dry to the touch within an hour, and can be painted over in 4-6.[17]
- Use strips of painter's tape to protect any nearby areas you don't paint to get on.
- You may elect not to apply paint if you picked out cabinets and molding with a natural wood finish.
- Bring in cushions and pillows to provide the finishing touches. Lay down 1 or 2 long cushions to cover the bench from end to end. Place a few decorative throw pillows on top, along with any other accessories you wish to include. All that's left to do now is sit down, kick your feet up, and enjoy the fruits of your labor![18]
- A cozy blanket or quilt can also be a good to have around for both comfort and presentation.
- If you don't want your bench cushion to slide around, cover it with length of durable fabric and staple the edges to the lip inside the top of the cabinets.[19]
- All in all, your DIY window seat project will likely cost you somewhere from $500-2,000, depending on the style of cabinets you go with and your other materials and accessories.
- Plastic laminate cabinets can make a more cost-effective alternative to hardwood ones if you're looking to save some money.
- Take advantage of your window seat's built-in storage to keep books, toys, and household items put away and organized in the area around your window.
EditThings You'll Need EditAssembling the Base Frame - Circular saw
- 2x4 or 2x6 boards
- Crowbar or trim puller
- Tape measure or ruler
- Cordless drill
- wood screws
- Powder-actuated nailer or plastic screws (for concrete floors)
EditInstalling the Cabinets - 2-4 floating cabinet units
- Cordless drill
- drywall screws
- Level
- Matching bookshelf units (optional)
- Table clamps (optional)
- Wooden spacers (optional)
EditFinishing and Customizing Your Window Seat - Wood molding
- finishing nails
- Plywood skins
- Utility knife
- Straight edge
- Water-based interior latex primer and paint
- angled paint brush
- Wood filler putty
- Painter's tape
- Cushions, pillows, and other assorted accessories
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Grow Cardamom Posted: 17 Feb 2019 12:00 AM PST Cardamom is one of the most expensive and unique spices in the world. If you live in a very warm, humid climate (or in US Department of Agriculture zones 10 to 12), you can grow your own cardamom plant. Plant a few cardamom seeds indoors and let them grow for a few months so they sprout above the soil. Transplant the seedlings to a shady place in your yard. It will take several years of watering and nurturing, but your plants will produce cardamom that you can harvest and use in baking or cooking. EditStarting Seeds - Get cardamom seeds from a grocery or agricultural supply store. Although you can collect cardamom seeds from capsules that you've purchased from the grocery store, it's best to buy cardamom seeds from an agricultural supply company. These seeds will be free from disease and are more likely to thrive.[1]
- Buy the seeds from local gardening supply stores or from online agricultural supply companies.
- Fill containers with loamy soil. The soil should be slightly sandy so it drains gradually. You can purchase loamy soil from most garden centers. If you're planning on transplanting the seedlings to your outside garden, you can use any size container. If you're going to leave the seeds in the container and grow the plants to maturity, use a pot that's at least deep and wide.[2]
- Plant the seeds deep. Push a few of the seeds into the containers and cover each with of soil. Water the seeds so the soil is completely moist.[3]
- Start as many cardamom seeds as you like, but plant them about apart in the container so you can thin and transplant them once they start growing.
- Grow the cardamom until it sprouts a few leaves. The cardamom should germinate after about 30 to 45 days. This means you should see the cardamom plants begin to poke up through the soil. Continue to water so the soil stays moist and leave the seedlings in the container until you see at least 2 leaves on the seedlings.[4]
- It will take around 90 days for the seedlings to become large enough to transplant outside.
EditTransplanting and Caring for Cardamom - Choose a space in the garden with well-draining soil. Pay attention to the soil after a heavy rain to see how it drains. You shouldn't see deep puddles remain, but the soil should stay moist. If the soil is too rich in clay, it will kill the cardamom plant, so find somewhere else in the garden or mix sand into the soil to break up the clay.[5]
- The ideal soil for cardamom is loamy with a pH level between 4.5 and 7.
- Pick a space with partial shade. Cardamom plants will die if they're in direct sunlight, so choose a planting area that has partial shade. If you only have a space that is completely shaded, it will work, but the plant may not grow as quickly.
- Cardamom plants usually grow under the canopy of trees that are above it.[6]
- Select a planting area that has high humidity. Since cardamom grows in subtropical forests, it needs high humidity to thrive in your garden. To plant the cardamom outside, the humidity needs to be around 75%.[7]
- Cardamom also prefers temperatures between and .
- Plant the cardamom seedlings deep. Dig deep holes that are apart. Place 1 seedling into each hole and surround the seedling roots with dirt. If you'd like to support the plants as they grow, drive a garden stake into the soil away from the base of each plant.[8]
- As the cardamom grows, you can tie the plant to the stake.
- Avoid planting seeds too deep since they may not sprout if they don't get adequate sun.
- Plant the cardamom in a container if you want to move it. If you live in a climate with temperatures that occasionally dip below , you may want to plant the seedlings in large pots instead of outside in the garden. This will allow you to bring the cardamom in when it gets cool.[9]
- If you use a pot, choose as large of a pot as you can for your space that's also easy to pick up so you can move it in and out of your house.
- If you do need to bring the cardamom inside your house, consider placing it in the warmest, most humid room of your house, such as the bathroom.
- Water the plants to keep the soil moist. Feel the soil with your fingers every day to ensure that the soil is most. Since the soil should never dry out, water until the soil is soaked.[10]
- The cardamom plants will need even more water during the summer when they're growing the fruit. Plan on watering more during these months.
- Add fertilizer twice a month during the growing season. Choose an organic fertilizer with high phosphorous content. Spread it in the soil around the cardamom plants 2 times a month during the summer growing season.[11]
- To add nutrients back to the soil, you'll also need to spread aged manure or compost once a year.
EditHarvesting Cardamom - Grow the plants until they're high. Continue to water the plants regularly and fertilize them as needed. The plants will begin to grow tall, narrow stalks that reach high off of the ground.[12]
- Keep in mind that it will take a few years for the plants to put on a lot of growth.
- The stalks will grow rows of bright green leaves that are about long.
- Wait 2 to 3 years to harvest the cardamom fruits. The plants will flower beginning in April or May and will continue to blossom through July or August. The yellow flowers are small and oval in shape.[13]
- The flowers hold capsules that contain 15 to 20 cardamom seeds.
- Some plants may take up to 4-5 years until they bloom.
- Although the plants flower early in the year, wait to begin harvesting until October or November, so the cardamom can ripen.
- Gather the cardamom capsules by hand. Once the capsules of cardamom fruit begin to dry out a little, pull one to see if it breaks easily. If the fruit snaps off easily, you can begin pulling off all of the ripe capsules.[14]
- Cardamom plants will continue to produce more cardamom seeds every year.
- Dry the cardamom capsules. Depending on how many capsules you want to dry, you can use a variety of drying methods. For small-scale drying, spread the cardamom in a single layer and allow the sun to dry the capsules. Larger, commercial harvests often dry cardamom using extremely hot kilns.[15]
- Once the cardamom is dry, you can open the capsules and crush the cardamom to cook or bake with.
- If the plant's leaves turn brown, it's getting too much sunlight, so consider transplanting it to a shadier spot. If the leaves are yellow, the plant probably needs fertilizer.
- Spray the plant's leaves with water if the tips turn brown. Ensure you don't spray too much water or the roots may begin to rot.
EditThings You'll Need - Small containers
- Cardamom seeds
- Soil
- Organic fertilizer
- Watering can
- Large pot, optional
EditSources and Citations
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