| How to Peel a Pumpkin Posted: 17 Oct 2019 05:00 PM PDT Pumpkins are famous for being turned into jack-o'-lanterns, but this type of squash plant can also be used for making many delicious dishes. In order to do so, however, the skin must be peeled off. Pumpkins used for cooking, unlike those used for carving, have thicker skins that cover the fleshy fruit. Peeling the skin off is not a hassle with a vegetable peeler or sharp knife and a little dedication. [Edit]Peeling with a Vegetable Peeler - Wash the pumpkin to remove dirt and contaminants and soften the skin. Remove dirt and other contaminants from the skin by washing the pumpkin under warm water. Removing dirt keeps the pumpkin from beginning to rot, and warm water soften the skin, making it easier to peel off. Dry the pumpkin with a clean towel or let it air dry.
- Cut the rounded top and bottom off of the pumpkin to create flat surfaces. Place the pumpkin on its side on a sturdy cutting board. Using a sharp kitchen knife, cut about off of the top and bottom of the pumpkin so that it has two flat sides.
- The pumpkin should be able to steadily sit on its top and bottom after you make the cuts.
- Set up the pumpkin and the peeler. Turn the pumpkin on its side on a cutting board so that one flat side faces towards you and the other flat side is away from you. Place the peeler in one hand and use the other hand to hold the pumpkin steady while you peel.
- Peel the skin using the peeler, starting from the side closest to you. Similar to peeling a potato, push the peeler in a straight line, starting from the side closest to you and moving to the side farthest from you.[1]
- You should aim to make peels that are about wide and are as long as the pumpkin's side.
- Try to only cut off the skin and leave the flesh intact. The skin is the outermost layer that covers the thicker flesh.
- Rotate the pumpkin to continue the peeling process. As you finish peeling sections, turn the pumpkin over to different sides.[2] Before continuing to peel on another side, remember to steady the pumpkin with your free hand.
- Inspect the pumpkin and check to make sure all of the skin is peeled. You might have missed some spots as you were peeling. Rotate the pumpkin and check to see if you need to go back and peel places that you did not completely peel.
[Edit]Peeling with a Knife - Prepare the pumpkin for peeling. Wash the pumpkin off and let it dry. Cut off the top and bottom to create flat surfaces.
- Place the pumpkin on its side and get your knife ready. Similar to using a vegetable peeler, you will want to place the pumpkin on a cutting board, with one of the flat surfaces facing towards your body. Hold the knife in your fist with the blade pointing outwards.[3]
- Cut away strips of skin by pushing the knife along the side of the pumpkin. You should be able to see where the inner flesh of the pumpkin meets the outer skin. Push the blade of your knife down the pumpkin from the end closest to you towards the other end. As you finish sections, rotate the pumpkin until it is completely peeled.
- Make sure to push the knife slowly and deliberately to protect your fingers from getting cut. Doing so also reduces the risk of cutting out the flesh.[4]
- Check to make sure all of the skin is peeled off. Rotate the pumpkin fully and see if there are any spots you missed before peeling them away.
[Edit]Cooking the Pumpkin before Peeling - Prepare the pumpkin by washing and slicing it into smaller sections. Depending on how big your kitchen appliances are, cut the pumpkin into halves or into more sections. After doing so, use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and other fibers from the pumpkin's inside and place them into a bowl.
- The inner seeds of the pumpkin are edible and make for a yummy snack! You can save them for later or choose to roast them when you cook the pumpkin.[5]
- Bake the pumpkin in an oven. Pre-heat the oven to degrees. Place the pumpkin halves or sections onto a baking sheet. Once the oven warms up, put the pumpkin into it and cook for 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the sizes of the sections.[6]Check on the progress by sticking a fork into the flesh; when the fork easily punctures the flesh, take the pumpkin out and let it cool.
- Cook the pumpkin using a microwave. Place the sections of the pumpkin into a microwave-safe dish with a small amount of water.[7] Microwave the pumpkin for approximately 10 minutes, checking the progress using a fork. Once the pumpkin flesh can be easily punctured with a fork. Let the pumpkin out and let it cool.
- Depending on the microwave wattage and the size of the pumpkin slices, cooking time may vary. Keep an eye on it by checking on the pumpkin periodically as it cooks.
- Peel the pumpkin using the vegetable peeler method or the knife method. The skin should come off much more easily, but still be cautious when using sharp kitchen instruments.[8] Look over the pumpkin and peel away any spots you may have missed.
[Edit]Warnings - When using sharp cutting instruments, always cut away from your body to minimize the possibility of harming yourself.
[Edit]References |
| How to Make Wine Bottle Wind Chime Posted: 17 Oct 2019 09:00 AM PDT Wind chimes are a pretty way to decorate your porch. When the wind blows, they will make a gentle tinkling noise. While you can always buy one from the store, making your own wind chime is easy. All you need is a glass bottle, some ornaments and key rings, and a bit of chain or cording. [Edit]Cutting the Bottle - Find an empty wine bottle. You can use one from the recycling bin or you can buy a brand new bottle from the craft store. Be sure to wash the bottle with soap and water and remove any labels.
- Remove the cork and set it aside for a different project.
- If you are buying a tinted bottle from the craft store, be aware that color usually does not go through the bottle and may chip off.
- Prepare a pot of boiling water and a pot of iced water. The key to cutting a bottle in half is to dip it between hot and cold water until it comes apart. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Have another pot or bowl filled with iced water close by.[1]
- Keep the water at a steady boil on the stove.
- The iced water needs enough ice in it to make it very cold, but not so much ice that you can't stick anything inside it.
- Score a line around the bottle with a glass saw. Put on a pair of leather work gloves first. Next, place the bottle on a stable surface, then set the saw down next to it. Rotate the bottle as you apply constant, even pressure with the saw, scoring a thin line. Don't worry about cutting the bottle completely in half.[2]
- You can use a tile saw with a glass blade instead.
- How far down you make this line is up to you. About 3/4 of the way down from the top would be ideal, however.[3]
- If you want to, you can use a metal clamp or string as a cutting guide.
- Dip the bottle in boiling and iced water until the bottom comes off. You only need to dip the bottle deep enough so that the scored line is submerged. Rotate the bottle while it is under the water, sort of like stirring soup with a spoon. Keep doing this until the bottom half of the bottle breaks off.[4]
- Start with the boiling water, then do the cold. Keep alternating between the 2 pots until the bottom half of the bottle breaks off.
- How many alternations you do will vary each time. It will depend on various factors, such as the depth of the scored line, the thickness and quality of the glass, etc.
- Discard the bottom half of the bottle and keep the top. What you do with the bottom half is up to you. You can toss it into the recycling bin, or you can set it aside for another project. For example, you can turn it into a glass jar or cup.
- If you wish to keep the bottom half, be sure to sand and polish the cut edge.
- Polish the cut edge with various grits of sandpaper. Hold the sandpaper against a flat surface, like a plate, then rub the cut edge of the bottle against the sandpaper. Start with a coarse grit first, then work your way up to a medium grit, and finally to a fine grit.[5]
- Keep the bottle wet as you sand it to prevent dust and chipping.[6]
- The exact grit number does not matter, as long as the packaging says: coarse, medium, and fine. It would be good to finish with a high number, like 400-grit, however.
- Keep your work gloves on during this step. Don't take them off until after you have finished smoothing the glass.
[Edit]Adding the Hanging Chain - Decide how long you want the hanging chain to be. Starting at the base of the bottle's neck, measure towards the top of the bottle. Add this measurement to however long you want your hanging chain to be.[7]
- For example, if your bottle's neck measures and you want your hanging chain to be long, you should cut the chain down to .
- Cut a piece of chain with wire cutters according to this length. The chain should be thin enough so that you can slide it down the neck of the bottle, and delicate enough so that you can cut it with wire cutters. A jewelry chain could work, but the loops need to be big enough so that you can thread a split key ring through them.
- It is better to cut the chain too long than too short. You can always trim it shorter.
- Alternatively, you can a length of nylon cording instead. Cut it a little longer than you need it so that you can tie knots into it.[8]
- Secure a split key ring to the bottom of the chain. Find a split key ring that is wider than the neck of your bottle--about wide should be fine. Separate the key ring, and feed it onto the end of your chain. The key ring will act as a stopper inside the bottle.[9]
- The key ring must be bigger than the neck of the bottle. If it is too small, it won't hold the bottle up.
- If you are using a cord, tie the bottom end to a large key ring using a secure double-knot. If you can't find a key ring, you could use plain, metal ring.
- Feed the other end of the chain through the neck of the bottle. Turn the bottle upside down, and place the chain inside. Let the chain fall through the neck of the bottle and out the top. The key ring will sit right inside the neck.
- Follow this same process if you are using a nylon cord.
- Thread another split key ring onto the top of the chain. This will allow you to actually hang the finished wind chime from a hook. Hold the wind chime up by the second key ring; the bottle will slide down the chain and stop at the first key ring.
- The first key ring will be either somewhere inside the neck or just below it.
- If you are using a nylon cord, simply tie the other end to another key ring or metal ring.
[Edit]Adding the Wind Catch - Cut a second chain for the wind catch to dangle from. Hold the bottle up by the chain and note where the key ring sits inside. Measure from this point down to about from the bottom edge of the bottle. Cut a second piece of chain according to that length.[10]
- The wind catch is the little ornament that dangles from the bottom of the wind chime.
- If you used a nylon cord previously, you should use a second piece here. Extend the cord below the bottom edge of the bottle.
- Add the second chain to the key ring inside the bottle. Reach into the bottle and pull out the key ring. Thread the end of your second chain onto this key ring, then hold your wind chime up again.
- You will have 2 chains in your bottle. The first chain should be sticking out of the top of the bottle. The second chain will be dangling inside the bottle.
- If you used a nylon cord, tie it to the ring. For extra noise, thread a large, wooden bead onto the cord, then tie a knot below it so that it sits inside the bottle.[11]
- Thread a third split key ring to the bottom of the dangling chain. This will allow you to secure your desired ornament.[12] Alternatively, you can skip this step and rely on a small hook attached to the top of the wind catch.
- Keep in mind that if you choose the hook, you'll need to screw it onto your dangle first. It must also be small enough to fit through the bottom loop on the chain.
- If you used a nylon cord, then tie a metal ring to the bottom. Don't use a hook.
- Choose an ornament to use as the wind catch. A chunky necklace pendant will work just fine, but you can also use a wooden ornament instead. If you choose a wooden ornament, drill a hole into the top, then add a hook or eye screw.[13]
- Alternatively, you can repeat the process to add a smaller bottle to the bottom of the first one. This will give you a stacked wind chime.
- Secure the ornament onto the key ring. Split open the key ring, and thread it onto the loop that's on top of your pendant. If you used a hook, simply slide it onto the bottom ring of the chain.[14]
- Hang the wind chime using the key ring at the top of the chain. You can hang it outside where the wind will catch it, but if you want to use it for purely decorative purposes, hang it indoors instead.
- Add a small bell to the bottom of your wind catch. A standard trumpet-shaped bell will work better than a jingle bell.
- If the bottle looks too plain, decorate it with fabric paint. You can also etch it using glass etching cream instead.
- You can hang the ornament further up inside the bottle to make more noise.
- You can leave the label on if you really want to. It would be a good idea to paint over it with a few coats of clear, outdoor gloss, however.
- If your tinted bottle chipped, you can fill the chips in using glass paint after you polish it.
[Edit]Warnings - Be careful when cutting the glass bottle. If you are concerned about chips and dust, put on a pair of safety goggles and a dust mask.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Empty glass wine bottle
- Glass saw or a tile saw with a glass blade
- Leather work gloves
- 2 pots
- Boiling water
- Iced water
- Coarse, medium, and fine-grit sandpaper
- Thin chain
- 3 split key rings
- Wire cutters
- Medallion or ornament
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Wear a Gray Suit Posted: 17 Oct 2019 01:00 AM PDT Gray suits are a great alternative to classic navy or black suits. Dark charcoal suits are common in formal occasions and office-settings, and lighter gray suits are great for spring and summer parties. You can pair a dark gray suit with a collared shirt and dress shoes, or match your light gray suit with a solid tee and sneakers. Whatever style you prefer, you'll be rocking your gray suit in no time! [Edit]Styling Formal Looks - Wear a dark gray suit in formal or business settings. Gray suits come in a range of shades, from dark charcoal to light gray. A charcoal or dark gray suit is best for business settings and formal occasions, like weddings.[1]
- Charcoal gray also elegantly complements darker skin and hair.[2]
- Dark gray is close enough to black and navy that you can wear the shirts, shoes and ties that you regularly wear with your black and navy suits.
- Choose a medium gray tone for fairer skin. A medium gray suit will make sure that fairer skin doesn't look washed-out. At the same time, it will be a dark enough shade to look formal. [3]
- Add a pop of color with a colorful tie and pocket square and you'll be ready for anything.
- Opt for a solid suit with no print for formal occasions. Checks or stripes can be trendy for a moment, but they go in and out of style all the time. If you want a suit that will be versatile for many formal occasions, choose a solid gray.[4]
- A solid suit also allows you more freedom to wear more colorful and patterned shirts and ties.
- Wear a white shirt for a clean, classic look. A standard white button-down shirt will make the gray of the suit stand out elegantly. White shirts are good for office settings, as well as more formal affairs, like weddings.[5]
- White shirts are convenient because you probably already have them in your closet, and they work well with black and navy suits too.
- Pair your suit with a pale blue shirt. Pale blue is a great alternative to white. It is similarly light-colored, making the gray of the suit stand out, but it also has a nice hint of color. Wearing blue instead of white can make the outfit look more festive, instead of like office-attire, so it's good for a celebration.[6]
- Pale blue looks especially nice if you have blue eyes, blue eye-glass frames, or a blue pocket square.
- Most other pale colored shirts will look good too, like pale green, or pale pink. The trick is to have your shirt be a lighter shade than your suit.[7]
- Pair dark gray suits with black or burgundy shoes. The great thing about gray is that it is super versatile, so it can go well with many colors of shoes. Darker gray suits look best with black or burgundy shoes. If you're dressing up formally wear lace-up shoes like oxfords.[8]
- Black shoes are more common than burgundy, so burgundy is good if you want to make a statement, like at a wedding. Black shoes will do great for regular business wear.
- Avoid brown shoes. They don't look great with dark suits.[9]
[Edit]Creating Casual Looks - Go with a light gray suit for casual looks. Light gray looks casual for summer occasions, outdoor parties, or going out to dinner and dancing. Most traditional offices require dark gray, black, or navy blue suits, so it's probably best to avoid wearing your light gray suit to the office.[10]
- It can be tricky to draw the line between a medium gray and a light gray. To test it out, hold up a white thread beside the coat. Does it blend in? If so, the suit is light gray.[11]
- Consider getting a checked or patterned suit. If you're wearing a light gray suit, it's already not too formal, so you can go to town when it comes to patterns. Just make sure it's not too crazy or loud of a pattern, or you'll end up looking like you're wearing a costume.[12]
- Pair your light gray suit with a white collared shirt. White shirts look great for both formal and casual settings. When paired with a light gray suit, a white shirt can look breezy and summery, so it's the perfect look for an outdoor occasion.[13]
- Consider not buttoning the top button or two of your shirt for an extra casual appearance.[14]
- Ditch the tie and leave the jacket unbuttoned to dress it down. Wearing the suit jacket open with no tie is a great way to instantly make your outfit more casual. This also looks great if you're wearing a patterned or floral shirt that you want to show off.[15]
- Don't ditch the tie if your suit is loudly patterned. This looks odd.[16]
- If you're not sure whether the event you're going to is casual enough to go without a tie, bring one with you in your pocket. You can always put it on if you see that everyone else is wearing one.[17]
- Dress down the suit by pairing it with a solid-colored T-shirt. The safest bets are crisp black or white T-shirts. Wear a colored T-shirt if you want to be bold, just make sure it is solid-colored, with no pattern or words.[18]
- The T-shirt has to be pretty fitted to look good with a suit jacket. Now is not the time for your baggy workout shirts.[19]
- For a smart casual style, pair this look with brown or white leather shoes with no socks.
- Wear a red shirt for a really dramatic look. The right shade of red, like a deep, muted burgundy, or an elegant maroon, can make a real statement with a gray suit. But it's tricky to find the right shade of red, so only go for it if you're feeling bold.[20]
- If you're a ginger, be wary of wearing a red shirt. Gingers are likely to have paler skin, which, combined with their red hair, makes a red shirt overwhelming.[21]
- Make sure to avoid fire-engine red, or other really bright reds. They clash with gray.[22]
- Wear brown, white, black, or burgundy shoes for a casual look. Black or burgundy shoes are slightly more formal, but still look great with a light gray suit. Tan or light brown shoes are a step more casual.[23]
- Wear classic oxfords or other lace-up shoes for a smart casual look.[24]
- If you want to dress it down a step further, you can try pairing your suit with solid colored sneakers (just don't wear running shoes.)[25]
[Edit]Selecting a Matching Tie - Choose a black or dark blue tie for a safe bet with any shirt. Black and dark blue are classic tie colors and they both go well with with gray suits. If you're dressing for the office, wear a striped tie, or a solid colored tie. If you're going to a special occasion, like a wedding, go for a fun print like paisley.[26]
- If you want to wear an eye-catching, patterned tie, make sure the colors complement each other. A patterned tie can really liven up a gray suit, if done right.[27]
- If you're nervous about wearing patterned ties, start with ties with small repeating patterns, like dots or small images.[28]
- If you're wearing a really casual shirt, like a tee-shirt, you shouldn't wear a tie at all.
- Wear a purple tie with a white shirt for an elegant look. You may not often get to wear a purple tie, because it doesn't stand out much with a black suit. Purple ties look wonderful with gray suits, so now's your chance! [29]
- If you have paler skin and hair, a pastel purple will look great. If you have pale skin and dark hair, then choose a dark purple, to complement your high contrast. If you have dark skin and dark hair, you can look good in either.[30]
- Pair pale colored shirts with burgundy or emerald ties. Gray suits can look a bit plain, so spice up your look with an elegant pop of color. Darker colored ties, like burgundy, or emerald, look great when paired with a pale shirt and a gray suit.[31]
- To look really snazzy, match your sock color to your tie![32]
- Wear patternless ties with patterned suits or shirts. If either your shirt or your suit has a pattern on it, make sure your tie is one solid color. Otherwise the whole outfit will be overwhelming to look at and way too busy.[33]
- If you have a solid suit, you can wear a patterned tie, but you still want to make sure it is not so busy that it distracts from your face.[34]
- Wear pastel ties if you have a light suit and a fair complexion. Pastel colors prevent washing out a fairer complexion, which might happen if you wear a dark necktie. Go for pastel purples, blues, and greens, and avoid yellow, red, orange, and pink tones, as these can be too close to the tone of a fair complexion.[35]
- If you have a darker complexion, you can wear a darker colored tie with your light suit without looking washed out.
- Pastel ties are more forgiving with patterns than brighter-colored ties, so feel free to experiment with a patterned pastel.[36]
- The basics of wearing a gray suit: white or pale blue shirt, and a colorful tie.
- Wear brown shoes for more casual occasions, and black shoes to dress it up.
[Edit]References |
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