| How to Make Edible Teacups Posted: 04 Nov 2019 04:00 PM PST Dainty teacups that you can actually eat make a wonderful addition to children's birthday parties or afternoon teas. To use ice cream cones as the base for the teacups, cut them and attach the tops to shortbread cookies. Then use icing to fix pretzel handles in place. For teacups that mimic the actual shape of a teacup, roll gum paste to fit a real teacup and saucer. Then leave them to harden. You can even use melted chocolate to create perfectly rounded teacups that are great for your event. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Cone and Cookie Teacups - 12 wafer ice cream cones
- 1 tube of ready-to-use icing
- 12 round shortbread cookies
- 6 round miniature chocolate-covered pretzels
Makes 12 teacups [Edit]Gum Paste Teacup and Saucer - 1 cup (226 g) of prepared gum paste
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- 1 ounce (30 g) of white chocolate, melted, optional
Makes 1 teacup and saucer [Edit]Chocolate Teacups - 14 ounces (420 g) of white chocolate, tempered
Makes 4 teacups and saucers [Edit]Making Teacups with Cones and Cookies - Cut the base from each wafer cone. Get out 12 wafer ice cream cones and use a serrated knife to carefully cut just below the line where the base of the cone meets the rounded cup part of the cone. Do this for each cone and discard the longer base pieces.[1]
- You should be left with 12 rounded cups that have holes in the bottom.
- Use a gentle sawing motion as you cut so you don't break the cones.
- Squeeze icing along the base of each cup and press it onto a cookie. Take a tube of ready-to-use icing in any color and squirt it along the base of the wafer cone cup that you just cut. Then push it onto 1 round shortbread cookie to form the base of the teacup. Repeat this for each of the wafer cone cups.[2]
- If you don't want to work with ready-to-use icing in a tube, make your own and pipe it onto the cones.
- You can also dip the cones into chocolate, but be careful, as this method is imprecise.
- Cut 6 chocolate-covered pretzels in half and attach them to the teacups. Use the serrated knife to cut each of the mini chocolate-covered pretzels in half. Squirt a dab of icing onto each end of a pretzel half and then push it onto the side of a teacup so it forms a handle. Hold it in place for a minute and then continue with the remaining pretzels and teacups.[3]
- Use plain, round pretzels if you don't want the chocolate-covered kind.
- Chill the teacups for 2 hours before using them. Put the assembled teacups into an airtight container and refrigerate them until the icing is completely hard. This will ensure that the teacups won't break apart if you choose to fill them.
- Once the icing has set, you can store the teacups at room temperature until you're ready to serve them.
[Edit]Crafting a Teacup and Saucer with Gum Paste - Roll the gum paste into an circle. Put 1 cup (226 g) of prepared gum paste onto a rolling mat and use a fondant rolling pin to roll it into a thin circle. The circle needs to be slightly larger than your saucer.[4]
- If you don't have a fondant rolling pin, use a standard rolling pin and dust it with powdered sugar to prevent the gum paste from sticking to it.
- Press the gum paste onto a saucer and cut around the edge. Dust a little powdered sugar onto the saucer and then tap it out. Gently lay the rolled gum paste onto the saucer and press down firmly so the paste molds to the saucer. Then use a knife or blade tool to cut the excess gum paste from around the edge of the saucer. Set the excess aside and smooth the edges of the gum paste saucer.[5]
- If you want to include details on the edges of your saucer, press in the edges to create a slight scallop.
- Roll gum paste to make a thin handle. Take some of the remaining gum paste and roll it into a log that's as thin as you like. Bend the log into a question mark shape that will form the handle for your teacup. Set the handle aside along with the saucer to set while you work on the teacup's base.[6]
- Your handle can be as simplistic or intricate as you like.
- Form a circular base for the teacup. Cut another small rope that you can wrap into a circle. Squirt a few drops of edible glue onto 1 end of the rope and attach the other end so you have a ring. Then roll out more gum paste as thinly as you made the saucer and cut it into a circle that's the same size as the base of the teacup. Squeeze edible glue onto it and stick it onto the ring you made.[7]
- Set this circular base aside while you make the teacup.
- Purchase edible glue from craft supply stores or online.
- Cut thinly rolled gum paste into a rainbow that fits inside the teacup. Use the fondant rolling pin to roll the leftover gum paste into an oval that's as thin as the saucer you made. Then cut a large rainbow out and place it inside the teacup so the wider side faces the lip of the cup.
- You may need to trim or make adjustments to the shape of the gum paste so it covers the inside of the teacup. Keep in mind that there will be a small hole at the bottom of the cup.[8]
- To ensure the rainbow is the right size before cutting the gum paste, cut out a paper template and nestle it into the teacup first.
- Press the gum paste in place and let it set. Use your fingers to push the gum paste evenly into the teacup so there aren't any gaps. Push the gum paste down to cover the hole at the bottom of the cup. Pay attention to joining the edges where the ends of the gum paste meet. Then set the teacup aside to set up overnight.[9]
- If there's not enough gum paste to close the bottom of the teacup, cut a small circle of gum paste and push it into place.
- Glue the pieces of the teacup together with edible glue and let them set. Once the teacup is hard, gently pull it out of the actual teacup. Then squirt a little edible glue onto the circular base you made and set the gum paste teacup on it. Take the handle and squeeze a little edible glue on it before you press it against the side of the teacup. Leave the teacup for a few hours so the glue hardens.[10]
- Since you won't be gluing anything to the saucer, simply remove it from the actual saucer once the gum paste hardens.
[Edit]Creating Chocolate Teacups - Put of chocolate into each cavity of a dome mold. Set a silicone dome mold on your work surface and scoop of tempered chocolate into each cavity.[11]
- For larger teacups, use a mold with 6 semi-sphere cavities. For standard-sized teacups, choose a mold with 12 to 15 dome cavities.
- Spread the chocolate in the cavities and chill the mold for 15 minutes. Take a silicone brush or use the back of a spoon to spread the chocolate throughout the mold so each cavity is covered. Then put the mold in the refrigerator until the chocolate hardens.[12]
- If you used a mold with smaller domes, the chocolate will harden faster.
- Peel the chocolate cups out of the mold. Remove the mold from the refrigerator and turn it upside-down on your work surface. Gently hold the mold in place with 1 hand and use your other hand to slowly peel the mold away. The chocolate cups should separate from the mold.[13]
- Set the cups aside while you make the chocolate saucers and handles.
- Spoon 4 circles of chocolate onto parchment paper and pipe 4 handles. To make the saucers, lay a sheet of parchment paper onto a baking sheet and spread some of the remaining tempered chocolate into 4 even circles on the paper. Each circle should be about in diameter. Then pipe or spoon more chocolate onto the parchment paper to make 4 handle shapes.[14]
- Each saucer should be about thick.
- If you don't have parchment paper, use waxed paper instead.
- Chill the saucers and handles for 10 minutes. Put the baking sheet into the refrigerator and leave the saucers and handles to set. Remove the baking sheet once the chocolate is completely hard. Carefully peel the chocolates off of the sheet so you can assemble the teacups.[15]
- Attach the handles to the cups and set them on the saucers. To assemble the teacups, dip the ends of the handles into a little of the tempered chocolate. Hold the handles against the sides of the chocolate cups until they stay attached. Then set each teacup onto the chocolate saucers.[16]
- Work quickly so your hands don't melt the chocolate. If the chocolate teacup pieces begin to soften, put them into the refrigerator for a few minutes.
- If any of the handles or cookies come a little loose, simply add more frosting to attach them again.
- Fill your edible teacups with ice cream, frozen yogurt, candy, or fresh fruit just before serving.
- To decorate the gum paste teacups, make edible food paint and paint floral designs on the cup.[17]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Cone and Cookie Teacups - Serrated knife
- Cutting board
[Edit]Gum Paste Teacup and Saucer - Rolling mat
- Teacup and saucer
- Fondant rolling pin
- Knife or blade tool
- Edible Glue
[Edit]Chocolate Teacups - Silicone dome mold
- Spoon
- Parchment paper
- Spoon
- Pastry brush
- Baking sheet
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Raise Low Blood Pressure Posted: 04 Nov 2019 08:00 AM PST Low blood pressure — often defined as lower than 90 mm Hg systolic or 60 mm Hg diastolic — is a common medical condition with a variety of causes, including pregnancy, heart problems, some severe infections or allergies, blood loss, and even dehydration. If you have long-time, symptom-free low blood pressure, you have little to worry about. However, if you are experiencing a sudden drop in blood pressure, then you should seek medical attention. [Edit]Changing Your Diet - Drink plenty of water. Low blood pressure can accompany dehydration, so you may be able to raise your blood pressure by increasing your water intake. Aim to drink at least eight to ten 8 oz cups of water per day.[1] You should drink more water if this doesn't help your symptoms or if you spend time outdoors or exercising.
- Health drinks with electrolytes can also help raise blood pressure, but you should avoid drinks with high sugar content.
- Eat smaller meals more frequently. Eating several small meals, rather than one or two large meals, can help regulate your blood sugar and blood pressure. Aim to make these meals healthy and low in carbohydrates.[2]
- When you do eat carbohydrates, avoid processed carbs such as pasta and white bread. Go for complex carbs instead, such as oatmeal, whole grain pasta, whole grain bread, and barley.
- Balance your diet. An important way to regulate your blood pressure and improve your overall health is to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. A balanced diet includes lean meats and fish, whole grains, and a lot of fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid heavily processed foods that are high in sugar and fat. While these do often contain higher levels of sodium, they are not a healthy source of other nutrients.[3]
- Increase your Vitamin B12 and folate consumption. These vitamins contribute to a healthy blood pressure function and circulation.[4] Fortified cereal contains both minerals. Some other sources of B12 include fish and dairy products such a cheese, milk, and yogurt. Folate can be found in dark green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach.[5]
- Reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol contributes to dehydration, even if consumed in moderation. If you have problems with low blood pressure, you should avoid drinking alcohol in any amount.[6]
- Drink caffeine. Caffeine constricts blood vessels, which can increase blood pressure. Increasing your caffeine intake by a moderate amount can help raise your blood pressure.[7]
- Try taking herbal remedies. Herbal remedies are not proven to help blood pressure, but there is anecdotal evidence that some herbs may lessen the effects of low blood pressure. Some of these include aniseed and rosemary.[8] Adding these to your diet may offer some benefits, but you should ask your doctor before taking any herbal supplements. Cooking with these herbs is unlikely to have measurable effects, however.
- Ginger may actually lower blood pressure, so do not use ginger supplements if you already have low blood pressure.
- Cinnamon may also lower your blood pressure. Do not use cinnamon supplements if you have low blood pressure.[9]
- Pepper may also lower blood pressure.[10]
[Edit]Making Lifestyle Changes - Change body positions slowly. To reduce the effects of blood-pressure-related dizziness, be slow and deliberate with your motions. Use particular care when moving from lying down to sitting or from sitting to standing.
- Avoid crossing your legs while sitting. Crossing your legs can restrict your circulation.[11] In order to maintain healthy circulation to your body, try to sit with your legs comfortably resting with your knees about hip-width apart.
- Exercise regularly. Regular exercise benefits your health generally, but it will also help encourage and regulate healthy blood flow. Something as simple as going for a brisk 20-minute walk every day can help your mental and physical well-being.
- Avoid exercises that involve heavy lifting if your blood pressure has not yet regulated. This can lead to strain or injury.[12]
- Wear compression stockings. Compression stockings are often worn to help reduce the swelling and pooling of blood in the lower body and to improve circulation.[13] Wearing low-grade compression stockings during daily activities will help regulate blood pressure by keeping blood circulating regularly through your veins.[14]
- Avoid long, hot showers. The hot water from showers and spas can cause your blood vessels to expand, which can lead to a further drop in blood pressure. This can cause dizziness and fainting. You can remedy this by taking warm (rather than hot) showers and avoiding spas or hot tubs. You may also want to install a handrail or a shower chair in your shower in case of a dizzy spell.[15]
[Edit]Getting Medical Treatment - Seek medical attention if you are experiencing a sudden change in blood pressure. If you had normal or high blood pressure and then had a sudden onset of low blood pressure, you should seek medical attention immediately. New onset low blood pressure can be a major warning sign of life-threatening illness, especially for people with diabetes.
- Even if the sudden drop in blood pressure is your only symptom, contact your doctor.
- Request a change in your medications or dosages. Some medications lower your blood pressure as a side effect.[16] Discuss with your doctor whether any of your current medications could be lowering your blood pressure and if a change in your prescription medication regimen could help you raise your low blood pressure.[17]
- Get tested for underlying medical conditions. Low blood pressure could be a sign of another medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease, cortisone deficiency, or a thyroid problem.[18] Have your doctor evaluate you for other medical conditions if your low blood pressure remains a problem after making diet and lifestyle changes.[19]
- Inquire about medications that raise blood pressure. Fludrocortisone and Midodrine are both medications that can help raise blood pressure. Ask your physician if one of these medications would be right for your situation.
- People are not generally prescribed medicine for low blood pressure, as it's not often a cause for concern unless it presents with symptoms.[20]
- Recognize warning symptoms. If your low blood pressure is accompanied by other symptoms, or if you had normal or even high blood pressure and now you suddenly have low blood pressure, you should seek medical attention. If you experience any of the following symptoms with low blood pressure, call your doctor:
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Difficulty concentrating
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Clammy or pale skin
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Thirst
[Edit]Warnings - Always talk to your doctor before stopping prescription medications or adding non-prescription medications or supplements to your diet to ensure that none of the medications you are taking will interact or have side effects.
- Be careful if you explore alternative treatments. Some people pursue herbal supplements or homeopathic remedies for low blood pressure, but you should check with your doctor before using alternative medicine. Supplements aren't safe with all prescription medications.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Become a Soccer Referee Posted: 04 Nov 2019 12:00 AM PST In order to become a soccer referee in the United States, you must first get certified by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) so you can start refereeing youth soccer matches. After you complete the entry-level certification requirements, you'll need to get all the necessary referee gear so that you can start officiating games. Once you have everything ready to go, it's time to start building up experience so you can ref at progressively higher levels. Becoming a capable referee will also require some general skills such as prior knowledge of the game, a high level of fitness, and patience. [Edit]Getting Certified - Contact your state's referee association to find a USSF training course. The types of courses available vary from state to state, so look up your local referee association's website on the Internet and call or email them to get the exact details about how to enroll. Courses typically consist of either 100% either in-person clinics or a mixture of online coursework and in-person training.[1]
- Note that this applies to becoming a certified referee in the USA. If you live in Canada or Australia, look up the specific guidelines for becoming a certified referee in your country. The processes are similar, but the associations and courses are different.
- Enroll in a grade 8 referee training course to become an entry-level referee. Sign up for the next available course according to the information your state's referee association gave you. Grade 8-certified referees are qualified to referee competitive youth soccer games of all sizes and ages.[2]
- New grade 8 referees typically start out refereeing younger games and advance in age and competitive level as they gain more experience. You will be able to upgrade your referee certification as you gain experience so you can eventually referee adult games.
- There is a referee registration fee of $50 USD and a clinic fee of $30 that you will have to pay when you enroll in the course.
- Complete the USSF referee training course to become certified. Complete any online portions of the course and attend all the in-person clinics that are required of you. You will learn all the skills needed to manage and conduct youth matches. You will have to pass a written test at the end of the course to get your certification.[3]
- An example of a totally in-person training clinic would be 16 hours of in-person training held over the weekend for 8 hours on Saturday and 8 hours on Sunday. In a hybrid course, you would have to complete online lessons and assignments before attending a shorter 8-hour in-person clinic.
- In addition to learning all the rules of soccer, the course will teach you about other important things like the history of the game, the history of refereeing, and the structure of FIFA soccer.
[Edit]Acquiring Official Referee Equipment - Buy a gold USSF-approved referee jersey and black shoes, shorts, and socks. There are 5 approved colors of jerseys: gold, black, blue, green, and red. Gold is considered the standard color, so buy this one first. Refs always wear black shorts, socks, and turf shoes or cleats.[4]
- It's a good idea to get at least 1 other color of jersey in case a team you are refereeing has gold uniforms too. Ideally, you will eventually buy 1 of each color so you have all the options available.
- A single referee jersey costs $25 USD and a pair of black referee shorts costs $25 USD as well. If you buy a pack of 5 jerseys at once it ends up being cheaper than buying them individually.
- Choose assistant soccer referee flags based on your personal taste. Checkered flags, solid flags, and diamond-pattern flags are the different options. There are no rules about which ones you can use, so pick whatever pattern and color you like.[5]
- These flags are used by assistant referees to signal things to the main referee, such as the direction of a throw-in, a goal kick, a corner kick, an offside, or a foul.
- The starting price for a single basic referee flag is about $20 USD and they can go all the way up to hundreds of dollars for the kind they use in professional leagues around the world.
- Get at least 2 soccer referee whistles. You must have 2 whistles with you at all times during a match. There are various styles of whistles you can choose from that have different finger grips and even mouth cushion grips.[6]
- A soccer whistle costs as little as $7 USD and up to about $50 USD for a really high-end one.
- Purchase a set of soccer referee cards. There are referee wallets with full sets of cards, write-on cards, and individual replacement cards. You need at least 1 red card and 1 yellow card so that you can use them to give out penalties.[7]
- A quality set of 2 cards that are weather resistant, reflective, and have good grip costs about $12 USD. Cheaper sets go for as little as $2.
- Yellow cards are used to indicate that you are cautioning a player and red cards are used to indicate that you are sending them off the field.
- Buy 2 referee watches with a timer and a start/stop function. You need 2 watches in case 1 malfunctions. Purchase 2 watches that are in your budget and that suit your style.[8]
- Referee watches range in price from less than $20 USD to about $125 USD.
[Edit]Refereeing Matches and Upgrading Your Grade - Notify your local soccer association of your availability. The exact process for getting assigned games varies by association, but you will usually need to give them your personal information and let them know when and where you are available to ref games. A local assignor for your area will then start assigning you to matches as either a referee or an assistant referee.[9]
- Many state association websites also have lists of assignors by area with contact info, so you can reach out directly to an assignor and provide them with your details.
- USSF-certified referees get paid around $50 per match. It can be a little less or a little more depending on experience.
- Start refereeing games to meet the requirements to upgrade your grade. You will be able to move up in grades and start coaching older games after you are referee and assistant referee a certain number of times in your current grade. To move up to grade 7, for example, you must referee 75 games and be assistant referee at 25 games. Your assignor will assign you a mix of both positions.[10]
- To get to grade 6, you must referee 100 games at the U19 level or higher and be assistant referee at 25 games at the U19 level or higher.
- To move up to grade 5, you must referee 150 games and be assistant referee at 50 games. At least 50 of the total number of games must have been adult matches.
- When you get to grade 6 and grade 5, you will be able to start refereeing top-level adult games in your state.
- Do additional training and assessments whenever you are eligible to upgrade. You must complete 5 hours of intermediate USSF training, pass a written test with at least 75% correct, and pass an in-game assessment to upgrade from grade 8 to grade 7, for example. Each following grade has different requirements that you have to fulfill to keep upgrading. Contact your local association for information on how to complete the additional training and assessments.[11]
- To move up to grade 6 when you are eligible, you have to complete 19 hours of state referee training, pass a written test with at least 75% right, and pass 2 in-game assessments during adult games.
- To upgrade to grade 5 you must pass 7 hours of in-service training, pass 2 assessments as referee in top-level adult games, and pass 1 assessment as assistant referee in a top-level adult game.
[Edit]Developing Useful Skills - Learn the rules of the game before you become a referee. You don't need any experience to become a soccer referee, but it will definitely benefit you to be familiar with the rules of the game ahead of time. Watch soccer and read about soccer to learn the ins and outs of the game. Pay special attention to all the scenarios refs are involved in, such as penalties, throw-ins, goal kicks, corner kicks, and offsides.
- You can find lots of free online resources for referees or aspiring referees such as training videos. You could also look for a book about refereeing.
- Get in shape so you can run up and down the field for a whole game. Soccer referees have to run almost as much as the players do so they can keep up with the action. Do cardio exercises such as running, swimming, and biking to maintain a good fitness level. Eat a balanced diet and drink lots of water as well to stay healthy.
- Soccer players run an average of 7 miles per game, which means referees run about 6-8 miles per game. That is way more than NFL, NBA, or MLB players, to put it in perspective!
- Practice being patient so you can deal with players and coaches calmly. You will have to deal with upset players and coaches as part of being a soccer referee, so it's important that you are patient with them and don't let it interfere with your calls. Practice being more patient in your day-to-day life so that you can apply patience during soccer matches.
- You will also inevitably hear some heckling from aggressive fans who get mad when you make a call against their team. You need to be able to ignore this and focus on officiating the match.
- Have a passion for soccer. You need to love the game to be a good soccer referee. Make sure you are passionate and ready to commit a good part of your life to it as a referee before you get started.
- Some ways to develop your passion are reading as much as you can about soccer, watching as many games as you can, and incorporating soccer-related and referee-related exercises and learning into your everyday life.
[Edit]References |
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