| How to Make Nachos Posted: 06 Nov 2019 04:00 PM PST There aren't enough good things to say about nachos. In their classic form, they're spicy, creamy, cheesy, crunchy, zesty and delicious, but what makes them timeless is their versatility. Take the core taste concepts - creamy, crunchy, layers - and you can let your culinary creativity shine. This article gives instructions for making classic nachos, BBQ nachos, and dessert nachos. [Edit]Classic Nachos - Gather your ingredients. Classic nachos highlight the two most essential nachos ingredients: chips and cheese. Build on this foundation by adding whatever toppings you desire. Pick up the following items:
- Tortilla Chips: flour or corn, the fresher the better. The perfect chip is thick enough to hold serious toppings but light enough to let the other ingredients shine.
- Cheese: cheddar is the classic, but mozzarella, monterey jack, cotija; if it can shred, it'll taste good. Mix them for color.
- Salsa: your choice. The classic is chunky pico de gallo.
- Sour cream: Try not to choose low fat. Sour cream gives Nachos part of their umami and balances the spice.
- Pickled jalapeños: available in most supermarkets. Leave these out if you can't handle the spice.
- Beans: black beans or refried beans are the most popular choices. This optional ingredient adds some heft to your nachos.
- Meat: seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken. Adding some well-cooked and seasoned meat, while optional, can make your nachos much more satisfying.
- Place a mound of chips on a baking sheet. You can also use a pie dish or a casserole dish for this purpose. If you're microwaving the nachos instead of heating them up in the oven, use a microwave-safe dish.[1]
- Add the cheese. Sprinkle a liberal amount of cheese over the nachos. Try to get some cheese on every chip.
- Cook the nachos. Nachos taste just as good whether they're cooked in the oven or the microwave. Choose one of these cooking methods:
- Broil them. Set the oven rack from the heat source and broil until the cheese melts. This will usually happen in 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn the cheese. Remove and let cool for a few minutes.
- Microwave them. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove and let cool for a few minutes.
- Dress the nachos. Place dollops of sour cream in a ring around the top of the nachos. Sprinkle the jalapeños and salsa on top.
- Serve and enjoy. Napkins are a must; forks are scandalous. Select a nacho, dip it in some sour cream, use it to scoop a jalapeño, and eat up.
- Classic nachos taste great with the addition of any of your favorite meats or vegetables. Favorites include ground beef, grilled steak or chicken, sliced sauteed mushrooms, raw minced onion, black olives, and shredded lettuce.[2]
- Individual portions can be served on small plates or in bowls; just divide the chips and melted cheese up before adding other toppings.
[Edit]BBQ Nachos - Gather your ingredients. BBQ nachos are the potato-based alternative to classic nachos. You use potato chips and pair them with delicious BBQ meat. Go to the grocery store and get these ingredients:
- Potato chips: get either flavored or plain, ruffled or smooth.
- Cheese: choose pepperjack, cheddar or both, shredded.
- Salsa: pico de gallo is the clear winner for this dish, as anything saucier will compete with the BBQ.
- Sour cream: you can skip this if you want, but it's surprisingly delicious with BBQ sauce.
- BBQ: pulled pork is available at any BBQ joint and most grocery stores. Make sure to get the sauce, too.
- BBQ chicken is also delicious, but never serve anything with bones.
- Vegetarian chili or baked beans are also great substitutes for meat.
- Put the potato chips on a cooking sheet. Choose a cooking dish based on your heat source, either oven broiler safe or microwavable. Build a mound of chips that covers the bottom of the pan.
- Sprinkle on the cheese. Try to get an equal amount of cheese on all of the chips.
- Cook the nachos. If you're broiling, set the oven rack from the heat source and broil until the cheese melts. This will usually happen in 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn the cheese. If you're microwaving, microwave on high for 2 minutes. Let the nachos cool for a few minutes when they're done cooking.
- Dress the nachos. Place dollops of sour cream and salsa on top of the nachos. Pile the BBQ in the middle. Sprinkle other toppings and condiments around the sides.
- Serve and enjoy. Since these nachos are served with meat, you may want to offer your dinner guests a fork this time. Dish the nachos onto plates and serve with extra toppings on the side.
[Edit]Dessert Nachos - Gather your ingredients. These dessert nachos are a delicious way to end a Mexican-themed meal. The flavors of cinnamon and sugar bring out the best in flour tortilla chips. Pick up these ingredients in preparation:
- Flour tortilla chips. The fresher the better, light and crispy. Try to find unsalted chips, though the contrast of sweet and salty can be nice.[3]
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- Chocolate syrup
- Caramel syrup
- Whipped cream
- Melt the butter. Place a small saucepan on the stove and put the butter in the pan. Turn the burner to medium high and let the butter melt completely. You can also opt to just place the butter in the microwave.
- Coat the chips with butter. Place the chips on a baking sheet. Drizzle the butter over the chips, doing your best to distribute it evenly. Use tongs to gently toss the chips so they get evenly coated in butter.
- Add the cinnamon and sugar. Mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl, then sprinkle the mixture over the chips. Use the tongs to toss the chips to ensure they all get a coating of sugar and spice.
- Bake the chips. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the chips for about 15 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and crispy.
- Dress the nachos. Drizzle chocolate syrup and caramel sauce over the chips. Place a dollop of whipped cream in the center of the platter.
- Serve the dessert nachos. Put the baked chips on a large platter. Invite your guests to dig in.
- You can also dish out the nachos onto individual serving plates.
- This dish is delicious with ice cream, especially chocolate or vanilla flavors.
- You can use an oven toaster or an oven for baking the nachos. If you use an oven, be sure to preheat it before you assemble your nachos.
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| How to Use Either and Neither Posted: 06 Nov 2019 08:00 AM PST If you have difficulty figuring out when to use "either" and when to use "neither," you're not alone. Proper use of these words sometimes confuses native English speakers and it's all the more difficult to know when to use them when you're just learning English. To further complicate the issue, these two versatile words can be used as 4 different parts of speech: conjunction, adjective, pronoun, or adverb. It might be helpful to remember that "either" is often paired with "or" and "neither" is almost always paired with "nor." [Edit]Conjunctions - Link two alternative things together with "either" or "neither." When used as a conjunction, the words "either" and "neither" pair with "or" or "nor" to link two distinct things. If you have more than two options, it would not be appropriate to use "either" or "neither." The conjunction "either/or" means that only one of the two things you've listed will happen. "Neither/nor," on the other hand, means that none of the two things listed will happen.[1]
- Either/or example: "For dessert, we can have either cake or pie." In this example, it is not an option to have both cake and pie – you can only have one or the other.
- Neither/nor example: "I will neither cook for you nor pick something up." In this example, you don't know for sure what the speaker is going to do, but you do know of two things that they specifically are not going to do.
- Place "either" or "neither" after the verb if the actions are similar. If the actions you're comparing share a verb, use "either" or "neither" after the shared verb. Then place the word "or" or "nor" between the two actions.[2]
- Either/or example: "The restaurant offered either steak or fish as the main course." In this example, you have a choice between steak and fish.
- Neither/nor example: "Vegans eat neither meat nor animal byproducts." This example explains that vegans do not eat any meat or animal byproducts such as eggs, milk, or cheese.
- Move "either" or "neither" to before the verb is the actions are different. "Either" and "neither" can also be used to link two things that each have their own verb. In this situation, the conjunction joins the entire verb phrase.[3]
- Either/or example: "You can either ride a bike or drive a car." In this example, you have the choice of riding a bike or driving a car, but you can't do both at the same time.
- Neither/no example: "Chefs neither wash dishes nor serve customers." This example explains that while chefs work in restaurants, they are not responsible for washing dishes or serving food to diners.
- Use "nor" only when you use the word "neither." While you often see the word "or" used by itself without the word "either," the word "nor" is only used when the word "neither" also appears in the sentence. Instead of using the word "nor" by itself, either make the verb negative and use the word "or" or add the word "neither."[4]
- For example, suppose someone wrote: "I fear man nor beast." This would be incorrect. To fix it, you could write either "I don't fear man or beast" or "I fear neither man nor beast."
- Choose singular verbs for most "neither/nor" constructions. The "neither/nor" construction means that none of the linked options are available or will happen. A singular verb is usually appropriate unless the last of the linked options is a plural word.[5]
- For example, you could write "Neither a cupcake nor a cookie sounds good to me." However, you would write "Neither Game of Thrones nor dragons interest me," because the word "dragons" is plural.
- If both of the linked options are plural, you would also use a plural verb. However, what's important when choosing which verb form to use is whether the last option that precedes the verb is singular or plural.
- Match the verb in "either/or" constructions to the noun closest to the verb. When using "either/or," you state that only one of the two options is available or can be chosen at a time. Make the verb you use singular or plural depending on whether the noun that precedes the verb is singular or plural.[6]
- For example, you would say "Either a burger or pizza sounds good to me." But if you were contemplating ordering several pizzas, you would say "Either a burger or pizzas sound good to me."
- Maintain parallelism with alternatives joined by "either/or" or "neither/nor." When using "either/or" or "neither/nor" as a conjunction, the two alternatives presented should have the same or similar constructions. The elements of each alternative thus parallel each other.[7]
- For example, instead of saying "Passengers were compensated either with food or vouchers," you would say "Passengers were compensated with either food or vouchers." Notice how you move the word "with" before the word "either," so that the two things you're comparing are the same: "food" and "vouchers."
[Edit]Adjectives - Place "either" or "neither" immediately in front of the noun it modifies. You don't always need to combine "either" and "neither" with "or" or "nor." If you want to present two alternatives that are essentially the same thing, use a single noun combined with "either" or "neither."[8]
- Either example: "You can choose either kitten." In this example, there are exactly two kittens, and you can have one of them (but not both).
- Neither example: "Neither kitten is for sale." In this example, you are being told that there are two kittens but you can't have them.
- Use "either" or "neither" as a determiner for the noun. When used as an adjective, "either" and "neither" are determiners that clarify the noun for your reader or listener. With "either," you're saying that the statement is true for only one of two alternatives. With "neither," there are two alternatives and your statement doesn't apply to them.[9]
- For example, if you say "Neither candidate was prepared for the debate," you are telling your listener that there are two candidates participating in the debate, but they were not adequately prepared to discuss the questions posed to them.
- On the other hand, if you say "Either kitten can be adopted," you are telling your listener that there are two kittens left in the litter, but only one of them is available for adoption.
- Replace "either" or "neither" with alternate expressions. If you're not certain if you're using "either" or "neither" correctly, you can express the statement differently by making the noun negative or using a different noun phrase. If the alternative expression communicates what you intended, you've used the word correctly.[10]
- Instead of saying "You may adopt either kitten," you could say "You may adopt one of the two kittens."
- Instead of saying "You may adopt neither kitten," you could say "You may not adopt one and you may not adopt the other of the two kittens," or "You may not adopt either of the two kittens."
[Edit]Pronouns - Follow "either" or "neither" with the word "of" and a noun phrase. "Either" and "neither" can also be used as pronouns that stand for two specific things that can be described using the same noun. If you use "either," you're saying that the statement is only true for one of the two things. With "neither," the statement isn't true for either of the two things.[11]
- Either example: "Either of the kittens can be adopted." In this example, you're saying that only one of the kittens can be adopted but not both of them.
- Neither example: "Neither of the kittens is up for adoption." In this example, you're saying that there are exactly two kittens but they are not available to be adopted.
- Use a singular verb when "either" or "neither" is the subject of the sentence. When using "either" or "neither" as a pronoun, you may be tempted to use a plural verb since the noun immediately preceding the verb is plural. However, the verb should agree with "either" or "neither." Since "either" always means one thing and "neither" means no things, a singular verb is appropriate.[12]
- Either example: "Either of the desserts comes with your meal."
- Neither example: "Neither of the desserts is sugar-free."
- Substitute alternate expressions to check your usage. You can make the verb negative or add additional words to say the same thing without using "either" or "neither." This can be a good way to double-check and make sure you're using the correct word.[13]
- Instead of "You can adopt either of the kittens," you could say "You can adopt one or the other of the kittens" or "You can adopt one of the kittens or you can adopt the other kitten."
- Instead of "You can adopt neither of the kittens," you could say "You cannot adopt either of the kittens," or "You cannot adopt the one kitten and you cannot adopt the other kitten."
[Edit]Adverbs - Use "either" to mean "in addition." As an adverb, "either" is always combined with a negative statement. It combines two statements about one thing, but instead of meaning that only one of them is true, it means that both of them are true.[14]
- For example, if you said "The apartment's rent is affordable and it's not small either," you would be saying that the apartment was affordable and also not small.
- Use "neither" if you want to eliminate all options presented. When used as an adverb, the word "neither" means "similarly not" or "also not." Neither creates a negation that may indicate agreement with the other statement or completely rule out both things offered.[15]
- For example, if someone says to you "I don't think I want to go to the concert tomorrow night," you might reply "If you don't go, neither will I." You're telling the person that you're only interested in going to the concert if they're going too.
- Indicate a link with the previous statement made. "Either" and "neither" are frequently used as adverbs when someone says something to you and you want to express agreement with what they said or otherwise express your preference. The key difference is that "neither" eliminates all options presented.[16]
- Either example: "
- Neither example: "Would you like coffee or tea?" "Neither."
- In American English, "either" and "neither" are pronounced with a long E sound in the first syllable. In British English, however, the long I sound is preferred. Both pronunciations are correct, but if you use the British pronunciation when talking to Americans, you might come across as pretentious.[17]
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| How to Empathize with People Who Have Suicidal Tendencies Posted: 06 Nov 2019 12:00 AM PST Over 800,000 people die due to suicide every year and there are many more who try to attempt it.[1] Having suicidal tendencies is actually a call for help that shouldn't be ignored by the society. A person's life is at stake from the constant torments of their inner demons to the points that they decided that enough is enough and chose to end it. Suicidal feelings may include believing that "death is your only option, having low self-esteem and feelings of anger that you direct towards yourself."[2] There are several ways to show your empathy towards people with suicidal tendencies, including lending an ear, showing that you care about them and giving them hope. [Edit]Lending Your Ears - Start by being an "active listener". In other words, be attentive to what the person in crisis has to say and maintain direct eye contact, as well as showing your willingness to talk about anything with that person, including their feelings about suicide.
- Try to communicate about their problems. Seek to understand their situation without passing your judgement on them as this would only drive them away. Offer them the specific help that they wanted, despite them being dormant or closed-off.
- Validate their feelings. Let them know that it's okay to be upset, and there's nothing wrong with them for having a hard time. This can help them feel cared about and understood. Use phrases like "I'm sorry to hear that you're dealing with that" and "That must be hard."
[Edit]Showing That You Care - Hide harmful materials from their line of sight. This falls under the category of exhibiting care for their well-being. This is because statistics has shown that 49.9% of U.S citizens committed suicide using a firearm and 26.7% uses suffocation as a means for suicide.[3] In other words, people with suicidal tendencies are at a higher risk of committing suicide should they be exposed to harmful materials.
- Offer to help them manage their medications. Work with them to help them take their medication safely and as directed. Ask them how they want you to help them.
- Lock up any firearms, and don't tell them the combination. Or, get rid of the firearm.
- Don't leave them alone to their thoughts. This falls under the category of showing that you care for them as a whole. If a person has expressed suicidal feelings has a plan, the means available and has a time set, you should always take them seriously and be sure to never leave them unattended.
- If you absolutely must leave them alone for a while, make sure they are set up with something to do (e.g. a movie), ensure that they feel they're feeling okay enough to be left alone, and tell them when you'll be back to check in and say hi.
- Keep in touch with them so you can be there for them. Stay with them or arrange for someone whom they trust to stay with them. It is important for them to stay in supportive circle of people that will always remind them that they are important, and give them a sense of belonging. Never let them be alone and mulling about with their dark thoughts without support.
- It's also helpful to provide them with a list of helpful resources, especially if they live alone. This can help them reach out when they need help. For instance, tell them if they want to text someone, they can reach the Crisis Text Line by sending a message to 741741 in the US, 686868 in Canada, or 85258 in the UK.
- Look out for any warning signs. For example, if the person suddenly isolates themselves from the society, drops in academic performance, or constantly visits suicide promoting websites, these could be indicators of a problem. It is very important for you to keep a constant awareness and to always look out for signs of a cry for help. Usually, the people with suicidal tendencies are reluctant to seek help due to societal stigma, so it's important for you to be the one who is on the lookout.
[Edit]Showing Your Empathy - Give them hope. Help them think about positive things, such as how valuable they are to others, how their loss would be tremendous for the people around them and to look forward to the exciting events that is to come in life, and also help them to love themselves because there's always a second chance, even for people who feel they've made mistakes in the past.
- Encourage them to stop dwelling on the past. While there are many reasons why a person would consider suicide, thinking about the past can make things worse. However, it's often hard to stop thinking about past events. Help them focus their thoughts on the present and their future. Additionally, get them brainstorming about positive events that may come.
- Build a strong support system for them. Connect them with people who have survived suicide attempts, people they trust, and people in their life who are supportive. This will help them feel a sense of belonging and eventually they may feel positive and hopeful about life.
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