| How to Play Dreidel Posted: 21 Dec 2019 04:00 PM PST Dreidel is a traditional game of chance, and one of the most well-known symbols of Hanukkah.[1] The dreidel is a four-sided top with a different Hebrew letter on each side. The game dates back at least to the time when the Greek King Antiochus IV (175 BCE)[2] had outlawed Jewish worship. Jews who gathered to study the Torah would play dreidel to fool soldiers into thinking they were just gambling.[3] Now, it's usually played to see who can win the most gelt (chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil). With a dreidel and some tokens, you can take part in this holiday tradition, too. We'll show you how! - Get a dreidel. The dreidel you will get will depend on where you live. Outside of Israel, the four letters on the sides of the dreidel are Nun, Gimmel, Hay, and Shin, which stand for "A Great Miracle Happened There,"[4] referring to the miracle of the oil. In Israel, where the miracle happened, the dreidel has the letters Nun, Gimmel, Hay, and Pey, which means "A Great Miracle Happened Here."
- Gather friends. You can play with as few as two, but the more the merrier!
- Distribute tokens evenly among all of the players. The tokens can be any little thing: pennies, nuts, raisins, matchsticks, etc. A lot of people use gelt.
- Ante up. Before each spin, players put one token in the middle of the circle to create "the pot."
- Every time the pot is emptied, or there's only one token left, every player should put a token in the pot.
- Take turns spinning the dreidel. When it's your turn, spin the dreidel once. The letter which comes up once it stops spinning determines whether you win, lose, or draw. According to the letter appearing, the player should perform the following action:[5]
- Shin ("shtel" or "put in" in Yiddish) - Put one more token in the pot.
- Nun ("nisht"or "nothing" (in Yiddish) - Do nothing.
- Gimmel ("gantz"or "everything" in Yiddish) - Take all tokens from the pot.
- Hay ("halb"or "half" in Yiddish) - Take half of all tokens lying in the pot. In case of an odd number of tokens, round up.
- If you run out of tokens, you are either "out," or you may ask another player for a loan.
- Pass the dreidel on to the next player.
- Keep playing until someone wins by collecting all the tokens.
- A fun variation is to use chocolate instead of coins, so you can eat your winnings when the game ends.
- If there are no tokens in the pot, everyone puts one in.
- Don't have a dreidel? Download the pattern and make one for yourself![6] Many websites offer free patterns you can print out and use to make your own dreidel.
- If a player runs out of tokens, he either leaves the game or takes a loan of tokens from another player.
- In Israel, the letter shin is usually replaced with the letter peh for the word "poh" to create the phrase "a great miracle happened here."[7]
- In Yiddish, the dreidel is also called "fargle" and "varfl." In Israel, the Hebrew term "sevivon" (from the root meaning "turn around or spin") is used.
- In a popular variation of the game, any player whose dreidel lands on Nun loses and is out of the game.
- In one variation of the game, you may match the pot when Shin appears, and put one token in when Nun appears.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Dreidel
- A few dozen tokens: buttons, coins, or small candies
- You can also use a bunch of gelt (chocolate coins)
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Wash Smartwool Socks Posted: 21 Dec 2019 08:00 AM PST Smartwool is an American clothing company that specializes in clothing made out of Merino wool. Their socks are well-known for holding up over time while remaining comfortable and easy to care for. You can wash your Smartwool socks by hand or machine. If you wash them by machine, turn them inside out before washing them and use the lowest temperature setting at the lowest available speed. To dry your socks, you can either air dry them or throw them in the dryer. If you use the machine to dry them, use the lowest temperature available. [Edit]Using a Washing Machine - Turn your socks inside out. Reach inside each of your socks and grab them from the inside of the fabric. Pull the edge of each sock away from you while holding the inside to turn them inside out. Since the fabric on the inside of your socks is more resilient than the stitching on the outside, turning your socks inside out when you wash them will preserve them for a longer period of time.[1]
- Using a washing machine is the preferred method according to the manufacturer.
- Throw your socks in with your standard laundry or wash them alone. Feel free to simply wash your Smartwool socks alongside your other laundry. There's no need to separate them or wash them alone. However, you can wash your Smartwool socks separately if you don't have any other laundry that you want to wash on the gentle cycle in cold water. Place your Smartwool socks in the washing machine.[2]
- If you choose to wash your socks with your other laundry, consider putting them in a laundry bag to avoid getting the fabric caught on a zipper or button.
- You should still separate your laundry. Wash white socks with white clothing and darker socks with your colors.
- Add mild laundry detergent to your machine. If you're washing your socks with other clothes, use the measuring cap that comes with your laundry detergent to determine how much soap you need to add to the drum. If you're washing the socks on their own, add of mild detergent to your washing machine depending on how many pairs of socks you're washing.[3]
- Do not use bleach or fabric softener. Bleach will permanently destroy your socks. Fabric softener will coat the Merino fibers with residue, which will make them less breathable in the future.
- Set your washing machine to the gentle cycle and run with cold water. Turn the dial on your washer to the "gentle" setting. On some machines, this setting is labelled "delicates" or "low power." Turn the dial until the indicator is pointing at the lowest-power setting available. Turn the knob to set your water temperature to cold. Run your washing machine to wash your socks.[4]
- If you wash your Smartwool socks on high heat, you may shrink them.
- There are other Smartwool products, like some of their sweaters, that can be washed with warm water. Read the tag on each of their individual products to find care instructions.
[Edit]Handwashing Your Socks - Wash your socks by hand if you're worried about shrinking or unraveling. While machine-washing Smartwool socks is perfectly fine, there's always some risk involved when it comes to using a washing machine or dryer. Handwashing your socks ensures that your socks maintain their shape and that no loose threads unravel in the machine.[5]
- This is a good option if you have other small, wool products that require hand washing and you want to clean all of your wool at once.
- Fill a sink with cold water and get a mild detergent. Clean your sink with soap and a sponge if it's dirty. Rinse the soap away and plug your drain with the stopper. Turn the cold water on. Fill your sink with enough water to completely cover your socks. Get a mild laundry detergent to clean your socks.[6]
- Depending on how many socks you're washing, your bathroom sink may be too small for this and you may need to do this in the kitchen. If your kitchen sink isn't big enough either, grab a clean bucket to do this.
- You can use a wool or cashmere shampoo if you want, but there's nothing wrong with using a mild laundry soap.
- Mix your soap into the water and submerge your socks. Once you sink is filled, pour of your mild detergent into your sink. Mix the soap into the water by hand or use a spoon to mix it. Take your socks and submerge them in the water.[7]
- Push your socks down a little if they're floating near the surface to ensure that every part of your socks gets wet.
- Massage your socks gently for 30-45 seconds then let them soak. Softly rub your socks by hand, using both hands to squeeze and massage your socks. Rub them for 30-45 seconds to remove any dirt or grime that is embedded in the fabric. Let your socks soak in the soapy water for 4-5 minutes to completely clean them.[8]
- Rinse the soap out of the socks using cold water. After your socks have soaked, pull the plug at the bottom of the sink to drain the excess water. Turn the cold water on and run your socks under the stream for 2-3 minutes. Turn your socks around in the water to rinse every section of the fabric. Squeeze the socks gently to remove the excess water.[9]
- Do not wring the water out of your socks. Squeezing or pulling on your socks can cause them to lose their shape.
- If you're handwashing your socks, air drying is the best option when it comes to drying them. The entire point of handwashing is to preserve the shape and fabric, and machine drying is more likely to damage your socks.
[Edit]Drying Your Socks - Lay your socks flat on a drying rack to preserve their shape. Whether you used a machine or washed your socks by hand, air drying your socks is always the safest option. Take your Smartwool socks and set them out on a drying rack so that they're laying entirely flat across the rack. Let your socks air dry for 3-4 hours or until they're entirely dry.[10]
- How long it takes to air dry your socks depends entirely on how wet they are when you set them out and what the air circulation in the room is like.
- Air drying your socks is better for the environment. You'll also preserve energy by not using the drying machine!
- Tumble-dry your socks on the lowest setting available, if in a rush. While air drying is safer for your Smartwool socks, they can easily be dried in the dryer. After handwashing or machine-washing your socks, place them inside of the dryer. Set the dryer to the lowest temperature setting and lowest tumble speed by turning the corresponding knobs. If you only have automatic settings on your particular machine, use the "delicates" or "low heat" setting to dry your socks.[11]
- You can dry the socks on their own or with your other wet laundry.
- Don't forget to clear out your lint trap before you turn your dryer on!
- Avoid hanging your socks vertically or letting them hang. If you're air drying or storing your socks, always lay them flat. If you hang them over a shower rod or use clothespins to hang them on a clothing line, gravity will put strain on the fabric of your socks while they dry. This can cause them to lose their shape over time as you continue to hang them as they dry.[12]
[Edit]References |
| How to Fix Gluey Mashed Potatoes Posted: 21 Dec 2019 12:00 AM PST Mashed potatoes are a great side dish for a variety of meals, but they're a little less tasty when they have a gluey and gummy consistency. Unfortunately, there's no magic ingredient that can return your potatoes to a fluffier state—but that doesn't mean your current batch has to go to waste! Instead, make a new, smaller batch of fluffier mashed potatoes to mix in with the gluey ones. If you're looking for a less time-consuming process, transfer your gluey mashed potatoes to a baking dish and sprinkle them with a few ingredients to make a gratin. With a little extra time and creativity, you'll be ready to serve a delicious potato side dish! [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Fluffy Mashed Potatoes - of potatoes
- of cold water
- of butter
- of cream or milk
[Edit]Mashed Potato Gratin - Mashed potatoes, gluey
- ¼ cup (25 g) of breadcrumbs
- ½ cup (50 g) of Parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ cup (55 g) of butter
[Edit]Mixing with Fluffier Potatoes - Use a mix of russet and Yukon Gold potatoes when making a new batch. Select a combination of waxy and starchy potatoes to give your dish a good consistency and taste. While waxy potatoes are known for their flavor, you don't want them to be the only potato in your recipe, seeing as they don't mash as well. Use about of potatoes per of gluey mashed potatoes.[1]
- More often than not, gluey mashed potatoes are caused by a large amount of waxy potatoes being overworked and mashed in the cooking process.
- Cook the potatoes in simmering water to make them soft. Rinse, scrub, and peel your potatoes, then place them in a pot. Pour around of cold water over the potatoes before turning the stovetop onto high heat. To prevent any parts of the potato from undercooking or overcooking, make sure that all parts cook evenly and simultaneously. Avoid getting the water to boiling level—instead, let it rest at a high simmer.[2]
- While it might seem like a time-saver to heat your water ahead of time, you might end up making your potatoes have an inconsistent texture.
- Mash the potatoes by hand to prevent them from becoming gummy. Use a potato masher to prepare your potatoes gently but effectively. If you use a food processor, you'll end up releasing too much starch into the potatoes, which makes them extra gluey and gummy. Instead, try and mash the potatoes by hand using slow, methodical movements to break the potatoes down.[3]
- Add cream and butter to the potatoes after they're at room temperature. Let of butter and cream or milk sit outside of the refrigerator before mixing them into the mashed potatoes. If you add the ingredients while they're still cold, they'll lower the temperature of the potatoes, which makes it more difficult for the dairy products to get absorbed. Instead, wait 15-30 minutes so these ingredients can be room temperature before you mix them into the dish.[4]
- You can also warm up the butter and cream on the stovetop before adding them into the mashed potatoes.
- Mix the new mashed potatoes into the gluey batch to even out the texture. Stir the new and fluffy mashed potatoes into the pre-existing batch. Use a spatula to combine both batches, stirring them together with slow, careful movements. Make sure that you've thoroughly mixed the potatoes together before serving them.[5]
- If you stir the potatoes too much, they might end up becoming gluey again.
- If you don't want to be overloaded with mashed potatoes, try mixing gluey and fluffy mashed potatoes together at a 2:1 ratio.
- If you don't mind having extra potatoes and want to remove any trace of a gluey consistency, try mixing the 2 batches at a 1:1 ratio. Experiment until you find a consistency that you like!
[Edit]Creating a Gratin - Preheat the oven to . Let your oven warm up while you get the rest of your ingredients together. Additionally, set your oven rack to the center so the dish can cook properly without burning.[6]
- If the rack is too high, then your potato dish might overcook.
- Smooth the gluey potatoes in a thin layer across an oven-safe casserole dish. Use a large spoon or rubber spatula and spread the potatoes over the bottom of a baking dish. Try to get the potatoes in an even layer so they can cook properly, and so the texture isn't inconsistent.[7]
- Try to use a pan that's at least deep.
- Sprinkle some bread crumbs over the dish to add some flavor. Take ¼ cup (25 g) of breadcrumbs and layer them over the mashed potatoes. While you don't want them to be overpowering, you want enough to be added so there's an even layer over the gratin. To save time, try using store-bought breadcrumbs for this part of the process.[8]
- Use ¼ cup (25 g) of breadcrumbs for every 2 large potatoes used.[9]
- If you have some extra time on your hands, consider making your own breadcrumbs.
- Cover the mashed potatoes in a thin layer of cheese. Take ½ cup (50 g) of grated Romano or Parmesan cheese and spread it over top the potatoes and breadcrumbs. Try to sprinkle the cheese in as even a layer as possible so all parts of the gratin are equally cheesy.[10]
- Use ½ cup (50 g) of grated cheese for every of potatoes.[11]
- If you'd prefer a different flavor, try using ½ cup of a different grated cheese, like cheddar.
- Top the potatoes evenly with ¼ cup (55 g) of butter. Slice a few chunks of room temperature butter over the potatoes, breadcrumbs, and cheese. Cut off small, chunks of butter and scatter them on the surface of the gratin. While you won't cover the entire dish, aim to spread these spots of butter out so the dish is more evenly covered. [12]
- Use ¼ cup (55 g) of butter for every of potatoes used.
- You can also melt the butter if you'd like to spread it more easily.[13]
- Bake the dish for at least 10-15 minutes, or until the top is golden-brown. Set the gratin on the middle rack of the oven and let it cook. If possible, keep the oven light on so you can see how cooked the dish is. If the gratin doesn't look golden-brown after 10-15 minutes of bake time, place it in the oven for an additional 5 minutes. Once the dish looks crisp on the top, remove it from the oven and let it cool.[14]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Mixing with Fluffier Potatoes - Pot
- Potato masher
- Rubber spatula
[Edit]Creating a Gratin - Baking dish
- Rubber spatula
[Edit]References |
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