| How to Grow Onions in Water Posted: 21 Sep 2020 05:00 PM PDT Growing onions in water is a great way to reuse kitchen scraps, not to mention a fun activity that helps kids learn about vegetables. This method offers a front-row seat to plant growth, as you can watch the roots extend into the water and observe the sprout growing out of the onion top. The assembly of this project is super simple; all you need are some onions, a clear glass, and some fresh water. While onions can grow this way for a few weeks on your windowsill, you'll want to eventually replant the bulbs in soil in order for the vegetable to grow to maturity. [Edit]Growing Bulb Onions in Water - Fill a clear glass or jar with water. Pour tap or filtered water into your clear jar until it is almost entirely filled with water.[1]
- Be sure to use a glass or jar that has a smaller circumference than the onion so that the onion doesn't fall into the water.
- Poke four toothpicks, equally spaced, around the circumference of an onion. In order for the onion to sit above the water without falling in, you will need to make sure the vegetable is supported. Make sure the toothpicks are placed just slightly below the middle of the onion.[2]
- Preferably you'll want to use an onion that has already sprouted. An onion that has already begun the growth process will have an easier time growing in water.
- If you want to forgo the toothpick method, you can fill a clear glass jar nearly to the top with small rocks or pebbles. Then, place the onion on top of the pebbles, and fill the jar with water ensuring that just the roots and base of the onion are covered with liquid.[3]
- Set the onion, roots down, on top of the glass with the toothpicks resting on the rim. The roots and base of the onion should be immersed in water. This way, the roots will be able to drink up water so the onion can grow, while the rest of the onion will be surrounded by air to avoid rotting.[4]
- Take time to make sure the toothpicks are properly supporting the onion so it doesn't fall into the water. At this point, you may need to push the toothpicks in further to be sure the onion doesn't get wet.
- Place the glass and onion onto a windowsill that gets plenty of sunlight. Onions need a lot of sunlight to grow. You also want to make sure you don't forget about the onion, so find a nice sunny windowsill in a busy part of your home.[5] Now, all that's left is to wait and watch your onion to grow. Over a week, you will see the roots elongate into the water, and a green sprout will rise from the top.
- Regularly change the water before it gets murky or smelly to prevent rotting. To do this, gently lift out the onion, replace the water, and place the onion back onto the top of the jar.
- Cut the entire green sprout from the top of the onion to use as an edible garnish. A beautiful green sprout will begin to emerge from the top of the onion within a few days. The entire sprout is edible and has a deliciously sharp and herbal taste. Take scissors and cut the green sprout from the top of the onion, then cut it into thin strips. Add the cut pieces to soup or salad as a tasty garnish.[6]
- Plant the onion in soil when you notice a flower stem emerging from the top. Growing an onion in water is a really fun way to watch the early steps of vegetable growth. However, the onion cannot grow this way forever. After a few weeks, a flower stem will emerge. At this point, you can either plant the entire onion in soil, or just discard the onion.[7] After the onion has started to flower, it can no longer grow in water and must be potted in soil.
[Edit]Reviving Green Onion Scraps in Water - Slice whole green onions where the white stalk meets the green leaf. Perhaps you already have a pile of cut green onions that you were going to throw away. If so, great! Just use those. If not, grab a fresh bunch of green onions (also known as scallions or spring onions) and carefully use a knife or scissors to make the proper cut.[8]
- At this point, you should have a piece of white bulb around the size of an adult's pinky finger. It's okay if there is a bit of green left as well.
- Use the discarded green onion bits as an ingredient. Green onions make an excellent garnish on top of dishes like ramen noodles or tacos. Slice it thinly and sprinkle over your meal to brighten up the dish wish color and flavor.
- Place the green onion scraps root down into a clear glass. Find a glass or jar that is relatively narrow, so that the green onion scraps will be supported and held up vertically.[9] These will be growing on your windowsill for a while, so you may want to use a decorative glass or a vase that will look nice in your kitchen.
- You can use a rubber band to tie the bunch together to provide additional support.
- One of the best parts about growing kitchen scraps is being able to watch them grow, so be sure to use a clear vessel so you can watch the magic happen.
- Add enough water to cover the roots of the green onion stalks. You want the roots to be completely immersed in water, but pouring water a little higher up will make sure the green onions don't use up all the water before you have time to refill it.[10]
- You can use tap or filtered water for your green onions, just make sure it is clean, fresh water.
- Place the glass filled with green onions on a sunny windowsill. Now, all you need for your green onions to grow is sunlight and time.[11]
- Placing the green onions on a windowsill in your kitchen (or somewhere you walk past often) will give them enough light to grow while making sure you don't forget about them.
- Replace the water every 3 to 5 days. The onions will drink up the water you've provided them, so keep a watchful eye on the water level so that they don't dry out.[12] After a few days, remaining water can get murky or develop a bad smell. If that happens, dump it out and refill your glass with clean water.
- Remove the green onions when they have tripled in size. Within a few days, you will notice that green stalks are sprouting out of the white bulbs. Once they grow to about long, remove the stalks from the water.[13]
- Cut the green sprigs off the stalk or plant the entire bulb in soil. The green onions will only grow so tall. Once the green stalk is or more, you can either cut off the green stalk and use the green onion as an ingredient, or you can plant the entire thing in soil (roots, white bulb, and green stalk) and continue to watch it grow.[14]
- If you cut the green part off the stalk at this point, you can place the bulb back in clean water, and it will regrow. Although this will work once or twice, within a few cycles the plant will stop growing.[15]
- Use fresh onions and avoid onions that have mold or that have started to rot. Since the onions are submerged in water, any mold or rot will continue to spread throughout the rest of the bulb.
- Frequently prune the onion leaves when it is long to promote growth to new sprouts.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Growing Bulb Onions - An onion (sprouted are best)
- Toothpicks or small rocks
- A clear glass or jar
- Clean water
[Edit]Reviving Green Onions - A bunch of green onions
- A narrow glass cup
- Clean water
- A knife or scissors
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Decorate with Leaves Posted: 21 Sep 2020 09:00 AM PDT Leaves are a great tool for decorating, especially during the months when they're changing colors. You might use fake leaves to decorate your home or opt for real ones that you pick off of your trees. Use the leaves to create centerpieces for tables, make wall hangings, or even paint them to change their color or add flair. With just a little bit of time and some creativity, you can easily turn regular leaves into great decorations. [Edit]Creating Decorations for Tables - Put tall branches of leaves in a vase for a bold decoration. Fill a vase with fake branches that have leaves attached, or find your own branches from a tree in your yard. Choose leaf branches that have lots of autumn colored leaves on them like reds, yellows, or oranges for the best-looking arrangement.[1]
- Place the vase full of leaves in the center of your table for a great centerpiece.
- Choose branches that are covered in all green leaves, if desired.
- Write names on leaves to use them as place cards. Use a metallic paint pen in gold, silver, or another bold color to write people's names on each leaf. Set each leaf in front of a seat at the table to use them as creative place cards for holiday meals or other communal gatherings.[2]
- Write the name on the prettier side of the leaf.
- Pick out leaves that are sturdy and flat so they're easier to write on.
- Choose autumn leaves in yellows or oranges for a pop of color.
- Use leaves and Mod Podge to create a decorative bowl. Decide how big you'd like your leaf bowl to be and find a bowl at home this same size. Flip over this bowl and cover the bottom and sides with wax paper or cling wrap. Attach leaves to the sides of the bowl using clear craft glue or Mod Podge, using a paint brush or foam brush to apply the glue. Once the leaves are dry, remove the paper or cling wrap to reveal your sturdy leaf bowl.[3]
- Pick out a combination of red, orange, yellow, and green leaves for an autumn-inspired bowl.
- Don't put liquids or foods in this bowl. Place things like napkins, balls, pinecones, or other decorative items in the bowl.
- Label foods or drinks with leaves for a creative display. This works well if you have a buffet-style gathering or just want to label a few items that look similar such as types of wine. Use a permanent marker or metallic paint pen to write the names of each food or drink on a separate leaf before placing the leaf in front of its corresponding item.[4]
- Choose leaves that are light-colored (like yellow, orange, or red ones) so the writing is visible if you use a dark colored marker.
- Attach leaves to mason jars to make creative candle holders. Pick out colorful, bendable leaves in any colors that you'd like—the thinner the leaf, the better. Hold a leaf to the side of the mason jar and cover it with clear glue or Mod Podge. Attach more leaves to the outside of the jar, wait for it to dry, and place a candle in the jar.[5]
- Choosing leaves that bend easily will help them cling to the curves of the jar.
- Use a paint brush or foam brush to spread a layer of clear glue or Mod Podge under and over the leaves to keep them in place.
- This is a great autumn decoration that you can display on your dining room table or end tables.
- Cover the jar with green leaves for a decoration you can use during any season.
- Create a garland out of leaves for a tabletop runner. String together many leaves by creating a small hole in each leaf near the stem and sliding ribbon, twine, or clear cording through it. If you don't want to string the leaves, place them so they're overlapping one another, piling them up so they create a runway down the center of the table.[6]
- Use a hole punch for uniform holes.
- Create an autumn garland using colorful leaves, or opt for a spring or summer garland by choosing green leaves only.
- Attach leaves to pumpkins for a fun autumn decoration. Pick out colorful fall leaves that bend easily and that can wrap around the pumpkin's sides. Use Mod Podge or clear craft glue to attach the leaves to the pumpkin with a paintbrush, brushing the glue onto the back of the leaf before placing it on the pumpkin.[7]
- If you cover the whole pumpkin with lots of leaves, apply a coat of Mod Podge or glue over all of the leaves once they're placed so they don't move.
[Edit]Hanging the Leaves - Create a wreath out of leaves to hang on a door. Purchase a foam or other type of wreath from a craft store that has a flat surface for you to decorate. Attach your leaves to the wreath using hot glue, applying a dab or two of the hot glue to the back of the leaf before securing it on the wreath. Layer the leaves over each other slightly for a beautiful decoration.[8]
- Pick out different colored leaves in red, orange, or yellow for a vibrant wreath or opt for a solid-colored wreath instead.
- Use fake leaves or real leaves, depending on your preferences.
- Frame leaves to hang them on the wall as art. Choose a leaf or two that you love, whether real or fake, and place them in a picture frame. Set a piece of paper in the frame as a background for the leaf, or pick out a double-sided glass frame for the leaf so you can see it from both sides.[9]
- Hang your framed leaf on the wall, or prop it up on a stable surface.
- Frame a beautiful red leaf for a fall decoration or opt for a leaf you found in the spring to frame.
- Put leaves in clear holiday ornaments to hang them on trees. Purchase clear balls that you can open up and put things in. Either fill the ball with small leaves or pick out one statement leaf that bends and place it in the ornament. Secure the clear ball's two pieces together and hang it up on a holiday tree or around your house as a decoration.[10]
- Clear fillable balls can be found at your local craft store.
- These clear balls fasten together easily, usually by twisting.
- Cut leaves into designs or shapes for a creative look. Pick out bendable leaves to use, as these will hold their shape when they're cut the best. Cut the leaves into things like hearts or butterflies before placing them in a frame to hang on the wall or dangling them from a string as a delicate decoration.[11]
- Use regular scissors to cut the leaves, being careful not to rip them as you make your design.
- Use colorful autumn leaves for the prettiest designs.
- Cover a large initial with leaves to hang on a door or wall. Purchase a display initial from your local craft store—this could be the initial of your first name or your family's last name. Cover the initial with Mod Podge or craft glue before placing the leaves all over it so they're slightly overlapping. Apply a final layer of Mod Podge or glue all over the leaves to keep them in place.[12]
- Use a paint brush or foam brush to apply the Mod Podge or glue to the initial.
- Cover the initial with lots of different colored leaves for a beautiful autumn decoration.
[Edit]Covering Leaves with Paint or Glitter - Cover leaves in glitter for a sparkly decoration. Pick out thick leaves that can hold their shape and use a paint or foam brush to cover them with craft glue. Cover one whole side of the leaf in a thin layer of the glue and sprinkle glitter over top of it so there isn't any glue showing. Wait for this side of the leaf to dry before doing the other side.[13]
- Hang these leaves from a ribbon or string, use them in a centerpiece, or spread them across a table for a unique decoration.
- Let the glue and glitter dry on the leaf for several hours.
- Spray paint leaves gold or silver for a classic look. Pick out leaves you'd like to cover and place them on a piece of plastic or newspaper. Shake a can of spray paint and apply the paint to the leaves in even, thin layers. Hold the can roughly from the leaves to make sure you get great coverage.[14]
- It's best to use spray paint outside or in a very well-ventilated area.
- You could turn the leaves into a mobile once they're dry or use them as a centerpiece.
- Turn ordinary leaves into watercolor art for a pastel decoration. Apply a white primer or regular white paint to the leaves first, especially if they're dark in color, so the watercolors will show up well. After the primer or white paint dries, use a paint brush to create watercolor paintings out of your leaves, mixing colors if you'd like.[15]
- Paint each leaf a separate color, or blend the colors so you have pastel rainbow leaves.
- Use a regular paint brush to apply the primer or white paint first.
- Add patterns to leaves using paint to let the natural leaf color show. Instead of completely covering your leaves with paint, add a few dabs of paint to them so their true leaf color shines through. Paint a zig-zag pattern, polka dots, stripes, or any other type of pattern that you'd like using different colored acrylic paints.[16]
- For example, add pops of color to brown leaves using blue, yellow, or pink paints.
- Use these leaves as filling in a vase or to decorate for a fall holiday.
[Edit]References |
| How to Cook Ribs in the Oven Posted: 21 Sep 2020 01:00 AM PDT If you're intimidated by the time and skill it takes to grill ribs, cook them low and slow in the oven. Season pork or beef spare ribs with your favorite dry rub and then bake them for several hours at very low heat. Once the meat is tender and almost falling off the bone, you can brush the ribs with barbecue sauce and stick them under the broiler for a few minutes to give them a rich brown color. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Oven-Roasted Pork Ribs - of pork spareribs or baby back ribs
- 1/4 cup (60 g) of Dijon mustard
- of liquid smoke
- 1 cup (145 g) of spice rub
- 1 cup (288 g) of barbecue sauce, plus more for serving, optional
Makes 4 to 8 servings [Edit]Oven-Baked Beef Ribs - of beef ribs
- 1 tablespoon (10 g) of onion powder
- 1 tablespoon (10 g) of garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons (25 g) of brown sugar
- of oil, such as vegetable or olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) of salt
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) of chili powder
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) of smoked paprika
- Barbecue sauce for serving
Makes 2 to 5 servings [Edit]Making Oven-Roasted Pork Ribs - Line a baking sheet with foil and put a wire rack on top. It's important to use a rimmed baking sheet so juices from the meat don't run over the side of the sheet. The wire rack should easily fit in the foil-lined sheet.[1]
- Remove the membrane from the ribs and lay them on the wire rack so the meaty side faces up. Get out of pork spareribs or baby back ribs. To remove the tough membrane, slide the tip of a knife under the thin membrane between the bones and turn the knife vertically to loosen the membrane a little. You can remove the knife and then pull the membrane away while your other hand holds the ribs in place. Arrange the ribs in a single layer on the wire rack.[2]
- Discard the membrane once you pull it off the ribs.
- Brush the ribs with Dijon mustard and liquid smoke. Pour of liquid smoke into a small bowl and add 1/4 cup (60 g) of Dijon mustard. Stir the mixture until the liquid smoke is incorporated. Then, dip a barbecue brush in the mixture and spread it over both sides of the ribs.[3]
- This wet seasoning will help the dry rub stick to the ribs.
- Coat the ribs with a dry spice rub. Buy or make 1 cup (145 g) of barbecue spice rub and sprinkle it evenly over both sides of the ribs. Use your fingers to gently massage the spice into the rib meat.[4]
- You can prep the ribs and season them up to 1 day before baking them. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook them.
- Broil the ribs for 5 minutes. Turn your broiler on and heat it for a few minutes before you place the sheet of ribs about below the heating element. Broil them so the sugar in your barbecue spice rub begins to bubble and the meat begins to look brown.[5]
- If your broiler has a high or low setting, turn it to high.
- Bake the ribs at for 1 1/2 to 3 hours depending on the type. There's no need to preheat the oven before you put the sheet of ribs in it because they're baking for so long. If you used baby back ribs, bake them for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. If you're making spareribs, cook them for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.[6]
- You can also make this with country-style ribs and cook them for 2 to 3 hours.
- Brush the ribs with sauce during the last 30 minutes of cooking. If you'd like saucy ribs, pour 1 cup (288 g) of your favorite barbecue sauce into a bowl and brush the ribs with it. Cover the ribs with foil and let them finish cooking.[7]
- If you'd only like to dry season the ribs, you can skip this step.
- Remove the ribs and rest them for 10 minutes. To tell if the ribs are finished cooking, insert a knife into the thickest part of some rib meat. The knife should slide in easily if the ribs are done. If they aren't, cook them for another 15 minutes and check them again. Take the finished ribs out of the oven and leave them covered for 10 minutes before serving them.[8]
- The ribs should reach at least with an instant-read meat thermometer once they're done.
- The juices will redistribute within the meat while the ribs rest.
- Cut the ribs between the bones and serve them with extra sauce. Take off the aluminum foil and move the ribs to a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut between each bone so you have individual ribs to serve.[9]
- Refrigerate the leftover ribs in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Keep in mind that the ribs will become more flavorful the longer they're stored.
[Edit]Making Oven-Baked Beef Ribs - Pull the membrane from the ribs set the ribs aside. Get out of beef ribs and slip a knife under the thin membrane that covers the ribs. Then, turn the knife and wiggle it so the membrane loosens and you can grip it with 1 hand. Pull the membrane away while you hold the ribs in place with your other hand.[10]
- You can throw away the membrane once you've pulled it off the ribs.
- Combine the spices with oil in a small bowl. Put all of the dry spices into a bowl and stir them until they're well mixed. Then, stir in of oil to create a crumbly spice rub. For the spice mix, you'll need:
- 1 tablespoon (10 g) of onion powder
- 1 tablespoon (10 g) of garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons (25 g) of brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) of salt
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) of chili powder
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) of smoked paprika
- Cover the ribs with the rub. Scatter all of the dry rub over the ribs and use your hands to massage the spices into the meat. Remember to season both sides of the ribs.
- If you find this too messy, try wearing food-safe gloves while you season the ribs.
- Rest the ribs for up to 2 hours at room temperature. Set the ribs aside so they tenderize and become flavorful before you begin cooking them. If you'd like to prep them more than 2 hours in advance, refrigerate the ribs in an airtight container and chill them overnight.
- Keep in mind that 2 hours at room temperature is the maximum you can leave the ribs out before bacteria starts growing. If you're in a hot climate, you shouldn't leave them at room temperature for more than 1 hour.
- Wrap the ribs in aluminum foil and put them on a baking sheet. Tear off several large pieces of aluminum foil and lay a rack of ribs on each piece so the meaty side faces up. If the foil is large enough, you can wrap the ribs with the same piece of foil. If not, lay another piece of foil over the ribs so you can completely enclose them. Place the wrapped ribs on a baking sheet.
- Use a rimmed baking sheet which will catch juices that might leak out of the ribs.
- Keep the ribs in a single layer when you wrap them and place them on the sheet.
- Cook the ribs at for 3 to 4 hours. Put the sheet with the foil-wrapped ribs in the middle of the oven and bake them until the meat is completely tender. To check if the ribs are done, insert a fork or knife into the meat. The ribs are done if the fork or knife slides in and out easily or they reach at least with an instant-read meat thermometer.
- Since the meat will be cooking for so long, there's no need to wait for the oven to preheat before you add the ribs.
- You might even see the meat falling off the bone once the ribs have finished cooking.
- Unwrap the ribs and broil them for 5 minutes. Preheat the broiler to high for a few minutes while you remove the ribs from the oven and carefully open the foil packets. Keep the ribs on the baking sheet and put them about below your broiler's heating element. Then, broil the ribs for about 5 minutes so they brown a little.
- Cut the ribs and serve them with barbecue sauce. Transfer the ribs to a cutting board and use a sharp knife to carefully cut the meat in between each bone. Put the ribs on a serving plate and set out plenty of barbecue sauce and napkins!
- You can refrigerate leftover ribs in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Avoid cooking frozen ribs without defrosting them first. To defrost them, put them in the refrigerator overnight.
- If you want to give your oven-baked ribs a smoky flavor, you can toss them on the grill for 5 minutes on each side.
- You can easily reheat leftover ribs in the oven or in the microwave.
[Edit]Warnings - If you cover the ribs with aluminum foil, use caution when you open the foil since steam will escape which could burn you.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Oven-Roasted Pork Ribs - Rimmed baking sheet
- Wire rack
- Aluminum foil
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Small bowl
- Spoon
- Barbecue brush
- Knife and cutting board
[Edit]Baked Beef Ribs - Measuring cups and spoons
- Knife and cutting board
- Aluminum foil
- Rimmed baking sheet
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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