| How to Use Acai Juice Posted: 23 Aug 2021 05:00 PM PDT You've probably seen acai berry products popping up in supermarkets or natural grocery stores. This popular South American berry is rich in antioxidants, although more research is needed to prove a lot of the proposed health benefits. Since acai juice has a dark chocolate and blueberry taste, it's great in a lot of drinks and desserts. Check out some of our suggestions for how to use this trendy drink. [Edit]Drink acai juice out of the glass or bottle. - Acai juice is sold straight or blended with other fruit juices. On its own, acai juice isn't very sweet, which is why you may be able to find it blended with blueberry juice or apple juice. Enjoy acai juice straight or over ice.[1]
- If the flavor of acai juice is too strong for you, it's totally fine to dilute it with water until it tastes good to you.
- If you're pregnant or nursing, avoid using any acai products since more research is needed to determine if it's safe.
[Edit]Blend a fruity acai smoothie. - Acai is fantastic with berries! Pour of acai juice into a blender and add 1 cup of berries like blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries. You can use frozen berries or add a handful of ice cubes to make a thicker smoothie. Just blend the mixture and enjoy, or add any of these ingredients for extra flavor before blending:[2]
- 1 1/2 tablespoons (10 g) of cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons (24 g) of natural sweetener, sugar, or honey
- 1 tablespoon (8 g) of cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon (6 g) of turmeric
- of apple cider
- of pasteurized liquid egg white, optional
[Edit]Shake up an acai Pisco sour. - Adding acai takes your cocktail to the next level. To make 2 cocktails, fill a shaker with ice. Pour in the juice of 1 lemon, 1 tablespoon (12 g) of sugar, of Pisco, and of sweetened acai juice. Then, shake until the cocktail is cold and pour it into 2 martini glasses. If you like, garnish the drinks with a lemon twist.[3]
- Want something more tropical? Combine of orange juice with of coconut rum, of acai juice, of guava nectar, and of pineapple nectar in a cocktail shaker with ice.[4]
[Edit]Whip up an acai mocktail. - Who says you can't enjoy an acai cocktail without booze? For a totally unique drink, fill a chilled cocktail shaker or blender with the following ingredients and combine them. Then, pour it into ice-filled glasses and garnish the drinks with orange slices. For 2 drinks, you'll need:[5]
- of acai juice
- of beet juice
- of apple cider vinegar
- The juice from half of a lemon
- of orange juice
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) of chopped fresh ginger
[Edit]Mix a cooling pitcher of spritzer to serve a group. - Start by pouring of cranberry juice into a large pitcher. Stir in a bottle of acai juice blend along with of lime juice. Then, slowly pour in of ginger ale. Ready to serve? Put crushed ice in your glasses before you fill them with spritzer.[6]
- For a fun garnish, stick a fresh lime slice on the rim of each glass.
- Play around with different flavors. Substitute lemonade for the cranberry juice or use citrus soda instead of ginger ale, for instance.
[Edit]Heat acai juice to make syrup. - This tart syrup elevates any drink or dish. Pour of acai juice and of maple syrup into a pot. In a small bowl, whisk 2 tablespoons (14 g) of tapioca flour or cornstarch with of water. Pour it into the pot and heat the mixture over medium-low heat until the syrup thickens. Then, let your syrup cool completely before you stir it into a drink.[7]
- Stir a few spoonfuls of your acai syrup into lemonade, seltzer water, soda, milk, tea, or coffee for a totally unique beverage. You could even pour it over yogurt or ice cream!
[Edit]Stir acai juice into caramel sauce for a decadent treat. - Drizzle it over puddings, custards, fresh fruit, or ice cream. Heat 1/4 cup of storebought or homemade caramel sauce on high heat. Then, stir in of hot acai juice into the caramel and stir really well. Turn off the burner and stir in a small squeeze of lemon.[8]
- Want to make your own quick caramel? Put 1/4 cup (50 g) of sugar into a small pot along with of water and turn the burner to high. Cook the caramel without stirring it until it's light brown.
[Edit]Freeze acai smoothies in a popsicle mold. - Mix up a batch or two of your favorite acai smoothie mix. Pour the mixture into a popsicle mold and pop the mold in the freezer. Chill the popsicles for at least 3 hours or until they're hard. Then, enjoy![9]
- For even easier popsicles, pour sweetened acai juice right into the molds and stick them in the freezer. It's as easy as that!
[Edit]Drizzle salad with acai dressing. - This dressing has a bold, tangy flavor that adds pizazz to a salad. Heat of acai juice with 2 teaspoons of Dijon (10 g) and 1 tablespoon (20 g) of raspberry jam over medium heat until the jam melts. In another bowl, whisk in 1 tablespoon ( 7 g) of cornstarch with of apple cider vinegar and whisk it into the acai mixture once it simmers. Keep cooking and whisking the dressing so it thickens. Then, whisk in of water and cool the dressing before you use it.[10]
- Taste the dressing and add as much salt and pepper as you like.
- If the acai dressing is still too thick for your liking, thin it with extra water.
- Feeling more decadent? Fill your blender with vanilla or chocolate ice cream and blend in acai juice until your acai milkshake is as thin as you want
[Edit]Warnings - More research is needed to learn about acai juice's potential health benefits. Let your doctor know if you use acai juice and you become pregnant, are nursing, or are scheduled for an MRI since the juice may not be safe or might affect the test results.[11]
- Get emergency medical attention if you think you're having a severe allergic reaction to acai. Signs include wheezing, chest tightness, fever, itching, cough, blue skin tint, seizures, or swelling.[12]
[Edit]References |
| How to Grow Mint from Cuttings Posted: 23 Aug 2021 09:00 AM PDT You don't need a green thumb to grow a healthy mint plant. Because it grows quickly and is so resilient, it's perfect for a beginner gardener. In fact, you may end up with too much mint since it spreads so easily! To help you get started with your own fresh mint plant, check out our answers to the most common questions about mint propagation. [Edit]How do you take a mint cutting? - Cut a piece of mint. You can get a cutting from a friend or cut a stem from a mint that you already have. Just be sure to use a healthy stem that has bright green leaves on it. Cut the stem just below a node which is where the plant branches off. Then, trim off all of the leaves near the bottom and leave around 5 or 6 at the top.[1]
- If your cutting has too many leaves, it will take longer for the cutting to start growing roots since it's putting its energy into all of those leaves.
[Edit]Can you use store-bought mint? - Of course—store-bought mint works just fine! The key thing is that you use a mint cutting that's healthy. The stem should be vibrant and green while the leaves shouldn't be dried or blackened.[2]
- If you know you're going to be growing mint from some of your store-bought mint, why not get the cutting started as soon as you bring it home? You can enjoy the mint leaves that you trim off of the cutting and you won't accidentally use up all of your mint before you start the cutting.
[Edit]How do you root a mint cutting? - Put the cutting into a glass of cool water. Stick the cutting into the water so the bottom are submerged. The water keeps the cutting from drying out so roots can start growing.[3]
- Use a clear glass so you can easily see when the plant begins to grow roots.
- Set the glass in a sunny spot and let the roots grow for 1 to 2 weeks. Place your glass of water in a sunny window and change the water every day so the stem stays healthy. Check your cutting every few days to watch for tiny white roots growing from the bottom.[4]
- Mint really likes temperatures between . Place your cutting in a warm room, patio, or garage so it grows quickly.
- Plant your mint cutting in soil so a new plant can grow. When you see small, white roots coming from the base of the stem, you know it's time to plant! Fill a plant pot with peat-free multipurpose compost or potting soil. Then, use your fingers to make a deep hole and put your cutting into it. Fill in the hole with soil and press down gently. Give your plant a drink of water and let it grow![5]
- Don't forget that your mint loves sunshine. Put your plant pot in a sunny spot in your house or set it outside where it will get lots of natural sunlight.
[Edit]How often should I water my mint plant? - Water your new plant whenever the soil starts to feel dry. To check, use your finger to dig into the soil around the mint. If it feels like it's drying out, water the plant until the soil is moist. If it still feels moist, wait a day or two and check the soil again.[6]
- If your plant is in a container, the pot should have drainage holes so excess water won't be trapped. If there's too much water around the roots, they can rot.
[Edit]How deep will the mint's roots go? - Mint roots grow deep! The roots also spread if you plant a cutting directly into the ground and new plants can quickly take over the space. This is why it's important to put the mint cutting into a container. Choose a pot that's around tall so the roots have room to grow.[7]
- To give your mint plants space to grow, plant the cuttings apart in rows that are apart.
[Edit]Do I have to transplant the mint cutting to soil? - No—you can grow the cutting in water until it stops putting on growth. If you love the look of plants growing in water or you just don't want to mess with soil, you can leave the cutting to grow in the water. Just change the water every day so the mint stays healthy. The mint will stop growing, though, so pay attention to yellowing leaves or stems. This means it's time to grow a new cutting or transfer your cutting to soil.[8]
- This is a cool way to grow a small amount of mint, especially if you've got space in a kitchen window and want a little herb garden.
[Edit]Why is my mint cutting not growing? - It may not grow if the cutting wasn't healthy to begin with. Look at the leaves of the cutting and the original mint plant, if you still have it. If you spot rust- or orange-colored patches, the plant might have mint rust. This is a fungal disease that can easily spread to other plants. If your cutting has mint rust, it won't put on healthy growth.[9]
- The best thing you can do is to start with a new, healthy stem.
- The stem might be rotting because the water needs to be changed. It's super important to change the water in the cutting glass every single day. If you don't, the water can turn cloudy as bacteria grow. This bacteria can sicken the mint stem so it starts looking dark or slimy. If this happens, you've got to start with a healthy cutting and a new glass of water.
- You don't need to use fancy water—tap water is fine as long as it's fresh!
- There are lots of fun mint varieties to try, each with its own unique flavor. Look for spearmint, lemon mint, pineapple mint, and chocolate mint the next time you're getting cuttings.
[Edit]Warnings - Mint can spread quickly in your garden—some gardeners consider it to be invasive! If you don't want the mint taking over your other plants, plant your cutting in a container instead of in a garden bed.[10]
[Edit]References |
| How to Break the Routine in a Long Distance Relationship Posted: 23 Aug 2021 01:00 AM PDT No matter how long you've been in a long distance relationship, you're probably missing your partner a lot. It's hard to feel close to them when they're so far away, but no need to fear—if you're wondering how to break the routine, we're right there with you. We know how important it is to find new ways to feel excited about your relationship, and we've put together some ideas for you to try! [Edit]Plan creative virtual dates. - Try something new and different for your next virtual date. There's nothing wrong with defaulting to the tried-and-true, but spicing up your usual virtual dinner date or movie night could help shake things up if it's starting to get predictable. Ultimately, what counts as creative will change depending what you and your partner normally tend to do—as long as it's something new and exciting, you're set![1]
- For instance, do something silly like taking a personality test together, or something romantic like going virtual stargazing.
- If you're both into music, make a playlist together, attend a virtual concert, or put on your own karaoke night.
- Go on a virtual vacation and explore a bucket list destination.
- Including friends on a virtual group date can be a fun way to switch things up!
[Edit]Send an unexpected gift. - A surprise gift can make your partner's day! You have lots of options: go with something you already know they love, like their favorite book or a box of chocolates—or the gift could be something small but thoughtful, like a trinket that made you think of them when you saw it.[2]
- If your partner is sick, send a care package with things like tea or vitamins.
- If your gifts are usually more serious, like a handwritten love letter, shake things up (and make your partner laugh) by sending them a silly poem or funny meme.
- If it's difficult for you to mail or ship physical items, send virtual gifts like a cute eCard or a subscription to a streaming service.
[Edit]Learn something new together. - It keeps things fresh and provides a new way to bond. Don't let the distance stop you from getting into an exciting new activity, and maybe even picking up some useful skills along the way. Instead of circling back to the same topics or conversations, you and your partner will get to try something new and bond through sharing the experience![3]
- For example, sign up for a virtual baking class together. Take pictures of your results and even make it a fun competition to see who does best.
- If both of you want to get into reading, start your own book club—take turns picking out books and chat about what you loved (or hated)!
- Set a new goal together, like learning a new language or losing weight by the end of the year.
[Edit]Watch something new. - Exploring new content will give you more to talk about together. If you're bored of rewatching the same things that the two of you always do, look for a movie or show that neither of you have seen before. The classics can be comforting, but exploring an entirely different genre or kind of video content can start exciting new conversations. You might even get hooked along the way![4]
- If you always watch rom-coms, for instance, suggest an action movie instead.
- Pick out something random on Netflix and hit play, or give a random YouTube channel a chance.
[Edit]Send each other voice memos. - Your partner will love hearing your voice, and vice versa. Voice memos are an excellent way to add variety to phone calling or texting, and they're also great because you can save and listen to them again whenever you want. If you're having a long day or are busy with work, a thoughtful voice message can really brighten your mood.[5]
- You can record something simple but sweet, like saying "I was thinking about you today," or something longer, like a passage from their favorite book.
[Edit]Try growing plants together. - This can be a really fun and cute experience. It's super heartwarming to witness your plants grow day by day as a result of your hard work, especially when you know your partner is seeing the same thing on their end. Plus, the plants create a visible sign of your relationship and love.[6]
- If your plants have flowers, you could press them to make keepsakes, or even mail them to each other.
- You could make it a friendly competition to see whose plant grows faster!
[Edit]Play online drinking games. - You don't have to be in the same room to get tipsy together! Who says getting drunk on camera can't still be fun? You'll have a great time and probably end up having some memorable late-night conversations.[7]
- Play Truth or Shots, Never Have I Ever, or even dare to start a round of Power Hour.
- You don't even have to play a specific drinking game—you could put on your favorite comedy, for example, and take a shot every time you can't stop yourself from laughing.
- If you're feeling something more lowkey, just kick back with your favorite drink—wine, champagne, beer, anything goes!—and slowly get woozy with your partner.
[Edit]Spice things up sexually. - Keep the spark alive with some long-distance sex hacks. Though you may be physically apart, there are still tons of fun ways to get each other excited through the screen—from classics like sexting and apps, to more innovative options like remote-controlled toys, kissing simulators, or even writing erotica for each other![8]
- When sexting your partner, try naming specific body parts, teasing or hinting about the fun you're having, and providing descriptive visuals.[9]
[Edit]Make a surprise visit or meet them halfway. - Shake things up with an unplanned appearance! Though scheduled visits are important for staying in touch, sharing some more spontaneous time and hanging out freely can be a great way to mix things up and bring excitement into both of your lives.[10]
- Just make sure you're aware of your partner's schedule and pick an appropriate time. You wouldn't want to drop in while they're busy with work, or catch them off guard.
- Consider letting them know a couple days in advance if you're worried about the timing. You'll still keep some of the surprise aspect this way.
- A spontaneous plan meet up somewhere in between your respective cities can be fun, too! Enjoy the new environment, do a little sightseeing, and create some special memories.[11]
[Edit]Start a reunion countdown. - Set up a visual reminder to track the remaining days. It might seem like forever until you'll be reunited, but watching the number get smaller each day might make the waiting more bearable, and help you miss your partner just a little less.[12]
- There are lots of ways to do this: download a customizable countdown app, change your phone's lock screen each day to display the number, or mark each new number down on your calendar.
- If you're a little tired of the old routines but not sure what page your partner is on, communicate with them! Together, you can decide how you want to change things up and find options that are perfect for both of you.
[Edit]References |
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