| How to Make Easy Caramel Posted: 24 Mar 2022 09:00 AM PDT Homemade caramel is made with just three main ingredients: sugar, butter and cream. How could it not be delicious? To make it, you cook the ingredients together until the mixture thickens and turns a rich amber color. Try it either on the stovetop or in the microwave. If you want to customize your caramel, try flavoring it with cinnamon, cayenne pepper, bourbon or apple juice. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]On the Stovetop - 1 cup white sugar
- 6 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
[Edit]In the Microwave - 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup half and half
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
[Edit]Cooking it on the Stovetop - Measure out the ingredients before you start cooking. Timing is very important when making caramel, since it can easily burn, and you don't want to have to search around your kitchen for a measuring cup while your sugar is boiling.
- Place a heavy-bottomed saucepan on the stove. A two to three quart pan works well. Be sure to use one that's nice and heavy, so it cooks the sugar evenly.
- Caramelize the sugar. Pour the sugar into the saucepan, and turn the heat to medium high. Start whisking it immediately so it doesn't burn, and keep going as it comes to a boil and begins to melt. Stop stirring once all of the sugar granules have melted.[1]
- Be sure to stand there stirring the entire time, since sugar can quickly overcook once it's caramelized.
- If you cook it too long, the caramel will come out hard or even burn.
- Add the butter to the pot. Be careful, since this will cause the mixture to froth up. Continue to whisk until the butter is completely melted.
- Take the pan off the heat. Wait 10 seconds or so for the mixture to stop boiling.
- Stir in the cream. Pour it slowly into the pan, and continue whisking until the caramel is smooth.
- Add the salt and vanilla, and other flavorings. Sprinkle the salt over the caramel and pour in the vanilla, along with any other flavorings you want to use. Stir until they're well incorporated throughout the caramel.
- Return the pan to heat and bring the caramel to a boil. Reduce it to a simmer and cook for one more minute before removing it from heat.
- Allow it to cool. Once it is no longer piping hot, transfer to a heat-proof jar or container. Store your homemade caramel in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
[Edit]Cooking it in the Microwave - Melt the butter in a glass microwave-safe bowl. Cook it on high for about 30 seconds. If it needs more time, keep cooking until it's entirely melted.[2] Remove it from the microwave.
- Don't use plastic when you're cooking caramel in the microwave. The sugar gets very hot, and can destroy the bowl and cause a mess. Be sure to always use glass instead.
- Mix in the brown sugar and heavy cream. Pour them into the same bowl with the butter. Use a spoon or whisk to mix well.
- Microwave on high for a minute and a half. This should be enough time for the mixture to get hot and bubbly. If it needs more time, cook it for an extra thirty seconds.[3]
- Be careful not to cook it for too long, or it could overheat and cause a mess in your microwave.
- Handle the bowl very carefully once you add the sugar, since it will get quite hot.
- Add the salt and vanilla, and other flavorings. Sprinkle the salt over the caramel and pour in the vanilla, along with any other flavorings you want to use. Stir until they're well incorporated throughout the caramel.
- Allow it to cool. Once it is no longer piping hot, transfer to a heat-proof jar or container. Store your homemade caramel in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
[Edit]Trying Delicious Variations - Make apple caramel. For a fantastic fall treat, try flavoring your caramel with apple. Using either the stovetop or microwave method, alter the recipe as follows:[4]
- Reduce the half and half to 1/4 cup
- At the same time as you add the salt and vanilla, add 1/4 cup apple cider and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Make bourbon caramel. Simply replace the vanilla in your caramel recipe of choice with the same amount of bourbon. The deep amber bourbon complements the flavor of the sweet caramel perfectly, and it's delicious paired with vanilla ice cream.[5]
- Make salted caramel. This is a popular variation on caramel sauce that takes the flavor up a notch. Instead of adding just a pinch of salt, add a teaspoon of salt for every cup of sugar you use. There's something about the sweet-and-salty flavor combination that makes it taste that much better.
- Make spicy caramel. Everything's better with a little kick, right? To give your caramel sauce a memorable twist, add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon at the same time you add the salt.
- Another way to make salted caramel is to add 1 tablespoon fleur de sel or sea salt after the cream has been incorporated.
- After refrigeration, heat up the caramel to make it easier to pour.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Heavy-bottomed saucepan
- Measuring cups
- Whisk or wooden spoon
- Heat-proof container
[Edit]References [Edit]Related wikiHows
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| How to Clean Bathroom Grout Posted: 24 Mar 2022 01:00 AM PDT Unsure how to clean your stubborn shower or tile grout? The important thing to remember when it comes to cleaning grout is that you should always start with the mildest cleaning product and only work your way up to harsher cleaners if necessary. This may mean some extra time, but it could help preserve the life of your grout for another couple years as some harsh cleaners can damage grout. This wikihow article will teach you how to clean bathroom grout. [Edit]Quick Solutions - Break the grout down with baking soda and vinegar. Take two tablespoons (30 g) of baking soda and add enough water to make a thick paste. Dip a clean toothbrush or grout brush into the paste, and then use the toothbrush to scrub the grout with the paste.[1]
- For the best results, use a new toothbrush with hard bristles, and scrub the grout in a circular motion, rather than back and forth.[2]
- When you have finished scrubbing the grout, use a spray bottle to spray the area with a half-and-half mixture of vinegar and water.[3] Let it bubble for about half an hour.
- Use the toothbrush to scrub the baking soda paste and vinegar into the grout again. Rinse the area with clean water.
- Try scrubbing with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. In case the baking soda and vinegar mixture didn't to the trick, try hydrogen peroxide instead of vinegar. Make a thin paste with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, and use the toothbrush to scrub the paste into the grout.[4] Pour on some additional peroxide if necessary.[5] Rinse with warm water when you're finished.
- You should never mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide,[6] so clean the area well and wait a couple days before trying this method.
- If the hydrogen peroxide doesn't remove all the dirt and grime, it will at least improve the appearance of the grout by removing stains, and will kill any mold that's present.[7]
- Give borax and lemon oil a try. In a small bowl, mix together ¼ cup (63 g) borax, ½ teaspoon (3 ml) lemon oil, and enough liquid soap (such as Castile soap) to make a paste.
- Use your toothbrush to scrub the paste into the grout, and then rinse with warm water.
- Steam clean the grout. One effective and environmentally friendly way of cleaning grout is to attack it with a steam cleaner.[8] Outfit your steam cleaner with a thin and pointed nozzle, and a brush attachment if it's available. Aim the nozzle at the grout lines, apply continuous steam, and follow the grout lines with the steamer.[9]
- Even if the steam cleaner doesn't get the grout perfectly clean, it will clean it somewhat, and help loosen the rest of the dirt and debris to make it easier to clean with other products. [10]
[Edit]Cleaning With Stronger Products - Try oxygen bleach products. This is another name for sodium percarbonate, which is a compound made of hydrogen peroxide and soda crystals.[11] Brand-name products include Clorox, OxiClean, Oxi Magic, and Bio Kleen. Mix the product with water as per the manufacturer's instructions. Apply to the affected area and let it sit for up to an hour before scrubbing and rinsing.[12]
- Be sure to use these products in a well-ventilated area, and avoid contact with your skin. Always wear gloves to use these products.
- Always spot test commercial products in a small area on your grout to make sure the product won't discolor, erode, or damage your grout.[13] Don't use any sort of bleach product on colored grout.
- Use a commercial grout cleaner and whitener.[14] There are many cleaners out there that are designed specifically for grout, and most of them can be purchased at hardware stores. Be sure to always follow the manufacturer's instructions for use, and follow all the safety precautions. Commercial grout cleaners include:
- Zep
- Goo Gone Grout
- Outrageous
- Tilex Tile and Grout
- Beware of chemical combinations. In case you find one chemical hasn't worked and you want to try another, be sure to wash the area and wait a couple days before trying something new. Just like hydrogen peroxide and vinegar can combine to form peracetic acid,[15] so too can commercial cleansers mix to form poisonous gasses, caustic liquids, and noxious fumes.[16]
- Stain the grout as a last resort. For dirt and stains that just won't come clean from your grout, there are colorants you can apply to cover the stains and make your grout look like new. The area should be nice and clean, but if not give it a once over with your favorite cleaner and let the area dry overnight.
- Pour a small amount of grout colorant into a container. Dip a clean toothbrush or grout brush into the color and apply it to the grout using even, back and forth strokes.[17]
- Remove the excess with a paper towel, and allow to dry as per the manufacturer's instructions.
[Edit]Keeping Grout Clean - Wipe it with alcohol. One of the easiest ways to prevent grout from getting dirty is to clean it often with something that will prevent mold and mildew from forming in the first place. One such substance is alcohol. Once a week, wipe the grout down with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol using a clean cloth.[18]
- Spray it with a mold inhibitor. There are several spray solutions you can make yourself using a clean spray bottle, including vinegar and water, tea tree oil and water, and hydrogen peroxide. Two to three times a week, spray the grout after a bath or shower with a solution of:
- Half-and-half vinegar and water.[19] However, be aware that overuse of vinegar on grout can cause erosion over many years.[20]
- Water and 15 to 20 drops of tea tree oil. Shake well before each use.
- Pure hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle.[21]
- Dry the grout after every use. Removing the excess water from tiles and grout after a shower or bath is one of the easiest ways to keep grout looking new. After each use, wipe the shower walls or bath down with an old towel or squeegee.[22]
- Keep the bathroom dry. Another great way to keep mold and mildew from growing in your bathroom is by removing the water that allows it to grow.[23]
- If your bathroom isn't equipped with an exhaust fan, remove moisture from the air after every shower or bath by opening the window and blowing a stand-up fan out the window.
- Seal the grout. Grout should be re-sealed every few years.[24] Sealant can be applied to the grout lines with a paint brush. Allow it to dry, and then remove sealant from the tiles by wiping them in a diagonal direction with a damp cloth or sponge.[25]
- One applied and cleaned, allow the sealant to cure for about three to four hours.
- Never clean grout with a brush that has metal bristles, as it will wear away the grout over time.[26]
- Some people recommend bleach to clean grout, but it can actually turn your grout yellow and cause it to erode, so it should be avoided, or only tried as a last resort.[27]
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| How to Get Wavy Hair Overnight with a Bun Posted: 23 Mar 2022 05:00 PM PDT Taking just a few minutes to put your hair up in a sock bun before you go to sleep will result in pretty, wavy hair when you wake up in the morning. Make sure to dampen your hair before you put it up so that it it dries overnight in a curled position. When you take it down your hair will look naturally wavy. - Cut off the toe of an old sock. Any cotton tube sock will do. If you have very long hair, you'll want a bigger sock, so choose a men's sock if you can locate one. Then simply snip off the toe using a pair of scissors. You now have a tube of cloth that's open at both ends.[1]
- Roll up the sock. Start by folding the end over, then fold it over again. After a few folds you should be able to roll the sock to form a tight donut shape. This is all you need for beautiful beachy waves in the morning.
- If you're having trouble rolling the sock, try fitting it over a banana or another long object. Starting at the top, roll the sock down until it forms a donut shape, then slip it off the banana.
- Gather your hair into a high ponytail.[2] Flip your head upside down and use a comb to help gather your hair at the very top of your head. The higher, the better, since you'll be sleeping with the bun and it'll be more comfortable at the top of your head than in the back. Use a ponytail holder to secure the ponytail in place.
- Spritz your hair with water. Your hair needs to be damp, but not sopping wet, in order for this technique to work. Soaking wet hair won't fully dry during the night, so just spritz your hair with water slightly dampen it. If you just took a shower, wait until your hair is 80 percent dry before you put it up.
- It's handy to keep some water in an old spray bottle so you can evenly spritz your hair to dampen it.
- If you don't have a spray bottle, use your fingers to flick some water onto your hair, then use a comb to distribute it evenly.
- Place the sock over your ponytail. Pull your ponytail through the hole in the "donut" and slide it down a few inches. Make sure no strands of hair are left out; everything should be pulled through the center of the sock.
- Tuck the ends of your ponytail over the sock. You're going to roll the sock down your ponytail in order to create a bun, so start by tucking the ends of your ponytail all around the sock. The entire sock should now be covered by the end of your ponytail.
- Roll your ponytail into a bun. Using both hands, roll the sock, and your hair with it, slowly toward your head. Keep going until your entire ponytail is rolled up in the sock, and the sock is resting against your head at the base of your ponytail. You now have a pretty sock bun. You could wear it out of the house if you felt like stopping here!
- If your hair feels dry at this point, give the bun an extra spritz. Remember not to get it too wet, though, or it won't dry during the night.
- Sleep on it. Go to bed as normal, keeping the bun intact all night long.[3] If you positioned it right at the top of your head, it shouldn't be too uncomfortable. If it feels too tight, try loosening the area at the base of the bun, rather than taking the whole thing out.
- Undo the bun in the morning. Unroll your hair and the sock, then set the sock aside. Take out your ponytail holder, too. Let your wavy hair cascade down your back and around your shoulders. Your look is complete![4]
- Use hairspray to make the curls/waves last longer.
- Use bobby pins if your bun does not stay up.
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