| How to Freeze Basil Posted: 15 Jul 2022 05:00 PM PDT Basil is a rich source of nutrients and adds amazing flavor and scent to a number of dishes, from Caprese Salad to Chicken Parmesan.[1] Freezing fresh basil allows you to keep it on hand for your favorite recipes all year round. To freeze basil, blanch the leaves, flash freeze them separately, then combine and freeze them long-term in an airtight, freezer-safe container. If you don't need to preserve individual leaves, you can also freeze basil without blanching and flash freezing it, or you can freeze basil in puréed form. [Edit]Freezing Puréed Basil - Pinch or snip off each basil leaf and discard the stems. You won't need the stems when you freeze the basil. If you harvest basil from your garden during the middle of the growing season, snip or pinch off the top 5 or 6" (12.7 to 15.2 cm) so that you leave some stems and leaves to keep on maturing.
- Rinse the basil under cold, running water. You can also put the basil in a bowl of cold water and let it soak. Drain the water from the basil. Put the basil in a colander and let it drain thoroughly.
- Gently pat the basil dry with paper towels. Basil is fragile, so pat the leaves gently or let them rest nestled between paper towels until they are dry.
- Place 1- 2 handfuls of basil in your food processor. Fill up the food processor bowl, but don't pack the leaves too tightly.
- Use the "pulse" setting to chop the basil. This will result in coarsely chopped leaves; if you want to make a paste, use the manufacturer's suggested setting on your food processor. This should only take a few seconds. The more finely you want to chop the basil, the longer you should process it.
- Drizzle olive oil over the basil while you are chopping it. Olive oil prevents the basil from turning dark or even black when it is frozen and gives it a richer flavor. You should use about 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil for each batch of basil. Using olive oil is optional. If you'd like to skip it but still freeze the basil in ice cube trays, you can add enough water to form a slush in the processor instead.[2]
- Spoon the chopped basil into freezer containers or ice cube trays.[3] If you use ice trays, you can transfer the basil cubes to larger containers after freezing them for 12 hours.
- Use your frozen basil. You can leave them in the freezer for months and take them out and use them for recipes whenever you like, especially in the winter months.[4] They'll separate from each other easily so you won't have to pull them apart. If you're putting them into a heated dish, then just throw in the frozen leaves and wait for them to thaw -- you won't have to thaw them on your own.
- If you have too much frozen basil, give it away to your friends -- they'll love you for it.
[Edit]Freezing Fresh Basil - Remove all of the leaves from the stems. You can clip or pinch the leaves away from the stems.[5]
- Thoroughly rinse the leaves in cold water. Use a salad spinner to do the job done more effectively. If you don't have one, washing the leaves in a bowl of water and using paper towels to dry them will work too.
- Place some ice in a bowl of cold water.
- Boil a pot of water. It should be big enough to hold the basil leaves.
- Add the basil leaves to the water and blanch them for 5-10 seconds. Be very vigilant to make sure you don't blanch them for longer than this. Move the pot to a different burner so it cools off as quickly as possible.
- Place the leaves into the ice water using a slotted spoon. Do this as quickly as you can so that the basil stops cooking.
- Lay the leaves on a paper towel. This is the part that takes the longest, so be patient. Just use your hands to individually lay out each leaf and then use a paper towel to pat them dry. You can let the leaves dry for 5-10 minutes if you like.
- Place the leaves on cookie sheets or plates. Lay them out individually so they don't touch each other too much. You may find that you have to use two pans lined with cookie sheets.
- Flash freeze the leaves. Place the cookie sheets with the leaves in the freezer and wait until the leaves are fully frozen. Then, remove them from the freezer.
- Place the leaves in a container. You can use a zip-lock bag, Tupperware, an empty milk carton, or another container that you can seal easily.[6]
[Edit]Quickly Freezing Fresh Basil - Clip the leaves from the stems.
- Rinse the leaves thoroughly.
- Spread them on a surface and air dry them for at least 30 minutes. You can just use the counter, a cookie sheet, or a plate. You can use a paper towel to pat them dry to speed up the process.
- Place them in a storage bag. You can loosely layer the leaves in the bag, making sure that they are fully dry so they don't stick together. A zip-lock bag, Tupperware, or any container with a seal will do.
- You can use a finer setting on your food processor if you want to make a basil paste that you can freeze and use for pesto. When you have the consistency you want, simply put the paste in a resealable plastic freezer bag and lay it flat in your freezer. You can break off any size of frozen basil when you want to make pesto.
- Plan on using about 3 tbsp. (45 ml) of olive oil for each full batch of basil in your food processor.
- Freeze whole or hand-chopped basil leaves quickly by placing them in water in ice cube trays. The leaves will turn dark after they freeze, but they will still be flavorful.
- Ice cube trays work very well for frozen basil; each cube is about 1 tbsp. (15 ml) so it takes the guesswork out of your recipes when you are making sauces and soups. (If the recipe calls for 3 tbsp. (45 ml) of basil, simply toss 3 cubes into the pot.)
[Edit]Warnings - Be sure to thoroughly coat the basil leaves while you are chopping them in the food processor. The oil will help the basil retain flavor and moisture, as well as keep the leaves from turning dark.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Paper towels
- Kitchen shears (optional)
- Colander
- Spoon
- Food processor
- Olive oil
- Ice cube trays
- Resealable plastic bag
- Salad spinner (optional)
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References
[Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Grow Flowers from Seed Posted: 15 Jul 2022 09:00 AM PDT Using seeds is a cost-effective way to grow flowers. You can start growing flower seeds indoors, in a planter, or outside in your garden or flower bed. Moisture, sunlight, and the proper soil are the most important components to growing a flower from a seed. Once the seedling becomes a flower, you should care for it like you would any other flower. [Edit]Planting Seeds Outside - Till the soil before planting the seeds. Use a rake, tiller, or pitchfork to dig under the soil. Turn the soil over until you've loosened all the soil in your flower bed.[1]
- You may also want to incorporate compost in the soil to promote flower growth.
- Sprinkle or bury the seeds, per the instructions. The information on the seed packet will explain if the seeds have any special germination needs. Soft-shelled seeds should be pressed lightly into the soil, while hard-shelled seeds should be completely covered with soil. Read the instructions to see which method you should use.[2]
- Mark the planting area so you know where you planted the seeds. This is useful when planting a wide variety of seeds or plants. The visual reminder will also let you know whether the flowers are growing or if your seeds failed to germinate.[3]
- Not all seeds will become flowers.
- Labeling will also prevent you from mistaking your seedlings for weeds.
- Mist the seedbed to keep the soil moist. Lightly mist your flowerbed with water so that the soil is moist. The soil should always be moist while the seeds are germinating. To see whether the soil is actually moist, press your finger down into your flowerbed. If the soil feels dry under the surface, you know you need to water your seeds.[4]
- Wait for your flower(s) to germinate. The flowers should germinate within 3 weeks to a month. If you don't notice that they are starting to grow, you may have to lay down more seeds.[5]
- Water your flowers. If it rains, you shouldn't have to water your flowers. However, it's important the soil under the flowers stays moist. If you have a period of time with no rain, water them so that the top remains moist.[6]
- Prune dying flowers and leaves. Pruning the flowers after they have bloomed will encourage new growth. Use a set of hand pruners and clip away old or damaged flower petals or leaves.[7]
- Use fertilizer if desired. An organic fertilizer and promote the health of your flowers and will brighten their color. Look for a fertilizer designed for your specific type of flower, and sprinkle it on the surrounding soil. Read the instructions before you use the fertilizer so that you don't over fertilize them, which could kill them.[8]
- A balanced 5-10-10 fertilizer can be used on the widest variety of flowers.
[Edit]Germinating Seeds Inside - Get a container that has drainage holes in it. If you want to grow multiple flowers, you can purchase an indoor planter that has spaces for more than one flower. It's important that the container has drainage holes because overly saturated soil will inhibit the seed's growth.[9]
- If you don't want to buy a planter, you can punch holes in the bottom of an egg carton and use that instead.
- Put a rag or cloth under the container to prevent leaks.
- Fill each section with a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite. Combine the three different types of soils together in equal parts to create a well-drained soil high in organic material. Pour your flower container ¾ of the way up with this mixture.[10]
- Bury or sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil, depending on their species. Harder seeds should be covered with an organic material like vermiculite or sphagnum moss, while softer seeds should lay on the top of the soil. Read the seed packet that came with your seeds to determine if you should bury them under the soil or leave them on top of it.[11]
- Water the seeds. Lightly sprinkle water on top of the soil, but don't add too much or you could wash away smaller seeds. You can do this by sprinkling the water with your hand, or slowly pouring the water into the container from a small saucer. Either way, the soil should be moist but the seeds should still be intact.[12]
- Cover the container with plastic wrap. Plastic wrap or a sealed lid will trap moisture and help the seeds germinate. Poke a couple of holes in the top of the plastic wrap so that the plant can breathe.[13]
- You can also wrap the planter in a plastic bag for a similar effect.
- Move the planters to a warm area of the house. Germinating seeds do best in temperatures of . Move the planter to a warm area that gets plenty of sunlight. Alternatively, you can place the planter on an artificial heat source, like the top of a refrigerator or near the oven.[14]
- Move the planter before you use the oven or heat could damage the seeds.
- Harden off the seedlings if transplanting them outside. If you plan on transplanting your seedlings outdoors, harden them off by leaving them outside under a shaded area for 7-10 days. This will acclimate them to the change in temperature. Some flowers have an intolerance for the cold and should be kept indoors. [15]
- The seed package should give you a range of temperatures that the flower will thrive in.
- If a flower is cold-resistant, it should be labeled as hardy.
- Tender flowers are less resistant to cold and should always be in an area that's over .
- Transplant the seedlings outside, if desired. Position a small spade away from the seedling. Gently dig around the seedling, making sure not to sever any of its roots. Then, pull the seedling out of the planter, with the soil around its roots, and place it in a well-drained soil in your garden.[16]
- Monitor the seedlings to make sure that they don't die after the transplant.
- Each packet of seeds will have planting instructions and an estimated time of germination. This will indicate approximately how long it should take for your seed to sprout its first stem. Use this timeframe as your seed grows to determine its health.[17]
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Open a Stuck Window Posted: 15 Jul 2022 01:00 AM PDT It can be quite frustrating when you want to open a window and find that the window won't budge. Windows can get stuck for a number of reasons: wood frames may have warped in wet weather, the house may have settled or someone may have painted the frames shut. With patience and a few handy techniques, most stuck windows can be opened. [Edit]Prying a Window Open - Examine the window. Look at both sides of the window, interior and exterior.
- Make sure it is a window that is meant to be opened. Some new office and home windows are not meant to be opened. If there are no hinges or the window is a single pane with nowhere to slide, it likely does not open.
- Make sure that the window is not nailed or screwed shut for security or energy conservation reasons.
- Check for any staples around the interior of the window where plastic sheeting may have been fastened. Carefully remove them with needle-nose pliers.
- Make sure any locks are disengaged.
- Look to see if the window frame has been recently painted.
- Decide which direction the window is supposed to open: up, outward or sideways.
- Loosen any paint that is sealing the window shut. Removing dried paint that collected between the window and frame will free the window and allow it to be opened.[1]
- Use a razor knife to cut along the edge of the window and the frame. Cut across all four sides of the window. You may need to check the exterior of the window in addition to the inside to make sure that it isn't painted shut on both sides.
- Insert a putty knife between the window and the frame. Wriggle the knife back and forth to loosen any dried paint between the window and the frame. Go around the entire edge of the window to loosen all sides.[2]
- Hammer the edge of the window to break the seal created by paint. Use a wood block to cushion the blows from the hammer and prevent making dents in the wood of the window. Be careful to hit gently so as not to break the window. Hammer the wood portion of the window and not the glass.
- Push on the window with your hands. Try to loosen the window one side at a time. Then try to push the window down as if you were closing it. If it moves, make sure the window is straight in its frame and slowly attempt to open it.
- Push each corner to see if there is any movement.
- Press on the window gently to open it a little at a time.
- Force the window up with a pry bar. Place a small block of wood on the window frame to give your pry bar more leverage. Gently force the window up with the pry bar.
- Reposition the pry bar along the bottom edge of the window to lift both sides of the window.
- Using a pry bar may damage the wood of the window or window frame, use this method very carefully as a last resort.
[Edit]Lubricating a Stuck Window - Rub the end of a candle along the channel where the window opens. Spread wax from the bottom of a candle into the window channel. The wax will help allow the window to slide up and down and prevent future sticking.[3]
- Remove moisture from the window frame. Wood may swell due to humidity causing windows to become stuck. Drying out the wood may help the window open more easily.[4]
- Run a hair dryer along the edges of the window frame for several minutes. After drying the wood, try opening the window.
- Place a dehumidifier in a room with stuck windows. Lowering the humidity in the room should help reduce the swelling of the window frames.
- Use a wood block and hammer to widen the window channel. If the window is in a wooden frame, place a wood block along the channel where the window opens and hammer it gently to depress the wood. Make the channel wider to allow the window to move more freely.
- Spray a lubricant such as WD-40 along the edge of the window. Be careful when using spray lubricants as they may discolor some surfaces or damage some types of paint.
- If the window opens outward on hinges, spray the hinges with the lubricant for smoother operation.
- Open the window repeatedly. After you get the window to open one time, open and close it several times to loosen the action of the window. If it still sticks, check the frame to ensure that it isn't warped or damaged from water. Feel for areas where the window meets some resistance and use a utility knife or sandpaper smooth it out.
- Window frames with severe water damage may need to be replaced entirely.
[Edit]Removing a Window Sash - Remove the window stops. The stop is a small piece of trim in the window frame that holds the movable sash in place. Examine the stop to determine how it is attached to the window frame.[5]
- Use a utility knife to remove any paint that is sealing the stop to the window frame.
- Remove any screws that are holding the sash in place.
- Gently pry the stop out using a flathead screwdriver or paint scraper.
- Be careful when removing the stops as they can snap easily. You may need to purchase a replacement stop to reinstall the window.
- Unscrew any hardware on the sash. Remove the locks or latches used to close the window. Check for any additional hardware from curtains or other additions that may be attached to the window sash or frame.
- Tilt the top of the bottom section of the window inward. Remove the bottom sash first by leaning it in towards the inside of the house. As you lean it inward, pay attention to the ropes connecting the window to the pulley inside the frame.[6]
- Remove the rope from one side of the window by pulling the knot down and out from the side of the window sash.
- Remove the other rope from the other side in the same manner.
- Smooth the edges of the sash. Once the sash is removed, sand the edges to remove any paint or swollen wood causing the window to stick. Make sure to sand evenly to avoid creating additional bumps or uneven surfaces which may cause additional sticking issues.
- Use a hand planer on the sides of the window if your sash has swelled.
- Remove the upper sash. In double hung windows the upper sash can be removed as well. Remove any paint that is sealing the window shut to be able to move the sash.[7]
- Use a razor knife to cut around the edges of the window inside and outside.
- Slide the upper sash down to reveal the pulleys in the side of the window jamb.
- Pull the right side of the window in to free it from the jamb.
- Remove the rope connecting the sash to the pulley inside the window frame and jamb.
- Pull the left side of the window out and remove the rope.
- Sand the edges of the upper sash. Check the edges of the sash for any paint or warped wood. Sand the sash smooth to allow for better operation.
- Sand the track inside the window frame. Remove any dried paint that has built up along the window sash with a scraper and sand the track smooth.
- Replace the window sashes. Reverse the steps used to remove the window sashes to put them back in place.
- Attach the ropes to the upper sash and slip it in place one side at a time.
- Attach the ropes to the lower sash and place the bottom half in first. Push the upper half in place.
- Slide the window stop back in place and attach it with screws or finish nails.
- A cooking spatula or butter knife with a stiff metal blade can be used in place of a putty knife.
- Work slowly and carefully rather than applying a lot of force quickly.
- If you can't get a pry bar between the window bottom and the frame put two small screws in the frame near the bottom of each corner, leaving the head of the screw sticking out a bit. Use these to put the pry bar under and pry up on. This can damage the frame a bit.
- If your window operates with a crank, spray WD-40 or another lubricant on the frame and let it sit for 5 minutes. Have a helper carefully open the window while you crank it. Lubricate any of the other hinges while the window is open.
- There is a special paint removal tool for windows called a window zipper, which you can buy in hardware stores. It may damage the paint on the nearby frame and windowsill but is a good option if there are multiple stuck windows.
[Edit]Warnings - Wear work gloves and safety goggles when trying to force open windows as the glass may break.
- If a house has settled a lot, or there has been damage from a storm or other disaster the window frame may be too warped to be able to open the window safely. The whole window may need to be removed and the frame repaired or replaced.
- Getting one corner of a window too much higher than the other when forcing open a window will probably result in cracking the window glass.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Thin blade putty knife
- Thin pry bar
- Hammer
- Wood scraps
- Work gloves
- Safety goggles
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Tabasco Sauce Posted: 14 Jul 2022 05:00 PM PDT Tabasco sauce is easily made from tabasco chili peppers, vinegar, and salt. The taste of the sauce will vary depending on where the peppers are grown and the quality of the vinegar used. In order to make tabasco sauce, combine the ingredients, cook the sauce, then strain and store the sauce. [Edit]Ingredients - 1 pound (.45 kg) of fresh tabasco chili peppers
- 2 cups (474 ml) of vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of salt
[Edit]Combining the Ingredients - Choose high quality white vinegar that's been distilled. Since this recipe has so few ingredients, it's important to use the best quality available to you. Avoid off-brand jugs of white vinegar and opt for something quality in a glass bottle. Make sure it's white vinegar that's been distilled.[1]
- Select fresh, ripened tabasco chili peppers without blemishes. Choose peppers that are bright red and evenly colored. Avoid gnarled and blemished peppers. If your local market doesn't sell tabasco chili peppers, or if you grow other kinds of hot peppers yourself, you can experiment with any of those.[2]
- If you're experimenting with different peppers, choose spicy varieties. Ideally, they should be red, but you can experiment with color, too.
- Good alternative hot peppers candidates are serrano, habanero, and cayenne varieties.
- Be careful when handling and chopping hot peppers. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to put on a pair of disposable gloves before you begin. The pepper juice is very strong and can sting your skin. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the peppers, as well. Avoid touching your eyes and face while handing the peppers.
- Remove the stems from the peppers. Wash the peppers thoroughly with cold water to remove any dirt or debris. To remove the stems, simply cut off the top of the pepper, including the stem, with a sharp knife.[3]
- Chop them up by hand or in a food processor. Place all of the peppers, with the stems removed, into a food processor or blender. Turn the machine on and process them until they are roughly chopped.[4] If you don't have either of those appliances, you can chop them roughly by hand.
[Edit]Cooking the Sauce - Put the peppers, vinegar, and salt in a sauce pan. Pour the chopped peppers into a medium-sized sauce pan on the stove. Add 2 cups (500 ml) of distilled white vinegar and of salt. Turn the burner to medium-high.[5]
- Heat the mixture until it begins to boil. Bring the pepper mixture to a boil and stir regularly to ensure that the peppers do not stick to the bottom of the pan.[6]
- Let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes. Once the sauce is boiling, turn down the heat to low. Let it simmer for approximately 5 minutes. To ensure that you don't heat the peppers for too long, set a timer. Remove them from the heat immediately.[7]
- Stir occasionally, but try not to stand right over the sauce pan and breathe deeply. The steam rising from the hot sauce can irritate your lungs and nasal passages.[8]
- Cool the mixture completely. Turn off the stove and remove the sauce pan from the heat. Cover the mixture loosely and allow it to cool completely before pureeing the sauce.[9]
- Don't move forward with pureeing until the sauce cools. When hot, its consistency is thinner and the final result may end up too thin.
[Edit]Straining the Pulp and Storing the Sauce - Puree the sauce in a blender. Once the peppers have completely cooled, transfer them to a blender. Blend the peppers thoroughly, until they create a pureed liquid sauce.[10]
- You can use a food processor if yours has a puree setting.
- Pour the sauce into an air-tight container and refrigerate for 2 weeks. Use a funnel to transfer the sauce into a glass jar with an air-tight lid. Seal the jar and store it in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. This will allow the sauce to steep. The seeds in the sauce will make it spicier as it steeps.[11]
- Strain the mixture. After 2 weeks, remove the sauce from the refrigerator. Pour it through a fine strainer to remove any seeds that are still in the sauce. Make sure to place a bowl or jar under the strainer to catch the sauce as it drips through.[12]
- Return the sauce to the refrigerator. Once the sauce has been strained, place it into a tightly sealed glass jar or plastic container and return it to the refrigerator.[13]
- Tabasco sauce, if stored in the fridge, can keep for over a year.
- Freezing isn't recommended, since it will alter the flavor and consistency of the sauce.
- Finished.
- Use the sauce to spice up any of your favorite recipes.
[Edit]Warnings - You may want to wear gloves while working with tabasco peppers. They can be very spicy.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Knife
- Food processor
- Medium sauce pan
- Spoon
- Blender
- Funnel
- Glass jar
- Strainer
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Connect Instagram to Facebook Posted: 14 Jul 2022 09:00 AM PDT Do you want your Instagram and Facebook accounts to integrate seamlessly? Using Account Center, you can sync information like posts, usernames, and profile pictures between social media networks! This wikiHow article teaches you how to link your Instagram and Facebook accounts using the Instagram app for iPhone and Android. - Open Instagram. This app icon features a camera lens on a gradient pink and orange background.
- Tap your profile picture. It's in the lower right corner of your screen.
- Tap . This three-line menu icon is in the top right corner of your screen.
- Tap . It's next to a gear icon at the top of the menu.
- Tap . You'll see this at the bottom of the menu under the "Meta" header.
- Tap . This is usually the first option on the page. If you see a profile shown, you might already have your Instagram and Facebook accounts linked.
- If you're not sure if your accounts are already linked, you can tap Accounts & profiles to see if both Facebook and Instagram are listed under the same account name.
- Tap . It's at the bottom of the menu and will prompt you to choose an account to add.
- Log in to continue. If your phone already detects your account (like if you saved your login information), you'll need to tap Continue and Add to proceed.
- Decide if you want to sync info. If you want your Facebook profile information to fill out your Instagram information (like your profile picture), tap your Facebook account, then tap the switch next to "Sync profile info" to enable it.
- If you want to remove the account or unlink it from Instagram, you can tap Remove from Accounts Center on this page.[1]
- To cross-post to Instagram from Facebook or visa versa go to Accounts Center, then tap the account that you want to share from. You'll then be able to see what content is shared to your other accounts.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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