| How to Cut Iceberg Lettuce Posted: 09 Jul 2022 05:00 PM PDT If you aren't a chef, cutting into a head of iceberg lettuce may seem intimidating. However, you don't need professional training to accomplish this task. You can transform any head of lettuce into crisp wedges or fine salads in no time with a sharp knife and proper cutting form. [Edit]Cutting Wedges - Remove the core. Place the head of lettuce onto its side with the stalk facing your sharpened knife. Starting from the bottom of the stem, cut about into the lettuce and discard.
- Alternatively, you can smack the stalk against your countertop so that it breaks from the inside, making it easy to remove the core with your hand.[1] However, this may cause bruising on the leaves.
- Remove the outer leaves. Throw away the first one or two outer layers of the head of lettuce. These layers are usually wilted or damaged from handling.
- If the outer layers have minimal flaws and you want to save them, pinch off the unwanted parts with your fingers.
- Cut the head in half. Hold the head of lettuce with your fingers facing forward so that the outer side of your thumb faces your knife. Using this form will make it more difficult to cut yourself accidentally. [2]
- Place the halves flat-side down and cut each in half. This will give you 4 large wedges of lettuce. If you prefer smaller wedges, you may half each wedge again, giving you 8 wedges.
[Edit]Chopping Fine Lettuce - Remove the core and cut the lettuce into wedges. Chop off from the bottom of the lettuce beginning at the stalk. Remove the outer, wilted leaves. Quarter the remaining lettuce into wedges by cutting the head in half, and then cut those pieces in half. Cutting the lettuce into wedges will insure finely chopped pieces.
- For bigger pieces, only half the head of lettuce instead of quartering it into wedges. Do not attempt to chop the lettuce without halving it, as its round shape makes it difficult to hold safely.
- Hold and finely slice the wedges vertically for long strips of lettuce. Place the wedge flat-side down. Moving your hand further across the wedge and away from your knife as you chop, slice the wedge completely.
- Slice the wedges horizontally for short strips of lettuce. Chop the slices flat-side down to your desired thickness, moving your hand further down the wedge as you chop.
- Separate the slices with your fingers. Gently pull apart the lettuce. You can toss it with your hands or salad tongs to separate the leaves further.
- Use a sanitized cutting board to prevent damages to countertops or dishes when cutting or chopping.
- To prevent food waste, add excess and discarded lettuce to your compost pile.
[Edit]Warnings - Always rinse your lettuce with cold water or a vegetable wash before serving.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Stop Thinking About Your Ex Posted: 09 Jul 2022 09:00 AM PDT Having a relationship end can be a painful experience, particularly when your thoughts continually drift back to your ex. Whether your relationship just ended or you're still struggling to get past the hurt months later, you may feel that these constant thoughts are preventing you from moving on. However, a 2018 study suggests reframing your ex negatively, accepting your feelings, and distracting yourself from painful feelings can all be effective ways to eventually stop thinking about your ex and move on from the relationship.[1] By following the right techniques, you can accept that the relationship is over and finally stop thinking about your ex. [Edit]Getting Past the Pain - Grieve. The ending of a relationship can often feel similar to the death of a loved one. It's okay to mourn this loss.[2]
- Painful emotions cannot simply be swept under the rug. In fact, you will find it much easier to move past your hurt if you confront your emotions without judgement.[3]
- Trying to suppress your thoughts will only make them stronger. You may even begin to dream about your ex if you don't allow yourself to experience your thoughts and emotions.[4]
- Cry if you want. It feels better when you let all that out, instead of keeping it bottled up inside you forever.
- Talk with someone you trust. Sometimes you just need someone to listen rather than offer advice. Even if you cannot understand why it happened, talking about it can help you accept that the relationship is over.[5]
- If you don't feel comfortable talking to a loved one about the breakup, consider seeing a therapist or joining an online support group.
- It might also help to have an imaginary conversation with your ex about all of your pent-up grievances. This will allow you to talk through all of your feelings without actually having to have contact with your ex, and may help you find closure.[6]
- Let go of anger. If you're obsessing about the terrible things you ex did to you, you will never be able to move on! No matter how angry you are, it's important to stop ruminating on these negative thoughts.[7]
- When dealing with recurring thoughts, it's helpful to confront them head-on. Think about why you are having the thought, how the thought may be distorted or untrue, and what kind of negative effect the thought is having on you in the moment. The more you acknowledge your ruminations, the easier it will be to let go of them.[8]
- Be honest with yourself. After a breakup, people are often dishonest with themselves about the quality of the relationship or the reasons why it ended. It's important to carefully consider how happy you really were in the relationship and what caused the breakup. This will allow you to move past idealizing what might not have been a great relationship in the first place.[9]
- It will also help to ask yourself what your role was in causing the breakup, as this might help you let go of some anger.
- Get the help you need. A breakup can have seriously negative effects on your mental and physical well-being, especially if you find that you're still dwelling on it months later. Breakups have been associated with weakened immune systems and an increased risk of illness. People who have not gotten over a breakup within 16 weeks can even experience physical changes in their brains that reduce their motivation, concentration, and emotions. It is critical to get professional help before your physical health begins to suffer.[10]
- A therapist can help by listening to you, encouraging you to confront your feelings, and teaching you new ways to do with your pain.
- Remind yourself to let go. There are a variety of behavioral techniques you can try to stop obsessive thoughts about your ex. All of these techniques rely on your ability to recognize when a thought about your ex enters your mind and to take a specific action to stop that thought from coming back. Remember that these techniques are to be used for obsessive thoughts only! If you have not yet dealt with your feelings and taken the time to grieve, you should not try to suppress your thoughts.
- You can try wearing a rubber band around your wrist and snapping it each time you think about your ex.
- You can write down the thoughts you are having about your ex on a piece of paper and then throw it away.
- You can try a visualization exercise, which requires you to visualize a specific scene whenever a thought of your ex occurs to you. For example, you could think of a stop sign in order to remind yourself that you need to stop what you are doing. If you do this consistently, the association should become automatic.
[Edit]Eliminating Reminders of Your Ex - Avoid contact with your ex. Even if you think you want to be friends with your ex, it's important to give yourself some time away from him or her. You must fully heal before you can begin spending time with your ex again.
- If you don't allow for any healing time, you may continue to think of your ex as your partner because your bond as a couple will not have been broken.
- Take a moment to think about why you want to be friends. If it's because you're scared about living your life without your ex, you may be using it as a way to avoid dealing with the grief of the breakup.
- Most people do not end up being friends with their exes. Don't feel bad if it just doesn't feel right, even after you've had your time to grieve.
- Get rid of shared belongings. If you find yourself thinking about your ex whenever you look at the watch he got you for Christmas or the DVD collection you bought together, it might be time to part with these things.[11]
- If you don't want to throw items away, consider donating them to charity.
- Remove any pictures of your ex from your house.
- If you lived together and you can't get rid of all of your shared belongings, it might help to revitalize your space with some new energy by changing the paint color or reorganizing the furniture. This will help it feel like your own place instead of the place you shared with your ex.
- Avoid checking up on your ex. You will never be able to stop thinking about your ex if you are getting status updates about him or her on your phone all the time. Even if things did not end with animosity, it may be a good idea to unfriend your ex on social media. Similarly, it's a good idea to stop driving past your ex's house on your way to work or asking your mutual friends about how your ex is doing. [12]
- Alter your daily routine. People often develop a routine with their significant others, and following the same routine after you break up can emphasize feelings of loneliness and trigger thoughts about them. Create a new routine all your own. Instead of making your signature Saturday breakfast, try taking a walk and trying out a new cafe.
[Edit]Focusing on Other Things - Be social. Surrounding yourself with friends and loved ones will help keep your mind on all of the positive aspects of your life, and off of your ex. It's also important to commit yourself to the hobbies and activities that you most enjoy, especially if your ex kept you from pursuing them.[13]
- If your social life revolved around your ex, it's important to get out there and make new friends. Try joining clubs or participating in volunteer activities to meet new people.
- If you relied on your ex for emotional support, try relying on someone other than a romantic partner for this kind of support, like a best friend or a sibling. You might be surprised to discover just how much support you really have![14]
- Staying busy really will help you move on faster. If you find yourself thinking obsessively about your ex when you are at home alone, come up with something to do, whether it's having dinner with a friend, visiting a museum by yourself, or going for a walk.[15]
- Think about your future. You may have planned a future with your ex, and if you did, it's understandable that everything might feel uncertain now. Try to focus on the positives by reminding yourself of all of the great things you can and will accomplish in the future without your ex.[16]
- Try to enjoy your present-day life as well. Even though you may want to be in a relationship, there are lots of benefits to being single too, so try to enjoy it while it lasts.
- Focus on taking care of yourself. In order to boost your mood, it's important to practice healthy habits. Make sure you exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep. Committing yourself to a healthy lifestyle will not only make you feel good, but it may just offer you the escape you need from thoughts about your ex.[17]
- Meditating might help you regain your positivity and let go of the stress associated with your breakup.
- Find new love when you're ready. There's no golden rule for when you should start dating again after a breakup, so do whatever you feel is right for you. Avoid jumping into a new relationship just because you don't want to be alone, but don't be afraid to put yourself out there either![18]
- Some people struggle with continuing to think about their exes even though they are in new, healthy relationships. If this is the case for you, it will do no good to simply try to suppress those thoughts. Instead, actively replace the thought with a memory of a time when you felt a lot of love for your current partner. Love is a strong emotion that can help you resist the temptation to contact your ex.[19]
- Healing after a breakup takes time, so be patient with yourself.
[Edit]Warnings - Though emotions after a breakup can be very powerful, never threaten your ex either verbally or physically, or threaten to harm yourself to make them feel guilty.
- If your feelings of hurt and anger after a breakup become all consuming and lead to thoughts of suicide, immediately talk with someone or seek professional help from a therapist or counselor. Suicide hotlines operate 24 hours a day.[20]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Paper Pulp Posted: 09 Jul 2022 01:00 AM PDT Paper pulp can be a useful ingredient in making homemade paper or other crafts. It's also fairly simple to make. As long as you have paper, water, and a kitchen whisk or blender, you can make plenty of paper pulp at home. If you need to make paper pulp for a specific project, plan to mix it at least 1-2 days in advance so it has time to soak and dry.
[Edit]Soaking Paper - Rip the paper into small pieces. Construction paper or newspaper works well for making paper pulp, but you can use any paper that you have on hand. Tear the paper into small scraps so it will be easier for water to soak into it.[1]
- As a rule of thumb, the paper scraps should be about long and wide.
- Rip the paper by hand for the best results. Cutting the paper with scissors is doable but won't work as well. The water will soak better into the paper if it has rough edges.
- Place the paper into a bowl. Choose a bowl that can fit all of your paper scraps without overflowing. You will also need to cover the scraps with water, so make sure you place the scraps in a bowl large enough that it won't spill if you cover them with water.
- Add hot water to the bowl. Fill the bowl with water until you immerse the paper completely in the water. The water level should be just enough to cover the paper but no higher. In terms of temperature, the water should be hot, but not boiling, to soften the paper faster.[2]
- Let the paper soak overnight. Place the bowl somewhere that it can sit undisturbed for about 8-12 hours or overnight. If you need to make the paper pulp for a specific date, plan ahead so you have enough time for soaking the ripped pieces.
- If you plan on using a blender, you don't have to let the paper soak all night. It will, however, give the pulp a softer consistency.
[Edit]Making Pulp - Break the pieces with your hands or a kitchen whisk. Place your hands or whisk into the bowl and mix the pieces until they break down into a pulp. Continue pounding the paper until it reaches the consistency of a thick soup. When you can't see any paper pieces in the pulp, you can either dry the pulp or blend it for a smoother consistency.
- If you do not blend the paper after breaking it down with your hands, it may have a rougher texture that is harder to write on.
- Blend the paper pulp for the smoothest consistency. Pour the bowl's contents into a blender and turn it on for about 15-30 seconds. If you are using a thicker paper, like cardstock or cardboard, you may need to blend the paper for longer. After 15 seconds, stop the blender and check how well blended the pulp is. Continue this process until your blender has mashed the pulp into a smooth, fluid consistency.[3]
- Depending on how much pulp you're making, you may want to blend it in batches. If you choose this option, mix all of the batches back together in a bowl when you're finished blending for a uniform consistency.
- Add water if the pulp is too thick. Thick, dry pulp will not create smooth paper. If the pulp seems dry after blending, add a few tablespoons of water. Pour the water in small amounts and blend it for 10 seconds before adding more. Too much water can make the sheets overly fragile.[4]
- If the pulp is watery and lacks a thicker, soup-like consistency, it is most likely too thin.
- Mix in 1-2 teaspoons (0.16-0.32 oz) of instant starch (optional). Starch can help the pulp hold together better as it dries into paper later on. How much starch you add depends on how much paper pulp you're making. For small or medium batches (around 1-2 cups (8-16 oz) ), 1 teaspoon (0.16 oz) is enough. If your batch is larger, however, add twice the amount.[5]
- Store the pulp in a sealed bucket or bottle, if needed. Until you're ready to dry the paper pulp, you can store it in a sealed container to keep it from drying out. If you will need large quantities of paper pulp at once, you can make some in advance and store it for later.[6]
- You can store paper pulp for up to a week at a time.
[Edit]Drying Paper Pulp - Pour the paper pulp into a flat pan. Spread the pulp as thinly and evenly across the pan as possible to make uniform pieces of paper. Use your hands or a large spoon to flatten the pulp. If you cannot easily spread the paper pulp around, it may be too thick.
- If the pulp is too thick, add more water to thin out its consistency.
- Place a non-rusting screen into the bottom of the pan. Use a screen that is approximately the same size as your pan. Move the screen around until it is evenly covered in the pulp.
- If you have an old, torn window screen, cut it to the size of your pan and use it to make paper pulp.
- You can also buy non-rusting screens from hardware or home improvement stores if you don't have old window screens.
- Lift the screen out of the pan. Hold it over the pan to catch drips for about 30-60 seconds. This will prevent the screen from dripping as you lay the pulp down to dry.[7]
- Lay out the screen on an absorbent surface. Place the screen facedown on a towel or absorbent cloth that can soak the water in as the paper pulp dries. Lift the screen off carefully and either use it to make more paper or rinse it off if you don't have any pulp left.[8]
- Let the paper pulp dry for about 24 hours. Most paper pulp will take a day to dry, though thicker pieces of paper may take longer. After a day, check the paper for dryness. If it's dry and holds together, it's ready to use.[9]
- Decorate your homemade paper with colored pens or pencils, paint, glitter, or dried flowers.
- Use your paper to make a personalized, homemade greeting card.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Paper
- Bowl
- Water
- Starch
- Blender
- Spoon
- Kitchen whisk
- Pan
- Non-rusting screen
[Edit]References __ [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Oven Cook Sausages Posted: 08 Jul 2022 05:00 PM PDT There are many ways to cook sausages, but cooking them in the oven is often the simplest method. You don't have to stand over them, turning them in a frying pan or on the grill. And cooking them on foil means easy clean-up. Prep the sausages by spacing them evenly across a foil-covered pan. Then, depending on their size, bake them for 20 to 40 minutes in the oven at . [Edit]Prepping the Sausages - Pull the sausages out of the fridge 20 minutes before cooking. About 20 minutes before you plan to put them in the oven, take the sausages out of the fridge and set them on the counter. This will take the chill off of them so that they cook more evenly.[1]
- Preheat the oven to . If your oven takes a long time to heat up, you may want to turn it on before pulling the sausages out of the fridge.
- Cut sausages at the link if they're still attached. If the sausages are still linked together, they won't be spaced apart properly and won't cook as evenly as they should. Use scissors to cut them all apart at the links.
- Line a baking pan with a piece of foil. Cut a piece of aluminum foil that's a little longer than the baking pan you want to use. Wrap the ends of the foil over the edges of the pan so that it's loosely gripping the pan. Adding foil will make for easier cleanup and will ensure the sausages don't stick to the pan.[2]
- Place a wire rack on top of the pan to cut down on grease. If you want your sausages to be less greasy, put a wire rack on top of the pan. It should be a rack that fits securely inside the pan and won't slide around when you're handling the pan.
- Using a rack will allow the excess grease to drip away from the sausages rather than let the meat cook in the grease.
- Spread the sausages evenly across the pan. Place the sausages on the pan, spacing them evenly apart. Try to allow about between them in case one rolls while it's baking.
[Edit]Baking the Sausages - Cook the sausages in the oven for 20 minutes. Place the sausages in the oven on the middle rack. Cook them for about 20 minutes if they are of average size.[3]
- Turn the sausages halfway through the cooking time. After 10 minutes, slide the oven rack out and use a fork to turn the sausages. Rotate each one until the side that was facing up is now facing down.
- Cook larger or thicker sausages for 40 minutes. Twenty minutes may not be enough to cook sausages that are particularly large or thick. If you're cooking your sausages for 40 minutes, then turn them after 20 minutes of baking.[4]
- Make a small cut into one sausage to test it. After 20 minutes (or 40 minutes for larger sausages), pull the pan out of the oven and set it on the stovetop. Hold the sausage still with a fork and cut into it about halfway down with a sharp knife. Cut only deep enough to see the color in the middle of the sausage.
- Add 10 minutes if the inside is still pink. The sausage should be brown all the way through. If it's still pink in the center, stick the pan back in the oven for 10 additional minutes.
- Test another sausage and add more time if necessary. Choose another sausage and make another small cut in the middle. If the center is still pink, continue adding five-minute increments until you see that the sausages are brown in the middle.
- Use a meat thermometer if you're concerned about meat safety. If you want to be sure the sausages are safe to eat, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Push the thermometer into the center of one of the sausages and check to see if the temperature rises to or higher.[5]
- If the temperature is too low, add five to ten minutes of cook time until the sausages reach .
- Store cooked sausages in the fridge for up to four days.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
No comments:
Post a Comment