HOW TO DO

How To Cook Veggies

The word sauté comes from the French verb meaning “to jump.” It refers to the way foods added to a hot, lightly-oiled pan tend to jump. Sautéing is a quick and easy way to cook vegetables with relatively little oil. Sautéed vegetables retain their vitamins and minerals, as well as taste and color. This method is best suited for tender vegetables, such as asparagus, baby artichokes, snow peas, sweet peppers, onions, and mushrooms.

Kitchen Tip: Cut vegetables into bite-sized pieces so they can cook all the way through quickly. Heat the pan first over relatively high heat. Add oil. Wait until the oil begins to shimmer before adding the vegetables. Cooking time depends on the desired tenderness.

Stir-Frying Vegetables

Stir-frying is very similar to sautéing, with two important differences. Stir-frying is done over very high heat, and the food is constantly stirred to prevent it from burning on the hot pan. Stir-frying is often done in a wok, the classic utensil of Chinese cooking. But you can also stir in a sauté pan, as long as the bottom is thick enough to distribute the high heat evenly.

Kitchen Tip: Sautéing and stir-frying are best done with a cooking oil that stands up to high heat, such as canola oil. Once vegetables are done, you can toss them with a flavored oil such as olive or sesame oil.

How To Root Roses

The first thing you need to do is gather your supplies. You will need pruners, a 10 to 12" flowerpot, potting soil, root starter, and a 1-gallon clear jar.

Go to the original rose bush or if someone gave you a bunch of  roses you can use a stem from them. If using a stem from a rose bouquet make sure you do this right away when the roses are fresh.;

Step #1 - Look for a rose stem that has at least two sets of leaves.

Step #2 - Remove the petals from the rose by gently cupping the rose blossom in your palm and pull the blossom away from the stem. If you want to enjoy the blossom, place it in a bowl of fresh water so it will float.

Step #3 - Remove all sets of leaves except for the tops set of leaves (one or two).

Step #4 - Take the potting soil and fill your flowerpot with the soil.

Step #5 - Measure the rose stem against the flowerpot; half of the stem will need to be buried in the potting soil. Trim the stem if necessary for it to measure correctly.

Step #6 - Poke a hole in the potting soil with the stem. Now bury half of the stem in the soil.

Step #7 - Dip the end of the rose stem into the root starter.

Step #8 - Pat the soil around the rose stem. Pour water over the potting soil.

Step #9 - Place the 1-gallon jar over the stem, leaving headroom for the rose stem.

Step #10 - Settle the jar firmly into the soil, being careful not to touch the leaves.

Now you have created a terrarium for your cutting to take hold and hopefully grow.

Location:
Place the flowerpot in a shaded place facing north. Ideal locations may include behind a bush or in the shade of a garage or shed.
NOTE:
It is very important that the cutting NOT be in the sun or the new rose bush will scorch.
Leave your cutting alone for several months. You will NOT need to water because of the terrarium.
If you are successful, you will see new leaves forming on your stem. Once the rose has several new leaf sets, and the ground is warm you can transplant your new rose bush into your flower garden.

 

How to Cook Bacon for a Crowd

 

No need to slave over a skillet. Instead, heat oven to 425° F. Set a cooling rack inside a rimmed baking sheet (to let the fat drip off), spread out the bacon, and cook until crisp, 10 to 15 minutes.

 Fat can drip off

Place on rack evenly

Cook until crispy

Place on paper towels

 

 

How to Cut a Cake Layer in Half

Edited by Horses4Ever, Nicole Willson, Sondra C, Andy Zhang and 11 others

If you need to cut cake layers in half, there is a simple and accurate method that does not involve messing with knives or having your cake roll across the countertop. With floss and some toothpicks, you can slice the cake in half with ease.

 Steps

1. 
   Place toothpicks at the halfway point around the edges of the cake layer, as shown in the image.
2. 
   Align unflavored dental floss around the row of toothpicks. If you're making a spongy cake, it helps to make a few cuts with a serrated knife along the toothpick row, to give the floss something to bite into.
3. 
   When the floss is fully wrapped around the cake, cross the ends of the floss and hold each end in each hand. Pull each end out and away from the cake, so the floss cuts through the cake as the circle of floss tightens. Move the floss slightly from side to side to help the cutting movement.
4. 
   Now you have two layers of cake.
5. 
   Slide a piece of cardboard or a baking sheet (with no sides) between the two layers and lift off the top layer.
6. 
   Finished.You make need more icing to icing all your layers if you like a lot of icing like I do.at least 1 inch tall in between layers.