Baking soda is a powdery miracle. Not only is it the secret ingredient to making mashed potatoes fluffy, it can help you make authentic-tasting soft pretzels at home and caramelize onions in half the time. It's actually got lots of surprising uses you might not know about, and ...more
Good battery life is one of the most important things any phone or tablet should have, but iOS 7 isn't always that great at handling power consumption. That leads to tunnel vision on the status bar's battery meter. After all, you don't want to be stranded in the middle of nowh ...more
It's always a good idea to have a pack of mints on hand, especially right after a cup of coffee or a lunch made with loads of garlic. Whether you're going on a date, to the dentist, or to an interview, bad breath is a major faux pas and totally avoidable. Simply pop a mint! Bu ...more
Many home cooks were taught never to press down on a burger as it cooks since that would ruin your all-beef patty by getting it to release the juices it needs to stay tender and moist. Turns out that is total hooey—a complete myth. In fact, wildly successful burger chains Sha ...more
Holidays are a time for good food and good drink, but more often than not, we substitute good drink for, well, cheap drink. However, cheap wine doesn't have to be bad. As the international wine industry grows, it's becoming more common to find decent bottles on the cheap, and ...more
Flavored extracts may seem like they'd be complicated to make, but there's a lot less to them than you'd think, and will cost you less in the long run. Extracts are made by soaking the flavoring ingredients in alcohol for a few weeks to a few months. They require very little ...more
The original Kit Kat was a mutton pie served at a political club in London during the 18th century, which is quite different than the chocolatey version we're familiar with today. Kit Kat bars have been around since 1911, are produced in 13 countries, and have been sold in ove ...more
Marinades are among my all-time favorite tricks as a cook for several reasons. They're easy like Sunday morning, they let time do what it's supposed to, which is work for you, and you get a huge return for relatively little effort on your part. In a pinch, I've used store-bou ...more
Ah, ginger. From stir fry to smoothies, ginger is a reliably sharp and refreshing flavor that adds zing to everything it touches. It may be a pain in the ass to remove the skin from ginger (or not), but the zest it brings to food is well worth the trouble. Don't Miss: How to B ...more
A great pizza may take more than 20 minutes to make, but if you're using pizza-flavored snacks instead of fresh ingredients, you'll end up with a "Meta-Pizza" that's sure to please any junk food fiend. Health nuts, go away now, because you're not going to like what you're goin ...more
Fresh herbs can be delicate, and it's not always easy to figure out how to cut, crush, or muddle them to make the most of their flavors. Get too rough, and you have a bunch of bruised and muddy-tasting herbs, which is due to too much chlorophyll being released. Don't do enough ...more
Calling all popcorn fanatics: we know a bit of drizzled butter is all that's needed to make a delicious bowl of your favorite finger food, but we've got some interesting mash-ups of flavors that we think you should try the next time you veg out on your couch for another Netfli ...more
One of the common complaints about dry pasta is that it lacks depth of flavor. This is why, once cooked, it often pairs best with bold and complexly flavored sauces. But there is a new (or not-so-new, as you'll soon see) trend towards toasting pasta that adds a wonderfully nu ...more
Do you ever walk into a nice boutique, a friend's house, or a fancy restaurant, and think, “I wish my house smelled like this”? Because I sure do. The problem is that most people rely on candles to scent their homes and rooms. Don't get me wrong, I love candles, but they have ...more
Solid-state LiDAR is cheap, robust, and compact in size — this is why the device is seen as the LiDAR of choice for future high-volume production of level 3 and level 4 cars. LiDAR sensors, or light detection and ranging sensors, play a key role in detecting surrounding objec ...more
Mashed potatoes are a reliably tasty side dish, but they can definitely get a little boring sometimes. So if you're looking for that extra 'oomph' that goes beyond the classic butter and salt seasoning, try infusing your next batch with the flavor of baked potato skins. Don't ...more
This is a whole new level of "Paleo," guys. Seriously: there's nothing more primal than a giant hunk of meat cooked in direct flame. Fancy grills and grill masters be damned—this method of cooking your meat is both the past and the future. Don't Miss: 10 Clever Ways to Cook ...more
One lump or two? That was the age-old question with sugar cubes, which used to be a staple of any tea salon or dignified household this side of Downton Abbey. These days sugar isn't really used in cubes much except in bars and restaurants, and that's a shame. Cubes are a lot l ...more
Hear me out. No, really. Before you sharpen your pitchforks and give me anecdotal evidence of your Chinese restaurant syndrome, I think you need to know a few things about monosodium glutamate. First of all, it's a naturally-occurring chemical compound that can be found in any ...more
Whether you call them chickpeas, garbanzo beans, or Egyptian peas, these little morsels are one of my favorite snacks—when properly seasoned, that is. Being mild in flavor on their own, they're incredibly versatile and fun to experiment with. (They're also incredibly healthy.) ...more
Ah, the sensation of that first bite of sorbet in the heat of summertime: icy, refreshing, decadent in flavor and texture. We love sorbet almost as much as we love ice cream, and making it at home is actually pretty simple. Most recipes call for just water, sugar, and a base f ...more
Starbucks last big hit was definitely their Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, which became a permanent menu item—not just a summer fling—on May 31, 2016. It's the perfect blend of 20-hour cold brew and vanilla sweet cream; The result not only tastes great, but the cream makes is ...more
A few months ago, my friend Sarah appeared at a party bearing homemade liqueurs—amaretto, hazelnut (e.g. Frangelico), and vanilla liqueurs, to be exact. Her cool factor, which was already quite high, jumped up a few more notches—as did the overall energy of the party. (And tha ...more
Brining is magic. All you have to do is make a mild saline solution, toss in your protein of choice, let it soak, and cook. You end up with incredibly tender, flavorful meat or tofu for very little effort. So why aren't more of us doing it? Pork chops soaking in a brine of sug ...more
If you want to appreciate the value of microbes, look no further than a chunk of cheese. Because cheese roughly traces back to the Neolithic Era, we might say the earliest cheesemakers were the first humans to manipulate microbes—without even knowing it. Now, thanks to microbi ...more
Pickles are insanely versatile: we eat them on their own as a snack, as a tasty zing on burgers, and some of us even like them in a sandwich with peanut butter. And if you're already an avid reader of our site, you'd know that we're even crazier about pickle juice and its myri ...more
Store-bought marinades and sauces have an ability to jazz up the simplest items. But after a while, those favorite tastes seem a bit repetitive and mundane, and that got us to experimenting with different add-ins to make our marinades stand out. Fruits, herbs, spices—all of th ...more
Butter is one of the most versatile ingredients in the world: its variety of uses range from brightening a morning piece of toast to finishing a beautiful rib-eye steak with decadent flair. When warm butter is mixed with herbs, spices, and other supplementary ingredients, the ...more
If you're a sushi lover but not an expert sushi maker, you can still enjoy the flavors of sushi rolls at home with these deconstructed sushi dishes. These are good not just for those challenged when it comes to rolling techniques, but also for people on special diets or who h ...more
Johnny O shows how to smoke garlic that adds a great flavor to other dishes. Any recipe that calls to be seasoned with garlic can use the smoked garlic for a new and unexpected taste.
We're wild for whipped cream in our coffee, atop our brownies, and in-between wafer cookies, so we always have some in our fridge. To be specific, we always have homemade whipped cream in our fridge, because the taste is just so much better than the pre-made stuff. Don't Miss ...more
Watch this video and learn to make a German favorite, schnapps. This video shows you how to make an American version with the flavoring of your choice.
Let me start by saying something controversial: I despise the gluten-free fad. I think gluten is delicious (I go through at least two loaves of bread a week, with a healthy dose of pretzels and pasta in there as well), and I think many of the health myths surrounding gluten ar ...more
The perfect side dish for a picnic or dinner, potato salad can be flavored in a variety of ways. See how to make a simple potato salad that you can modify with your favorite flavors. Ingredients needed are potatoes, eggs, onion, celery, fresh dill, mayonnaise, mustard, salt an ...more
There are two kinds of people standing in the international section of the grocery store: the kind who love Pocky and the kind who don't yet know that they love Pocky because they've never had it. Don't Miss: Make Kit Kats in Any Flavor, Color, or Size You Want Pocky is a c ...more
Listen up, children, pregnant women, and lightweights: this particular KitKat variety is not for you. Well, with 0.8% alcoholic content per 2 KitKat bars, it's highly unlikely anyone will actually get drunk on these things. Still... The newest flavor of KitKat (or Kit Kat) in ...more
Let's set the scene: you're at home, it's late in the evening, and you have a hankering for those deliciously decadent chocolate-wrapped squares of ice cream goodness. You could drive to the store and pick up the usual pack of Klondike Bars in the ice cream aisle... or, you ca ...more
A cold drink on a hot day is a welcome sight; but a cold drink with ice-encased fruit is both both refreshing and irresistible. Fruit-infused cubes give water a burst of flavor, dress up cocktails or iced tea, add elegance to punch bowls, and will impress everyone. They're al ...more
Falooda is delicious rose flavored milk (served with ice cream) which can be a refreshing drink or a unique dessert idea. Falooda is made with basil seeds, known as Tukmaria, which are great for digestion after a heavy meal. Try this recipe for a truly wonderful Indian concoct ...more
We're a little citrus-obsessed, and with good reason: lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit: Mother Nature really packed those babies with flavor, from peel (which you can zest without special tools) to juice. Now executive chef Amanda Freitag of Empire Diner has come up with a w ...more
Next time you want to add plain ol' salt to your recipe, don't. Instead, use a delicious citrus herb salt, which will elevate the flavor of your dish more than salt by itself ever could. You can make lemon rosemary salt, orange cilantro salt—whatever flavor combos suit your t ...more
In the world of breakfast, a great trench of injustice divides French toast and pancakes. Just look at the average brunch menu. While pancakes are treated to a wealth of variety (chocolate chip, silver dollar, blueberry, banana, and even some with pop culture references), Fren ...more
Remember the glowing pickle? Well, here's another sci-fi food-oddity. Sounds entirely fictitious, but apparently you can make edible lasers. Says Make, "A friend of mine claimed you can make a laser from a gin & tonic, and so I had to find out more. It turns out that not onl ...more
The freezer section at your local grocery store may have plenty of popsicle flavors, but they're mostly going to be the same old fruit-flavored varities you've been shoving in your mouths for years. None of those will truly get your tastebuds rolling like some creative homemad ...more
In this tutorial, learn how to make a dual flavored sheet cake that you can decorate to your heart's desire. This cake is tasty and pleases both chocolate lovers and vanilla fiends alike. If you are looking for a unique way to assemble your dessert, have a look at this clip an ...more
Let's talk for a second about compound butter. No, scratch that, let's not. Because compound butters are too much work. You have to shape them and roll them and tie them and cut them... no thank you. Luckily, you can skip all that hassle without skipping the herb butter thank ...more
Cauliflower has become trendy again, and it's mostly thanks to the low-carb crowd who use its mild flavor and soft texture as a replacement for things like rice and pizza dough. But instead of pounding or smashing it into submission, do yourself a favor and throw the entire h ...more
Not a lot of people send letters anymore. It could be because our laptops, smartphones, and tablets have taken over and we communicate electronically now. Or, it could be because envelope glue tastes terrible. If you were considering sending out nice, handmade Valentine's Day ...more
Recently nauseated by toastykitten's post on Fish and Chips ice-cream (via WonderHowTo World, CAKES! CAKES! CAKES!), I was equally grossed out by toastykitten's additional find on the same topic. Back in '07, Who Sucks posted a collection of 101 disgusting-sounding ice cream ...more
Sure, you can buy it at the store, but homemade soy milk is not only easy, it's delicious. See how to turn a bag of uncooked soy beans into fresh soy milk. Flavor with orange, ginger, or vanilla.
Like a scene from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this high-tech cookie offers 7 different flavors. The University of Tokyo's Tajuki Narumi and team presented the Wonka inspired augmented reality flavor-changing cookie at this year's SIGGRAPH computer graphics and animation ...more
It may sound complicated, but making your own flavor-infused vodka is effortlessly easy with delicious results, and it makes for a great last-minute holiday gift. All you need are some fresh fruit and herbs, a quart-sized mason jar, a bottle of vodka (make sure it isn't the su ...more
Fiddlehead ferns look like something from Alice in Wonderland, or something that you might see when you close your eyes while listening to Pink Floyd and enjoying some herbal refreshment. What they don't look like is a tasty vegetable that's perfect for any spring or summer di ...more
Nougat is a Middle Eastern sweet made out of pistachios and flavored with rose water. Learn how to make this yummy Persian pistachio nougat at home. Video: . You can also watch this video on About.com.
Cake pops can be made easily with basic cake mix and chocolate or candy melts for the coating, but if you want to take your cake pops to the next level then you gotta bring in the big guns. Take a gander at this cake decorating tutorial to learn how to add flavor to your cake ...more
Fishing for catfish? Maybe you need some help, and Wade Bourne of MyOutdoorTV has just the tip. In this video, he shows you how to use dip bait to improve your catfish catches on the waters. It may smell disgusting, but it's well worth trying out. Dip bait is commercial catfi ...more
Go above and beyond tea bags and enjoy the spicy taste of a chai tea latte. It's a combination of spiced chai tea with milk that's usually steamed from an expresso machine, but there's no reason to get all fancy with your chai. This video will show you how to make some flavorf ...more
Luci Lock explains how to make delicious flavored yogurt using plain Greek yogurt and naturally flavored strawberry jam.
After you've tried out Nextraker's pillow prank, move onto the medicine cabinet with this deodorant stick prank. All you need is your victim's stick of deodorant (white) and some Kool-Aid (or in this case Flavor Aid). Simply open the Flavor Aid packet and spread the drink pow ...more
Enjoy the taste of tarragon in your own homemade-style soda pop! If you're a soda lover, you can't not make this delicious beverage. This vibrant soda combines fresh tarragon leaves, simple syrup and seltzer water. Served over ice, it's a crisp and colorful presentation that a ...more