Harry Potter fans got a treat last week when Pottermore, a site created by Harry Potter author, J. K. Rowling, released a test that let users learn what form their Patronus protective charm would take. Does it need to be said? The internet almost exploded. Riding this new wa ...more
As exciting as it can be to crack open a beer, there's nothing fun about wandering around a party and asking other partygoers for a bottle opener. Don't worry, we've got you covered: here are 10 crazy ways to get to drinking while impressing your friends with your ingenuity. ...more
Once again, you've found yourself inviting comrades, companions, and compatriots over for beverages on a Friday evening whim... but alas, your alcohol cabinet is looking rather meager, and your skills are lacking. No worries—just utilize these 10 tricks and spice up your at-ho ...more
We used to view homemade dressings as something whose variables of flavor and texture outweighed our desire to make them up on the fly. We often found ourselves nervous that they'd come out too runny or too tart or even too thick. Then we discovered the magic formula to a per ...more
Switching your favorite facial cleanser isn't an easy choice. Since everyone's skin type can range from dry, to oily, to some complicated combination of both... well, let's just say that the conventional wisdom is to stick to what you know works. However, fruit—and citrus fru ...more
Got a bottle of inexpensive, unopened red wine and some citrus fruits lying around in your kitchen? If you plan on throwing an outdoor summer party, you really can't go wrong with a pitcher full of homemade sangria. For a basic sangria recipe, all you need to do is to combine ...more
Lemon peels have long been known for their ability to be home remedies for cleaning and medicinal needs. In the kitchen, they are equally as useful and can transform many common dishes and drinks into more memorable ones with just a hint of citrus. To give you some ideas, belo ...more
Single-serve yogurt cartons are so much fun. They're delicious, convenient, and the perfect size; no wonder it's so fun to open a new container of yogurt every morning. Yet as awesome as single-serve yogurt cartons are, there's something you really need to do: stop buying them ...more
Fight me all you want, but it ain't a party without alcohol—whether it's a Halloween party, Christmas party, dinner party, or even a damn wedding. (If you think that people will stick around after dinner for a dry wedding, then you're sorely mistaken.) And while we'd all love ...more
In addition to keeping your cold drink from turning lukewarm, ice cubes are also surprisingly useful for removing gum from your carpet, keeping your hollandaise sauce from curdling, skimming fat off your soup, and watering your hard-to-reach hanging plants. Drinking some vile ...more
I'm not ashamed to admit it: I love Gatorade. It's probably from all of those times I watched Michael Jordan chug it during basketball games when I was a kid. But I'm not the only one that loves Gatorade—a large percentage of people who work out regularly choose to replenish t ...more
The way in which cooking can be used to both illustrate science and create a beautiful bite of food is fascinating to me. And emulsions, the results of combining liquid fat and water, are a fantastic example of science in harmony with great cooking. In layman's terms, an emul ...more
En papillote may sound like a difficult French cooking method you'd never use at home, but don't be fooled by its fancy name—it's actually a really easy way to cook food that is moist and flavorful, and all you need is some parchment paper and your oven. Don't Miss: Parchment ...more
Summer means watermelon. Juicy, pink-fleshed, and ever-so-tasty, this pepo is a seasonal sensation. But while cost effective, purchasing a whole, large watermelon can lead to melon monotony and maybe even a rotting rind in the fridge. To keep that from ever happening, here are ...more
If you love quenching your thirst with an ice-cold glass of lemonade but aren't a fan of artificial powder mixes, then this hack is for you. When your next lemonade craving strikes, instead of reaching for a glorified Kool-Aid packet, get an instant sip of summer by using pre- ...more
Many of the beauty products you buy at drug and department stores are loaded with potentially toxic ingredients like parabens, while their active ingredients are made of things like glycolic, lactic, malic, and alpha hydroxy acids and retinoids, which are all derived from food ...more
Few summertime drinks are as sweet, tart, and refreshing as lemonade. It can cool off even the hottest day and help you relax poolside, on the beach, or just sitting around the house. Don't Miss: Add a Burst of Flavor to Your Drinks with Fruity Ice Cubes Although basic lemo ...more
Any cook knows that juicing lemons inevitably means dealing with seeds. It's a small but real annoyance that can slow things down in the kitchen. We've already shown you several techniques to get lemon juice without the seeds. But what if you only need a very little bit of le ...more
We admit it: we are ranch dressing fanatics. We like to put it on our simple salads, spread it across our chicken wings, and dip homemade sweet potato fries in it. Plus, since childhood, neither of us can eat pizza without ranch dressing to accompany it. Don't Miss: How to M ...more
There is very little in this world that tastes as good as a glass of fresh-pressed juice. The flavors in fruit and vegetables are more clean and immediate on your palate, while the chlorophyll and nutrients seem to zip right into your bloodstream. A really great glass of fresh ...more
It's that time of the year, y'all—when the air becomes crisp, the nights grow long, and people crave hearty, warm soups and stews. And of all the season's offerings, my hands-down favorite has to be chili: It's versatile, meaty, and above all else, it's damn easy to make. (Tha ...more
It's that time of year where you need to break out the grill and cook food over red-hot coals, whether it's the beginning, middle, or end of summer. Even if you're not a grill master extraordinaire, you can use these hacks to fool your friends and family into thinking that you ...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
The sweet aroma of cooked fruit filling your kitchen is one of the trademark scents of summer. Yet attaining the perfect consistency for homemade jam can be difficult to master. Often it ends up a watery mess or over-solidifies into thick mystery goo that is destined for the t ...more
Let's be honest, most of us buy the bottom-shelf vodka either because we're broke or because we're going to disguise the gag-inducing taste of it with juice or something fizzy. If you're cooking or baking with vodka (ice-cold vodka works wonders in pie crust), what's the point ...more
In case you haven't heard, chia seeds are off of the novelty plant grower and in your supermarket. Why? Because they're a nutrient-dense food loaded with calcium and fiber (18% and 42% respectively of your RDA per one ounce of seeds). There are even some preliminary studies th ...more
The battle between Pepsi and Coke has been a grueling one, with both sides securing their secret formulas for great tasting, addicting sodas behind lock and key. But even big time companies screw up every now and then, and one of the most guarded trade secrets in the beverage ...more
Fromage blanc cheese is something every cook should experience in the kitchen. To consider yourself a real chef, you need to grab the cheesecloth and dip your hands in the cow's milk, because making cheese is a culinary experience like no other. But you can't be a cheeseparin ...more
Ice cream doesn't have to stop at vanilla. There's a whole world of ice cream flavors out there, but one you wouldn't expect to try out is basil ice cream, but not just plain basil, basil with ice cream. Lynne Viera, ice cream enthusiast, creates a dessert inspired by the Stra ...more
Ever wonder how tofu is made? Well here is a how-to video that shows you the step by step process of making fresh homemade tofu from scratch. All you really need to make tofu is dried soybeans and a little arm strength. Ingredients for tofu: 150g Dried Soy Beans 2g Calcium Su ...more
White Peach Sangria is a fruity wine base cocktail. Start by mixing brandy and riesling in a pitcher. Then add fruit (grapes, oranges, apples). Next add mango syrup (easily made from nectar), white peach puree, fresh squeezed orange juice, white cranberry juice, garnish with s ...more
As Paula Deen has taught us time and time again, butter makes everything taste better, even air. And no dish is done until you've tossed a pound of lard or a stick or two of butter into the mix. But don't settle for lumpy storebought butter. Customize your butter and make it ...more
So many people hate salad because they have the wrong conception of it. Most believe that salad is nothing more than a few pieces of lettuce, maybe some cabbage, and a few grape tomatoes. But a salad like this - your basic side salad at fast food restaurants - does absolutely ...more
Normally we all toss the liver away when we prepare a chicken feast, but maybe we should all curb that instinct from now on, because you can do wonderful things with chicken liver, like make homemade pate. Sydney Oland walks us through a savory chicken liver and golden sherry ...more
In this tutorial, learn how to make a traditional Southern apple pie with Granny Smith apples from scratch! Betty will show you a favorite recipe that she has used for over 40 years and never disappoints. Enjoy this delicious American favorite any time by following this clip f ...more
In this video Beau MacMillan demonstrates how to make crab and edamame ravioli. He begins by making the pasta with all purpose and semolina flour, eggs, salt and olive oil. He kneads the dough and lets it rest while making the orange beurre blanc sauce. The sauce uses white wi ...more
Have a big family dinner and not much time to prepare for it? Betty shows us how to make a traditional spaghetti dish with a Southern flair that is incredibly easy and equally tasty. You will impress your guests and they will think you slaved all day, when you really cooked it ...more
You don’t have to eat meat to get all the iron you need. There are many very iron rich vegetables that can be eaten on their own or juiced and drank to make sure you have appropriate amount of minerals in your blood. Step 1 Add iron to a vegan diet by eating the right types ...more
This extensive video series is all about making your own simple steam engine and boat, which is known variously as the "putt-putt" or "pop-pop" boat. Science Toy Maker gives the full details on making your own homemade steam engine model boat, which is similar to the one seen ...more
Unlike typical waxing, which strips your skin of vital moisture, causing inflamed, dry, and itchy skin as well as ingrown hairs, sugaring is a slightly gentler way of removing hair. Because it's all-natural, made generally of sugar, water, and lemon juice, it irritates the ski ...more
Recently, buyout talks between Google and Groupon ended with Groupon turning down Google's $6 million offer. But with Amazon backing LivingSocial, should they have? Your guess is as good as mine, but one thing's for sure— Groupon has a great voice, and they're sharing it with ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a manly smoothie. First, start with orange juice that is freshly juiced, then pour into a glass. Next, add in some strawberries to the glass. After this, cut some pineapple into small pieces, then place those inside of the glass on top of ...more
In this tutorial, learn how to transform an ordinary chicken breast into a juicy stuffed pocket. These breasts will be stuffed with delicious ingredients such as asiago cheese and ham. Follow along with this clip and make your tastebuds dance with this dinner! You Will Need: ...more
In this video, learn how to make a homemade lava lamp with your kids! Do this fun activity as a learning experience or science experiment and help get your children's creative juices flowing! Learn step-by-step how to create this neat-looking lava lamp in the comfort of your o ...more
Follow these easy steps to make a delicious homemade guacamole from scratch. Follow these easy steps for a delicious guacamole: Scoop out the insides of a large avocado into a medium sized bowl. Add one diced tomato, a small amount of jalapeno if desired, cilantro, garlic, abo ...more
Incorporating tofu into your diet is a great way to start eating healthy. Tofu is delicious and it can be made at home from scratch. Just watch this cooking how to video to learn how. All the ingredients and utensils you will need for this recipe are: soy beans, edible andhydr ...more
This how-to video shows you how to make homemade paneer, or Indian style cheese. Watch as Manjula shows you how it is done. Paneer goes great with desserts or as a side dish. The ingredients for paneer are: 6 cups milk 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/2 cup of water
Do you love ginger ale? If so then try making your own ginger ale at home. Its a great and simple recipe. You can try it with or without the the lemon juice.
Making applesauce at home gives it a fresh flavor that you can modify with a number of ingredients. Try these tips for homemade applesauce. You will need 1 apple per serving of applesauce. You should use an apple that won't discolor easily, like Cortland, Golden Delicious, Ida ...more
Sometimes good food and exercise is not enough to lose weight. Maybe you do it all, you drink tons of water, you exercise daily, you eat what you're supposed to and stay away from what is bad for your waist. However, you can't lose the weight you have gained over the past coup ...more
Learn how to make a pisco sour mixed drink. It’s time to brush up on your Spanish, because Peru’s delicious national drink commands mucho respect. You Will Need * A martini glass * Ice * 1 oz lemon juice * 1 oz simple syrup * A cocktail shaker * 1 oz Pisco brandy * 1 oz egg ...more
Nothin's better than freshly homemade popsicles in these hot summer months. Design Sponge has posted three delicious-sounding recipes by Ashley of Small Measure. Ashley recommends stretching your imagination: "One recipe uses coconut milk as a base, another uses yogurt, and t ...more
In this installment of Show Me the Curry, you'll learn how to make a delicious fresh fruit tart fit to rival any made for the Red Queen. For a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough of the recipé and instructions outlined below, watch this free video cooking lesson! Ingredients: ...more
Dogs teach you about unconditional love...as well as how to fry some mean prawns. At least they do so in this recipe video. Take a look to learn how to make an ebi fry, or breaded, fried prawns. The batter consists of Panko bread crumbs and an egg, ingredients which are much ...more
If you've never been a big fan of alcohol because it tastes too strong and bitter, then you should definitely give sangria a try. Sangria is a native Spanish drink that includes a mixture of a light wine (usually fruit flavored), chopped fruit, spices for an extra flavor kick, ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to blend a homemade smoothie. You will first need to grab some frozen fruits of your choice and place them into a blender. Some good fruits to use include: strawberries, pineapples, papaya, and blueberries. After this, add in strawberry ice cream ...more
Want to create your own camera? The simplest one that you can create is a pinhole camera which can be constructed from everyday household items. The items required are: a knife, a pen, a pair of scissors, a black insulation tape, a normal tape, a juice box (one that is cuboid ...more
You've never had mayonnaise like this before. Watch this video to learn how to make homemade mayonnaise from scratch. The secret ingredient is a few drops of hot sauce, to add a nice, fresh spicy kick to your sandwiches or potato salad. Yields: Approximately One Cup Ingredie ...more
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make coleslaw. The ingredients required for this recipe are: bag of shredded coleslaw mix, 1/3 cup of sugar, 1/2 tsp of salt, 1/8 tsp of black pepper, 1 1/2 tbsp of white vinegar, 2 1/2 tbsp of lemon juice, 1/4 cup of milk, 1/4 cup ...more
In this how to video Raven Symone teaches us about three different skin types and then makes a mask for her face. For dry skin you will need 1/2 a carrot, 1 avocado, and 2 tbs almond oil for your face mask. If you have oily skin you will need 1 apple, 1 egg white and 2 tbs lem ...more