Leave it to some lazy college kids to attempt to figure out a way to brew a pot of coffee without leaving the couch. Actually, this project wasn't lazy at all—quite the opposite, in fact. Created by Ohio State University students Carter Hurd and David Frank during HackOHI/O 2 ...more
Are you stranded in a hotel room with no kitchen, but craving the comfort of a home-cooked meal? Fear not, I have found some interesting ways to cook food without the luxury of an oven, stove, microwave, or even a toaster!—also known as "hotel room cooking." This information ...more
Hey, coffee drinkers—your morning cup of joe is killing your metabolism. If you count on coffee to jump-start your day and your diet, you might want to think twice. Swapping a hearty breakfast for a cup of coffee does your body more harm than good. Although caffeine suppresse ...more
Fall is here, and it's time for warm, filling meals... that don't involve a lot of effort, because it is getting cold outside and you spent a full day at work wishing you were on the couch with a blanket over your head, dammit. Solidarity, my friend—you are not alone. As a me ...more
We've been on a constant hunt for the best way to make almond milk at home, and we think this trick might just be the most genius yet. You see, we've been big almond milk fans for years now. We put it in smoothies, coffee, baked goods, eggs; you name it, we've probably tried ...more
Iced coffee may not be as simple as brewing hot coffee and sticking it in the fridge until it cools down, but it's still very simple to make if you plan ahead. Simply mix together 1 part ground coffee (coarsely ground, full-bodied dark roasts work best) with 4.5 parts filtere ...more
As an avid coffee drinker, I used to be a big fan of single-serve coffee machines. One day, the machine decided to stop working—which does happen from time to time—so I decided to go old school and use my automatic drip. Then, I realized that all I had were pods of single-serv ...more
It wasn't that long ago that we started seeing a variety of beers catering to the Steampunk crowd, so why not some wine? I was at home last night, minding my own business, when one of our friends brought over a bottle of wine that practically screamed "Steampunk!" I mean, I s ...more
Summer is right around the corner, which means it's time to switch from perfect hot coffee to perfect cold coffee. A nice icy glass of cold coffee is wildly refreshing and just plain delicious. In my opinion, it's the key to enjoying any sunny day (warning: if you don't alread ...more
Coffee is a topic that everyone has a strong opinion about, especially when it comes to brewing the perfect cup. Even if you buy the best beans and grind them yourself, chances are you're skipping one necessary step to make sure your coffee tastes the best it can: cleaning you ...more
Sitting in a cubicle and never seeing sunlight during the workday is unpleasant to even think about—and sitting in a flourescent-light cube can have terrible effects on both our work performance and overall attitude. Yet there are ways to counteract the effects of cubicle sitt ...more
It's fall—so whether or not it's cold in your part of the world, it's time for apples and anything apple-related. (Please, don't get me started on pumpkin things. Seriously.) Don't Miss: Mulling Spices: The Process for Making a Great-Tasting Giftable Drink Apple cider—or sp ...more
Cold brewing tea and coffee are all the rage, and for good reason: they're idiot-proof. I, personally, am a total dunce at brewing coffee. It either ends up strong enough to peel paint from a car or so weak that you can see through it. Meanwhile, I have friends who inevitably ...more
Like a strong-tasting cup of joe, but want more caffeine out of it? Start double brewing your coffee. To paraphrase a big fan of the double brew process on Reddit, it'll make you feel like you can throw an orange at 60 percent the speed of light. It's that strong. Really. Don ...more
One of my favorite things to do when I visit my parents is cook. Aside from the fact that I adore cooking with my mom, there's something comforting about returning to the kitchen that I first started playing in 20 years ago. Nearly all of the tools and appliances are the same ...more
Cleanliness is next to godliness. My interpretation of that age-old adage means that keeping your house clean is just as un-fun and boring as being a goody two shoes. That's why they call things like laundry and doing dishes "chores," I assume. Yuck. Lucky for you, though, we ...more
Other than helping you make your morning cup of joe, coffee filters have a number of surprisingly practical uses that have nothing to do with coffee. The particular texture of coffee filter paper makes it perfect for cleaning your reading glasses, computer monitors, windows, ...more
Even if you've put aside your percolator and have gone the way of the pod coffeemaker, there are still dozens of ways to use your leftover coffee filters. Incredibly cheap, absorbent, and shaped with a ruffle, coffee filters are useful in the kitchen, garden, and around the ho ...more
Need a remedy for your sore muscles after going the gym? Rather than spending money on expensive warming rubs, you can whip up your own DIY, all-natural warming rub concoction in the comfort of your own kitchen using a double boiler, olive oil, beeswax, and various spices. If ...more
We never have a wealth of cheese leftovers in my house since we love the stuff so much, but I'm always happy after a cocktail party if we do, because I know I can turn it quickly and easily into fromage fort. To create this incredible French spread, all you need to add to your ...more
There was once a time when everyone scoffed at the turmeric tonic tea sold at the coffee shop I work at. Funny, because as of recently, we seem to be selling out. How can this be explained? Beyoncé must have been spotted buying turmeric beverages on the cover of some celebrity ...more
Your slow cooker isn't just for making lunch and dinner—it's also perfect for making a complete and super delicious breakfast with little work. Slow cookers let you wake up to the smell of breakfast, or will let you spend your morning outside of the kitchen while they do the ...more
It's common knowledge that certain foods foster brain development, health, and memory. Fish almost always makes the list, as do any foods that are loaded with antioxidants like blueberries, nuts, whole grains, green tea, and dark chocolate. Spices like turmeric are being studi ...more
I am a man who enjoys a good cup of crap. Not just any crap, but the kind that makes the Seattle coffee-snob inside of me feel all warm and happy as if the sun were out (which of course it isn't.) It's the kind of crap that has traveled through the intestinal tracts of a noctu ...more
You either love kimchi or you hate it, but for those of us who love it, its salty, briny, spicy crunch is the stuff of life. Honestly, if you're not eating it regularly, you should start, since it's being studied for an amazing list of health benefits, including anti-cancer, a ...more
Many of us are guilty of sacrificing a delicious breakfast for a few extra minutes of sleep in the morning during the busy work week. Grab-and-go breakfasts are definitely timesavers, but granola bars and other packaged items often lack the fresh breakfast feel that makes the ...more
If you normally take your iced coffee with plain old cream and sugar, you'll find that Starbucks recently-introduced Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew will really hit the spot. It's icy, smooth, and perfectly sweetened with vanilla syrup. Maybe you've tried this drink at Starbuck ...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
Even the most seasoned cook is always looking for ways to make cooking easier and cleaning up after meal prep a breeze. There are a million and one tricks and tips out there to simplify your kitchen routines, but some of them are more valuable than others. Don't Miss: 5 Commo ...more
The first written account of "stock" as a culinary staple goes back to 1653, when La Varenne's Cookery described boiling mushroom stems and table scraps with other ingredients (such as herbs and basic vegetables) in water to use for sauces. But really, the concept of stock has ...more
Coffee! It's so amazing that J.S. Bach wrote a comic opera about caffeine addiction. Meanwhile, more than half of Americans 18 years or older start their day with a cup of the hot stuff. Most of us take coffee for granted, but it's a bean that can surprise you. Read on to unde ...more
In this article, I will be showing you how to make a crude form of aspirin from the bark of a willow tree. It is a great remedy for headaches, hangovers, and other minor pain. The use of the willow tree as a mild pain reliever goes back to the Native Americans, who used it in ...more
Wait, don't dump that milk! It may have a slightly sour smell and be expiring tomorrow, but you can still put it to good use by making sour milk jam. Sour milk jam is made by cooking down the expiring milk with sugar and then adding crème fraîche. The pleasantly sour flavor o ...more
I always have several sheets of puff pastry in my freezer. It's unlike any other pastry dough: the layers of butter let out steam when the dough bakes (hence, the "puff" in puff pastry). The dough's flakiness perfectly compliments sweet and savory dishes, which makes it a tota ...more
All day I dream of eggs: scrambled, poached, over easy, hard-boiled, fried, baked, raw... Okay, the last one is a joke (unless you're Gaston, which means that you eat five dozen of them and you're roughly the size of a barge). But eggs are freaking good in just about any cooki ...more
If you've already read the first part exploring what geniuses actually eat as opposed to what the rest of us are told to eat for brain health, you've noticed that there are some big discrepancies. Instead of favoring healthy, wholesome foods high in antioxidants, lots of high- ...more
The microwave oven is a monumental technological achievement that's saved college students and single people from starvation for decades. Almost 97% of all American households have one, which makes it the most-owned kitchen appliance in US homes right after the refrigerator. ...more
About ten years ago, Western research figured out that green tea was a nutritional powerhouse. After all, in Asian countries where green tea is consumed throughout the day, cancer rates tend to be much lower, although there are probably other factors contributing to that fact, ...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
Watch to learn how to say the names of the types of things you find in an antique store or at a flea market in French. un album de photo - photo album un appareil-photo - camera une armoire - suit of armor une balance - balance une boîte metallique - metal box une brosse - bru ...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
You thought the normal Thanksgiving turkey took forever! Wait until you try out this recipe for turkey leg confit. If you have the patience, you could make this holiday dinner one to remember. Everyone will be more than satisfied. So satisfied, that Thanksgiving will always be ...more
Moules marinière is a delicious French recipe, where "moules" means mussels and "marinière" means mariner's style. It's a classic mussels dish great for any seafood and shellfish lover. But remember… classic does not have to be complicated. Martin Breslin, Director for Culina ...more
Kids have an infamous reputation for thinking vegetables are icky. After all, when compared to more fatty and grease-loaded foods like Hot Cheetos and french fries, it seems veggies just taste too...healthy. Which is apparently not a good thing in the eyes of a sugar and salt- ...more
Crème Brulée is a classic French dessert. Watch this video to learn how to make a delicious Crème Brulée. Active Time: 30 min Total Time: 4 hr Serves: 4 to 6 Step 1: Making the Brulée * 2 cup whipping cream (heavy cream) * 1 whole vanilla bean * 1 1/2 tsp. orange zest (or 2 ...more
In this video, we learn how to recycle old windows into new decorations. First, you can make a coffee table by using the old window and adding legs onto the bottom of it. You can also place a box around the bottom and hinge the window to make a display case. This is simple to ...more
In this tutorial, Chef John from Food Wishes shows us how to make a simple bordelaise sauce. First, take 4 shallots and peel and slice them. Place them into a saucepan with a little bit of butter and a pinch of salt. Slowly caramelize the shallots over low-medium heat. Once th ...more
Feel you have too small of a kitchen to keep everything you need inside it? Not true. Even if you have a small kitchen and a small budget, you can still save money by stocking it efficiently. You Will Need: • Basic pantry staples • Multi-purpose cookware Step 1: Start with ...more
Can't remember when to water the plants? Wish they could just tell you when they need watering—just call you on the phone or something? Or maybe text you, "Help I'm desiccating!" Telecommunications researcher Kate Harman has come up with the device of an absent-minded plant ow ...more
Fight your acne with the use of French green clay. In this video, learn how to use French green clay to fight infections and reduce inflammation. This remedy is used to calm down acne, or irritated, red skin and is perfect for sensitive skin. You can purchase French green clay ...more
This is a video demonstrating how to make Thai Iced tea. The presenter explains that Thai tea mix can be bought at a local Asian market. She explains that it costs about 5 dollars. She says that one package can last a long time. Sugar and boiling water, ice and half and half i ...more
Do you want some cold soup perfect for the hot summer weather? Watch this how to video to learn how to make cold potato soup French kitchen-style... the classic Vichyssoise! Vichyssoise soup ingredients: 6 cups chicken stock 4 cups peeled and diced potatoes 4 cups leeks salt, ...more
Enjoy this tasty side dish as a sweet treat any time of the year. You Will Need * 4 lb. yams * 2 c. orange juice * 3 c. light corn syrup * 1 tsp. ground cinnamon * 1 tsp. ground nutmeg * 1/4 c. vanilla extract * 2 tsp. lemon zest * 2 tbsp. flour * 1-1/2 c. light brown sugar * ...more
Intro to Camotes Older Filipinos love eating camotes, also known as sweet potato fries, for breakfast. Aside from filling your stomach completely, it also has fewer carbs than regular white rice. But, we, the Filipino generation Y, are more used to potato fries, known more c ...more
Penny pincher? A true believer in "waste not want not"? Then listen up—here's a quick tip that will save you some spare change. Scenario 1: We're all guilty of negligently abandoning a freshly bought sponge in a pot full of dirty dishes and food-littered water. Let that bad b ...more
Your roommate swears by 'hair of the dog' or chugging raw eggs and tomato juice, but do these hangover cures actually work? What do the scientists say? 1. Hair of the Dog—DELAYING THE INEVITABLE You couldn't be more disgusted thinking about taking another sip of frozen marga ...more
Nothing says “New Orleans” like this thick soup. This recipe makes a Creole-style gumbo, using chicken or shrimp. You Will Need * 1 lb. fresh okra * 1/2 c. plus 2 tbsp. vegetable oil * 1 1/2 lb. whole shrimp in the shell * 1/2 lb. andouille sausage * 1/2 lb. boneless chicken * ...more
So, at this time of the year, everyone seems to be going through a lot of stress - and by “everyone,” I mean, “anyone who has any contact with people who are in schools of any kind.” Still, stress can hit you at any time of the year, whether it’s right before Christmas, or whe ...more
House Café offers traditional American food with a heavy Mexican influence. The restaurant is located near Crescent Heights and Beverly Blvd, sandwiched between The Grove and The Beverly Hills Mall. We’ve (wife and I) visited this restaurant several times, here are our impress ...more
If you're on a tight budget for food, whether you're in college, or someone just starting out living on their own, you're probably low on money and sick of ramen noodles. Don't get me wrong, ramen can be tasty and filling, and there is almost nothing cheaper. Sadly, people ar ...more