The paper towel is a wondrous invention. It allows cooks to wipe up really gross stuff without having to constantly do laundry and drain fried foods so they're crunchy and crispy instead of oily and heavy. But did you know that your humble paper towel has several other uses be ...more
Cake decorating is one of those activities that used to leave my hands sticky and my spirits dampened. No matter what I seemed to do, the final result always ended up looking like a preschool art project. Thankfully, I've discovered a few tips that make the whole mess a bit m ...more
Although Christmas is a time to spend with family and be happy and full of joy, sometimes it's nice to pull a prank here and there, especially since many will not be expecting them. In this tutorial, I'm going to show you 10 simple pranks and booby traps you can set up on you ...more
There are a lot of techniques out there for how to cook the perfect steak, from flipping it multiple times to applying a spice rub or dry brine to aging the beef. But it turns out that there's a super-easy way to make a great steak at home, and all you need is a good cast-iron ...more
Sometimes you've got a head of lettuce that you want to eat but it lacks a certain youth. In other words, it's wilted and browning at the edges. Other times, you get to the grocery store near the end of day and the only lettuce or greens available look a little on the sad side ...more
Just because a problem is small or superficial doesn't mean it can't annoy the living crap out of you. Others may think you're overreacting, or even have the audacity to roll their eyes, but you're in your own personal hell. First-world problems, white whines—call it whatever ...more
If you're anything like me, the urge to bake comes in waves. Winter constitutes an especially large wave; when I need to put on a few extra pounds for insulation, I go a bit carb crazy and take any opportunity to make breads, pies, and cakes. However, home bakers are limited ...more
Maybe not water per-se, but with this simple technique you can turn one of the most abundant materials on earth into a highly explosive gas. WARNING: Ignition of an incendiary or explosive material may not be legal in your area, so check local laws before attempting. Use of t ...more
It's that time of year again. The month after we exchange gifts, most of us tend to exchange germs. Cold and flu season always seems to creep up on us, often leaving us ill-prepared to deal with the ailments. For those of you suffering from fits of coughing and a sore throat ...more
Cast iron is one of the best surfaces to cook on, but taking care of it is a whole 'nother story. It's not as simple as just washing it in soapy water like all of your other pans, and everyone has different ideas about how it should be done. It seems intimidating at first, but ...more
Despite being disgusting, houseflies are actually beneficial to humans in a few ways. As scavengers, they help the environment by eating rotting organic matter, and make great food for pet tarantulas. Regardless of the advantages to their existence, having them in your home ca ...more
Some bacteria can already do it—generate electric current, that is—and those microbes are called "electrogenic." Now, thanks to the work of a research group from the University of California, Santa Barbara, we know how to easily turn non-electrogenic bacteria into electricity ...more
Add breathing in your house as another possible danger to your health. If your home is sick, it's possible you could get sick too. The term "sick building syndrome" hit the airwaves years ago as a one size fits all reference to homes and buildings that are just too efficient ...more
Making your own leaf skeleton is a fun, DIY project where you strip green leaves of their outer coating and tissue, leaving behind the "skeleton" of delicate veins underneath. Leaf skeletons can then be used as framed art pieces, or delicate decor for homemade cards or ornamen ...more
If you're anything like me, you probably think it's borderline sacrilege to even think about a sandwich or a burger that doesn't have a layer of smooth mayonnaise. But I don't just keep a jar of it in my fridge for lunch—it's also there for practical purposes. I learned this ...more
A little cooking mistake can lead to tough meat, spoiled food, and even a bacterial explosion in your kitchen if you're not careful. These five simple, easy-to-fix kitchen mistakes are some of the most commonly made in households around the world. Luckily, you can correct thes ...more
Want to wrap your Christmas gifts in a memorable way? Give your gift recipient a DIY super-secret book safe, and while you are at it, hide a small gift inside the the secret safe. Or, if you plan on giving a gift card, create a snow globe out of a mason jar and water and glitt ...more
Herbs, both fresh and dried, can be intimidating and mysterious to cooks. Just how much is too much? How do you prepare them? Food writer Mark Bittman says you should think of herbs as "teeny vegetables." To me, that means we should be using more herbs in our food, especially ...more
Nom Nom Nom Pizza! Video: . What you need to make the Quinoa pizza crust. 3 cups of Quinoa soaked overnight (make sure you drain and clean the quinoa) Below are base per cup of soaked Quinoa 1/2 cup of water 1 Tbsp oregano 1 Tsp black pepper 1/2 Tbsp garlic powder 1 Tsp crus ...more
Let's take a minute and talk about something you're doing wrong — using the restroom. Many view the subject as improper or even taboo, but why? Thanks to your upbringing, you've assumed you know the basics... But you don't. Avoiding discussion on the subject has led many of us ...more
A lukewarm can of soda placed in a refrigerator can take about 45 minutes to chill. On the other hand, a lukewarm can of soda placed in a bowl of ice, water, and table salt can take less than 5 minutes. Don't have ice lying around? Wrap your can or bottle in a wet paper towel ...more
Costume parties are in full effect this weekend, so with that said, how cool would this look at your Halloween party? Instructables user castor009 made two holes in the head (one for inserting the PVC tube, the other where the liquid will spew out) and insert the pipe and tubi ...more
Your smartphone stays with you everywhere you go, so it's only a matter of time before you spill coffee all over it or drop it on the ground. For some of you, it has already happened, perhaps even multiple times. That's why we thought it was important to find out which flagshi ...more
To make yourself a tasty meal during a camping trip, all you need are chopped up raw meats and vegetables, glowing embers, and a roll of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Simply place ingredients in a tightly wrapped aluminum foil packet, place on hot embers, and wait until everything ...more
Making cookies is one of the best things in life, especially around the holidays. There is nothing better than getting together with friends and family and bonding by baking cookies. What stinks about cookies is that without proper cookie cutters, they come out oddly shaped. ...more
There's no shortage of ways to filter water, but it doesn't get much simpler than this. Researchers at MIT have found that you can turn dirty water into drinking water with nothing more than a stick. Mechanical engineer Rohit Karnik figured out that the xylem tissue in plants ...more
The promotional images for American Horror Story: Cult have been some of the most arresting in recent memory. They mash coulrophobia, trypophobia, and body horror together with some serious economy into a succinct, colorful, image. It's like a bad car accident that you can't s ...more
From fungi to foie gras, the weird ingredient cocktail game across the nation is growing by leaps and bounds. We had our hesitations about trying some of them out, and especially about attempting to make any ourselves, so we did a bit more research and realized the flavor prof ...more
Many home chefs are deterred from whisk-intensive recipes such as mayonnaise because they seem to require more than two hands—which is obviously the maximum number we possess. One hand is required to stabilize the bowl, another must be whisking constantly... and a third hand i ...more
Ice pops are like summer on a stick, with all the sweetness and stickiness of July and August. Store-bought popsicles, although refreshing, are never as good as homemade. So it's time to up your popsicle game with some of these beautiful creations, including some boozy pops (p ...more
I'm a firm believer that a sandwich is the ultimate food. It's filling, but not heavy; it has carbs, protein, veggies, and sauces; and it's easily customizable. Add that all up and you've got the absolutely perfect lunch. Yet like most great things in life, there's a “but” th ...more
Seagrass may help your favorite beach stay a little less toxic. A new study, led by Joleah Lamb, a postdoctoral researcher in the Harvell Lab at Cornell University, found that coastal seagrasses reduce levels of pathogens dangerous to humans and marine organisms in near-shore ...more
Often, despite your favorite makeup mecca's rows and rows of endless colors, applicators, and brands, it's hard to find the perfect shade of lipstick—especially one at the price you want. Rather than resorting to what's available in stores, turn to your stovetop and a box of c ...more
Normally, office supplies and food don't mix, but you can use a paper shredder to make fresh pasta in your very own home (...or office). In other words, you don't have to buy a bulky and expensive piece of equipment to make fresh pasta. If you already have a paper shredder, yo ...more
You know you've had a long day when you head home with a headache, back pain, and eyes so sore they feel like they might roll out of your head. Turns out your medicine cabinet isn't the only place you can find help—instead of popping painkillers, just open up your wallet for i ...more
Microbial cells can improve the functionality of clothes in creative and useful ways, including cooling us down during a workout or making clothing glow for better visibility. The innovative products were developed by a team of 14 researchers from MIT, in such broadly diverse ...more
To shine light on the future of the relationship between humans and viruses, a team of researchers from the University of Oxford looked into the dim and distant past. Without the capability to reproduce on their own, viruses infect other organisms, literally inserting their D ...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
Dinner is meant to be enjoyed after a long day away from home—it shouldn't cause stress or fuss. But for many, that's exactly what a home-cooked meal represents, especially on a work night. The prep work, the steps involved in following the recipe, the numerous amount of bowls ...more
Two slices of whole-wheat toast with lots of butter. Two eggs, poached to a firm yet custardy texture. The yolks should absolutely not be hard-cooked and the whites should be tender, not rubbery. That's my idea of the perfect breakfast. A golden, runny-but-not-liquid yolk, cre ...more
Back in 2007, YouTube user HouseholdHacker posted a parody video on how to make a high-def speaker for under a buck. MythBusters took on the challenge and busted it. Although that particular method doesn't seem to work, that doesn't mean you can't make your own speaker for le ...more
Getting hot and steamy can be awesome, as illustrated in the 1997 smash hit Titanic. But having the bathroom mirrors fog up during a nice hot shower can be very annoying. Getting ready in the morning can already be rushed, and wiping down your mirrors after your shower wastes ...more
Easter isn't the typical occasion for pranking your friends, co-workers, or boss (if you dare). But this Easter egg-inspired prank by Redditor cheesewing is pretty ingenious, and handing out chocolate eggs any other day of the year might raise some suspicion. The directions a ...more
Make Beautiful Cherry Blossoms Out of IcingDecorating a cake or cupcake with cherry blossoms is easy - I'll show you how. First gather what you need: STIFF icing (see below for icing recipe) STIFF icing in brown for stamens, MEDIUM icing in brown for branches (see step #7 belo ...more
Grace Bonney from Design-Sponge shows how to create a corkboard and tray from sun print fabric (similar to the craft sun print paper, and available at bluesunprints.com). First iron the sun print fabric, far away from a light source. If printing leaves, first flatten them in a ...more
One of the most popular and basic origami geometric shapes is the "water bomb," which is a simple inflated cube. With a few extra folds and only a minor shift in approach, a more complex geometric shape can be achieved. This 24-faced, 3-dimensional object is formed using 8 id ...more
If you love boats but hate the open waters, the best thing you could probably do is get over your fear, or… grab some paper and make an origami sailboat. You won't need to take your feet off land with this kind of boat, unless you're jumping for joy after successful completion ...more
This tutorial will show you how to make a rocket ship using the ancient Japanese art form of origami. It's a rather complicated process for beginners, and it's a good idea to work your way up to this project by first making origami shapes that involve similar folds, such as th ...more
In this tutorial, Lowe's teaches us how to hang wallpaper. Wallpaper can update a room and give it personality. Make sure you prep and measure your wall before you begin to hang. Now, cut out your paper to the appropriate size for your wall, then draw a line on the wall from t ...more
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to repair a small hole in the wall. The materials needed for this process are drywall tape, water, patching compound, and a drywall knife. Begin by placing the drywall tape over the hole. Then mix some water with the patching compound ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to poach an egg in under four minutes. First, fill a pan 2/3 of the way full with water and bring it almost to a boil on high heat. Once the heat is almost boiling, turn the heat down to medium heat. Once you've done this, pour a splash of white ...more
This is one water bomb that's more postmodern art than scary - though fun - splashy summertime weapon. Using intricate tessellated origami folds and a drawn-on grid you'll learn how to create this interesting shape. The resulting shape can be modified; you can scrunch it toge ...more
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make crispy rice noodles. Begin with a 6-8 oz package of vermicelli rice noodles and soak them in water for 20 minutes. Then drain the noodles into a colander and let the dry. Now add 2-3 cups of peanut oil into a wok and heat it on ...more
Lisa shows us how to clean up spilled candle wax using an iron and a paper towel, a trick from Japanese Urawaza. The household ingenuity captured herein really caught fire in the post-war period, when Occupied Japan's poor economy made a virtue out of frugal and clever homebr ...more
Cook 2-4 cups of oatmeal. Put 1.5-3 cups uncooked oatmeal in a pot with 3-6 cups water (there should be about twice as much water as oatmeal). Boil on the stove, stirring more frequently until the oatmeal reaches the desired consistency. Add .75-1.5 cups of sweetened coconut ...more
Forget apple pie. Bring fresh summer pears into your kitchen for a wonderful dessert which blends ripe, juicy pears, candied ginger and creamy goat cheese into a tasty, rustic tart. This tart dessert will take some time and precision inside the kitchen, but it's well worth the ...more
If you're a fan of Sicilian foods, you might also like these chickpea fritters. They're crispy golden triangles of fried chickpea dough. Yum! These crispy chickpea fritters, known as panel, are crunchy and salty Sicilian street treats. And it only takes a few ingredients! This ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to make Indian chaat: Batata vada. To make the vadas, you will need: 2 lbs peeled and mashed potatoes, 1/2 tbsp ginger, 1/2 tbsp green chili paste, 1 tsp roasted cumin powder, 1 tsp sugar, salt, `.5 tbsp lemon juice, and 10 sprigs cilantro. To ma ...more
Scrabble isn't just for playing Scrabble anymore— there's a whole world of uses for the game and its pieces. One particular use is in jewelry— those Scrabble letter tiles are the perfect size for creating DIY pendants! In this video, you'll get a step-by-step guide on how you ...more
Rust protection doesn't have to cost a fortune. With a little zinc and some electricity, you can protect your precious metals from rust by galvanization. When you galvanize something, you're giving it a protective coating, and in this case, it's a zinc coating. Watch this sci ...more