5 Minute Crafts Magazine - November 2018 by Lawrence Ambrocio

IN FULL BLOOM 2 ways to grow roses

EASY CARAMEL APPLES

November 2018 $5.99 (Canada) $3.99 (US)

PHOTO TRICKS & TIPS

11.2018

CONTENTS

“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” – Orhan Pamuk (author, My Name Is Red )

NOVEMBER 2018

CONTENTS

style

home

BLUSH UP YOUR LOOK Blush is a must in most of our makeup bags. Many women apply it to their faces to highlight and add color to their cheeks.

BLOOMING GLORY These flowers are easy to grow at home. Also, they bring a creative touch to your garden with their pleasant scent and vibrant colors.

20 CARBON BEAUTY One of the most complete masks for facial care is the activated charcoal mask. It helps to open the pores of your face while at the same time eliminates impurities. It can also help you prevent acne and the formation of blackheads.

features

food

COLOR FORCE It sounds unbelievable, but the majority of colors consist of just 3 primary shades: red, yellow, and blue. You just need to know how to mix them.

SWEET APPLES Candy apples are often found at city festivals, fairs, and other celebrations.

EDITOR'S LETTER

AUTUMNAL AROMA Dried oranges are truly versatile. Not only are they a handy snack, but they can also serve as unique home decor.

PHOTO WORKS Everyone today takes photos with their phones. But many people are sure that a mobile phone’s camera is just a camera with one button and that’s why most photos are taken automatically.

health

FALLING FOR PUMPKINS Pumpkin cream soup has already become a classic autumn dish. It has a soft, buttery taste, it’s easy to prepare, and consists of simple ingredients that can be found in almost any store.

living

WEIGHT MATTERS If you feel like you’re a little underweight, either for personal reasons or for professional ones, there are healthy ways to gain a few pounds, like by gaining muscle instead of fat, for example.

PICTURE PERFECT A unique way to display your favorite prints is by transferring them onto wood. You can use any type of wood you wish, like on trays, stools, crates, or simply a piece of scrap wood. The procedure is easy

NOVEMBER 2018

departments

TRICKS & TIPS

CHILL & DRAW COVER PHOTO © IDEAS EN 5 MINUTOS/YOUTUBE

TANYA WENMAN STEEL Editor In-Chief

FOOD DIRECTOR Annabelle Waugh FASHION & BEAUTY DIRECTOR Julia McEwen HOME & GARDEN DIRECTOR Brett Walther MANAGING EDITOR Day Helesic TEST KITCHEN SENIOR FOOD SPECIALIST Irene Fong FOOD SPECIALISTS Jennifer Bartoli, Amanda Barnier ARTICLES EDITOR, FOOD Gilean Watts INTERN Jessica Bronstein ART CONSULTING DESIGN DIRECTOR Brendan Fisher ACTING ART DIRECTOR June F. Anderson SENIOR ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Henrietta Poon CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTORS Lisa de Nikolits, Leanne Gilbert FEATURES HEALTH EDITOR Kate Daley CONTRIBUTING HEALTH EDITOR Tralee Pearce SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR Jill Buchner ASSOCIATE EDITOR, FASHION & BEAUTY Andrea Karr CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Jacqueline Kovacs COPY & OPERATIONS EDITORIAL OPERATIONS & ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Olga Goncalves Costa COPY EDITOR Stephanie Zolis CONTRIBUTING COPY EDITORS Ruth Hanley, Debbie Madsen Villamere ASSISTANT EDITOR Teresa Sousa INTERNS William Dixon, Thalia Gamage, Natalie Wong EDITORIAL DEPUTY EDITOR Jessica Pollack SENIOR EDITORS Ariel Brewster, Sadiya Dendar, Simone Olivero CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Claire Gagne ASSISTANT EDITOR Kevin John Siazon COPY EDITOR Kelly Jones PROOFREADER Janet Morassutti INTERNS Emily McDonald, Arisa Valyear ART CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Colleen Nicholson IN-HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHERS Carmen Cheung, Erik Putz

MARKETING SERVICES & CREATIVE SOLUTIONS GENERAL SALES MANAGER Caroline K. Breton CREATIVE BRAND DIRECTOR Laura Denton CONTENT DIRECTOR Kim Alison Fraser MANAGING EDITOR Renée Sylvestre-Williams MANAGER, STRATEGY AND IDEATION Stevie Gorrie STRATEGISTS Sarah Drake, Jessica Lee, Marcela Perez ART DIRECTORS Susan Jackson, Suzanne LaCorte, Peter Robertson JUNIOR COPY WRITER Victoria DiPlacibo SENIOR DIRECTOR, CLIENT DELIVERY Stefany Pierce CAMPAIGN MANAGERS Melissa Carmichael, Ivan McBurney, Rob Stephenson, Inga Terzopoulos

PRODUCTION PRODUCTION TEAM LEAD Carol Zephyrine

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We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. 5 Minute Crafts is published monthly except January/February and July/August by Rogers Media, Inc. One Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, ON M4Y 2Y5 or 1-800-2689119. Contents Copyright 2018 by Rogers Media, Inc. may not be reprinted without written permission. Article proposals and manuscripts must be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes and sufficient postage; otherwise they will not be returned or acknowledged. While the publishers will take all reasonable care, they will not be responsible for the loss of any manuscript, drawing or photograph. ISSN 0128-1839. Single copy price $5.99 + tax. Full subscription prices: Canada, 1 year (10 issues), $15 + tax. In the U.S., 1 year $45 + tax; Other countries $75 + tax, Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Printed in Canada. 5 Minute Crafts, it's affiliate and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, distribute, store and archive such as unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensate of any sort.

EDITOR'S NOTE

Rule of Manners R

ecently, I invited a few friends over for dinner. I love to cook, but these days I spend more of my time appealing to picky toddler palates than to sophisticated grown-up ones. So I called my mom, a consummate hostess, for advice. Mom has rules, and she shared them with me that night. Rule No. 1: “Your mood will set the mood for your guests, so relax.” (This is Mom’s most important rule ... aside from No. 4*, that is.) Rule No. 2: “Keep the food simple.” Never over-seasoned, overworked, or overcomplicated, Mom’s staple meals celebrate fresh ingredients that don’t need embellishment. Rule No. 3: “An inviting environment is more important than delicious food.” After we hung up, I couldn’t get the last rule out of my mind. While she’d certainly lifted (some of ) the pressure off the menu, she’d also given me something a bit less tangible to think about. What is it about welcoming spaces that make them so, well, welcoming? *Rule No. 4: “If you serve enough wine, they won’t care how the food tastes.” Cheers to that!

TANYA WENMAN STEEL Editor In-Chief

DID YOU KNOW?

THE THANKSGIVING PRICES What it cost last year to feed a table of 10 Thanksgiving dinner, reports the latest annual American Farm Bureau Federation price survey. That was a 37 cent increase over 2013. Every year, the federation sends out volunteer shoppers from across the country with the same list of Thanksgiving staples to scout out and report on the best prices, ignoring promotions and sales. Even with a 16-pound bird costing a little over $20, along with price jumps for sweet potatoes, whipping cream, milk, crudités, green peas, and pumpkin pie mix, the volunteers still spent less than $50 total after piling on the cranberries, piecrusts, stuffing, and rolls, plus basics, such as coffee, butter, evaporated milk, onions, eggs, sugar, and flour.

NOVEMBER 2018

style

BLUSH UP YOUR LOOK Blush is a must in most of our makeup bags. Many women apply it to their faces to highlight and add color to their cheeks. Others use it to get a more pronounced facial contour or to achieve a slimmer, more defined effect. When it comes to picking the right product, women are increasingly leaning toward more organically produced and chemical-free products.

NOVEMBER 2018

STYLE

Method 1: Lipstick + facial cream

Method 2: Beetroot + honey + coconut oil

What you’ll need Lipstick, the color of your choice Facial cream

What you’ll need 1 medium-size beet 1 tbsp of honey 1 tbsp of coconut oil

1. Place the lipstick in a container. 2. Add some facial cream to it. 3. Mix well. 4. You will get a doughy consistency. Let it dry and get compact. 5. Apply as usual with the help of a brush or using your own fingers.

1. In a bowl, place a beet that is cut into squares and pour the honey over it. 2. Add the coconut oil. Mix the ingredients well until you get a liquid blend. 3. Pour the liquid through a strainer into a container and cover it. Freeze for 4 to 6 hours. 4. Use as makeup on the desired area.

Method 3: Rose Petals + alcohol What you’ll need Fresh petals from a blooming red rose 1 tbsp of alcohol White paper 1. Remove the petals from the rose, put them inside a mortar, and pour the alcohol over them. 2. Crush the wet petals until you get an almost liquid consistency. 3. Place the mixture in a fine cloth to strain. 4. Squeeze out the debris completely. 5. Dip a strip of paper into the liquid. Soak it. 6. Let the strips of paper dry separately. Apply the blush by rubbing the piece of paper on your face.

Method 4: Beet + clay

Method 5: Raspberries + coconut oil

What you’ll need 2 tbsp tablespoons of clay 1 cup of beet juice The juice of half a lemon

What you’ll need 1 cup of fresh raspberries ½ cup of coconut oil

1. In a glass container, mix the clay and beet juice. 2. Add the lemon juice. Combine the ingredients thoroughly. 3. Pour the liquid into an ice cube tray. Freeze for 34 hours. 4. Rub a cube over the desired area. 5. With a paper towel or piece of cloth, remove the excess liquid.

NOVEMBER 2018

1. Place the raspberries and coconut oil in a food processor. 2. Blend the ingredients well until you get a doughy consistency. 3. Pour the mixture into a small container. 4. Apply with a brush on the desired area of your face.

STYLE

Method 6: Eyeshadow + alcohol What you’ll need Eyeshadow, the color or colors of your choice Alcohol 1. In a bowl, mix some eyeshadow with a few drops of rubbing alcohol. 2. Stir well until you achieve a doughy consistency. 3. Place the blend on an empty makeup palette. If you want to make a multicolored blush, repeat the steps above for each color. 4. When you’ve covered the whole makeup palette with the mixture, compress it with the help of a napkin; this will also draw out the excess moisture. 5. Apply with a pad wherever you want on your face. 6. Use a brush to blend the product.

NOVEMBER 2018

Method 7: Use a beet If you’re in a hurry and don’t have any blush on hand, just apply half a beet directly to your face. 1. Cut a raw beet in half. 2. Slide the moist surface of it on your cheeks. 3. Blend it on your face with your fingers.

STYLE

CARBON BEAUTY

One of the most complete masks for facial care is the activated charcoal mask. It helps to open the pores of your face while at the same time eliminates impurities. It can also help you prevent acne and the formation of blackheads.

NOVEMBER 2018

STYLE

With unflavored gelatin 5-6 activated charcoal tablets 1 tbsp unflavored gelatin powder 3 tbsp of hot water

With clay

1. Place the activated charcoal tablets and the gelatin in a container. 2. Add the hot water and mix well until you obtain a moderately thick consistency but without any lumps. Let it cool down for a few minutes. 3. Dip a flat make-up brush into the mix to get a bit of the mix you just made. 4. Apply the mask to your face, always keeping it away from the eye contour area. 5. Leave on for 10 minutes. Then gently remove it.

15 tablets of activated charcoal 3 tbsp of hot water 3 tbsp of white clay 1. Crush the activated charcoal tablets, pour in the hot water, and add the clay. 2. Stir well until you get a viscous consistency without lumps. 3. Place the mixture in an empty deodorant container. Allow it to solidify before use. 4. Apply to the desired areas. Wait 10 minutes before removing the mask.

Tips and suggestions Before using any type of mask you should always wash your face and make sure you’re not wearing any makeup After using the activated charcoal mask, rinse your face with plenty of warm water. Dry and moisturize your face with a special face cream. For a deeper facial cleansing, you can use an exfoliant after applying the mask. If you have oily skin, you can use activated charcoal masks a maximum of twice a week. If you have dry skin, only use it once every 2 weeks. Activated charcoal works as a natural antiinflammatory and helps to heal wounds or cuts. If you are stung by a bee or have irritated pores, you can apply it as a paste, it will lower the swelling and calm the pain. Don’t forget to check with your dermatologist before applying any facial product.

NOVEMBER 2018

home BLOOMING GLORY If you get roses as a gift, don’t let them wither after a few days. You can plant them in your garden, even if they’ve already been cut and have no roots. These flowers are easy to grow at home. Also, they bring a creative touch to your garden with their pleasant scent and vibrant colors.

NOVEMBER 2018

HOME METHOD 1

Reproduction by cutting is very simple and can give you incredible results. This type of reproduction is due to the ability of certain parts of plants to regenerate all their organs when ideal conditions are present. Here, the aloe vera plant will be used as a natural root-promoting agent in a rose bush. 1. Remove the tip of a stalk from an aloe vera plant, cutting between 1.5 and 2.5 inches (4 cm and 6 cm). 2. Cut a piece a little bit bigger than 1 inch (3 cm). 3. Place the end of a rose’s stem inside the cut piece. 4. Cut the stem so that both the flower and the leaves are removed. It should be 6 inches to 8 inches (15 cm to 20 cm) tall. 5. In a deep pot, place the piece of aloe vera plant along with the stem so that the soil completely covers the natural rootpromoting agent. 6. Irrigate it with plenty of water. The soil should always be kept moist but never waterlogged. It’s important to keep the pot in a place where it can get indirect sunlight.

METHOD 2

Another interesting way to grow roses is through reproduction by grafting, which has the advantage of making the new plant grow quickly since it has a system already developed. With this technique, you can obtain a plant with the same characteristics of the mother plant. 1. With the help of a razor, make small cuts on the stem of the rose bush. 2. Cut the stem of your cut rosed diagonally with the same razor. 3. Insert it into the stem of the rose bush. You can include 2 to 3 roses depending on the width of the stems. 4. Surround the junction of the stems with plant grafting tape or plastic wrap, and water it regularly.

NOVEMBER 2018

HOME

AUTUMNAL AROMA Dried oranges are truly versatile. Not only are they a handy snack, but they can also serve as unique home decor. Dried oranges can be used for scrapbooking, in aromatic mixtures, as Christmas decorations, as decor for a bathroom or kitchen, or simply as a bright accent in an interior.

NOVEMBER 2018

HOME

HOW TO DRY ORANGES

A baking sheet covered with parchment A dryer for fruits and vegetables 1. Use different varieties of oranges and lemons or limes. You can also use grapefruit. Wash the fruit. Cut the citrus fruit into slices that are 4 mm to 6 mm thick. Squeeze the juice of a whole lemon into a bowl of clean water at room temperature. Put the slices into the lemon water for 2030 minutes. This is necessary to preserve the color of the fruit after it dries. Dry the slices by letting a paper towel soak up the moisture.

HOW TO DRY ORANGES IN THE OVEN

Place the slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet or wire shelf. Make sure to provide air circulation — you can either dry them with a slightly open oven door or switch on the convection mode. Dry the oranges for 4 to 10 hours at a temperature of 140°F to 180°F. Regularly check the condition of the oranges, and turn them over. The cooking time depends on the oven. It’s not recommended to set the temperature any higher than stated, as citrus fruit can easily burn.

NOVEMBER 2018

HOW TO DRY ORANGES IN A DEHYDRATOR

Place the slices onto the dehydrator’s wire rack in one layer. Dry the oranges for 18-20 hours at a temperature of 140°F. When using the fruit and vegetable drier, it’s not necessary to watch the process because it’s automated. The main thing is to check that the fruit isn’t wet at the end. If necessary, turn the dehydrator on for 23 hours more.

health WEIGHT MATTERS If you feel like you’re a little underweight, either for personal reasons or for professional ones, there are healthy ways to gain a few pounds, like by gaining muscle instead of fat, for example.

NOVEMBER 2018

HEALTH

1. Find out what caused you to become underweight

Before gaining weight, you might want to pay a visit to a doctor. That’s a good thing to do even if you’re feeling fine, just to check that changing your diet won’t carry out any issues in the future. On the other hand, if you suspect you have an underlying issue, it’s important to find out what’s causing you to be underweight, especially if you’re losing weight very quickly. Eating disorders, thyroid problems, celiac disease, diabetes, cancer, and certain infections can be the cause of rapid weight loss.

5. Move on to an energy-dense, proteincentered diet.

A diet rich in protein, along with energy-dense foods (foods that contain a high calory-weight ratio), is the best way to gain weight in a healthy way because it increases your muscle mass and strength. However, keep in mind that meat isn’t the only food that is high in protein. Milk, rice, nuts and nut butters, dried fruit, whole-grain bread, tofu, legumes, and avocados can do the trick too. For example, you have, more or less, the same amount of protein in 100 g of steak than in 100 g of almonds and a slice of whole-wheat bread. Note: Protein is also an ingredient that makes you feel fuller with less food. When transitioning to a diet rich in protein, you’ll have to evaluate how much protein you actually want to consume in order to find a good balance between quantity and protein. Eating too much protein can also be unhealthy.

2. Create a calorie surplus

Eating more calories than your body burns is clearly the most important thing you can do to gain weight quickly. You can use a calorie calculator and a food energy converter to know more or less how many calories you should consume daily. To gain weight slowly and steadily, aim for 300 to 500 calories more than you burn daily. To gain weight fast, aim for around 700 to 1,000 calories more.

4. Eat at least 3 times a day.

Avoid letting your body go into intermittent fasting mode by eating at least 3 times a day and having the occasional snack. However, keep in mind that snacking, even when trying to gain weight, doesn’t mean that you should stop paying attention to your sugar and fat intake. On the contrary, healthy snacking is your best option to gain weight in a healthy way. Some examples of this can be bran muffins, yogurt, granola bars, nuts, and dried fruit. Tip: If you’re struggling with a poor appetite, consider eating smaller meals throughout the day to increase your calorie intake.

6. Be patient.

Gaining weight isn’t something that you can do from one day to the next. Think about it more like a marathon instead of a sprint. Be patient and try not to force your body beyond its limits. In the end, consistency is key, both to gain weight and to lose weight.

NOVEMBER 2018

3. Start exercising.

All types of physical exercise can help you build more muscle, however, strength training can be particularly helpful. You can try going to the gym 2 to 4 times a week. Lift heavy weights and try to increase the weight and volume over time. However, don’t jump into it too fast if you’re out of shape. In that case, it’s better to get professional help. Overall, it’s a good idea to start with cardio and then slowly move on to weightlifing, for example. Exercise can also help you build up more of an appetite.

Bonus: the no-gos

While many people recommend taking protein supplements, experts deem them mostly unnecessary and even dangerous at times. Always speak to a doctor before taking supplements. Don’t stuff yourself with donuts and food that’s high in sugar. Don’t drink water right before meals as it can make you feel fuller. The best way to keep yourself hydrated is to spread your water intake throughout the day to avoid weight fluctuations. Water doesn’t cause real weight gain.

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NOVEMBER 2018

COLOR FORCE

It sounds unbelievable, but the majority of colors consist of just 3 primary shades: red, yellow, and blue. You just need to know how to mix them.

NOVEMBER 2018

How to make other colors out of 3 primary shades There are 3 primary colors that can’t be made by mixing. They’re blue, red, and yellow. These 3 colors give origin to the rest of the colors.

The tertiary colors are created by mixing 2 adjacent colors of the primary and secondary colors.

There are also 3 secondary paint colors. They are created when you combine 2 primary colors together in equal amounts. Red + blue = violet Blue + yellow = green Yellow + red = orange If you mix 3 primary colors, you’ll get black.

Red + orange = red-orange Orange + yellow = orange-yellow Yellow + green = yellow-green (or citron color) Green + blue = green-blue Blue + purple = blue-purple Purple + red = purple-red

Important: When mixing different shades of primary colors, you can make different variations of secondary colors. For example, if you combine dark blue with dark yellow, you’ll get a swamp color, and if you mix light yellow and sky blue, you’ll get a light green color.

Important: Color shades can vary greatly. The dominance of a particular pigment depends on the ratio of colors mixed. For example, if you mix blue and yellow in equal amounts, you’ll make a grassy green color. If you take 2 times more of the blue color, the resulting color will be close to a marine green. And when the predominant color is yellow, when mixed, it will become light green.

NOVEMBER 2018

Creating gray and brown You can make a brown color by mixing 3 primary colors in different amounts. If you add more blue, the color will become darker; if you add more yellow, the color will become lighter; and by adding more red, it will become brighter. The easiest way to make the gray color is by mixing white and black. The color intensity can vary depending on the proportions of the colors mixed. Also, a pleasant gray color can be created by mixing a large amount of blue with a drop of orange (the brightness of this shade can be varied by adding white to the paint), or yellow with purple.

What happens if you add black or white to the paint If you want to make a light version of any color, add a bit of white. The more white you add, the lighter the result will be. If you need to make a darker shade, add a bit of black to the paint. Remember, the more black you use, the darker the shade will be.

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A simple guide for color mixing

NOVEMBER 2018

Photo Works Everyone today takes photos with their phones. But many people are sure that a mobile phone’s camera is just a camera with one button and that’s why most photos are taken automatically. Oftentimes, this assumption prevents us from getting cool pics.

NOVEMBER 2018

2. Switch on the “Grid Lines” function in the settings of your camera.

1. Wipe the smartphone’s camera. Dust and dirt from your bag or pocket might get on the camera of your phone or you might accidentally touch the lens with your finger and it will be enough to make your photos look “foggy.” That’s why you should make sure to wipe the camera before every photoshoot. You can use a microfiber wipe for this.

Thanks to this function, the screen will have overlaying lines that will split your future photo into 9 parts — 2 horizontal lines and 2 vertical lines. Compose your shot so that the most important elements of your photo’s plot are located on the intersections of these lines. This will help create a well-balanced composition. The horizon line should go along one of these lines, not along the center of the pic. How to switch on this function: On an iPhone: go to settings, go to the “Photo and camera” section, and switch on the “Grid” parameter. On Android: start the “Camera” app, open its settings, and activate this function.

3. Set the lowest ISO possible in your shooting conditions. ISO is the camera’s sensitivity to light, or in other words, the ability of the camera’s matrix to sense light. This parameter is automatically set by default in smartphones. But the automation doesn’t always work correctly, so you can set this parameter manually in settings. Choose the proper ISO in the cases when: it’s too dark during a photoshoot; it’s too light. The higher the ISO is, the lighter your pic will be. But at the same time, the photo will be “grainier” and “noisy” (like in the right photo). The lower the ISO is, the darker but better in quality a photo will be. Therefore, it is advisable to take photos at the lowest ISO — the lower the ISO, the higher the pics’ quality will be. Increase ISO manually (from 400 to 1,600, or more) in cases where you are taking a photo in low light conditions, in a dark room, for example. It will help you get a lighter pic. If you plan to take a light photo of scenery, conversely, make sure to decrease ISO to 100-200 and you’ll get a good image without overexposure.

NOVEMBER 2018

4. Focus on the object you need.

You can do this by simply touching the screen in the right place with your finger, be it a rose, a face, a tree, or a road that goes into the distance.

5. Help your smartphone choose the optimal exposure.

Keep in mind that the camera will set the exposure on the place where you touched the screen with your finger to focus. Thus, if you touched a dark place on the screen with your finger, the camera will measure the exposure at the specified place and brighten the whole image, which can lead to the overexposure of bright areas (like in the left photo). Make sure to touch different parts of the screen with your finger to select the best exposure and get an image without overexposure or excessively dark areas.

6. Use exposure compensation.

In order to make a pic darker or brighter, use the exposure compensation. This can be done using the exposure compensation arrows. They are located to the left (or to the right) of the focus area circle. One arrow is pointing up, the other one is pointing down. Swipe up your finger in the indicated area along with the screen and the pic will become brighter, if you swipe your fingers down, the pic will become darker.

NOVEMBER 2018

7. Use HDR in contrasting lightning.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) is a technology that helps significantly increase the detalization of dark and bright image areas in the conditions of contrasting lighting. When the HDR function is on, a smartphone takes 3 photos: overexposed, normal exposure, and underexposed. After that, these pics are joined into one image. Activate HDR when you take photos in contrasting lighting conditions. For example, when taking photos of architecture against the background of a sunset or of a person, when a bright sun glare falls on their face and certain areas of the skin remain in the shadow. Keep in mind that HDR has the following limitations: Moving objects become blurry. The shooting process slows down because a series of photos are taken.

9. Don’t use digital zoom.

A smartphone’s camera can enlarge the objects that we shoot and oftentimes we use digital zoom for this. This function seems attractive because of its simplicity, but it significantly reduces the quality of the resulting photo. It’s better to get closer to the object you are taking a photo of if you have the opportunity.

8. Turn off the flash.

Turn off the automatic flash — it makes your photos look unnatural, kills the skin texture (creating doll-like portraits) and makes other objects look flat. In order to switch off the flash, click on the lightning bolt icon in the Camera app.

10. Don’t forget to edit your images.

Editing your photos slightly can make them look brighter and more interesting. There are many photo editing apps, like VSCO, Snapseed, Facetune, Enlight Quickshot, etc. One of the simplest ways to edit a photo is to use the in-built Instagram editor. In order to make an image look better on Instagram: Turn on your phone’s backlight at full power — it will help you to see the photo better. Press the sun icon (Lux tool) at the top of the image and your photo will become better and brighter. Slowly move the cursor to the left and to the right, and watch the details — your photo shouldn’t become unnatural or look over-Photoshopped. Press the “Edit” button and remove the canted angle (the Dutch tilt) with the help of the “Adjust” tool. If the photo is not bright enough, increase the brightness. You can also try moving the “Shadow” (if the details in the shadows are not seen clearly) or “Highlights” tool sliders. If you want to have more focus on details, use the “Details” tool. In order to give your photo brighter colors, move the slider of the “Saturation” tool.

NOVEMBER 2018

food

SWEET APPLES Candy apples are often found at city festivals, fairs, and other celebrations. Even though they contain a lot of sugar, candy apples are still better than many other sweets because there’s a tasty fresh apple in the middle.

NOVEMBER 2018

FOOD

CARAMEL APPLES 4 apples 2 tbsp of water Red food colorant 300 grams of sugar 1 tbsp of lemon juice 10 to 15 grams of sugar topping 1. Wash the apples and dry them with a towel. Remove the peduncles and then insert the popsicle sticks. 2. Mix all the ingredients in the pan and put it on the stove. Stir the mix, decreasing the temperature while the sugar is dissolving. Then increase the temperature and bring the caramel to a boil. Keep it boiling for 5-8 minutes, then remove it from the stove and let it rest for a couple of minutes. The caramel will become smooth and transparent. 3. Now put each apple into the syrup and quickly turn it to make the layer smooth. Then add the sugar topping and wait for the extra caramel to dribble down. Put the apple into the cupcake mold. You’re done! Useful tricks The apples have to be washed very well, especially if they’re covered in wax. Otherwise, the caramel won’t stick well. Before putting the apples into the caramel, it’s better to keep them in a freezer for an hour. The caramel will freeze faster on colder fruit. You don’t have to make the caramel. You can buy 150 grams of caramel candy and melt it by adding 2 tbsp of cream or water. Don’t be scared of experimenting — the thin caramel layer will taste great not only on apples but on any fruits or berries. You can try it on strawberries, kiwis, grapes, or even tangerines!

NOVEMBER 2018

FOOD

FALLING FOR PUMPKINS

Pumpkin cream soup has already become a classic autumn dish. It has a soft, buttery taste, it’s easy to prepare, and consists of simple ingredients that can be found in almost any store.

NOVEMBER 2018

FOOD

PUMPKIN CREAM SOUP 3 lb of pumpkin 4 to 5 potatoes 1 cup of cream or milk Salt Black ground pepper Paprika Fresh greenery (parsley or dill) Pumpkin seeds or white toast Onion (optional) 1. Wash and peel the vegetables. Split the pumpkin into small cubes and chop the potatoes up to a medium size. You can also add onions to the vegetables if you want. 2. Place the vegetables in the pot with water so that it slightly covers everything. Place the lid on the pot and cook until things turn soft. Another option: You can also use a big frying pan for cooking vegetables. Pour a little oil into it and about half a mug of water. Cover it with a lid and stew the vegetables until they’re ready. If the water evaporates fast, add more of it to the pan so that the veggies don’t get burned. 3. After the pumpkin and potatoes are ready, let them cool down for a while but don’t pour away the broth that you made. After about 5 minutes, put the vegetables into a bowl for blending. 4. Blend the veggies until they’re mashed. In order to make the blending process easier, add a bit of broth to the blender. 5. Pour some cream into the puree; also add paprika, salt, pepper, and mix everything together. 6. Chop the greens finely and peel the pumpkin seeds. 7. Pour the soup into the bowls and sprinkle some greenery and pumpkin seeds on top of each one. Another option: You can use pieces of toast, croutons, or other seeds in lieu of pumpkin seeds. You can also replace the greens with ones that you prefer. Variations: You can also add carrots, bell pepper, cheese, ginger, garlic, and various spices when cooking your pumpkin cream soup. Spices like Curcuma, nutmeg, curry, and sesame seeds match the pumpkin flavor quite well.

NOVEMBER 2018

living

NOVEMBER 2018

LIVING 1. GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES. 1. Select the picture you’d like to print. Note that the result on the wood will show the mirrored version of your picture, so make sure you flip your picture horizontally beforehand. Also, don’t use a picture printed in photo gloss paper. Printing the image on a thin A4 sheet will give the best results. 2. Pick a smooth piece of wood. You can use any type of wood you’d like to have your image printed on. Make sure that the surface of the wood is smooth. You can always use a small piece of sandpaper to make it more smooth if you’d like. The wood also has to be clean and dry. 3. Get an (old) plastic card. For this, you can use any type of card that you don’t need anymore, such as an expired credit card. 4. Snag some scissors (optional). You’ll only need scissors to get rid of the white border around your picture after printing. This step is optional but highly recommended. 5. A paintbrush 6. Get photo transfer glue. There are many types of glue that you can use. You can probably find some in a local craft shop or you can always order it online. 7. An old sponge or cloth 8. Sandpaper (optional) 9. Transparent varnish (optional)

2. APPLY THE GLUE TO THE PICTURE. Start by coating the picture with a nice thick layer of glue. Make sure you get all the corners. Tip: If you don’t have a craft table or something similar, you can put a piece of baking paper under the picture so that you won’t get any glue on your own table.

3. PUT THE PICTURE ON THE WOOD. Carefully pick up the picture and put it with the photo-side down on the wood. Press it lightly against the wood using just your hands. You can strike all the air bubbles away with the old bank card. You can also use a special roller for this step. Let the glue dry for 24 hours.

4. WET THE SURFACE. Now that the glue has dried, pat the photo with a wet sponge or cloth so that the entire surface is moist.

5. RUB OFF ALL THE PAPER. Carefully rub the surface with a wet sponge or cloth. The goal is to make the paper come loose. Warning: Don’t rub too hard or you might scratch the picture away. Apply enough pressure to get the paper off, but that’s it.

NOVEMBER 2018

6. REPEAT THE PREVIOUS STEP. If the wood is still wet, it might seem like you’ve already reached the final result. However, after the wood dries again, the picture might become blurry because not all the paper was scraped off. In this case, you can just rub the paper off again with a moist sponge. The procedure is the same as the previous step.

TIPS & TRICKS

WHY WE WANT TO POOP AFTER DRINKING COFFEE Many people start to feel an urge to visit the bathroom after drinking a cup of coffee. For this reason, some people consider this drink to be a good laxative. Scientists who tried to find out how coffee affects the colon failed to come up with just one conclusion. Still, they’ve produced several theories.

WHO USUALLY GETS SUCH A REACTION According to some research, almost one-third of people feel an urge to empty their colon right after they drink coffee. Most often, this urge appears in women. And more research found that about 30 minutes pass from the time a person drinks a cup of coffee to when they feel an urge to visit the bathroom.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE BODY Recent research helped scientists find out that drinking coffee can lead to an increase in gastric acid secretion and intestinal motor activity. It can also be connected to the reaction that takes place in the intestines, as coffee can trigger the production of cholecystokinin and gastrin, which regulate digestion. Cholecystokinin activates the production of food enzymes and bile, which help speed up the digestion of food. Gastrin contributes to more active intestinal motility, relaxation, and the contraction of muscles that push out food debris. And while some people believe that this effect is due to the presence of caffeine, scientists managed to find out that coffee without caffeine can also cause a similar effect, though it tends to be a bit weaker. Soda with caffeine, in its turn, doesn’t cause the same urge. Additionally, it’s important to take other factors into consideration. For example, the presence of milk or cream in a cup of coffee can cause diarrhea in a person sensitive to lactose, which can become a reason for stomach disorders in this case. An important note: Coffee is not recommended for people who have diseases that increase the risk of diarrhea.

NOVEMBER 2018

CHILL & DRAW

NOVEMBER 2018