5 Minute Crafts Magazine - September 2017 by Lawrence Ambrocio

Fresh Starts

Easy & Simple Bouquet September 2017 $5.99 (Canada) $3.99 (US)

PLUS Homemade Ice Cream & How to solve a puzzle like a pro

09.2017

CONTENTS

“The man who does not read books has no advantage over the one who cannot read them.” — Mark Twain

SEPTEMBER 2017

CONTENTS

style

home

IN YOUR EYES A good eye cream can help you solve various beauty problems, starting from dark circles to crow’s feet. But improper application techniques can not only ruin its effectiveness, but it can also harm your skin.

FOLDING CLOTHES When we go shopping, we often see T-shirts that are folded very nicely. And of course, we’d like to see the same kind of neatness at home in our own wardrobes.

18 SHAPE OF FACE Finding the right eyebrow shape helps you improve symmetry, changes your facial expression, and even takes years off your age.

features

food

PUZZLE BUSINESS A lot of people really love jigsaw puzzles. They can calm us down, help us gather our thoughts, or teach us to work together as a family. But in order to avoid torturing yourself instead of having fun, you need to know how to do things right and fast.

HATCH HACKS Cooking a boiled egg isn’t rocket science, but we have to be familiar with some rules to get the creamy consistency of the yolk, and make the whites firm and the peeling easy.

EDITOR'S LETTER

CHILL & DRAW

I SCREAM, ICE CREAM! Homemade ice cream is a refreshing dessert made of natural ingredients. Anyone, even a child, can make it. All you need are a couple of tricks.

CEILING CLEANING Cleaning your stretch ceiling is an unusual task. There’s an opinion that these ceilings require cleaning only if something has been splashed on them.

living

health

FLOWER LOVE Flower compositions in baskets and boxes oftentimes look more impressive than regular bouquets. And when compiled correctly, they can preserve their beautiful look for longer.

SLEEPING HABITS Although you may be unaware you do it, snoring can ruin the night of the person sleeping next to you.

SEPTEMBER 2017

departments

52 TRICKS & TIPS

54 COVER PHOTO © DEPOSITPHOTOS

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

RESEARCH SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST Eva Chau MARKETING , COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS SENIOR DIRECTOR Tracy Finkelstein MANAGER Silvana Sciortino SENIOR SPECIALIST Erin Quinn SPECIALISTS Carlie McGhee, Summer Varty, Alyson Young SENIOR DESIGNER Colin Elliott

CONSUMER MARKETING GROUP VICE-PRESIDENT, CONSUMER MARKETING Christopher Purcell GROUP CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Doris Chan PRODUCT MARKETING MANAGERS Yen Duong, Amanda Stone DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Jason Patterson DIRECTOR, NEWSSTAND SALES Pat Strangis

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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 2017 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

Hope of Inspiration N

ot long ago, we gathered groups of new readers in Chicago and Dallas to hear what everyone thinks of the magazine. But what I was most interested in learning about was you. Some of it wasn’t all that surprising—most of you are married or partnered up, most of you work, most of you have kids—but those aren’t the things that defne you. You’re way more interesting and complicated than that. As one reader eloquently put it, “None of us fts into a neat little box anymore.” You’re juggling a million things, whether it’s training for a half marathon, or planning an amazing trip, or going back to school. You’re constantly striving to improve yourselves and help others. In short, you’re kicking butt all over the place, even though your schedules overfow with things to do. I wasn’t just impressed, I was inspired. So I’m even more committed to giving you a magazine that makes life easier… and, I hope, happier. For starters, you all agree on the fact that mornings are a nightmare— a scramble to get dressed, fed, and out the door with your sanity intact. I remember the moment my husband and i decided to start trying to have a baby. I was 34—late, as these things go, but we’d only gotten married the year before—so I went into the whole enterprise with my biological clock already ticking loudly in my ears. We got pregnant within a few months, and soon moved into a new rental apartment, borderline gleeful about the future. Six weeks after that positive pregnancy test, I had a miscarriage. To say I was devastated is a massive understatement. I felt guilty (Should I not have lifted that last box? Scrubbed the bathroom floor?) and terrified and completely alone, no matter how many times my husband rubbed my back or wept with me. I sat up nights and trudged bleary-eyed through workdays, wondering if I would ever become a mother. I was also very lucky: After some grueling tests, a painful procedure, and a new ob/gyn, I got pregnant again eight months later. Those were the longest months of my life, but they taught me two things. First, that infertility isn’t just physical, it’s emotional. It’s such a pervasive kind of trauma, because you have no idea when it will end or if it will be in your favor. Second, that miscarriage is incredibly common: Once I began talking about my experience, I was shocked at the number of women who admitted that they, too, had lost a pregnancy. Many of those friends went on to have far longer, more harrowing journeys to having a baby, and watching them suffer underlined how fortunate I was to have first one son and then, two years later, another. Whether you have children or don’t, whether you are 26 or 56, chances are you know someone who has lingered in the purgatory of infertility. We need to keep talking about it, and we need to be up-front about our own struggles, which is why we are featuring candid, powerful voices in this issue. I’ve been moved by the stories recently; consider joining me in sharing your experience and supporting other women. It’s a crucial way to get through any kind of loss: together.

TANYA WENMAN STEEL Editor In-Chief

SEPTEMBER 2017

style IN YOUR EYES A good eye cream can help you solve various beauty problems, starting from dark circles to crow’s feet. But improper application techniques can not only ruin its effectiveness, but it can also harm your skin.

SEPTEMBER 2017

STYLE

Clean your skin and let it dry a bit.

2 3

You should apply eye cream only to clean skin with no makeup on so that the product can be properly absorbed. It’s better to apply the product to damp, not completely dry skin. Just slightly dab the skin with a soft towel or a paper towel, or let the excess water dry on its own. There should be no drops of water on your face, but your skin should still be damp. This way, you can “lock” moisture inside the skin.

Apply the cream in small dots to the skin around your eyes. Start from the inner circle of your eyes, moving to the outer edges and along your brow bones. Don’t apply eye cream too close to your eyes. During the day, your skin warms up and you may start to sweat or simply rub your eyes with your hands. This way, if the cream is applied too close to the eyelids, it may get into your eyes, causing irritation.

Let your skin absorb the cream.

If you’re going to apply makeup or use any other skincare products around your eyes, let the skin absorb the cream completely. It usually takes no less than a minute or 2. For the rich creams, you might have to wait longer. Applying another product on top of the cream that hasn’t been absorbed properly may ruin your makeup, making it look cakey or decreasing the effectiveness of other skincare products, like sunscreen.

Top Picks 1. Olay Total Effects 7-In-1 Anti Aging Eye Transforming Cream, $16.09 2. Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream, $16.99 3. La Roche-Posay Redermic C Anti Wrinkle Moisturizing Filler, $44.99 4. Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firm Eye Temporary Eye Tightener, $26.95

SEPTEMBER 2017

Apply a pea-sized amount of eye cream to your ring finger. Applying a thick layer of eye cream won’t boost its effectiveness. A pea-sized amount of cream is enough for both eyes. Too much of the product will just sit on the skin without getting properly absorbed. It’s better to apply the cream with your ring finger because its muscles are naturally weaker, so you’re less likely to apply too much pressure on your skin.

Gently dab the eye cream into your skin. Pat the cream into the skin very gently with your fingertips, preferably with your ring fingers. You should press the cream in or use light swiping strokes. Be careful and don’t rub or stretch your skin. The skin around the eyes is very fragile and delicate, and it can be easily damaged with harsh movements.

Tips You should apply your eye cream twice a day — in the morning and at night — unless your dermatologist advises you otherwise. When applying eye cream, carefully read the label first. Some ingredients are supposed to be used only at a specific time of day. For example, some dermatologists advise using products that contain retinol at night because this ingredient makes the skin more prone to sun damage and requires high SPF protection during the day. On the other hand, using vitamin C during the day may help protect your skin from sun damage. If you use several skincare products, apply your eye cream after you’ve cleaned and toned your skin but before you put on moisturizer or sunscreen.

STYLE

SHAPE OF FACE

Finding the right eyebrow shape helps you improve symmetry, changes your facial expression, and even takes years off your age.

SEPTEMBER 2017

STYLE

How to find your face shape: 1. Take a ruler and measure the length of your face, then divide it by 3. 2. Measure the length from the bottom of your nose to the bottom of your chin: If the second number is more than the first number, you probably have a long face. If the second number is less than the first number, you probably have a round face. If the second number equals the first number, you probably have an oval face.

Oval face

Facial features: Your forehead is wider than your chin. You have prominent cheekbones. Your face looks symmetrical. You have a narrow chin. Eyebrow goal: To balance your facial features ✅ Choose softly-angled eyebrows that go straight up, then gently curve at the top and go down. ⛔ Avoid an arch that is too high, otherwise, your face won’t look symmetrical.

Heart-shaped face

Round face

Facial features: The length and the width of your face are roughly the same. Your cheeks are the widest part of your face. Eyebrow goal: To lengthen your face and create the illusion of a slimmer face ✅ Choose lifted eyebrows with a high-arch and a pointed end. ⛔ Avoid round and flat eyebrows, as they can make your face look even rounder. Tip: You can also brush your eyebrows upward, to visually lift your face.

Facial features: Your face looks like a heart with a wide forehead and pointed chin. Eyebrow goal: To soften the angular areas on your face and balance your longer chin ✅ Choose soft, rounded eyebrows that are thick enough to create a natural look. ⛔ Avoid arched eyebrows that are too high, because they can bring too much attention to your forehead. Tip: Higher arches look best on shorter heart-shaped faces, while lower arches suit longer heartshaped faces.

Square face

Facial features: Your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline are about the same width. The squared jawline is the most obvious feature of your face. Your chin is less defined. Eyebrow goal: To draw attention to your eyes and eyebrows and soften the angles of your jaw ✅ Choose thick eyebrows with a soft defined arch. ⛔ Avoid sharp and angled eyebrows as they can add even more angles to your look. Tip: If you like curved eyebrows, you can also choose this shape. They will make your square jaw look softer.

Diamond-shaped face

Facial features: Your face is highly angular. Your forehead is small. Your chin is pointed. Your cheeks are wide and prominent. Eyebrow goal: To soften the angles of your face and make the widest part of the face appear less wide ✅ Choose long curved eyebrows to make your forehead look wider. ⛔ Avoid over-defined ends on your eyebrows if you don’t want them to look too harsh.

SEPTEMBER 2017

Long face Facial features: Your forehead, cheekbones, and jawlines are about the same width. You have a narrow chin. Eyebrow goal: To add width to your face and make it look shorter ✅ Choose flat eyebrows with an elongated downward curve to make your face look wider. ⛔ Avoid any arches if you don’t want your face to look longer.

home

FOLDING CLOTHES When we go shopping, we often see T-shirts that are folded very nicely. And of course, we’d like to see the same kind of neatness at home in our own wardrobes.

SEPTEMBER 2017

HOME MARIE KONDO METHOD

An expert on the organization of the household, Marie Kondo offers her own way of folding T-shirts. It’s especially useful if you’re limited in free space: 1. Put the T-shirt with its back facing you. 2. Make a horizontal line with your arm in the middle of the T-shirt. 3. Divide the T-shirt into 4 parts and form the pieces on the right and left side toward the center and fold the sleeves in half. 4. Fold the T-shirt in half horizontally with the front facing the outside. 5. Then, fold it 2 or 3 times. 6. Place it vertically.

CLASSIC METHOD

The classic method allows you to fold T-shirts the way shop assistants do. To do this: 1. Take the T-shirt in your hands. 2. Put the T-shirt with its back facing you. 3. In your mind, divide the T-shirt into 4 parts and fold the right part to the center. 4. Fold the T-shirt in half with its front side facing you. 5. Fold the left side back. 6. Place the T-shirt with its front side facing you.

STORING TSHIRTS WITHOUT WRINKLING THEM

This method allows you to fold a T-shirt without wrinkling it. This is great for traveling when you can’t use an iron. 1. Place the T-shirt with the back facing upward. 2. Fold the bottom hem upward, once. 3. Divide the shirt into 4 parts and fold the sides from the left and the right to the center but keep the sleeves as they were. 4. Fold the T-shirt in half vertically with its front on the outside. 5. Roll the shirt from the top. 6. Pull the bottom hem all around the shirt until everything is tucked in.

FOLDING THE SHIRT, STARTING FROM THE SLEEVES

1. Fold the left sleeve of the T-shirt along the seam. 2. Now fold the left edge of the shirt inward, at the level of the neckline. 3. Fold the right sleeve of the T-shirt inward along the seam. 4. Also, fold the right edge of the shirt inward along the neckline. 5. Now you’ve got a rectangle. 6. Fold it in half, lengthwise.

SEPTEMBER 2017

HOME

CEILING CLEANING Cleaning your stretch ceiling is an unusual task. There’s an opinion that these ceilings require cleaning only if something has been splashed on them. However, for example, the kitchen ceiling can become very dirty, and splashes from the cooking process or even soot may appear on it. So it’s recommended to clean the ceilings from dust once every 2-3 years.

SEPTEMBER 2017

HOME

TOOLS What you’ll need: flat head mop (can be replaced with a bristle mop) 2 microfiber cloths basin warm water liquid soap Additionally, you can prepare: spray bottle stepladder

CLEANING PROCESS

TIPS

1. Make a mild soapy solution: 1 tbsp of soap per 1/4 gallons of warm water. If you’re using a spray bottle, dilute 0.5 tsp of soap in 1/20 gallons of water. 2. Dampen the cloth for the mop in warm soapy water. 3. Put the cloth back on the mop. 4. Start washing the ceiling after having divided it into squares in your head. We recommend moving from one corner to another or from the walls to the center of the ceiling. 5. Never press on the ceiling, act delicately. 6. If using the mop is not enough to remove some of the stains, use a soft microfiber cloth. Rub the stains with it using your hands. To do this, you’ll need a stepladder. It’s safer to wash the stretch ceiling with your hands than to use a mop, although this method will take longer. 7. To remove streaks, rinse the soap off the mop cloth and wipe the ceiling again moving from the walls to the center of the ceiling. 8. Dry the ceiling with a clean cloth.

To clean the stretch ceiling, never use abrasive products, acetone, alkalis, solvents, chlorinated liquids, washing powders, laundry soap, salt, or baking soda. Make sure that no sharp objects touch the ceiling. Clean with a lint-free, microfiber, or flannel cloth. Don’t use brushes or hard sponges. To clean the ceiling, you don’t have to only use special products or soap solutions. You can use a liquid for cleaning windows, that contains ammonia. You can make the cleaning solution yourself from ammonia and water. To do this, mix these ingredients in a 1: 9 ratio. This solution is not suitable for cleaning matte ceilings — use it only for glossy or satin ones. You can use dish detergent to wash the stretch ceiling. Fabric ceilings are best cleaned using a dry cleaning method.

SEPTEMBER 2017

health SLEEPING HABITS Although you may be unaware you do it, snoring can ruin the night of the person sleeping next to you.

SEPTEMBER 2017

HEALTH Lose weight.

If you sleep on your back, prop yourself up accordingly.

If you’ve gained weight, especially around your neck area, this could be the reason why you’re snoring. If this is the case, losing weight may solve your snoring problem. Nonetheless, keep in mind that slim people can also snore.

In case you can’t sleep on your side and have to sleep on your back, prop the head of your bed up a few inches, if possible. Having an extra pillow may also work well.

Sleep on your side. Try sleeping on your side over any other sleeping position. This will prevent your tongue from touching the back wall of your throat.

Get enough sleep. Prevent yourself from getting overtired due to a lack of good sleep. When you sleep for fewer hours than you should, your muscles become floppy and you snore more.

Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Smoking and drinking are very harmful in all aspects, including when it comes to snoring. They can relax your muscles which leads to snoring. It can also make your breathing process harder.

Open your nasal passages. You can open your nasal passages by rinsing your sinuses out before bed. Nasal strips are also a great solution.

Practice singing exercises. Vocal exercises can do wonders for your sleep. Practice singing for 20 minutes every day so you can tighten your throat muscles, which can help to prevent snoring.

SEPTEMBER 2017

HEALTH

Change your pillows more often. Dust mites can accumulate on your pillow and cause allergic reactions, leading to snoring. Replace your pillow at least every 6 months.

Get enough exercise. Exercising your body can actually help you get rid of your snoring problem as it can tone all your muscles, preventing anything from becoming loose.

Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids so that things inside your nose stay less sticky and stuffy. Drink around 11 to 16 cups of water a day.

SEPTEMBER 2017

September 37

SEPTEMBER 2017

Puzzle Business

A lot of people really love jigsaw puzzles. They can calm us down, help us gather our thoughts, or teach us to work together as a family. But in order to avoid torturing yourself instead of having fun, you need to know how to do things right and fast.

Preparation Choose a comfortable surface to do the puzzle on. Your desk or table, that you use regularly, are not good choices for places to work on the puzzle. Especially, if the puzzle has 1,000 or more pieces. You can use special puzzle mats that you can roll up, and the pieces will remain where they are. Prepare containers for the pieces. You can use candy boxes, or even just plastic bags. They are great for storing sorted pieces. Make sure the place you are sitting on is comfortable. You need to have a high enough table and a chair that supports your back. It’s not recommended to do jigsaw puzzles on the floor.

The steps The general rule for any jigsaw puzzle is to do the frame first. It’s simple: choose all the pieces with a straight side. The corners are the simplest. Find them and put them aside. Once the frame is done, it will be easy for you to see the size, and the approximate location of different pieces. Don’t forget to check the picture on the box from time to time.

Now, choose how you will work: 1. Using the shape of the details. This is good for the pictures with a repeating theme with very few color shades. Sort all the details by the shape of the puzzle pieces. 2. Using the colors. If you have a picture with a lot of different colors, sort the pieces by the color shades. Before you start doing the puzzle, make sure all the pieces are facing up.

Start the puzzle with the easiest elements: unusual details, faces, writing. Then, do the brightest color groups. Don’t try to go linear with puzzles. It’s better to concentrate on separate pieces. This will look like you are doing several smaller puzzles and it will be way more interesting. Once the jigsaw puzzle is done, you can put it back into the box or glue it to a piece of thick cardboard and put it into a frame. To glue the puzzle to cardboard, you can use special puzzle glue. Put the glue on the cardboard and on the puzzle. Once, the glue dries, put something heavy on the puzzle to prevent the edges from folding. But don’t forget to lift the weight from time to time so that it doesn’t get glued to the picture.

SEPTEMBER 2017

food HATCH HACKS Cooking a boiled egg isn’t rocket science, but we have to be familiar with some rules to get the creamy consistency of the yolk, and make the whites firm and the peeling easy.

SEPTEMBER 2017

FOOD Step 2. Pour cold water in the pot to fully cover the eggs. Pour cold water in the pot to fully cover the eggs. It’s important to put the eggs in the pot first, before adding water, to avoid their possible cracking. Don’t put eggs into boiling water, otherwise, they may cook unevenly and start to crack.

Step 3. Place the pan over high heat and wait for the water to boil. You need just to bring the water to the boiling point, but don’t let it actually boil.

Step 1. Take a deep pot and put the eggs in it. Make sure you distribute the eggs evenly at the bottom of the pan, and that they don’t stack on one another. You shouldn’t put the eggs too close to each other to help them cook more evenly.

Step 5. Let the eggs stay in the hot water for a while to get fully cooked.

Step 4. Cover the pan with a lid and turn off the heat.

Step 6. Place the eggs into icecold water for 1-2 minutes. This way, you’ll stop the cooking process, and it’ll be easier to peel the eggs.

To be fully cooked, generally, you should keep your eggs (medium-sized, taken from the refrigerator) in hot water for about: 4 minutes — for a soft-cooked yolk 6 minutes — for a medium-cooked yolk 11 minutes — for a hard-cooked yolk Note: The size of the egg and the temperature of the egg at the beginning of the cooking process also affect this time. You’ll have to wait 1 minute longer for large eggs, and 2 minutes longer for extra-large eggs. If you store the eggs at room temperature, they’ll require about 1 minute less cooking time.

Note: Don’t panic if you see a green film on the egg yolk. If you notice a green film, the egg is still okay to eat. It just means that you’ve overcooked the eggs. The longer you cooked the eggs (for example, for 40 minutes), the more visible and bright the color might be.

SEPTEMBER 2017

Step 7. Peel the eggs and wash them in cold water. Tap the eggs against a firm surface and clean them. After that, wash the eggs in cold water to remove all the small parts of the shell and dry them.

FOOD

I SCREAM, ICE CREAM! Homemade ice cream is a refreshing dessert made of natural ingredients. Anyone, even a child, can make it. All you need are a couple of tricks.

SEPTEMBER 2017

FOOD Classic creamy ice cream 200 ml of 3,2 % milk; 500 ml of 33 % cream; 180 grams of sugar powder; 4 egg yolks; 0,5 tsp of vanillin. 1. Use a whisk to mix yolks with milk adding sugar powder and vanillin to make a homogenous mix. 2. Pour the mix into the stewpot and heat it on slow fire until there are bubbles on the surface. After that, boil the mix for 20 more minutes. 3. Remove the mix from the fire and put it into a bowl of cold water. Don’t stop stirring. When the water is warm, replace it with more cold water. Cool the mix down for 10-15 minutes. 4. Use a mixer to whip cold cream and add it to the mix, stir the whole thing with a whisk. 5. Put everything into the freezer. Once an hour, take it out and stir it with a mixer or a fork. Do this 2-3 times until the whole thing is really solid. You can eat the ice cream after 6-10 hours.

Strawberry ice cream in 45 seconds 500 grams of frozen strawberries 250 ml of natural yogurt 1 tbsp of honey several drops of liqueur (optional) 1. In advance, put the dishes for ice cream into the freezer and the spoon for making the balls — into a cup of hot water. 2. Put all the ingredients into a blender and mix it for several seconds. 3. Make ice cream balls with a spoon and put them into the cold dishes.

Ice cream made of chocolate bars 4 Kinder Bueno chocolate bars 250 ml of cream 100 grams of milk chocolate 4 wooden sticks chocolate topping for decoration 1. Mash the chocolate bars in your hands without opening the pack, put the pack into a glass, and cut the upper end of the pack. 2. Pour the cream inside the pack and put the wooden sticks inside the pack. Put them away into the freezer for 3-4 hours. 3. Melt a milk chocolate bar in a tall glass. Get the chocolates out of the freezer, remove the wrapper, and dip them into the milk chocolate. 4. Put what you have into the freezer for several hours. 5. Before serving, add some chocolate topping on the tops.

Lemon-creamy ice cream made of 3 ingredients 500 ml of cream 1 can of condensed milk 1 lemon 1. Whip the cream with a mixer. 2. Add condensed milk and mix the whole thing. Add the juice of 1 lemon and mix it all together. 3. Put away the mix in the freezer, remove it 2 hours later, stir it with a fork or a mixer, and put it back in for several hours.

Soft sorbet or a snowcone in a couple of minutes 200 grams of mashed fruit or juice 8-10 tbsp of salt 20-30 cubes of ice 1. Prepare 2 plastic bags. Put the fruit mash or juice into one of them and close the bag. Put ice and salt into the second bag and put the first bag into the second one. Close the second bag. 2. For a few minutes, shake both bags in your hands. After a few minutes of shaking, your ice cream is ready.

Creme Brulèe ice cream 60 grams of powdered milk 200 ml of milk 500 ml of cream 110 grams of sugar 15 grams of corn starch 100 grams of sugar (for syrup) 100 grams of milk (for syrup) 1. To make the syrup, melt the sugar over a low flame to make dark caramel. Add hot milk, stir it and boil until the sugar is liquid. 2. Add the corn starch into a small amount of milk. Set aside. 3. Mix the powdered milk, sugar, and several drops of milk. Add the syrup you made and stir, adding milk as you go. Strain the whole mix. 4. Heat the mixture until it boils and then add the corn starch mixture. Then, remove it from the fire, cover it with a top and let it cool down. 5. Whip cold cream and add it to the mix. Put it in the freezer for 6-8 hours. Voila, you have creme brulèe ice cream.

SEPTEMBER 2017

living FLOWER LOVE Flower compositions in baskets and boxes oftentimes look more impressive than regular bouquets. And when compiled correctly, they can preserve their beautiful look for longer.

SEPTEMBER 2017

LIVING

FLOWER BOUQUET IN A BOX Flowers (we opted for roses, alstroemeria, and Ruscus twigs) A small box A pruner or sharp knife and cutting board A floral sponge Flower food 2 plastic bags, food film, or mica wrapping paper Water A small but deep container for making a solution with flower food 1. Dilute a bag of flower food in water (the exact amount of water required for this should be indicated on the package of the flower food). Life hack: Don’t get upset if you’re unable to find special flower food. You can make flower food from improvised means yourself. 2. Cut the floral sponge to the size of your box. It should be slightly smaller than the container you are going to use. 3. Dip the sponge into the container with water and flower food and wait until it gets completely wet. An important note: Don’t press the sponge since it absorbs liquid. This way, it gets wet evenly. 4. Place 2 plastic bags inside the box and turn their edges out. 5. Put the sponge soaked in flower food inside the bags. 6. Cut the flowers so that they’re a bit higher than the box. Remove the lower leaves from them. You can also separate the branches to use them in different places in the composition if you’re using bush plants. 7. It’s better to start placing flowers in the box from bigger elements. Select several big flowers, place them in the floral sponge, and surround them with smaller flowers or decorative leaves on the sides. Continue adding big and small elements to the composition one-by-one. Adjust the length of the stems and their immersion in the sponge as needed. 8. When you finish filling the box with flowers, look at the composition from different sides. Perhaps you’ll need to remove or add some elements. An important note: It’s necessary to periodically wet the flowers that are placed in the floral sponge. That’s why when the sponge dries up in a few days, you’ll need to add water to it.

SEPTEMBER 2017

TIPS & TRICKS

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CUT OF MEAT In supermarkets, you can buy meat in any price range and all the different kinds will taste different. It’s extremely easy to get lost in all the diversity. DECIDE WHAT MEAL YOU ARE BUYING THE MEAT FOR PORK IS GOOD FOR: neck — for barbecue, baking, and soups; ham hock — for soups, boiling, frying, and stewing, or head cheese; pork loin — for frying, baking, mincing, chops; pork blade —for baking, mincing, stewing, soups, frying; ribs — for frying, baking, soups, and open fire; fillet — for frying and baking; pork belly — for soups, frying, baking; leg — for frying, baking, soups, mincing; side — for lard. BEEF IS GOOD FOR: neck — for soups and minced meat; blade — for boiling (soups), stewing in small pieces, and mincing; fillet — for baking in big pieces and frying; sirloin — for frying, mincing, and making broth; tenderloin — for frying, carpaccio, tartar, baking in big pieces; rump — for boiling, stewing, and frying; shank — for headcheese; ribs — for soups; brisket — for stewing, soups, mincing.

MUTTON IS GOOD FOR: neck — for stews and rice; breast — for soups; loin — for frying and barbecue; blade and leg — for baking and barbecue; ribs — for boiling, stewing, grilling. CHOOSE FRESH MEAT How to tell if a piece of meat is fresh: Smell it: there should be no other smells but the natural smell of fresh meat. Look at the color. Pork has to be pink, beef should be red or dark red, and the fat is white. Mutton is light-red. If the fat is grey and the meat is brown, the meat is not fresh. To tell if minced meat is fresh or not, also look at the color. The color of fresh minced meat is from light-pink to red, depending on the meat. Minced meat can’t be grey or can’t have dark spots. Put the meat on a flat surface and press on it. If the cut is fresh, it will return to its shape once you remove your finger. If it’s not fresh, there will be a visible spot where you pressed. Also, the meat can’t be sticky. If you are buying frozen meat, look at the shelf time. But if the storage conditions were bad, the meat might still be impossible to eat. Also, the refreezing of meat is a reason to not buy it if you can see pink crystals of ice on the meat and on the inside of the pack.

SEPTEMBER 2017

CHILL & DRAW

SEPTEMBER 2017