Food & Drinks

The 7 Best Cocktails and How to Make Them

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Ready to impress everyone at a dinner party, summer party, office party or, well, any party? Then, learn how to make these seven easy and delicious …

Food & DrinksGuides

4 Tips to Choose the Best Wine for Your Dinner

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Finding a wine that complements and contrasts the flavors of your dinner can elevate your evening meal to a true dining experience. Acidic food Acidic food …

Food & Drinks

Should You Have a Water Filtration System in your Home?

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Do you want to understand why you should start using a water filtration system in your home? Well, you’ve come to the right article, read on …

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The 7 Best Cocktails and How to Make Them

Ready to impress everyone at a dinner party, summer party, office party or, well, any party? Then, learn how to make these seven easy and delicious cocktails.

Champagne cocktail

This cocktail dates back to the 19th century and is a true classic and sophisticated drink, great for dinner parties.

3 ounces of champagne or sparkling wine

1/3 ounces of cognac

 1 sugar cube

2 dashes of angostura bitters

Add the angostura bitter and the sugar into a champagne flute. Pour the cognac followed by chilled champagne. Decorate with a lemon twist.

Daiquiri - The 7 Best Cocktails and How to Make Them

Daiquiri

This is a lot of people’s favorite cocktail since the 1900s. The daiquiri perfectly combines strong, sweet and sour. It is very easy to make but equally easy to ruin.

2 oz of white rum

1 ounce of fresh-squeezed lime juice

¾ ounces of simple syrup

Combine everything with ice in a mixing glass. Shake vigorously and then, pour into a coup.

Dark ‘n’ stormy

The intriguing look, color and flavor make for an amazing cocktail. Widely agreed upon to be delicious, the dark ‘n’ stormy is sweet, spicy and acid. It’s also super versatile, great for practically any occasion.

1 part black rum

2 parts ginger beer

Fill a glass with ice. Add the rum and finally, the ginger beer. Squeeze a bit of lime juice and garnish with a wedge.

gimlet - The 7 Best Cocktails and How to Make Them

Gimlet

The gimlet is both classic and super easy to make. It’s one of the ultimate summer cocktails because of its freshness and easiness to the palate.

2 ounces of gin or vodka

2/3 ounces of bottled lime juice

Add cracked ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Gin & tonic

Everyone has heard of this timeless cocktail. It’s a go-to drink for warm weather, just like the gimlet.

Amounts to preference of gin and tonic water

Pour the gin and the water over ice and top it all with a lime wedge.

Manhattan

Lots of variants of the drink have surfaced throughout the decades. The original is an impeccable combination of sweetness and spiciness. The manhattan pleases everyone from the person who is starting to delve into the whiskeys to the most experienced cocktail consumer.

2 ounces of rye whiskey

1 ounce of sweet vermouth

2 dashes of angostura bitters

Stir all the ingredients with cracked ice and strain the mix into a chilled glass. Then, garnish it with an orange twist or a brandied cherry.

Margarita - The 7 Best Cocktails and How to Make Them

Margarita

Nowadays, you can find elegant and balanced margaritas, as well as those that are simply booze served in a giant cup at any restaurant. The best margaritas, though, have stood the test of time with their harmony between acidity and sweetness. This cocktail can be served in various ways and it’s a staple of almost every party.

2 ounces of silver tequila

1 ounce of cointreau

1 ounce of fresh-squeezed lime juice

Rub a lime wedge on the rim of a glass and twist on a plate of coarse salt to attach. Shake with cracked ice and pour into a glass over ice.

Any fun or special occasion on the horizon? So, what is going to be your very first cocktail?

4 Tips to Choose the Best Wine for Your Dinner

Finding a wine that complements and contrasts the flavors of your dinner can elevate your evening meal to a true dining experience.

Acidic food

Acidic food requires an acidic wine. If you pair a high acidity dinner with a low acidity wine, the food will overpower the wine. You won’t even be able to enjoy the taste of the drink.

Salty food

A salty dinner with a sweet wine is a timeless combination that almost never fails. The sweet wine helps cut the salt in the dish. On the other hand, the saltiness will highlight the pleasant taste of the wine.

burgers - 4 Tips to Choose the Best Wine for Your Dinner

Fatty food

When it comes to fatty dishes, there are plenty of fabulous choices in the world of wines. Think about the perfect combination between a steak and a dry and bitter red wine. You can also go with acidic wines as they help cut the fat. Additionally, acidic wines go flawlessly with desserts as well. Our final suggestion is a wine with higher alcohol content. You should go at a slow pace with these. They are meant for dinners that are extremely rich in flavor.

The same region

Another way to make a great pairing is to choose food and wine from the same region. This alternative often works very well. For instance, an Italian dish with an Italian wine is almost sure to be a fantastic dining experience, as the flavors complement each other impeccably.

Take these suggestions into account when shopping for the perfect bottle of wine.

Should You Have a Water Filtration System in your Home?

Do you want to understand why you should start using a water filtration system in your home? Well, you’ve come to the right article, read on about the benefits connected to using filtered water at home discussed below and see if it proves to you why you should invest in a water filtration unit.

A water filtration system is a unit that filters out pollutants and particles from water. This kind of unit can help you be able to successfully get rid of particles, bacteria, sediment, and chlorine taste among other unwanted things on the water flowing on your home.  However, since currently there are different types of water filtration units available in the market, it is appropriate you know the factors distinguishing one from the other so that you can be sure which kind will suit your filtration needs accordingly.

Also, because the market niche for water filtration systems has both original and quality units and the fake or unreliable ones, ensure the product you purchase is from a legit trader with reliable items. Therefore, it is important you do not rush into buying the system as you may secure a product which might eventually cause more harm than good. Take your time and research so that you can locate a reputable trader of water filtration systems that will ensure the unit you get is original and helpful in a variety of ways.

Common Elements that can be Removed by a Water Filtration System from the Water in your Home

Aluminum

The water that flows in your taps is unfiltered and hence may be having contents of aluminum. Consuming water reach in aluminum more often can expose you to certain disorders including skin issues, Alzheimer’s disease, and liver disorder among others. Since prevention is always is better than a cure, it’s vital you consider using a water filtration unit in your home so that you and the other people in your house can avoid becoming victims of such disorders.

Arsenic

Unfiltered water running from your taps can contain arsenic which is very dangerous once in penetrates into a person’s body system. Arsenic is a powerful carcinogenic which can cause different kinds of cancer. Installing a water filtration unit is a suitable way of eliminating arsenic from your tap water.

Fluoride

Fluoride is another product that can be found in unfiltered water. Despite fluoride having the capacity of enhancing your oral health, the product is linked also to a wide variety of health issues including cellular damage which accelerates aging and weakening the immune system among others.

Disinfection Byproducts

Disinfection Byproducts or DBPs are elements that are harmful, which arise from the disinfection of water with chlorine. Chlorine is considered a very powerful carcinogenic. DBPs can cause severe health concerns once they penetrate in your system.

The aforementioned elements are some of the harmful products you will most likely get from your tap water if you are not using a filtration unit. It is vital you avoid being a victim of the various side effects they cause by buying and installing a water filtration unit in your home.

How a Water Filtration System Works

Water filtration units have a filter that utilizes two different tactics of eliminating dirt. The first tactic on how filters in water filtration units remove dirt is physical filtration. Physical filtration involves straining water in order to eliminate larger impurities.

Another technique of filtering water is chemical filtration. Chemical filtration is where water is passed via an active material which chemically eliminates impurities by preventing them from passing through.

Once you purchase a water filtration unit, if you think you cannot install it accordingly on your own, it is vital you consider cooperating with a reputable plumber to help you in installing it in your home. The plumber will install the water filtration unit you purchase in a strategic place whereby the main water connection enters your home. This will ensure you are having clean, filtered water always available in all your household faucets, appliances and outlets which is safe for drinking and using for other purposes including bathing.

Other Benefits of Using a Water Filtration System at Home

Apart from utilizing a water filtration unit so that you can protect yourself and the other people in your home from the various dangerous elements that can trigger outbreak of diseases, there are other ways you can benefit by installing the system in your home including:

1. Protecting Home Appliances

Municipal water supplies can contain other types of unwanted contaminants which may spoil your home appliances. For instance, the unfiltered water running in your home may likely have microscopic metal deposits which can significantly reduce the lifespan of your different appliances including water heater, shower heads and faucets among others, raise your energy bills as well as cause your clothes to wear out easily.

It is vital you maintain your home appliances by installing a water filtration unit (here are some great examples of countertop water filtration systems) as it will help in making them stand the test of time and serve you for longer periods.

2. Water that Smells and Tastes Better

If the water coming from your tap is having a funny smell or taste, it means it is contaminated with bacteria, chlorine as well as other contaminants. To avoid encountering an unusual smell and taste from your home water, it is vital you use a water filtration system. A water filtration unit will ensure you are always having not only water that is clean and pure, but also free from bad smells and tastes.

3. Installing a Water Filtration Unit is a Cost-Effective Approach

Some people believe that purchasing bottled water from the supermarket is a better and cost-effective idea over installing a water filtration unit in their respective homes. This is not true. Buying and installing a water filtration unit in your home will only expose you with a onetime cost unlike purchasing bottled water where you will always have to make frequent trips to the supermarket in order to purchase them.

Conclusion

As you have seen, in addition to using a water filtration unit to protect your well-being and of your family from various diseases, there are other ways you will benefit by buying and installing the system in your home. Therefore, if you are not using a water filtration unit in your home, ensure you look for one immediately and get it installed accordingly so that you can begin reaping the merits it offers.

7 DIY Jewelry Tips You Should Know

Do you wish to delve into DIY jewelry? These seven tips will launch you on the right track.

Start with only one type of jewelry

The range of possibilities in DIY jewelry can be both exciting and overwhelming. So, begin with just one kind of jewelry. For instance, you can choose by material, from clay to glass and metal to beads. Once you feel comfortable, you can try out a wide array of options.

Become an expert at the basic skills

Many skills apply to any type of jewelry you decide to create. You’ll have to be able to properly open and close a jump ring, as well as to form a wire loop. Once you learn these and other skills, be sure they will accompany you along the way.

Work with top-quality tools

Yes, it will require a bit of a monetary investment. The stuff you can steal from your toolbox will probably get the work done, but you’ll see that more adequate tools make the process a lot easier and the end result a lot better. In the long term, the tools you buy will totally pay for themselves. If they’re durable, each piece you create will be really inexpensive.

jewelry hand - 7 DIY Jewelry Tips You Should Know

Get a stock

We suggest you buy all the supplies you need at a craft store rather than online. It’s better that you see and touch them before purchasing. You’ll be able to choose exactly what you want. Once you learn what every supply looks like and does you can totally buy online.

Design a dedicated work space

Your family and yourself will turn crazy if you have your supplies scattered everywhere in the house. It wastes time and efficiency. Having a specific work space makes your projects less stressful and enhances your concentration.

Choose a room or a table. Sort your supplies and label them. Boxes with dividers are perfect for storing your jewelry-making utensils. Having a system will allow you to be more productive and peaceful.

Learn the terms

Before you purchase anything, get familiar with the lingo. Make sure you understand how to use your supplies. That involves knowing exactly what they are. What are findings? And what is the difference between an eye pin and a head pin? There are just a few of the many terms you’ll cross paths with.

Get inspired

Look for inspiration in everything you see. Check out the jewelry that your favorite clothing and accessories stores are selling. Search for DIY jewelry on social media and on blogs. You can even watch amazing tutorials that guide you through every single step. You can get ideas from virtually anything aesthetically pleasing that you encounter, including colors, styles and textures.

At the end of the day, you want to start making your own jewelry to have fun and relax. So, stay positive, don’t quit after failures and take risks with your creations.

4 Ways to Make S’mores

Making s’mores is really easy but you can make them in a variety of different ways. First, let’s go through the basic ingredients that create the perfect sandwich: graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallow.

Do you want to know the simplest way to make the smores? Break the cracker in half and lay both parts. Top one with a square of chocolate. Then, heat up the marshmallow to melt it. Add it on top of the chocolate and press the second half of the cracker over the s’more. It’s ready.

You can go through the same process with slight differences on the stove, in the oven and in the microwave. And you can also opt for alternative ingredients.

Gas stove

On a plate, lay the graham cracker half with the chocolate. Use a skewer to hold the marshmallows over the high heat flames of the stove. Let it heat up for a few seconds and turn off your stove. Use the remaining cracker square to press the marshmallow over the chocolate. You can do it the exact same way on the grill.

ovne - 4 Ways to Make S’mores

Oven

You can make several s’mores at a time. Preheat the oven to broil. Add the cracker halves on a sheet tray with an inch of space around each square. Top all of them with the chocolate. Finish it all with the marshmallows. Place 6 inches below the top of the oven. It will only take 15 to 30 seconds so, don’t look away. Remove and top with the remaining squares.

Microwave

By now, you’ve noticed that the process is always the same up until the marshmallow part, right? Well, then just microwave the s’more for about 15 seconds. Remove them, top them with the crackers and enjoy.

Alternative ideas

You can substitute the graham crackers for oreos, the marshmallow for peanut butter or the chocolate for hazelnuts. You can even go for cold s’mores and create incredible ice cream sandwiches that you can cool in the refrigerator for later.

We are hungry after writing this. And we’re sure you also are after reading it.

10 Essential Kitchen Appliances for Your Recipes

Have you ever stopped yourself from making a delicious recipe because you didn’t have the necessary appliances? Go through this checklist and get your kitchen properly stocked.

Skillet

A skillet is absolutely indispensable. You’ll use it for beef, vegetables, eggs, sandwiches, and everything in between. It’s without a doubt the most used appliance for stovetop meals. 12-inch+ skillets, made of stainless steel and with a no-stick interior are the ultimate option.

Stock pot - 10 Essential Kitchen Appliances for Your Recipes

Stock pot

A staple of any true kitchen, the stock pot will let you cook pasta, potatoes, stews and soups. The best ones are thick and resistant with a multi-ply design to hold in heat. Make sure they come with a lid.

Slow cooker

The slow cooker is incredibly versatile. They make it so easy to cook the richest meals. Basically, you just have to throw your ingredients and wait.

Saucepan - 10 Essential Kitchen Appliances for Your Recipes

Saucepan

Essentially, the saucepan is the medium-sized version of the stock pot. You can use it for soups and vegetables or for simpler meals of smaller portions.

Mixing bowls

Every kitchen should have a set of at least three medium to large bowls for mixing ingredients. The ones with lids are great as they can also be used for storage and serving.

Sheet tray

To cook in the oven, the sheet tray is the popular solution. And rightfully so. A good sheet tray is truly adaptable. It helps you make pizza, cookies and finger foods. They can also be slid under roasting trays to save from dripping. The tray should be large and durable.

Knife set

A great set of knifes will be one of your biggest allies in the kitchen. Look for one that comes in a knife block for easy, safe and visually pleasing storing. The ultimate knife set must include at least a large chef’s knife for slicing, a paring knife for more meticulous tasks, a serrated knife to cut bread and tough fruits and a honing steel to properly sharpen the knifes. A high-quality knife set can last you decades.

spatula - 10 Essential Kitchen Appliances for Your Recipes

Spatula

A spatula has practically endless uses. Therefore, it’s a must. You’ll be constantly using it so, get a spatula that is durable and sturdy. Ideally, you should have a set of spatulas of different sizes.

Measuring cups

Have you ever seen a kitchen without the classic pyrex measuring cup? You probably haven’t because it is completely essential. Although you should also have measuring spoons, the cups measure larger quantities. They are microwavable and usually come with a pour spout. That way, you can melt some ingredients and pour them right into the mix.

Cutting board

You can do your cutting and slicing without a cutting board but it will ruin your knifes and your countertops. Have a set of cutting boards to prepare different foods.

Did you check what’s missing from your kitchen? Go get it while you think about your next amazing recipe.

The 5 Best House Plants and How to Take Care of Them

Just because you don’t have a garden, it doesn’t mean you can’t recreate the ambience inside the house. Take a look at five of the best indoor plants.

Anthurium

These indoor plants are very popular and originate from Colombia. They have long, dark-green leaves with a leathery texture and produce red, pink or white gorgeous flowers that last for weeks and are shaped like a heart.

To bloom, the anthurium requires bright but indirect light. The soil must be kept moist from spring to fall and a little drier during winter. It can grow to 48 inches tall. The plant will be much healthier if you fertilize it every two weeks during spring and summer with phosphorus liquid fertilizer.

Bromeliad

These perennial plants form colorful rosettes and are pretty low maintenance. They need medium to bright light, although not directly, and do great in pots with fast drainage. You should water the bromeliad by filling the central cup once a week during spring and summer. In fall and winter, do it less regularly.

Bromeliad - The 5 Best House Plants and How to Take Care of Them

To prevent water stagnation, you need to flush it frequently. Once per season, you can drop a fertilizer with slow release into the cup or mix it with the soil.

Devil’s ivy

The devil’s ivy is also known as golden pothos. It’s a fast-growing vine perfect for anywhere in the house. They are really adaptable and can be potted in glass vases, hanging baskets and practically everywhere else you can think of. They are incredibly low maintenance and yet are one of the most stunning house plants.

The coloring of the leaves can range from cream and gray to yellow and green. The devil’s ivy doesn’t require regular watering or fertilization. Water it deeply once a week in the warmer seasons and every two weeks during winter. In the summer, you should prune the plant and place the cuttings in glass jars with water for them to create roots.

Maidenhair fern

The maidenhair fern can make a truly beautiful addition to your home. The leaves are light green, feathery and shiny. The plant is perfect for hanging. Taking care of the maidenhair fern requires a bit of your time and attention. The light should be moderate and they grow well in warm spaces with a bit of humidity.

Maidenhair fern - The 5 Best House Plants and How to Take Care of Them

A great hack is placing a saucer with pebbles beneath the pot. Pour water on the saucer to just bellow the top of the pebbles. As the water evaporates, it produces a humid microclimate around the maidenhair fern.

Mass cane

The mass cane is great for beginners. It grows up to 59 feet tall and has long green leaves with stripes of yellow. It’s arguably the best option if you’re looking for a large home plant.

The light should be indirect but bright, although the mass cane tolerates low lighting. Water it once a week. But be aware of something very important. The mass cane is toxic to cats and dogs. So, if you have pets, this is definitely not the plant for you.

So, which one of these plants will be the first one you decorate your indoors with?