¾ cup sugar 3 tablespoon cold water 1 egg white ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar 1 teaspoon vanilla

In 2016, Kristin hosted the first of what’s now an annual Hanukkah party that her Japanese American heritage with her husband’s Jewish roots. As a guest in their home, the couple’s friends find traditional food, decor, and rituals reimagined in modern, intentional ways. Rethink Classic Recipes For Kristin, that means incorporating Japanese ingredients in the Hanukkah dishes, like adding mochi (sweet rice) flour to homemade latkes and yuzu zest (a tart Asian citrus fruit) to doughnut filling....

DIY Retaining Wall Ideas Scrap lengths of rebar or wooden dowels 8-foot, 2x4 lumber 4-foot-long level Base material, concrete blocks, sand, crushed gravel Torpedo level, rubber mallet, construction adhesive, perforated drainpipe Hand tamper; a gas-powered tamper is optional Editor’s Tip: To cut, score a line around the block with a brick chisel, then tap until the block splits. If you need to make many cuts, or cut custom capstones, rent a masonry saw from a tool-rental shop....

When planning your DIY project, save yourself some work and choose a pattern that doesn’t require cutting the patio material. Bricks or pavers in straight or gently curving patterns typically work well for an easy job. Flagstones, with their irregular shapes, are ideal for an informal patio with natural appeal. How to Build a Patio Building a patio is much like putting together a puzzle. Rotate the pieces until they fit together, working to create a nearly uniform space between the stones....

Granite is easy to care for (routine cleaning is as simple as water, a mild dish soap, and a soft cloth) and is generally stain-resistant. Still, you’ll want to take precautions when cleaning and caring for your granite countertops. This is especially true when cleaning granite counters naturally. (Green cleaning favorites such as vinegar and lemon are a no-go for granite.) Employ these care and cleaning strategies, including how to clean granite with natural products, to ensure your granite surfaces retain their natural beauty....

The Best Ways to Clean Houseplants In nature, rain often does the job of cleaning off plants. One of the best ways to clean many tropical houseplants is with a gentle spray of water. Move smaller or compact houseplants like pothos or pilea into a sink. Place larger plants in the shower. Rinse them off with lukewarm water to get rid of pests and dust. Keep the water pressure low and don’t use hot or cold water because extreme temperatures can damage leaves....

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash in an Instant Pot Use our tested step-by-step directions to make spaghetti squash in the pressure cooker. Start by washing your spaghetti squash. Note: We tested 3- and 3½-pound squashes, which both worked. Cut squash in half crosswise (this gives longer strands of squash and fits in your cooker better than cutting lengthwise) and scoop out the seeds. Place squash halves, cut side up, in a 6-quart Instant Pot or other pressure cooker....

How to Cook a Turkey in an Electric Roaster As with all turkeys, allow ample time for the bird to defrost, then prep and season the bird as desired. Make these modifications to cook in an electric roaster. Remove the rack or insert pan from your roaster. Cover and preheat roaster to 325°F Optional, but recommended, brush your turkey with a browning sauce made from butter, Kitchen Bouquet (you can also use Worcestershire, Maggi Seasoning, or Liquid Aminos), and paprika....

How to Slice Flank Steak Whether you’re slicing flank steak before cooking to quickly stir-fry or have finished making a smoky grilled flank steak recipe, you’ll be cutting flank steak the same way. To cut across the grain look at the whole flank steak to determine which direction the muscle fibers are running, then line up your knife perpendicularly (you’ll be cutting through the fibers not parallel to them) to that and slice....

This situation can occur with refrigerator freezers, upright freezers, and chest-style freezers. To handle the problem, all you need to do is defrost the freezer. This easy maintenance project melts the ice and allows it to drain out of the freezer. It also gives you an opportunity to clean the inside of the freezer before plugging it back in or turning it on. Use this guide to learn how to defrost a freezer....

Tips: Remember, soups and other liquids or semiliquids expand when they freeze, so leave about 1/2-inch space below the rim.Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or in the microwave, never at room temperature. Tips for Packing Your Freezer

Before You Start Safety comes first when cleaning electronic appliances, so remember to unplug the dryer, avoid toxic and flammable substances, and use protective gloves and gear before trying these methods to remove stubborn stains. To start, remove any clothes from the dryer and start treating any stains on the garments. Once you’ve treated the ink stains on clothes, move onto the dryer. According to Don’s Appliances, start with a 1:1 warm water and bleach mixture to wipe away ink stains....

Dracaena’s narrow foliage may be completely green or include stripes or edges of green, cream, red, or yellow. Leaves start as rings around the center stem and take on the appearance of bamboo as they age. In fact, one of the most commonly grown dracaenas is marketed as lucky bamboo. Use this plant outside as a colorful accent in mixed containers or seasonal displays. Dracaena plants are toxic to dogs and cats, so place them in areas pets can’t reach in your home....

You can give the area inside a frame a distinctive treatment by choosing a different paint color from the rest of the wall and even choosing a third shade for the frame itself. If you do this, save yourself a lot of work by painting the walls before installing the frames. Prepaint the frames, too. Wallpaper or stenciled motifs are other possible treatments for the field inside the frame. Expect to spend about 1 hour for a single wall frame; time per frame decreases when you’re making and installing a batch....

Pomegranate seeds are touted for their protective antioxidants, are an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin K, and are a good source of dietary fiber and folate. Use the seeds in desserts, salads, and more; drink the pomegranate juice or use it in dressings or sauces. Yes, pomegranate fruits look daunting, but once you remove the pomegranate seeds (aka arils), making homemade pomegranate juice is easier than you might think....

How to Make a Bear Costume for Halloween Supplies Needed: Printable baby bear patterns 1 yard of cream faux fur 1/4 yard contrasting cotton fabric Two 19-inch lengths of 1/2 -inch-wide gold velvet ribbonCream sewing thread Sewing needlePolyester fiberfill 1/4 yard of cream felt Plastic headband Hot-glue gun and glue sticks Cream shirt Cream leggingsLarge safety pinTwo 5-inch lengths of 1/4-inch-wide white elastic Tan boots Step-by-Step Directions Only three steps and a few supplies are needed to make an unbearably adorable kid’s Halloween costume....

What You Need 1×4 whitewood boards1×6 whitewood boards4-inch screwsDrillWood glueNailsNail gunWood fillerWood stainBeam straps, made from pliable metal strips found at home improvement storesSpray paint Step 1: Lay the Groundwork Before adding wood beams to the ceiling, you need to determine their placement. Examine your ceiling to identify joists, lights, and other obstructions you’ll need to work around. Once you’ve decided on the layout, screw 1×4 boards across the length of your ceiling....

How to Make Ravioli You just need four basic ingredients and about an hour to make fresh ravioli from scratch. Use our homemade pasta recipe to get started. No special equipment is needed—a rolling pin and a sharp knife or pizza wheel will do the trick. Though if you have a pasta machine ($30, Walmart), this is the time to put it to good use. Find our best tips for making homemade pasta dough here....