domingo, 19 de maio de 2019


How to Make Your Own Vinegar

Posted: 19 May 2019 01:00 AM PDT

While it's easy to go to the store and buy a bottle of vinegar, it can be very satisfying—and tasty!—to make it yourself. All you need is a clean jar, some alcohol, a "mother" (the starter for the fermentation process), and at least 2 months to allow the "mother" to work. Once you've mastered a general-purpose vinegar recipe that can be used with practically any type of alcoholic beverage, you can move on to more specialized recipes for wine vinegar, cider vinegar, rice vinegar, or—if you are willing to wait at least 12 years—balsamic vinegar.

EditIngredients

  • Vinegar starter ("mother"), either store-bought or homemade
  • of wine and of distilled water

OR

  • of beer or hard cider (at least 5% ABV)

EditSteps

EditAdding Alcohol to the Prepared Jar

  1. Clean a wide-mouth glass jar with soap and water. You can use ceramic crocks or even old wine bottles to make vinegar, but wide-mouth glass jars are easy to find and easy to work with. Remove the lid and ring (you won't need them here), then thoroughly wash and rinse the jar with dish soap and warm, clean water.[1]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 1 Version 2.jpg
    • If you want to make a smaller batch of vinegar, use a jar and reduce the amount of alcohol (and any water) you add to it by half.
  2. Sterilize the inside of the jar with boiling water. Boil a pot of water, place the jar in the sink, and carefully fill the jar with boiling water. Pour out the water once you can safely handle the jar—it will take at least 5 minutes to cool enough to touch.[2]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 2 Version 2.jpg
    • Make sure the jar isn't cold when you pour the boiling water into it—the rapid change in temperature could cause the jar to shatter. Rinse the jar with hot tap water to warm it up, if necessary.
    • This method won't sterilize a jar to the extent required for safely canning or preserving food. It is, however, adequate sterilization for making vinegar.
  3. Pour in each of wine and water for wine vinegar. In basic terms, vinegar is created by bacteria that turn alcohol (ethanol) into acetic acid. This process is most effective if the liquid is 5%-15% alcohol by volume (ABV), although 9%-12% is ideal. Most wine has an ABV of around 12%-14%, and combining it with water at a 1:1 ratio—that is, each—provides a nice finished flavor balance and acidity level.[3]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 3 Version 2.jpg
    • Use distilled water, not tap water, to reduce the chance of developing any off flavors.
    • For less sharpness of flavor in the finished product, use of wine and of water. For more sharpness, add the wine in a 2:1 ratio.
    • You can use white or red wine in any variety you prefer. However, use wine that does not contain sulfites (check the label).
  4. Add of beer or hard cider as a wine alternative. You can make vinegar out of any alcoholic beverage that has an ABV of at least 5%. Check the label on your beer or cider to make sure it meets this threshold, then add it without diluting it with water.[4]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 4 Version 2.jpg
    • You could use other types of alcohol with higher ABVs as well, so long as you dilute it with water in order to reduce the ABV to 15% or less.

EditAdding the "Mother" and Storing the Jar

  1. Place or pour a store-bought "mother" into the jar. The "mother" contains the bacteria needed to begin the process of turning ethanol into acetic acid. It sometimes forms in opened bottles of wine, and looks like a slimy blob floating on the surface. You can buy "mother" (sometimes marketed as "vinegar starter") in this gelatinous form, or as a liquid—look for it in homebrew or natural foods stores, or online.[5]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 5 Version 2.jpg
    • If you're adding gelatinous "mother" from a store, follow the package instructions regarding the amount to add—you'll just spoon it on top of the alcohol in your jar.
    • For liquid vinegar starter, pour in , unless otherwise noted on the package.
  2. Use a homemade "mother" instead if you've saved it from prior vinegar making. The "mother" reforms every time you make a batch of vinegar. So, if you've made vinegar before, or have a friend who has, you can use the "mother" that formed in a previous batch. Just spoon it out and put it into your new jar.[6]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 6 Version 2.jpg
    • You can repeat this process over and over again for years, if desired.
    • It's fine to use a "mother" from one type of vinegar (e.g., wine) to start another (e.g., cider).
  3. Seal the jar with a rubber band and cheesecloth or a paper towel. Simply lay the paper towel or cheesecloth over the top of the jar, then stretch a rubber band over the mouth of the jar. You need to cover the jar with a permeable material so that fresh air can circulate inside.[7]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 7.jpg
    • Don't leave the jar uncovered. Dust or dirt may get in, and there's a good chance you'll end up with a bunch of drowned fruit flies floating in your vinegar!
  4. Place the jar in a dark, airy, temperate place for 2 months. Find a shelf on your pantry or similar location that's fairly dark and gets decent air circulation. The conversion into vinegar will occur at temperatures between , but is the ideal range—so pick out a warm spot if possible.[8]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 8.jpg
    • If you can't find a dark spot, wrap the jar in a thick kitchen towel—but don't cover the cheesecloth or paper towel lid.
    • Don't shake, stir, or (if possible) move the jar during the initial 2 month waiting period. This will make it easier for the "mother" to form and do its work.
    • You'll notice the scent of vinegar and possibly some more funky smells coming from the jar during the 2 months. Ignore this and leave it alone for 2 months.

EditTasting and Bottling Your Vinegar

  1. Siphon out some vinegar with a straw after 2 months. Take off the rubber band and lid cover, then stick a straw down into the liquid without disturbing the gelatinous "mother" floating on the surface. Press your thumb against the open end of the straw to trap some vinegar inside the straw. Remove the straw from the jar, place the straw into a small glass, and let go with your thumb to discharge the vinegar into the glass.[9]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 9.jpg
    • You can use a disposable plastic straw or a reusable straw for this task.
  2. Taste the siphoned vinegar, and give the batch more time as needed. Take a small sip of the vinegar. If it is either too weak (because the fermentation process hasn't proceeded enough) or too sharp and intense (because vinegar mellows over time), re-cover it and give it another 2 weeks to ferment.[10]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 10.jpg
    • Keep tasting the vinegar every 1-2 weeks until it meets your approval.
  3. Spoon out the "mother" if you want to reuse it in a new vinegar batch. Carefully remove the gelatinous blob floating on the surface of your finished vinegar, and transfer it to a new jar of starter liquid (for instance, equal parts of wine and water). This way, you can continuously churn out new batches of homemade vinegar![11]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 11.jpg
    • Alternatively, you can slowly pour out nearly all of the vinegar in your jar, leaving just a small amount in the bottom with the "mother" still floating in it. Then, refill the jar with more alcohol and start a new batch in this original jar.[12]
  4. Pasteurize the vinegar so it will keep indefinitely. After removing the "mother" from the fermenting jar (or leaving it behind in the jar), pour the vinegar into a medium saucepan. Place it on the stove over medium-low heat and use a probe thermometer to check the temperature. When the temperature is over but less than , remove the pot from the heat and let the vinegar cool to room temperature.
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 12.jpg
    • This process of pasteurizing the vinegar will enable it to be stored indefinitely at room temperature and low light in a glass container.[13]
    • You can skip pasteurizing the vinegar if you wish, and it will still probably store for months or even possibly years without any noticeable decline in quality or flavor. But this quick step is worth the effort to ensure the long-term quality of your homemade vinegar.
  5. Bottle the finished vinegar through a filter and funnel. Place an unbleached coffee filter into a funnel, then place the funnel into the mouth of a clean, sterilized glass bottle—old wine bottles work well. Slowly pour the vinegar through the strainer and into the bottle. Seal the bottle with a cork or a screw-top lid.[14]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 13.jpg
    • Clean the bottle with soap and water, then pour in boiling water and leave it for 5-10 minutes to sterilize it.
    • Affix a tag to the bottle that identifies the type of alcohol that was used and the amount of time the vinegar was left to ferment. This is especially helpful if you're giving the vinegar as a gift or are stockpiling a personal collection!
  6. Don't use homemade vinegar for canning, preserving, or room temperature storage. Homemade vinegar is great to use in salad dressings and marinades, and for other uses when it will either be cooked or refrigerated. However, since the acidity (pH level) can vary widely, it is not safe for use in canning or preserving foods at room temperature.[15]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 14.jpg
    • If the acidity level is too low, the vinegar won't ward off potentially harmful pathogens like e. coli in the food you're trying to preserve.
    • This holds true even if you pasteurized the vinegar. It is, however, fine to store the vinegar itself at room temperature (pasteurized or not) in a dark, room temperature or cooler place.

EditRecipe Variations

  1. Try maple vinegar for a unique flavor profile. For your of starter liquid, combine of pure maple syrup, of dark rum, and of distilled water. Follow the general-purpose vinegar recipe as described in the main body of this article.[16]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 15.jpg
    • Maple vinegar has a unique, rich flavor that works well drizzled over roasted squash or roasted chicken.
  2. Skip the alcohol altogether to make basic apple cider vinegar. Grind up about of apples in a food processor, then squeeze the pulp in cheesecloth to extract the necessary of starter liquid. Alternatively, you can use an organic, 100% apple juice or cider. Follow the recipe provided in the main body of this article.[17]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 16.jpg
    • Although this recipe contains no alcohol in the starter liquid, the sugars in the apple juice will provide enough food for the "mother" to do its work. It may take slightly longer to ferment into a vinegar that suits your taste, however.
  3. Give honey vinegar a try as another alcohol-free alternative. Boil of distilled water and pour it over of honey. Stir them together until they are fully combined, and let the mixture cool to slightly above room temperature (but below ). Then, use it in this article's general-purpose recipe.[18]
    Make Your Own Vinegar Step 17.jpg
    • As with vinegar made with apple juice, the sugars in the honey will be sufficient to feed the "mother" and support the fermentation process.

EditVideo

EditThings You'll Need

  • glass jar
  • Cheesecloth or paper towel
  • Rubber band
  • Plastic or reusable straw
  • Medium saucepan
  • Probe thermometer
  • Empty, clean wine bottle with stopper
  • Funnel
  • Unbleached coffee filter

EditRelated wikiHows

EditReferences

EditQuick Summary


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How to Meditate

Posted: 18 May 2019 05:00 PM PDT

The goal of meditation is to focus and understand your mind—eventually reaching a higher level of awareness and inner calm. Meditation is an ancient practice, but scientists are still discovering all of its benefits. Regular meditation can help you to control your emotions, enhance your concentration, decrease stress, and even become more connected to those around you.[1] With practice, you'll be able to achieve a sense of tranquility and peace no matter what's going on around you. There are many different ways to meditate, so if one practice doesn't seem to work for you, consider trying a different type that works better for you before you give up.

EditSteps

EditSample Techniques

EditGetting Comfortable before You Meditate

  1. Choose a quiet, peaceful environment. Meditation should be practiced in a peaceful location.[2] A tranquil environment will enable you to focus exclusively on the task at hand and avoid external stimuli and distractions. Find a place where you will not be interrupted for the duration of your meditation—whether it lasts 5 minutes or half an hour. The space does not need to be very large—a walk-in closet or even an outdoor bench can be used for meditation as long as you have privacy.
    Meditate Step 1.jpg
    • For those new to meditation, it's especially important to avoid any external distractions. Turn off TV sets, phones, or other noisy appliances.[3]
    • If you play music, choose calm, repetitive tunes to avoid breaking your concentration. You can also play white noise or quiet nature sounds, like running water.
    • Your meditation space does not need to be completely silent, so you won't need earplugs. The sound of a lawnmower or dog barking shouldn't prevent effective meditation. In fact, being aware of these noises without letting them dominate your thoughts is an important component of meditation.
    • Meditating outside works for many so long as you don't sit near a busy roadway or another source of loud noise. You can find peace under a tree or sitting on some lush grass in a favorite corner of a garden.
  2. Wear comfortable clothes. One of the major goals of meditation is to calm the mind and block out external distractions.[4] This can be difficult if you feel physically uncomfortable due to tight or restrictive clothing. Try to wear loose clothing during meditation practice and make sure to remove your shoes.[5]
    Meditate Step 2.jpg
    • Wear a sweater or cardigan if you plan on meditating someplace cool, or bring a blanket or shawl you can wrap around yourself. You don't want the sensation of feeling cold to consume your thoughts.
    • If you are in a place where you can't easily change your clothes, do your best to make yourself as comfortable as possible. Try just taking off your shoes.
  3. Decide how long you want to meditate. Before you begin, you should decide how long you are going to meditate. While many seasoned meditators recommend 20-minute sessions twice a day, beginners can start by doing as little as 5 minutes once a day.[6]
    Meditate Step 3 Version 2.jpg
    • Once you have decided on a time frame, try to stick to it. Don't just give up because you feel like it isn't working. It will take time and practice to achieve successful meditation. Right now, the most important thing is to keep trying.
    • Find a way to keep track of your meditation time without distracting yourself. Set a gentle alarm to alert you when your time is up. Or time your practice to end with a certain event—such as the sun hitting a certain spot on the wall.
  4. Do some stretches before you start to prevent stiffness. Meditation usually involves sitting in one spot for a certain period of time, so it is important to release any tension or tightness before you begin. A couple of minutes of light stretching can help prepare both your body and mind for meditation. It will also prevent you from focusing on any sore spots instead of relaxing.[7]
    Meditate Step 4.jpg
    • Remember to stretch your neck, shoulders, and lower back—especially if you've been sitting in front of a computer. Stretching out your legs—with an emphasis on the inner thigh—can be helpful when meditating in the lotus position.
    • If you don't already know how to stretch, consider learning different stretching techniques to try before you meditate. Many meditation experts recommend doing light yoga stretches before meditation.
  5. Sit in a comfortable position. It is very important that you are comfortable while you meditate, so finding the best position for you is the goal.[8] Traditionally, meditation is practiced by sitting on a cushion on the ground in either a lotus position or half-lotus position, but this position can be uncomfortable if you lack flexibility in your legs, hips, and lower back. You want to find a posture that allows you to sit with a balanced, tall, and straight posture.
    Lucid Dream Step 13 Version 3.jpg
    • You can sit—with or without crossing your legs—on a cushion, chair, or meditation bench.
    • Once seated, your pelvis should be tilted forward enough to center your spine over your "sit bones," the 2 bones in your behind that bear your weight when seated. To tilt your pelvis into the right position, sit on the forward edge of a thick cushion or place something about thick under the back legs of a chair.
    • You can also a use a meditation bench, which is usually built with a tilted seat. If you're using a bench that's not tilted, put something under it, so it tilts forward between .
  6. Straighten your spine once you're seated. Good posture during meditation will keep you more comfortable.[9] Once you're in a comfortable position, focus on the rest of your back. Start from your bottom and think about each vertebra in your spine as balancing one on top of another to support the whole weight of your torso, neck, and head.
    Meditate Step 5.jpg
    • It requires practice to find the position that allows you to relax your torso with only slight effort being used to maintain your balance. Whenever you feel tension, relax the area. If you can't relax it without slumping, check the alignment of your posture and seek to rebalance your torso, so those areas can relax.
    • The most important thing is that you are comfortable, relaxed, and have a balanced torso, so your spine can support all of your weight from the waist up.
    • The traditional hand placement involves resting your hands in your lap, palms facing upward, with your right hand on top of your left. However, you can also rest your hands on your knees or leave them hanging down by your side.
  7. Close your eyes if it helps you focus and relax. Meditation can be performed with the eyes open or closed.[10] As a beginner, it is often best to try meditating with closed eyes in order to avoid visual distractions.
    Meditate Step 6.jpg
    • Once you have grown accustomed to meditation, you can try practicing with your eyes open. This tends to help if you find yourself falling asleep when meditating with your eyes closed or if you experience disturbing mental images, which happens to a small number of people.[11]
    • If you keep your eyes open, you will need to keep them "soft" by not focusing on any one thing in particular.[12]
    • You don't want to go into a trance-like state. The goal is to feel relaxed, yet alert.[13]

EditTrying Basic Meditation Practices

  1. Follow your breathing. The most basic and universal of all meditation techniques, breathing meditation, is a great place to start your practice.[14] Pick a spot above your navel and focus on that spot with your mind. Become aware of the rising and falling of your abdomen as you breathe in and out. Don't make a conscious effort to change your breathing patterns. Just breathe normally.
    Meditate Step 7.jpg
    • Try to focus on your breathing and only your breathing. Don't think about your breathing or pass any sort of judgment of it (e.g., "That breath was shorter than the last one."). Just attempt to know your breath and be aware of it.[15]
  2. Focus on mental images to guide your breathing. Imagine a coin sitting on the spot above your navel and rising and falling with each breath. Or picture a buoy floating in the ocean that's bobbing up and down with the swell and lull of your breathing. Alternatively, imagine a lotus flower sitting in your belly and unfurling its petals with every intake of breath.[16]
    Meditate for Beginners Step 1 Version 2.jpg
    • Don't worry if your mind starts to wander. You are a beginner, and meditation takes practice. Just make an effort to refocus your mind on your breathing and try to think of nothing else.
  3. Repeat a mantra to help you focus. Mantra meditation is another common form of meditation that involves repeating a mantra (a sound, word, or phrase) over and over until you silence the mind and enter a deep, meditative state. The mantra can be anything you choose, so long as it's easy to remember.[17]
    Meditate Step 8.jpg
    • Some good mantras to start with include words like "one," "peace," "calm," "tranquil," and "silence."
    • If you want to use more traditional mantras, you can use the word "Om," which symbolizes omnipresent consciousness. Or you can use the phrase "Sat, Chit, Ananda," which means "Existence, Consciousness, Bliss."
    • Silently repeat the mantra over and over to yourself as you meditate, allowing the word or phrase to whisper through your mind. Don't worry if your mind wanders off. Just refocus your attention and refocus on the repetition of the word.[18]
    • As you enter a deeper level of awareness and consciousness, it may become unnecessary to continue repeating the mantra.
  4. Try concentrating on a simple visual object to relieve stress. In a similar way to using a mantra, you can use a simple visual object to focus your mind and allow you to reach a level of deeper consciousness. This is a form of open-eye meditation, which many meditators find helpful.[19]
    Meditate Step 9.jpg
    • The visual object can be anything you wish. The flame of a lit candle can be particularly pleasant. Other possible objects to consider include crystals, flowers, or pictures of divine beings, such as the Buddha.
    • Place the object at eye level, so you don't need to strain your head and neck to view it. Gaze at it until your peripheral vision starts to dim and the object consumes your vision.
    • Once you are focused entirely on the object, you should feel a sense of profound serenity.[20]
  5. Practice visualization if you prefer to focus inward. Visualization is another popular meditation technique. One common type of visualization involves creating a peaceful place in your mind and exploring it until you reach a state of complete calm.[21] The place can be anywhere you like; however, it should not be entirely real. You want to imagine a unique place that's personalized for you.
    Meditate Step 10.jpg
    • The place you visualize could be a warm, sandy beach, a flower-filled meadow, a quiet forest, or a comfortable sitting room with a roaring fire. Whatever place you choose, allow it to become your sanctuary.
    • Once you have mentally entered your sanctuary, allow yourself to explore it. Don't work to "create" your surroundings. It's as if they are already there. Just relax and allow the details to come to the forefront of your mind.
    • Take in the sights, sounds, and scents of your surroundings. Feel the fresh breeze against your face or the heat of the flames warming your body. Enjoy the space for as long as you wish, allowing it to naturally expand and become more tangible. When you are ready to leave, take a few deep breaths, then open your eyes.
    • You can come back to this same place the next time you practice visualization, or you can simply create a new space.
  6. Do a body scan to find and release tension. Doing a body scan involves focusing on each individual body part in turn and consciously relaxing it. To begin, sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and begin to focus on your breathing, then gradually move your attention from one part of your body to another. Notice the sensations you feel as you go.[22]
    Meditate Step 11.jpg
    • You may find it helpful to start at the bottom and work your way up. For example, concentrate on whatever sensations you can feel in your toes. Make a conscious effort to relax any contracted muscles and release any tension or tightness in your toes. When your toes are fully relaxed, move upwards to your feet and repeat the relaxation process.
    • Continue along your body, moving from your feet to the top of your head. Spend as much time as you like focusing on each part of your body.
    • Once you have completed the relaxation of each individual body part, focus on your body as a whole and enjoy the sensation of calmness and looseness you have achieved. Focus on your breathing for several minutes before coming out of your meditation practice.
    • With regular practice, this technique can make you more aware of the various sensations in your body and help you deal with them appropriately.[23]
  7. Try heart chakra meditation to tap into feelings of love and compassion. The heart chakra is one of 7 chakras, or energy centers, located within the body. The heart chakra is located in the center of the chest and is associated with love, compassion, peace, and acceptance. Heart chakra meditation involves getting in touch with these feelings and sending them out into the world. To begin, get into a comfortable position and focus on the sensations of your breathing.[24]
    Meditate Step 12.jpg
    • As you become more relaxed, imagine a green light radiating from your heart. Imagine the light filling you with a sensation of pure, radiant love.[25]
    • Picture the love and light radiating throughout your entire body. From there, allow it to radiate outward from your body and enter the universe around you.[26]
    • Take a few moments to simply sit and feel the positive energy within and around you. When you're done, gradually allow yourself to become aware of your body and your breath again. Gently wiggle your fingers, toes, and limbs, then open your eyes.[27]
  8. Try walking meditation to relax and exercise at the same time. Walking meditation is an alternate form of meditation that involves observing the movement of the feet and becoming aware of your body's connection to the earth.[28] If you plan on performing long, seated meditation sessions, try breaking them up with some walking meditation.[29]
    Meditate Step 13.jpg
    • Choose a quiet location to practice your walking meditation with as few distractions as possible. Remove your shoes if it's safe to do so.
    • Hold your head up with your gaze directed straight ahead and your hands clasped together in front of you. Take a slow, deliberate step with your right foot. After taking the first step, stop for a moment before taking the next. Only 1 foot should be moving at any given time.
    • When you reach the end of your walking path, stop completely with your feet together. Then pivot on your right foot and turn around. Continue walking in the opposite direction using the same slow, deliberate movements as before.
    • While practicing walking meditation, try to focus on the movement of the feet and nothing else. This intense focus is similar to the way that you focus on the rising and falling of your breath during breathing meditation. Try to clear your mind and become aware of the connection between your foot and the earth below it.

EditIncorporating Meditation into Your Everyday Life

  1. Try to meditate at the same time every day. Scheduling your meditation practice for the same time each day will help it become part of your everyday routine.[30] If you meditate daily, you'll experience its benefits more profoundly.
    Meditate Step 18.jpg
    • Early morning is a good time to meditate since your mind has not yet become consumed with the stresses and worries of the day.
    • It is not a good idea to meditate directly after eating. If you're digesting a meal, you may feel uncomfortable and less able to concentrate.[31]
  2. Take a guided meditation class to hone your techniques. If you want additional guidance, consider taking a meditation class with an experienced teacher. You can find a range of different class types by searching online.
    Meditate Step 17.jpg
    • Local gyms, spas, schools, and dedicated meditation centers offer classes in many locations.
    • You can also find a wide range of guided meditations and instructional videos on YouTube.
    • For a more immersive experience, look into attending a spiritual retreat where you will spend several days or weeks in intensive meditation. Vipassana Meditation offers free 10 day retreats at centers throughout the world.[32]
  3. Read spiritual books to learn more about meditation. Though not for everyone, some people find that reading spiritual books and sacred writings helps them understand meditation and inspires them to strive for inner peace and spiritual understanding.
    Meditate Step 16.jpg
    • Some good books to start with include A Profound Mind: Cultivating Wisdom in Everyday Life by the Dalai Lama, The Nature of Personal Reality by Jane Roberts, "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle, and One-Minute Mindfulness by Donald Altman.
    • If you wish, you can pick out elements of wisdom that resonate with you from any spiritual or sacred texts and reflect on them during your next meditation session.
  4. Practice mindfulness in your everyday life. Meditation doesn't have to be limited to your practice sessions. You can also practice mindfulness throughout your day-to-day life. Simply work on being aware of what is happening both inside and around you at any given moment throughout the day.[33]
    Meditate Step 14.jpg
    • For example, in moments of stress, try to take a few seconds to focus solely on your breathing and empty your mind of any negative thoughts or emotions.
    • You can also practice mindfulness when you eat by becoming aware of the food and all the sensations you experience as you eat.
    • No matter what actions you perform in your daily life—whether it's sitting at a computer or sweeping the floor—try to become more aware of your body's movements and how you feel in the present moment. This focus and awareness is living mindfully.[34]
  5. Try grounding exercises to help you be more present. Grounding is a technique to help you practice mindfulness in everyday life. All you need to do is focus directly on something in your surroundings or a specific sensation in your body.[35]
    Daydream Step 4.jpg
    • For example, you might focus on the blue color of a pen or folder on a table near you or examine more closely the feeling of your feet on the floor or your hands resting on the arms of your chair. Try doing this if you feel like you are distracted or you find your mind is wandering, or if you are feeling stressed.
    • You can also try focusing on multiple sensations at once. For example, pick up a keyring and pay attention to the sounds the keys make, the way they feel in your hand, and even their metallic smell.
  6. Maintain a healthy lifestyle in addition to meditating. While meditation can improve your overall health and wellbeing, it works best if you combine it with other healthy lifestyle practices. Try to eat healthily, exercise, and get enough sleep.[36]
    Meditate Step 15.jpg
    • Avoid watching too much television, drinking alcohol, or smoking before meditation. These activities are unhealthy, and they can numb the mind—preventing you from achieving the level of concentration necessary for successful meditation.
  7. View meditation as a journey rather than a goal. Meditation is not a goal that you can complete, like trying to get a promotion at work. Viewing meditation just as a tool to achieve a certain goal (even if your goal is to be enlightened) would be like saying the goal of a stroll on a beautiful day is to walk a mile. Focus instead on the process and experience of meditation itself, and don't bring the desires and attachments that distract you in day-to-day life into your meditation practice.
    Meditate Step 19.jpg
    • When beginning, you shouldn't be too concerned with the quality of the meditation itself. As long as you feel calmer, happier, and more at peace at the end of your practice, your meditation was successful.[37]

EditVideo

EditTips

  • Don't expect immediate results. The purpose of meditation is not to turn you into a Zen master overnight. Meditation works best when it is done for its own sake, without becoming attached to results.
  • If you find it difficult to meditate for the length of time you have chosen, try a shorter time for a while. Almost anyone can meditate for 1-2 minutes without experiencing intrusive thoughts. Then, as the ocean of the mind calms, you can gradually lengthen your meditation session until you have achieved the desired length of time.
  • Meditation doesn't have to be elaborate. Breathe in. Breath out. Let your worries melt away. Just relax.
  • Do what works best for you. One person's ideal meditation technique may not be the best one for you. Experiment with different practices to find the ones you like best.
  • It is hard to concentrate when you're first beginning a meditation practice. You'll get used to it once you start to meditate regularly. Take your time and be patient with yourself.
  • What you do with a silent mind is up to you. Some people find that it is a good time to introduce an intention or a desired outcome to the subconscious mind. Others prefer to "rest" in the rare silence that meditation offers. For religious people, meditation is often used to connect with their god(s) and receive visions.

EditWarnings

  • If you have back problems, talk to your doctor about what meditation postures are safe and appropriate for you.

EditRelated wikiHows

EditReferences

EditQuick Summary


Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found


How to Make Glazed Strawberries

Posted: 18 May 2019 09:00 AM PDT

If you're looking for a way to use up ripe strawberries or want to make your desserts stand out, try glazing strawberries. Dip whole strawberries into a simple syrup and let them harden. Then you can serve them on top of cakes or tarts. If you'd rather make a strawberry glaze that you can pour, slice berries and cook them with sugar until they soften. Spoon the strawberry glaze over baked goods or ice cream for a special treat.

EditIngredients

EditIndividual Glazed Strawberries

  • 1 cup (200 g) of granulated sugar
  • of water
  • 16 fresh strawberries
  • 1/2 cup (112 g) of cinnamon red hots, optional

Makes 16 glazed strawberries

EditStrawberry Glaze Sauce

  • of strawberries
  • 1/3 cup (67 g) of granulated sugar
  • of lemon juice
  • of vanilla, optional

Makes of sauce

EditSteps

EditGlazing Individual Strawberries

  1. Rinse 16 strawberries and dry them with a paper towel. You can leave the stems on the strawberries or trim them off if you prefer. Ensure that the strawberries are completely dry since the sugar glaze won't stick to wet berries.[1]

    Make Glazed Strawberries Step 1.jpg
    • Avoid using frozen strawberries for this recipe. They'll release too much moisture as they thaw and they'll become mushy.
  2. Insert a toothpick into the stem or big end of each strawberry. Push the toothpick about deep into the strawberry. This will make it easier to dip the strawberries into the hot glaze.[2]

    • If you don't have toothpicks, you can use lollipop sticks or bamboo skewers.
  3. Put the sugar and water into a saucepan with a candy thermometer. Pour 1 cup (200 g) of granulated sugar along with of water into a saucepan and clip a candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan. The tip of the candy thermometer should be near the bottom of the pan without touching it.[3]

    • You can also substitute caster or superfine sugar for the granulated sugar.
  4. Heat the sugar syrup until it reaches . Stir the sugar so it mixes with the water and turn the burner to medium-high. Stir the mixture frequently as it liquifies and heats up to .[4]

    • Stir gently to prevent the hot syrup from splashing out of the saucepan.
    • on the candy thermometer is also called hard crack stage. If you don't have a thermometer, spoon a little syrup into a bowl of cold water. The syrup should break and crack if it's hot enough.
  5. Turn off the burner and dip the strawberries into the syrup. Carefully hold a strawberry by the toothpick and lower it into the hot syrup. Dip it down until all but the stem is glazed. Then place it on a sheet of parchment paper. Repeat this with the rest of the strawberries.

    • Work quickly so the syrup doesn't have a chance to cool too much.
    • The hot syrup can burn your skin, so use caution when you dip the berries.
  6. Let the strawberries harden and serve them within 2 hours. Leave the strawberries alone for a few minutes so they harden completely. For the best texture, serve the glazed strawberries within 2 hours. You can set them out for guests to pick up or place them on top of decorated cakes and tarts.[5]

    Make Glazed Strawberries Step 6.jpg
    • The berries will begin to shrink under the glaze and they'll become too ripe after a few hours. This is why you should avoid making the glazed strawberries too far in advance.

EditMaking a Strawberry Glaze Sauce

  1. Cut the strawberries into slices and put them in a saucepan. Rinse of strawberries and use a paring knife to cut off the stems. Then slice each strawberry into thick slices and put them into a saucepan.[6]

    • You can use frozen strawberries for this recipe. Just thaw the strawberries in the refrigerator until they're easy enough to slice.
  2. Stir in the sugar, lemon juice, and optional vanilla. Add 1/3 cup (67 g) of granulated sugar to the saucepan along with of lemon juice. If you'd like a deeper flavor, add of vanilla. Stir until the berries are coated with the sugar.[7]

    • The lemon juice won't make the strawberry glaze taste sour. Instead, it will give the glaze a bright, fresh flavor.
  3. Bring the strawberry glaze to a boil. Turn the burner to medium so the strawberries start releasing liquid. Stir them occasionally to prevent them from burning and continue to heat the strawberries until they bubble vigorously.[8]

    Make Glazed Strawberries Step 9.jpg
    • The strawberries will break down as they cook so there's no need to mash them.
  4. Simmer the glaze for 20 to 25 minutes. Turn the burner down to medium-low and keep the lid off of the saucepan. Stir the glaze frequently as it simmers and becomes a heavy syrup. The syrup will thicken as some of the liquid evaporates.[9] of cold water. Then stir the mixture into the hot glaze about 5 minutes before it's finished cooking and stir constantly.}}

    • The amount of time it takes to cook will depend on how much moisture there was in the strawberries.
  5. Turn off the burner and cool the glaze to room temperature. Transfer the strawberry glaze to a bowl or storage container and leave it to cool until it reaches room temperature. This should take about 30 minutes.[10]

    Make Glazed Strawberries Step 11.jpg
  6. Serve the strawberry glaze with breakfast or dessert. Spoon the room-temperature glaze over pancakes. If you prefer, refrigerate the glaze until it's cold and then pour it over cheesecake or ice cream.[11]

    Make Glazed Strawberries Step 12.jpg
    • To store the strawberry glaze, put it into an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 3 to 4 days.
    • The strawberry glaze will thicken even more as it's refrigerated.

EditTips

  • Play around with adding other fruits to the glazed strawberry sauce. For example, add a handful of blueberries or raspberries to the simmering mixture.
  • Spoon a little of the glazed strawberry sauce over your morning oatmeal.

EditThings You'll Need

EditIndividual Glazed Strawberries

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Knife and cutting board
  • Toothpicks
  • Paper towels
  • Saucepan
  • Candy thermometer

EditStrawberry Glaze Sauce

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Knife and cutting board
  • Saucepan
  • Spoon

EditReferences


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