| How to Substitute Cream of Tartar Posted: 20 Nov 2019 12:00 AM PST Cream of tartar is a powder ingredient used in many recipes to stabilize egg whites, act as a leavening agent, or prevent sugar from crystallizing. If you are working on a recipe and realize you are out of cream of tartar, no worries! You can easily substitute it with lemon juice, white vinegar, and baking powder, to name a few. Alternatively, omit the cream of tartar substitute if making frostings or syrups. Modify your recipe slightly, and you can easily substitute cream of tartar. [Edit]Substituting with Common Kitchen Ingredients - Substitute lemon juice for a very effective option. When mixing ingredients for your particular recipe, swap equal parts of cream of tartar for lemon juice. Most recipes call for 1/4 tsp (1.2 g) of cream of tartar. The acidity in lemon juice is similar to that in cream of tartar, so this makes for an easy swap.[1]
- Choose white vinegar if you are beating egg whites. White vinegar and lemon are both very helpful substitutes that work great to mimic the effect of cream of tartar. Add equal parts of white vinegar to your eggs as you beat them to easily whisk them up and make them extra fluffy. The acidity of the vinegar helps to add volume, similar to cream of tartar.[2]
- If your recipe calls for 1/2 tsp (2.4 g) of cream of tartar, use 1/2 tsp (2.4 g) of white vinegar instead.
- You may have to add a little bit of sugar to taste if the mixture is too bitter.
- Try baking powder if you need a leavening agent. If your recipe calls for baking soda and cream of tartar, swap it out for baking powder. Baking powder is another effective leavening agent that you can use in a pinch. Use 1 tsp (14.9 g) of baking powder to replace 1/3 tsp (1.65 g) of baking soda and 2/3 tsp (3.3 g) of cream of tartar.[3]
- Baking powder is essentially a mix of baking soda and cream of tartar, so this won't change your recipe much at all.
- This is a good idea if you want to add cream of tartar to blueberry pancakes, for example.
- Use buttermilk if your recipe calls for lots of dairy. If you're making a dish with lots of milk or cream, like pies or puddings, you can use buttermilk to add acidity and replicate cream of tartar benefits. Remove 1/2 cup (118.3 mL) of liquid for every 1/4 tsp (1.2 g) of cream of tartar, and then add 1/2 cup (118.3 mL) of buttermilk instead.[4]
- Buttermilk is an acidic liquid that is left over after churning butter. It is often used in baking pancakes and birthday cakes.
- In some cases, you can substitute yogurt for buttermilk. Add milk to your yogurt until it is the same consistency as buttermilk, then use the same buttermilk proportions to substitute your cream of tartar.
- Skip over the cream of tartar if you are making frostings or syrups. If you are making sugary toppings including icing, syrups, and frostings, leave out the cream of tartar rather than trying to find a substitute. Your topping may crystallize and get hard, but you can easily reheat it in the microwave or stovetop to soften it.[5]
[Edit]Using Cream of Tartar - Use cream of tartar to stabilize egg whites when making meringue. Cream of tartar is what gives meringue its creamy, fluffy texture. Use your meringue to make cookies, pies, and other tasty desserts. Typically, you can use 3 egg whites and 1/4 tsp (1.2 g) of cream of tartar to make delicious meringue. Be sure to beat your egg whites well until they are foamy.[6]
- Consult your recipe to determine how much cream of tartar and egg whites to use.
- Add cream of tartar when making baked goods for a leavening agent. Mix cream of tartar with baking soda to create a chemical reaction, resulting in extra-fluffy treats. Use cream of tartar to help cookies, pancakes, and other baked goods.[7]
- The amount of cream of tartar and baking soda to add to your ingredients depends on your particular recipe.
- For example, add 2 tsp (9.9 g) of cream of tartar when making Snickerdoodles for fluffy, yummy cookies.[8]
- Include cream of tartar to prevent sugars from crystallizing in icings. The acidic base of cream of tartar helps keep sugars from hardening up when making icings, frostings, or syrups. In addition, cream of tartar gives these sugary toppings a smooth, consistent texture.[9]
- For instance, if you are making icing with 3 cups (710 g) of confectioners sugar and 2 egg whites, add 1/4 tsp (1.2 g) of cream of tartar for a creamy touch.[10]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Recipe
- Lemon juice
- White vinegar
- Baking powder
- Buttermilk
- If you store cream of tartar at room temperature in an airtight container, it should stay good indefinitely.[11]
- You can also use cream of tartar and lemon juice to help clean household items.[12]
- Cream of tartar can be used to substitute baking soda in some recipes.[13]
[Edit]Warnings - Remember that these substitutions may have similar results, but your finished product may still come out differently. After all, it is a substitution. You can expect subtle changes in texture and overall appearance.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Improve Your Reflexes Posted: 19 Nov 2019 04:00 PM PST Reflexes are nerve signal-induced muscular reactions to external stimuli. For example, if you spot a baseball flying toward your head, your brain will send a signal to your hand to block the ball before it can hit you. Having good reflexes aids performance in sports, exercise, and everyday physical activities like crossing the street or driving. Some people are born with fast reflexes, and others must practice to attain a quicker reaction time to stimuli. Here are several techniques that can be employed to improve your reflex time. [Edit]Improving Your Reflexes with Mental Exercises - Improve your peripheral vision. Having a quick reaction time is dependent on being keenly aware of what's coming. You can strengthen your ability to perceive obstacles and flying objects by paying more attention to your peripheral vision during everyday activities.
- Look out a window that has a good view and focus your vision on a distant object. Keep looking at this object while you slowly let yourself become more aware of the objects that surround it on either side. Do this exercise once a day, widening your field of vision a little more each time. Gradually, you'll get in the habit of noticing more objects in your peripheral vision.
- Check out the video below for martial arts techniques used to improve peripheral vision.
- Play video games. Playing video games well requires good hand-eye coordination. You must be able to move from thought to action without pause or you'll quickly lose the game. Studies show that playing video games for a few minutes each day can help improve reflexes. First person shooters and role-playing games often require the most coordination, but any video game will do the trick.[1]
- Try hypnosis. Some people have found that a hypnosis technique called neuro-linguistic programming helps increase their awareness of a particular object, giving them the sensation that time has slowed down and they have more than enough time to react. Picture a sports movie that shows a quarterback watching a football arc toward him in slow motion. The football is not actually moving more slowly, of course, but according to its practitioners, neuro-linguistic programming can make it seem that way.
- Practice mindfulness. Cultivate mindfulness through regular meditation or by focusing on the present moment. Clear your head and try to focus all of your attention on what is happening directly around you. Dismiss thoughts of the past or future and instead focus directly on the sights, sounds, and sensations in the current moment.[2]
[Edit]Improving Your Reflexes with Physical Exercises - Practice catching a rubber bouncy ball or a "reaction ball." Reaction balls are six-sided rubber balls that bounce at unpredictable angles. They may be purchased at most sporting goods stores. Take one of these, or a simple quarter-machine bouncy ball, and toss it against an outdoor wall.
- Play jacks. For the days when you're feeling more low key, grab a set of jacks. This classic children's game comes with a small ball and twelve metal pieces. Start by lightly bouncing the ball and picking up as many jacks as possible. As you get better at the game, challenge yourself by bouncing the ball with greater speed. You may also spread the jacks farther apart to increase the game's difficulty.
- Play dodgeball with a partner. For this exercise, you need a large rubber or foam ball and a friend. Stand in front of a wall, either in a gym or outside in front of a building. Have your partner pitch the ball at you from a distance of ten or so feet away while you practice dodging it. As you get better at dodging the ball, ask your partner to throw it faster and from a closer distance.
- To make this exercise more difficult, recruit a second pitcher to throw another ball quickly after you have dodged the first one.
- Ask the pitchers to increase unpredictability by faking throws, throwing from different angles, and so on.
- Playing dodgeball as a team sport is also a great way to improve reflexes. Practice fielding balls and kicking those that are pitched to you.
- Try table tennis. Table tennis, or ping pong, is a great sport to help you improve your reflexes and hand-eye coordination. You can find tables or tabletop setups relatively affordably online or at many sporting goods stores. Alternatively, you can join a local table tennis group or club, which will allow you to face off with different partners and take on greater challenges as you work to improve your reflexes.[3]
- Pick a sport to practice regularly. Many sports including hockey, tennis, badminton, racquetball, and lacrosse are great activities to help you build your reflexes. Look for an athletic activity where you have to manipulate an object such as a ball using a tool such as a racket or stick. These sports generally require quick reaction, and can help you build both reflexes and situational awareness.[4]
- Run a nature trail. Since it requires no special equipment or exercise partners, running in the woods may be the easiest way to begin improving your reflexes. Simply find the closest nature trail - preferably one with varied terrain, rather than a wide path - and start running. The uneven footing and unpredictable roots and rocks you'll dodge will create a variety of stimuli to which your body will have to quickly react. The more often you hit the trail, the quicker your reflexes will get.
- Begin by running at a slow speed. As you feel your reflexes improve over time, push yourself to run faster. Nature trails have a generally higher risk of injury, so it's important to start slow.
- Mix things up by choosing a different trail whenever possible. If you get too used to one particular trail, your brain will remember obstacles, and you won't be improving your reflexes.
- Run the same trail in the other direction if you don't live close to many nature trails.
[Edit]Negotiating Self-Care - Eat nutritious food. Keeping your body and brain in optimal shape is imperative if you want quick reflexes. Foods high in refined sugars and trans fats can make you feel sluggish. Make sure you are getting enough protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
- Whole foods like nuts, fish, berries, greens, and garlic increase cognitive function.[5]
- Make sure to drink plenty of water as well, since dehydration can also lead to lethargy and decreased reflex times.
- Get plenty of sleep. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), sleep helps you have quicker reflexes and perform on a higher level than you otherwise would.[6] Both your body and brain slow down when you're sleepy, resulting in impaired reflex reactions. Your reflexes will be quickest when you're well-rested after seven to nine hours of sleep.
- A good night's sleep is made up of four or five sleep cycles, each of which consist of a period of deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This adds up to seven to nine hours per night.
- If you didn't sleep well the night before an important race or game, taking a nap a few hours before the event will help you be more alert when it's time to perform.
- Consider supplements. Certain nutritional supplements are said to lead to improved reflexes. Ginseng, Gingko, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, and Omega 3's have all been cited as dietary supplements that may be worth taking for better cognitive function and reaction times.
[Edit]Sample Exercises to Improve Reflexes
- Remember that the more you practice a particular movement, the more reflexive that movement will become. If you want to get better at catching a baseball, the best way to do so is to practice, over and over, until you can catch the ball without thinking.
- Practice playing catch with a partner or friend remember to use a soft ball this will help you move faster.
- If your skin bruises easily, have your dodgeball partner toss the ball close to your body instead of directly at you. You can still dodge away from it and practice quickening your reaction time.
- Make sure you have the proper shoes before hitting the trail for a run. You can buy special trail running shoes, but in normal weather conditions, a good pair of running shoes will be fine.
[Edit]Warnings - Check with your doctor before taking new dietary supplements, as some should not be taken by people with certain medical conditions.
- You may want to consider wearing protective eyewear, such as sports goggles, when performing ball-throwing exercises.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Running or trail running shoes
- A rubber bouncy ball or "reaction" ball
- A large rubber or foam ball
- A computer or video game console
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Tie a Tie Posted: 19 Nov 2019 08:00 AM PST Have you graduated beyond the clip-on tie? Beginning with these helpful instructions, a sharp-looking tie, a mirror, and some patience, you can become an expert in tying your own fashionable knot. You have several options available, from the versatile Four-in-Hand Knot to the classic Windsor. If you're helping someone else put on a tie, see this article for instructions from that perspective. - Put the tie around your neck. Make sure the wider end is on the right, and about 14 inches (36 cm) lower than the thinner side on the left.[1] The Windsor knot uses a lot of cloth, so the lower end should start a bit lower than you would usually position a tie.
- Cross the wide end over the narrow end. Hold one end in each hand, then pass each of them to the opposite hand. The wide end should now be on your left side.[2][3]
- Bring the wide end up through the neck loop. Using your right hand, hold the two ends where they cross near your collar. With your left hand, pull the wide end up through the neck loop from below.
- Bring your tie back down. Rest the wide end back on your chest, to the left of the narrow end.
- Fold it end behind the narrow end. Grab the wide end with your right hand and pull it back to the right side of your body, under the narrow end. Hold the knot near your collar in place with your left hand.
- Bring the wide end up to the neck loop from the front. Keep it on the right side.
- Pull the wide end through the neck loop. Insert the tip of the wide end and pull through, still on the right side.
- Fold the wide end over the narrow end. Fold it back over from right to left, so the front side is visible again.
- Pull the wide end through the neck loop from below. Bring the wide end back up through the neck loop one last time.
- Insert the wide end through the front knot. Place the wide end through the horizontal knot at the front of the tie. Pull it through.
- Tighten the knot. Hold the base of the front knot and squeeze gently from the sides. Slowly pull the wide end of the tie to bring the knot closer to the neck.
[Edit]Using the Easiest Method (Four-in-Hand Knot) - Drape the tie around your neck. With your collar up and your shirt fully buttoned, place the tie around your shoulders. Hang the wider end of the tie on your right side, with the narrow end about 12 inches (30 cm) higher on the left.[4]
- Cross the wide end over the narrow end. Bring the wide end to the left side of your body, over the narrow end. Hold the two pieces of cloth together with your left hand, near your neck.
- Loop the wide end under the narrow end. Let go with your right hand. Tuck it underneath the narrow end, grab the wide end, and pull it back through to your right side.
- Loop the wide end back over again. Cross it over the narrow end one more time, at the same point where your left hand is holding the knot together.
- Pull the wide end up through the neck loop. Fold the tip of the wide end under itself and pull up through the neck loop.[5]
- Insert the wide end down through the front knot. You should have a horizontal knot across the front of your tie. Hold this knot open with your finger and carefully insert the wide end.
- Tighten the knot. Hold the narrow end and slide the front knot up to tighten the tie. Make sure your tie is straight and the length is appropriate, ideally ending at the top of your belt buckle.
- Squeeze the sides of the knot gently to create a dimple just below it.
- Tuck the narrow end of the tie into the loop on the back side of the wide end.
- Fold your collar down, and make sure that the tie is covered by the collar all the way around your neck.
[Edit]Tying the Pratt Knot (Basic Formal Knot) - Place the tie upside down around your collar. Unlike most knots, the Pratt knot begins with the tie upside down, so the seam of the tie is facing forward. Hang the wide end of the tie over your right side, and the narrow end over your left side.
- This medium size knot suits most collars and builds.[6]
- Check the position of the wide end. In a knotted tie, the wide end should just graze the top of your belt buckle.[7] At the start, however, raise or lower the wide end until it hangs 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) below this point. As a rule of thumb, the Pratt knot will lift the wide end by this distance as you tie the knot.[8]
- The narrow end of the tie should be higher than the wide end. It will usually be around belly button level, but this is less important than the wide end's placement.[9]
- Cross the wide end under the narrow end. Move the wide end across your body to the left side, placing it underneath the narrow end.
- Do not move the narrow end of the tie for any part of this knot.[10] Just hold it steady while you use the wide end.
- Bring the wide end up to the loop around the neck. Place the tip on top of the loop, still on your left side.
- Pull the wide end through the neck loop. Insert the wide end down into the loop from above. Pull it through in the same direction it lay before, on the left.
- Fold the wide end over the narrow end, from left to right. This flips the wide end so the seam is no longer visible. The wide end will extend at an angle off to your right.
- Pull the wide end up through the neck loop. Bring the wide end up to your neck loop again, but this time from below. Pull it through.
- Tuck the wide end down through the new loop at the front. Your last fold created a horizontal loop at the front of your tie. Tuck the wide end through this loop, and pull straight down to tighten. The wide end should now rest in front of the narrow end.
- Slide the knot to adjust. Pull down on the wide end to tighten. Slide the front knot up to the base of your collar to fasten the tie.
- To create a dimple just below the front knot, squeeze the sides of the knot gently as you tighten.[11]
[Edit]Tying a Half Windsor Knot (Formal) - Position the wide end on the right side. Place the tie around your neck and let the sides hang in front of you. The wide end should be on the right side of your body, and hang roughly 12 inches (30 cm) lower than the narrow end on the left.[12]
- The Half Windsor is a triangular, symmetrical knot suitable for formal occasions. Larger than the Four-in-hand but less bulky than the Windsor, this can work with most neckties and collar types.[13] Neckties made from thicker fabric will likely require a spread or wide spread collar with this knot.[14]
- Cross the wide end over the narrow end. Bring the wide end of the tie over to your left side, crossing over the narrow end.
- Fold the wide end back under the narrow end. Complete a loop around the narrow end and pull the wide end back to the right side.
- The underside of the wide end should be visible at this point.
- Take the wide end up to the neck loop. Raise the wide end up to the loop of necktie at your collar. Keep it on the right side.
- Pull the wide end through the loop and to the left. Insert the wide tip down through the loop and pull it through from the left side, so it crosses under the narrow end.
- Fold the wide end over the front of the narrow end. Bring the wide end back across the front and onto your right side.
- Slide the wide end up through the neck loop. Fold the wide end up through the neck loop a second time.
- Insert the wide end down through the front knot. Loosen the front knot with your finger and insert the wide end. Pull it through to rest over the narrow end.
- Pull on the wide end to tighten. Gently squeeze the front knot as you pull to slide the knot up and create a dimple at the front of your tie.
- To make a dimple, hold the top blade on both edges, then pull it down gently until the top blade starts to tighten. A slightly convex shape should appear close to the knot. Use your thumb and forefinger to press the bottom of the knot into a V-shape and the convex will deepen to form the dimple.
- If your tie has a loop underneath the wide side of the tie, you may slide the narrow side through that loop to prevent it from "peeking" from behind the wide side of the tie.
- Ideally, the tip of the tie should graze the top of your belt buckle. It's all right if the tie dips down to the bottom of the belt buckle ("Italian style"). If it's any lower, try a knot that uses plenty of cloth (such as the Windsor), or switch to a shorter tie.[15] Similarly, if the tie ends above your belt, buy a longer tie or try the Pratt knot, which doesn't use much cloth in the knot.
- Left-handed people may find it easier to switch the starting positions of the wide and narrow ends. If you do this, switch all "left" and "right" instructions.
- Make a mnemonic device to help you remember these steps, such as the word OUAT, which is an acronym for over, under, around and through.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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