| How to Improve Store Bought Muffin Mix Posted: 28 Jun 2020 01:00 AM PDT Store-bought box mixes make it easy to bake up a batch of muffins, but the flavor can sometimes be a little underwhelming. Luckily, there are lots of easy ways to upgrade your box muffin mix! For a blast of fruit flavor, stir your favorite fresh or frozen berries into the batter. If you want to add a little crunch or texture to your muffins, try stirring in chopped nuts or toasted coconut flakes. You can also play around with flavors by incorporating vanilla extract, cinnamon, pumpkin purée, and so much more! [Edit]Adding Fruit to the Batter - Incorporate fresh or frozen berries for a healthy burst of flavor. If you love the flavor of berries, consider adding fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries to the batter. If you use strawberries, be sure to cut them into smaller pieces before adding them. You can also replace fake or dried fruit in the original mix with delicious fresh fruit.[1]
- For example, many blueberry muffin box mixes have fake blueberry bits or tiny dried berries in them. Pick out the original fruit bits from the powdered mix and replace them with a handful of frozen or fresh berries.
- Add berries to plain bran muffins or to fruit-flavored muffins.
- Upgrade the batter with a handful of diced fruits for a fresh taste. Fresh peaches, strawberries, apples, pears, and bananas are great options, but you can experiment with any of your favorite fresh fruits or use whatever is in season. Dice them into blueberry-sized pieces before you add the fruit to the batter.[2]
- Diced canned pineapple and sliced cherries can add a refreshing tropical flavor to your muffins.
- Oranges, grapefruits, and grapes might not be the best options because they don't mix well with batters or bake favorably.
- Diced fruit works best in plain muffin mixes or mixes that already have a fruity flavor.
- Toss a handful of dried fruit into the batter for a chewy texture. Dried cranberries, tart cherries, and sweet mango are an excellent addition and add a nice texture to any muffin. If you don't have anything else on hand, even a handful of plump raisins can elevate your muffin mix to the next level.[3]
- Try this with oat bran muffin mix or intensify the fruit flavor of classic blueberry muffins.
- Stir in banana or pumpkin purée to add flavor and density. If you like your muffins dense and hearty, a fruit purée is a great additive. Try adding 1 mashed banana or a spoonful of pumpkin purée to the batter and mixing it in thoroughly.[4]
- If you're feeling adventurous, you could also experiment with carrot or sweet potato purée!
- You can add a banana to almost any muffin mix that you want with good results. If you're adding pumpkin, it's probably best to start with plain muffin mix.
- Update a plain muffin mix with lemon zest for a bright citrus flavor. To create a classic lemon poppy seed muffin, zest 2 lemons and add the zest to the batter. Then, stir in 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of poppy seeds to create a satisfying crunch. Spoon or pour the batter into the muffin tins and bake the muffins according to the package instructions.[5]
- This works best for muffin mixes that don't already have a strong flavor, like a plain or bran muffin mix.
[Edit]Incorporating Ingredients to Change the Texture - Add a spoonful of chopped nuts to the batter for a crunchy texture. Chopped walnuts, pecans, and almonds are all great options for this. Not only will they contribute flavor and texture, but they will also add healthy fats to the mix. Simply stir the nuts into the batter and enjoy![6]
- For a little more crunch, sprinkle the top of unbaked muffins with a layer of nuts before popping them in the oven.
- For a sweeter treat, use candied nuts.[7]
- Chopped nuts are a great addition to any muffin flavor!
- Stir in a spoonful of hemp seeds, flax meal, or chia seeds for a healthy option. Hemp seeds and flax meal have a slightly nutty flavor and will provide a nice texture. Chia seeds are mostly flavorless but they can impart a hearty denseness and texture. Best of all, these additives are extremely healthy.[8]
- Chia seeds absorb a lot of liquid. If your batter feels a bit thick after you mix it up, add a splash of whatever liquid your recipe calls for.
- The nuttiness will work great with almost any muffin mix flavor you have on hand.
- Incorporate toasted coconut for a rich, flavorful texture. Stir a spoonful of the toasted coconut into the batter itself. Then, after you pour the batter into the muffin tin, sprinkle a little more of the toasted coconut on top of each muffin.[9]
- The extra on top will provide a satisfying crunch after you take the muffins out of the oven.
- Try adding toasted coconut to fruity muffin mixes, like raspberry or strawberry muffins. It also works great in sweeter muffins, like chocolate chip muffins.
- Toasted coconut goes great with other tropical additions like diced pineapple, dried mango, and cherries!
- Add a handful chocolate chips for a gooey, decadent muffin. If you don't have milk chocolate chips, try chopping up your favorite chocolate bar instead. The melted milk chocolate will add a burst of flavor and create a chewy, gooey texture that's hard to resist![10]
- You can also try sprinkling M&Ms on top of the muffins right before you pop them in the oven.
- Feel free to experiment with a variety of flavors. For example, try adding peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, or dark chocolate chips to the batter.
- Use coconut or almond milk instead of water for moist muffins. Most box muffin mixes call for water to create the batter. If you want a richer flavor and moist texture, swap out the water for the same amount of something richer, like coconut, almond, or soy milk.[11]
- You can try this with any muffin mix flavor to add moisture.
- Whip up a streusel topping to create a sweet, crunchy topping. Stir together 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of butter, 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of flour, and 1 tablespoon (15 grams) brown sugar in a small bowl until the ingredients are fully incorporated. Aim for a gritty, sand-like consistency. Then, pour the prepared batter into the muffin tins and sprinkle the streusel on top before you pop the muffins in the oven.[12]
- A streusel topping is a great addition to any muffin flavor.
[Edit]Experimenting with Spices and Other Flavors - Upgrade any muffin recipe with cream cheese for a rich, decadent twist. Mix the muffin batter and spoon or pour it into the muffin tins. Then, remove the cream cheese from the fridge and dice it into piece while it's still cold. Add a spoonful of diced cream cheese on top of each muffin cup and bake the muffins according the the recipe instructions.[13]
- The cream cheese will sink into the batter while the muffins are baking.
- Add of vanilla extract to enhance the flavor. Vanilla extract imparts its own lovely flavor to the muffin batter, but it also enhances the flavor of the other ingredients. You can also try out other extract flavors, like almond and lemon, to create different flavor profiles.[14]
- For example, add of lemon extract and 1 teaspoon (4.2 grams) of poppy seeds to your batter to whip up a classic batch of lemon poppy seed muffins.
- Stir in cinnamon, nutmeg, or cocoa powder for rich, flavorful muffins. Use 1 teaspoon (4.2 grams) of your chosen spice. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cocoa powder are delicious options, but they are hardly the only ones! Allspice and pumpkin pie spice are also excellent. Raid your spice cabinet to see what else you have and experiment until you find the perfect spice or spice blend.[15]
- For example, spice up banana muffins with cinnamon, ground ginger, and nutmeg. Toss in a handful of walnuts for good measure!
- Upgrade a basic muffin mix with cinnamon and vanilla.
- Enrich pumpkin muffins with pumpkin pie spice and chopped pecans.
- Use brown sugar instead of white sugar for a sweeter, richer flavor. If you're making muffins from scratch, cut the granulated white sugar from the recipe and use the same amount of brown sugar instead. Brown sugar is a little sweeter and imparts a rich, maple-like flavor to the muffins.[16]
- You can also sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar on top of the muffins before popping them in the oven to add a little crunchy sweetness.
- Glaze the top of your muffins with cake frosting for an extra sweet treat. If you love rich baked goods, try topping just-baked muffins with your favorite canned cake frosting. For example, if you made chocolate muffins, spread a German chocolate frosting on top. Take lemon poppy seed muffins to the next level with a glaze of lemon icing. The possibilities are endless!
- If the recipe calls for water, use club soda or carbonated water instead. It will make the muffins lighter, and less dense.
[Edit]Warnings - Watch for allergy warnings on the package. Keep in mind that all packaged mixes have soy products (e.g. oil and protein) which may trigger a reaction from allergic people.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Treat Low Blood Pressure Naturally Posted: 27 Jun 2020 05:00 PM PDT If your blood pressure numbers are too low, it can make it difficult to get through your day. It can also lead to a variety of other health problems if you don't address the issue and it is left untreated. If your blood pressure is low, you may feel dizzy, confused, or have trouble concentrating on basic tasks. Generally speaking, a reading of 90/60 or lower is a sign that you have low blood pressure. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take on your own to help raise blood pressure to a consistent level. See your doctor to discuss your blood pressure and seek emergency medical care if you experience any serious symptoms. [Edit]Increasing Your Blood Pressure - Drink more water slowly over the course of the day. Drinking water is good for you to begin with, but it can help raise your blood pressure if it is too low. Keep a cup of water next to you at all times and sip on it slowly throughout the day. This may not have as pronounced of an effect if you're younger than 40, but it's still a healthy, risk-free way to raise your blood pressure a little.[1]
- Aim to drink about of water daily. If you're active or feel thirsty, increase your water intake to stay hydrated.
- Excessive thirst is a common symptom of low blood pressure, so this should help alleviate the symptom as well.
- If you get sick of boring old water, go ahead and squirt some lime or lemon juice into the water to give it some flavor.
- Wear compression stockings to increase your pressure slightly. Pick up some compression stockings that fit tight, but don't hurt to wear. These special socks can help increase blood pressure by keeping the blood in your legs from pooling up in your feet.[2]
- Maintain a low-fat diet full of fish, chicken, nuts, and vegetables. Eat a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean chicken, or fish. This is a good habit to begin with, but it's especially helpful if you have low blood pressure. Eating a healthy, low-fat diet is an effective way to ensure that your arteries stay healthy and efficient, which is often a problem for people with low blood pressure.[3]
- Carbohydrates, sugar, and saturated fats may make your low blood pressure worse. Avoid junk food and sugary drinks as often as possible. Limit the amount of red meat you eat and use lean white meat and fish instead. A turkey or salmon burger can be just as good as beef burger!
- Other great options include cereal, eggs, and anything with dairy in it. Cheese is a great snack if you have low blood pressure,
- Oatmeal with some bananas is a phenomenal breakfast or lunch if you're looking for a filling option.
- Eat 4-5 smaller meals instead of 2-3 bigger meals to stabilize spikes. When you eat a large meal, your blood pressure may go up and down rapidly as your body digests the food. Eating smaller meals more frequently is a great way to keep your blood pressure stable over the course of the day. Keep snacks nearby and eat smaller portions to fit in more meals.[4]
- Increase your daily salt intake after talking to your doctor. Simply put, the medical consensus is that too much salt is bad for you. However, for people with low blood pressure, a little extra salt is an efficient way to raise your blood pressure. Talk to your doctor to assess how much salt you should add to your diet, since the amount you can safely consume depends on other health factors.[5]
- Do not skip talking to your doctor about this before significantly raising your sodium intake since there are a variety of other health issues that can be triggered by excess salt. Eating too much salt for a longer period of time can lead to kidney disease, strokes, or spikes in your blood pressure.[6]
- If you do start increasing your sodium intake to raise your blood pressure, make sure you continue monitoring your blood pressure regularly.
- Shift your position regularly to keep symptoms at bay. Your blood may clot in certain parts of your body when you're sitting, lying down, or standing in a position for too long. To keep your symptoms from getting worse, change your position every 15-30 minutes. Even small shifts will radically help you from getting dizzy or feeling out of it.[7]
- When you stand up, do it slowly. You're more likely to faint or get dizzy when you stand if you have low blood pressure.
- Limit your alcohol consumption to keep your blood pressure stable. Aside from the fact that it's generally not good for your health, drinking a lot of alcohol can drastically lower your blood pressure. Alcohol is a depressant, which causes your blood flow to slow down a little. Consume no more than 1 alcoholic beverage a night to keep your blood pressure safe.[8]
- It's particularly important to avoid shots and drinks with a lot of hard liquor. Drinking a lot of alcohol quickly can trigger a sudden drop in blood pressure.
[Edit]Checking Your Blood Pressure - See your doctor if you want the most accurate blood pressure reading possible. When you get a regular checkup, the nurse will almost always take your blood pressure before the doctor comes in. Ask for the reading after the nurse takes your blood pressure and discuss the results with your doctor. This is the best way to get an accurate reading and sound medical advice at the same time.[9]
- If you aren't having any symptoms of low blood pressure, like dizziness or fatigue, it's probably fine to just wait for your next physical to get your blood pressure taken.
- Check your pressure using the machine at a drug store for a general estimate. Many local drug stores and pharmacies have machines that you can use for free to check your blood pressure. Simply slide your arm into the opening and press the start button to wait for the machine to take your reading. This is a great way to get a basic idea of where you're blood pressure is at.[10]
- If nobody is waiting to use the machine, sit down for 5 minutes or so before taking your blood pressure to get a more accurate reading.
- Buy a blood pressure monitor if you want to take regular readings at home. These are available from nearly every pharmacy or supermarket, and can cost as little as $20. These devices are a great way to keep track of your blood pressure numbers from the comfort of your own home. Simply wrap the band around your bicep and turn the machine on to take your reading.[11]
- Sit still and relax for 5 minutes before you take your blood pressure so that physical exertion doesn't affect your reading. Additionally, put your feet flat against your floor while you take the reading and don't cross your legs.
- Recognize that a reading lower than 90/60 indicates low blood pressure. When checking your blood pressure, the systolic reading, which is the top number, should be 90-120. The diastolic reading, which is the bottom number, should be around 60-80. If the systolic reading is lower than 90 or your diastolic reading is lower than 60, you have low blood pressure[12]
- Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure that is exerted on the arteries by the force of your blood being pushed through by your heart. Think of your body as a pipe. The systolic reading is how hard the water presses on the pipe when it's flowing.
- Diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure that exists in your arteries when your heart rests between beats. If it helps, think of it as how hard the water pushes on the pipe when the tap on your sink is off.
- Keep in mind that everyone's body is different, and you will experience fluctuations over the course of each day. However, blood pressure numbers should be kept as close to these averages as possible.
[Edit]When to Seek Medical Care - See your doctor if you have low blood pressure symptoms. Most of the time, low blood pressure is not a problem unless it causes symptoms. If you experience any of the common symptoms associated with low blood pressure, consult a doctor to walk through your options. They will assess what's going on and recommend medical treatment options if necessary. [13]
- Common low blood pressure symptoms include dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea and trouble concentrating.
- Uncommon symptoms that require medical attention sooner rather than later include fainting, blurred vision, and vomiting.
- Get emergency medical care for signs of shock. If your blood pressure drops extremely low, it can trigger a life-threatening condition called shock. Shock can damage your heart if you don't address it quickly, and you may be at serious risk if it goes completely untreated.[14]
- Work with your doctor to treat any underlying problems. Low blood pressure is often a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Managing these conditions properly can help keep your blood pressure levels under control. If your blood pressure is consistently low, see your doctor to try to identify and treat the source of the problem.[15]
- You may have low blood pressure if you're pregnant. Take a pregnancy test to see if you're expecting a child!
- Low blood pressure can be a symptom of several heart conditions, thyroid issues, dehydration, anemia, or allergies.
[Edit]Warnings - Avoid incorporating a ton of saturated fat or sugar in your diet. Fat and sugar can cause your blood pressure to spike and reduce suddenly, leading to periods of dizziness and exhaustion.[16]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Take in a Dress at the Waist Posted: 27 Jun 2020 09:00 AM PDT Don't throw out the baggy dress that's been hiding in the back of your closet! Take in the waist to improve the fit and you'll feel like you've got a brand new dress. You can pin excess fabric along the side seams down to the waist. This will prevent puckering when you sew the new seams. If you're taking in a dress with a looser style, sew a fabric casing onto the waist instead. Then, push an elastic band through the casing so it gathers at the waist. [Edit]Taking in the Waist at the Sides - Pinch the waist of the dress to determine how much to take in. Put on the dress like you normally would so you have a good idea of how it currently fits and how you'd like it to fit. Then, pinch both sides of your waist at the narrowest part until the waist is as tight as you like. Hold a ruler across the fabric you're pinching in order to see out how much fabric to take in.[1]
- To keep the waist even, you'll need to take in the same amount of fabric from each side seam.
- For example, you might want to take in a dress by on each side so it fits better.
- Turn the dress inside out and insert pins along the seamline. Lay the inside out dress on a flat surface and locate the top of the side seams where they meet the armhole. Then, place your ruler on the dress and insert pins so they lie in the direction of the seam. Measure the excess fabric from the newly pinned seamline to the old seam. It should match the measurement you took.
- Pin about every or so all the way down to the narrowest part of the waist.
- Ensure that each pin goes through both sides of the dress.
- Try on the dress and adjust the pins if needed. Before you begin cutting or sewing the dress, put it back on while it's inside out. The waist should fit the way you like since you've pinned the excess fabric.
- If the waist is still too loose, adjust the pins to take in more fabric. If the dress feels too tight, consider letting out some of the fabric at the waist.
- Remove the dress and mark each side seam from the armhole to the waist. Once you're happy with how the pinned dress fits, take it off and lay it on your work surface. Use a piece of fabric chalk to draw along the line of pins. This will mark the new seam. Try to match the current curve of the seam line.[2]
- Taking in the side seams to the waist will prevent the waist from puckering when you remove the excess fabric.
- Sew a straight stitch along the seam lines you marked. Use your sewing machine loaded with thread that matches the dress to stitch the new seam line on each side of the dress. Remove the pins as you work so they don't get caught in your machine.[3]
- Although you could take in the dress by hand, a sewing machine will make stronger, more uniform stitches.
- Turn the dress right side out and try it on. If you like the way the waist fits, your dress is ready to wear! If you're bothered by the excess fabric inside the dress, you can cut away the excess from the seam lines so there's allowance.[4]
- Read the care label for the dress to see if you should iron it. This can give your dress a more polished look.
[Edit]Cinching the Waist with an Elastic Band - Try on an inside-out dress and wrap a narrow belt around the waist. Take the dress you want to alter and turn it inside out. Put on the inside-out dress along with a thin belt. Tighten the belt so it sits comfortably on the narrowest part of your waist.[5]
- Place the belt where you'd like the elastic casing to be.
- Mark around the waistline with fabric chalk. Take the chalk and draw a line around the waist where the belt lies. If it's easier, you could make several marks or insert sewing pins across the waist. Then, take the dress off and use a measuring tape to draw a straight line connecting the marks or pins.[6]
- Since it can be hard to reach around, you may want to ask a friend to help you with this step.
- The fabric chalk should dissolve when you wash the dress.
- Lay the dress on a table and measure the waistline circumference. Keep the dress turned inside out and lay it flat on a table. Take a measuring tape and pull it around the waistline you marked so you can find the circumference for the dress.[7]
- It's important to use your own measurement instead of relying on size charts. Size charts that pair waist measurements with sizes can vary wildly.
- Cut a strip of fabric that's longer than the circumference. Lay about of fabric that matches your dress on a work surface. Then, cut the fabric to a wide strip that's longer than the measurement for the waistline circumference.[8]
- For example, if your waistline measured , cut the strip long and wide.
- Fold the strip lengthwise and sew along the edge. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise so the right sides are facing together. Then, take it to your sewing machine and straight stitch along the long edge of the fabric. Leave a seam allowance. Stop sewing when you're about from the end of the strip.
- To make it easier to sew, consider ironing the strip of fabric so it stays flat.
- You should now have a casing that looks like a long, thin tube.
- Hook a safety pin to 1 end of the casing and pull the casing right side out. The fabric might twist or get stuck if you try to turn the casing right side out. To prevent this, secure a safety pin to 1 end of the casing and push it through that end until it comes out the other end. The casing should now be right side out.[9]
- If you'd like the casing to lie flat, you can iron it once it's right side out.
- You can remove the safety pin once you've turned the casing right side out.
- Pin the casing just below the waistline you marked on the dress. Wrap the casing you just made right below the line you marked on the dress. Line up the ends of the casing with a seam that's on the inside-out dress. Depending on your dress, you could line it up with a side seam or a seam that runs down the back of the dress. Then, secure the casing with sewing pins.[10]
- Try to pin every so the casing doesn't slide around.
- Edge stitch the bottom and top of the casing to the waistline. You can use your regular presser foot to edge stitch from the top and bottom edges of the casing. Stitch around the waistline, but stop about from the end so you can feed the elastic through the casing.[11]
- If your machine has one, use an edge joining foot. This foot will act as a guide as you edge stitch along the casing.
- Cut a piece of elastic longer than the waistline. Get out a wide piece of elastic and unroll it so it's as long as your waistline measurement. Add to the measurement and cut the elastic.[12]
- Secure a safety pin to the elastic and pull it through the casing. The safety pin will make it easier to pull the elastic through the casing. Keep pulling the pin until the elastic is completely through the casing.[13]
- To prevent the elastic from slipping back into the casing, you can pin the ends to the fabric outside the casing.
- At this point you can try on the dress right side out to see if you're happy with the waistline.
- Zigzag stitch the ends of the elastic together and sew the casing shut. Once you've taken the safety pin out, overlap the ends by . Then, zigzag stitch the ends together and use a straight stitch to sew the casing closed. You can now turn the dress right side out and enjoy the tighter waist![14]
- If you'd like the elastic casing to stand out, use a different fabric that complements the dress.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Taking in the Waist at the Sides - Dress
- Fabric chalk
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Ruler
- Measuring tape
- Sewing pins
- Fabric chalk
[Edit]Cinching the Waist with an Elastic Band - Dress
- Narrow belt
- Sewing pins
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Scissors
- elastic
- Fabric that matches the dress
- Fabric chalk
- Measuring tape
- Iron and ironing board, optional
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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