How to Cook Squash

Learning to cook squash will give you the tools that you need to prepare one of nature's most available and versatile vegetables. Packed with antioxidants, Vitamin A, cartoons and dietary fiber, squash can be cooked in a variety of ways and will fill you up without costing you a lot of calories.

• Prep time (Roasting in an Oven): 20 minutes
• Cook time: 20-45 minutes
• Total time: 40-65 minutes

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Roast Squash in an Oven

1. Preheat the oven to .^[1]
   
2. Wash the outside of the squash and pat it dry with paper towel.
   
3. Decide whether or not to peel your squash.
   
   • You can cut up and roast thin-skinned summer squash without peeling it.
   • If you want to roast winter squash in bite-sized pieces, then you should peel it with a sharp knife.
   • If you want to roast larger pieces of winter squash, simply slice the squash in half. Then, use a spoon to remove the seeds. Prick the skin with a fork to prepare it for roasting.
4. Season the squash.^[2]
   
   
   • Spread small pieces of squash in a thin layer over the bottom of a roasting pan and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Drizzle them with some olive oil.
   • If you're roasting a large winter squash, sprinkle the cut side with salt and pepper and drizzle it with a bit of olive oil. Place both halves of the squash, skin side down, on a metal roasting pan sprayed with cooking spray.
5. Bake the squash. Thin-skinned squash cut into small pieces will roast in about 20 to 30 minutes. Thicker-skinner squash cut in large pieces will take 30 to 45 minutes to roast.
   
   
6. Test the squash for doneness. The flesh should be tender and easy to pierce with a fork.
   
7. Taste the squash for seasonings. Add salt and pepper if needed.
   
   
8. Serve your roasted squash. Scoop small pieces onto a plate alongside your main dish. Large pieces can be served individually, or you can scoop out the filling and mash or puree it.
   

[Edit]Sauté Squash on the Stovetop

1. Rinse the squash under cool running water and pat it dry. Cut off both ends.
   
2. Slice the squash into rings or into small chunks. Peeling summer squash is not necessary.
   
   
3. Season the squash with salt and pepper.
   
   
4. Heat some olive oil in a skillet over medium-high until it starts to shimmer.^[3] You can also cook a flavorful meat, like pancetta or bacon, in your skillet to render its fat. Then, you remove the meat and sauté the squash in the rendered fat.
   
   
5. Turn the heat down to medium. Sauté the squash until the exterior begins to brown and caramelize.
   
   
6. Remove the squash from the skillet to serve it. Taste it for seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed.
7. Serve the sauteed squash in a bowl or serve it on a plate paired with a main dish.
   

[Edit]Batter and Deep-Fry Squash

1. Rinse summer squash and pat it dry. Slice both ends off of the squash and slice the remainder into thin rings.^[4]
   
2. Sprinkle the squash with a generous amount of salt and pepper.
   
   
3. Prepare the batter.^[5]
   
   
   • Crack an egg and pour the yolk and white into a bowl. Lightly beat the egg with a fork, and sprinkle the beaten egg with salt and pepper.
   • Pour cornmeal or flour into a separate bowl.
   • Place both bowls next to the stovetop so that you can batter your squash and then quickly drop it into the hot oil.
4. Pour 2 cups of canola oil into a heavy-bottomed skilled. Heat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 C), checking the temperature with a candy thermometer.
   
   
5. Dip the squash into the egg using either some tongs or your fingers. Then, dip the squash into the flour or cornmeal.
   
   
6. Place the battered squash pieces into a mesh basket. Lower the contents of the basket into the heated oil.
   
   
7. Cook the squash pieces until they brown and float to the top of the oil. Remove them with the mesh basket, and place them on plates lined with paper towels to drain the oil.
   
   
8. Serve the deep-fried squash. The pieces are flavorful enough to serve on their own, but you can also provide a small container of ranch dressing for dipping.
   

[Edit]Cook Squash in the Microwave

1. Scrub squash with a vegetable brush under cool water and pat them dry with a paper towel.
   
   
2. Cut the squash in half or lengthwise. Pierce the skin with a fork so that the steam can escape.^[6]
   
3. Season the squash generously with salt and pepper. Place the pieces cut side down in a microwave-safe bowl and add 1/4 cup (60 mL) of water.
   
   
4. Cover the bowl with a damp paper towel. Cook the squash on high for 5 to 20 minutes until the squash is tender when you pierce it with a fork.
   
   

[Edit]Grill Squash on Skewers

1. Prepare the squash for grilling by rinsing it. If you're using wooden skewers, then soak the skewers in water for 30 minutes.
   
2. Cut your squash into 1" (2.5 cm) cubes and season them with salt and pepper. Place the squash onto the skewers and brush the cubes with oil or melted butter.
   
3. Spray your grill rack with cooking spray. Place the squash directly on the rack and cook the pieces over medium-heat for 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Remove the squash when the exterior begins to blacken and the flesh is tender.
   
   

[Edit]Grill Squash Halves

1. Preheat the grill to 350ºF/180ºC.
   
2. Cut the squash in halves.^[7]
   
   
3. Drizzle olive oil over each half prior to adding to the grill.
   
   
4. Add salt and pepper to taste. You can also use other seasonings, as preferred.
   
   
5. Lay on a tray. Place under or on the grill (depending on whether you're using a top-down or bottom-up grill).
   
   
6. Grill for 6 minutes per side.^[8]
   
7. Remove from the grill. Serve immediately.
   

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• Buy peeled and cubed winter squash at your grocery store for convenience. Just remember to consume it within a couple of days because it will soften and deteriorate quickly.
• Squash is versatile enough to pair well with either sweet or savory seasonings. For sweet butternut or acorn squash, try brown sugar and cinnamon. For a savory twist, sprinkle roasted butternut squash with curry powder.
• If you want to use butternut squash in soup, then roast it halved in the oven instead of peeling and boiling it. When the squash cools, you can simply scoop the flesh out of the peel and then puree it in a blender or food processor.
• When you choose a squash at the market, look for a vegetable that is firm and heavy for its size. Winter squash should have a thick skin and a woody rind.^[9]

[Edit]Warnings

• Avoid choosing squash that have moldy or sunken spots. Also avoid squash with punctures in the skin.

[Edit]Things You'll Need

• Squash
• Paper towels
• Sharp knife
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil or canola oil
• Roasting pan
• Cooking spray
• Skillet
• 2 bowls
• Egg
• Flour or cornmeal
• Water
• Microwave-safe dish
• Fork
• Grill
• Metal or wooden skewers

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Cook
• Bake a Winter Squash
• Plant Squash in Hills

[Edit]References

• All About Summer Squash
• Squash

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.skinnytaste.com/roasted-yellow-squash/
2. ↑ https://www.skinnytaste.com/roasted-seasoned-winter-squash-medley/
3. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/sauteed-yellow-squash-recipe-1915659
4. ↑ https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/fried-yellow-squash-317234#activity-feed
5. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/14126/country-fried-squash/
6. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/microwave-squash-recipe-2103187
7. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/74007/grilled-yellow-squash/
8. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/grilled-zucchini-with-garlic-and-lemon-butter-baste-235356
9. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/5-quick-tips-for-choosing-winter-squash-250248

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How to Make a Beacon in Minecraft

Beacons are symbols of status and prestige in Minecraft. Once lit, a beacon can provide status effects to nearby players, including strength, jump boost, speed, and regeneration. To build a beacon, you'll need obsidian and glass, plus the Nether star, which you can only get by summoning and defeating the super challenging Wither. If you’re up for the challenge of building and lighting a beacon in Minecraft, this wikiHow guide has you covered! We'll teach you how to craft and activate a beacon in Minecraft, build a beacon tower, and use minerals to supply your beacon with status effects.

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• The basic recipe for a beacon is 1 nether star, 3 obsidian, and 5 glass.
• A beacon requires at least a three-by-three, one block high square base made of either iron, gold, diamond, emerald, or netherite.
• A beacon's base requires a minimum of 81 ingots.
• If built correctly, a beacon activates immediately upon construction. You will know your beacon is activated when it lights up.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Crafting the Beacon

1. Know the layout of a beacon. A beacon is, at minimum, a three-by-three, one-block high square base of at least iron blocks (though gold, diamond, emerald and/or netherite blocks will also do) with a beacon unit placed on top of it. If you want to enhance your beacon's power and range, you'll need an additional square base of five by five, seven by seven, and nine by nine per power level, respectively.
   
   • Creating a beacon can be a tedious process, since you need a bare minimum of 81 iron ingots to craft the base alone.
2. Gather the necessary materials. To craft a beacon, you will need the following items:
   
   • At least 81 iron ore - Mine a lot of iron ore—which is the grey stone with orange spots—with a stone pickaxe or better. You can use emeralds, gold, or diamonds instead, but these minerals are far rarer than iron and their effect on the beacon is the same anyway.
   • Three blocks of obsidian - Obsidian is formed by water hitting lava from above. You can find it deep in caves. You will need a diamond pickaxe to mine obsidian.
   • Five blocks of sand - You will need to use this to make glass.
   • Nether Star - Kill the Wither and pick up the star that it drops. The Wither is exceedingly difficult to spawn and kill for lower-level players, so make sure you're prepared.
     • Do not spawn the Wither near your house, as it shoots skulls that blow up nearby structures.
   • Fuel - Wood planks or coal will work fine. You'll need this for your furnace when smelting the glass and iron bars.
3. Smelt your iron ore. Open your furnace, place all 81 iron ore pieces in the top square, and place your fuel source in the bottom square. Once all 81 ores have been created, you can move them back to your inventory.
   
   • In Minecraft Pocket Edition, tap the top square, tap the iron ore icon, tap the bottom square, and then tap your fuel.
   • On consoles, select your iron ore, press Y or triangle, select your fuel, and press Y or triangle again.
4. Smelt your sand. Put the sand blocks in the furnace, replenish the fuel if necessary, and then gather the five glass blocks when they're done smelting.
   
5. Open your crafting table. Right-click the crafting table (PC), tap the crafting table (PE), or face the crafting table and press the left trigger.
   
6. Create iron blocks. Place nine iron bars in each grid square, then click the stack of nine iron blocks and move it to your inventory.
   
   • In Minecraft PE, just tap the grey iron block to select it, then tap 1 x on the right side of the screen nine times.
   • On consoles, scroll over to the far-right tab, select the magma block, scroll down until you find the iron block, and press A (Xbox) or X (PlayStation) nine times.
7. Craft the beacon unit. Re-open the crafting table if necessary, then place one obsidian block in each of the bottom grid squares, place the Nether Star in the center grid square, and place one piece of glass in each remaining empty square. Move the resulting beacon to your inventory when it appears. Now you can create the beacon itself.
   
   • In Minecraft PE, just tap the beacon icon, then tap 1 x.
   • On consoles, find the beacon tab, select the beacon, and press A or X.

[Edit]Building the Beacon Tower

1. Find a place to put your beacon. You will need a flat spot. Ideally, your beacon will be close to your home.
   
   • A beacon tower can be useful in locating any key place on your map.
2. Place the iron blocks on the ground. Place three rows of three blocks to create a three-by-three, nine-block total base.
   
3. Place your beacon unit. Select the beacon unit, then select the middle iron block. The beacon should light up almost immediately, indicating that it is activated.
   
4. Consider adding more layers to the unit. If you want to increase the beacon's power, you can add a five-by-five, 25-block base directly below the three-by-three one.
   
   • You can add a seven-by-seven, 49-block base below the five-by-five, and you can add a nine-by-nine, 81-block base below the seven by seven.
   • Your beacon can't have a base larger than nine blocks by nine blocks.

[Edit]Changing the Beacon's Effect

1. Find an effect mineral. Beacons offer powerful effects to players within its range. To change the beacon's effect, you will need at least one of the following:
   
   • Iron Ingot
   • Gold Ingot
   • Emerald
   • Diamond
   • Netherite Ingot
2. Select the beacon. Right-click the beacon (or tap it, or press the left trigger on your controller while facing it) to open it.
   
3. Select an effect. Select the effect that you want to receive from the beacon. You will have two options:
   
   • Speed - Select the claw icon on the left side of the window. This makes you run faster.
   • Haste - Select the pickaxe icon on the left side of the window. This makes you mine faster.
   • The more levels your beacon tower has, the more effects you'll be able to equip. Other possible effects include Jump Boost, Resistance, and Night Vision. There are even negative effects like Nausea, Blindness, and Slowness.
4. Add an effect mineral. Click and drag a mineral into the empty box at the bottom of the beacon's window.
   
   • On Minecraft PE, tap the mineral in the upper-left side of the screen.
   • On consoles, just select the mineral and press Y or triangle.
5. Select the checkmark. It's the green icon at the bottom of the beacon's window. Doing so will apply your selected effect to the beacon.
   
   • These effects can help you protect yourself and your house as well.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• If you don't want to go through the hassle of gathering the beacon's necessary materials, just craft it in creative mode. The beacon itself is pre-assembled, and all you need to do is place it and an iron block in your inventory in order to create the largest beacon you can.
• If you want your beacon light to be a different color, put any stained glass over the beacon!

[Edit]Warnings

• Falling from more than 23 blocks high will kill you, so don't build your beacon too high up if you don't have an exit plan.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Get Charcoal Instead of Coal in Minecraft
• Build a Skyscraper or Glass Tower on Minecraft
• Make the Biggest Tower in Minecraft
• Make Glass in Minecraft

[Edit]Quick Summary

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How to Clean Jewelry

Is your favorite piece of jewelry looking a bit dull and smudgy? If so, hold off on taking it for a professional cleaning—because we’ll show you what to use to clean jewelry at home. Plain old soap and water is great for pretty much any type of jewelry, and we’ll also walk you through other options for gold, silver, and gemstone jewelry. So let’s make that jewelry shine like new!

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• Use a bit of gentle soap, lukewarm water, and a soft toothbrush to clean nearly any type of jewelry. Many types of jewelry can be soaked in the soapy water first.
• In addition to soap and water, you can clean gold jewelry with baking soda and vinegar, baking soda and aluminum foil, or ammonia.
• Soapy water works great on silver as well, or you can try hand sanitizer, aluminum foil and salt or baking soda, or plain white toothpaste.
• While hard gemstones like diamonds can handle many DIY cleaners, delicate ones like pearls and opals may require professional cleaning.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]All Jewelry (soap and water)

1. Mix a few drops of a gentle soap into a bowl of lukewarm water. For everyday jewelry, it’s generally fine to use any old dish soap and hot water here—some people even use boiling water to soak their items in. However, if your jewelry is delicate and/or valuable, opt for lukewarm water and a gentle, additive-free dish soap.^[1]
   
   • For a typical ring, necklace, bracelet, or pair of earrings, 1-2 drops of soap in a shallow dish of water is plenty.
   • For jewelry with soft gemstones like pearls or opals, switch out the dish soap for a pH-neutral baby soap.
2. Soak non-porous/non-fragile jewelry in the mixture for 15 minutes. Soaking helps loosen debris and oils, but skip this step and do not soak your jewelry if any of the following are true:^[2]
   
   • It is an extremely valuable item.
   • It has fragile or damaged components, such as gem settings.
   • It contains pearl, opal, or emerald, which are very delicate, or coral, bone, or wood, which soak up water readily.
3. Gently scrub the jewelry with a soft-bristled baby toothbrush. Go gentle here, especially if your item is fragile and/or valuable! Use a baby toothbrush with super-soft bristles, dip it in the soapy water regularly, and lightly buff all surfaces of the item with circular and back-and-forth motions.^[3]
   
   • Dunk the item back in the soapy water if it starts to dry off.
   • If the item has any nooks and crannies that you can’t reach with the toothbrush, switch to cotton swabs (Q-Tips) for these areas.
4. Rinse the jewelry under lukewarm running water. Regular tap water will do the job here. Just avoid putting the tap on full blast and don’t use water that’s extremely hot or cold.^[4]
   
5. Pat the jewelry with a soft cloth or let it air dry. A clean, soft microfiber cloth is ideal here. Don’t use a rough fabric towel or a paper towel, as these might scratch softer metals or gemstones.^[5]
   
   • If you’re not in a rush, it’s equally fine to just let the item air dry on a soft cloth.
   • If desired, you can lightly buff the item with the soft cloth after it’s dry—this will help bring out its shine.

[Edit]Gold Jewelry

1. Baking soda and vinegar: Mix about 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water in a bowl until it makes a thick paste. Use cotton swabs or cotton balls to coat the item with the paste, set it in another bowl, and slowly pour on enough white vinegar to cover the item. Wait 5 minutes, then rinse the item thoroughly and pat it dry with a soft cloth.^[6]
   
   • Cleaning gold with baking soda and vinegar helps loosen dirt and debris, but this method shouldn’t be used on gold jewelry that’s delicate, fragile, or high-value, or that contains delicate or porous gemstones.
2. Baking soda and aluminum foil: Line a shallow glass bowl with a sheet of aluminum foil, shiny side up. Lay your gold jewelry directly onto the foil, then sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the jewelry. Pour enough boiling water into the bowl to completely cover the jewelry, then wait up to 5 minutes for the water to cool to the touch. Remove the jewelry, rinse it thoroughly with warm—not cold—water, then pat it dry with a soft cloth.^[7]
   
   • How does this work? A chemical reaction occurs among the aluminum foil, the baking soda, and the tarnish on your jewelry. The boiling water also helps loosen stubborn dirt and debris.
   • You can also try this method with silver jewelry, or the slightly different aluminum foil method provided in the silver jewelry section of this article.
   • Don’t use this technique on very valuable or fragile gold, or gold jewelry with fragile or porous gemstones. Stick to the soapy water method, or take your item to a professional.
3. Ammonia: To clean gold jewelry with ammonia, add 6 parts water to 1 part ammonia in a bowl. Soak your item of jewelry for no more than 60 seconds, then remove it from the mixture. Rinse it thoroughly with clean water, then pat it dry with a soft cloth.^[8]
   
   • Wear gloves and protective eyewear when using ammonia, and work in a well-ventilated area.
   • Ammonia may start to corrode your gold item if you soak it for more than 1 minute. Avoid using ammonia frequently on jewelry—use it a couple times a year, for example, instead of monthly.
   • Don’t use ammonia on—you guessed it!—delicate, fragile, or highly-valuable jewelry, or on jewelry with fragile or porous gemstones.

[Edit]Silver Jewelry

1. Hand sanitizer: To begin this technique, rinse the item under warm water and then lightly scrub it with a soft cloth and cotton swabs to remove surface residue and tarnish. Pat the item dry with a clean cloth, then spot-clean the remaining tarnish with cotton swabs/balls/pads dipped in plain, unscented hand sanitizer. Rinse the item under warm water to remove any sanitizer residue, then pat it dry once more.^[9]
   
   • This is a low-risk way to clean silver items since it doesn’t use any abrasives or chemical reactions. That said, if you’re dealing with something extremely delicate or valuable, it’s safest to leave the task to a professional.
2. Aluminum foil and baking soda: This is the same method as described in the gold jewelry section of this article: line a glass bowl with aluminum foil (shiny side up); lay the silver item on the foil; cover the item with baking soda; cover the item with boiling water; wait 5 minutes; rinse the item thoroughly with warm water; pat it dry with a soft cloth.^[10]
   
3. Aluminum foil and table salt: This one’s a variation on the previous aluminum foil method—in fact, you can substitute baking soda for table salt and get the same results. To clean silver jewelry this way, stir a spoonful of salt into a bowl of hot water. Then, rip off several strips of aluminum foil and put them in the water. Next, submerge your silver item in the water for 5 minutes. To finish, thoroughly rinse the item and pat it dry with a clean cloth.
   
   • As with gold, avoid using any type of aluminum foil and baking soda/table salt method with high-value, fragile, or delicate jewelry, especially if it contains fragile or porous gemstones.
4. Toothpaste: Dip your jewelry in warm water to wet it, then use your fingertip to lightly massage the item with a thin coating of plain white toothpaste. Wait 2-3 minutes, then use water-dampened cotton swabs and/or a soft-bristled baby toothbrush to gently scrub the item. Rinse off the excess toothpaste with warm running water, then pat your jewelry dry with a soft cloth.^[11]
   
   • Cleaning silver with toothpaste comes with risks—even plain white toothpaste is gritty enough to potentially scratch silver. Save this method for sturdy, relatively low-value silver jewelry.

[Edit]Gemstones

1. Diamonds: Diamonds (as well as rubies and sapphires) are hard enough to stand up to many cleaning methods, but the safest option is the soapy water method described in this article: soak the item in water and a few drops of dish soap for 15 minutes; lightly scrub the item with a soft toothbrush; rinse the item and dry it with a soft cloth.^[12] Repeat this cleaning once a month to prevent buildup from forming.^[13]
   
   • Here are some alternatives for cleaning diamonds (or rubies or sapphires) you might consider as well:
     • Spray a household window cleaner (like Windex) onto a soft cloth and wipe the diamond.
     • Soak the item in club soda overnight, then rinse it with clean water and wipe it down with a soft cloth.
     • Put the item in a glass of water and add a denture cleaning tablet. After the tablet dissolves, remove the jewelry, rinse it, and pat it dry.
2. Pearls and opals: Using a pH-neutral baby soap is gentler on pearls and opals than dish detergent and other soaps. Make sure the pearls or opals are secure in their setting, then gently rub them clean with a soft cloth (or cotton swabs) dipped in a solution of water and a few drops of baby soap. Rinse them with slow-running water and let them air dry.^[14]
   
   • Do not soak pearls or opals in water or any cleaning solution—they’re too porous and fragile.
3. Soft, porous, or fragile gemstones: If you have any doubts about the hardness or porosity of a gemstone, or about the quality of its setting, take the piece to a jeweler and have it cleaned using professional techniques. It’s well worth the investment, especially if your jewelry has a high monetary value (or a high sentimental value).
   

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Clean Costume Jewelry
• Clean Gold Jewelry
• Clean Your Silver Jewelry

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://jewelrycleanershub.com/how-to-clean-jewelry-at-home-with-dish-soap-and-water/
2. ↑ https://www.insider.com/guides/home/how-to-clean-gold-jewelry
3. ↑ https://www.insider.com/guides/home/how-to-clean-gold-jewelry
4. ↑ https://jewelrycleanershub.com/how-to-clean-jewelry-at-home-with-dish-soap-and-water/
5. ↑ https://jewelrycleanershub.com/how-to-clean-jewelry-at-home-with-dish-soap-and-water/
6. ↑ https://somethingborrowedpdx.com/how-to-clean-gold-jewelry-with-baking-soda-vinegar/
7. ↑ https://www.classyclutter.net/magic-homemade-jewelry-cleaner/
8. ↑ https://jewelrycleanershub.com/clean-jewelry-with-ammonia-and-water/
9. ↑ https://hermansilver.com/care.htm
10. ↑ https://www.classyclutter.net/magic-homemade-jewelry-cleaner/
11. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-polish-silver-with-toothpaste-210817
12. ↑ https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research-secrets-keep-diamond-sparkling
13. ↑ [v161110_b02]. 11 September 2019.
14. ↑ https://www.gemsociety.org/article/clean-pearls-opals/

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How to Grill Corn

Grilled corn is a favorite treat for summer barbecues, but most recipes call for the corn to be on the cob. You can still prepare corn on the grill even if you have nothing other than loose kernel corn, though, as long as you have the proper tools to keep the corn from falling through the grill grate. The use of wood chips also helps to enhance the flavor, making up for the fact that the corn does not directly touch the grate.

[Edit]Ingredients

[Edit]On the Cob

• 6 corn cobs
• 6 Tbsp (90 ml) melted butter or olive oil
• Salt, pepper, and additional butter, to taste

[Edit]Off the Cob

• 1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil or canola oil
• 2 Tbsp (30 ml) balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) salt
• 1/4 tsp (1.25 ml) ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup (80 ml) fresh chives, chopped
• 1/3 cup (80 ml) fresh basil, chopped
• 5 cups (1250 ml) loose corn kernels

[Edit]Servings

• About 6

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]On the Cob

1. Peel off most of the husk, but not all of it. If the corn cobs have thick layers of husks attached, peel off the first few layers, leaving only a few left to protect the corn and prevent it from burning.
   
   
2. Soak the corn.^[1] Fill a large pot with cold water and dunk the cobs of corn inside. Make sure that the corn is completely covered with water. If the cobs of corn float, turn them occasionally to make sure that all sides get exposed to water. The water provides extra moisture, which prevents the corn from drying out as it gets grilled. You should let the corn soak for a minimum of 15 minutes, but it can sit in the water up to 3 hours.
   
   
3. Preheat the grill as the corn soaks. The grill should reach medium heat. If using a grill with a thermometer, allow the grill to reach roughly 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius).
   
   
4. Partially husk the corn. After it has soaked, pull the corn out of the water and shake off excess water. Pull the husks back to expose the top half of the corn, but do not remove the husks completely.
   
   
5. Remove the silk. After exposing the corn, pull away the silky threads from the side by grasping them and yanking them up.
   
   
6. Butter the kernels. You can use melted butter or olive oil. Roughly 1 Tbsp (15 ml) per cob should be sufficient.
   
   
7. Place the corn on the preheated grill. Position it so that it sits on direct heat. Allow it to sit on the grill for 30 to 60 seconds on each side in order to brown but not burn. Rotate as necessary to prevent the corn from burning.
   
   
8. Move the corn to indirect heat. This can either be the side of your grill or along a top shelf. Close the cover and allow the corn to cook for 15 minutes.
   
   
9. Remove the corn when the husks get dark. The kernels will also pull away slightly from the tip of the cob. If the corn begins to bend in your hands or if the kernels feel soft and mushy, it has cooked too long. Use tongs and oven mitts to prevent yourself from getting burned.
   
   
10. Clean off the cobs. Grab the uncovered portion of the corn cob with one hand, using an oven mitt or clean dish towel to prevent yourself from getting burned. Peel the remaining husks off and pick off the remaining silk threads. Rinse the corn under warm, running water to remove any ash that has fallen onto the cob.
    
    
11. Serve hot. Allow the corn to cool just enough to prevent yourself from getting burned as you eat it. Season with salt, pepper, and additional butter to taste.
    
    

[Edit]Off the Cob

1. Prepare your corn by making a marinade.
   
   
   • Combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, chives, and basil in a 9-inch by 13-inch (23-cm by 33-cm) baking pan. Stir with a spoon or fork to thoroughly combine.
   • Allow the corn to marinate in the mixture. Add the corn to the baking pan and toss, using a fork or spatula, until evenly coated. Cover the pan with plastic cling wrap and keep in the refrigerator for approximately three hours.
2. Preheat the grill. You can you a gas grill or charcoal grill, but a charcoal grill generally works better for use with wood chips.
   
   
   • Pre-soak wood chips, if desired. The right kind of wood chips can enhance the flavor of the corn as it grills. Soak the chips in clean water for one or two hours before you plan to start the grill.^[2]
     • To add a sweet flavor to the corn, try applewood, alder wood, cherry wood, or maple wood. Maple wood has a mild sweetness, while applewood is moderately sweet and also contributes a fruity smell.
     • For a bold, smoky flavor, try hickory wood or pecan wood. Hickory wood is considerably stronger.
     • Drain the chips before starting the grill. You do not want them completely dry, but if they are dripping wet, they will hinder the fire. Place the chips in a colander to drain or pat off excess water with a dry dish towel.
     • Sprinkle the still-damp wood chips over the grill. Only use a handful of chips unless you already know what sort of flavor to anticipate with that type of wood. Allow the wood chips to begin steadily smoking.
3. Uncover the corn. Stir the corn to redistribute the coating.
   
   
4. Transfer the corn to grill-safe cookware. You might be able to keep the corn in the baking pan you marinated it in, but more of the smoky grill flavor will be transferred to the kernels if you remove them to a fine-mesh grilling basket or grilling griddle with small perforations.
   
   
5. Alternatively, you can also transfer the corn into aluminum foil packets. Distribute the kernels evenly between six sheets of aluminum foil, laying the kernels in a pile at the center of each sheet.
   
   
6. Bring the sides together and fold to seal. Make sure that there are no loose or open gaps in the seal.
   
   
7. Poke the foil with the tines of a fork. Doing so creates small perforations that the corn cannot escape through, but it also allows the smoky flavor to seep in.
   
   
8. Place the cookware or foil packets on the grill rack. Cover the grill. Keeping the grill covered allows the corn to cook faster, but it also traps the smoke from the wood chips inside, giving the corn a stronger flavor as a result.
   
   
9. Allow the corn to cook for 3 minutes. After this time has passed, open the grill and stir the corn. If the corn is wrapped in foil packets, use an oven mitt to gently grab the packet and give it a quick, light shake. Put the lid back on the grill and continue cooking.
   
   
10. Cook the corn for an additional 3 minutes. At this point, the corn should begin to sizzle. Uncover the grill and remove the corn.
    
    
11. Serve hot. Allow the corn to cool slightly, but for the strongest flavor, serve it while it is still fairly hot to warm.
    
    

[Edit]Things You’ll Need

• Fork
• Metal baking pan
• Plastic cling wrap
• Wood chips
• Grill and appropriate fuel
• Aluminum foil
• Metal grilling griddle or basket

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Cook Frozen Corn

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ http://whatscookingamerica.net/Vegetables/GrillingCorn.htm
2. ↑ http://www.bbqgrillingguide.com/bbq-wood.shtml#.UJ1osG_A-9w

from How to of the Day https://ift.tt/Fy2qnWJ

How to Press Leaves

Pressing leaves is a fun, easy way to capture all the gorgeous colors of the season—and even decorate your home! If you're wondering about the best way to press leaves, you've come to the right place. There are many ways to dry and preserve leaves, from simple book pressings to glycerin and silica gel. Read on for a comprehensive guide to pressing leaves, with all the details you need to get a perfect final product.

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• Press your leaves in a heavy book for a couple of weeks, or fold them in wax paper and press them using a clothing iron for a quick alternative.
• Fold your leaves in a paper towel and dry them in the microwave for another quick preservation method.
• Dry out leaves using silica gel or glycerin to preserve even the thickest moisture-filled leaves and keep them flexible for crafting projects.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Pressing Leaves in a Book

1. Lay a piece of folded paper inside a heavy book. First, choose a thick hardcover book that you don't mind getting wrinkled or stained if moisture from the leaves gets onto the pages. Then, cut a piece of wax paper or newspaper to be the same height and twice the width of your book, fold it in half, and place it between the book's pages.^[1]
   
   
   • Remember to choose a book that's at least as big as your leaves, if not bigger!
   • The thicker the book, the better, but you'll also be able to add other books and objects as weights if the first book isn't enough.
2. Place your leaves between the paper and press them. Lay the leaves across your book, between the folded halves of the wax paper. Then, close the book and set it aside in a dry spot with a couple of other heavy books as added weight on top of it.^[2]
   
   
   • If you're layering more than one sheet of leaves in the book, leave about of pages between layers.
   • Optionally, you could apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to your leaves before pressing them. This will keep them flexible even after being dried out!
3. Keep the leaves pressed in the book for at least 2 weeks. It'll take time for your leaves to dry out fully. Check their progress after 2 weeks; if there's still some moisture in the leaves, simply place them back in the press and give them another few days to dry. However, most leaves will be plenty dry after a couple of weeks.^[3]
   
   
   • Once they're done pressing, consider what you want to do with them. You could hang them up on a window, spread them across a mantle or shelf, or put them in a basket and make them a centerpiece on your table.
   • You could also use your pressed leaves for arts and crafts! Make a collage with all natural materials, for example.
4. Use a flower press to dry out the leaves, alternatively. Purchase a simple flower press, which has a mechanism allowing you to squeeze the moisture from leaves. For most presses, you'll need to sandwich your leaves between 2 pieces of cardboard and place those inside the machine. Then, tighten the mechanism to apply pressure to your leaves and let the press sit for a couple of weeks.
   
   
   • Like pressing leaves in a book, simply check the status of your leaves after 2 weeks pass. If they're not entirely done, put them back in the press to finish drying.

[Edit]Pressing Leaves with an Iron

1. Place your leaves between wax paper. Cut a piece of wax paper and place your leaves on top of it, then cover them with a second piece of paper. For this method, choose thin leaves that already don't have much moisture since they’ll be easier to iron over smoothly and are less likely to fold during the process.^[4]
   
   
2. Cover an ironing board with a rag to protect it from wax. Set up an ironing board and find an old rag that you don’t mind getting dirty with wax. Lay it over top of the board since wax melts when heated and might spill over onto the rag. Then, place the wax paper and leaves on top of the rag and place a second rag over them (to protect your iron from the wax too).^[5]
   
   
3. Iron the leaves slowly until the wax paper seals together. Once your leaves and ironing board are set up, heat a clothes iron on its high setting and run it slowly back and forth over the leaves. As the wax melts together, press down for 5 seconds on each section of the paper and ensure it seals around the leaves.^[6]
   
   
   • If the pieces of wax paper haven't been sealed yet, just iron for a few more seconds until they do.
   • Don't use the "steam" setting on your clothes iron since the goal is to dry your leaves!
4. Let the wax paper cool and cut out your leaves. Wait until the wax paper is cool on your fingers, then grab some scissors and cut each individual leaf out of the wax paper. Leave a little space around the edges of the leaf, so the wax paper stays sealed, then peel off the remaining paper by hand.^[7]
   
   
   • With that, you'll have fully dried leaves laminated in wax for extra preservation!

[Edit]Preserving Leaves in the Microwave

1. Sandwich leaves between a pair of paper towels. Grab 2 paper towel sheets and lay your leaves down on top of the first. Place the other paper towel on top of your leaves. For this process, choose leaves that are still fresh and soft; dry fallen leaves burn more quickly when exposed to the microwave's intense heat.^[8]
   
   
2. Heat the leaves in a microwavable dish for 30 seconds to dry them out. Place your leaves (still sandwiched between paper towels) on a microwave-safe dish, then microwave them on medium heat. Pull your leaves out after 30 seconds and check them: if they're already dry, move to the next step. If not, keep microwaving them in additional 30-second increments until all moisture is gone.^[9]
   
   
   • If your leaves are curling up around the edges, that's a sign there's still moisture in them, and they need a little more time.
   • Conversely, if your leaves look scorched, they've been in the microwave too long. That's why short bursts in the microwave are an essential part of drying leaves—it prevents burning.
3. Spray the dried leaves with acrylic sealant. Store your leaves somewhere dry and air them out for about a day. Then, coat them on both sides with an acrylic sealant spray. This preserves the color of your leaves, so they're beautiful for years to come!^[10]
   
   

[Edit]Preserving Leaves with Glycerin

1. Prepare a glycerin solution in a shallow dish. Mix a solution from 1 part glycerin and 2 parts water in the dish you chose. Ensure there's enough solution to completely submerge all of your leaves, as they'll be soaking for a while.^[11]
   
   
   • For example, a glass baking pan is an ideal dish for mixing your glycerin solution.
2. Soak your leaves in glycerin for 2 to 4 days. Place each leaf in the dish, put a weight over the top of them (like another pan or dish), and ensure they're fully submerged in the solution. Let them sit for 2 days before checking on them; if your leaves are soft and pliable, they're ready to go! If they still feel dry, let them soak for another 2 days and check again.^[12]
   
   
   • Leaves preserved with a glycerin coating aren't supposed to feel dry like leaves pressed with a book. The glycerin makes them way more flexible and durable so that you can use them for many different crafting projects.
3. Hang up your leaves for another 2 to 3 days to dry them out. Once the leaves feel soft and bendable, remove them from the solution and hang them on a simple line made with twine. Te their stems directly with the twine, or use tiny clothespins to hang them by their stems. Let them dry a couple of days, then take them down and use them however you want!^[13]
   
   
   • Since glycerin-coated leaves are much more malleable, you can use them for more complex crafts. For example, you could craft a fall wreath from your dried leaves.

[Edit]Preserving Leaves with Silica Gel

1. Lay a few moist leaves in a layer of silica gel. Choose a few fresh, soft leaves for this project. Pour the first layer of silica gel into a microwavable dish, and then place your leaves flat on top of the gel. Once they're in place, cover the leaves with another layer of silica gel.^[14]
   
   
   • Leave a little space between the leaves and the side of the dish to ensure they're preserved correctly!
   • Fresh leaves are better for this method because they have more color, and the silica gel is great for preserving color while drying leaves out.
2. Microwave the leaves for 30 seconds. Leave the dish containing your leaves uncovered and pop it in the microwave. Microwave your leaves on medium heat in 30-second increments and check on them after every zap in the microwave. Then, simply remove the leaves when they’re dry!^[15]
   
   
3. Let the leaves cool and spray them with sealant for preservation. Wait for your newly dried leaves to cool off before spraying them with acrylic sealant, keeping them fresh and usable for longer.^[16]
   
   

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Press Flowers
• Dry Flowers
• Make a Flower Press
• Press Ferns

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://utopia.org/guide/pressing-leaves/
2. ↑ https://utopia.org/guide/pressing-leaves/
3. ↑ https://utopia.org/guide/pressing-leaves/
4. ↑ https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-preserve-leaves/
5. ↑ https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-preserve-leaves/
6. ↑ https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-preserve-leaves/
7. ↑ https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-preserve-leaves/
8. ↑ https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-preserve-leaves/
9. ↑ https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-preserve-leaves/
10. ↑ https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-preserve-leaves/
11. ↑ https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-preserve-leaves/
12. ↑ https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-preserve-leaves/
13. ↑ https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-preserve-leaves/
14. ↑ https://utopia.org/guide/pressing-leaves/
15. ↑ https://utopia.org/guide/pressing-leaves/
16. ↑ https://utopia.org/guide/pressing-leaves/

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