There's an ongoing debate about whether or not it's safe or even desirable to rinse meat before cooking it. Many fall into the anti-rinsing camp, saying that it's not effective at dislodging bacteria, especially on poultry, as we've discussed before. Meanwhile, some argue that rinsing certain meats, like bacon, can rinse away excess surface salt and may reduce shrinkage — though evidence is strictly anecdotal. Washing meat with a gentle acid: a cultural practice, not a safety guaranteeIn many West Indian and Caribbean kitchens, it's a common practice to rinse chicken and fish with a mild acid like lemon, lime, or vinegar prior to cooking. For example, Haitian stewed chicken (poule en sauce) is prepared by washing the chicken with sour orange juice or vinegar before cooking. Cooks say it freshens the smell, removes surface slime, and adds subtle tang. Before modern refrigerators, a quick acidic rinse was thought to keep spoilage at bay when birds hung at room temperature. Today...more

Sushi rolls, known as makizushi in Japanese, are only limited by your imagination — and your ability to roll them neatly, of course. While it may seem like a lot of effort, rolling sushi is a snap if you have the right tools. If you plan on making sushi rolls a lot at home, a bamboo mat is the way to go, but a tea towel — or even just your bare hands — will work if you only want to make them occasionally. No matter which tool you end up using, the method for rolling sushi is the same. Using a traditional bamboo matFor this demonstration, I'm making kimbap, a Korean roll that contains tamago, spinach, burdock root, and pickled daikon radish. Lay out your bamboo mat with an optional piece of plastic wrap on top (to keep the mat clean). Make sure that the dried seaweed (nori) has its rough side facing upward. (If you're feeling adventurous, you could also use a sheet of sriracha sauce instead of nori.) Evenly spread rice over the nori while leaving space at the top and bottom of the...more

Many people rely on the date printed on an egg carton to decide when to toss the dozen, but sell‑by and best‑by dates are quality guidelines — not safety deadlines. If you've been pitching eggs solely because of the date on the carton, you may be wasting perfectly good food. Eggs can stay tasty well past those printed dates. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), eggs kept refrigerated at 40°F (4°C) or below remain perfectly safe for at least three to five weeks after the pack date and often longer. Before you find out the hard way, here are a few reliable at‑home tests that let you gauge freshness (and, by extension, quality) with much more confidence. Your eyes and nose are the best tools for spotting spoilage in meats, produce, and herbs — it's pretty obvious when something's moldy or stinky. Eggs are trickier because you can't see or smell the inside until you crack the shell. Fortunately, a few simple tests reveal whether an intact egg is still good. The...more

As kids, we were all obsessed with Nickelodeon's epic green slime — getting slimed felt like the ultimate badge of honor. What most of us didn't realize back then is how easy it is to make your own slime at home. One of the most common ways to make slime is to combine liquid glue with water and a household chemical called borax. You can use the powdered form of borax, which easily dissolves into water and can be found online or in any grocery store. The video below shows how easy it is. You can also check out The King of Random's guide for more detailed instructions. Borax is commonly used in household products like laundry boosters and insecticides. While small amounts are generally considered safe for cleaning, some organizations — including the European Chemicals Agency — classify borax as a potential health hazard if ingested or mishandled, especially by children. For that reason, many parents and educators now seek safer, borax-free alternatives for DIY slime. On Amazon: Elmer's...more

If you frequently awaken in the middle of the night, trembling in terror, you might want to consider swapping sides. According to research conducted by Dr. Mehmet Yucel Agargun and colleagues at Yüzüncü Yil University in 2004, individuals who sleep on their left side experience more nightmares than those who sleep on their right. In the study, the researchers examined the sleeping positions and dream patterns of 63 healthy adults. They found that 40.9% of left-side sleepers reported frequent nightmares, compared to only 14.6% of right-side sleepers. The theory is that sleeping on any side causes an imbalance, but the left side results in more intense emotions and feelings of insecurity, which are strong associations with feminine qualities in traditional Chinese medicine. The right is more masculine and grounding, and evokes dreams of safety and relief. Image via Pexels Note: While this research dates back to 2004, body position is still considered a possible influence on dream...more

This clever time-based card trick feels like pure magic — and it's easy to learn with zero sleight of hand. The Clock Card Trick uses a spectator's freely chosen card, the current time, and a "clock" of playing cards to predict their selection in a way that seems completely random. But behind the scenes, it's all about clever card placement, simple misdirection, and a bit of timing. You can perform this trick flawlessly if you can control a card to the top of the deck and follow the hour and minute hands on a clock. Use it to wow friends, start conversations, or level up your beginner magic skills. 🎥 Watch the full tutorial to see how the trick is performed and revealed. The setupBefore starting the trick, take note of the current hour on a clock or phone. This will be key to positioning the spectator's card. Begin by shuffling the deck and letting your spectator select any card. As they memorize it, secretly control it to the top of the deck. The video uses a Mahatma control, but...more

Learn to play one of the most feel-good ukulele songs ever — Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" — arranged for baritone ukulele. These step-by-step video lessons walk you through the whole song with tabs, chord breakdowns, strumming patterns, and fingerpicking tips to help you master every section. While the lesson is great for intermediate players, beginners can follow along with some practice. Whether you're playing solo or serenading someone special, this baritone uke version sounds great and feels even better to play. 🎥 Watch all three versions below to get started — from YouTubers Edwin Parsons, Abby Lyons, and ukeplayalongs. Abby also has a booklet of printable lead sheets you can download, which includes "I'm Yours" and nine other popular songs. Hot deal: Kala MK-B Makala Baritone Ukulele Bundle with Gig Bag, Tuner, Strap, Aquila Strings, Online Lessons, Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD, and Polishing Cloth ($109.99) 'I'm Yours' uke play-along with Abby Lyons'I'm Yours' uke lesson with...more

Lasagna, that layered, creamy baked pasta dish, is a lovely comfort food that's great for a crowd. But if you've ever made it, you know you're usually left with some leftover lasagna noodles. (Although that's always better than the frustration of running out of noodles while you're still making a traditional lasagna.) Still, what do you do when you're left with a bowlful of the wide ribbons? Guess what? There's no rule that you can only use lasagna noodles to make a layered pasta dish. Those frilly wide noodles are good in soups, salads, and almost any other pasta recipe you can dream up. All you need to do is slice them into the width and shape you wish, and you have a blank canvas to season and dress up any way you wish. I like to cook the lasagna noodles first before slicing them. Although the 'broken lasagna' pieces look rustically delicious, it's hard to cook the pasta correctly if you don't break it up into a uniform size. How to make lasagna soupLasagna soup has all the flavors...more

Mechanical locks have been around since ancient Egypt, with the oldest known artifact found in the ruins of Nineveh, an ancient city in Assyria, Mesopotamia, which is just across the Tigris River from what is now Mosul, Iraq. Charles LocksmithIt was a forerunner to our modern-day pin tumbler locks and no doubt fell victim to the same perils that today's locks endure — lock picking. Though lock picking alone sounds like a devious criminal activity, it's actually a skill every aspiring locksmith must learn and master, not just for helping stranded motorists retrieve their keys from inside their locked cars but for finally designing that masterful lock that will never be picked. Don't Miss: 15 Ways to Open a Locked House/Car Door Without a KeyBut until that day comes, anyone looking to hone their locksmithing craft should know the quickest and best methods to hack locks, from padlocks to deadbolts to car doors. Below are some of the best-known (and somewhat skeptical) methods on...more

Halloween night for most people with kids means tons of candy. That translates into tons of trash from candy wrappers. But even though you probably wouldn't think it, there's no shortage of alternative uses for those wrappers, from clothing and accessories to home decor. This year, get creative instead of just tossing them away. Check out these eleven DIY projects and put your "trash" to good use. #1. Candy Wrapper JewelryThere are many ways to turn candy wrappers into any kind of jewelry you can imagine. If you want to go minimalist, use one big wrapper to make a headband. You can also create a bracelet with nothing but folds or roll the wrappers up to make beads for necklaces and earrings. BiblioBagsEcouterrebunnykissd/deviantART#2. Candy Wrapper Pouch or Coin PurseWrappers from candies that come in bags like Skittles and M&Ms can be sewn into a zippered pouch for holding money, toys, or even more candy. Or, you could use the smaller fun-size bags to make a coin purse. Check out...more

Becoming someone else for Halloween is a lot of fun, but it can take a ton of tools to accomplish. An elaborate costume can require you to slather yourself in all kinds of makeup, paints, and glues, and putting it on is only half the work. The real fun starts when the party's over, and you have to remove it all. Mat McDermott/Flickr Every product has different ingredients, so the way you wash it off will differ from one to another. Some are as easy as washing your face, and others may require you to use something a little more potent than water. But before you try anything... Read the Label FirstAs the FDA suggests, the best place to start is to read the label on a product and see if it has instructions for how to wash it off. If they tell you what to use on the bottle, that's probably your best bet. But some of them don't give you any hints as to what will remove that particular type of gunk from your skin. As annoying as it is, going to bed in your costume makeup just isn't an...more

Autism affects 1 in 68 children in the US, and that means it affects at least 1 in every 68 families. More boys than girls are diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, and it's estimated that almost 60,000 12-year-olds in the US have autism. That is a 37-fold increase from the 1 in 2,500 children diagnosed just 30 years ago. As more kids are diagnosed, the heat is on for the search for a cause and cure. Results from a new clinical trial of "probiotic" bacterial transplants not only links the condition to the gut, but could offer some symptom relief to those who have it. Autism Spectrum DisorderUsually children with autism are diagnosed before they are three years old. The disorder lasts a lifetime, but sometimes symptoms improve with time and treatment. Yet it's tough to nail exactly what autism is. Don't Miss: What We Do & Don't Know About Keeping the Microbes in Your Gut Healthy Autism is the core of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), meaning there is a broad range of conditions...more

Don't believe what you read on the internet, especially today, when web giants like Amazon, Google, and the like showcase their otherworldly products and services. If they seem too good to be true, they probably are—but that doesn't make them any less fun. Keep checking back here as we continually update this article with today's best April Fool's Day pranks. And if you missed the best of last year's jokes, check them out here. Dual-Boot iOS on Android & Vice VersaWe had our own April Fool's Day fun here at WonderHowTo with our Gadget Hacks guides on dual-booting iOS 8 on Android 4.0+ and dual-booting Android Lollipop on iOS 7.0+. In them, dual-booting was as easy as going to AndroidHacks.com or AppleHacks.com and tapping on the link. Reverse GoogleGoogle is great at making suggestions for where you actually meant to surf to when you mistype a search, but your dyslexia may be tested today. When you type in com.google in your browser, you'll be in for a backwards experience....more

Will the predicted apocalyptic date — December 21st, 2012 — really be the end of the world? In this ongoing five-part series, we examine what would happen if zombies, nuclear weapons, cyberwars, earthquakes, or aliens actually destroyed our planet — and how you might survive. End of the World Scenario #5: Alien InvasionAs we approach the end of the world in a few days, according to the Mayan calendar, there's the big question if the ancient culture knew something about the world that we have yet to figure out. If they in fact did predict the end of the world to be on December 21st, 2012, is that indicative of otherworldly knowledge that the Mayans had? Did they know something about the origins of the Earth? Did they know where we came from? Many people believe that we originated from Adam and Eve, whom were placed in the Garden of Eden by God himself. Adam and Eve then sinned, which led to the Fall of Man, spawning the start of humanity. Adam and Eve by Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640...more

In this prank, you can make someone get their own pee on themselves. You do this by putting saran wrap over a toilet but under the toilet seat. Because saran wrap is clear, the person will not see it, start urinating, and the urine will splash onto the person. Use this as inspiration for one of your April Fools Day...more

What kind of cake goes best with the Super Bowl? If you guessed a football-shaped cake, you guessed right. In this video recipe, Betty Crocker shows you how to whip up a super easy American football cake that's also a pull-apart cake, because Super Bowl fans don't have time to slice and serve. Instead of a traditional cake, this cake is made out of cupcakes, which is where the pull-apart part comes from. Best of all, if you've got all of the right ingredients already, it'll only take 5 minutes to make, making it a cinch to make during any pregame show. More details on the recipe can be found here. More Game Day Foods:Gatorade-Infused Treats for a Super Bowl PartyBuffalo Chicken Pizza Beer Dip: The Ultimate Super Bowl Snack5-Minute Super Bowl Snacks for the Win5 Easy Velveeta-Free Cheese Dips for Your Super Bowl PartyHow to Make Sinfully Delicious Buffalo Wings (That Are Low on...more

Not having power can make everyday tasks really difficult if you're unprepared. You have to find new ways to do things like cook dinner and charge your devices, and if it happens during the winter, you also have to figure out how to heat your home. If you don't have a battery-powered heater, you can make a simple emergency space heater with a few tea candles and two flower pots, one small and one large. Dylan Winter made this one with a metal baking pan, but you could use just about any heat resistant container. Dylan Winter/YouTubeWinter put four tea lights in the baking pan and covered them with the smaller flower pot. He used the metal casing from a tea light to cover the hole in the flower pot, which causes the heat to be trapped inside so the pot gets warm. The large pot then goes over the small one with nothing covering the hole to create a convective heat transfer. Each set of candles should last about four hours, and the heater produces enough heat for one room. If you've got...more

Ryuk, the popular anime death god character from Death Note, has instilled fear into many. Just from the live-action movie version, his horror penetrates through the screen. I mean, c'mon, just look at this horrifying beast: Death Note (2006) – Warner Bros. Pictures As horrifying as Ryuk may be, he is a lovable character and is especially admired in the cosplay world. Now, you can become Ryuk with the help of various YouTubers, depending on how you want to go about your costume. You can go the entire makeup route with all the accessories you'll need to become Ryuk this Halloween (or whenever), make a mask, and so on. The end result is amazing and doesn't cost a boatload of cash. Here is a comparison of Ryuk the character and the costume: Takeshi Obata/Wikipediaellimacs sfx makeup – YouTubePretty similar right? All you need to finish the costume is an apple, and you're...more

So, the in-person conversations between you and your friends has slowed down to a near halt, thanks to everyone's obsession with texting, Facebook, and over-uploading pics to Instagram—socializing at its best. It could also be that you're just not interesting enough anymore in person. Want to get your real-life-friends-turned-virtual-friends back to real-life talking friends? Then spruce up the conversation a bit with a few tricks — literally. twllNot only will you liven up the non-existent conversation, but you could also make some money off your friends. 10 Bets You Will Always Win...YouTube user Quirkology posted various videos over the years showing 10 bets that you'll never lose. Basically, ten easy tricks that anyone can do, but are hard to figure out when unaware of how to do it. Here are ten of these tricks you can bet your friends on and never lose on (almost), with a quick breakdown of what's going on, so you can at least reveal your secret afterward (part of that...more

With a November 2013 release, Disney's Frozen just missed Halloween. That means that everyone had to wait an entire year to dress up as their favorite princess or snowman — and that time has finally come. One costume that's sure to be a hit is Olaf, childhood snowman of Princess Anna and Elsa brought to life. Best of all, since he can survive in the summer, you don't need to worry about a snowy Halloween to make this costume feel legit — he works all year round. If you don't want to spend $200+ on a super-detailed Olaf adult costume or even $40+ on a children's costume, then it's time to DIY one. Below are a few easy video tutorials on making your own, with different variations of the popular Disney snowman. Olaf Costume #1: Super Simple (Unisex)Eva, from MyLifeAsEva, designed her own Olaf costume that's really simple to recreate. It makes for a great group outing alongside other Frozen characters like Anna and Elsa. Best of all, it'll cost you less than $15. The total cost for all of...more

Does executing a perfectly timed, no-scoped headshot, followed by a well-choreographed teabagging ever get old? No, no it doesn't, and neither do custom emblems for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. How else are we going to kill time until Black Ops 3 arrives? I've already covered many, many, many different emblem designs, but there are always more. Some are superheroes, comic book characters, or even Christmas-themed, and then some are just plain hilarious. Here's a compilation of some of some of my favorite, most funniest COD: Black Ops 2 emblems out there, for either Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or PC. Just follow along in the Emblem Editor to make your own. 1. Rage Quit EmblemAs a moderately skilled COD player, this particular emblem hits close to home—and I have the shoebox full of destroyed PS3 controllers to prove it. The rage quit is a classic sign of weakness and poor play, which makes this emblem all the better. 2. No Balls EmblemNeed I say more? 3. Towelie EmblemTowelie is one of...more

Lack of appetite often signals a cold or flu. Eating can be the last thing we want to do when we have a sore throat or are too fatigued or achy to even get out of bed. When hungry, we don't feel as strong as when we are well fed—and we more than likely aren't as strong. The scientific world used to think that's how bacteria worked, too. When bacteria had ample nutrients available—when we were feeding that cold instead of starving a fever—they were healthier and would multiply, flourish, and keep on infecting. But a provocative new study published today in Cell has found a tricky Salmonella typhimurium bacteria that has evolved a mechanism that keeps humans it infects healthier—and makes the bacteria weaker. Of course, there's more to the story, and it actually works to the bacteria's advantage. The Basics of SalmonellaSalmonella infections can cause severe intestinal distress in humans and can be easily transmitted by ingesting food contaminated with the bacteria or by inadvertently...more

When temperatures drop and hit new lows during the cold, winter months, it's hard not to crank the heat up. That means increased energy bills each month, no matter if you rely on gas, electric, or another fuel for heating. Instead of resorting to blankets, coats, and layers upon layers of clothing to keep warm, try increasing the insulation of your home with one simple trick: padding the windows and entryways with bubble wrap. Bubble Wrap Adds Warmth to Your WindowsThe windows throughout your home are a primary culprit when temperatures drop in the winter, and this is especially true if your windows are a few decades old, or without any type of insulation or special pane. As you turn up the heat inside, your thin windows cause cool air to sneak in and wage a temperature battle. In order to prevent this from happening, bubble wrap adds a layer of protective insulation. Build It SolarAccording to Build It Solar, bubble wrap is a common, effective insulator during the winter months....more

Cameras can be pretty pricey, but this one only costs a buck, though it's pretty limited in its functionality. That's because it's no ordinary camera, but an origami one made using nothing but a dollar bill. Of course, you don't need to spend a Washington to fold this origami camera, but you'll need a similar-sized rectangular piece of paper to get the job done. We think you should stick to the moneygami aspect though, because everything's better when it's made out of money. Below, in three different parts, you can see the folding of the camera, which was designed by origami master Won Park. You can print out the step-by-step instructions using PDF template, which you'll need anyway to help guide you through the videos...more

Despite legends to the contrary, it appears that the saliva of a Komodo dragon is not teeming with pathogenic bacteria that kills their prey. Its reputation to survive while colonized with lots of horrible disease-causing bacteria, true or untrue, has made it the subject of research in pursuit of natural antimicrobial agents and led scientists to some remarkable findings. According to two new research studies led by biochemists Barney Bishop and Monique van Hoek from the College of Science at George Mason University, their blood contains antimicrobial proteins that help them resist deadly infections and may be of potential use to us, too. Compounds in Dragon Blood Showed Antibacterial ActivityIn one study by the team, published in the Journal of Proteome Research, they used a type of bioprospecting — the search for medicinal drugs and other compounds from natural sources — to look for antibacterial compounds in the blood of Komodo dragons. Don't Miss: Ants Create Chemical Cocktails to...more

With a little spare time and and a few items you can find around the house, you can make your own balloon-powered paper car. This is a great and easy DIY project that's perfect for competitive kids. All you'll need to get started is: CardboardStrawsScotch tapeMarkerPaper platesScissorsBBQ skewers (any straight stick would work)The paper plate will act as the body of the racer. You will need to fold it into a triangle and then use the straws as axles for the wheels a little later. Make sure to tape down the plate in the middle and front so it doesn't unfold. Once the axles are tapped down, use the cardboard to cut out wheels for your racer. With your wheels ready, make a hole in the center of each wheel and place the skewers into the center. Make sure it is as central as possible to avoid an uneven ride. Now place the skewers into the straws and connect the wheels to the ends. Your racer is almost complete. Tape the two axles on the bottom of the paper plate and then attach your...more

Getting hot and steamy can be awesome, as illustrated in the 1997 smash hit Titanic. Titanic (1997)/Paramount Pictures But having the bathroom mirrors fog up during a nice hot shower can be very annoying. Getting ready in the morning can already be rushed, and wiping down your mirrors after your shower wastes time. Since most people like to shave or clean up after a shower, the need for a clear mirror is prime. So, if you want to save time in the morning or hate reliving scenes from Titanic, here are a few ways to keep your bathroom mirror from fogging up. 1. Shaving CreamShaving cream is actually an excellent deterrent for foggy mirrors. There's nothing like a 2-in-1 product to spice up the day. So, the next time you shave before your shower, lather the mirror with shaving cream and wipe it clean with a towel. Your mirror will be fog-free for a few weeks, and it's as easy as that. 2. VinegarCreating a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water will also do the trick. Instead of buying a...more

The very first banknotes were used by the Chinese in the 7th century, during the Tang Dynasty. Before it was used as an actual currency, paper money was part of a deposit system in which merchants would leave large amounts of coins with a trusted associate and receive a paper receipt for the transaction. The reason was simple — the copper coins used as currency then were heavy. Fast forward about 300 years, and Jiaozi became the first official paper currency in the Sichuan capital of Chengdu. These notes were stamped with official seals to ensure no one made false copies. Even in the tenth century, counterfeiting was a concern. Wikimedia CommonsToday, the word jiaozi is more likely to be associated with delicious Chinese dumplings, but paper money is still used in many countries. Even so, with the widespread use of debit cards and the rising popularity of digital wallets, it may not be long before the dollar bill has had its day. So, what will we do with all that worthless paper when...more

Being able to sleep deeply and fully is one of the foundations for real health. When you go without it, you feel subhuman and incapable of dealing with the world—just ask a student who's had to pull an all-nighter or the parents of a newborn. In fact, many studies have shown that lack of sleep or irregular sleep is linked to acne, weight gain, and depression. Video above: In the movie Fight Club, Edward Norton's character explains the pains and stresses of dealing with insomnia. I dealt with insomnia for several years and it was, pun intended, a total nightmare. I was constantly irritable, exhausted, anxiety-ridden, and felt like I was performing only at a fraction of what I was really capable of. My ability to sleep drastically improved once I started practicing good sleeping habits (also known as sleep hygiene), cleaned up my diet, and committed to exercising every single day. However, I still experienced sleeplessness more often than I liked. I don't like relying on pills or OTC...more

As unappealing as it sounds, transplants with fecal material from healthy donors help treat tough Clostridium difficile gastrointestinal infections. Researchers credit the treatment's success to its ability to restore a healthy bacterial balance to the bowels, and new research has shown that the transplanted bacteria doesn't just do its job and leave. The good fecal bacteria and its benefits can persist for years. Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham developed a method that could detect minute differences in microbes, allowing them to tell which bacteria came from the donor and which was a part of the transplant recipient. These bacteria make up the gut microbiome — the community of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live in the gut and help us digest nutrients and keep us regular. The study by first author Ranjit Kumar and colleagues was published online June 7 in npj Biofilms and Microbiomes. The researchers' new method "will form the cornerstone of a personalized...more

It's odd to see grown humans attempting to bounce off walls doing parkour. It's another thing altogether to see a robot doing it. University of California Berkeley's Biomimetic Millisystems Lab has created the world's most vertically agile robot—capable of jumping to unimaginable heights. Meet SALTO, the Saltatorial Locomotion Terrain Obstacle that can jump up to 1 meter high from stand still, and do it faster than any other robot out there. The engineers behind SALTO drew inspiration from the galago, a small, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. These animals, also called thick-tailed bush babies, have longer hind legs that give them great leaping ability. They have the highest vertical jump of any animal, and served as inspiration for SALTO. The SALTO robot jumps higher than a bullfrog, but not as high as its animal inspiration, the galago. This chart doesn't include explosion-powered robots, because, c'mon. Jump Frequency, in this chart, is how often the robot or animal make make...more

The private automobile has been an intrinsic part of our lives for around a hundred years. But over the last decade, car sharing has gained a very small but growing part of the mobility market. The more recent rise of companies like Uber and Lyft is witness to a more dramatic shift in mobility and car ownership. Private vehicle ownership to a transportation-as-a-service model has already started, and high capability SAE Level 4 vehicles will complete this trend. Cars, Ownership & FreedomThe modern automobile has played a fundamental role in shaping North American society and culture. Ever since Ford's first moving assembly lines and the mass-production of vehicles started in 1913, the car has changed how and where people live and work. Massive roadway infrastructure has been implemented to support these vehicles, from local streets to major interstates. Using a car on this vast road network makes it possible to travel from almost anywhere in North America to nearly anyone's front...more

The year was 1947. Scientists had isolated a virus from a pyrexial rhesus monkey in Uganda and named it after the forest where the monkey lived — Zika. Then, a little more than a year ago, in the fall of 2015, health officials in Brazil reported a sharp increase in the number of cases of exceptionally small brains (microcephaly) in human newborns. These cases were connected to infections with the Zika virus. So what happened during that 70-year gap, and why did most of us feel so blindsided by Zika? A rhesus monkey. Several reasons can help account for those years, including recent findings by Dr. Daniel Janies and a team of researchers from the Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics at UNC Charlotte, Atheric Pharmaceutical, and ioGenetics, to be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Cladistics. Don't Miss: First Full Genome Analysis Solves the Mystery of How Zika Got So DangerousLet's Start at the BeginningAfter the 1947 discovery of Zika in Africa, the virus moved through...more

Look through the dessert recipes on any food blog and there's a pretty good chance you'll find something with chocolate and peanut butter. It's one of the most common combinations in candy bars and other sweets (not that I'm complaining). In the past, we've featured delicious homemade peanut butter cups and DIY peanut butter Kit Kats, but today is all about another chocolate-peanut-buttery treat—Butterfingers. There are a bunch of recipes out there for homemade Nestlé Butterfinger bars, so we rounded up a few different versions to choose from. Some of them are super simple with only three ingredients, others are a little more complex. A few of them are even healthy(ish). #1. Super Easy 3-Ingredient Butterfinger BarsFor these, all you need is peanut butter, chocolate, and an unexpected ingredient—candy corn. And you can make the whole thing in the microwave! Get the recipe on Kirbie's Cravings. #2. Crunchy Butterfinger BarsFor a texture that's closer to an actual Butterfinger, you have...more

Some people put up their holiday decorations as soon as Thanksgiving is over. Some wait until Christmas Eve. Right now, the only thing in my whole apartment that would tip you off is a tiny little fake tree on the counter. I've been planning on decorating all month, but I haven't quite gotten around to it yet. If you have been procrastinating as well, it's not too late to make your place look festive for the holidays. Here are 10 super easy Christmas decorations you can make with stuff you already have lying around your home. Don't Miss: Make Presents Look Better with These Easy Gift Wrap Hacks#1. Cookie Cutter WreathThis wreath is quick and easy to make, but you have to be willing to sacrifice a few cookie cutters. Just glue the shapes together. That's it. You can spray-paint the wreath and add a bow if you want, or leave it plain if you don't have any. Midwest Living#2. Sweater OrnamentsIf you have any old sweaters that you don't want anymore, cut them into whatever shapes you want...more

Christmas trees, once decorated and brightly lit, are the penultimate holiday decoration, but authentic pines lose their brilliance fast without any nourishment. Plus, they are major fire hazards without regular hydration. But watering one requires a lot of sliding around on the floor, and it can be hard to tell how much water is in the bowl beneath the dark, prickly branches. These five hacks can help! 1. Break Out Your Beer BongWhat's better than a tree watering device that requires zero bending and little effort? If you have a beer bong lying around or hiding in your box of old college stuff, pop it in your Christmas tree's stand and create an instant irrigation system. By placing the end of the beer bong's tubing into the tree stand's bowl, holding the funnel outside of the branches, you can quickly pour in any amount of water and refresh your tree. Imgur2. Use a Funnel for a Quick Irrigation SystemHappen to have a funnel and some plastic piping in your garage? You're just a few...more

You've found the perfect tree — or so you think. As hard as we try to display an ideal tree each year, both plastic and pine can disappoint, especially when you're shopping on the cheap. Whether you use an artificial or authentic Christmas tree, sometimes you discover gaping, branchless holes amid its fluffy needles upon setting it up. Before you give up and stuff a few ornaments in those bare spots, you might want to break out the garland, because it's the perfect substitute for that missing greenery. Use Pine Garland to Fill in HolesFor an artificial tree, a strand or two of fake pine garland can perfectly cover the empty areas. Not only will the plastic pine add fullness, but chances are it may also match the color and texture of your tree. Visitors won't even notice the difference. You could also use pine picks and other types of green garland, as long as they match the color of your Christmas tree. Before: Lots of little holes. After: Looks like a full tree. You Can Also Use...more

Whether you choose to hang an authentic or artificial pine Christmas wreath on your door — or an entirely different type, like ones made of paper waste or even food — chances are you've spent a year or two struggling with how to keep your decor hanging. With one easy to apply, quick to remove trick, you can skip the shiny wreath holder and any further damage to your front door. The Problem with Traditional Hanging MethodsTypically, we rely on everything from metal wreath holders to staples, nails, and even thumbtacks to hang holiday wreaths on the door, yet each of these familiar methods causes damage over time. Wreath holders tend to get stuck, prevent your door from closing, and can brutally hack up the doorframe. Stapling your wreath's ribbon to the top of the door doesn't work on all door types, particularly metal ones, and leaves an unsightly collection of leftover staples once the holidays are over. And when it comes to nails and thumbtacks, do you want to see a bunch of tiny...more

By now, you've stuffed yourself with enough cranberry-soaked turkey to last you until next year. Still, there's a formidable amount of leftovers, and you're kidding yourself if you think you won't be craving them when you wake up tomorrow with a food coma/hangover. So, make the most of your post-Thanksgiving scraps and use the methods below to store your leftover meals properly. Mashed potatoes, pecan pie, the ginormous turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy — all the staples are covered. Don't Miss: This Ingredient Will Take Your Leftovers to the Next Level1. Leftover PieSince it's the easiest thing to pick up at the grocery store, there's always leftover pie at holiday gatherings. Plus, because pie pairs exceptionally well with coffee in the morning (don't judge), you're going to want to extend its lifespan for as long as possible. You'll be very happy to have a slice of this for a snack or dessert even after Thanksgiving is over. Cut the pie into slices, then individually wrap...more

There are those who prefer Thanksgiving leftovers to the actual official meal, much like people who prefer cold pizza over hot. I'm definitely in the latter camp. There's something luxurious about enjoying your perfectly cooked turkey and stuffing while wearing sweatpants and not having to make small talk with your weird uncle who drinks too much. However, after a certain point, you may get tired of just how many leftovers there are to get through, even if you sent people home with food. Never fear. There are many innovative ways to dress up and redo your Thanksgiving feast so it's delicious all over again. Don't Miss: This Thanksgiving, You Can Have Your Booze & Eat It, Too1. Mashed Potato & Stuffing PattiesPocket Change Gourmet recommends using Thanksgiving leftovers to form these crispy little hybrid meals, but they look so good we could easily imagine eating them during the main event (save that idea for next year). These would be good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 2....more

Oven space is scarce on that fated fourth Thursday of November. Even if you can find a spare space for pumpkin pie on the bottom shelf, you risk turkey drippings overflowing from above and ruining your beautiful dessert — not to mention a burnt crust from different temperature requirements. The bottom line is: oven real estate is valuable, and it's tough to multitask cooking for Thanksgiving when every dish requires baking or roasting. With that in mind, here are a few ways to still include traditional Thanksgiving dessert flavors in your meal without compromising your kitchen's hottest commodity! Don't Miss: Time-Saving Hacks for Common Thanksgiving Foods1. Recipes That Use a Slow CookerThere are few kitchen tools more convenient than a slow cooker. All it really involves is chucking some ingredients in, pressing a button, and serving up a delicious result a few hours later. If it isn't already, the slow cooker should be an essential part of your Thanksgiving prep: it's stress-free,...more

To some people, Thanksgiving is merely quality time with family and friends that they can't get throughout the rest of the year. To others, it's that one time when it's okay to be a greedy hog and get hammered all weekend long. In that spirit of eat-and-drink-until-you-drop, we've found some of the best Thanksgiving Day recipes that combine your favorite traditional dishes with your alcohol of choice. We're talking appetizers, main dishes, and desserts with wine, hard cider, vodka, and more — there's something for everyone! These, of course, will be no substitution for all that wine and beer you'll be drinking throughout your holiday break, so make sure to stock up accordingly. 1. Cheddar & Hard Cider FondueFondue is one of the most amazing things in the entire culinary world — especially when it comes to seasonal fondue. Make the Food Network's version of cheddar and hard cider fondue and literally dip everything you can in it before it gets eaten up: sausages, bread, vegetables,...more

There are many ways to carve a turkey. Some swear by the tried-and-true traditional method with a carving fork and a sharp blade, and others would be lost without their electric knives. Regardless of your preference in utensils, you can't just go hacking away at it if you want to end up with all the right pieces. If you've never carved a turkey before and have no idea what you're doing, this quick little video from The Kitchn by Apartment Therapy's Maxwell Ryan is a good place to start. It shows the simplest method using nothing more than a sharp knife. You start by cutting the legs, breasts, and wings from the bird. Once removed, separate the legs into thighs and drumsticks. Then, just slice the thigh and breast meat, and arrange everything on a platter for serving. Kitchn/YouTube Kitchn/YouTube Kitchn/YouTube Be sure to check out some of our other articles for more tips and tricks for carving a turkey. Don't Miss: Make the Most of Your Thanksgiving Leftovers Cover image via...more

A turkey baster is one of those single-use kitchen items that most people only need once or twice a year (although you can use it for a few other things). You never seem to miss having one until the holidays roll around when it's time to cook your Thanksgiving turkey. But do you really need a baster to end up with a moist, delicious bird? The short answer is no. What Does a Turkey Baster Even Do?The main purpose of a baster is to make sure the turkey doesn't get too dry. As The Kitchn explains, the fat in the pan drippings melts into the turkey's skin, flavoring it and keeping it moist and juicy. It also helps keep the skin and the meat closest to the outside from cooking too fast since the liquid cools the surface as it evaporates in the heat from the oven. On Amazon: Norpro Stainless Steel Baster with Injector & Cleaning Brush But basting isn't the only way to keep your turkey moist, and a baster is definitely not the only tool you can use to do it. Here are a few alternatives...more

I've never been a huge fan of the traditional roasted turkey at Thanksgiving. Different parts of the bird finish cooking at different times, so by the time the legs are cooked through, the breast meat is totally dry. If you don't want to go the deep-frying route, how can you still end up with a moist and delicious turkey? Spatchcock ItIf you've never heard the term before, it probably sounds a little funny, but spatchcocking just means removing the backbone of the bird so it can lay flat. This allows it to cook much more evenly in about half the time, so you don't have dry, overdone pieces. It also exposes more surface area, so you end up with crispier skin. Don't Miss: How to Spatchcock a Chicken for Faster, Even CookingYou may be able to get your butcher to do the dirty work for you, but if not, the process is relatively simple. How to Spatchcock Your Thanksgiving TurkeyAll you need to spatchcock your bird is a paring knife and a pair of poultry shears. Place the turkey breast-side...more

It's bad enough messing up in the kitchen when it's just for you or your family, but when you're cooking for a big event with a lot of guests, it can be mortifying. And on a holiday like Thanksgiving, that's all about the food, the last thing you want is to botch a key component of the meal. Gravy is one of those things that most people don't make very often, so it can be easy to make a mistake on the big day. Sometimes it comes out too thick, too thin, or just plain lumpy. Whatever your problem, you can still save the day (or dinner). Don't Miss: Avoid a Gravy Disaster with These Saucy TipsHow to Fix Lumpy GravyWhen it comes to gravy, smoother is always better. Lumps are formed when the thickening agent (usually flour) incorporates unevenly with the fat. You can prevent it from happening by mixing the flour with butter to make a roux before adding the broth or drippings, but how do you get rid of lumps that have already formed? 1. Strain with a Mesh SievePour your gravy through the...more

With T-Day on the horizon and approaching rapidly, you are probably in one of two camps. The one that is eagerly awaiting the holiday feast with barely-contained drool. Or the one that involves breathing heavily into a paper bag while worrying about your lack of oven and stovetop real estate, while also bemoaning the lack of multiples of you to get all the prep work done. Fear not, group 2. We at Food Hacks, being avid home cooks ourselves, empathize with your plight. Thankfully, there are a lot of ways to minimize the chances of an anxiety attack this Thanksgiving that we ourselves employ each year. And if all else fails, then break out the booze (and cook with it, too). 1. Mashed PotatoesYes, the carb-lovers' delight; you can't have a proper Thanksgiving feast without mashed potatoes! But this simple staple involves a lot of work, as anyone who has had to mash enough potatoes for 20–30 people can attest (yes, I mean me). I've wasted a lot of time peeling potatoes in the traditional...more

Gravy is a relatively simple dish, yet it's remarkably easy to mess up. We've all experienced the disappointment of excitedly pouring gravy onto our mashed potatoes, only to realize it's too runny, too lumpy, or too bland. And because gravy is so simple, even if you don't mess it up, it's still challenging to make it memorable and delicious. With these ten tricks and tips, you can avoid a gravy disaster while also making something genuinely delectable. Brady Klopfer/Food Hacks Don't Miss: How to Make Perfectly Fluffy Mashed Potatoes1. Use the Right FlourThe first step to making gravy is to create a roux with flour and fat — this thick base will ultimately carry the flavor of your gravy. However, it's a common misconception that any flour will work. When making gravy, you want to use a high-starch, low-protein flour, such as all-purpose (cake flour also works). These flours help prevent your gravy from having the dreaded skin that forms when you finish. Brady Klopfer/Food Hacks 2. Cook...more

When I was 12, for some mysterious reason, my dad put my little brothers and me in charge of cooking the Thanksgiving turkey. Naturally, my brothers and I spent the rest of the day playing hide-in-seek in the backyard and forgot all about the humble bird defrosting in the sink. Then we realized our dad would be back soon. We ran into the kitchen, shoved the turkey into the oven, and — reasoning that time was short — set the temperature to 500°F. When our dad got back, balancing a tower of pies in one hand, he opened the oven only to find a turkey that was charred black on the outside and raw in the inside. This mishap inspired me to create this quick guide on avoiding the most common turkey mistakes and cooking your bird to perfection. Remember: if all else fails, it's always wise to bring extra pie. 1. You Don't Thaw Your Frozen Turkey CorrectlyWords of wisdom: Don't wait until the day-of to thaw your turkey. As a general rule of thumb, you'll need at least 24 hours for every five...more

Roasting turkey is a topic that inspires endless debate among cooks. How do you get the perfect mixture of juicy meat, crispy skin, and flavor? Everyone has a favorite technique, whether it's brining the bird or spatchcocking it. However, if you're ready to move onto Ph.D. levels of turkey cooking, you might just want to look beyond these methods and get genuinely wild. #1. Trash Can TurkeyTurns out, an empty metal garbage bin can be the perfect tool to cook a turkey. One of its biggest advantages is that it radically cuts down on the actual cooking time. One recipe estimates that you only need about 90 minutes to cook a twelve-pound turkey. You'll need a turkey, your preferred seasonings, a bag of charcoal, butter or oil, a wooden post, lots and lots of tinfoil, and, oh yeah, a trash can. All those items plus a patch of ground that you won't mind destroying means you're in the game. Don't Miss: 5 Common Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Thanksgiving TurkeyOne caveat: while there are many...more

Mashed potatoes are universally beloved, and for a good reason — they're cheap, tasty, and relatively easy to make. What's more, they're adaptable to just about every dietary regimen, whether you're vegan, gluten-free, or lactose-intolerant. And they're a staple for holidays such as Thanksgiving. There are all kinds of recipes and theories about how to make a perfectly fluffy mash. However, many of them involve elaborate amounts of butter, cream, or other assorted dairy products. Turns out, there are astonishingly easy and cheap ways to get your mashed taters to a perfectly fluffy and cloud-like state without adding unnecessary calories to the recipe. Joe Gough/ShutterstockAdd a Leavening IngredientThe answer to perfect mashed potatoes? Sprinkle a pinch or two of baking powder atop your potatoes before you start mashing them. Just make sure your baking powder is fresh. Gabrielle Taylor/WonderHowToBaking powder and baking soda are both chemical leaveners that make batters rise, which...more

How often do you make a pie from scratch? If your answer is "only during the holidays," you're not alone. Unless you're an experienced baker, homemade pies can be pretty tough to tackle. And the most common problems are the crusts coming out of the oven soggy or scorched. I've never once had a pie crust turn out quite right. Even if I manage to roll it out evenly, I can never get it pressed into the pan without it tearing or falling apart. And then there's the issue of baking it. If the crust is burnt or underdone, a pie just doesn't taste right. Whether your Thanksgiving dessert's crust is gooey or charred, there's still hope. Here are a few ways to save your pie for the holidays and beyond. Don't Miss: What Makes or Breaks a Perfect Pie Crust (& Why)How to Fix a Soggy Pie CrustA lot of times, the top crust on a pie will cook faster than the bottom. If your bottom crust is underdone, cover the top with foil so it doesn't burn, and throw your pie back in the oven at 425ºF to 450ºF...more

Need to look like a rotting, decaying zombie corpse for Halloween? Rather than bribing your special effects makeup artist friend to treat you one for the night, you can definitely DIY a couple of good Halloween makeup effects using common household items in your pantry or medicine cabinet. You could grab some toilet paper and Elmer's Glue-All to papier-mâché your face into flaky, rotting grossness. To add some gory blood to your festering wounds, make your own fake blood with corn syrup, cornstarch and red food coloring. Don't Miss: How to Make Fake Blood Capsules for HalloweenPermanent markers and hand sanitizer can make a pretty convincing bruise. Coffee grounds and Vaseline can add beat-up stubble to your hairless face. And no need to make a last-minute run to buy overpriced Halloween face paint if you have shortening, cornstarch, flour, and food coloring at home. If you're probably never going to get around to that multi-colored biscuit recipe you've been meaning to try, then you...more

Let's face It ... Pennywise is going to be the Halloween costume to beat this year. It's terrifying, simple enough to pull off, and with the original movie's gargantuan box office gross and the hit status of the sequel, released in September, everyone and their pet dog will get your costume. Considering Pennywise is so popular, though, you can bet that there are going to be a whole bunch of clowns slapping on some white face paint and red noses for Samhain. To help you stand out in the sea of creepy red and white faces, we've broken down not one, but two of the best Pennywise tutorials on the internet. There's not much to get, really. It's just terrifying. Easy Mode: Old-School PennywiseIf you're in a hurry or just don't want to bother with all the details, you can use BaptismOnFire's costume tutorial for the Tim Curry version of Pennywise from the '90s TV adaption of Stephen King's horror novel (make sure to refer to yourself as "OG Pennywise" if you find yourself standing beside...more

This year for Halloween, don't just settle for the normal cutesy pumpkin carvings — make these creepily charred and contorted miniature jack-o'-lanterns instead. Not only do these mini pumpkins look more menacing than your standard Halloween pumpkin, but they're dried out so they will last all season long, unlike fresh pumpkins, which need to be treated with preservatives or bleach to keep from rotting and molding. You basically gut and carve the pumpkin as you normally would, then you bake it inside a toaster oven, drying it out for longevity and charring and warping it for a disturbingly scary jack-o'-lantern. The creepiest thing of this entire video, though, is Kiddsock — the freaky sock puppet host. Don't Miss: 7 Ways to Prevent Your Carved & Uncarved Pumpkins from...more

I loved my Lite-Brite as a kid. There was just something about using those little multicolored pegs to make my own designs, and it's not exactly a secret that kids love anything that lights up (LED sneakers, anyone?). So how do you combine the old-school fun of Lite-Brite with pumpkin carving? With a bedazzled jack-o'-lantern, of course. Jen over on Epbot came up with this adorable idea that uses a foam pumpkin (aka funkin) and glass gems and beads to create a Lite-Brite feel. She printed out a pattern and taped it to the pumpkin, then used a nail to poke holes in the shape of the pattern. Once the outline was there, she used a Dremel tool to carve deep lines into the pumpkin. For the spirals, Jen drilled holes the same size as the gems so they would fit snugly and stay embedded in the pumpkin. If you want to make your own bedazzled pumpkin, you can print out a picture or even use the tool on Hasbro's website to create a custom printable Lite-Brite template that you can use for...more

Pumpkin carving and decorating is a favorite October pastime. After you've carved an amazing design or face into a pumpkin or two, you want to show it off through your window or set it out on your porch for the neighbors to see. But, without knowing the tricks to save your holiday pumpkins, they can turn slimy, moldy, and mushy in as little as three days. Don't let that happen — let everyone see your original masterpiece, not a mushy, sunken, sad version. This is your jack-o'-lantern ... right before it starts to grow mold. So, we here at WonderHowTo scoured the web to discover all the tips and tricks to find out how to make your carved and uncarved pumpkins go the distance — to Halloween and beyond! Read on to find out what worked best, what didn't, and how to have the best looking jack-o'-lanterns in your 'hood. Just keep in mind that if you live in an area with high humidity or lots of rain, your carved pumpkins won't last as long as those in dryer environments. These...more

Sometimes when non-Asians go to ramen bars, they're mildly weirded out by watching the patrons eat. To the uninitiated, the eating behaviors can seem kind of extreme. Why are people hovering over their bowls like animals at a feeding trough? Why do they let endless lengths of noodles dangle from their maw as they slurp—very, very loudly—over their bowls of broth? The most important thing about slurping ramen is to stop worrying about your dignity and enjoy. Slurping Is Mandatory & Here's WhyIf you haven't experienced the gloriousness of slurping your noodles at a ramen bar, then you need to pick up the practice ASAP. Why? Because slurping your noodles isn't rude, it actually serves two purposes: It cools off your mouthful of noodles just enough to let you enjoy them while the rest of the bowl stays piping hot, andIt aerates the noodles and the broth, allowing the flavors to mellow out and fully develop before you chew and swallow.Plus, if you eat your ramen daintily, the process...more

When a stuffy nose hits, it feels like breathing clearly and easily may never come again. Allergies, colds, and even changes in weather can leave our sinuses blocked, with medicine seeming like the only option. But don't break out the medication just yet — relieving the pressure of a stuffy nose, a stuffy head, and stuffy ears can be as easy as touching a pressure point. Inflammation & Irritation Cause ColdsBefore you attempt to cure your stuffy nose and pressurized head, it's good to know what's causing you such discomfort. William Brawley/FlickrAccording to WebMD, when our heads fill with fluid and blockages are created, affecting our breathing, hearing, and mental clarity, it all begins in the nose. When we feel stuffed up, it's likely that the membranes inside our nose are inflamed and irritated. In response to whatever it is that flooded our lymphatic system with fluid, our nasal passages start producing increased amounts of mucus as they try to flush out the source of...more

Dry cleaning can be a pain the butt, not to mention super expensive, especially if you're wearing a lot of wool sweaters during the cold winter season. Thankfully, with a little time and effort, you can wash most of your "dry clean" or "dry clean only" clothing at home. Cotton, linens, and durable polyesters can be washed in the washing machine, so long as they are placed in a laundry mesh bag and set at the most gentle cycle using a mild detergent and cold water. Hang dry immediately and definitely do not place in the dryer. Don't Miss: How to Eliminate Static Cling Without Using Dryer SheetsDon't Miss: 6 Easy Recipes for Removing Nasty StainsWool, silk, and cotton material can be hand-washed using a mild detergent like this Woolite Delicates detergent. Be sure to dry clothing afterward by rolling garment between two layers of clean towels, then laying flat on a third clean towel afterward. Take note that some clothing materials should be dry-cleaned no matter what. This applies to...more

Only three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and getting a dent in your car or truck. Even if you're as careful as possible, you can't always account for runaway shopping carts, wrongly thrown footballs, out-of-nowhere light posts, and other real-life annoyances. However you got your dent or ding, the next thing on your mind is, undoubtedly, how to get it out. Sure, you can take it to a body shop or friendly neighborhood mechanic for repair, but their price quotes can be unbelievable, especially if they want to remove the paint first or use body filler. $200 for that tiny dent?! I don't think so. Instead, save yourself some of that hard-earned money and do it yourself. There are plenty of ways to get a small dent or ding out of a vehicle at home without ruining your paint, and you don't need to be a gearhead to do it. However, not all of these tricks will work on your particular automobile; your mileage may vary depending on where the dent is and what your body panel, hood, or...more

Pumpkin pie is a symbol of autumn, and it's the traditional dessert to whip up for your fam when Thanksgiving Day arrives. But year after year of the same old thing can be a total bore if you're not a strict traditionalist. So, we found 8 unique ways to make that pie a little less snooze-fest and a little more interesting. Don't Miss: Why You Should Always Keep Canned Pumpkin in Your Pantry 1. Brûlée It, BabyYep—we want you to brûlée that bad boy. Not only does a brûlée pumpkin pie taste like a gift from the Thanksgiving gods, the burnt sugar crust on top of your well-loved pumpkin custard is a showstopper. Check out Bon Appetit's recipe for brûléed bourbon maple pumpkin pie (bonus liquor, woohoo!) for the full scoop. 2. Mascarpone Whipped CreamEvery dessert can be instantly better with some good old-fashioned whipped cream. However, if you're looking to change it up, try making it with mascarpone: it's both airy and sturdy, thanks to the addition of the cheese. Stress Baking has an...more

Need a camera stabilizer, but don't have the cash? With an old pair of jeans, a bag of lentils, and an hour or two of your time, you can make one for cheap. Maybe even free, if you have a bag of those legumes already. This tutorial comes courtesy of Jeff Meyer on TechRadar. He uses a sewing machine, but if you don't have one, or don't know how to use one, you can pick up some fabric glue for a few bucks. You could also try a better no-sew method that uses fabric glue, fusible tape, and an iron for a more secure seam, so you don't have to worry about spilling the beans and missing your shot. Jeff Meyer/TechRadarFor this stabilizer bag, you cut off the waist and legs of the jeans, turn them inside out, sew up the seams at the top and bottom, turn the bag right-side-out, use a funnel to pour in your lentils (or beans, or whatever you have lying around), zip it up, and you're all set. If you want to make your own, check out Jeff's tutorial on TechRadar for the complete instructions. Full...more

Deep in the crevasses of the Songshan mountain range, an Indian dhyana master established the first Shaolin Monastery in 477 AD, seeking to spread the relatively new teachings of Buddha at the time. This monastery then bred the Shaolin monks, who are now popular for their incredible feats with Chinese martial arts, particularly with Shaolin Kung Fu. Since then, Chinese dynasties have been both built and destroyed, but the lives of the monks have persevered through both progress and persecution. Modern Shaolin monks are popular and known throughout the world, which is evident from their presence even on the silver screen—especially in martial arts films. More than a million people per year visit Shaolin in order to capture a small glimpse into the simple yet extraordinary life of a Shaolin Monk. The allure of the Chinese monks hinges on the relatively unchanged lifestyle that they have lead for hundreds of years. They follow strict schedules, which include waking up extremely early (5...more

Whites are the hardest color to keep looking bright and new after just a few months' time. Your sweat and oils quickly become stains, and colors from other clothes will eventually bleed into the fabric, discoloring your bright whites into something merely whitish. But before you reach for the bleach, the ultimate chemical cleaner, try some a few of these safer, less-toxic DIY solutions out instead. Don't Miss: How to Remove Sweat Stains from ClothesDon't Miss: How to Remove Almost Any Stain Using Alcohol1. Use a Citrus SoakInstead of sending your white laundry into the washer to get clean, whiten your yellowed items with a citrus soak. Martha Stewart recommends boiling your whites with lemons or lemon juice, turning up the heat until the water bubbles and then letting them soak for about an hour. You can also add lemon juice to your regular wash cycle and achieve similar results. Emily/Holistic Squid2. Brighten with the Power of the SunOnce your whites are freshly washed and wet, skip...more

Any living creature will die if deprived of sleep for long enough. The longest documented occurrence of a person not fully sleeping and surviving is only 11 days. There is a rare disease where deep sleep is never achieved, affecting roughly 100 people worldwide. Patients usually only survive between 6 to 18 months after the onset of chronic insomnia, and only 3 to 9 months in a parasomnia state without any real REM sleep. Even if you're not suffering from chronic insomnia, minor sleep deprivation affects your weight, mood, mental health, and even your genes. It's tough to avoid the occasional sleepless night due to stress, not feeling well, or noisy neighbors, but one thing that should never keep you up is a squeaky bed. ShutterstockAnnoying and potentially embarrassing. Here are a few quick and simple fixes using stuff you probably have around the house so you can sleep in peace, and help your neighbors sleep, if that's the case. Tighten the JointsSometimes, fixing a squeaky bed is...more

Running out of any shower necessity is just a temporary annoyance, but it always seems worse when it's an empty can of shaving cream or gel. Sure, you could dry shave or use whatever liquid toiletry item is in hands reach, but if you want a truly smooth shave without irritation, you'll want to try one of the following alternatives. Some of them might even work better than your can of Barbasol or Skintimate. Don't Miss: Save Money on Replacement Razor Blades Cartridges!Next time around, try signing up for a subscription like Dollar Shave Club to make sure you always have fresh razors and shaving cream around. 1. Baby OilBaby oil (which is just pure mineral oil) allows you to see your skin better while you shave, reducing the chances of nicks, cuts, razor bumps, and other skin irritations. Additionally, its slick nature helps razors work smoothly. Just make sure to use only a few drops. If you overdo it, your razor might get all gunked up. Wendy/xoVainYou can also rely on other types of...more

So, you've got a brand new PlayStation 4, but unfortunately, you've got "No Signal" now, too. You can't really game or watch movies on your new toy if you can't even bring up the PlayStation menu on your TV screen. However, there are a few ways to fix the no connection alert, and I'll cover the most common solutions below. Check Your HDMI Port FirstSome people, including IGN and the peeps over at Kotaku, have been able to fix the "No Signal" issue by fixing the HDMI cable port inside the PS4. If your HDMI cable is not flush with the case, you may have a bent piece of metal inside the port. In the first image below, the cable is not all of the way in, compared to the second image, which is how it should look. If yours is like the second image, then you should skip down and try one of the other solutions. If it's like the first image, check to see if there is a piece that is out of place inside your port. You can take a flathead screwdriver to push it down. You can also try another HDMI...more

I've never had a black eye, but I was in a car accident that turned my entire ear dark purple a few years ago. Believe me; it was enough to get more than a few funny looks. Walking around with bruises is never fun, and it's even worse when they're on your face or neck. A black eye is an invitation for anyone you meet to ask what happened. It's one thing if you actually have a good story, but most black eyes happen in ways that we'd probably rather forget. There are no miracle cures that instantly make bruises disappear, but there are a few things you can try both before and after they appear to mitigate the damage and save some face (yes, pun intended). Don't Miss: 8 Home Remedies That'll Get Rid of Those Dark Circles Under Your Eyes Prevent Bruising in the First PlaceIf you're bruising easily, it's possible that you're not getting enough vitamin C, vitamin K or iron. See your doctor to get a blood test. If you're deficient, you may need to take a multivitamin or, increase your intake...more

Locking your keys inside of your car is frustrating, to say the least, especially if you're in a hurry to get somewhere. You can always call AAA roadside assistance or a locksmith, but you'll probably have to fork over some money, as well as wait for them to get to you. You might even get towed. Luckily, there are a few DIY methods to unlock your car door when desperate, and I'm not talking about hoaxes such as using a cell phone or tennis ball. To pop your locks open when you don't have your keys, try your shoelace, your car's antenna, or even your windshield wiper. These lockout tricks may sound unbelievable, but they most definitely work, though it all depends on your make and model vehicle. Newer cars and trucks will be harder to get into with automatic locks and security systems—but not impossible. You can at least try one of these lock-picking tips out before calling an expensive professional to do it for you. Method #1: Use Your ShoelaceIt may sound like an impossible task, but...more

Whether you drive a new or used car, discovering a new dent, scratch, or scuff mark can send you into a frustration spiral. While there are many DIY ways to deal with dents, scratches and scuff marks are trickier because using the wrong stuff could make your car's paint job look even worse. Use Toothpaste to Remove Scratches & ScuffsJust grab a damp, soft cloth and a smear of toothpaste, and you can erase scratches and scuff marks on your car without much work involved. This trick works best if the scratches and scuff marks haven't fully penetrated the clear coat of your vehicle's paint. If you can grab hold of a scratch with your fingernail, it might be too big to buff out with toothpaste. Toothpaste works to sand down the uneven surface of your car's glossy sheen and fills in the gap. Just make sure the surface around the area is clean—you don't want to buff particles of dirt and debris into your paint. If there is foreign paint on the outside, the toothpaste will act as an...more

When a migraine strikes, it can be crippling. Intense and sharp pain not only at the temples, but radiating throughout the entire head; feelings of nausea and digestive discontent; an unbearable aversion to light, sound, and even the smallest of movements. Instead of succumbing to the incredible pain of migraines, you can get through your day with the right relief. These ten tricks may help you soothe the pain of intense headaches without any prescriptions. 1. Drink Grape JuiceThough you probably haven't sipped grape juice in years (aside from "adult" grape juice, that is), it's the perfect go-to remedy when a migraine strikes. According to First Choice Smart and Home-Cure, grapes are an excellent pain reliever. Take a drink of all-natural grape juice (avoid sweetened kinds), or create your own at home to find relief. Blend fresh, ripe grapes with a bit of water, and you'll drink your discomfort away. Shutterstock2. Eat NutsIf you suffer from migraines on a regular basis, consider...more

A spare key is one of those things that never seems like a huge deal until you need it. If you've ever lost your keys, had them stolen, or locked yourself out of your house or car, you know how difficult and embarrassing it can be trying to get your door open. So, how would you open your car door without a key? And what about if you're locked out of your house? Here are a few workarounds to help you get back in when you're locked out. Unlocking a Car Door Without a KeyThe locking mechanisms on different types of cars vary pretty widely. All newer models have power locks with remote controls to open them, but older cars open only manually. Also, some vehicles have the locking knob on the inside top of the door by the window, and others have it by the handle. Before reading on, make sure you know where your car door's unlock mechanism is on both the interior and exterior of the door. It'll impact which of these methods you may want to try. ShutterstockCar Door Method #1: Use Your...more

Removing a stubborn splinter from your finger or foot is never fun, especially if it involves digging into your skin with a needle or tweezers. But if you use common household or food items around the house, you can remove splinters from your skin very easily and quite painlessly. The next time you have a nasty run-in with old wooden furniture or your backyard fence, try a drop of Elmer's glue or a piece of duct tape to remove the splinter painlessly. Or use banana peels, eggshells, potato slices, or bread and milk. For the tiny, nearly invisible splinters, the baking soda and water trick or the white vinegar technique seems to work well. Try Ichthammol ointment to remove stuck splinters and treat other skin conditions. If you're having trouble grabbing on to the splinter, invest in a good pair of pointy-ended tweezers, perfect for splinter removal. Make sure to clean them each time you use them, though. Click on image to enlarge. Related Links: Don't Miss: 9 More Ways to Remove...more

Unless you like boxed wine, your wine bottles are going to either be sealed with a cork or a screw cap, the latter of which should not be frowned upon, especially if it's white wine. However, most wineries still prefer corks over screw caps, and that means you'll need a corkscrew. If your corkscrew is missing, or don't have it on hand, don't worry—there are many different ways to open the bottle without getting tiny cork crumbs in the wine. Don't Miss: 50+ Clever & Crazy Ways to Open a Beer Bottle1. Use Some ToolsAs long as you can find a toolbox, you can get a bottle of wine open with a screw, screwdriver, and hammer. Stick the screw into the cork, then use the screwdriver to screw it in further. Leave about one inch of the screw out of the cork. Then, grab your hammer and, using the end (not the head), you can pull both the screw and cork out of the bottle itself. (This works best with bigger screws with large threads.) Yumi Sakugawa/WonderHowToYou can also use a bunch of nails...more

The best part about April Fool's Day is that everyone is fair game. Even big tech companies like Google and Twitter get in on the action every year. It encourages even the most uptight, unfunny party-poopers among us to have a little fun driving each other crazy with pranks — even at work. You might be stuck at work or in class, but that doesn't mean you have to wait until nighttime to start fooling. Here are some pranks you can pull around the office on your coworkers (or maybe even your boss ... if you're brave enough) on any day of the year. These aren't computer pranks, but good old-fashioned hands-on pranks that will either frighten, shock, or gross out your friends. Don't Miss:The Best Water Bottle Prank Ever for April Fools' Day! #1: The Ruined Laptop PrankThere's really nothing worse than the sinking feeling you get when you see your expensive laptop covered in water and you know it's going to have to sit in rice for a few anxious days before it (hopefully) comes back from the...more

Hate making mistakes when you paint your Easter eggs? Cover your eggshells in chalk paint and decorate with chalk so that if you make a mistake, you can always erase it off and start over. If painting is not your thing but cheesy temporary tattoos are, you can pretend your egg is your forearm or inner wrist and decorate it with a temporary tattoo you can buy from pretty much anywhere that sells kids toys. For other crafty Easter egg decorating techniques, you can use washi tape, real plants to make inverse silhouettes of plant shapes, Sharpie pens, lace stockings, and more. You can always hard-boil your eggs to eat for later, or if you wish to save your eye-candy eggs for as long as possible, use the egg-blowing technique to take the yolk out before decorating the outside. If you're painting your eggs, don't forget the egg carton makes a great palette. Don't Miss: 10 Unusual Uses for Discarded Eggshells Follow WonderHowTo on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and FlipboardCover image and...more

These cake eggs are a gorgeous treat that also makes a delicious April Fool's Day prank. Getting a fairly humdrum breakfast of boiled eggs and fruit and discovering that it's cake instead is an eggcellent surprise, isn't it? If you want to make these for Easter instead, then they're an Instagram-worthy dessert to grace your brunch spread. This might be the only dessert that is appropriate for both April Fool's Day and Easter. Naomi Imatome-Yun/Food Hacks Daily The great thing about this idea is that you can customize the cake to be any flavor or color that you like. Think brownies, confetti cake, or carrot cake for Easter. You can use white eggs, brown eggs, and even dyed Easter eggs in a pastel rainbow. Ingredients:eggscake batter (homemade or boxed)Since the eggshells are smaller than cupcakes, you should use the moistest cake recipe you can find so they don't dry out while cooking. Instructions:Preheat your oven to 350°F.Make holes in the top of each egg using a corkscrew. The hole...more

Get crafty this Easter weekend with egg blowing, a technique where you poke holes on the ends of raw eggs and blow out all the yolk so that you can use the empty, still-intact eggshells for painting and decorating. Fun for the whole family and all that huffing and puffing just may distract you long enough from over-binging on the giant chocolate bunny and that package of sugary Peeps. Happy Easter! Don't Miss: 10 Unique Decorating Techniques for Easter Eggs Follow WonderHowTo on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and FlipboardCover image and illustrations by Yumi...more

Make delicious candy for Easter from the comfort of your kitchen with copycat versions of your favorite classics: Marshmallow Peeps, Cadbury Creme Eggs, Reese's Peanut Butter eggs, Almond Joy bars, and chocolate bunnies. The best part is that you get your sugar fix without the preservatives. 1. Marshmallow PeepsThe thought of making marshmallows can seem intimidating, but once you do it from scratch, you won't ever go back to store-bought. Molly over at Food52 shares her recipe for this holiday favorite. Try making custom flavors such as lemon, raspberry, or vanilla for an elevated spin on a kid classic. Molly Yeh/Food52Don't Miss: How to Use Up Your Leftover Easter Candy 2. Cadbury Creme EggsDon't worry about searching for precious Cadbury eggs at the store—they are easy to make, and taste just like the real thing. The creamy center is created using an enzyme called invertase. The protein breaks up table sugar, which is actually made of glucose and fructose bound together, into its...more

When it comes to Easter, I usually dig plastic eggs with money or chocolate inside but hard-boiled eggs shouldn't be missing from the party. And simple hard-boiled eggs won't do. You need to decorate them because we all know bunny eggs are extravagant. What's even better than bunny eggs, though? Spider-bunny eggs. I finally got a hold of The Amazing Spider-Man on DVD and can't help but think how spider-tastic this egg looks. The process of making one of these eggs is pretty easy, too, no matter if you plan on using store-bought dyes or all-natural homemade coloring for your eggs. Kimberly Low/Narcissism is NecessaryToss a few eggs into a pot of water and boil them on high for about seven minutes. Afterward, toss them into another pot of cool water for about half an hour. When they have cooled down, you're going to want to lightly crack the eggshell, but be sure to keep the integrity of the shell intact. Kimberly Low/Narcissism is NecessaryNow take your cracked eggs and pour some food...more

As a kid, my favorite part of Easter were the days leading up to the holiday, when my family would dye eggs. This became an enormous event in my household, as dozens and dozens of perfectly white eggs would become little oval canvases for arts and crafts. We generally eschewed traditional dyes — which often have less-than-ideal toxins in them — and instead, we'd make all-natural Easter eggs, colored with onions and cabbage, and designed with herbs. These are easy, beautiful, and above all, fun. All the ingredients you need. Make Your DyeIf for no reason other than sentiment, my go-to dyes are yellow onions and purple cabbage, but there are so many more things you could use. Turmeric, tea, coffee, beets, rose petals ... the list goes on. Don't Miss: How to Make Amazing Hard-Boiled Eggs That Are Easy to Peel Making the dye is simple. Take LOTS of your dye material, like onion skins (I recommend the skins from 10 onions for a full pot of water) or shredded cabbage and put them in a pot...more

Perhaps the best part about Easter is the fact that, even after the day is over, there's usually still a lot of candy left. Jelly beans, gummy bears, Cadbury eggs, peanut butter cups, marshmallow peeps — there's no end to the sugary goodness in your awesome Easter basket. Yet as much as I love stuffing my face with brightly colored candies, it's easy to get sick of them halfway through the basket. When that time comes, I try and find new ways to repurpose the candies in other desserts. The best part? You can't lose! There are seemingly no bad combinations. But for me, these three uses are the best way to have fun with your leftover Easter candy. protoflux/FlickrIce Cream ToppingsIf there's an Easter candy that doesn't taste good crumbled on top of ice cream, then I've never met it. All you have to do is throw some candy in your food processor for a few seconds, and sprinkle it on your favorite ice cream. Or if you want to make it like your favorite fro-yo, just pile on a myriad of...more

The war on dehydration is a commercially burgeoning marketplace. An increasingly sophisticated consumer population hoping to conquer everything from 26-mile marathons to vodka shots is deconstructing every functional remedy in the fight to quell the effects of severe dehydration. A smart customer is no longer satisfied with Gatorade's sugary sweet, 50-year-old science. New technologies and guidelines created a new approach to hydration that's quicker, more effective, and better for you: Powdered products that, when mixed with water, aim to meet the oral rehydration salts guidelines provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). These powdered substances include products like DripDrop, Liquid IV, and Banana Bag. These newcomers have entered an already crowded field of dehydration remedies, but they've come with some substantial research backing them. Don't Miss: How to Make Electrolyte-Enhanced Water So, what is the best way to hydrate? If you are not planning to stick an IV infusion...more

Since leftovers are such a coveted thing following a big cooking holiday, I decided to follow up my previous post on reusing Thanksgiving leftovers with 13 more ideas for doing more with your holiday scraps. While making turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce is an oldie but a goodie, you can also use your leftover turkey to make turkey tikka masala, turkey dumplings, turkey tacos, and more. Mashed potatoes are great on their own, but how about coating them with breadcrumbs or panko to make mashed potato croquettes? Stuffing can be used to stuff mushrooms and then baked. Cranberry sauce can elevate your usual peanut butter and jelly sandwich or add a tarty punch to your next mixed alcoholic drink. To use up your excess slices of pumpkin pie, mix in rolled oats, maple syrup and other ingredients with chopped-up pumpkin pie and bake for thirty minutes to make a delicious pumpkin pie breakfast casserole. Don't Miss: How to Repurpose Your Thanksgiving Trash Got your own favorite recipes...more

What's better than stuffing yourself during Thanksgiving dinner? Gorging on leftovers the next day, of course. Everybody loves a good turkey and cranberry sauce sandwich, but what are some other creative ways to re-purpose all the leftover turkey meat, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and everything else sitting in your refrigerator? Chop up frozen chunks of pumpkin pie to make yourself a pumpkin pie milkshake. Mix cranberry sauce with cream cheese and nuts to make a tangy, creamy cracker dip. Turkey bones, skin, and meat can be simmered in a pot for seven hours to make delicious turkey broth. With some culinary imagination, your day after Thanksgiving meal can be just as memorable as the one you just had yesterday. Don't Miss: How to Repurpose Your Thanksgiving Trash Got your own favorite ways to re-purpose your Thanksgiving leftovers? Share in the comments below. Don't Miss: 13 More Delicious Ways to Reuse Thanksgiving Leftovers Follow WonderHowTo on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and...more

After the turkey is carved and the leftover meat is refrigerated, don't get rid of the remaining carcass and bones just yet. You can make some delicious turkey stock with them. Just add them to a big pot of carrots, celery, onion, and water — then simmer. There are other food scraps you can repurpose from Thanksgiving, too. Onion skins can be repurposed into onion dye (great for Easter eggs), and apple peels can be made into apple peel tea and apple peel jam, as well as used for a nutritious oatmeal topping. You can even reuse that leftover water that you use to boil potatoes. Potato water is great for watering houseplants and even better as a thickening agent for soups, stews, and sauces. As for the non-edible trash, you can repurpose wine corks, wine bottles, food cans, aluminum pie tins, and more. Being sustainable and repurposing what you have for greater use is an amazing way to give thanks for the abundance in your life. Don't Miss: 13 Delicious Ways to Reuse Your Thanksgiving...more

Lumpy gravy? Gluey mashed potatoes? Dry turkey meat? So many things can go wrong when you are bestowed the honor (and burden) of cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Thankfully, some culinary mishaps that you encounter in the kitchen can be reversed or craftily disguised right before your guests sit down to eat. Below, you'll learn must-know Turkey Day tips for a smooth cooking adventure. Examples include fast-thawing your turkey the morning of, fixing burned, undercooked, or dry turkey, making gravy smoother, fixing undercooked stuffing, and patching pumpkin pie cracks. These are just a few of the clever hacks you might have to use to rescue Thanksgiving dinner, and hopefully, they'll be all you need. Don't Miss: How to Cook the Perfect Turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner Got your own heroic stories of how you fixed your own Thanksgiving cooking mistakes? Share with us in the comments below. Don't Miss: 10 Easy-to-Make Centerpieces for Thanksgiving Dinner Follow WonderHowTo on Facebook, Twitter,...more

Thanksgiving is almost here, so now is the perfect time to figure out how you're going to cook that Turkey Day bird for dinner. Choosing a high-quality turkey is important, but if you haven't even gotten yours yet, the pickings may be slim, so do the best you can. Brining the turkey (make sure it is not already pre-brined) 8 to 16 hours before cooking helps moisten and flavor the meat when it's roasting in the oven. You do not need a turkey baster, but you should definitely invest in a meat thermometer so you don't have to constantly open and close the oven, which will end up drying out the turkey meat. Other tips? Place an ice pack on the turkey breast for 15 minutes before roasting in the oven so that the white meat doesn't get overcooked, which is a common Thanksgiving cooking problem. And if you want to cut the roasting time significantly and presentation isn't a priority, spatchcocking the turkey is a great technique that will ensure moist, crispy skin. Don't Miss: How to Make...more

If you love the creamy flavor of mashed potatoes, but need a healthier option to appease your health-conscious relatives this Thanksgiving, try making mashed cauliflower, mashed celery root, or mashed carrots and parsnips using a food processor and seasonings of your choice. While some of us can't imagine a Thanksgiving dinner without stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and other classic side dishes, sometimes changing things up can be a very delicious thing. Instead of cranberry sauce, how about apricot relish or wine-poached pears? Or, instead of green bean casserole, how about bacon-wrapped green beans or roasted Brussels sprouts? Whatever you decide to do, make sure you also have a backup emergency plan for potential Thanksgiving cooking disasters. Don't Miss: 10 Super Easy, DIY Centerpieces for Thanksgiving Dinner Got your own spin-offs on Thanksgiving side dishes? Share with us. Don't Miss: How to Make Perfect Mashed Potatoes on Thanksgiving Follow WonderHowTo on...more

From choosing the right potato to the movement at which you mash your cut and boiled spuds, making the perfect mashed potatoes requires more attention to detail than you might think. First things first — choose the right potato based on your personal preference for whether you like your mashed potatoes creamy or fluffy. You can't go wrong with making mashed potatoes out of a combination of Russet and Yukon gold. When you're boiling your potatoes, make sure they are cut and peeled, and placed in a pot of cold water. Once the potatoes are soft to the point of no resistance when poked with a knife, it's important to drain the potatoes and heat them over low heat until they're hot and dry. Mash the potatoes with an up-and-down movement with a masher, and mix in heated butter and heated milk or cream. For extra fluffiness, add a pinch of baking soda. It's important that the extra ingredients you're mixing in with the hot and dry potatoes are also heated or melted. Don't Miss: 17 Delicious...more

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but there's no need to spend a lot of time or money on a fancy centerpiece for the dinner table. With a few clear glass jars and simple objects you can find either in your backyard or your local supermarket, you can quickly put together a seasonally appropriate, aesthetically pleasing centerpiece that will add holiday charm to your dining room table on Turkey Day. Some of the DIY projects seen below include bowls of fruit, vegetable candles, tree branches in a vase, spraypainted pumpkins, a container of fall leaves, an acorn/candle jar, and platters of holiday nuts. Don't Miss: 17 Alternatives for Popular Thanksgiving Side Dishes Got your own super-easy, DIY centerpiece ideas for Thanksgiving? Share with us. Don't Miss: How to Repurpose Your Thanksgiving Trash Follow WonderHowTo on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and...more

If you've run out of time for all of our more time-consuming Halloween costume ideas, here are some places on the web for free, downloadable paper masks. There must be at least 100 options among these links to satisfy your last-minute costume needs! Just download, print, and cut 'em out to the appropriate size, then either glue a stick/handle on or tie some elastic string on. If none of these work for you, check out our guides on printing out masks of your favorite emojis, Minecraft characters, Grumpy Cat, Batman characters, and polygon faces. Don't Miss: 6 Cheap & Easy DIY Masks That Are Perfect for Last-Minute Halloween Costumes 1. Comic Superheros (via Behance)It can't get any easier than this. Just pick your superhero of choice ... Batman, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Flash, or Wonder Woman. There's also some comic-style sound effects to go along with these masks. Just head to Behance for the print-out templates. 2. The Lego Movie Characters (Via...more

There's only one day that can top the aftermath of Easter and its copious amounts of leftover candy, and that is November — the day after Halloween. As you come down from your sugar rush and realize you now own more chocolate than your stomach can physically hold in one sitting ... fear not! Here are several ways to turn your Halloween chocolate into delicious snacks and desserts that you can enjoy at your leisure. 1. Chocolate Fondue SurpriseJust pick your favorite fondue method and throw in a cup or so of dark baking chocolate with your favorite candy bars. Stir until the overall chocolate consistency — barring any peanuts or candy in the bar itself — is smooth, then grab a marshmallow or banana and start dipping! Don't Miss: 11 Clever Candy Wrapper Crafts for After Halloween Junior Mints chocolate fondue? YES PLEASE! 2. Chocolate Mashup MilkshakeThis quick recipe only requires a scoop of chocolate ice cream, a king-sized candy bar, and a generous splash of milk (or two splashes,...more

Love carving jack-o'-lanterns but hate dealing with all the gunky pumpkin seeds afterward? There are plenty of no-carve ways to decorate a pumpkin for Halloween, but what if you're sick of the orange pumpkin aesthetic and still want to get your hands dirty carving something? Luckily for you, there are a number of non-pumpkin alternatives to choose from. You can make jack-o'-lanterns out of gourds, squash, turnips, and other hefty vegetables. That, and you can also make a watermelon jack-o'-lantern, which carries the double-advantage of providing fruit for your spooky Halloween party afterward. Don't want to deal with organic things altogether? You can still make spooky jack-o'-lanterns out of empty milk cartons, mason jars, balloons, paper bags, and more. Don't Miss: 10 Truly Last-Minute Halloween Costume Ideas for the Cheap & Lazy Got your own non-pumpkin alternatives for Halloween? Share with us! Follow WonderHowTo on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and...more

If you still have no idea what to wear for Halloween, but don't want to spend a lot of money or time putting together a costume that doesn't completely suck, welcome to the club. Last year, I shared a roundup on truly last-minute Halloween costumes for the cheap and lazy, and I thought it was a must that I do a followup! So, here are 10 more last-minute Halloween costumes that (thankfully) require no sewing skills. You just need some very simple things that can be purchased from an art store, thrift store, or maybe, if you're looking for form-fitting, nude-colored bodysuits for your Troll doll costume, a trip to American Apparel. Don't Miss: Make Spooky, Last-Minute Jack-O'-Lanterns for Halloween Without Any Pumpkins Got your own last-minute DIY Halloween costume ideas? Share with us! Follow WonderHowTo on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and...more

Unlike your more artistically-minded friends who've been working on their homemade, hand-stitched, conceptually-brilliant Halloween costumes since May, you need to put together a last-minute costume in a matter of hours. What can you possibly do if you're cheap, kind of lazy, and don't know how to sew to save your life? Invade your first-aid kit and roll yourself into a gauze mummy. Or, if you happen to have a big cardboard box and a roll of duct tape lying around, turn yourself into a vintage robot. Next to a thrift store? Buy yourself some vintage duds to dress as an old-timey ghost, or nab that XXL plain white T-shirt for a few bucks to make your ridiculously easy sunny-side-up egg costume. Have a lot of black in your wardrobe? Visit your nearest Halloween or dollar store and buy a burglar mask to complete your all-black bank robber ensemble. Don't Miss: 10 More Truly Last-Minute Halloween Costume Ideas for the Cheap & Lazy If you're absolutely short on time, nothing says...more

Halloween is one of those things that always seems to sneak up on you before you're prepared, so if you don't have tons of free time to make your own kickass costume, you might have to throw together something a little more last minute. If you're really in a bind, it doesn't get much easier than this DIY papercraft polygon mask that you can print out and fold without even having to leave the house. Stephen Kongsle/Thingiverse Stephen Kongsle says the inspiration came from the "Planes of the Head" mannequin used to teach people how to draw the human head. There are two different versions —light and dark. You can add glow-in-the-dark tape to the lines on the dark version like in the picture above for a more dramatic effect. The white one has light blue lines so it looks like one smooth piece when it's finished. Stephen Kongsle/Thingiverse All you need is some thick paper, glue, and some sort of cutting utensil. You can find all the template files over on the Thingiverse project page,...more

Get Out absolutely tore up the record books this year. And the wildest thing about it? It did so with the most ordinary looking characters and props ever (hence the shoestring $4.5 million budget). Which makes it a godsend for the time- and cash-strapped come Halloween. Get Out/Universal Pictures With Get Out, Jordan Peele is the first (and only) African-American writer-director with a $100-million film debut under his belt. The film is also the _all-time highest domestic grossing debut based on an original screenplay (it beat out The Blair Witch Project by a good $30 million). So you can bet that everyone at your Halloween party is going to recognize you in a Get Out getup. Especially if you get a bunch of friends together and you all dress up as characters from the film — which is pretty easy because everyone in it is just wearing regular clothes. Lucky for you, we've sifted through the film, picked out the clothes all the major characters wear, and even pointed out where you can...more

Are you one of those people that waits until the last minute to come up with a costume for Halloween? Unless you're a makeup artist, have a ton of money, or are ultra-crafty, coming up with a good Halloween costume is always a low-priority task. That is, until it's Halloween and you're having a panic attack. Don't panic, though, because there are plenty of good DIY costumes out there that you can make in minutes, and here are just some of them. From printouts to raiding your closet to repurposing decorations, there's surely a good last-minute costume here for you to wear on Halloween. Don't Miss: 5 Truly Last Minute Halloween Costumes #1. Print Out Your Own Emoji MasksEmojis are awesome at conveying emotions we might not have adequate words for. That's why printing out masks and props of your favorite emojis would make great Halloween costumes. Better yet, you won't have to spend any money. Check out our guide. Nelson Aguilar/WonderHowTo#2. DIY Full-Body Emoji CostumesWant to take the...more