5 Minute Crafts Magazine - July/August 2019

Beautiful Art A simple paper art without stress

July/August 2019 $5.99 (Canada) $3.99 (US)

july/august 2019

CONTENTS

"My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece."

– Claude Monet

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CONTENTS

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style

home

health

food

departments

STROKES OF CREAM Many of us use facial creams. Moisturizing, sunscreen, mattifying, night, anti-aging — there are so many of them. While BB cream is a somewhat familiar thing to us, CC and DD creams are not.

COUNTER SPACE The counter is an essential part of any kitchen, it’s where food is prepared, vegetables are chopped, and your most-used appliances are kept, but it’s often cluttered and impossible to work on, especially in a smaller kitchen.

ACT FAST When a person is having a stroke, every minute is critical since fast treatment can reduce the brain damage caused by this serious condition. Therefore, it’s important to know the symptoms that may be present in order to take action and get medical assistance as quickly as possible.

CREAMY DESSERT ONLY 2 INGREDIENTS If you have a hard time imagining life without chocolate, perhaps this dessert will make it even more difficult.

EDITOR'S LETTER

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GOLDEN CHARMS The right necklace length can make your look special. It will complement your outfit and become its bright accent, while the wrong choice of jewelry can ruin your look.

There are many types of necklaces, from thin gold chains neatly arranged at the base of the neck to longer pieces that are perfect for combining with other necklaces.

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26

RENOVATING TASKS Arranging furniture is an uphill task, but not only designers are capable of it.

You can make up a nice arrangement yourself by using the basic rules.

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features

36

PEN PALS Children aren’t the only ones who love costume parties.

Many adults also like to go back to their childhood and dress up as their favorite fairy-tale characters. It’s just that these costumes can be quite expensive, which can keep you from participating in these magical stories.

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EASY AS PIE Chicken pie is a complete, simple, and tasty dish. There are many recipes to make it, which is what makes it great: it’s truly versatile.

living

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PRETTY FAMOUS ART You don’t need to be able to paint well in order to create beautiful pictures. There are many alternatives to painting and one of them is quilling.

It’s a type of art when one makes simple and voluminous compositions from rolled strips of paper of different widths.

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TRICKS & TIPS

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CHILL & DRAW COVER PHOTO 5-MINUTE CRAFTS MEN / YOUTUBE

PILAR GUZMÁN Editor In-Chief FOOD DIRECTOR Annabelle Waugh FASHION & BEAUTY DIRECTOR Julia McEwen HOME & GARDEN DIRECTOR Brett Walther MANAGING EDITOR Day Helesic TEST KITCHEN SENIOR FOOD SPECIALIST Irene Fong FOOD SPECIALISTS Jennifer Bartoli, Amanda Barnier ARTICLES EDITOR, FOOD Gilean Watts INTERN Jessica Bronstein ART CONSULTING DESIGN DIRECTOR Brendan Fisher ACTING ART DIRECTOR June F. Anderson SENIOR ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Henrietta Poon CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTORS Lisa de Nikolits, Leanne Gilbert FEATURES HEALTH EDITOR Kate Daley CONTRIBUTING HEALTH EDITOR Tralee Pearce SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR Jill Buchner ASSOCIATE EDITOR, FASHION & BEAUTY Andrea Karr CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Jacqueline Kovacs COPY & OPERATIONS EDITORIAL OPERATIONS & ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Olga Goncalves Costa COPY EDITOR Stephanie Zolis CONTRIBUTING COPY EDITORS Ruth Hanley, Debbie Madsen Villamere ASSISTANT EDITOR Teresa Sousa INTERNS William Dixon, Thalia Gamage, Natalie Wong EDITORIAL DEPUTY EDITOR Jessica Pollack SENIOR EDITORS Ariel Brewster, Sadiya Dendar, Simone Olivero CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Claire Gagne ASSISTANT EDITOR Kevin John Siazon COPY EDITOR Kelly Jones PROOFREADER Janet Morassutti INTERNS Emily McDonald, Arisa Valyear ART CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Colleen Nicholson IN-HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHERS Carmen Cheung, Erik Putz

MARKETING SERVICES & CREATIVE SOLUTIONS GENERAL SALES MANAGER Caroline K. Breton CREATIVE BRAND DIRECTOR Laura Denton CONTENT DIRECTOR Kim Alison Fraser MANAGING EDITOR Renée Sylvestre-Williams MANAGER, STRATEGY AND IDEATION Stevie Gorrie STRATEGISTS Sarah Drake, Jessica Lee, Marcela Perez ART DIRECTORS Susan Jackson, Suzanne LaCorte, Peter Robertson JUNIOR COPY WRITER Victoria DiPlacibo SENIOR DIRECTOR, CLIENT DELIVERY Stefany Pierce CAMPAIGN MANAGERS Melissa Carmichael, Ivan McBurney, Rob Stephenson, Inga Terzopoulos PRODUCTION PRODUCTION TEAM LEAD Carol Zephyrine RESEARCH SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST Eva Chau MARKETING , COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS SENIOR DIRECTOR Tracy Finkelstein MANAGER Silvana Sciortino SENIOR SPECIALIST Erin Quinn SPECIALISTS Carlie McGhee, Summer Varty, Alyson Young SENIOR DESIGNER Colin Elliott CONSUMER MARKETING GROUP VICE-PRESIDENT, CONSUMER MARKETING Christopher Purcell GROUP CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Doris Chan PRODUCT MARKETING MANAGERS Yen Duong, Amanda Stone DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Jason Patterson DIRECTOR, NEWSSTAND SALES Pat Strangis BUSINESS BUSINESS MANAGER Nancy Baker DIGITAL SOLUTIONS GROUP GENERAL MANAGER, NATIONAL PORTALS Ray Ostor ST. JOSEPH COMMUNICATIONS CHAIRMAN & CEO Tony Gagliano VICE CHAIRMAN John Gagliano PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Ken Hunt VICE PRESDIENT, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY Sean McCluskey EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Sarah Trimble DIRECTOR, LIFESTYLE CONTENT Sasha Emmons DIRECTOR, CONTENT OPERATIONS James Reid DIRECTOR, CIRCULATION Allan Yue MANAGER, CIRCULATION Lisa Rivers DIRECTOR, BRANDED CONTENT, AUDIENCE & EVENTS Nadine Silverthorne PROJECT MANAGER, BRANDED CONTENT Milena Boskovic EXECUTIVE EDITOR, BRANDED CONTENT Meaghan Yuen DESIGNER, BRANDED CONTENT Leo Tapel

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5 Minute Crafts is published by St. Joseph Communications, 15 Benton Road, Toronto M6M 3G2. Montreal office: 249, rue Saint-Jacques, Bureau 201, Montréal H2Y 1M6.

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EDITOR'S NOTE

Answers We Know W

e were the midst of planning an intimate dinner for unexpected connections just a few days ago and I was thinking, what’s something that has really moved me as of late? I remember the moment vividly. I was taking some time to think to myself about how everything seemed to be going really well and perfect.

I figured, wow, I think I’ve figured “life” out. After going through multiple paths both satisfying and utterly disappointing, being “right” or having access to the truth can never be achieved. We can look for opportunities and decide on outcomes that benefit us for this moment in time, but the world never stops. Things out of our control are continually changing directions both above and under the surface.

The things I thought I knew to be true in the past? At best they were true for the moment. The complexity of this world never ceases to amaze me. Sometimes we try so hard to make sense of it, and I agree it’s something that allows us to live our lives with a lot less surprises. We’re often seeking the answers and the truth, but the truth and the answers, much like culture, is a by-product of many variables that never occur in a vacuum.

You often see people that have found initial success who try to do something new. It’s a challenge to make it happen again. Times change, people’s goals change, and culture changes. Every step of the way, I’ve wondered if I was doing the right thing because I was so scared that without research and validation, it’d be a failure. But the real question I now ask myself is, am I seeking an answer for now or looking further and building a thought process to see me well beyond this ephemeral solution I’m seeking?

Both allow you to develop a model that provides reassuring clarity, but the bigger approach? It’s about actively removing any bit of complacency, for the answer for today is not the answer for tomorrow.

PILAR GUZMÁN Editor In-Chief

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style STROKES OF CREAM Many of us use facial creams. Moisturizing, sunscreen, mattifying, night, anti-aging — there are so many of them. While BB cream is a somewhat familiar thing to us, CC and DD creams are not.

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STYLE BB cream

CC cream

DD cream

ВВ cream or “Beauty Balm” is a relatively light cream.

It keeps the skin hydrated and usually contains sunscreen components. BB cream also controls the shine of the skin. In fact, this is a special product designed to be a primer or a makeup base, and it also provides hydration and tone coverage. It gives a denser coverage than a regular moisturizer but is not as dense as a standard makeup foundation. BB creams are great for young skin that doesn’t need a lot of extra care.

How to use it

CC cream stands for “Color Correcting.” It will help correct an uneven facial tone, as well as hide dark spots and other imperfections. CC cream contains ingredients that conceal redness, improve skin tone, and smooth uneven textures and wrinkles with lightdiffusing minerals. This cream is specially designed for mature and aging skin that needs more coverage to even out color and texture. Apart from color correction and getting an ideal final result, many CC creams also contain skin-brightening ingredients like vitamin C. How to use it

DD cream is a multifunctional product that stands for “Dynamic Do-All.” Its main difference from the aforementioned products is that DD creams are primarily designed to provide additional skin protection. This means they have higher levels of SPF and antioxidants, as well as additional ingredients to help prevent wrinkles and environmental damage to the skin. The texture of DD cream is similar to both a regular moisturizer and a BB cream.

How to use it

Squeeze out a pea-size portion of cream on a beauty blender or brush and blend it well on your skin. You can also blend it with your fingers but in this case, make sure it is done well, otherwise, noticeable stripes or stains might remain on the skin.

You can leave the cream on your face without any additional coverage or you can apply a layer of powder over it.

After you complete the face cleansing and moisturizing stages, apply CC cream with a beauty blender or your fingers in a dot pattern. Blend it well, in a circular motion. The amount of CC cream depends on the area of skin you need to cover.

DD cream can be used the same way as you normally use your primer or makeup base.

STYLE

GOLDEN CHARMS The right necklace length can make your look special. It will complement your outfit and become its bright accent, while the wrong choice of jewelry can ruin your look. There are many types of necklaces, from thin gold chains neatly arranged at the base of the neck to longer pieces that are perfect for combining with other necklaces.

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STYLE

Collar

Length: 12-13 inches.

Placement: tightly around the neck To be combined with: A collar looks best alone when it is not combined with any other necklace. It is suitable for clothes with low necklines or off-the-shoulder tops and dresses. A collar can be made from a variety of materials, including fabric. The most popular options are lace and velvet. Unlike longer types of necklaces, a collar doesn’t move from its place because it fits tightly around the neck.

Princess

Length: 17-18 inches Placement: on the collarbone or just below it To be combined with: Thanks to the classic length, it can be combined with clothes that have almost any neckline. A princess necklace is suitable for a wide range of outfits, from button-down shirts to evening dresses.

Opera

Length: 28-36 inches Placement: just below the bust To be combined with: Since this type of necklace goes low, it suits clothes with different types of necklines. You can combine it with a choker and a V-neck to add a little contrast.

Choker

Length: 14-16 inches Placement: at the base of the neck To be combined with: A choker looks good with outfits with oval and Vnecklines. Try to combine it with a longer necklace for contrast. A choker can be made from various materials. For example, in the Victorian era, they used velvet, gold, and ribbons.

Matinee

Length: 20-24 inches Placement: between the collarbone and the bust To be combined with: A matinee is a great choice for both business and casual wear. You can combine this long necklace with other necklaces. A matinee looks best with a high neck or turtleneck.

Rope

Length: 36-51 inches Placement: up to the waist or below To be combined with: A rope looks good with elegant business and evening clothes. You can wear it in several ways: wrapped several times around the neck, tied in a knot, dropped to the waist, alone, or as one of many layers with other accessories and neckerchiefs.

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home

COUNTER SPACE The counter is an essential part of any kitchen, it’s where food is prepared, vegetables are chopped, and your most-used appliances are kept, but it’s often cluttered and impossible to work on, especially in a smaller kitchen.

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HOME Replace the knife block.

A knife block might seem like the best option for storing knives, but it takes up precious counter space and can become unpractical since it holds only a certain number of knives with a predetermined shape and size.

Replace it with a magnetic knife holder on your backsplash. Besides keeping your counter free, it will allow more freedom when purchasing other knives, as they’ll all get a place! Just make sure to get the right size for the number of knives in your kitchen.

Install a kitchen rail.

It’s easy to accumulate a large number of utensils that just lay in jars and take up precious counter space. A kitchen rail is a clever way to use the backsplash area for that. It has its origins in restaurant kitchens, but its simplicity and efficiency will work in any kitchen.

Add as many S-hooks as the kitchen rail space allows, then hang utensils, pots, and pans. Anything that can be hung can be placed here, clearing up counter space as well as drawer and cabinet space.

Put in shelf risers.

While shelf risers are made to add an additional shelf to your cabinets, giving you different levels of storage out of the same space, they are valuable on your countertop as well.

Follow the same principle as you would inside cabinets. If you need to keep jars, plates, ingredients, or spices on your counter, minimize the space they occupy with a shelf riser.

For example, keep smaller jars under it and spices and utensils on top of it.

Add a lazy Susan.

If you have plenty of cooking oils, salt, and spices lying around on the counter, try installing a lazy Susan.

Collect and organize your items on the lazy Susan — taller items, like bottles, go in the center; and shorter items, like spice jars, can be placed closer to the edge. This allows for full visibility of your items and more organization.

Get a cutting board the size of your sink.

Cutting boards need counter space. Here’s an idea for making clever use of a space that’s not usually associated with cutting boards.

Get a cutting board that’s slightly bigger than your sink and place it on top of it. It won’t take up counter space and it effectively creates an extra counter on top of your sink. If the sink and chopping board need to be used at the same time, place the board on top of the stove, creating extra functionality in an existing space.

Hang up your fruit.

Hanging fruit baskets make productive use of vertical space while clearing up your counters. They typically consist of a bowl or several that hang from a hook.

Hang a fruit basket below a cabinet or from the ceiling and enjoy the benefits: a tiered option stores more fruit than a single counter bowl, it keeps fruit at eye level so you never lose track of fresh produce, and they prevent fruit from staining your counter if it spoils.

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HOME

RENOVATING TASKS

Arranging furniture is an uphill task, but not only designers are capable of it. You can make up a nice arrangement yourself by using the basic rules described in this article. They are simple and intuitively understandable, which is why there should be no issues using them.

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HOME What can help ease the process of arranging furniture

Place tables around. They should be at arm’s length for easy access. A large coffee table can be a great decorative and functional item. Make sure there is enough space between them and the seats so that people can pass between them — about 18 inches. The height of the coffee table should be the same as the height of the armchairs and the couch or lower. If you have side tables, it’s better if they are located at the same level as the furniture’s armrests.

Mind the traffic flow. This mostly relates to the path between doorways. However, it’s important to leave free space even in dead-end rooms. Don’t block pathways with big pieces of furniture, sharp corners, and other obstacles. You’ll need about 30-50 inches for the main pathway (to enter and sit on the couch), and you’ll need about 25 inches for supplementary pathways (to get to a bookshelf, for instance). Also, keep in mind that if there is a conversation area, the traffic should be built around it. If it’s impossible to do this, it’s better to split the space into 2 small resting zones instead of one.

Arrange the lighting. Though it’s often neglected, lighting is one of the most important elements of any room. Use the combination of upper overhead lighting, floor lamps, table lamps, and sconces. The floor lamp should ideally be placed next to the couch or behind the focal armchair, while table lamps look good on side tables and shelves. Use lighting at different levels at once to balance it.

Take a piece of paper and use it to make the preliminary draft. Draw the basic room design on graph paper, making sure to keep the necessary proportions. Don’t forget to include doorways and windows. The way the design of the draft and its complicity or simplicity will look depends only on you and your imagination.

It’s best to use paper cutouts of furniture pieces to be able to arrange them easier. Pay attention to the fact that there should not only be big pieces of furniture, like sofas and armchairs, but also things like floor lamps and a rug if they make up an important part of the design. Experiment, change the positions of the pieces, and look for better options.

Use the pieces of advice described below for making the task easier.

What to think about when arranging furniture

Find the focal point. It’s the point where the attention will be focused on in the room — it can be a view from a window or a TV set. The furniture will be arranged depending on this focal point. Let’s suppose you put a TV in the sitting room. The ideal distance between it and the armchairs should be 3 times bigger than the size of the screen. If the diagonal is 3 feet, the furniture should be placed no closer than 9 feet.

First, place the priority furniture. For example, it will be a bed for the bedroom and a couch for the sitting room.

Normally, they are the biggest pieces in the room. If you have already found the focal point, these pieces of furniture should be overlooking it. Armchairs and chairs should be placed at a distance of no more than 8 feet for having conversations comfortably.

Move the furniture away from the walls. However, of course, this will depend on the area of the room.

However, it is recommended to leave a small gap between the wall and large furniture, even in small spaces. As paradoxical as it may sound, such an arrangement can make the room more spacious. If you have enough space, then make sure to push the couch away from the walls, and leave free space of several inches behind it.

Create conversation areas. This rule is especially important for the sitting room. The arrangement of the sofa and chairs should be comfortable for people to talk to each other — they should not be turning their bodies or heads too much whenever they want to say something. If the room is small, you can focus on only one conversational area, but in large spaces, there may be several of them.

Mark the necessary zone with a rug. Ideally, it should be located fully under the furniture. It’s okay if the floor space on the sides of the room is bare. If the size of the rug is not enough to fit all the necessary objects, make sure that at least the front legs of the furniture stand on it. The hind legs, in such a case, will be out of the “zone.”

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health ACT FAST When a person is having a stroke, every minute is critical since fast treatment can reduce the brain damage caused by this serious condition.

Therefore, it’s important to know the symptoms that may be present in order to take action and get medical assistance as quickly as possible.

Important: This article has been created for informative purposes only and does not replace professional advice. If you spot any signs of a stroke on yourself or someone else, call 911 immediately, even if you or the person seem to be okay after some minutes. Strokes are a serious medical emergency. Consider that the longer a person waits to be treated, the lower their possibilities of having a proper recovery.

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HEALTH Be familiar with the B.E. F.A.S.T. acronym

Knowing and understanding the signs of a stroke is the most important aspect of getting treatment on time.

Therefore, these symptoms have been described in the B.E. F.A.S.T. acronym, which can help you recognize whether you or someone else is going through this serious medical condition: Balance: Pay attention to an abrupt loss of balance and if the person seems to be leaning to the side or staggering while walking.

Eyes: Watch for a sudden change in vision either in one eye or both of them, double vision that doesn’t seem to go away when blinking, or no lateral vision or vision that goes above the midline.

Face: Check if there’s an uneven smile or a deviated tongue by asking the person to smile and stick their tongue out. Also, observe if there’s a side of the face drooping. Keep in mind that the person may be drooling in that area.

Arms: Be alert to an abrupt loss of coordination by asking the person to raise their arms. Look if one arm seems to be drifting downward and if there are signs of weakness or numbness in that same arm. Check if the person has difficulty picking up objects.

Speech: Observe if the person has a sudden difficulty when speaking or understanding. Test if they can repeat a short phrase and watch for a confusing or strange speech. Moreover, check whether the person has a thick tongue or if it’s difficult for them to swallow.

Time: If you see any of these signs, either in yourself or someone else, it’s time to call 911. If possible, tell the emergency personnel the last time you saw the person well and if they’re on any medication. This information can be helpful to determine the treatment the person will receive. 🚫 Do not take the person to the emergency room yourself. Assessment and treatment can be given by the emergency medical service before arriving at an emergency department.

Be aware of other symptoms The previous test can help you identify some of the most common signs of a stroke.

However, it’s advisable to watch out for other symptoms, such as: A sudden fall A severe headache Abrupt numbness or weakness on one side of the body Confusion or memory loss Dizziness

Bonus: How to prevent a stroke

Even though certain medical conditions can lead to a higher risk of a stroke, you can make some changes in your lifestyle to reduce the chances of suffering one.

So, it’s advisable to keep a healthy weight, have a balanced diet, and exercise regularly.

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PEN PALS Regular pencils, even though they have the same color, can show different shades of grey. Some of them make semi-transparent lines, others are saturated and thick. The brightness of your drawing depends not only on how hard you press on the pencil but also on how soft or hard the pencil is.

What the letters “H” and “B” on pencils mean The types of graphite used in a pencil are marked with “H” and “B.” H means hard, so the graphite in this pencil is hard. It leaves less graphite on paper and makes thinner lines.

B means black, so the graphite in your pencil is soft. The lines are darker and softer, so more graphite ends up on the paper and it’s easier to remove.

Hardness and softness pencil guide 8B is the darkest and the softest pencil. It leaves thick grey lines on paper. It’s great for drawing and doing sketches.

7B is a pencil that also gives a deep grey color. It is easy to draw with and it’s good for drawings.

6B is a bit less soft but it can still make a clear black line. It’s good for portraits and making realistic-looking textures (fur, fabric, and leather).

5B makes thinner lines than those with higher B numbers.

4B is a pencil that makes lighter lines than the previous ones.

It’s good for drawing and sketching.

3B can make lines not only of dark but also light colors. In drawings, it can be used to make transitions from lighter areas to darker ones.

2B is a pencil that can make a semi-dark line and give a good range of shades — from light to dark tones. It is often used for shading.

B is a soft pencil that is also good for sketches and drawings.

HB has hard graphite that still gives a black line. It might be too hard for drawing.

H is a pencil with hard graphite that makes very thin lines on paper. It is great for drafts.

2H is a hard pencil that is good for any technical work that has to do with lines. It’s good for making drawings when you need lighter colors.

3H is a pencil that makes a very light line. It is good for creating thin light lines.

4H is a pencil that can make great shades and sketches.

5H is a pencil that can make very thin lines that will still look quite dark if you press on it hard enough. It’s great for sketches if you need the image to be sharp.

6H can be used for drafting, writing, and drawing. It makes very clear and dark lines.

The combination of letters and numbers You need to memorize just one simple rule: the higher the H number on the pencil, the harder the graphite is, the higher the B number, the softer it is.

So, a 2H pencil is harder than an H pencil but softer than a 5H pencil. A 3B pencil is softer than 2B but harder than 4B. An HB pencil is one of the most popular types. It contains quite a hard graphite but it can also make quite dark lines if you press it hard enough.

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food CREAMY DESSERT ONLY 2 INGREDIENTS If you have a hard time imagining life without chocolate, perhaps this dessert will make it even more difficult.

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FOOD

Creamy Chocolate Mousse With Only 2 Ingredients Ingredients 250 g of semisweet dark chocolate (chips or bar) 1 cup of heavy cream (keep half at room temperature and reserve the other half in the fridge) 1-2 tbsp white sugar (optional) 2-4 tbsp grated chocolate, walnuts, or chopped peanuts (optional, for garnish) 1. If you’re using chocolate bars, chop them.

2. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or bain-marie: Heat a large pot with water, and place a glass bowl on top. When the water starts boiling, pour the chocolate into the bowl. If you’re using chocolate chips, put them in the microwave for 2 minutes, then remove and stir.

3. Pour half a cup of heavy cream, the one kept at room temperature, over the chocolate.

4. Stir steadily until the ingredients take on a creamy and uniform consistency. Remove the container from the stove and allow it to cool to room temperature.

5. Pour the cold heavy cream into a deep bowl and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, or until half-whipped. Add the amount of sugar you want. You could also use a manual beater in this step, but keep in mind that the beating speed has to stay constant until the cream is fluffy.

6. With the help of a big spoon, add the melted chocolate little by little while continuing to mix with the blender or manual mixer.

7. Keep whisking gently. It is essential to keep the movement constant when mixing to avoid the melted chocolate from solidifying with the cold cream.

8. Once you have achieved a creamy and fluffy consistency, transfer the mousse to a piping bag and serve in individual portions.

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FOOD

EASY AS PIE Chicken pie is a complete, simple, and tasty dish. There are many recipes to make it, which is what makes it great: it’s truly versatile.

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FOOD

Easy Chicken Pie Ingredients 2 chicken breasts, filleted 2 medium potatoes 1/2 lb (150 g) of serrano or smoked ham (to taste) 1/2 lb (150 g) of sliced cheese 1 handful of fresh parsley, chopped Dried thyme 1 lb (300 g) of grated cheese to sprinkle on top (e.g. mozzarella) Salt and pepper (to taste) Oil 1. Cut the potato into half-centimeter slices.

2. Place a layer of sliced potato in a deep baking dish, like the kind you’d use for making lasagna. Season with salt, pepper, and chopped parsley. Dribble a little oil over the potatoes.

3. Place the baking dish with the potatoes in a preheated oven at 350ºF (180 °C) for 20-30 minutes. The potato should only be partially cooked and shouldn’t turn golden brown.

4. Cut the chicken breasts into thin slices of no more than half a centimeter of thickness.

5. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and dried thyme.

6. After the potatoes have been in the oven for about 20-30 minutes, take out the baking dish. Place half of the chicken breasts onto the potato base.

7. Cover the chicken breasts with the cheese slices, as if you were making a lasagna layer.

8. Do the same on top of the cheese, but with a layer of ham.

9. Place another layer of sliced cheese on top of the ham.

10. And finally, put in the remaining chicken breasts.

11. Sprinkle the last layer of chicken breasts with grated cheese until it’s completely covered.

12. Raise the oven temperature to 380ºF (200 °C) and put the dish back in the oven for 20-30 minutes more.

13. When you see that the cheese has turned golden brown, remove the dish from the oven.

14. Cut the pie into portions and serve it using a spatula. Make sure to really insert the serving utensil all the way to the bottom of the deep dish so that the potatoes don’t crumble.

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living

PRETTY FAMOUS ART You don’t need to be able to paint well in order to create beautiful pictures. There are many alternatives to painting and one of them is quilling.

It’s a type of art when one makes simple and voluminous compositions from rolled strips of paper of different widths.

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LIVING

Picture #1.

Decorated heart You’ll need A quilling tool that looks like a long pen with a metal nozzle. It is used to make the process of rolling paper easier.

Sometimes there can be an awl at the other end that also eases the working process.

Paper strips for quilling. Usually, they are sold as part of a set and they differ in width. You can also cut them yourself, but make sure to choose thick paper so that it keeps its shape well when creating rolls.

A fixative — this can be PVA glue, glue for cardboard, or a glue-gun. It’s convenient to apply glue to the little details with the help of a toothpick.

Tweezers Scissors with pointed edges to turn strips of paper into fine fringe Quilling stencil ruler with holes, which makes it easy to make curls of the same size and shape Tip: You can also make a backing from cork or foam to glue small parts on, additionally you can fasten them together with the help of tailor’s pins until the glue sets.

How to make basic shapes Step 1. Place one end of the paper strip into the quilling tool. Start to twist the strip into a spiral, pulling it tight until it is completely curled.

Step 2. Remove the quilling tool. You should get a roll that can be used for creating various shapes.

The shape of the future element depends on how tight or loose the roll will be, whether you’ll squeeze it, move its center to the side, whether you’ll glue the tip to the shape, or leave it free.

The picture above shows several simple basic shapes that even a newbie won’t find difficult to create: 1. Drop 2. Wave 3. Curved drop 4. Open roll 5. Free roll 6. Tight roll 7. Eye Please note: If the tip of the roll is not supposed to stick out, then it should be glued to the roll. Also, there are many other elements that you can learn to do with the help of video lessons.

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Step 1. Cut a heart in a desired size out of thick paper. Afterward, make its walls with the help of white-colored strips. You’ll get a shape that you’ll later be filling with various elements. Please note that the width of the strips for the heart’s walls and the elements inside of it should be the same.

Step 2. Using tweezers, accurately place the first element inside the heart, having previously applied glue to the lower surface of the element.

Step 3. By repeating the same movements, first fill the upper left part of the heart with various elements.

Step 4. Then move to the right part, and later start filling the lower part. Combine various elements with each other, creating unusual patterns.

If you want, you can fill any empty space with smaller elements.

Glue the ready heart to a piece of paper in a contrasting color so that the composition looks more noticeable against its background.

LIVING

Picture #3. Aster flower Step 1. Make a roll from burgundy-colored paper.

Step 2. Let it get a bit loose by weakening your hold.

Step 3. Squeeze the edge with your fingers to get the “drop” element.

Step 4. Squeeze the other end with tweezers to make the petal’s end pointed.

Using this method, make: 14 large petals in burgundy 13 middle-sized petals in dark red 12 red petals in a smaller size 11 pink petals in an even smaller size 1 white flower. This should be done in the same way as the dandelions above, but in this case, you should wrap it around a small tight roll, which is required to serve as the core of the flower.

Step 5. Cut a circle out of red cardstock or thick red paper. This will be the base of the flower. Glue burgundy petals along the edge of the circle so that the pointed end looks outward.

Step 6. Place the dark red petals over them, moving them closer to the center of the circle.

Step 7. Glue the red and pink petals over them in the same manner.

Step 8. Attach the white flower to the center, after having made the fluffy core. If you’d like, you can create several similar flowers and decorate them with other elements, adding leaves and twigs to create a bouquet of asters.

Picture #2. A bouquet of dandelions Step 1. Take a strip of yellow paper.

Step 2. Turn its end into fringe with the help of scissors.

Step 3. Take a quilling tool and roll up the entire strip. Secure the end at the end of the roll so it doesn’t unroll.

Step 4. Using your fingers, gently fluff the fringe, moving from the edge of the roll to its middle to make a flower, as it’s shown in the photo above.

Step 5. Repeat the process, by making several more flowers in yellow and orange colors. Afterward, take strips in various colors of green and make curved drops out of them. Now glue everything to the base of the picture: first the leaves, then place flowers over the leaves — it will help your masterpiece look more voluminous.

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LIVING

Picture #4. Exotic flowers on bamboo sticks Step 1. Take 5 bamboo sticks and place them parallel to each other at a short distance apart. Apply glue on top.

Step 2. Glue 5 more bamboo sticks to them so that you get a lattice.

Step 3. Paint it white and turn it over the way it’s shown in the photo above.

Step 4. Use it as a base for creating a flower composition: first glue leaves, then big petals over the leaves, then smaller petals, and don’t forget about the core.

Tip: To get the same composition, make the leaves in the shape of large drops, and use a big tight roll for the petals by gluing strips to it so that it turns out to be large, the way it’s shown here. For the core, also use a tight roll and make sure to glue the fringe to its edge in the same manner as it was done for the aster flower and dandelions.

Thus, you’ll get a picture without a frame that will look good on the wall of a contrasting color.

TIPS & TRICKS

Types of Rice and How to Use Them

Rice is one of the most popular foods on our planet. Almost every country has a national meal made from it and there are more than 40,000 varieties of rice.

Classification of rice by grain type All types of rice can be divided into 3 main categories depending on the shape and length of the grain: short, medium, and long. 🔷 Short Short rice is almost round, and pearl-white or a brownish color.

Short rice contains a lot of starch, so it sticks during cooking.

Round rice absorbs liquids well, so it’s used in meals where it needs to absorb the smell of broth or other ingredients. Like for example, in paella.

A good example of short rice is Japanese sushi rice.

Short rice can be used in making sushi, paella, rice pudding, rice desserts, and rice balls. 🔷 Medium Medium rice contains less starch than short rice, it’s more creamy and less sticky.

The main types of medium rice are carnaroli and arborio rice.

Medium rice is great for risotto, fried rice, rice salads, and arancini. 🔷 Long Long rice has the least starch compared to other kinds, so the grains don’t stick to each other.

Basmati and jasmine are examples of long rice.

This rice can be used to make pilaf, curry, and other meals for Indian, Thai, and Palestinian cuisines.

Kinds of rice Arborio Arborio is Italian white rice that has a creamy texture when it’s cooked but remains solid. It’s great for risotto, arancini, and Italian pudding.

Basmati Basmati is the only type of rice that is aged. It takes on an herbal flavor and can change color from white to gold. Dry grains that don’t stick make it a great kind of rice for pilafs and biryanis.

Jasmine Jasmine is a kind of long-grain rice with a light flowery flavor and tender sweet taste. The grains are much shorter than basmati but they can be interchangeable. This rice can be used to make Thai meals, curries, and also as a side dish for meat, bird, and fish.

Black rice Black rice contains antioxidants known as anthocyanins, which is what turns it a dark color (this is the same antioxidant that’s in blueberries and blackberries).

The grains have a deep nutty taste, a tender structure, and a dark purple color.

It’s great for porridge, pudding, and pastries.

Brown rice Brown rice is whole-grain rice. The only part removed from brown rice is the outer hull, which is inedible. Brown rice has a thick texture, a nutty taste, and it is more nutritious. This type of rice is universal and can be a healthier alternative to regular white rice.

Valencia (Bomba) The grains in this rice are very short and almost completely round. They have great absorbing power but don’t stick thanks to their high amylose (a type of starch) content. This kind of rice is used for making paella.

Sticky rice Sticky rice contains very little amylose resulting in rice that is especially chewy, sticky, and sweet when cooked. Sticky rice is used in Asian cuisine: mochi and or other sweet treats. It’s also used as a side dish in Thai cuisine.

Cargo (red rice) Red rice is a lot like brown. Only the outer shell is removed. The grains are redbrownish and have a nutty taste. Red rice is used in Japanese, Thai, and Philippine cuisines. You can also use it to make broth, fried rice, and pilaf.

Wild rice Wild rice is not rice at all. Long brown grains look like rice and taste like it but they are not rice. It’s actually a kind of marsh grass. Wild rice contains a lot of nutrients and microelements. With wild rice, you can make meals like salads, soups, pilafs, and casseroles.

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CHILL & DRAW

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